Search results for "Election"
showing 10 items of 2159 documents
Comparative analysis of variation and selection in the HCV genome
2016
AbstractGenotype 1 of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the most prevalent of the variants of this virus. Its two main subtypes, HCV-1a and HCV-1b, are associated to differences in epidemic features and risk groups, despite sharing similar features in most biological properties. We have analyzed the impact of positive selection on the evolution of these variants using complete genome coding regions, and compared the levels of genetic variability and the distribution of positively selected sites. We have also compared the distributions of positively selected and conserved sites considering different factors such as RNA secondary structure, the presence of different epitopes (antibody, CD4 and C…
B cells participate in thymic negative selection of murine auto-reactive CD4+ T cells.
2010
It is well documented that thymic epithelial cells participate in the process of negative selection in the thymus. In recent years it was reported that also dendritic cells enter the thymus and contribute to this process, thus allowing for the depletion of thymocytes that are specific to peripherally expressed self-antigens. Here we report that also B cells may take part in the elimination of auto-reactive thymocytes. Using a unique mouse model we show that B cells induce negative selection of self-reactive thymocytes in a process that leads to the deletion of these cells whereas regulatory T cells are spared. These findings have direct implication in autoimmunity, as expression of a myelin…
Ci8 short, a novel LPS-induced peptide from the ascidian Ciona intestinalis,modulates responses of the human immune system
2017
The selective modulation of immunity is an emerging concept driven by the vast advances in our understanding of this crucial host defense system. Invertebrates have raised researchers’ interest as potential sources of new bioactive molecules owing to their antibacterial, anticancer and immunomodulatory activities. A LipoPolySaccharide (LPS) challenge in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis generates the transcript, Ci8 short, with cisregulatory elements in the 3′ UTR region that are essential for shaping innate immune responses. The derived amino acidic sequence in silico analysis showed specific binding to human Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Class I and Class II alleles. The role of Ci…
Antigen-Driven T-Cell Selection in Patients with Cervical Cancer as Evidenced by T-Cell Receptor Analysis and Recognition of Autologous Tumor
2002
ABSTRACTWe characterized the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire in freshly harvested tumor lesions, in short-term-expanded CD4+tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) as well as in CD4+and CD8+peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from three patients with cervical cancer. Skewing of the T-cell repertoire as defined by measuring the length of the complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) of the TCR VA and VB chains was observed in CD8+PBL, in freshly harvested tumor tissue, as well as in CD4+TIL. Comparative analysis of the TCR repertoire revealed unique monoclonal TCR transcripts within the tumor lesion which were not present in PBL, suggesting selection of TCR clonotypes due to antigenic stimula…
“Judicial Independence vs. Judicial Accountability. Judicial Selection Models for Constitutional Courts. A comparative analysis”
2012
Abstract La cronaca politica degli ultimi anni riporta un numero rilevante di confronti, dal tono più o meno conflittuale, tra le istituzioni politiche e quelle giurisdizionali. Di particolare rilevanza è che tale sorta di opposizione tra giustizia e politica coinvolga non solo l’operato delle magistrature ordinarie ma anche quello delle Corti costituzionali: le supreme garanti e guardiane di quei principi sui quali dovrebbe fondarsi l’intero ordinamento. A dispetto di ciò, esistono importanti occasioni in cui le autorità politiche e quelle giurisdizionali intrecciano i loro interessi, ed una di queste è proprio il momento in cui vengono reclutati i giudici costituzionali. Tuttavia, se…
Designing supplier selection strategies under COVID-19 constraints for industrial environments
2021
COVID-19 has been impacting worldwide supply chains causing interruption, closure of production and distribution. This impact has been drastic on the supplier side and, as a consequence of disruptions, strong reductions of production have been estimated. Such a circumstance forces companies to propose innovative best practices of supply chain risk management aimed at facing vulnerability generated by COVID-19 and pursuing industrial improvements in manufacturing and production environments. As a part of supply chain strategy, supplier selection criteria should be revised to include pandemic-related risks. This article aims to propose an answer to such a problem. In detail, a comprehensive t…
Advances in haploidentical stem cell transplantation for hematologic malignancies
2016
One of the most important advances in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is the use of alternative donors and cell sources, such as haploidentical transplants (haplo-HSCT) from family donors. Several approaches have been developed to overcome the challenging bidirectional alloreactivity. We discuss these approaches, including ex vivo T-cell-depleted grafts with megadose of CD34(+) cells, not requiring immunosuppression after allogeneic transplantation for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis, and other strategies using unmanipulated T-cell-replete grafts with intensive immunosuppression or post-transplantation cyclophosphamide to minimize the GVHD. We als…
The role of hypoxia-induced factors in tumor progression.
2004
Abstract Learning Objectives After completing this course, the reader will be able to: Describe hypoxia-induced mechanisms for cell survival. Discuss hypoxia-induced gene expression. Relate hypoxia and glucose metabolism. Access and take the CME test online and receive 1 hour of AMA PRA category 1 credit atCME.TheOncologist.com Hypoxia is a common characteristic of locally advanced solid tumors that has been associated with diminished therapeutic response and, more recently, with malignant progression, that is, an increasing probability of recurrence, locoregional spread, and distant metastasis. Emerging evidence indicates that the effect of hypoxia on malignant progression is mediated by a…
RNA-sequencing and bioinformatic analysis to pre-assess sensitivity to targeted therapeutics in recurrent glioblastoma.
2019
e13533 Background: This study developed molecular guided tools for individualized selection of chemotherapeutics for recurrent glioblastoma (rGB). A consortium involving clinical neurooncologists, molecular biologists and bioinformaticians identified gene expression patterns in rGB and quantitatively analyzed pathways involved in response to FDA approved oncodrugs. Methods: From2016 to 2018 biopsies from GB were collected using a multisampling approach. Biopsy material was used to isolate glioma stem-like cells and examined by RNA-sequencing. RNA-seq results were subjected to differential expression (DE) analysis and Oncobox analysis – a bioinformatic tool for quantitative pathway activati…
The Fitness Effects of Random Mutations in Single-Stranded DNA and RNA Bacteriophages
2009
Mutational fitness effects can be measured with relatively high accuracy in viruses due to their small genome size, which facilitates full-length sequencing and genetic manipulation. Previous work has shown that animal and plant RNA viruses are very sensitive to mutation. Here, we characterize mutational fitness effects in single-stranded (ss) DNA and ssRNA bacterial viruses. First, we performed a mutation-accumulation experiment in which we subjected three ssDNA (ΦX174, G4, F1) and three ssRNA phages (Qβ, MS2, and SP) to plaque-to-plaque transfers and chemical mutagenesis. Genome sequencing and growth assays indicated that the average fitness effect of the accumulated mutations was similar…