DNA barcode library of Portuguese water mites, with the descriptions of two new species (Acari, Hydrachnidia).

This study presents the first results from the analysis of water mites collected in Portugal as part of the Biodiversity Genomics Europe project. 307 COI DNA barcodes clustered into 75 BINs are provided, with 38 BINs being unique and deposited for the first time in the Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD). 65 species have been identified, of which 36 are new to the water mite fauna of Portugal.

Impaired survival of patients with non donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies before HLA-mismatched allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Background: While the detrimental role of donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSAs) is well-described in the setting of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), few studies focus on non donor-specific ones and with controversial results.

Methods: We here report our monocenter experience on 64 adult patients receiving allogeneic HSCT from a HLA-mismatched donor between 2014 and 2022 who were tested for the presence of anti-HLA antibodies before transplant, focusing on fifteen patients with non donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies.

Results: The survival of patients with non donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies was inferior with respect to patients without anti-HLA antibodies and similar to patients with DSAs.

Sensing of an HIV-1-Derived Single-Stranded RNA-Oligonucleotide Induces Arginase 1-Mediated Tolerance.

Small synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) can mimic microbial nucleic acids by interacting with receptor systems and promoting immunostimulatory activities. Nevertheless, some ODNs can act differently on the plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) subset, shaping their immunoregulatory properties and rendering them suitable immunotherapeutic tools in several clinical settings for treating overwhelming immune responses. We designed HIV-1-derived, DNA- and RNA-based oligonucleotides (gag, pol, and U5 regions) and assessed their activity in conferring a tolerogenic phenotype to pDCs in skin test experiments.