Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Targeting pro-tumoral macrophages in early primary and metastatic breast tumors with CD206-binding mUNO peptide.

M2-like tumor associated macrophages (M2 TAMs) play important roles in resistance of tumors to immunotherapies. Selective depletion or reprogramming of M2 TAMs may sensitize the nonresponsive tumors for immune-mediated eradication. However, precision delivery of payloads to M2 TAMs while sparing healthy tissues has remained an unresolved challenge. Here, we studied the application of a short linear peptide (CSPGAK, "mUNO") for delivery of molecular and nanoscale cargoes in M2 TAMs in vitro and the relevance of the peptide for in vivo targeting of early-stage primary breast tumors and metastatic lung foci. First, we performed in silico modeling and found that mUNO interacts with mouse CD206 via a binding site between lectin domains CTLD1 and CTLD2 - the same site previously demonstrated to be involved in mUNO binding to human CD206. Second, we showed that cultured M2 macrophages take up fluorescein-labeled (FAM) Polymersomes conjugated with mUNO using the sulfhydryl group of its N-terminal cysteine. Pulse-chase studies of FAM-mUNO in M2 macrophages suggested that the peptide avoided lysosomal entrapment and escaped from early endosomes. Third, our in vivo studies with FAM-mUNO demonstrated that intraperitoneal administration results in better pharmacokinetics and higher blood bioavailability than can be achieved with intravenous administration. Intraperitoneal FAM-mUNO, but not FAM-control, showed a robust accumulation in M2-skewed macrophages in mouse models of early primary breast tumor and lung metastasis. This targeting was specific, as no uptake was observed in nonmalignant control organs, including liver, or other cell types in tumor, including M1 macrophages. Collectively, our studies support the application of CD206-binding mUNO peptide for delivery of molecular and nanoscale cargoes to M2 macrophages and manifest the relevance of this mode of targeting primary and metastatic breast tumors.
A Preoperative Clinical Risk Score Including C-Reactive Protein Predicts Histological Tumor Characteristics and Patient Survival after Surgery for Sporadic Non-Functional Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: An International Multicenter Cohort Study †

Background: Oncological survival after resection of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (panNEN) is highly variable depending on various factors. Risk stratification with preoperatively available parameters could guide decision-making in multidisciplinary treatment concepts. C-reactive Protein (CRP) is linked to inferior survival in several malignancies. This study assesses CRP within a novel risk score predicting histology and outcome after surgery for sporadic non-functional panNENs. Methods: A retrospective multicenter study with national exploration and international validation. CRP and other factors associated with overall survival (OS) were evaluated by multivariable cox-regression to create a clinical risk score (CRS). Predictive values regarding OS, disease-specific survival (DSS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were assessed by time-dependent receiver-operating characteristics. Results: Overall, 364 patients were included. Median CRP was significantly higher in patients >60 years, G3, and large tumors. In multivariable analysis, CRP was the strongest preoperative factor for OS in both cohorts. In the combined cohort, CRP (cut-off ≥0.2 mg/dL; hazard-ratio (HR):3.87), metastases (HR:2.80), and primary tumor size ≥3.0 cm (HR:1.83) showed a significant association with OS. A CRS incorporating these variables was associated with postoperative histological grading, T category, nodal positivity, and 90-day morbidity/mortality. Time-dependent area-under-the-curve at 60 months for OS, DSS, and RFS was 69%, 77%, and 67%, respectively (all p < 0.001), and the inclusion of grading further improved the predictive potential (75%, 84%, and 78%, respectively). Conclusions: CRP is a significant marker of unfavorable oncological characteristics in panNENs. The proposed internationally validated CRS predicts histological features and patient survival.
Newcastle Disease Virus as a Vaccine Vector for 20 Years: A Focus on Maternally Derived Antibody Interference

It has been 20 years since Newcastle disease virus (NDV) was first used as a vector. The past two decades have witnessed remarkable progress in vaccine generation based on the NDV vector and optimization of the vector. Protective antigens of a variety of pathogens have been expressed in the NDV vector to generate novel vaccines for animals and humans, highlighting a great potential of NDV as a vaccine vector. More importantly, the research work also unveils a major problem restraining the NDV vector vaccines in poultry, i.e., the interference from maternally derived antibody (MDA). Although many efforts have been taken to overcome MDA interference, a lack of understanding of the mechanism of vaccination inhibition by MDA in poultry still hinders vaccine improvement. In this review, we outline the history of NDV as a vaccine vector by highlighting some milestones. The recent advances in the development of NDV-vectored vaccines or therapeutics for animals and humans are discussed. Particularly, we focus on the mechanisms and hypotheses of vaccination inhibition by MDA and the efforts to circumvent MDA interference with the NDV vector vaccines. Perspectives to fill the gap of understanding concerning the mechanism of MDA interference in poultry and to improve the NDV vector vaccines are also proposed.
Analysis of Paradoxical Efficacy of Carbapenems against Carbapenemase-Producing Escherichia coli in a Murine Model of Lethal Peritonitis

The clinical benefit of carbapenems against carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) remains in question. MICs of imipenem (IMP) and ertapenem (ERT) against isogenic derivatives of the wild-type strain Escherichia coli CFT073 producing KPC-3, OXA-48, or NDM-1 were 0.25, 2, 16, and 64 mg/liter for IMP and 0.008, 0.5, 8, and 64 mg/liter for ERT, respectively. Swiss ICR-strain mice with peritonitis were treated for 24 h with IMP or ERT. Despite a limited duration of time during which free antibiotic concentrations were above the MIC (down to 0% for the NDM-1-producing strain), IMP and ERT significantly reduced bacterial counts in spleen and peritoneal fluid at 24 h (P < 0. ABSTRACT The clinical benefit of carbapenems against carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) remains in question. MICs of imipenem (IMP) and ertapenem (ERT) against isogenic derivatives of the wild-type strain Escherichia coli CFT073 producing KPC-3, OXA-48, or NDM-1 were 0.25, 2, 16, and 64 mg/liter for IMP and 0.008, 0.5, 8, and 64 mg/liter for ERT, respectively. Swiss ICR-strain mice with peritonitis were treated for 24 h with IMP or ERT. Despite a limited duration of time during which free antibiotic concentrations were above the MIC (down to 0% for the NDM-1-producing strain), IMP and ERT significantly reduced bacterial counts in spleen and peritoneal fluid at 24 h (P < 0.005) and prevented mortality. Several possible explanations were investigated. Addition of 4% albumin or 50% normal human serum did not modify IMP activity. Bacterial fitness of resistant strains was not altered and virulence did not decrease with resistance. In the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of ERT, growth rates of OXA-48, KPC-3, and NDM-1 strains were significantly decreased and filamentation of the NDM-1 strain was observed. The expression of blaNDM-1 was not decreased in vivo compared to in vitro. No zinc depletion was observed in infected mice compared with Mueller-Hinton broth. In conclusion, a paradoxical in vivo efficacy of IMP and ERT against highly resistant carbapenemase-producing E. coli was confirmed. Alternative mechanisms of antibacterial effects of subinhibitory concentrations of carbapenems may be involved to explain in vivo activity. These results are in agreement with a potential clinical benefit of carbapenems to treat CPE infections, despite high carbapenem MICs.
Edge expansion of Araucaria forest over southern Brazilian grasslands relies on nurse plant effect

The vegetation in the southern Brazilian highlands is characterized by Araucaria forest and Campos grassland. Evidences indicate that Araucaria forest is currently expanding over grassland and that this expansion may occur by nucleation or edge dynamics. Nucleation mechanisms of Araucaria forest expansion are well documented, whereas mechanisms of expansion starting from the forest edge are not. In this study, we aimed (1) to assess how prominent is Araucaria forest expansion over Campos grassland starting from the forest edge, and (2) to discuss about the possible mechanisms underlying sapling community colonization in grassland. We conducted our sampling in 11 transects disposed from the forest edge towards the grassland. The transects were distributed in four study sites. Each transect was 50 m long and was divided into 25 plots with area of 8 m2. All forest woody sapling individuals were identified and registered. We considered distance from forest edge, presence of dead shrubs, Baccharis uncinella cover, nurse tree cover and rock cover as predictors of forest plant abundance and composition. Niche and distance contribution on the explanation of sapling composition and abundance were partitioned using, respectively, canonical correspondence analysis and multiple regressions. Cover of nurse trees explained almost 31% of total variation in sapling abundance, followed by the distance from the forest edge that explained 6.9%. Site explained 7.6% of total variation in sapling species composition, followed by distance from the forest edge, which explained 2.3%, whereas niche had a minor (2.1%) and non-significant proportion of variation explanation. Our findings show that Araucaria forest expansion over native grasslands in southern Brazil relies deeply on the nurse plant effect. Previous studies have demonstrated that Araucaria forest forms nuclei scattered in the grassland where nurse plants or nurse rocks are established. Here, we bring evidences that nurse plants are important also to the tree encroachment starting closer to the forest edge. This study provides new information on the mechanisms involved in the forest expansion over native grasslands.
Use of Salsola soda as a companion plant to improve greenhouse pepper (Capsicum annuum) performance under saline conditions

Abstract A greenhouse experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of Salsola soda used as a desalinating companion plant on growth, yield, mineral composition, and fruit quality of pepper (Capsicum annuum) grown under moderate (electrical conductivity (EC) = 4.0 dS m‐1) and high salt concentration (EC = 7.8 dS m‐1). The presence of S. soda decreased the EC of the medium by 45% and increased the total yield, marketable yield, and total biomass of pepper by 26%, 32%, and 22% respectively, in comparison with those grown without S. soda. The increase in marketable yield under moderate salt stress with S. soda was the result of a higher fruit mean weight and not the number of fruit. S. soda did not prevent suppression of growth and yield on pepper under severe salt conditions. Increasing the nutrient solution salinity improved fruit quality by increasing dry matter (DM) and total soluble solid (TSS) content. Under moderate saline conditions, the concentrations of sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl‐) in pepper leaves were lower when S. soda was used as a companion plant, whereas no difference was recorded on Na and Cl‐ concentrations of leaves at 7.8 dS m‐1. A higher concentration of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and calcium (Ca) was observed in pepper leaves in the presence of the companion plant at 4.0 dS m‐1. The results demonstrate that using S. soda as a companion plant under moderate saline concentrations would be an attractive strategy in limiting yield reduction.
Social Media Contexts Moderate Perceptions of Animals

Simple Summary Social media sites may contribute to the changing ways we see animals. On these sites, people can present animals in different contexts, depending on what message they want to convey, and this may change how people perceive animals, for example making people more likely to want an exotic species as a pet. We showed a mock-up site to 211 people. All people were shown the same image of a primate, but half were shown a negative story and half were shown a positive story. People shown the negative story thought that the primate was more stressed. People responded cautiously to the social media site, even when they thought the primate was stressed. We conclude that social media may not be an honest representation of how people think about primates. Abstract The rapid rise of social media in the past decade represents a new space where animals are represented in human society, and this may influence human perceptions, for example driving desire for exotic pet keeping. In this study, 211 participants (49% female) between the ages of 18 to 44 were recruited to an online survey where they viewed mock-up pages from a social media site. All participants saw the same image of a primate but were randomly assigned to a pro exotic pet keeping or anti exotic pet keeping narrative condition. When participants were presented with the anti narrative they perceived the animal to be more stressed (χ2 = 13.99, p < 0.001). In free text comments, participants expressed reservations in the face of a narrative they disagreed with in free text comments. Overall, this study found evidence to suggest that people moderate their discussions on human-animal interactions based on the social network they are in, but these relationships are complex and require further research.
Serological Diagnosis of Flavivirus-Associated Human Infections

Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) belonging to the Flavivirus genus of the Flaviviridae family, are a major public health threat in tropical and subtropical regions, and have recently become a medical concern in temperate zones. Most flaviviruses are classified as zoonotic viruses. Human flavivirus infections can be asymptomatic, responsible for unspecific symptoms in the first few days following infection, or responsible for severe complications potentially resulting in death. During the first days following symptom onset, laboratory diagnosis of acute human flavivirus infection is mainly based on molecular detection of the viral genome by RT-PCR methods, followed by the capture of specific antibodies using serological tests after the first week of infection. The detection of antibodies that have virus neutralizing activity can be used to confirm flavivirus infection. However, human flavivirus infections induce the production of cross-reactive antibodies, often making serology inconclusive. Indeed, serological diagnosis of flavivirus infection can be hampered by a patient’s history of flavivirus exposure, particularly in regions where multiple antigenically related flaviviruses co-circulate. We focus our mini review on conventional immunoassays that allow the diagnosis of major flavivirus-associated human infections in basic, routine and high-profile central health centers; and the interpretation of diagnostic serology tests for patients living within different epidemiological situations.
Nutrients and Porphyria: An Intriguing Crosstalk

Porphyria refers to a group of fascinating diseases from a metabolic and nutritional standpoint as it provides an example of how metabolic manipulation can be used for therapeutic purposes. It is characterized by defects in heme synthesis, particularly in the erythrocytes and liver. Specific enzymes involved in heme biosynthesis directly depend on adequate levels of vitamins and minerals in the tissues. Moreover, micronutrients that are required for producing succinyl CoA and other intermediates in the Krebs (TCA) cycle are indirectly necessary for heme metabolism. This review summarizes articles that describe the nutritional status, supplements intake, and dietary practices of patients affected by porphyria, paying special attention to the therapeutic use of nutrients that may help or hinder this group of diseases.
Ecto- and endoparasites of the King's skink (Egernia kingii) on Penguin Island

Abstract Wildlife species are often host to a diversity of parasites, but our knowledge of their diversity and ecology is extremely limited, especially for reptiles. Little is known about the host-parasite ecology of the Australian lizard, the King's skink (Egernia kingii). In spring of 2015, we carried out a field-based study of a population of King's skinks on Penguin Island (Western Australia). We documented five species of parasites, including two ectoparasitic mites (an undescribed laelapid mite and Mesolaelaps australiensis), an undescribed coccidia species, and two nematode species (Pharyngodon tiliquae and Capillaria sp.). The laelapid mite was the most abundant parasite, infesting 46.9% of the 113 captured lizards. This mite species increased in prevalence and abundance over the course of the study. Infection patterns of both mites varied with lizard life-stage; sub-adults were more commonly infested with laelapid mites than adults or juveniles, and sub-adults and adults were infested by more laelapid mites than juveniles. By contrast, adults had a higher prevalence of M. australiensis than juveniles or sub-adults. Among the gastrointestinal parasites, P. tiliquae was relatively common among the sampled lizards (35.3%). These results give new important information about reptiles as parasite hosts and what factors influence infection patterns.
Sampling mites in almonds: I. Within-tree distribution and clumping pattern of mites with comments on predator-prey interactions

Tetranychus spp. and peach silver mite, Aculus cornutus, are distributed randomly within the foliage of almond trees. Both, however, have extremely clumped patterns of distribution on a per leaf sample unit. The pattern of distribution for Tetranychus spp. was additionally affected by the phytoseiid mite, Metaseiulus occidentalis, the pattern being less clumped with the predator present. M. occidentalis was considerably less clumped than observed for the other mites. Additional analyses indicate that, except at low Tetranychus spp. densities, approximately one M. occidentalis per ten Tetranychus is sufficient to reduce the prey density 2 weeks hence. The distribution relationships in this paper provide a framework for development of a quantitative Tetranychus spp. monitoring program, presented in the following paper.
COMBINED GPS/GLONASS PRECISE POSITIONING FOR LONG RANGE BASELINES

Abstract Combined GPS/GLONASS can increase the accuracy and reliability of positioning especially in some applications those with many impediments. Due to influence by the atmospheric delay, the commonly used methods for short range baselines data processing cannot be implemented in long range baselines. In this paper, a new data processing strategy for long range baselines is proposed which uses the properties of some combination observations of combined GPS/GLONASS and reduces the influence of ionosphere delay. Numerical results show that the repeatability of long range baselines may come to the order of 10−8 and combined GPS/GLONASS increases the precision of GPS-only positioning which will benefit to monitor crust deformation and research on geodynamics.
Chemically mediated resistance to mesoherbivory in finely branched macroalgae along the western Antarctic Peninsula

Along the western Antarctic Peninsula, benthic macrophytic biomass rivals some of the denser algal communities in the world. However, there is a noticeable lack of filamentous epiphytes compared with other algal-dominated communities. One possible explanation is that epiphytic species and emerging filaments from profuse endophytes are controlled by grazing pressures from an abundant mesograzer community. Amphipod gut contents from the study area revealed the presence of algal filaments that could support this hypothesis. However, this gut-derived algal material may be from ingestion of any of the several sub-tidal, finely branched rhodophyte species, which are often inhabited by numerous amphipod mesograzers. Palatability of several of these finely branched macrophytes (Halopteris obovata, the only phaeophyte in this study, Cystoclonium obtusangulum, Pantoneura plocamioides, Picconiella plumosa, Plocamium cartilagineum, as well as the known edible control alga Palmaria decipiens) were tested against two of the most abundant amphipod mesograzers, Gondogeneia antarctica and Prostebbingia gracilis, in a series of fresh-thallus feeding assays. Several artificial food bioassays, utilizing artificial foods mixed with algal extracts, were also conducted to test for any chemical grazing deterrents produced by the macroalgae. Results indicate that all the finely branched algae tested were unpalatable to both grazers, most likely due to chemical defences in the red algae. These results suggest that filamentous material found in amphipod guts is not finely branched rhodophytes despite observation of mesograzers associating with these algae. Possibly, mesograzers of the western Antarctic Peninsula use these chemically defended algae as a refuge from predation and, in turn, graze on palatable epiphytes and emergent filaments from endophytes, growing on their host macrophytes.
Analyse de thèse: Diversité de l'ADN chloroplastique et relations phylogénétiques au sein des Fagacées et du genre Quercus

Li-An Xu, professeur de genetique a l'Universite forestiere de Nankin (Chine), vient de soutenir devant l'Universite de Nancy I (Henri Poincare) une these intitulee « Diversite de I 'ADN chloroplastique et relations phylogenetiques au sein des Fagacees et du genre Quercus». Cette these a ete dirigee par Antoine Kremer, directeur de recherche a l'INRA (departement Forets et milieux naturels) et directeur du laboratoire de genetique et amelioration des arbres forestiers de Bordeaux-Cestas, ou s'est deroulee cette these.
Enriquecimento da dieta do bicho-da-seda com extrato hidrossolúvel de soja

The aim of this research was to assess if the supplementation of the silkworm diet with soybean water soluble extract (WSE) interferes on the consumption of mulberry leaves (Morus alba L.) by the caterpillars and on cocoon production. The experimental design was completely randomized in factorial arrangement 4x5, with four mulberry varieties ('IZ64', 'IZ56/4', and 'FMSM' 'FM86') and five diets (untreated control leaves, leaves moistened with water and leaves enriched with WSE, in three levels). The WSE was sprayed on the leaves with water as dispersing agent. The consumption was measured by the difference between the quantity of food provided and the amount that was not consumed by the larvae. The consumption was presented quadratic form, which decreased as the WSE was added on diet. There was interaction between cultivar and diets. Silkworm fed diets containing leaves of mulberry with addition of 10% of crude protein through WSE improved the quality of cocoons with utilization of 'IZ56/4' and 'FMSM' cultivars. The sprayed of WSE on leaves of 'IZ64' cultivar decreased production of cocoons. Silkworm fed with leaves without supplementation produced heavier cocoons shells of the 'IZ64' and 'FMSM' cultivars. Water sprayed on leaves provided higher weight of cocoons shells from 'FM86' cultivar. The WSE supplementation in diets decreases consumption of silkworm. The WSE sprayed influences cocoon production depending on the cultivar.