bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ЭТНОГРАФИЯ – ЭТО НАУКА О ТОМ, ЧТО ИСТОРИЮ МОЖНО И НУЖНО «МЕРИТЬ САРАФАНАМИ»
Authors: Васеха Мария Владимировна , Жигунова Марина Александровна
Published: June 2021

Специфика антропологической науки заключается в том, что в ее рамках учеными много внимания уделяется рефлексии и осмысливанию не только процесса конструирования предмета их анализа, объектом изучения становится и то, как сами исследователи конструируют мир научного сообщества, какую роль фигура и бэкграунд каждого конкретного ученого играет в развитии целого научного направления (Комарова 2016: 224). В статье рассказывается о профессиональном становлении крупного сибирского этнографа, доктора исторических наук, руководителя отдела этнографии Института археологии и этнографии СО РАН (Новосибирск) Елены Федоровны Фурсовой. Профессиональная судьба ученого, «делающего» нашу науку здесь и сейчас, предстает как конкретный кейс, вносящий еще один «кирпичик» в попытку осмысления и переосмысления развития отечественной этнографии, этнологии и антропологии.
The specificity of anthropology lies in the fact that much attention is paid to reflection and observation not only of how scientists construct the subject of their research, but also how the researchers themselves construct the world of the scientific community, what role the figure and background of each particular scientist plays in the development of the whole direction (Komarova 2016: 224). The article describes the path of professional development of a major Siberian ethnographer, head of the Department of Ethnography of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of the SB RAS (Novosibirsk) Dr. Elena F. Fursova. The career of a scientist who “makes” our science here and now appears as a specific case that introduces another “brick” in attempts to comprehend and rethink the development of Russian Ethnography, Ethnology, and Anthropology.
Are We Ready for Cell Therapy to Treat Stroke?
Authors: Rascón-Ramírez Fernando José , Esteban-García Noelia , Barcia Juan Antonio , Trondin Albert , Nombela Cristina , Sánchez-Sánchez-Rojas Leyre
Published: June 2021

Clinical trials of cell therapies that target stroke started at the beginning of this century and they have experienced a significant boost in recent years as a result of promising data from basic research studies. The increase in the information available has paved the way to carry out more innovative and varied human studies. Efforts have focused on the search for a safe and effective treatment to stimulate neuro-regeneration in the brain and to reduce the sequelae of stroke in patients. Therefore, this review aims to evaluate the clinical trials using cell therapy to treat stroke published to date and assess their limitations. From 2000 to date, most of the published clinical trials have focused on phases I or II, and the vast majority of them demonstrate that stem cells are essentially safe to use when administered by different routes, with transient and mild adverse events that do not generally have severe consequences for health. In general, there is considerable variation in the trials in terms of statistical design, sample size, the cells used, the routes of administration, and the functional assessments (both at baseline and follow-up), making it difficult to compare the studies. From this general description, possibly the experimental protocol is the main element to improve in future studies. Establishing an adequate experimental and statistical design will be essential to obtain favorable and reliable results when conducting phase III clinical trials. Thus, it is necessary to standardize the criteria used in these clinical trials in order to aid comparison. Shortly, cell therapy will be a key approach in the treatment of stroke if adequate and comprehensive levels of recovery are to be achieved.
Andrographolide Suppresses the Growth and Metastasis of Luminal-Like Breast Cancer by Inhibiting the NF-κB/miR-21-5p/PDCD4 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Li Junchen , Huang Lixun , He Zinan , Chen Minggui , Ding Yi , Yao Yuying , Duan Youfa , Zixuan Li , Qi Cuiling , Zheng Lingyun , Li Jiangchao , Zhang Rongxin , Li Xiaoming , Dai Jianwei , Wang Lijing , Zhang Qian-Qian
Published: June 2021

Tumor growth and metastasis are responsible for breast cancer-related mortality. Andrographolide (Andro) is a traditional anti-inflammatory drug used in the clinic that inhibits NF-κB activation. Recently, Andro has been found in the treatment of various cancers. Andro inhibits breast cell proliferation and invasion and induces apoptosis via activating various signaling pathways. Therefore, the underlying mechanisms with regard to the antitumor effects of Andro still need to be further confirmed. Herein, a MMTV-PyMT spontaneous luminal-like breast cancer lung metastatic transgenic tumor model was employed to estimate the antitumor effects of Andro on breast cancer in vivo. Andro significantly inhibited tumor growth and metastasis in MMTV-PyMT mice and suppressed the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of MCF-7 breast cancer cells in vitro. Meanwhile, Andro significantly inhibited the expression of NF-κB, and the downregulated NF-κB reduced miR-21-5p expression. In addition, miR-21-5p dramatically inhibited the target gene expression of programmed cell death protein 4 (PDCD4). In the current study, we demonstrated the potential anticancer effects of Andro on luminal-like breast cancer and indicated that Andro inhibits the expression of miR-21-5p and further promotes PDCD4 via NF-κB suppression. Therefore, Andro could be an antitumor agent for the treatment of luminal-like breast cancer in the clinic.
Evaluation of Peroxidase in Herbal Medicines Based on an Electrochemical Sensor
Authors: Yue Yinzi , Su Lianlin , Hao Min , Li Wenting , Zeng Li , Yan Shuai
Published: June 2021

Peroxidases are species-specific. Differences in peroxidase can objectively reflect the genetics among species. The use of peroxidase to assist in species identification is relatively simple and effective. In this work, we proposed a graphene-modified electrode. This electrode can amplify the signal of electrocatalytic reduction of hydrogen peroxide. Since peroxidase can catalyze the reduction of hydrogen peroxide, this signal can be used as an indicator to demonstrate the content of peroxidase in different plant tissues. Twelve herbal medicines were selected for our study. The results show that this electrochemical-based detection technique was comparable to colorimetric method in terms of accuracy.
Efficacy of Ebselen Against Invasive Aspergillosis in a Murine Model
Authors: Sakita Karina Mayumi , Capoci Isis Regina Grenier , Conrado Pollyanna Cristina Vincenzi , Rodrigues-Vendramini Franciele Abigail Vilugron , Faria Daniella Renata , Arita Glaucia Sayuri , Becker Tânia Cristina Alexandrino , Bonfim-Mendonça Patricia de Souza , Svidzinski Terezinha Inez Estivalet , Kioshima Erika Seki
Published: June 2021

Invasive aspergillosis is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality among invasive fungal infections. The search for new antifungal drugs becomes imperative when existing drugs are not able to efficiently treat these infections. Ebselen, is an organoselenium compound, already successfully approved in clinical trials as a repositioned drug for the treatment of bipolar disorder and prevention of noise-induced hearing loss. In this study, we aimed to reposition ebselen for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis by showing ebselen effectiveness in a murine model. For this, BALB/c mice were immunosuppressed and infected systemically with Aspergillus fumigatus. Animals were divided and treated with ebselen, voriconazole, or drug-free control, for four days. The kidneys were used for CFU count and, histopathological and cytokine analysis. Ebselen was able to significantly reduce the fungal burden in the kidneys of infected mice with efficacy comparable with voriconazole treatment as both had reductions to the same extent. The absence of hyphae and intact kidney tissue structure observed in the histopathological sections analyzed from treated groups corroborate with the downregulation of IL-6 and TNF. In summary, this study brings for the first time in vivo evidence of ebselen efficacy against invasive aspergillosis. Despite these promising results, more animal studies are warranted to evaluate the potential role of ebselen as an alternative option for the management of invasive aspergillosis in humans.
Sharing Spaces and Entanglements With Big Cats: The Warli and Their Waghoba in Maharashtra, India
Authors: Nair Ramya , Dhee  , Patil Omkar , Surve Nikit , Andheria Anish , Linnell John D. C. , Athreya Vidya
Published: June 2021

Long histories of sharing space and resources have built complex, robust, and enduring relationships between humans and wildlife in many communities across the world. In order to understand what makes it possible for humans and wildlife to share space, we have to look beyond the ecological and socio-economic study of damages caused by human-wildlife conflict and explore the cultural and societal context within which co-existence is embedded. We conducted an exploratory study on the institution of Waghoba, a big cat deity worshiped by the Indigenous Warli community in Maharashtra, India. Through our research, we found that the worship of Waghoba is highly prevalent, with 150 shrines dedicated to this deity across our study site. We also learnt that the Warlis believe in a reciprocal relationship, where Waghoba will protect them from the negative impacts of sharing spaces with big cats if the people worship the deity and conduct the required rituals, especially the annual festival of Waghbaras. We propose that such relationships facilitate the sharing spaces between humans and leopards that live in the landscape. The study also revealed the ways in which the range of institutions and stakeholders in the landscape shape the institution of Waghoba and thereby contribute to the human-leopard relationship in the landscape. This is relevant for present-day wildlife conservation because such traditional institutions are likely to act as tolerance-building mechanisms embedded within the local cosmology. Further, it is vital that the dominant stakeholders outside of the Warli community (such as the Forest Department, conservation biologists, and other non-Warli residents who interact with leopards) are informed about and sensitive to these cultural representations because it is not just the biological animal that the Warlis predominantly deal with.
Hypercholesterolemia and Lymphatic Defects: The Chicken or the Egg?
Authors: Miyazaki Takuro , Miyazaki Akira
Published: June 2021

Lymphatic vessels are necessary for maintaining tissue fluid balance, trafficking of immune cells, and transport of dietary lipids. Growing evidence suggest that lymphatic functions are limited under hypercholesterolemic conditions, which is closely related to atherosclerotic development involving the coronary and other large arteries. Indeed, ablation of lymphatic systems by Chy-mutation as well as depletion of lymphangiogenic factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor-C and -D, in mice perturbs lipoprotein composition to augment hypercholesterolemia. Several investigations have reported that periarterial microlymphatics were attracted by atheroma-derived lymphangiogenic factors, which facilitated lymphatic invasion into the intima of atherosclerotic lesions, thereby modifying immune cell trafficking. In contrast to the lipomodulatory and immunomodulatory roles of the lymphatic systems, the critical drivers of lymphangiogenesis and the details of lymphatic insults under hypercholesterolemic conditions have not been fully elucidated. Interestingly, cholesterol-lowering trials enable hypercholesterolemic prevention of lymphatic drainage in mice; however, a causal relationship between hypercholesterolemia and lymphatic defects remains elusive. In this review, the contribution of aberrant lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic cholesterol transport to hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis was highlighted. The causal relationship between hypercholesterolemia and lymphatic insults as well as the current achievements in the field were discussed.
Mercury Export From Freshwater to Estuary: Carbocentric Science Elucidates the Fate of a Toxic Compound in Aquatic Boreal Environments
Authors: Demarty Maud , Bilodeau François , Tremblay Alain
Published: June 2021

The chemistry of mercury in freshwater systems, particularly man-made reservoirs, has received a great deal of attention owing to the high toxicity of the most common organic form, methylmercury. Although methylmercury bioaccumulation in reservoirs and natural lakes has been extensively studied at all latitudes, the fate of the different forms of mercury (total vs. dissolved; organic vs. inorganic) along the entire river-estuary continuum is less well documented. In fact, the difficulty of integrating the numerous parameters involved in mercury speciation in such large study areas, combined with the technical difficulties in sampling and analyzing mercury, have undoubtedly hindered advances in the field. At the same time, carbocentric science has grown exponentially in the last 25 years, and the common fate of carbon and mercury in freshwater has become increasingly clear with time. This literature review, by presenting the knowledge acquired in these two fields, aims to better understand the extent of mercury export from boreal inland waters to estuaries and to investigate the possible downstream ecotoxicological impact of reservoir creation on mercury bioavailability to estuarine food webs and local communities.
Tree Diversity, Site Index, and Carbon Storage Decrease With Aridity in Douglas-Fir Forests in Western Canada
Authors: Roach Winnifred Jean , Simard Suzanne W. , Defrenne Camille E. , Pickles Brian J. , Lavkulich Les M. , Ryan Teresa L.
Published: June 2021

Forests are important for biodiversity, timber production and carbon accumulation, but these ecosystem services may be impacted by climate change. Field data collected from individual forest types occurring across a climatic gradient can contribute to forecasting these consequences. We examined how changes in temperature, precipitation and aridity affect ecosystem services in 23 mature Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) forests in nine climatic regions across a 900 km gradient in British Columbia, Canada. Using Canadian National Forest Inventory methodology, we assessed richness and diversity of plant functional groups, site index, and above- and below-ground carbon stocks. As aridity increased, ecosystem-level tree species richness declined on average from four to one species, Douglas-fir site index declined from 30 to 15 m, and ecosystem carbon storage decreased from 565 to 222 Mg ha–1. Tree species richness was positively and herb species richness negatively correlated with carbon storage. Carbon storage by ecosystem compartment was largest in aboveground live tree biomass, declining in the following order: mineral soils > coarse woody debris and dead standing trees > forest floor > small and fine woody debris > understory plants. Mineral soil carbon at depths of 0-15 cm, 15-35 cm, and 35-55 cm increased with increasing mean annual precipitation and decreasing aridity. Our results indicate that as aridity increases and precipitation decreases, tree species richness, site index and carbon storage in existing Douglas-fir forests declines. However, assisted or natural migration of Douglas-fir into more humid regions could be associated with more diverse, productive, carbon-rich forests. This study informs carbon stock vulnerability and provides empirical data essential for carbon stock forecasts.
Identifying ceRNA Networks Associated With the Susceptibility and Persistence of Atrial Fibrillation Through Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis
Authors: Liu Yaozhong , Liu Na , Bai Fan , Liu Qiming
Published: June 2021

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia. We aimed to construct competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks associated with the susceptibility and persistence of AF by applying the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and prioritize key genes using the random walk with restart on multiplex networks (RWR-M) algorithm.

Methods: RNA sequencing results from 235 left atrial appendage samples were downloaded from the GEO database. The top 5,000 lncRNAs/mRNAs with the highest variance were used to construct a gene co-expression network using the WGCNA method. AF susceptibility- or persistence-associated modules were identified by correlating the module eigengene with the atrial rhythm phenotype. Using a module-specific manner, ceRNA pairs of lncRNA–mRNA were predicted. The RWR-M algorithm was applied to calculate the proximity between lncRNAs and known AF protein-coding genes. Random forest classifiers, based on the expression value of key lncRNA-associated ceRNA pairs, were constructed and validated against an independent data set.

Results: From the 21 identified modules, magenta and tan modules were associated with AF susceptibility, whereas turquoise and yellow modules were associated with AF persistence. ceRNA networks in magenta and tan modules were primarily involved in the inflammatory process, whereas ceRNA networks in turquoise and yellow modules were primarily associated with electrical remodeling. A total of 106 previously identified AF-associated protein-coding genes were found in the ceRNA networks, including 16 that were previously implicated in the genome-wide association study. Myocardial infarction–associated transcript (MIAT) and LINC00964 were prioritized as key lncRNAs through RWR-M. The classifiers based on their associated ceRNA pairs were able to distinguish AF from sinus rhythm with respective AUC values of 0.810 and 0.940 in the training set and 0.870 and 0.922 in the independent test set. The AF-related single-nucleotide polymorphism rs35006907 was found in the intronic region of LINC00964 and negatively regulated the LINC00964 expression.

Conclusion: Our study constructed AF susceptibility- and persistence-associated ceRNA networks, linked genetics with epigenetics, identified MIAT and LINC00964 as key lncRNAs, and constructed random forest classifiers based on their associated ceRNA pairs. These results will help us to better understand the mechanisms underlying AF from the ceRNA perspective and provide candidate therapeutic and diagnostic tools.
SNHG17 Serves as an Oncogenic lncRNA by Regulating the miR-361-3p/STC2 Axis in Rectal Cancer
Authors: Huang Fuda , Li Hua , Qin Zebang , Wang Anmin , Zhang Ya , Guo Junyu , Wei Mingwei , Guo Houji , Pu Jian
Published: June 2021

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) have been reported to be crucial regulators for carcinogenesis, including rectal cancer. This work aimed to explore the roles and associated mechanisms of small nucleolar RNA host gene 17 (SNHG17) in rectal cancer. A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to measure the expression level of SNHG17 in rectal cancer tissues and cells. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry assay were conducted to measure the biological roles of SNHG17 in rectal cancer. In addition, luciferase activity reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay, and rescue experiments were conducted to explore the mechanisms of SNHG17 in rectal cancer. The upregulation status of SNHG17 was identified in rectal cancer tissues and cells. Functionally, knockdown the expression of SNHG17 inhibits rectal cancer cell proliferation via stimulating cell apoptosis. In vivo assay showed that the knockdown of SNHG17 inhibits tumor growth. Furthermore, we showed that microRNA-361-3p (miR-361-3p) has decreased expression in tumor tissues and cells, and SNHG17 functions as a sponge for miR-361-3p. The upregulation status of stanniocalcin 2 (STC2) was also found in rectal cancer, and the knockdown of STC2 hinders cancer progression. In conclusion, lncRNA SNHG17 functions as an oncogenic lncRNA in rectal cancer by regulating the miR-361-3p/STC2 axis.
Identification of Aging-Related Genes Associated With Clinical and Prognostic Features of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Chen Xingte , Wang Lei , Hong Liang , Su Zhixiong , Zhong Xiaohong , Zhou Han , Zhang Xueqing , Wu Junxin , Shao Lingdong
Published: June 2021

Background: Aging is a well-studied concept, but no studies have comprehensively analyzed the association between aging-related genes (AGs) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prognosis.

Methods: Gene candidates were selected from differentially expressed genes and prognostic genes in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. A gene risk score for overall survival prediction was established using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis, and this was validated using data from the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) database. Functional analysis was conducted using gene ontology enrichment, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis, gene set enrichment analysis, and immune microenvironment and tumor stemness analyses.

Results: Initially, 72 AGs from the TCGA database were screened as differentially expressed between normal and tumor tissues and as genes associated with HCC prognosis. Then, seven AGs (POLA1, CDK1, SOCS2, HDAC1, MAPT, RAE1, and EEF1E1) were identified using the LASSO regression analysis. The seven AGs were used to develop a risk score in the training set, and the risk was validated to have a significant prognostic value in the ICGC set (p < 0.05). Patients with high risk scores had lower tumor differentiation, higher stage, and worse prognosis (all p < 0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analyses also confirmed that the risk score was an independent prognostic factor for HCC in both the TCGA and ICGC sets (all p < 0.05). Further analysis showed that a high risk score was correlated with the downregulation of metabolism and tumor immunity.

Conclusion: The risk score predicts HCC prognosis and could thus be used as a biomarker not only for predicting HCC prognosis but also for deciding on treatment.
Putative Causal Variants Are Enriched in Annotated Functional Regions From Six Bovine Tissues
Authors: Prowse-Wilkins Claire P. , Wang Jianghui , Xiang Ruidong , Garner Josie B. , Goddard Michael E. , Chamberlain Amanda J.
Published: June 2021

Genetic variants which affect complex traits (causal variants) are thought to be found in functional regions of the genome. Identifying causal variants would be useful for predicting complex trait phenotypes in dairy cows, however, functional regions are poorly annotated in the bovine genome. Functional regions can be identified on a genome-wide scale by assaying for post-translational modifications to histone proteins (histone modifications) and proteins interacting with the genome (e.g., transcription factors) using a method called Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq). In this study ChIP-seq was performed to find functional regions in the bovine genome by assaying for four histone modifications (H3K4Me1, H3K4Me3, H3K27ac, and H3K27Me3) and one transcription factor (CTCF) in 6 tissues (heart, kidney, liver, lung, mammary and spleen) from 2 to 3 lactating dairy cows. Eighty-six ChIP-seq samples were generated in this study, identifying millions of functional regions in the bovine genome. Combinations of histone modifications and CTCF were found using ChromHMM and annotated by comparing with active and inactive genes across the genome. Functional marks differed between tissues highlighting areas which might be particularly important to tissue-specific regulation. Supporting the cis-regulatory role of functional regions, the read counts in some ChIP peaks correlated with nearby gene expression. The functional regions identified in this study were enriched for putative causal variants as seen in other species. Interestingly, regions which correlated with gene expression were particularly enriched for potential causal variants. This supports the hypothesis that complex traits are regulated by variants that alter gene expression. This study provides one of the largest ChIP-seq annotation resources in cattle including, for the first time, in the mammary gland of lactating cows. By linking regulatory regions to expression QTL and trait QTL we demonstrate a new strategy for identifying causal variants in cattle.
The Evolutionary Patterns of Genome Size in Ensifera (Insecta: Orthoptera)
Authors: Yuan Hao , Huang Yuan , Mao Ying , Zhang Nan , Nie Yimeng , Zhang Xue , Zhou Yafu , Mao Shaoli
Published: June 2021

Genomic size variation has long been a focus for biologists. However, due to the lack of genome size data, the mechanisms behind this variation and the biological significance of insect genome size are rarely studied systematically. The detailed taxonomy and phylogeny of the Ensifera, as well as the extensive documentation concerning their morphological, ecological, behavioral, and distributional characteristics, make them a strong model for studying the important scientific problem of genome size variation. However, data on the genome size of Ensifera are rather sparse. In our study, we used flow cytometry to determine the genome size of 32 species of Ensifera, the smallest one being only 1C = 0.952 pg with the largest species up to 1C = 19.135 pg, representing a 20-fold range. This provides a broader blueprint for the genome size variation of Orthoptera than was previously available. We also completed the assembly of nine mitochondrial genomes and combined mitochondrial genome data from public databases to construct phylogenetic trees containing 32 species of Ensifera and three outgroups. Based on these inferred phylogenetic trees, we detected the phylogenetic signal of genome size variation in Ensifera and found that it was strong in both males and females. Phylogenetic comparative analyses revealed that there were no correlations between genome size and body size or flight ability in Tettigoniidae. Reconstruction of ancestral genome size revealed that the genome size of Ensifera evolved in a complex pattern, in which the genome size of the grylloid clade tended to decrease while that of the non-grylloid clade expanded significantly albeit with fluctuations. However, the evolutionary mechanisms underlying variation of genome size in Ensifera are still unknown.
A 5-Genomic Mutation Signature Can Predict the Survival for Patients With NSCLC Receiving Atezolizumab
Authors: Lin Jiamao , Wang Xiaohui , Zhang Chenyue , Bu Shuai , Zhao Chenglong , Wang Haiyong
Published: June 2021

Background

At present, there is a lack of studies focusing on the survival prediction of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving atezolizumab in light of gene mutation characteristic.

Methods

Patients with NSCLC receiving atezolizumab from the OAK study were defined as the training group. LASSO Cox regressions were applied to establish the gene mutation signature model to predict the overall survival (OS) rate of the training group. NSCLC patients receiving atezolizumab from the POPLAR study were defined as the testing group to validate the gene mutation signature model. In addition, we compared the OS rate between patients receiving atezolizumab and docetaxel classified according to their risk score based on our gene mutation signature model.

Results

We successfully established a 5-genomic mutation signature that included CREBBP, KEAP1, RAF1, STK11 and TP53 mutations. We found it was superior to the blood tumor mutation burden (bTMB) score and programmed death ligand 1 (PDL1) expression in the prediction of the OS rate for patients receiving atezolizumab. High-risk patients receiving atezolizumab had a worse OS rate compared with low-risk patients in the training (P = 0.0004) and testing (P = 0.0001) groups. In addition, low-risk patients using atezolizumab had a better OS rate compared with those in use of docetaxel for the training (P <0.0001) and testing groups (P = 0.0095). High-risk patients of the training group (P = 0.0265) using atezolizumab had a better OS rate compared with those using docetaxel. However, the OS difference between atezolizumab and docetaxel was not found in high-risk patients from the testing group (P = 0.6403). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the risk model in light of 5-genomic mutation signature was an independent prognostic factor on OS for patients receiving atezolizumab (P <0.0001). In addition, significant OS benefit could only be found in low-risk patients receiving atezolizumab compared with docetaxel (P <0.0001).

Conclusions

The 5-genomic mutation signature could predict OS benefit for patients with NSCLC receiving atezolizumab. Therefore, the establishment of the 5-genomic mutation panel will guide clinicians to identify optimal patients who could benefit from atezolizumab treatment.
Multiple Country and Breed Genomic Prediction of Tick Resistance in Beef Cattle
Authors: Cardoso Fernando Flores , Matika Oswald , Djikeng Appolinaire , Mapholi Ntanganedzeni , Burrow Heather M. , Yokoo Marcos Jun Iti , Campos Gabriel Soares , Gulias-Gomes Claudia Cristina , Riggio Valentina , Pong-Wong Ricardo , Engle Bailey , Porto-Neto Laercio , Maiwashe Azwihangwisi , Hayes Ben J.
Published: June 2021

Ticks cause substantial production losses for beef and dairy cattle. Cattle resistance to ticks is one of the most important factors affecting tick control, but largely neglected due to the challenge of phenotyping. In this study, we evaluate the pooling of tick resistance phenotyped reference populations from multi-country beef cattle breeds to assess the possibility of improving host resistance through multi-trait genomic selection. Data consisted of tick counts or scores assessing the number of female ticks at least 4.5 mm length and derived from seven populations, with breed, country, number of records and genotyped/phenotyped animals being respectively: Angus (AN), Brazil, 2,263, 921/1,156, Hereford (HH), Brazil, 6,615, 1,910/2,802, Brangus (BN), Brazil, 2,441, 851/851, Braford (BO), Brazil, 9,523, 3,062/4,095, Tropical Composite (TC), Australia, 229, 229/229, Brahman (BR), Australia, 675, 675/675, and Nguni (NG), South Africa, 490, 490/490. All populations were genotyped using medium density Illumina SNP BeadChips and imputed to a common high-density panel of 332,468 markers. The mean linkage disequilibrium (LD) between adjacent SNPs varied from 0.24 to 0.37 across populations and so was sufficient to allow genomic breeding values (GEBV) prediction. Correlations of LD phase between breeds were higher between composites and their founder breeds (0.81 to 0.95) and lower between NG and the other breeds (0.27 and 0.35). There was wide range of estimated heritability (0.05 and 0.42) and genetic correlation (-0.01 and 0.87) for tick resistance across the studied populations, with the largest genetic correlation observed between BN and BO. Predictive ability was improved under the old-young validation for three of the seven populations using a multi-trait approach compared to a single trait within-population prediction, while whole and partial data GEBV correlations increased in all cases, with relative improvements ranging from 3% for BO to 64% for TC. Moreover, the multi-trait analysis was useful to correct typical over-dispersion of the GEBV. Results from this study indicate that a joint genomic evaluation of AN, HH, BN, BO and BR can be readily implemented to improve tick resistance of these populations using selection on GEBV. For NG and TC additional phenotyping will be required to obtain accurate GEBV.
Association of GTF2I, NFKB1, and TYK2 Regional Polymorphisms With Systemic Sclerosis in a Chinese Han Population
Authors: Liu Chenxi , Yan Songxin , Chen Haizhen , Wu Ziyan , Li Liubing , Cheng Linlin , Li Haolong , Li Yongzhe
Published: June 2021

Objectives

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an uncommon autoimmune disease that varies with ethnicity. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the GTFSI, NFKB1, and TYK2 genes have been reported to be associated with SSc in other populations and in individuals with various autoimmune diseases. This study aimed to investigate the association between these SNPs and susceptibility to SSc in a Chinese Han population.

Method

A case-control study was performed in 343 patients with SSc and 694 ethnically matched healthy controls. SNPs in GTF2I, NFKB1, and TYK2 were genotyped using a Sequenom MassArray iPLEX system. Association analyses were performed using PLINK v1.90 software.

Result

Our study demonstrated that the GTF2I rs117026326 T allele and the GTF2I rs73366469 C allele were strongly associated with patients with SSc (P = 6.97E-10 and P = 1.33E-08, respectively). Patients carrying the GTF2I rs117026326 TT genotype and the GTF2I rs73366469 CC genotype had a strongly increased risk of SSc (P = 6.25E-09 and P = 1.67E-08, respectively), and those carrying the NFKB1 rs1599961 AA genotype had a suggestively significantly increased risk of SSc (P = 0.014). Moreover, rs117026326 and rs73366469 were associated with SSc in different genetic models (additive model, dominant model, and recessive model) (P < 0.05) whereas rs1599961 was associated with SSc in the dominant genetic model but not in the addictive and recessive models (P = 0.0026). TYK2 rs2304256 was not significantly associated with SSc in this study.

Conclusion

GTF2I rs117026326 and rs73366469 SNPs were strongly associated with SSc in this Chinese Han population. NFKB1 rs1599961 showed a suggestive association with SSc, and no significant association was found between TYK2 rs2304256 and SSc in this Chinese Han population.
RETRACTED: A Deep Insight Into CAR-T Cell Therapy in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: Application, Opportunities, and Future Directions
Authors: Marofi Faroogh , Rahman Heshu Sulaiman , Achmad Muhammad Harun , Sergeevna Klunko Nataliya , Suksatan Wanich , Abdelbasset Walid Kamal , Mikhailova Maria Vladimirovna , Shomali Navid , Yazdanifar Mahboubeh , Hassanzadeh Ali , Ahmadi Majid , Motavalli Roza , Pathak Yashwant , Izadi Sepideh , Jarahian Mostafa
Published: June 2021

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is a cancer that starts in the lymphatic system. In NHL, the important part of the immune system, a type of white blood cells called lymphocytes become cancerous. NHL subtypes include marginal zone lymphoma, small lymphocytic lymphoma, follicular lymphoma (FL), and lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. The disease can emerge in either aggressive or indolent form. 5-year survival duration after diagnosis is poor among patients with aggressive/relapsing form of NHL. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis involved in NHL establishment and progression. In the next step, we can develop innovative therapies for NHL based on our knowledge in signaling pathways, surface antigens, and tumor milieu of NHL. In the recent few decades, several treatment solutions of NHL mainly based on targeted/directed therapies have been evaluated. These approaches include B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling inhibitors, immunomodulatory agents, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), epigenetic modulators, Bcl-2 inhibitors, checkpoint inhibitors, and T-cell therapy. In recent years, methods based on T cell immunotherapy have been considered as a novel promising anti-cancer strategy in the treatment of various types of cancers, and particularly in blood cancers. These methods could significantly increase the capacity of the immune system to induce durable anti-cancer responses in patients with chemotherapy-resistant lymphoma. One of the promising therapy methods involved in the triumph of immunotherapy is the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells with dramatically improved killing activity against tumor cells. The CAR-T cell-based anti-cancer therapy targeting a pan–B-cell marker, CD19 is recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of chemotherapy-resistant B-cell NHL. In this review, we will discuss the structure, molecular mechanisms, results of clinical trials, and the toxicity of CAR-T cell-based therapies. Also, we will criticize the clinical aspects, the treatment considerations, and the challenges and possible drawbacks of the application of CAR-T cells in the treatment of NHL.
HVEM Promotes the Osteogenesis of allo-MSCs by Inhibiting the Secretion of IL-17 and IFN-γ in Vγ4T Cells
Authors: He Lei , Xiao Jun , Song Lei , Zhou Rui , Rong Zhigang , He Weifeng , Dai Fei
Published: June 2021

Bone defects are a common orthopaedic concern, and an increasing number of tissue-engineered bones (TEBs) are used to repair bone defects. Allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (allo-MSCs) are used as seed cells in many approaches to develop TEB constructs, but the immune response caused by allogeneic transplantation may lead to transplant failure. V gamma 4 T (Vγ4T) cells play an important role in mediating the immune response in the early stage after transplantation; therefore, we wanted to verify whether suppressing Vγ4T cells by herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM)/B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) signalling can promote MSCs osteogenesis in the transplanted area. In vitro experiments showed that the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs and Vγ4T cells was weakened after co-culture, and an increase in interleukin-17 (IL-17) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) levels was detected in the culture supernatant. HVEM-transfected MSCs (MSCs-HVEM) still exhibited osteogenic differentiation activity after co-culture with Vγ4T cells, and the levels of IL-17 and IFN-γ in the co-culture supernatant were significantly reduced. In vivo experiments revealed that inflammation in the transplanted area was reduced and osteogenic repair was enhanced after Vγ4T cells were removed. MSCs-HVEM can also consistently contribute to reduced inflammation in the transplanted area and enhanced bone repair in wild-type (WT) mice. Therefore, our experiments verified that HVEM can promote the osteogenesis of allo-MSCs by inhibiting IL-17 and IFN-γ secretion from Vγ4T cells.
Shaping Immune Responses in the Tumor Microenvironment of Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Luo Xin , Xu Jing , Yu Jianhua , Yi Ping
Published: June 2021

Reciprocal signaling between immune cells and ovarian cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment can alter immune responses and regulate disease progression. These signaling events are regulated by multiple factors, including genetic and epigenetic alterations in both the ovarian cancer cells and immune cells, as well as cytokine pathways. Multiple immune cell types are recruited to the ovarian cancer tumor microenvironment, and new insights about the complexity of their interactions have emerged in recent years. The growing understanding of immune cell function in the ovarian cancer tumor microenvironment has important implications for biomarker discovery and therapeutic development. This review aims to describe the factors that shape the phenotypes of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment of ovarian cancer and how these changes impact disease progression and therapy.
Case Report: Sars-CoV-2 Infection in a Vaccinated Individual: Evaluation of the Immunological Profile and Virus Transmission Risk
Authors: Strafella Claudia , Caputo Valerio , Guerrera Gisella , Termine Andrea , Fabrizio Carlo , Cascella Raffaella , Picozza Mario , Caltagirone Carlo , Rossini Angelo , Balice Maria Pia , Salvia Antonino , Battistini Luca , Borsellino Giovanna , Giardina Emiliano
Published: June 2021

During the COVID19 pandemic, a range of vaccines displayed high efficacy in preventing disease, severe outcomes of infection, and mortality. However, the immunological correlates of protection, the duration of immune response, the transmission risk over time from vaccinated individuals are currently under active investigation. In this brief report, we describe the case of a vaccinated Healthcare Professional infected with a variant of Sars-CoV-2, who has been extensively investigated in order to draw a complete trajectory of infection. The patient has been monitored for the whole length of infection, assessing the temporal viral load decay, the quantification of viral RNA and subgenomic mRNA, antibodies (anti Sars-CoV-2, IgA, IgG, IgM) and cell-mediated (cytokine, B- and T-cell profiles) responses. Overall, this brief report highlights the efficacy of vaccine in preventing COVID19 disease, accelerating the recovery from infection, reducing the transmission risk, although the use of precautionary measures against Sars-CoV-2 spreading still remain critical.
An Acoustic Survey of Beaked Whales and Kogia spp. in the Mariana Archipelago Using Drifting Recorders
Authors: McCullough Jennifer L. K. , Wren Johanna L. K. , Oleson Erin M. , Allen Ann N. , Siders Zachary A. , Norris Erik S.
Published: June 2021

The distribution, abundance, and habitat of cryptic cetacean species such as beaked whales and dwarf/pygmy sperm whales (Kogiaspp.) are challenging to study due to their long dive times and/or very limited surface behavior. Even less is known in minimally studied and remote regions, including the Mariana Archipelago and parts of the broader western Pacific. In 2018, we deployed a network of eight Drifting Acoustic Spar Buoy Recorders (DASBRs) on the west side of the Mariana Archipelago with the goal of examining the distribution and habitat of beaked whales andKogiaspp. in this region using passive acoustic monitoring. Concurrently, conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) data were collected within the drift area and combined with satellite oceanographic data to build Ensemble Random Forest Models to identify specific oceanographic features that determine the distribution of these species. DASBRs deployed at locations ranging from 13°N to 18°N generally drifted from east to west between the Mariana Archipelago and the West Mariana Ridge. Spectral and temporal characteristics of echolocation signals were used to identify the presence of beaked whales andKogiaspp. species. This dataset contained frequency modulated (FM) pulses characteristic of Longman’s (Indopacetus pacificus), Cuvier’s (Ziphius cavirostris), and Blainville’s (Mesoplodon densirostris) beaked whales, as well as the unidentified beaked whale FM pulse known as the “BWC,” along with narrow-band high frequency clicks fromKogiaspp. The detection rate was substantially higher for all species on the five tracks in the region north of 15.5°N than for those drifts occurring farther south. Species distribution models suggest that differences in the oceanographic characteristics between the northern and southern regions may impact foraging opportunities, possibly explaining the specific ecological niche for these species within this water mass. This is the first study of the distribution of cryptic cetacean species within the wider Mariana Archipelago region. We demonstrate that autonomous drifting acoustic recorders, combined with environmental sampling and remote satellite data are a powerful tool for studying the habitat dependent distribution of cryptic cetacean species.
The MERS-CoV N Protein Regulates Host Cytokinesis and Protein Translation via Interaction With EF1A
Authors: Zhu Lin , Gao Ting , Fu Yangbo , Han Xiujing , Yue Junjie , Liu Yaoning , Liu Hainan , Dong Qincai , Yang Weihong , Hu Yong , Jin Yanwen , Li Ping , Liu Xuan , Cao Cheng
Published: June 2021

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), a pathogen causing severe respiratory disease in humans that emerged in June 2012, is a novel beta coronavirus similar to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). In this study, immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assays revealed that the nucleocapsid (N) protein of MERS-CoV interacted with human translation elongation factor 1A (EF1A), an essential component of the translation system with important roles in protein translation, cytokinesis, and filamentous actin (F-actin) bundling. The C-terminal motif (residues 359–363) of the N protein was the crucial domain involved in this interaction. The interaction between the MERS-CoV N protein and EF1A resulted in cytokinesis inhibition due to the formation of inactive F-actin bundles, as observed in an in vitro actin polymerization assay and in MERS-CoV-infected cells. Furthermore, the translation of a CoV-like reporter mRNA carrying the MERS-CoV 5′UTR was significantly potentiated by the N protein, indicating that a similar process may contribute to EF1A-associated viral protein translation. This study highlights the crucial role of EF1A in MERS-CoV infection and provides new insights into the pathogenesis of coronavirus infections.
Aspergillus niger Environmental Isolates and Their Specific Diversity Through Metabolite Profiling
Authors: Šimonovičová Alexandra , Vojtková Hana , Nosalj Sanja , Piecková Elena , Švehláková Hana , Kraková Lucia , Drahovská Hana , Stalmachová Barbara , Kučová Kateřina , Pangallo Domenico
Published: June 2021

We present a biological profile of 16Aspergillus nigerenvironmental isolates from different types of soils and solid substrates across a pH range, from an ultra-acidic (<3.5) to a very strongly alkaline (>9.0) environment. The soils and solid substrates also differ in varying degrees of anthropic pollution, which in most cases is caused by several centuries of mining activity at old mining sites, sludge beds, ore deposits, stream sediments, and coal dust. The values of toxic elements (As, Sb, Zn, Cu, Pb) very often exceed the limit values. The isolates possess different macro- and micromorphological features. All the identifications ofAspergillus nigerisolates were confirmed by molecular PCR analysis and their similarity was expressed by RAMP analysis. The biochemical profile of isolates based on FF-MicroPlate tests from the Biolog system showed identical biochemical reactions in 50 tests, while in 46 tests the utilisation reactions differed. The highest similarity of strains isolated from substrates with the same pH, as well as the most suitable biochemical tests for analysis of the phenotypic similarity of isolated strains, were confirmed when evaluating the biochemical profile using multicriterial analysis in the Canoco program. The isolates were screened for mycotoxin production by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), as well. Two of them were able to synthesise ochratoxin A, while none produced fumonisins under experimental conditions. Presence of toxic compounds in contaminated sites may affect environmental microscopic fungi and cause the genome alteration, which may result in changes of their physiology, including the production of different (secondary) metabolites, such as mycotoxins.