Novel Murine Pancreatic Tumor Model Demonstrates Immunotherapeutic Control of Tumor Progression by a Toxoplasma gondii Protein.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, with few effective treatments available and only 10% of those diagnosed surviving 5 years. Although immunotherapeutics is a growing field of study in cancer biology, there has been little progress in its use for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is considered a nonimmunogenic tumor because the tumor microenvironment does not easily allow for the immune system, even when stimulated, to attack the cancer.

ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: .

Members of the family produce enveloped virions containing a linear negative-sense non-segmented RNA genome of about 9 kb. Bornaviruses are found in mammals, birds, reptiles and fish. The most-studied viruses with public health and veterinary impact are Borna disease virus 1 and variegated squirrel bornavirus 1, both of which cause fatal encephalitis in humans.

Patient-Derived Cancer Organoid Cultures to Predict Sensitivity to Chemotherapy and Radiation.

Purpose: Cancer treatment is limited by inaccurate predictors of patient-specific therapeutic response. Therefore, some patients are exposed to unnecessary side effects and delays in starting effective therapy. A clinical tool that predicts treatment sensitivity for individual patients is needed.

Taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales: update 2019.

In February 2019, following the annual taxon ratification vote, the order Mononegavirales was amended by the addition of four new subfamilies and 12 new genera and the creation of 28 novel species. This article presents the updated taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales as now accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV).

Taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales: second update 2018.

In October 2018, the order Mononegavirales was amended by the establishment of three new families and three new genera, abolishment of two genera, and creation of 28 novel species. This article presents the updated taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales as now accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV).

Strengthening the Interaction of the Virology Community with the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) by Linking Virus Names and Their Abbreviations to Virus Species.

The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) is tasked with classifying viruses into taxa (phyla to species) and devising taxon names. Virus names and virus name abbreviations are currently not within the ICTV's official remit and are not regulated by an official entity. Many scientists, medical/veterinary professionals, and regulatory agencies do not address evolutionary questions nor are they concerned with the hierarchical organization of the viral world, and therefore, have limited use for ICTV-devised taxa.

Activating Mutations in Contribute to Anal Carcinogenesis in the Presence or Absence of HPV-16 Oncogenes.

Purpose: Over 95% of human anal cancers are etiologically associated with high-risk HPVs, with HPV type 16 (HPV16) the genotype most commonly found. Activating mutations in the catalytic subunit of Phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate kinase (PI3K), encoded by the gene, are detected in approximately 20% of human anal cancers. We asked if common activating mutations in contribute to anal carcinogenesis using an established mouse model for anal carcinogenesis in which mice are topically treated with the chemical carcinogen 7,12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA).

MTORC1/2 Inhibition as a Therapeutic Strategy for Mutant Cancers.

mutations are common in clinical molecular profiling, yet an effective means to target these cancers has yet to be developed. MTORC1 inhibitors are often used off-label for patients with mutant cancers with only limited data to support this approach. Here we describe a cohort of patients treated with cancers possessing mutations activating the PI3K signaling cascade with minimal benefit to treatment with the MTORC1 inhibitor everolimus.

Apparent resolution of parrot bornavirus infection in cockatiels ().

Parrot bornavirus (PaBV), the etiologic agent of proventricular dilatation disease (PDD), is a major cause of concern in the avian health community. Within an infected flock, some birds will develop PDD and succumb to disease, while others remain healthy. Until now, there has been no study describing the results of long-term infection in apparently healthy carriers.

Avian Vaccination: Current Options and Strategies.

Researchers have generated an array of potential avian antiviral vaccines. However, vaccine and viral complexity, small profit margins, the cost of development and manufacturing, and the small population at risk relegate most avian vaccine use to commercial species. Some vaccines designed for use in nonavian species are used to prevent or ameliorate disease in exotic and companion birds.

Taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales: update 2018.

In 2018, the order Mononegavirales was expanded by inclusion of 1 new genus and 12 novel species. This article presents the updated taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales as now accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) and summarizes additional taxonomic proposals that may affect the order in the near future.

Studies on immunity and immunopathogenesis of parrot bornaviral disease in cockatiels.

We have demonstrated that vaccination of cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) with killed parrot bornavirus (PaBV) plus recombinant PaBV-4 nucleoprotein (N) in alum was protective against disease in birds challenged with a virulent bornavirus isolate (PaBV-2). Unvaccinated birds, as well as birds vaccinated after challenge, developed gross and histologic lesions typical of proventricular dilatation disease (PDD). There was no evidence that vaccination either before or after challenge made the infection more severe.

Versican-Derived Matrikines Regulate Batf3-Dendritic Cell Differentiation and Promote T Cell Infiltration in Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer originates within immunologically complex microenvironments. To date, the benefits of immunotherapy have been modest, except in neoantigen-laden mismatch repair-deficient tumors. Approaches to enhance tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in the tumor bed may substantially augment clinical immunotherapy responses.

Aquatic Bird Bornavirus-Associated Disease in Free-Living Canada Geese ( Branta canadensis ) in the Northeastern USA.

During the winter of 2013-14, 22 Canada geese ( Branta canadensis ) were admitted to the Wildlife Clinic at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University with nonspecific neurologic abnormalities and emaciation. Five of these geese, along with three geese that were submitted dead, were evaluated via histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) for bornaviruses. Histopathologically, six of the eight birds had lymphoplasmacytic encephalitis.

Taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales: update 2017.

In 2017, the order Mononegavirales was expanded by the inclusion of a total of 69 novel species. Five new rhabdovirus genera and one new nyamivirus genus were established to harbor 41 of these species, whereas the remaining new species were assigned to already established genera. Furthermore, non-Latinized binomial species names replaced all paramyxovirus and pneumovirus species names, thereby accomplishing application of binomial species names throughout the entire order.

Dual PI3K/mTOR Inhibition in Colorectal Cancers with and Mutations.

Therapeutic targeting of the PI3K pathway is an active area of research in multiple cancer types, including breast and endometrial cancers. This pathway is commonly altered in cancer and plays an integral role in numerous vital cellular functions. Mutations in the gene, resulting in a constitutively active form of PI3K, often occur in colorectal cancer, though the population of patients who would benefit from targeting this pathway has yet to be identified.

The pathogenesis of proventricular dilatation disease.

Bornaviruses cause neurologic diseases in several species of birds, especially parrots, waterfowl and finches. The characteristic lesions observed in these birds include encephalitis and gross dilatation of the anterior stomach - the proventriculus. The disease is thus known as proventricular dilatation disease (PDD).

Possibility and Challenges of Conversion of Current Virus Species Names to Linnaean Binomials.

Botanical, mycological, zoological, and prokaryotic species names follow the Linnaean format, consisting of an italicized Latinized binomen with a capitalized genus name and a lower case species epithet (e.g., Homo sapiens).

Taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales: update 2016.

In 2016, the order Mononegavirales was emended through the addition of two new families (Mymonaviridae and Sunviridae), the elevation of the paramyxoviral subfamily Pneumovirinae to family status (Pneumoviridae), the addition of five free-floating genera (Anphevirus, Arlivirus, Chengtivirus, Crustavirus, and Wastrivirus), and several other changes at the genus and species levels. This article presents the updated taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales as now accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV).

The pathogenesis of bornaviral diseases in mammals.

Natural bornavirus infections and their resulting diseases are largely restricted to horses and sheep in Central Europe. The disease also occurs naturally in cats, and can be induced experimentally in laboratory rodents and numerous other mammals. Borna disease virus-1 (BoDV-1), the cause of most cases of mammalian Borna disease, is a negative-stranded RNA virus that replicates within the nucleus of target cells.

Colon Cancer Tumorigenesis Initiated by the H1047R Mutant PI3K.

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway is critical for multiple important cellular functions, and is one of the most commonly altered pathways in human cancers. We previously developed a mouse model in which colon cancers were initiated by a dominant active PI3K p110-p85 fusion protein. In that model, well-differentiated mucinous adenocarcinomas developed within the colon and initiated through a non-canonical mechanism that is not dependent on WNT signaling.

Horses naturally infected with EIAV harbor 2 distinct SU populations but are monophyletic with respect to IN.

Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) causes lifelong infections ranging from acutely fatal, to chronic, to asymptomatic. Within infected animals, EIAV is found as a quasispecies. Many experimental studies on EIAV, carried out in the U.