Tissue spaces are reservoirs of antigenic diversity for Trypanosoma brucei.

The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei evades clearance by the host immune system through antigenic variation of its dense variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) coat, periodically 'switching' expression of the VSG using a large genomic repertoire of VSG-encoding genes. Recent studies of antigenic variation in vivo have focused near exclusively on parasites in the bloodstream, but research has shown that many, if not most, parasites reside in the interstitial spaces of tissues. We sought to explore the dynamics of antigenic variation in extravascular parasite populations using VSG-seq, a high-throughput sequencing approach for profiling VSGs expressed in populations of T.

DNA damage drives antigen diversification through mosaic Variant Surface Glycoprotein (VSG) formation in .

Antigenic variation, using large genomic repertoires of antigen-encoding genes, allows pathogens to evade host antibody. Many pathogens, including the African trypanosome , extend their antigenic repertoire through genomic diversification. While evidence suggests that depends on the generation of new variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) genes to maintain a chronic infection, a lack of experimentally tractable tools for studying this process has obscured its underlying mechanisms.

Polycaprolactone-based shape memory foams as self-fitting vaginal stents.

There is an urgent critical need for a patient-forward vaginal stent that can prevent debilitating vaginal stenosis that occurs after pelvic radiation treatments and vaginal reconstruction. To this end, we developed a self-fitting vaginal stent based on a shape-memory polymer (SMP) foam that can assume a secondary, compressed shape for ease of deployment. Upon insertion, the change in temperature and hydration initiates foam expansion to shape fit to the individual patient and restore the lumen of the stent to allow egress of vaginal secretions.

Orthopedic postoperative infection profile and antibiotic sensitivity of 2038 patients across 24 countries - Call for region and institution specific surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis.

Purpose: Improper utilization of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis frequently leads to increased risks of morbidity and mortality.This study aims to understand the common causative organism of postoperative orthopedic infection and document the surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis protocol across various institutions in to order to strengthen surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis practice and provide higher-quality surgical care.

Methods: This multicentric multinational retrospective study, includes 24 countries from five different regions (Asia Pacific, South Eastern Africa, Western Africa, Latin America, and Middle East).