Genomic Comparisons of Two Armillaria Species with Different Ecological Behaviors and Their Associated Soil Microbial Communities.

Armillaria species show considerable variation in ecological roles and virulence, from mycorrhizae and saprophytes to important root pathogens of trees and horticultural crops. We studied two Armillaria species that can be found in coniferous forests of northwestern USA and southwestern Canada. Armillaria altimontana not only is considered as a weak, opportunistic pathogen of coniferous trees, but it also appears to exhibit in situ biological control against A.

Genetic and Phenotypic Characterization of the Fungal Pathogen from Western Colorado Peach Orchards and the Development of a ddPCR Assay for Detection and Quantification.

Cytospora canker is one of the most important diseases affecting peach production in Colorado, yet previous efforts to characterize species diversity in Colorado have relied exclusively on morphological traits. Recently, several new species were described from peach orchards within the United States using molecular and morphological data, prompting the need to reexamine spp. present on peach trees in Colorado.

An anti-CD6 antibody for the treatment of COVID-19 patients with cytokine-release syndrome: report of three cases.

In COVID-19, the inflammatory cytokine-release syndrome is associated with the progression of the disease. Itolizumab is a monoclonal antibody that recognizes human CD6 expressed in activated T cells. The antibody has shown to be safe and efficacious in the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis.

500 Consecutive Liver Transplants: The Outcomes of a New Transplantation Program in the Middle West of Brazil.

Introduction: Liver transplantation is the standard treatment for end-stage liver disease. Brazil holds the third highest number of liver transplants performed per year, but center maldistribution results in high discrepancies in accessing this treatment. In 2012, an interstate partnership successfully implemented a new liver transplantation program in the middle west of Brazil.

3D comparison of dental arch stability in patients with and without cleft lip and palate after orthodontic/rehabilitative treatment.

This study aimed to compare the linear dimensions of the dental arches of adult patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) after orthodontic and prosthetic treatment with fixed partial dentures (FPD) to patients without clefts, using 3D technology. This retrospective longitudinal study sample consisted of 35 subjects divided into two groups. Included in this sample were 15 complete UCLP individuals who had received orthodontic treatment before rehabilitation with a fixed partial denture (FG), as well as 20 patients without cleft as control group (CG).

Virulence of Genetically Distinct Geosmithia morbida Isolates to Black Walnut and Their Response to Coinoculation with Fusarium solani.

Geosmithia morbida is well documented as the causal agent of thousand cankers disease of black walnut trees. However, it is not well understood how G. morbida strains differ in virulence and how their interactions with co-occurring pathogens contribute to disease severity.

A visual horizon affects steering responses during flight in fruit flies.

To navigate well through three-dimensional environments, animals must in some way gauge the distances to objects and features around them. Humans use a variety of visual cues to do this, but insects, with their small size and rigid eyes, are constrained to a more limited range of possible depth cues. For example, insects attend to relative image motion when they move, but cannot change the optical power of their eyes to estimate distance.

Defining the molecular signature of chemotherapy-mediated lung tumor phenotype modulation and increased susceptibility to T-cell killing.

Chemotherapy with platinum doublets, including cisplatin plus vinorelbine, is standard of care for non-small-cell lung cancer. Sublethal exposure to certain chemotherapeutic agents has been demonstrated to alter the phenotype or biology of human tumor cells, rendering them more susceptible to cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated lysis. The effects of cisplatin/vinorelbine on tumor sensitivity to T-cell cytotoxicity and its molecular mechanisms, however, have not been fully elucidated.

Prognostic factors for survival in patients treated with stereotactic radiosurgery for recurrent brain metastases after prior whole brain radiotherapy.

Purpose: To evaluate prognostic factors for survival after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for new, progressive, or recurrent brain metastases (BM) after prior whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT).

Methods And Materials: Patients treated between 1991 and 2007 with Gamma Knife SRS for BM after prior WBRT were retrospectively reviewed. Potential prognostic factors were analyzed overall and by primary site using univariate and stepwise multivariate analyses and recursive partitioning analysis, including age, Karnofsky performance status (KPS), primary tumor control, extracranial metastases, number of BM treated, total SRS target volume, and interval from WBRT to SRS.

Exploitation of differential homeostatic proliferation of T-cell subsets following chemotherapy to enhance the efficacy of vaccine-mediated antitumor responses.

The 5-year survival rate for stage IB-III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains 15%. Surgical resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin and vinorelbine is one standard-of-care. We sought to determine in a preclinical model whether (a) the combination of cisplatin and vinorelbine could positively modulate components of the immune system independent of antitumor activity, and (b) there were synergistic effects of this drug combination and vaccine immunotherapy.

Metalloproteases secreted by Actinobacillus suis.

Actinobacillus suis secretes metalloproteases into its medium. These secreted proteins, when concentrated by precipitation with 70% (NH4)2SO4 or methanol, displayed proteolytic activity at >200 kDa molecular mass bands in 10% polyacrylamide gels copolymerized with bovine casein (1%). They showed activity in a broad pH range (from pH 5 to pH 10) and were inhibited by 20 mM EDTA or EGTA, but could be reactivated by calcium.