Heterosubtypic immunity to influenza A virus: where do we stand?

Influenza A virus (IAV) strains are denoted by the subtype of their hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) virion surface proteins. Major changes in HA subtype among strains circulating in humans are referred to as "antigenic shift". Antigenic shift can occur by two means: direct transmission of a zoonotic strain to humans or through reshuffling of the segmented genome in cells co-infected with animal and human strains. The lack of circulating anti-HA antibodies in human populations to a novel IAV results in extremely high frequency of illness and the potential for severe morbidity and mortality on a world-wide basis; the dreaded pandemic. Such pandemics could be partially controlled by developing a vaccine that generates effective heterosubtypic immunity (HSI) based on immune recognition of IAV antigens conserved across all viral strains. While it has long been known that T cells exhibit such broad cross-reactive specificity that could provide effective HSI, recent animal studies suggest a potential role for antibodies as well. Here we review current knowledge of the mechanisms contributing to HSI to influenza and speculate on the potential for this approach to contribute to public health.     

A Tail-Anchored Myotonic Dystrophy Protein Kinase Isoform Induces Perinuclear Clustering of Mitochondria,Autophagy, and Apoptosis

Background

Studies on the myotonic dystrophy protein kinase (DMPK) gene and gene products have thus far mainly concentrated on the fate of length mutation in the (CTG)n repeat at the DNA level and consequences of repeat expansion at the RNA level in DM1 patients and disease models. Surprisingly little is known about the function of DMPK protein products.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We demonstrate here that transient expression of one major protein product of the human gene, the hDMPK A isoform with a long tail anchor, results in mitochondrial fragmentation and clustering in the perinuclear region. Clustering occurred in a variety of cell types and was enhanced by an intact tubulin cytoskeleton. In addition to morphomechanical changes, hDMPK A expression induces physiological changes like loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, increased autophagy activity, and leakage of cytochrome c from the mitochondrial intermembrane space accompanied by apoptosis. Truncation analysis using YFP-hDMPK A fusion constructs revealed that the protein''s tail domain was necessary and sufficient to evoke mitochondrial clustering behavior.

Conclusion/Significance

Our data suggest that the expression level of the DMPK A isoform needs to be tightly controlled in cells where the hDMPK gene is expressed. We speculate that aberrant splice isoform expression might be a codetermining factor in manifestation of specific DM1 features in patients.     

Monocyte Scintigraphy in Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Dynamics of Monocyte Migration in Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Disease

Background

Macrophages are principal drivers of synovial inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a prototype immune-mediated inflammatory disease. Conceivably, synovial macrophages are continuously replaced by circulating monocytes in RA. Animal studies from the 1960s suggested that macrophage replacement by monocytes is a slow process in chronic inflammatory lesions. Translation of these data into the human condition has been hampered by the lack of available techniques to analyze monocyte migration in man.

Methods/Principal Findings

We developed a technique that enabled us to analyze the migration of labelled autologous monocytes in RA patients using single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT). We isolated CD14+ monocytes by CliniMACS in 8 patients and labeled these with technetium-99m (^99mTc-HMPAO). Monocytes were re-infused into the same patient. Using SPECT we calculated that a very small but specific fraction of 3.4×10⁻³ (0.95−5.1×10⁻³) % of re-infused monocytes migrated to the inflamed joints, being detectable within one hour after re-infusion.

Conclusions/Significance

The results indicate monocytes migrate continuously into the inflamed synovial tissue of RA patients, but at a slow macrophage-replacement rate. This suggests that the rapid decrease in synovial macrophages that occurs after antirheumatic treatment might rather be explained by an alteration in macrophage retention than in monocyte influx and that RA might be particularly sensitive to treatments targeting inflammatory cell retention.     

Floristic variation and willow carr development within a southwest England wetland

Abstract. Woodland colonization on wetlands is considered to have a detrimental effect on their ecological value, even though detailed analysis of this process is lacking. This paper provides an evaluation of the ecological changes resulting from succession of poor fen (base‐poor mire) to willow wet woodland on Goss Moor NNR in Cornwall, UK. Different ages of willow carr were associated with eight understorey communities. During willow colonization, in the ground flora, there was a progressive decrease in poor fen species and an associated increase in woodland species, which appeared to be related to an increase in canopy cover and therefore shade. The most diverse community was found to be the most recent willow and was dominated by poor fen species. The oldest willow was the second most diverse and was associated with a reduction in poor fen species and an increase in woodland species. Architectural features were used successfully to assess the general condition and structure of willow. Tree height and DBH were identified as useful parameters to accurately assess willow age in the field. The implications of active intervention to remove willow in order to conserve the full range of communities within the hydrosere are discussed.     

Recognition of noninfectious influenza virus by class I-restricted murine cytotoxic T lymphocytes

We have recently shown that murine target cells can be sensitized for lysis by class I-restricted influenza virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) using noninfectious influenza virus. Sensitization is dependent on inactivation of viral neuraminidase activity (which can be achieved by heating virus); and requires fusion of viral and cellular membranes. In the present study, we have examined recognition of antigens derived from heat-treated virus by cloned CTL lines induced by immunization with infectious virus. Target cells sensitized with heat-treated virus were recognized by all 11 CTL clones that were specific for internal virion proteins (nucleoprotein and basic polymerase 1), and by one of six clones specific for the major viral glycoprotein (the hemagglutinin). Immunization of mice with heat-treated virus primed their splenocytes for secondary in vitro CTL responses. CTL generated in this manner recognized target cells infected with recombinant vaccinia virus expressing cloned influenza virus gene products. These findings indicate that both integral membrane proteins and internal proteins that comprise virions can be processed by antigen-presenting cells for recognition by class I-restricted CTL. It also appears that not all hemagglutinin determinants recognized on virus-infected cells are presented by cells sensitized with heat-treated virus.     

Class II MHC-restricted T cell determinants processed from either endosomes or the cytosol show similar requirements for host protein transport but different kinetics of presentation.

We have studied the role of APC protein transport in presentation of class II MHC-restricted T cell determinants of influenza virus glycoproteins that have distinct Ag processing requirements. Two I-Ed-restricted epitopes were analyzed: hemagglutinin (HA) 111-119, which is processed by the exogenous/endocytic pathway, and neuraminidase (NA) 79-93, which has a requirement for cytosolic processing. NA 79-93 is presented from infectious but not non-replicative virus under ordinary conditions. This requirement for viral biosynthesis could be bypassed by using a soluble inhibitor of NA,2,3-dehydro-2-deoxy-N-acetyl neuraminic acid (DDAN), to facilitate cytosolic introduction of virus. APC exposed to UV virus/DDAN present HA and NA determinants derived directly from proteins of the input virus particles. This allows presentation of both endocytically and cytosolically processed epitopes in the same experiment using noninfectious virus. The inhibitor brefeldin A (BFA) was used to interrupt host protein transport at various times relative to virus/DDAN addition. We observed that BFA added simultaneously with virus blocked recognition of NA 79-93 but not HA 111-119. This distinction was found to be based upon different expression kinetics of the HA and NA determinants. Expression of NA 79-93 required 6 to 9 h, whereas HA 111-119 was presented by 1 h after Ag addition. When APC were incubated with BFA at intervals before virus addition, presentation of HA 111-119 was also blocked as a function of time. Data indicate that about 5 h of BFA treatment is needed to deplete host protein pools required for presentation of I-Ed-restricted T cell determinants processed from either endosomes or the cytosol.     

Lucky rugose corals on crinoid stems: unusual examples of subepidermal epizoans from the Devonian of Morocco

Berkowski, B & Klug, C. 2011: Lucky rugose corals on crinoid stems: unusual examples of subepidermal epizoans from the Devonian of Morocco. Lethaia, Vol. 45, pp. 24–33. In the fossil record, evidence for true epizoans, i.e. living animals inhabiting other living host‐animals, is rather rare. A host reaction is usually needed to proof the syn vivo‐settling of the epizoan. Herein, we provide a first report of such an epizoan biocoenosis from various strata of the Early Devonian of Hamar Laghdad, the world‐renowned Moroccan mud‐mound locality. In this case, solitary rugose corals settled as larvae on crinoid stems, perhaps at a spot where the epidermis was missing for some reason (injury, disease). Both the crinoid and the coral began to grow around each other. By doing so, the affected crinoid columnals formed a swelling, where ultimately only an opening slightly larger than the coral orifice remained. We discuss both macroecological and small‐scale synecological aspects of this biocoenosis. The coral profited from its elevated home because it reached into more rapid currents providing the polyp with more food than at the densely populated seafloor, which was probably covered by a coral‐meadow around the mounds and hydrothermal vents. □Corals, crinoids, Early Devonian, epizoans, Morocco, Rugosa.     

Meta-analysis of the literature on diagnostic accuracy of SPECT in parkinsonian syndromes

Background  

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. One of the most widely used techniques to diagnose PD is a Single Photon Emission Computer Tomography (SPECT) scan to visualise the integrity of the dopaminergic pathways in the brain. Despite this there remains some discussion on the value of SPECT in the differential diagnosis of PD. We did a meta-analysis of all the existing literature on the diagnostic accuracy of both pre- and post-synaptic SPECT imaging in the differential diagnosis of PD.