Redescription of Brevimulticaecum baylisi () (Nematoda: Heterocheilidae), a parasite of Caiman crocodilus (Crocodylia: Alligatoridae) in the north-eastern Peruvian Amazon.

Caiman crocodilus is among the most abundant and widely distributed predators in the Neotropical region. These animals consume prey such as crustaceans, birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, which can carry infective larval forms of nematodes. Brevimulticaecum has few studies on its morphology available, lacking detailed images.

Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy Ablation in Pericytes Reveals New Glioblastoma Prognostic Markers and Efficient Treatment Against Tumor Progression.

The lack of knowledge of the progression mechanisms of glioblastoma (GB), the most aggressive brain tumor, contributes to the absence of successful therapeutic strategies. Our team has recently demonstrated a crucial new role for chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) in pericytes (PC)-acquired immunosuppressive function, which prevents anti-tumor immune responses and facilitates GB progression. The possible impact that GB-induced CMA in PC has on other functions that might be useful for future GB prognosis/treatment, has not been explored yet.

Coordinated signals from the DNA repair enzymes PARP-1 and PARP-2 promotes B-cell development and function.

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)-1 and PARP-2 regulate the function of various DNA-interacting proteins by transferring ADP-ribose emerging from catalytic cleavage of cellular β-NAD. Hence, mice lacking PARP-1 or PARP-2 show DNA perturbations ranging from altered DNA integrity to impaired DNA repair. These effects stem from the central role that PARP-1 and PARP-2 have on the cellular response to DNA damage.

Extracellular adenosine reversibly inhibits the activation of human regulatory T cells and negatively influences the achievement of the operational tolerance in liver transplantation.

The artificial induction of tolerance in transplantation is gaining strength. In mice, a differential role of extracellular adenosine (eADO) for regulatory and effector T cells (Tregs and Teffs, respectively) has been proposed: inhibiting Teffs and inducing Tregs. The aim of this study was to analyze the action of extracellular nucleotides in human T cells and, moreover, to examine the influence of CD39 and CD73 ectonucleotidases and subsequent adenosine signaling through adenosine 2 receptor (A R) in the induction of clinical tolerance after liver transplant.

PARP-1/PARP-2 double deficiency in mouse T cells results in faulty immune responses and T lymphomas.

The maintenance of T-cell homeostasis must be tightly regulated. Here, we have identified a coordinated role of Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) and PARP-2 in maintaining T-lymphocyte number and function. Mice bearing a T-cell specific deficiency of PARP-2 in a PARP-1-deficient background showed defective thymocyte maturation and diminished numbers of peripheral CD4 and CD8 T-cells.

A novel chemo-mechano-biological model of arterial tissue growth and remodelling.

Arterial growth and remodelling (G&R) is mediated by vascular cells in response to their chemical and mechanical environment. To date, mechanical and biochemical stimuli tend to be modelled separately, however this ignores their complex interplay. Here, we present a novel mathematical model of arterial chemo-mechano-biology.

Serine residues in the LAT adaptor are essential for TCR-dependent signal transduction.

The adaptor protein LAT has a prominent role in the transduction of intracellular signals elicited by the TCR/CD3 complex. Upon TCR engagement, LAT becomes tyrosine-phosphorylated and thereby, recruits to the membrane several proteins implicated in the activation of downstream signaling pathways. However, little is known about the role of other conserved motifs present in the LAT sequence.

FoxP3 in peripheral blood is associated with operational tolerance in liver transplant patients during immunosuppression withdrawal.

Background: Human liver allografts do sometimes survive in a recipient after withdrawal of immunosuppression (IS), commonly referred to as "operational tolerance." Preliminary clinical data have suggested an increase in the frequency of regulatory T cells (Treg) CD4+CD25 high and FoxP3 expression in operationally tolerant liver transplant recipients (Gr-T). In the context of human liver transplantation, the dynamics of Treg have not been studied.

Transcriptional regulation by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 during T cell activation.

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests an important role for the enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) as an integral part of the gene expression regulatory machinery during development and in response to specific cellular signals. PARP-1 might modulate gene expression through its catalytic activity leading to poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of nuclear proteins or by its physical association with relevant proteins. Recently, we have shown that PARP-1 is activated during T cell activation.

Isotopic discrimination as a tool for organic farming certification in sweet pepper.

Organic farming is a form of agriculture that excludes the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms. These fertilizers have been traditionally overused in conventional farming to avoid lost revenue, but this often not does not take into account the potential contamination of aquifers and river due to nitrate leaching. Transition to organic farming practices could provide an instrument to reduce contamination and increase potential income.

Activation of T lymphocytes and the role of the adapter LAT.

The adapter molecule LAT (Linker for the Activation of T cells) is a membrane protein that becomes phosphorylated on conserved tyrosine residues upon TCR/CD3 complex engagement in T lymphocytes. Tyrosine phosphorylation of this adapter recruits to the membrane many signaling proteins through the interaction with the phosphotyrosine binding domains of these proteins, allowing the activation of several intracellular signaling pathways. Initial studies performed in T cell lines suggested that the adapter LAT acts primarily as a platform for the distribution of activation signals coming from the TCR/CD3 complex, and the phenotype of LAT deficient mice, in which T cell development is arrested at an early stage, supported this "activatory" function.

PARP-2 deficiency affects the survival of CD4+CD8+ double-positive thymocytes.

Poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase-2 (PARP-2) belongs to a large family of enzymes that synthesize and transfer ADP-ribose polymers to acceptor proteins, modifying their functional properties. PARP-2-deficient (Parp-2-/-) cells, similar to Parp-1-/- cells, are sensitive to both ionizing radiation and alkylating agents. Here we show that inactivation of mouse Parp-2, but not Parp-1, produced a two-fold reduction in CD4+CD8+ double-positive (DP) thymocytes associated with decreased DP cell survival.

Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 interferes in the chlamydial life cycle.

Chlamydiaceae are intracellular bacteria responsible for a variety of infections, ranging from asymptomatic to very severe, in humans and animals. We have investigated the role of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) in Chlamydophila abortus infection using PARP-1-/- and their littermates PARP-1+/+ mice. Infection was resolved more efficiently by PARP-1-/- than PARP-1+/+ mice.

Signalling via CD70, a member of the TNF family, regulates T cell functions.

In the present work, we provide data supporting that CD70, a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related molecule, defined as the CD27 ligand (CD27L), may actively regulate T cell functions similarly to other members of the TNF family (i.e., CD40L and CD30L).

Aggregation of MHC class I molecules on a CD8+ alphabeta T cell clone specifically inhibits non-antigen-specific lysis of target cells.

MHC class I molecules are target molecules recognized by TCR or NK receptors encoded in the NK gene cluster or leukocyte receptor cluster. We show that aggregation of MHC class I molecules by specific monoclonal antibodies on cytotoxic T cells, inhibits the anti-CD94 redirected lysis of P815. This inhibition is not the consequence of apoptosis or anergy of the cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Independent induction of two blue light-dependent monovalent anion transport systems in the plasma membrane of Monoraphidium braunii.

In the plasma membrane of the green alga Monoraphidium braunii there are at least two monovalent anion transport systems. One of them is specific for bicarbonate. This transport system is activated by blue light and its induction is triggered by a decrease in the external CO2 concentration.

Human T cell receptor-mediated recognition of HLA-E.

The HLA-E class Ib molecule presents hydrophobic peptides derived from the leader sequences of other class I molecules, constituting the ligands for CD94/NKG2 lectin-like receptors. Along the course of our studies on human CD94+ T cells, we characterized an alpha beta CD8+CD94/NKG2C+ CTL clone (K14). In cytolytic assays against the murine TAP-deficient RMA-S cells transfected with human beta2 microglobulin and HLA-E (RMA-S/HLA-E), loaded with different synthetic peptides, K14 displayed a pattern of specific recognition distinct to that observed in CD94/NKG2C+ NK clones tested in parallel.

Haematopoietic progenitor cells from adult bone marrow differentiate into cells that express oligodendroglial antigens in the neonatal mouse brain.

Stem cells are self-renewable, pluripotent cells that, in adult life, proliferate by a characteristic asymmetric division in which one daughter cell is committed to differentiation whereas the other remains a stem cell. These cells are also characterized by their ability to differentiate into various cell types under heterotopic environmental influences. In the present study, we have explored the potential of adult haematopoietic bone marrow cells to differentiate into cells of oligodendroglial lineage under physiological, active myelinating conditions.

Role of ICAM-3 in the initial interaction of T lymphocytes and APCs.

Antigen-independent adhesive interactions between T lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells (APCs) are essential for scanning for specific antigens on the APC surface and for initiating the immune response. Here we show, through time-lapse imaging of live cells, that the intercellular adhesion molecule 3 (ICAM-3, also known as CD50) is clustered specifically at the region of the T lymphocyte surface that initiates contact with APCs. We describe the role of ICAM-3 in T cell-APC conjugate formation before antigen recognition, in early intracellular signaling and in cytoskeletal rearrangement.

FLAVIN TYPE ACTION SPECTRUM OF NITRATE UTILIZATION BY Monoraphidium braunii.

The light-dependent utilization of nitrate by the green alga Monoraphidium braunii, coming from nocturnal dark periods, shows an action spectrum of flavin type with two main bands: one in the blue, peaking at 450 and 480 nm, and the other in the near-UV region with a maximum at 365 nm. Other results indicate that cells growing on nitrate as the only nitrogen source resynthesize nitrate reductase daily, which implies the nocturnal loss of this enzyme. The biosynthesis of nitrate reductase at the beginning of the light periods can proceed under red light.