Nitrogen fixation rates and aerial root production among maize landraces.

In Mexico, the center of maize origin ( ssp. ), there are landraces from the highlands that develop extensive aerial root systems which secrete a carbohydrate-rich mucilage. This mucilage produces a favorable environment for nitrogenase activity by diazotrophs.

A new harmony box supplemented with gonial angle and age based on a growing Swiss population.

Purpose: The scope of the present study was to create a new harmony box by adding two diagnostically and clinically important cephalometric variables, the gonial and interincisal angles, while also considering the effect of sex and age for a growing Swiss population.

Methods: A healthy sample with an overjet and overbite between 2 and 4 mm, and 1.5 and 4.

Decline of Antibodies to Major Viral and Bacterial Respiratory Pathogens During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Surges in infections caused by respiratory pathogens have been documented in multiple settings after relaxation of pandemic restrictions. Antibodies to major antigens from respiratory syncytial virus and group A Streptococcus waned significantly in a longitudinal adult cohort throughout the pandemic. This waning may have contributed to the pathogen-surges that followed.

Characterization of an IL-8 cleavage inhibition assay to determine the functionality of anti-SpyCEP antibodies in human sera.

Exposure to Group A Streptococcus leads to a broad spectrum of disease and sequelae, as the bacterium employs a wide range of virulence factors to facilitate colonization of the host, propagation and onward transmission, disrupting both innate and adaptive immune responses. The protease SpyCEP has a crucial role in contributing to bacterial immune evasion by impairing neutrophil recruitment and killing of bacteria through the cleavage of interleukin-8 (IL-8). Given this critical function, SpyCEP represents a key vaccine antigen and quantifying functional anti-SpyCEP antibodies represents not only an important marker of vaccine efficacy, but also a tool to dissect the natural immune response.

An AMP-activated protein kinase-PGC-1α axis mediates metabolic plasticity in glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma, the most frequent primary malignant brain tumour in adults, is characterised by profound yet dynamic hypoxia and nutrient depletion. To sustain survival and proliferation, tumour cells are compelled to acquire metabolic plasticity with the induction of adaptive metabolic programs. Here, we interrogated the pathways necessary to enable processing of nutrients other than glucose.