Transcriptomics Provide Insights into Early Responses to Sucrose Signaling in , a Model Plant for Adaptations to Phosphorus and Iron Deficiency.

Phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe) deficiency are major limiting factors for plant productivity worldwide. White lupin ( L.) has become a model plant for understanding plant adaptations to P and Fe deficiency, because of its ability to form cluster roots, bottle-brush-like root structures play an important role in the uptake of P and Fe from soil.

Neural Tube Defects in Pregnancies Among Women With Diagnosed HIV Infection - 15 Jurisdictions, 2013-2017.

In May 2018, a study of birth defects in infants born to women with diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Botswana reported an eightfold increased risk for neural tube defects (NTDs) among births with periconceptional exposure to antiretroviral therapy (ART) that included the integrase inhibitor dolutegravir (DTG) compared with other ART regimens (1). The World Health Organization* (WHO) and the U.S.

Improving HIV Surveillance Data by Using the ATra Black Box System to Assist Regional Deduplication Activities.

Background: Focused attention on Data to Care underlines the importance of high-quality HIV surveillance data. This study identified the number of total duplicate and exact duplicate HIV case records in 9 separate Enhanced HIV/AIDS Reporting System (eHARS) databases reported by 8 jurisdictions and compared this approach to traditional Routine Interstate Duplicate Review resolution.

Methods: This study used the ATra Black Box System and 6 eHARS variables for matching case records across jurisdictions: last name, first name, date of birth, sex assigned at birth (birth sex), social security number, and race/ethnicity, plus 4 system-calculated values (first name Soundex, last name Soundex, partial date of birth, and partial social security number).

A Comparison of Syphilis Partner Notification Outcomes by Reported Use of Internet-based Apps to Meet Sex Partners in North Carolina, 2013-2016.

Background: Partner notification services (PNS) remain the backbone of syphilis control. The popularity of Internet-based apps to meet sex partners among early syphilis (ES) patients may hinder the success of PNS if partners cannot be located.

Methods: We compared demographic and clinical characteristics between male ES patients indicating sex with men (MSM) and reported in North Carolina between 2013 and 2016 by reported use of an Internet-based app to meet sex partners (app user).

Screening Veterans for Syphilis: Implementation of the Reverse Sequence Algorithm.

We evaluated the syphilis reverse sequence algorithm (RSA) in a Veteran Affairs facility, finding 5.5% reactive Treponema pallidum enzyme immunoassay (EIA) tests. In a subset of EIA+/VDRL-/TP-PA+ cases, 48% were previously treated.

The Number of Interviews Needed to Yield New Syphilis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Cases Among Partners of People Diagnosed With Syphilis, North Carolina, 2015.

Unlabelled: Compare syphilis investigation yield among patient groups using number needed to interview.

Goal: To increase investigation efficiency.

Study Design: Retrospective review of North Carolina 2015 syphilis investigations, using the number of cases needed to interview (NNTI) and the total number of cases and contacts needed to interview (TNTI) to compare yield of new syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus diagnoses between patient groups.

A Designed "Nested" Dimer of Cyanovirin-N Increases Antiviral Activity.

Cyanovirin-N (CV-N) is an antiviral lectin with potent activity against enveloped viruses, including HIV. The mechanism of action involves high affinity binding to mannose-rich glycans that decorate the surface of enveloped viruses. In the case of HIV, antiviral activity of CV-N is postulated to require multivalent interactions with envelope protein gp120, achieved through a pseudo-repeat of sequence that adopts two near-identical glycan-binding sites, and possibly involves a 3D-domain-swapped dimeric form of CV-N.

A Rigid Hinge Region Is Necessary for High-Affinity Binding of Dimannose to Cyanovirin and Associated Constructs.

Mutations in the hinge region of cyanovirin-N (CVN) dictate its preferential oligomerization state. Constructs with the Pro51Gly mutation preferentially exist as monomers, whereas wild-type cyanovirin can form domain-swapped dimers under certain conditions. Because the hinge region is an integral part of the high-affinity binding site of CVN, we investigated whether this mutation affects the shape, flexibility, and binding affinity of domain B for dimannose.

The antiviral lectin cyanovirin-N: probing multivalency and glycan recognition through experimental and computational approaches.

CVN (cyanovirin-N), a small lectin isolated from cyanobacteria, exemplifies a novel class of anti-HIV agents that act by binding to the highly glycosylated envelope protein gp120 (glycoprotein 120), resulting in inhibition of the crucial viral entry step. In the present review, we summarize recent work in our laboratory and others towards determining the crucial role of multivalency in the antiviral activity, and we discuss features that contribute to the high specificity and affinity for the glycan ligand observed in CVN. An integrated approach that encompasses structural determination, mutagenesis analysis and computational work holds particular promise to clarify aspects of the interactions between CVN and glycans.