Apparent Host Research Articles

Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in eleven wild rodent species in China: Common distribution, extensive genetic diversity and high zoonotic potential

Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi are common zoonotic pathogens in humans and animals. Although rodents are important parts of the ecosystem and common hosts for these pathogens, little is known of the distribution, genetic diversity and zoonotic potential of these pathogens in wild rodents. A total of 442 fecal samples were collected from eleven wild rodent species in three provinces of China, and analyzed for these pathogens by PCR and DNA sequencing. The infection rates of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp. and E. bieneusi were 19.9% (88/442), 19.8% (75/378) and 12.2% (54/442), respectively. Altogether, 23 known Cryptosporidium species/genotypes were identified and their distribution varied among different sampling locations or rodent species. Subtyping of the zoonotic Cryptosporidium species identified two novel subtype families XVe and XVf in C. viatorum, the subtype family XIIh and a novel subtype family XIIj in C. ubiquitum, and the subtype family IId in C. parvum. Three Giardia species were identified, including G. microti (n = 57), G. muris (n = 15) and G. duodenalis (n = 3), with G. duodenalis assemblages A and G identified in brown rats in urban areas of Guangdong. In addition, 13 E. bieneusi genotypes including eight known and five novel ones were identified, belonging to Groups 1, 2, 10, 14 and 15. Within nine genotypes in the zoonotic Group 1, common human-pathogenic genotypes D, Type IV, PigEbITS7 and Peru8 were detected only in brown rats and Lesser rice-field rats in urban areas of Guangdong. Apparent host adaptation and geographical differences were observed among Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp. and E. bieneusi genotypes in wild rodents in the present study. Furthermore, the zoonotic Cryptosporidium species and E. bieneusi genotypes commonly found here suggest a high zoonotic potential of these pathogens in wild rodents, especially in brown rats in urban areas. Hygiene and One Health measures should be implemented in urban streets and food stores to reduce the possible direct and indirect transmission of these rodent-related pathogens.

New insights into biodiversity-disease relationships: the importance of the host community network characterization

Camera-trapping-based social network analysis (SNA) is a valuable tool to characterize communities and identify species with an outstanding role in pathogen maintenance. This study provides new insights into the contentious debate on the effect of biodiversity on disease risk by combining SNA with the assessment of host diversity indicators and pathogen richness in Spain. The apparent species richness detected by camera traps at each study site ranged from 10 to 33 species (mean ± standard error (SE): 20.73 ± 1.94) and their apparent diversity rates (i.e., Shannon index) ranged from 0.57 to 2.55 (mean ± SE: 1.97 ± 0.16). At the community level, vertebrate host diversity had a marginal dilution effect on the disease risk and was negatively correlated to pathogen richness. The exposure to multiple pathogens, as a proxy of disease risk, was negatively associated with apparent host diversity. The disease risk was driven by the interaction of apparent biodiversity with the presence of livestock and with the centrality of the indicator species (i.e., the wild boar). The maximum risk of co-exposure to pathogens was reached when the lowest apparent biodiversity rates coincided with the highest wild boar centrality in the host community or with the presence of livestock, respectively. The highest confluence of pathogens occurred at lower apparent diversity indexes, higher wild boar relative abundances and predominance of agricultural lands. Our results suggest that the diversity-disease relationship is not linear and depends on the environment and host community characteristics, thereby opening avenues for designing new prevention strategies.

Control of Pierce's Disease of Grape with Paraburkholderia phytofirmans PsJN in the Field.

Replicated field studies were conducted to evaluate the factors that could influence the efficacy of Paraburkholderia phytofirmans PsJN for the control of Pierce's disease of grape, as well as to determine the extent to which disease control was systemic within plants. Topical applications of PsJN with an organosilicon surfactant was an effective way to introduce this bacterium under field conditions and provided similar levels of disease control as its mechanical inoculation. Disease incidence in inoculated shoots was often reduced two- to threefold when PsJN was inoculated a single time as much as 3 weeks before Xylella fastidiosa and up to 5 weeks after the pathogen. Inoculation of a shoot with PsJN greatly decreased the probability of any symptoms rather than reducing the severity of disease, suggesting a systemic protective response of individual shoots. Although the likelihood of disease symptoms on shoots inoculated with the pathogen on PsJN-treated plants was lower than on control plants inoculated only with the pathogen, the protection conferred by PsJN was not experienced by all shoots on a given plant. This suggested that any systemic resistance was spatially limited. Whereas the population size of PsJN increased to more than 106 cells/g and spread more than 1 m within 12 weeks after its inoculation alone into grape, its population size subsequently decreased greatly after about 5 weeks, and its distal dispersal in stems was restricted when co-inoculated with X. fastidiosa. PsJN may experience collateral damage from apparent host responses induced when both species are present.

Genome-resolved metaproteogenomic and nanosolid characterization of an inactive vent chimney densely colonized by enigmatic DPANN archaea.

Recent successes in the cultivation of DPANN archaea with their hosts have demonstrated an episymbiotic lifestyle, whereas the lifestyle of DPANN archaea in natural habitats is largely unknown. A free-living lifestyle is speculated in oxygen-deprived fluids circulated through rock media, where apparent hosts of DPANN archaea are lacking. Alternatively, DPANN archaea may be detached from their hosts and/or rock surfaces. To understand the ecology of rock-hosted DPANN archaea, rocks rather than fluids should be directly characterized. Here, we investigated a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney without fluid venting where our previous study revealed the high proportion of Pacearchaeota, one of the widespread and enigmatic lineages of DPANN archaea. Using spectroscopic methods with submicron soft X-ray and infrared beams, the microbial habitat was specified to be silica-filled pores in the inner chimney wall comprising chalcopyrite. Metagenomic analysis of the inner wall revealed the lack of biosynthetic genes for nucleotides, amino acids, cofactors, and lipids in the Pacearchaeota genomes. Genome-resolved metaproteomic analysis clarified the co-occurrence of a novel thermophilic lineage actively fixing carbon and nitrogen and thermophilic archaea in the inner chimney wall. We infer that the shift in metabolically active microbial populations from the thermophiles to the mesophilic DPANN archaea occurs after the termination of fluid venting. The infilling of mineral pores by hydrothermal silica deposition might be a preferred environmental factor for the colonization of free-living Pacearchaeota with ultrasmall cells depending on metabolites synthesized by the co-occurring thermophiles during fluid venting.

The Structure of Rice Stemborer Assemblages: A Review of Species' Distributions, Host Ranges, and Interspecific Interactions.

This review describes global rice stemborer assemblages based on published species distributions, apparent host preferences, and reported shifts in assemblage composition in response to environmental factors. At least 56 moth (Lepidoptera: Crambidae, Pyralidae, Noctuidae) and fly (Diptera: Diopsidae, Chloropidae) species have been associated with rice; however, only 21 species are of potential, large-scale economic importance with a further 2 species of localized concern; most of the remaining species' associations with rice are based on dubious records without economic impacts on rice production. A list of stemborer-host associations indicates that rice stemborers are largely oligophagous on grasses (Poaceae), but a few species are polyphagous (also attacking Cyperaceae, Typhaceae, and some Eudicotyledon plants). Total stemborer abundance is determined by rice cropping patterns and management. Assemblage species richness is determined by geographical location, surrounding habitat (particularly as regards secondary and occasional species), and season. Evidence suggests that stemborer assemblage structure is largely determined through conditional interspecific competition. Regional assemblages typically include a single dominant lepidopteran species (primary species) that is largely restricted to rice and for which the climate is optimal; one or more secondary species that vary based on the age of rice attacked, rice anatomy, and the proximity to other habitats (including other crops); and occasional species that probably spill over from adjacent grasslands. The co-occurrence of lepidopteran with dipteran rice stemborers requires further research attention.

Salinization Dramatically Enhance the Anti-Prostate Cancer Efficacies of AR/AR-V7 and Mnk1/2 Molecular Glue Degraders, Galeterone and VNPP433-3β Which Outperform Docetaxel and Enzalutamide in CRPC CWR22Rv1 Xenograft Mouse Model

Galeterone, 3β-(hydroxy)-17-(1H-benzimidazole-1-yl)androsta-5,16-diene (Gal, 1) and VNPP433-3β, 3β-(1H-imidazole-1-yl-17-(1H-benzimidazole-1-yl)androsta-5,16-diene (2) are potent molecular glue degrader modulators of AR/AR-V7 and Mnk1/2-eIF4E signaling pathways, and are promising Phase 3 and Phase 1 drug candidates, respectively. Because appropriate salts can be utilized to create new chemical entities with enhanced aqueous solubility, in vivo pharmacokinetics, and enhanced in vitro and in vivo efficacies, the monohydrochloride salt of Gal (3) and the mono- and di-hydrochlorides salts of compound 2, compounds 4 and 5, respectively, were synthesized. The salts were characterized using 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS analyses. Compound 3 displayed enhanced in vitro antiproliferative activity (7.4-fold) against three prostate cancer cell lines but surprisingly decreased plasma exposure in the pharmacokinetics study. The antiproliferative activities of the compound 2 salts (4 and 5) were equivalent to that of compound 2, but their oral pharmacokinetic profiles were significantly enhanced. Finally, and most importantly, oral administration of the parent compounds (1 and 2) and their corresponding salts (3, 4 and 5) caused dose-dependent potent inhibition/regression of aggressive and difficult-to-treat CWR22Rv1 tumor xenografts growth, with no apparent host toxicities and were highly more efficacious than the blockbuster FDA-approved prostate cancer drugs, Enzalutamide (Xtandi) and Docetaxel (Taxotere). Thus, the HCl salts of Gal (3) and VNPP433-3β (4 and 5) are excellent orally bioavailable candidates for clinical development.

Abstract LB235: Mechanistic studies on VNLG-152R-mediated tumor inhibition of triple negative breast cancer

Abstract Introduction: Breast cancer remains a major concern as the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women in the United States and the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women globally. Among all the subtypes, triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is highly resilient and eludes currently available treatment modalities. This study describes the mechanism of action of VNLG-152R in inhibiting TNBC tumor growth. Methods: TNBC cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 originated from TNBC patients of Caucasian American and African American descend, respectively, were challenged with VNLG-152R in vitro. The mechanism of action was studied by immunoblotting key proteins, proteasomal degradation assay of Mnk1/2 and transcriptome analysis by RNA-seq. The therapeutic potential of VNLG-152R is demonstrated in NRG mice bearing either MDA-MB-231 or MDA-MB-468 tumor xenografts. Results: We report for the first time, that, VNLG-152R significantly upregulates Synoviolin (SYVN1) in TNBC cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 with concomitant degradation of Mnk1/2. SYVN1 is a known E3-ubiquitin ligase and it ubiquitinates its target proteins, rendering them to proteasomal degradation. However, there was no significant change in Mnk1/2 levels upon treatment with VNLG-152R in presence of SYVN1 inhibitor LS102. A similar result is obtained upon siRNA knockdown of SYVN1. Subsequently, the decreased level of Mnk1/2 diminished the phosphorylation of eIF4E with a concurrent decrease in levels of eIF4E-validated downstream targets, Bcl-2 and Cyclin D1, resulting in tumor growth inhibition. Inhibition of proteasomal degradation by MG-132 prior to treating cells with VNLG-152R further supports that VNLG-152R promotes SYVN1-mediated ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation of Mnk1/2. Further, RNA-seq and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) of differentially expressed genes demonstrate inhibition of mTORC1 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1) and NUP153 (Nucleoporin 153) pathways and activation of p53 pathway thereby inhibiting tumor progression. Finally, oral administration of VNLG-152R to mice bearing tumor xenografts of either MDA-MB-231 or MDA-MB-468 significantly inhibited tumor growth and resulted in 87% and 80% tumor growth inhibition, respectively, without apparent host toxicity. Immunoblots of tumor tissue further demonstrate elevated levels of SYVN1 and decreased Mnk1/2 and p-eIF4E, which further confirms the role of SYVN1-mediated proteasomal degradation of Mnk1/2 in inhibiting TNBC tumor growth by VNLG-152R. Conclusion: As VNLG-152R potently inhibits development and progression of TNBC of different origins by upregulating E3 ubiquitin ligase SYVN1 leading to ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of Mnk1/2 thereby decreased oncogenic phosphorylation of eIF4E by Mnk1/2, VNLG-152R could potentially be developed for the treatment of TNBC, irrespective of racial origin. Citation Format: Elizabeth Thomas, Retheesh S. Thankan, Puranik Purushottamachar, Vincent C. Njar. Mechanistic studies on VNLG-152R-mediated tumor inhibition of triple negative breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 2 (Clinical Trials and Late-Breaking Research); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(8_Suppl):Abstract nr LB235.

Effector-mediated partial and nonhost disease resistance in wheat.

Effector-mediated partial and nonhost disease resistance in wheat.

Studies on Argentine Phylacia species (Hypoxylaceae) using a polythetic taxonomic approach

The current study is dedicated to the taxonomy of the genus Phylacia (Hypoxylaceae) in Argentina. Fieldwork in the north of the country provided several fresh collections that were studied, using a polyphasic approach. The secondary metabolite profiles of the specimens were generated by high-performance liquid chromatography hyphenated by diode array and mass spectrometry (HPLC–DAD/MS) of the stromata. This study confirmed the presence of secondary metabolites that are also found in the related genus Daldinia. The detection of binapththalene tetrol (BNT), daldinal B, and daldinol, which are also characteristic of certain species of Daldinia and Hypoxylon, further confirmed the chemotaxonomic affinities within the Hypoxylaceae. The phylogenetic affinities of several species were determined using a multi-gene genealogy based on ITS, LSU, TUB2, and RPB2 sequences, confirming that Phylacia is most closely related to Daldinia, Rhopalostroma, and Thamnomyces. The new species P. lobulata, which features a rather unique stromatal morphology and seems to exhibit apparent host specificity for the endemic tree Pseudobombax argentinum, is described.

The Effect of Counterions on the Detection of Cu2+ Ions in Aqueous Solutions Using Quartz Tuning Fork (QTF) Sensors Modified with L-Cysteine Self-Assembled Monolayers: Experimental and Quantum Chemical DFT Study

In this study, a sensing device employing a gold-coated quartz tuning fork (QTF) modified with a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of L-cysteine was evaluated for the sensitive detection of Cu2+ ions in aqueous solutions. Three copper (II) salts, CuSO4, CuCl2, and Cu(NO3)2, at four different concentrations (10−12, 10−10, 10−8, and 10−6 M) in small (100 μL) water sample amounts were each used as analytes to investigate the influence of their counterions in the detection of the Cu2+ ions. It was found that, among the counterions, the sulfate anion had the largest effect upon the detection of Cu2+ in water, in the following order: SO42− > Cl− > NO3−. The lower limit of detection of the Cu2+ ions detected was in the 10−12 M range. The frequency shifts measured with the QTFs relative to deionized water were inversely proportional to the concentration/mass of the analytes. Density functional theory calculations were conducted to understand the effect of the counterions on the respective electronic interaction energies for the apparent host–guest binding of the analytes with L-cysteine and with gold surface-bound L-cysteine molecules. Gas phase (both with and uncorrected BSSE) and solution phase interaction energies (ΔIE) calculated at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ and ωB97XD levels of theory showed that the stability for the complexes were in the following order: [L-cysteine]⊃[CuSO4] > [L-cysteine]⊃[CuCl2] > [L-cysteine]⊃[Cu(NO3)2], which supports our experimental findings, as they were in the same order as the experimentally observed order for the copper salts tested: CuSO4 > CuCl2 > Cu(NO3)2.

DELIGHT: Deep Learning Identification of Galaxy Hosts of Transients using Multiresolution Images

We present DELIGHT, or Deep Learning Identification of Galaxy Hosts of Transients, a new algorithm designed to automatically and in real time identify the host galaxies of extragalactic transients. The proposed algorithm receives as input compact, multiresolution images centered at the position of a transient candidate and outputs two-dimensional offset vectors that connect the transient with the center of its predicted host. The multiresolution input consists of a set of images with the same number of pixels, but with progressively larger pixel sizes and fields of view. A sample of 16,791 galaxies visually identified by the Automatic Learning for the Rapid Classification of Events broker team was used to train a convolutional neural network regression model. We show that this method is able to correctly identify both relatively large (10″ < r < 60″) and small (r ≤ 10″) apparent size host galaxies using much less information (32 kB) than with a large, single-resolution image (920 kB). The proposed method has fewer catastrophic errors in recovering the position and is more complete and has less contamination (<0.86%) recovering the crossmatched redshift than other state-of-the-art methods. The more efficient representation provided by multiresolution input images could allow for the identification of transient host galaxies in real time, if adopted in alert streams from new generation of large -etendue telescopes such as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.

Huaier Inhibits Gastric Cancer Growth and Hepatic Metastasis by Reducing Syntenin Expression and STAT3 Phosphorylation

Gastric cancer (GC) is a common malignant tumor worldwide and poses a serious threat to human health. As a traditional Chinese medicine, Huaier (Trametes robiniophila Murr.) has been used in the clinical treatment of GC. However, the mechanism underlying the anticancer effect of Huaier remains poorly understood. In this study, we used in vivo imaging technology to determine the anticancer effect of the Huaier n-butanol extract (HBE) on orthotopic and hepatic metastasis of GC mouse models. We found that HBE suppressed tumor growth and metastasis without causing apparent host toxicity. Proteomic analysis of GC cells before and after HBE intervention revealed syntenin to be one of the most significantly downregulated proteins after HBE intervention. We further demonstrated that HBE suppressed the growth and metastasis of GC by reducing the expression of syntenin and the phosphorylation of STAT3 at Y705 and reversing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In addition, we confirmed that syntenin was highly expressed in GC tissue and correlated with metastasis and poor prognosis. In conclusion, our results suggest that Huaier, a clinically used anticancer drug, may inhibit the growth and liver metastasis of GC by inhibiting the syntenin/STAT3 signaling pathway and reversing EMT.

Prodiplosis hirsuta Kolesik sp. nov., a new species of gall midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) feeding on shoot tips of Jatropha (Euphorbiaceae) in South America

AbstractA gall midge, Prodiplosis hirsuta Kolesik sp. nov., is described whose larvae feed on shoot tips of Jatropha gossypiifolia and Jatropha clavuligera in Paraguay and Bolivia. Morphology and the mitochondrial COI gene sequence of the new species are given. Field survey and preliminary no‐choice host specificity tests showed that the host plant range of P. hirsuta is confined to J. gossypiifolia and J. clavuligera. The apparent host specificity and the damage potential make P. hirsuta a prospective candidate for biological control of J. gossypiifolia in Australia.

Evidence for Host Selectivity and Specialization by Epizoic Chelonibia Barnacles Between Hawksbill and Green Sea Turtles

Epibionts are organisms that utilize the exterior of other organisms as a living substratum. Many affiliate opportunistically with hosts of different species, but others specialize on particular hosts as obligate associates. We investigated a case of apparent host specificity between two barnacles that are epizoites of sea turtles and illuminate some ecological considerations that may shape their host relationships. The barnacles Chelonibia testudinaria and Chelonibia caretta, though roughly similar in appearance, are separable by distinctions in morphology, genotype, and lifestyle. However, though each is known to colonize both green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles, C. testudinaria is &amp;gt;5 times more common on greens, while C. caretta is &amp;gt;300 times more common on hawksbills. Two competing explanations for this asymmetry in barnacle incidence are either that the species’ larvae are spatially segregated in mutually exclusive host-encounter zones or their distributions overlap and the larvae behaviorally select their hosts from a common pool. We indirectly tested the latter by documenting the occurrence of adults of both barnacle species in two locations (SE Florida and Nose Be, Madagascar) where both turtle species co-mingle. For green and hawksbill turtles in both locations (Florida: n = 32 and n = 275, respectively; Madagascar: n = 32 and n = 125, respectively), we found that C. testudinaria occurred on green turtles only (percent occurrence – FL: 38.1%; MD: 6.3%), whereas the barnacle C. caretta was exclusively found on hawksbill turtles (FL: 82.2%; MD: 27.5%). These results support the hypothesis that the larvae of these barnacles differentially select host species from a shared supply. Physio-biochemical differences in host shell material, conspecific chemical cues, external microbial biofilms, and other surface signals may be salient factors in larval selectivity. Alternatively, barnacle presence may vary by host micro-environment. Dissimilarities in scute structure and shell growth between hawksbill and green turtles may promote critical differences in attachment modes observed between these barnacles. In understanding the co-evolution of barnacles and hosts it is key to consider the ecologies of both hosts and epibionts in interpreting associations of chance, choice, and dependence. Further studies are necessary to investigate the population status and settlement spectrum of barnacles inhabiting sea turtles.

One Source, Two Source(s): Ribs and Tethers

We present the unique and challenging case of a radio galaxy in Abell 3266 observed as part of the MeerKAT Galaxy Cluster Legacy Survey. It has quasi-periodic bright patches along the tail which connect to never-before-seen thin transverse extensions, which we call “ribs”, reaching up to ∼50 kpc from the central axis of the tail. At a distance of ∼400 kpc from the host (assuming the z=0.0594 redshift of Abell 3266) we found what appears to be a triple source with its own apparent host at a photometric redshift of 0.78. Mysteriously, the part of the tail far from the host and the triple are connected by a series of thin filaments, which we call “tethers”. The far tail, tethers and triple also have similar spectra and Faraday rotation measures, suggesting that there is only one—quite complicated—source, with a serendipitous background AGN in the triple. We look at possible causes for the “rib” and “tether” structures, and the emerging phenomena of intracluster medium filaments associated with radio galaxies.

Novel piperazine based benzamide derivatives as potential anti-glioblastoma agents inhibiting cell proliferation and cell cycle progression

Highly efficacious and tolerable agents for the treatment of glioblastoma (GBM), the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor, are urgently needed. Herein, we reveal the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of several piperazine based benzamide derivatives, which are based on the non-classical isostere principle and combination principle for GBM therapy. After structure-activity relationship (SAR) study, compound L19 was demonstrated as the most promising compound with IC50 values of 0.15 μM, 0.29 μM, 1.25 μM against GBM C6, U87-MG, U251 cells, respectively. Moreover, compound L19 could inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion, as well as induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of GBM cell lines in vitro. From mechanism perspective, compound L19 could regulate the cell cycle-related proteins and influence the p16INK4a-CDK4/6-pRb pathway by western blotting experiment. What is worth mentioning is that compound L19 could penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) with an exceptional brain-to-plasma ratio of 1.07 in vivo. Besides, the superior anti-glioblastoma potency in vivo of compound L19 was identified on U87-MG-xenograft model without any apparent host toxicity. Overall, the potential of compound L19 warrants further pre-clinical investigation for GBM therapy.

The ghost of hosts past: impacts of host extinction on parasite specificity.

A growing body of research is focused on the extinction of parasite species in response to host endangerment and declines. Beyond the loss of parasite species richness, host extinction can impact apparent parasite host specificity, as measured by host richness or the phylogenetic distances among hosts. Such impacts on the distribution of parasites across the host phylogeny can have knock-on effects that may reshape the adaptation of both hosts and parasites, ultimately shifting the evolutionary landscape underlying the potential for emergence and the evolution of virulence across hosts. Here, we examine how the reshaping of host phylogenies through extinction may impact the host specificity of parasites, and offer examples from historical extinctions, present-day endangerment, and future projections of biodiversity loss. We suggest that an improved understanding of the impact of host extinction on contemporary host–parasite interactions may shed light on core aspects of disease ecology, including comparative studies of host specificity, virulence evolution in multi-host parasite systems, and future trajectories for host and parasite biodiversity.This article is part of the theme issue ‘Infectious disease macroecology: parasite diversity and dynamics across the globe’.

Immune Landscape of CMV Infection in Cancer Patients: From "Canonical" Diseases Toward Virus-Elicited Oncomodulation.

Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is an immensely pervasive herpesvirus, persistently infecting high percentages of the world population. Despite the apparent robust host immune responses, HCMV is capable of replicating, evading host defenses, and establishing latency throughout life by developing multiple immune-modulatory strategies. HCMV has coexisted with humans mounting various mechanisms to evade immune cells and effectively win the HCMV-immune system battle mainly through maintaining its viral genome, impairing HLA Class I and II molecule expression, evading from natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity, interfering with cellular signaling, inhibiting apoptosis, escaping complement attack, and stimulating immunosuppressive cytokines (immune tolerance). HCMV expresses several gene products that modulate the host immune response and promote modifications in non-coding RNA and regulatory proteins. These changes are linked to several complications, such as immunosenescence and malignant phenotypes leading to immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and oncomodulation. Hence, tumor survival is promoted by affecting cellular proliferation and survival, invasion, immune evasion, immunosuppression, and giving rise to angiogenic factors. Viewing HCMV-induced evasion mechanisms will play a principal role in developing novel adapted therapeutic approaches against HCMV, especially since immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer therapeutic strategies. Since tumors acquire immune evasion strategies, anti-tumor immunity could be prominently triggered by multimodal strategies to induce, on one side, immunogenic tumor apoptosis and to actively oppose the immune suppressive microenvironment, on the other side.

Engytatus passionarius sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Miridae), a new natural enemy of the invasive stinking passion flower Passiflora foetida L.

AbstractThe new plant bug Engytatus passionarius sp. nov. from Formosa province in northern Argentina is described. This new dicyphine was always found in association with the sticky herbaceous vine Passiflora (Dysosmia) foetida L. (Passifloraceae), a species native to the Americas and an important invasive weed in some countries including Australia. The apparent host specificity, the ability to traverse the adhesive exudates of the glandular trichomes and the damage caused by nymphal and adult feeding make E. passionarius sp. nov. an interesting option for further research as a biological control agent. In this paper, a diagnosis, description and illustrations of adult, including the male genitalia, of this new species, as well as a key to the Argentinian species of Engytatus are provided.

Rapidly Declining Hostless Type Ia Supernova KSP-OT-201509b from the KMTNet Supernova Program: Transitional Nature and Constraint on 56Ni Distribution and Progenitor Type

Abstract We report the early discovery and multicolor (BVI) high-cadence light-curve analyses of the rapidly declining sub-Chandrasekhar Type Ia supernova KSP-OT-201509b (= AT 2015cx) from the KMTNet Supernova Program. The Phillips and color stretch parameters of KSP-OT-201509b are ΔM B,15 ≃ 1.62 mag and s BV ≃ 0.54, respectively, at an inferred redshift of 0.072. These, together with other measured parameters (such as the strength of the secondary I-band peak, colors, and luminosity), identify the source to be a rapidly declining Type Ia of a transitional nature that is closer to Branch-normal than 91bg-like. Its early light-curve evolution and bolometric luminosity are consistent with those of homologously expanding ejecta powered by radioactive decay and a Type Ia SN explosion with 0.32 ± 0.01 M ⊙ of synthesized 56Ni mass, 0.84 ± 0.12 M ⊙ of ejecta mass, and (0.61 ± 0.14) × 1051 erg of ejecta kinetic energy. While its B − V and V − I colors evolve largely synchronously with the changes in the I-band light curve, as found in other supernovae, we also find the presence of an early redward evolution in V − I prior to −10 days since peak. The bolometric light curve of the source is compatible with a stratified 56Ni distribution extended to shallow layers of the exploding progenitor. Comparisons between the observed light curves and those predicted from ejecta–companion interactions clearly disfavor Roche lobe–filling companion stars at large separation distances, thus supporting a double-degenerate scenario for its origin. The lack of any apparent host galaxy in our deep stack images reaching a sensitivity limit of ∼28 mag arcsec−2 makes KSP-OT-201509b a hostless Type Ia supernova and offers new insights into supernova host galaxy environments.