The TCF7L2-dependent high-voltage activated calcium channel subunit α2δ-1 controls calcium signaling in rodent pancreatic beta-cells.

The transcription factor TCF7L2 remains the most important diabetes gene identified to date and genetic risk carriers exhibit lower insulin secretion. We show that Tcf7l2 regulates the auxiliary subunit of voltage-gated Ca channels, Cacna2d1 gene/α2δ-1 protein levels. Furthermore, suppression of α2δ-1 decreased voltage-gated Ca currents and high glucose/depolarization-evoked Ca signaling which mimicked the effect of silencing of Tcf7l2.

TCF7L2 is a master regulator of insulin production and processing.

Genome-wide association studies have revealed >60 loci associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D), but the underlying causal variants and functional mechanisms remain largely elusive. Although variants in TCF7L2 confer the strongest risk of T2D among common variants by presumed effects on islet function, the molecular mechanisms are not yet well understood. Using RNA-sequencing, we have identified a TCF7L2-regulated transcriptional network responsible for its effect on insulin secretion in rodent and human pancreatic islets.

Inactivation of coxsackievirus B4, feline calicivirus and herpes simplex virus type 1: unexpected virucidal effect of a disinfectant on a non-enveloped virus applied onto a surface.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a disinfectant onto viruses in suspension on the one hand and applied onto a surface on the other.

Methods: A system combining flocked swabs to recover viruses dried onto stainless steel carriers and gel filtration to eliminate cytotoxic products has been developed to study the virucidal effect of a quaternary ammonium-based disinfectant towards herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), coxsackievirus B4 (CVB4) and feline calicivirus F9 (FCV). The recovery of FCV has been estimated by RT real-time PCR.

Inactivation of an enterovirus by airborne disinfectants.

Background: The activity of airborne disinfectants on bacteria, fungi and spores has been reported. However, the issue of the virucidal effect of disinfectants spread by fogging has not been studied thoroughly.

Methods: A procedure has been developed to determine the virucidal activity of peracetic acid-based airborne disinfectants on a resistant non-enveloped virus poliovirus type 1.

A respiratory syncytial virus isolate enables the testing of virucidal products.

The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is known as a major cause of respiratory infections and nosocomial diseases. Testing this virus is rather difficult due to the problems encountered in producing it at a high titer without using any purification method. A RSV isolate which replicates to high level on a Hep-2 cell line with an infectious titer of at least 10(7)TCID(50)mL(-1) in culture supernatant fluids has been identified.