Parasites as prey: the effect of cercarial density and alternative prey on consumption of cercariae by four non-host species.

In parasites with complex life cycles the transmission of free-living infective stages can be influenced by ambient community diversity, in particular via predation. Here, we experimentally investigated whether parasite density and the presence of alternative prey can alter predation rates on free-living cercarial stages of a marine trematode by several non-host predators. All four predator species consumed increasing numbers of cercariae with an increase in cercarial density, indicating that the removal of cercariae by predators is effective over a range of natural densities as well as in the presence of alternative prey for a number of predators typical of marine ecosystems.

Limited overlap between phylogenetic HIV and hepatitis C virus clusters illustrates the dynamic sexual network structure of Dutch HIV-infected MSM.

Objective: MSM are at increased risk for infection with HIV-1 and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Is HIV/HCV coinfection confined to specific HIV transmission networks?

Design And Methods: A HIV phylogenetic tree was constructed for 5038 HIV-1 subtype B polymerase (pol) sequences obtained from MSM in the AIDS therapy evaluation in the Netherlands cohort. We investigated the existence of HIV clusters with increased HCV prevalence, the HIV phylogenetic density (i.

The most common diet results in low reproduction in a generalist seabird.

Dietary specialization has been described across a wide range of taxa in the animal kingdom. Fitness consequences are, however, not well documented. We examined the reproductive consequences of different dietary specializations in the herring gull , an omnivorous seabird, using an extensive dataset which includes breeding and dietary data of 10 successive years.

Spontaneous Clearance of Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Men Who Have Sex With Men.

We assessed spontaneous clearance in 27 human immunodeficiency virus-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) who seroconverted for hepatitis C virus (HCV). In contrast with a recent estimate of 45.8%, we found a spontaneous clearance rate of 11.

From Farm to Pharma: An Overview of Industrial Heparin Manufacturing Methods.

The purification of heparin from offal is an old industrial process for which commercial recipes date back to 1922. Although chemical, chemoenzymatic, and biotechnological alternatives for this production method have been published in the academic literature, animal-tissue is still the sole source for commercial heparin production in industry. Heparin purification methods are closely guarded industrial secrets which are not available to the general (scientific) public.

Long-term follow-up after cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Objective: Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Main aim was to determine whether treatment effects were maintained up to 10years after treatment.

Methods: Participants (n=583) of previously published studies on the effects of CBT for CFS were contacted for a long-term follow-up assessment.

Development and validation of the HCV-MOSAIC risk score to assist testing for acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM).

Current guidelines recommend hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing for HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) with ongoing risk behaviour, without specifying the type of risk behaviour. We developed and validated the HCV-MOSAIC risk score to assist HCV testing in HIV-infected MSM. The risk score consisted of six self-reported risk factors identified using multivariable logistic regression using data from the Dutch MOSAIC study (n = 213, 2009-2013).

Environmental factors regulating gaping activity of the bivalve in Northern Norway.

is the longest-living non-colonial animal known at present. It inhabits coastal waters in the North Atlantic and its annual shell increments are widely used for paleoclimatic reconstructions. There is no consensus, however, about the intra-annual timing of its feeding activity and growth.

Draft Genome Sequence of Strain 122 Isolated from a Plant Growing in a Chronically Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Site.

strain 122 is a bacterial endophyte isolated from a plant growing in a natural oil seep soil located in Oil Springs, Ontario, Canada. We present here a draft genome sequence of an endophytic strain that has promising potential in hydrocarbon degradation and plant growth promotion.

Hepatic uptake of conjugated bile acids is mediated by both sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide and organic anion transporting polypeptides and modulated by intestinal sensing of plasma bile acid levels in mice.

Unlabelled: The Na -taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP/SLC10A1) is believed to be pivotal for hepatic uptake of conjugated bile acids. However, plasma bile acid levels are normal in a subset of NTCP knockout mice and in mice treated with myrcludex B, a specific NTCP inhibitor. Here, we elucidated which transport proteins mediate the hepatic uptake of conjugated bile acids and demonstrated intestinal sensing of elevated bile acid levels in plasma in mice.

Risk of infections in patients with gout: a population-based cohort study.

To investigate the risk of various types of infections (pneumonia and urinary tract infection (UTI)), and infection-related mortality in patients with gout compared with population-based controls. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). All patients with a first diagnosis of gout and aged >40 years between January 1987-July 2014, were included and matched with up to two controls.

Draft Genome Sequence of Strain 251 Isolated from a Plant Growing in a Chronically Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Site.

isolate 251 is a bacterial endophyte isolated from an plant growing in a natural oil seep soil located in Oil Springs, Ontario, Canada. We present here a draft genome sequence of an infrequently reported genus , highlighting an endophytic lifestyle and biotechnological potential.

Richness in Functional Connectivity Depends on the Neuronal Integrity within the Posterior Cingulate Cortex.

The brain's connectivity skeleton-a rich club of strongly interconnected members-was initially shown to exist in human structural networks, but recent evidence suggests a functional counterpart. This rich club typically includes key regions (or hubs) from multiple canonical networks, reducing the cost of inter-network communication. The posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), a hub node embedded within the default mode network, is known to facilitate communication between brain networks and is a key member of the "rich club.

Engineering a Promiscuous Tautomerase into a More Efficient Aldolase for Self-Condensations of Linear Aliphatic Aldehydes.

The enzyme 4-oxalocrotonate tautomerase (4-OT) from Pseudomonas putida mt-2 takes part in a catabolic pathway for aromatic hydrocarbons, where it catalyzes the conversion of 2hydroxyhexa-2,4-dienedioate into 2-oxohexa-3-enedioate. This tautomerase can also promiscuously catalyze carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions, including various types of aldol reactions, by using its amino-terminal proline as a key catalytic residue. Here, we used systematic mutagenesis to identify two hotspots in 4-OT (Met45 and Phe50) at which single mutations give marked improvements in aldolase activity for the self-condensation of propanal.

The hidden life of integrative and conjugative elements.

Integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) are widespread mobile DNA that transmit both vertically, in a host-integrated state, and horizontally, through excision and transfer to new recipients. Different families of ICEs have been discovered with more or less restricted host ranges, which operate by similar mechanisms but differ in regulatory networks, evolutionary origin and the types of variable genes they contribute to the host. Based on reviewing recent experimental data, we propose a general model of ICE life style that explains the transition between vertical and horizontal transmission as a result of a bistable decision in the ICE-host partnership.

Effectiveness of Long-term Doxycycline Treatment and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Fatigue Severity in Patients with Q Fever Fatigue Syndrome (Qure Study): A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Approximately 20% of patients with acute Q fever will develop chronic fatigue, referred to as Q fever fatigue syndrome (QFS). The objective of this randomized controlled clinical trial was to assess the efficacy of either long-term treatment with doxycycline or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in reducing fatigue severity in patients with QFS.

Methods: Adult patients were included who met the QFS criteria according to the Dutch guideline: a new onset of severe fatigue lasting ≥6 months with significant disabilities, related to an acute Q fever infection, without other somatic or psychiatric comorbidity explaining the fatigue.

Trained Immunity: An Ancient Way of Remembering.

The innate arm of the immune system has generally been regarded as primitive and non-specific and, in contrast to adaptive immunity, not to possess memory. Here we review the growing body of evidence that innate immunity has an important capacity to adapt, a de facto innate immune memory (also termed trained immunity), and this provides broad protection against infections.

Inter- and intramolecular aldol reactions promiscuously catalyzed by a proline-based tautomerase.

The enzyme 4-oxalocrotonate tautomerase (4-OT), which in nature catalyzes a tautomerization step as part of a catabolic pathway for aromatic hydrocarbons, was found to promiscuously catalyze different types of aldol reactions. These include the self-condensation of propanal, the cross-coupling of propanal and benzaldehyde, the cross-coupling of propanal and pyruvate, and the intramolecular cyclizations of hexanedial and heptanedial. Mutation of the catalytic amino-terminal proline (P1A) greatly reduces 4-OT's aldolase activities, whereas mutation of another active site residue (F50A) strongly enhances 4-OT's aldolase activities, indicating that aldolization is an active site process.

Cytokine Inhibition in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Randomized Trial.

Background: Interleukin-1 (IL-1), an important proinflammatory cytokine, is suspected to play a role in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Objective: To evaluate the effect of subcutaneous anakinra versus placebo on fatigue severity in female patients with CFS.

Design: Randomized, placebo-controlled trial from July 2014 to May 2016.

Mechanistic Modeling of Genetic Circuits for ArsR Arsenic Regulation.

Bioreporters are living cells that generate an easily measurable signal in the presence of a chemical compound. They acquire their functionality from synthetic gene circuits, the configuration of which defines the response signal and signal-to-noise ratio. Bioreporters based on the Escherichia coli ArsR system have raised significant interest for quantifying arsenic pollution, but they need to be carefully optimized to accurately work in the required low concentration range (1-10 μg arsenite L).