bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
SARS-CoV-2 infection, disease and transmission in domestic cats
Authors: Gaudreault Natasha N. , Trujillo Jessie D. , Carossino Mariano , Meekins David A. , Morozov Igor , Madden Daniel W. , Indran Sabarish V. , Bold Dashzeveg , Balaraman Velmurugan , Kwon Taeyong , Artiaga Bianca Libanori , Cool Konner , García-Sastre Adolfo , Ma Wenjun , Wilson William C. , Henningson Jamie , Balasuriya Udeni B. R. , Richt Juergen A. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractSevere Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and responsible for the current pandemic. Recent SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and transmission studies in cats show that the virus can replicate in these companion animals and transmit to other cats. Here, we present an in-depth study of SARS-CoV-2 infection, associated disease and transmission dynamics in domestic cats. Six 4- to 5-month-old cats were challenged with SARS-CoV-2 via intranasal and oral routes simultaneously. One day post challenge (DPC), two sentinel contact cats were co-mingled with the principal infected animals. Animals were monitored for clinical signs, clinicopathological abnormalities and viral shedding throughout the 21 DPC observation period.Postmortemexaminations were performed at 4, 7 and 21 DPC to investigate disease progression. Viral RNA was not detected in blood but transiently in nasal, oropharyngeal and rectal swabs and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as well as various tissues. Tracheobronchoadenitis of submucosal glands with the presence of viral RNA and antigen was observed in airways of the infected cats on 4 and 7 DPC. Serology showed that both, principal and sentinel cats, developed SARS-CoV-2-specific and neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 detectable at 7 DPC or 10 DPC, respectively. All animals were clinically asymptomatic during the course of the study and capable of transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to sentinels within 2 days of comingling. The results of this study are critical for our understanding of the clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 in a naturally susceptible host species, and for risk assessment of the maintenance of SARS-CoV-2 in felines and transmission to other animals and humans.
Hypertonic saline solution inhibits SARS-CoV-2 in vitro assay
Authors: Machado Rafael R. G. , Glaser Talita , Araujo Danielle B. , Petiz Lyvia Lintzmaier , Oliveira Danielle B. L. , Durigon Giuliana S. , Leal Alessandra L. , Pinho João Renato R. , Ferreira Luis Carlos S. , Ulrich Henning , Durigon Edison L. , Guzzo Cristiane R. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractWe are facing an unprecedented global health crisis caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). At this date more than 680 thousand people have died due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Unfortunately, until now no effective treatment to combat the virus and vaccine are available. We performed experiments to test if hypertonic saline solution is able to inhibit virus replicationin vitro. Our data shows that 260 mM NaCl (1.5%) inhibits 100% SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero cells. Furthermore, our results suggest that the virus replication inhibition is due to an intracellular mechanism and not due to the dissociation between spike SARS-CoV-2 protein and its human receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 interaction. NaCl depolarizes the plasma membrane supposedly associated with the inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle. This observation could lead to simple, safe and low cost interventions at various stages of COVID-19 treatment, improving the prognosis of infected patients, thereby mitigating the social and economic costs of the pandemic.
Muscle activity of cutting manoeuvres and soccer inside passing suggests an increased groin injury risk during these movements
Authors: Dupré Thomas , Tryba Julian , Potthast Wolfgang 
Published: August 2020

AbstractCutting manoeuvres and inside passing are thought to increase the risk for sustaining groin injuries. But both movements and cutting manoeuvres in particular have received little research attention in this regard. The purpose of this study was to investigate the muscle activity of adductor longus and gracilis as well as hip and knee joint kinematics during 90° -cutting and inside passing. Thirteen male soccer players were investigated with 3D-motion capturing and surface electromyography of adductor longus and gracilis while performing the two movements. Hip and knee joint kinematics were calculated with AnyBody Modelling System. Muscle activity of both muscles was significantly higher during the cutting manoeuvre compared to inside passing. Kinematics showed that the highest activity occurred during phases of fast muscle lengthening and eccentric contraction of the adductors which is known to increase the groin injury risk. Of both movements, cutting showed the higher activity and is therefore more likely to cause groin injuries. However, passing might also increase the risk for groin injuries as it is one of the most performed actions in soccer, and therefore most likely causes groin injuries through overuse. Practitioners need to be aware of these risks and should prepare players accordingly through strength and flexibility training.
Nav1.7 gating in human iPSC derived sensory neurons: an experimental and computational study
Authors: Capurro Alberto , Thornton Jack , Cessac Bruno , Armstrong Lyle , Sernagor Evelyne 
Published: August 2020

AbstractChronic pain is a global healthcare problem with a huge societal impact. Its management remains unsatisfactory, with no single treatment clinically approved in most cases. In this study we use anin vitroexperimental model of erythromelalgia consisting of sensory neurons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells obtained from a patient (carrying the mutation F1449V) and a control subject. We combine neurophysiology and computational modelling to focus on the Nav1.7 voltage gated sodium channel, which acts as an amplifier of the receptor potential in nociceptive neurons and plays a critical role in erythromelalgia due to gain of function mutations causing the channel to open with smaller depolarisations.Using multi-electrode array (extracellular) recordings, we found that the scorpion toxin OD1 increases the excitability of sensory neurons in cultures obtained from the control donor, evidenced by increased spontaneous spike rate and amplitude. In erythromelalgia cultures, the application of the Nav1.7 blocker PF-05089771 effectively stopped spontaneous firing. These results, which are in accordance with current clamp and voltage clamp recordings reported in the literature, are explained with a conductance-based computational model of a single human nociceptive neuron. The disease was simulated through a decrease of the Nav1.7 half activation voltage, which decreased the rheobase and increased the response to supra threshold depolarizing currents. This enhanced response could be successfully supressed by blocking the Nav1.7 channels. The painful effects of OD1 were simulated through a slower establishment and a quicker removal of Nav1.7 inactivation, reproducing the effects of the toxin on the spike frequency and amplitude. Our model simulations suggest that the increase in extracellular spike amplitude observed in the MEA after OD1 treatment can be due mainly to a slope increase in the ascending phase of the intracellular spike caused by impaired inactivation gating.
The Relationship Between Motor Fitness, Fundamental Movement Skills, and Functional Movement Screen in Primary School Children
Authors: Wu Hua , Eungpinichpong Wichai , Ruan Hui , Zhang Xinding , Dong Xiujuan 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThis study investigates motor fitness (MF), fundamental movement skills (FMS), and functional movement screen (FMS™) in 7-10-year-old children, and evaluates the relationship between FMS , MF and FMS™ combination with Seefeldt’s model for empirical research, thus to present effective strategies of physical development in children. A class was randomly selected in four school grades (1-4) along with 30 students from each to take the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2). A total of 117 children (42 girls, aged 7-10) participated in three tests: TGMD-2, MF tests, and FMS™. MF levels (good, fair, and poor) and FMS™ levels (high, moderate, and low) were classified according to specific percentile ranges. A multiple (R×C) chi-square test analysis of the relationship between MF, FMS, and FMS™ was applied and post hoc testing estimated the possibility of FMS and FMS™ predicting MF. The results showed that only 43% of children were rated “good” on MF. Most fourth-grade students exhibited a certain gap with mature FMS (TGMD-2 score 70.13±9.68< 96 full scores). Boys scored significantly higher on the object control subtest and the TGMD-2 total score compared to girls (p<0.001), while girls had a significantly greater score than boys on the FMS™ (p=0.001). The results of multiple chi-square demonstrated FMS to be weakly correlated with MF, χ2(4,N=117) =14.605, p =0.006< 0.01, Cramer’s V = 0.25. Both 60.5% of “excellent” FMS and 59.6% of “high” FMS™ children were categorized as having a “good” MF level. On the other hand, only 23.1% of the “worst” FMS and 24.3% of “low” FMS™ individuals were classified as having a “good” MF level. Our results suggest that MF, FMS, FMS™ are relatively independent systems linking with each other, generating mutual interaction in children’s motor development. At different stages or different advantages of them motor development, we may emphasize training one or a few parts.
Novel small RNAs expressed byBartonella bacilliformisunder multiple conditions reveal potential mechanisms for persistence in the sand fly vector and human host
Authors: Wachter Shaun , Hicks Linda D. , Raghavan Rahul , Minnick Michael F. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBartonella bacilliformis, the etiological agent of Carrión’s disease, is a Gram-negative, facultative intracellular alphaproteobacterium. Carrión’s disease is an emerging but neglected tropical illness endemic to Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador.B. bacilliformisis spread between humans through the bite of female phlebotomine sand flies. As a result, the pathogen encounters significant and repeated environmental shifts during its life cycle, including changes in pH and temperature. In most bacteria, small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) serve as effectors that may post-transcriptionally regulate the stress response to such changes. However, sRNAs have not been characterized inB. bacilliformis, to date. We therefore performed total RNA-sequencing analyses onB. bacilliformisgrownin vitrothen shifted to one of ten distinct conditions that simulate various environments encountered by the pathogen during its life cycle. From this, we identified 160 sRNAs significantly expressed under at least one of the conditions tested. sRNAs included the highly-conserved tmRNA, 6S RNA, RNase P RNA component, SRP RNA component,ffHleader RNA, and the alphaproteobacterial sRNAs αr45 andspeFleader RNA. In addition, 153 other potential sRNAs of unknown function were discovered. Northern blot analysis was used to confirm the expression of eight novel sRNAs. We also characterized aBartonellabacilliformisgroup Iintron (BbgpI) that disrupts an un-annotated tRNACCUArggene and determined that the intron splicesin vivoand self-splicesin vitro.Furthermore, we demonstrated the molecular targeting ofBartonellabacilliformissmallRNA9(BbsR9) to transcripts of theftsH,nuoF, andgcvTgenes,in vitro.Author summaryB. bacilliformisis a bacterial pathogen that is transmitted between humans by phlebotomine sand flies. Bacteria often express sRNAs to fine-tune the production of proteins involved in a wide array of biological processes. We culturedB. bacilliformis in vitrounder standard conditions then shifted the pathogen for a period of time to ten distinct environments, including multiple temperatures, pH levels, and infections of human blood and human vascular endothelial cells. After RNA-sequencing, a manual transcriptome search identified 160 putative sRNAs, including seven highly-conserved sRNAs and 153 novel potential sRNAs. We then characterized two of the novel sRNAs, BbgpI and BbsR9. BbgpI is a group I intron (ribozyme) that self-splices and disrupts an unannotated gene coding for a transfer RNA (tRNACCUArg). BbsR9 is an intergenic sRNA expressed under conditions that simulate the sand fly. We found that BbsR9 targets transcripts of theftsH,nuoF, andgcvTgenes. Furthermore, we determined the specific sRNA-mRNA interactions responsible for BbsR9 binding to its target mRNAs throughin vitromutagenesis and binding assays.
Genetic analysis of obstructive sleep apnoea discovers a strong association with cardiometabolic health
Authors: Strausz Satu , Ruotsalainen Sanni , Ollila Hanna M. , Karjalainen Juha , Reeve Mary , Kurki Mitja , Mars Nina , Havulinna Aki S. , Kiiskinen Tuomo , Aly Dina Mansour , Ahlqvist Emma , Teder-Laving Maris , Palta Priit , Groop Leif , Mägi Reedik , Mäkitie Antti , Salomaa Veikko , Bachour Adel , Tuomi Tiinamaija ,   FinnGen, Palotie Aarno , Palotie Tuula , Ripatti Samuli 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThere is currently only limited understanding of the genetic aetiology of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). The aim of our study is to identify genetic loci associated with OSA risk and to test if OSA and its comorbidities share a common genetic background.We conducted the first large-scale genome-wide association study of OSA using FinnGen Study (217,955 individuals) with 16,761 OSA patients identified using nationwide health registries.We estimated 8.3% [0.06-0.11] heritability and identified five loci associated with OSA (P < 5.0 × 10−8): rs4837016 near GTPase activating protein and VPS9 domains 1 (GAPVD1), rs10928560 near C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), rs185932673 near Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase ID (CAMK1D) and rs9937053 near Fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) - a variant previously associated with body mass index (BMI). In a BMI-adjusted analysis, an association was observed for rs10507084 near Rhabdomyosarcoma 2 associated transcript (RMST)/NEDD1 gamma-tubulin ring complex targeting factor (NEDD1).We found genetic correlations between OSA and BMI (rg=0.72 [0.62-0.83]) and with comorbidities including hypertension, type 2 diabetes (T2D), coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, depression, hypothyroidism, asthma and inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) (rg > 0.30). Polygenic risk score (PRS) for BMI showed 1.98-fold increased OSA risk between the highest and the lowest quintile and Mendelian randomization supported a causal relationship between BMI and OSA.Our findings support the causal link between obesity and OSA and joint genetic basis between OSA and comorbidities.
Network-centered homeostasis through inhibition maintains hippocampal spatial map and cortical circuit function
Authors: Kaleb Klara , Pedrosa Victor , Clopath Claudia 
Published: August 2020

AbstractDespite ongoing experiential change, neural activity maintains remarkable stability. Such stability is thought to be mediated by homeostatic plasticity and is deemed to be critical for normal neural function. However, what aspect of neural activity does homeostatic plasticity conserve, and how it still maintains the flexibility necessary for learning and memory, is not fully understood. Homeostatic plasticity is often studied in the context of neuron-centered control, where the deviations from the target activity for each individual neuron are suppressed. However, experimental studies suggest that there are additional, network-centered mechanisms. These may act through the inhibitory neurons, due to their dense network connectivity. Here we use a computational framework to study a potential mechanism for such homeostasis, using experimentally inspired, input-dependent inhibitory plasticity (IDIP). In a hippocampal CA1 spiking model, we show that IDIP in combination with place tuned input can explain the formation of active and silent place cells, as well as place cells remapping following optogenetic silencing of active place cells. Furthermore, we show that IDIP can also stabilise recurrent network dynamics, as well as preserve network firing rate heterogeneity and stimulus representation. Interestingly, in an associative memory task, IDIP facilitates persistent activity after memory encoding, in line with some experimental data. Hence, the establishment of global network balance with IDIP has diverse functional implications and may be able to explain experimental phenomena across different brain areas.
Bacteriophage deficiency characterizes respiratory virome dysbiosis in childhood asthma
Authors: Megremis Spyridon , Constantinides Bede , Xepapadaki Paraskevi , Bachert Claus , Neurath-Finotto Susetta , Jartti Tuomas , Kowalski Marek L , Sotiropoulos Alexandros Georgios , Tapinos Avraam , Vuorinen Tytti , Andreakos Evangelos , Robertson David , Papadopoulos Nikolaos 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAsthma development and persistence is tightly linked to respiratory viruses. Viral presence is usually interrogated with targeted approaches during periods of disease activity and/or infections, thus neglecting viral occurrence during steady states. We investigate the virome in the upper respiratory system of healthy and asthmatic preschool children during asymptomatic/non-infection periods using metagenomics. Children with asthma have a characteristically dysbiotic virome that correlates to disease severity and control. The major component of dysbiosis is bacteriophage deficiency, while eukaryotic viral presence is increased. At the metacommunity level, differential virus species co-occurrence patterns suggest a decrease of the microbiota community resilience in asthma. Viral dysbiosis is therefore a key characteristic of asthma pathophysiology.
Explorative meta-analysis of 417 extant archaeal genomes to predict their contribution to the total microbiome functionality
Authors: Starke Robert , Parente Fernandes Maysa Lima , Morais Daniel Kumazawa , Odriozola Iñaki , Jehmlich Nico , Baldrian Petr 
Published: August 2020

AbstractUnveiling the relationship between taxonomy and function in microbiomes is crucial to determine their contribution to ecosystem functioning. However, while the relationship between taxonomic and functional diversity in bacteria and fungi was reported, this is not the case for archaea. Here, we used a meta-analysis of completely annotated extant genomes of 417 taxonomically unique archaeal species to describe intergenome and intragenome redundancy of functions and to predict the extent of microbiome functionality on Earth contained within archaeal genomes using accumulation curves of all known functions from the level 3 of KEGG Orthology. We found that intergenome redundancy as functions present in multiple genomes was inversely related to intragenome redundancy as multiple copies of a gene in one genome, implying the trade of between additional copies of functionally important genes or a higher number of different genes. A logarithmic model described the relationship between functional diversity and species richness better than both the unsaturated and the saturated model, which suggests a limited total number of archaeal functions in contrast to the potential of bacteria and fungi. Using a global archaeal species richness estimate of 13,159, the logarithmic model predicts a total of 4,164.1 ±2.9 KEGG level 3 functions while the non-parametric bootstrap estimate yields a lower bound of 2,994 ±57 KEGG level 3 functions. Our approach not only highlights similarities in functional redundancy but also the difference in functional potential of archaea compared to other domains of life.
Nanoscale indentation of plasma membrane establishes a contractile actomyosin scaffold through selective activation of the Amphiphysin-Rho1-Dia/DAAM and Rok pathway
Authors: Kapoor Tushna , Dubey Pankaj , Shirolikar Seema , Ray Krishanu 
Published: August 2020

AbstractNanoscale bending of plasma membrane increases cell adhesion, induces cell-signalling, triggers F-actin assembly and endocytosis in tissue-cultured cells. The underlying mechanisms are not very well understood. Here, we show that stretching the plasma membrane of somatic cyst cell around rigid spermatid heads generates a stable, tubular endomembrane scaffold supported by contractile actomyosin. The structure resembles an actin-basket covering the bundle of spermatid heads. Genetic analysis suggests that the actomyosin organisation is nucleated exclusively by the Formins, Diaphanous and DAAM, downstream of Rho1, recruited by the Bin-Amphiphysin-Rvs (BAR)-domain protein, Amphiphysin, around the spermatid heads. Actomyosin activity at the actin-basket gathers the spermatid heads into a compact bundle and resists the invasion of the somatic cell by the intruding spermatids. These observations revealed a new response mechanism of nanoscale bending of the plasma membrane, which generates a novel cell adhesion strategy through active clamping.HighlightsStretching the plasma membrane around a spermatid head recruits Amphiphysin and Rho1.Rho1 activation triggers F-actin assemblyin situthrough Diaphanous and DAAM.Rho1-Rok activation assembles actomyosin scaffold around the folded plasma membrane.Contractile actomyosin enables plasma membrane to clamp onto the spermatid head.Author summarySperm released from the somatic enclosure is essential for male fertility. During differentiation, the somatic cell membrane, associated with dense F-actin scaffold, tightly hold each spermatid head before release. Kapoor et al., showed that the bending and stretching of the plasma membrane trigger the assembly of an actomyosin scaffold around the bent membrane, which clamps the spermatids together preventing the premature release and somatic cell penetration. This finding provides new insight into the molecular networks activated by mechanical bending of the plasma membrane.