A nuclear redox sensor modulates gene activation and switching in .

The virulence of , which causes the deadliest form of human malaria, is attributed to its ability to evade the human immune response. These parasites "choose" to express a single variant from a repertoire of surface antigens called PfEMP1, which are placed on the surface of the infected red cell. Immune evasion is achieved by switches in expression between genes, each encoding a different EMP1 variant.

Diffraction contrast in cryo-scanning transmission electron tomography reveals the boundary of hemozoin crystals .

Malaria is a potentially fatal infectious disease caused by the obligate intracellular parasite . The parasite infects human red blood cells (RBC) and derives nutrition by catabolism of hemoglobin. As amino acids are assimilated from the protein component, the toxic heme is released.

Disease severity of people with cystic fibrosis carrying residual function mutations: Data from the ECFS Patient Registry.

Rational: People with cystic fibrosis carrying residual function (RF) mutations are considered to have a mild disease course. This may influence caregivers and patients on how intensive the treatments should be.

Objectives: Characterize disease severity of patients carrying RF mutations, using the European CF Society Patient Registry (ECFSPR) data.

Food Security and Nutrition as the Neglected Missing Links in Cultural Evolution: The Role of the Sociotype.

Food security and nutrition were major drivers of cultural evolution by enabling sociotypic development and communal living after the Neolithic agricultural revolution some 12,000 years ago. The sociotype unites concepts from the sciences and the humanities; in concert with the genotype it determines an individual's phenotype (observable traits and behavior), and together they advance societal culture. As such, the sociotype relates to an individual's dynamic interactions with the surrounding social environment throughout life and comprises three domains: the Individual, Relationships, and Context.

DNA methylation and transcriptomic features are preserved throughout disease recurrence and chemoresistance in high grade serous ovarian cancers.

Background: Little is known about the role of global DNA methylation in recurrence and chemoresistance of high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC).

Methods: We performed whole genome bisulfite sequencing and transcriptome sequencing in 62 primary and recurrent tumors from 28 patients with stage III/IV HGSOC, of which 11 patients carried germline, pathogenic BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 mutations.

Results: Landscapes of genome-wide methylation (on average 24.

Assaying Interactions Between Neutrophils and Plasmodium falciparum-Infected Red Blood Cells.

Plasmodium falciparum, which causes the deadliest form of human malaria, is able to evade antibody-mediated immune responses through switches in expression of surface antigens. Thus, over the years, the focus of most research has been on the role of the adaptive immune response in the course of malaria. However, in recent years there is mounting evidence for the role of the innate immune response to Plasmodium infections.

CRISPR-Cas9 Editing of the Plasmodium falciparum Genome: Special Applications.

The virulence of Plasmodium falciparum has been attributed in large part to the expression on the surface of infected red blood cells of the variant surface antigen Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1). Different forms of this protein are encoded by individual members of the multicopy gene family called var. Two attributes of the var gene family are key to the pathogenesis of malaria caused by P.

Resetting var Gene Transcription in Plasmodium falciparum.

One of the key mechanisms contributing to the virulence of Plasmodium falciparum is its ability to undergo antigenic switching among antigenically distinct variants of the PfEMP1 adhesive proteins, encoded by the var gene family. To avoid premature exposure of its antigenic repertoire, the parasite transcribes its var genes in a mutually exclusive manner, and switch expression at a very slow rate. This process is epigenetically regulated and it relies on "epigenetic memory," which imprints the single active var gene to remain active for multiple replication cycles.

Characterization of Meningitis and Meningoencephalitis in the Israeli Defense Forces From 2004 to 2015: A Population-Based Study.

Background: Meningitis and meningoencephalitis (MME) are potential medical emergencies. Mandatory reporting of all MME cases in the Israel Defense Force (IDF) allows accurate characterization of MME incidence and course. In the present study, we described the epidemiology of MME in soldiers.

Pathogens in ticks collected in Israel: II. Bacteria and protozoa found in Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato and Rhipicephalus turanicus.

Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato and Rhipicephalus turanicus are very prevalent in Israel and are known to be vectors of human and animal diseases. The aim of this study was to identify the pathogens found in questing ticks and such parasitizing domestic and wild animals. Ticks were collected from 16 localities in Israel with the flagging technique and by examining dogs, hedgehogs, a badger and a tortoise.

Nutritional Outcomes One Year after One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass Compared to Sleeve Gastrectomy.

One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (OAGB) and Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG) are the most common bariatric procedures performed worldwide. SG is a restrictive procedure whereas OAGB involves malabsorption as well, supposing a risk of deficiency development post OAGB. The aim of the study was to compare nutritional deficiencies and metabolic markers one year after the procedures, while adhering to the current protocols.

Overexpression of UBA5 in Cells Mimics the Phenotype of Cells Lacking UBA5.

Ufmylation is a posttranslational modification in which the modifier UFM1 is attached to target proteins. This conjugation requires the concerted work of three enzymes named UBA5, UFC1, and UFL1. Initially, UBA5 activates UFM1 in a process that ends with UFM1 attached to UBA5's active site Cys.

Emerging biology of noncoding RNAs in malaria parasites.

In eukaryotic organisms, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been implicated as important regulators of multifaceted biological processes, including transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and epigenetic regulation of gene expression. In recent years, it is becoming clear that protozoan parasites encode diverse ncRNA transcripts; however, little is known about their cellular functions. Recent advances in high-throughput "omic" studies identified many novel long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) in apicomplexan parasites, some of which undergo splicing, polyadenylation, and encode small proteins.

Endoscopic versus fluoroscopic esophageal dilatations in children with esophageal strictures: 10-year experience.

Esophageal strictures in children may cause dysphagia, choking during feeds, and failure to thrive. They can be treated by balloon dilatations, either under endoscopic or fluoroscopic guidance; there is no literature comparing the methods. Retrospective review of the medical records of children (0-18 years) who were treated with balloon dilatations between 2010 and 2020.

NK Cells Under Hypoxia: The Two Faces of Vascularization in Tumor and Pregnancy.

Environmental conditions greatly shape the phenotype and function of immune cells. Specifically, hypoxic conditions that exist within tissues and organs have been reported to affect both the adaptive and the innate immune system. Natural killer (NK) cells belong to the innate immune system.

Spontaneous pauses in firing of external pallidum neurons are associated with exploratory behavior.

Spontaneous pauses in firing are the hallmark of external pallidum (GPe) neurons. However, the role of GPe pauses in the basal ganglia network remains unknown. Pupil size and saccadic eye movements have been linked to attention and exploration.

B cell-derived cfDNA after primary BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination anticipates memory B cells and SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies.

Background: Much remains unknown regarding the response of the immune system to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination.

Methods: We employed circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) to assess the turnover of specific immune cell types following administration of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

Findings: The levels of B cell cfDNA after the primary dose correlated with development of neutralizing antibodies and memory B cells after the booster, revealing a link between early B cell turnover-potentially reflecting affinity maturation-and later development of effective humoral response.

Comparative parallel multi-omics analysis during the induction of pluripotent and trophectoderm states.

Following fertilization, it is only at the 32-64-cell stage when a clear segregation between cells of the inner cell mass and trophectoderm is observed, suggesting a 'T'-shaped model of specification. Here, we examine whether the acquisition of these two states in vitro, by nuclear reprogramming, share similar dynamics/trajectories. Using a comparative parallel multi-omics analysis (i.

Elevated brain-derived cell-free DNA among patients with first psychotic episode - a proof-of-concept study.

Schizophrenia is a common, severe, and debilitating psychiatric disorder. Despite extensive research there is as yet no biological marker that can aid in its diagnosis and course prediction. This precludes early detection and intervention.

Activation of CEACAM1 with an agonistic monoclonal antibody results in inhibition of melanoma cells.

Inhibitory receptors (IRs), such as the carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1), are cell surface molecules expressed on both normal epithelial, endothelial, and hematopoietic cells and on neoplastic cells. IRs are usually used by cancer cells to inhibit immune cell functions. Thus, CEACAM1 positive tumor cells can interact homophilically with CEACAM1 expressed on T and NK cells to inhibit their antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC).

The Physical Activity Level of Ophthalmologists at Work: A Pedometer-Based Study.

Background: Ophthalmology practice entails many hours of physical inactivity, a potential long-term health hazard. This study aims to perform a pedometer-based evaluation of the physical activity (PA) levels of ophthalmologists at work.

Methods: This is a prospective observational study.

The Obesogenic and Glycemic Effect of Bariatric Surgery in a Family with a Melanocortin 4 Receptor Loss-of-Function Mutation.

We report the long-term response to bariatric surgery in a singular family of four adolescents with severe obesity (41-82 kg/m), homozygous for the C271R loss-of-function mutation in the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R), and three adults heterozygous for the same mutation. All patients had similar sociodemographic backgrounds and were followed for an average of 7 years. Three of the four homozygous patients regained their full weight (42-77 kg/m), while the fourth lost weight but remained obese with a body mass index of 60 kg/m.

Head louse infestations before and during the COVID-19 epidemic in Israel.

Head louse infestations caused by Pediculus humanus capitis (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae) are a public health problem in developing and developed countries worldwide. Head to head contact is by far the most common mode of lice transmission. In March 2020, WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic.