Protected areas not likely to serve as steppingstones for species undergoing climate-induced range shifts.

Species across the planet are shifting their ranges to track suitable climate conditions in response to climate change. Given that protected areas have higher quality habitat and often harbor higher levels of biodiversity compared to unprotected lands, it is often assumed that protected areas can serve as steppingstones for species undergoing climate-induced range shifts. However, there are several factors that may impede successful range shifts among protected areas, including the distance that must be traveled, unfavorable human land uses and climate conditions along potential movement routes, and lack of analogous climates.

Cathepsin S Contributes to Lung Inflammation in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Although the cysteine protease cathepsin S has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory lung diseases, its role has not been examined in the context of acute respiratory distress syndrome, a condition that still lacks specific and effective pharmacological treatments. To characterize the status of cathepsin S in acute lung inflammation and examine the role of cathepsin S in disease pathogenesis. Human and mouse model BAL fluid samples were analyzed for the presence and activity of cathepsin S and its endogenous inhibitors.

Therapeutic Inhibition of Cathepsin S Reduces Inflammation and Mucus Plugging in Adult ENaC-Tg Mice.

Background: Elevated levels of the cysteine protease cathepsin S (CatS) are associated with chronic mucoobstructive lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We have previously demonstrated that prophylactic treatment with a CatS inhibitor from birth reduces inflammation, mucus plugging, and lung tissue damage in juvenile -epithelial Na+ channel-overexpressing transgenic (ENaC-Tg) mice with chronic inflammatory mucoobstructive lung disease. In this study, we build upon this work to examine the effects of therapeutic intervention with a CatS inhibitor in adult ENaC-Tg mice with established disease.

Alzheimer's Disease-Like Neurodegeneration in Porphyromonas gingivalis Infected Neurons with Persistent Expression of Active Gingipains.

Background: Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and its gingipain virulence factors have been identified as pathogenic effectors in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In a recent study we demonstrated the presence of gingipains in over 90% of postmortem AD brains, with gingipains localizing to the cytoplasm of neurons.