Establishing a new human pneumococcal standard reference serum, MPRSS-01.

Measuring the immunogenicity of pneumococcal vaccines involves the use of immunoassays to measure serotype-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody levels post-vaccination with the current human reference serum standard (007sp) for anti-pneumococcal capsule antibodies. Development of new pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) with additional serotypes not in 007sp (e.g.

Maintenance of stem cell self-renewal by sex chromosomal zinc-finger transcription factors.

In this Editorial review, we would like to focus on a very recent discovery showing the global autosomal gene regulation by Y- and inactivated X-chromosomal transcription factors, zinc finger gene on the Y chromosome (ZFY) and zinc finger protein X-linked (ZFX). ZFX and ZFY are both zinc-finger proteins that encode general transcription factors abundant in hematopoietic and embryonic stem cells. Although both proteins are homologs, interestingly, the regulation of self-renewal by these transcriptional factors is almost exclusive to ZFX.

Molecular characterization of the archaic HLA-B*73:01 allele reveals presentation of a unique peptidome and skewed engagement by KIR2DL2.

HLA class I alleles of archaic origin may have been retained in modern humans because they provide immunity against diseases to which archaic humans had evolved resistance. According to this model, archaic introgressed alleles were somehow distinct from those that evolved in African populations. Here we show that HLA-B*73:01, a rare allotype with putative archaic origins, has a relatively rare peptide binding motif with an unusually long-tailed peptide length distribution.

An elastic siderophore synthetase and rubbery substrates assemble multimeric linear and macrocyclic hydroxamic acid metal chelators.

The trihydroxamic acid bacterial siderophore desferrioxamine B (DFOB, 1) produced by the DesABCD biosynthetic cluster coordinates metals beyond Fe(iii), which identifies potential to modify this chelator type to broaden metal sequestration and/or delivery applications. Rather than producing discrete chelators by total chemical synthesis from native monomers including -hydroxy--succinyl-cadaverine (HSC, 2), the recombinant siderophore synthetase from CNB-440 (DesD) was used with different substrate combinations to produce biocombinatorial mixtures of hydroxamic acid chelators. The mixtures were screened with Ga(iii) or Zr(iv) as surrogates of immunological positron emission tomography (PET) imaging radiometals Ga(iii) or Zr(iv) to inform known or new coordination chemistry.

Harmonization of Vaccine Ligand Binding Assays Validation.

The urgency and importance of organizing a global effort to harmonize clinical assay validation specific to the vaccine industry was identified during the drafting of the 2020 White Paper in Bioanalysis due to the lack of clarity and regulatory guidance/guidelines in vaccine immunoassay validation. Indeed, the Workshop on Recent Issues in Bioanalysis (WRIB) issues the White Paper in Bioanalysis yearly, which is one of the high-profile articles of the Journal focused on detailed discussions and recommendations on vaccine assay validation. Since 2017, participation in the WRIB working groups by vaccine assay validation experts and regulators has rapidly increased due to its unique format where industry leaders and regulators can meet and exchange ideas on topics of interest to both groups.

Patient-reported outcomes in Irish adolescents who were born with cleft lip and palate.

Background & Purpose: Cleft Lip and/or Palate, which affects approximately 1:650 live births in Ireland, is a complex congenital condition with lifelong implications. It can affect upper airway function, feeding, hearing, speech development, dental development as well as oral functioning, facial growth and physical appearance. Within cleft surgery, rigorous audit of speech, facial growth and nasolabial aesthetic outcomes is well-established.

Long-lived lung megakaryocytes contribute to platelet recovery in thrombocytopenia models.

Lung megakaryocytes (Mks) are largely extravascular with an immune phenotype (1). Because bone marrow (BM) Mks are short lived, it has been assumed that extravascular lung Mks are constantly "seeded" from the BM. To investigate lung Mk origins and how origin affects their functions, we developed methods to specifically label lung Mks using CFSE dye and biotin delivered via the oropharyngeal route.

Intrapulmonary T Cells Are Sufficient for -Induced Pulmonary Hypertension.

Background: Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection that can cause pulmonary hypertension (PH). Th2 CD4 T cells are necessary for experimental -PH. However, if T cells migrate to the lung to initiate, the localized inflammation that drives vascular remodeling and PH is unknown.

Traumatic Brain Injury and Genetic Risk for Alzheimer's Disease Impact Cerebrospinal Fluid β-Amyloid Levels in Vietnam War Veterans.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) may increase the risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and its neuropathological correlates, although the mechanisms of this relationship are unclear. The current study examined the synergistic effects of TBI and genetic risk for AD on β-amyloid (Aβ) levels among Vietnam War Veterans. We hypothesized that the combination of TBI and higher polygenic risk score (PRS) for AD would be associated with lower cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ.

Bridging the divide: supporting and mentoring trainees to conceptualize, plan, and integrate engagement of people with lived experience in health research.

Health researchers are encouraged by governments, funders, and journals to conduct research in partnership with people with lived experience. However, conducting research with authentic engagement and partnership with those who are experts by experience, but may not have research methods training, requires resources and specialized skills. The McMaster Collaborative for Health and Aging developed a fellowship program for trainees that builds their capacity to conduct research in partnership with older adults with relevant lived experience.

The production of siderophore analogues using precursor-directed biosynthesis.

Siderophores are low-molecular-weight organic bacterial and fungal secondary metabolites that form high affinity complexes with Fe(III). These Fe(III)-siderophore complexes are part of the siderophore-mediated Fe(III) uptake mechanism, which is the most widespread strategy used by microbes to access sufficient iron for growth. Microbial competition for limited iron is met by biosynthetic gene clusters that encode for the biosynthesis of siderophores with variable molecular scaffolds and iron binding motifs.

Influence of deep eutectic solvents on redox biocatalysis involving alcohol dehydrogenases.

Redox biocatalysis plays an increasingly important role in modern organic synthesis. The recent integration of novel media such as deep eutectic solvents (DESs) has significantly impacted this field of chemical biology. Alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) are important biocatalysts where their unique specificity is used for enantioselective synthesis.

Development of a nanoparticle-based tendon-targeting drug delivery system to pharmacologically modulate tendon healing.

Satisfactory healing following acute tendon injury is marred by fibrosis. Despite the high frequency of tendon injuries and poor outcomes, there are no pharmacological therapies in use to enhance the healing process. Moreover, systemic treatments demonstrate poor tendon homing, limiting the beneficial effects of potential tendon therapeutics.

Interstitial macrophage phenotypes in -induced pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Schistosomiasis is a common cause of pulmonary hypertension (PH) worldwide. Type 2 inflammation contributes to the development of Schistosoma-induced PH. Specifically, interstitial macrophages (IMs) derived from monocytes play a pivotal role by producing thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), which in turn activates TGF-β, thereby driving the pathology of PH.

Mercury Induced Autoimmunity: A Case of CASPR2/LGI1 Autoimmune Encephalitis in a 14-Month-old.

Contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CASPR2) autoantibodies are among those associated with several syndromes with effects on both the central and peripheral nervous systems including neuropathy and encephalitis and is most commonly seen in middle-aged to elderly males. We present a case of autoimmune encephalitis in a 14-month-old female presenting with altered mental status, refusal to bear weight, and hypertension in the setting of mercury exposure. This is the youngest reported case of CASPR2/LGI1/VGKC antibody associated autoimmune encephalitis stimulated by mercury exposure.

DNA at the whim of the water: environmental DNA as a course-based undergraduate research experience.

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) increase student access to high impact research experiences. CUREs engage students in the scientific process by learning how to pose scientific questions, develop hypotheses, and generate data to test them. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a growing field of research that is gaining accessibility through decreasing laboratory costs, which can make a foundation for multiple, engaging CUREs.

Relationship between Timed Up and Go performance and quantitative biomechanical measures of balance.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) impairs sensory-motor functions, with debilitating consequences on postural control and balance, which persist during the chronic stages of recovery. The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test is a reliable, safe, time-efficient, and one of the most widely used clinical measures to assess gait, balance, and fall risk in TBI patients and is extensively used in inpatient and outpatient settings. Although the TUG test has been used extensively due to its ease of performance and excellent reliability, limited research has been published that investigates the relationship between TUG performance and quantitative biomechanical measures of balance.

2023 White Paper on Recent Issues in Bioanalysis: ISR for ADA Assays, the Rise of dPCR vs qPCR, International Reference Standards for Vaccine Assays, Anti-AAV TAb Post-Dose Assessment, NanoString Validation, ELISpot as Gold Standard - Recommendations on Gene Therapy, Cell Therapy, Vaccines Immunogenicity & Technologies; Biotherapeutics Immunogenicity & Risk Assessment; ADA/NAb Assay/Reporting Harmonization).

The 17 Workshop on Recent Issues in Bioanalysis (17 WRIB) took place in Orlando, FL, USA on June 19-23, 2023. Over 1000 professionals representing pharma/biotech companies, CROs, and multiple regulatory agencies convened to actively discuss the most current topics of interest in bioanalysis. The 17 WRIB included 3 Main Workshops and 7 Specialized Workshops that together spanned 1 week to allow an exhaustive and thorough coverage of all major issues in bioanalysis of biomarkers, immunogenicity, gene therapy, cell therapy and vaccines.

Efficacy and safety of using auditory-motor entrainment to improve walking after stroke: a multi-site randomized controlled trial of InTandem.

Walking slowly after stroke reduces health and quality of life. This multi-site, prospective, interventional, 2-arm randomized controlled trial (NCT04121754) evaluated the safety and efficacy of an autonomous neurorehabilitation system (InTandem) designed to use auditory-motor entrainment to improve post-stroke walking. 87 individuals were randomized to 5-week walking interventions with InTandem or Active Control (i.

An uncommon presentation of a multifocal spinal osseous sarcoidosis: A case report on the diagnosis and exclusion with literature review.

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease of indeterminate etiology. Women are more commonly affected than men at nearly twice the incidence with black women most commonly afflicted in the United States. Osseous spinal sarcoidosis (SS) is thought to be uncommon.

Motor-Cognitive Virtual Reality Training to Improve Gait and Balance in Young Adults with TBI.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of motor and cognitive deficits in adults, and often results in motor control and balance impairments. Motor deficits include gait dysfunction and decreased postural control & coordination; leading to compromised functional ambulation and reduced quality of life. Research has shown that cognitive (attention and executive) function contributes to motor deficits and recovery.

EEG Based Cortico-Muscular Connectivity During Standing Early Post Stroke.

In this exploratory study we studied brain activation and corticomuscular connectivity during standing in healthy individuals and persons with stroke within 40 days of cerebrovascular accident (CVA). EEG and EMG data were acquired during standing and analysis showed a trend of higher EEG power (hyper activation) in the stroke group. Direct corticomuscular connectivity between sensorimotor cortices and contralateral lower extremity muscles showed lower connectivity between affected motor, premotor, and sensory cortices, and contralateral lower extremity peripheral muscles with moderate effect size.

Intensity Modulated Exoskeleton Gait Training Post Stroke.

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability. While major advances have been made in early intervention for the treatment of patients post stroke, the majority of survivors have residual mobility challenges. Recovery of motor function is dependent on the interrelationship between dosing, intensity, and task specific practice applied during rehabilitation.