CD14 C-159T and early infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in children with cystic fibrosis

Early acquisition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is associated with a poorer prognosis in patients with cystic fibrosis. We investigated whether polymorphisms in CD14, the lipopolysaccharide receptor, increase the risk of early infection. Forty-five children with cystic fibrosis were investigated with annual bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and plasma sCD14 levels. Plasma sCD14 levels were significantly lower in children from whom P.aeruginosa was subsequently isolated (492.75 μg/ml vs. 1339.43 μg/ml, p = 0.018). Those with the CD14 -159CC genotype had a significantly increased risk of early infection with P.aeruginosa suggesting that CD14 C-159T plays a role in determining the risk of early infection with P.aeruginosa.     

Occurrence of Different Tospoviruses in Vegetable Crops in Argentina

Significant damage on vegetable crops by tospoviruses had occurred sporadically in Argentina in the past but since 1994, severe outbreaks have been recorded every year. The crops that have been most affected, tomato, lettuce, and pepper, were surveyed in the provinces of Mendoza and Buenos Aires in 1994–95 and 1995–96. A few weeds and miscellaneous crops were also collected. A total of 543 samples showing symptoms typical for tospoviruses were analysed by double-antibody sandwich-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with polyclonal antibodies to groundnut ringspot tospovirus (GRSV), impatiens necrotic spot tospovirus (INSV) and tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (TSWV). The 339 samples collected in 1995–96 were also assayed for tomato chlorotic spot tospovirus (TCSV). In addition, the incidence of tospoviruses in tomato crops was assessed in 41 farms representing 310 ha and 10 cultivars. GRSV was identified in 222 samples (40.8%), TSWV in 194 samples (32.7%), TCSV in 50 samples (14.7%), INSV was not detected and 77 samples did not react with the antisera used. TSWV was found to prevail in Buenos Aires and GRSV in Mendoza. Mixed infections were not found in this survey. In tomato crops the mean incidence of tospoviruses was 33%. These results show that the disease formerly assigned to TSWV, is caused by at least three tospoviruses.     

Transcriptomic response to differentiation induction

Background  

Microarrays used for gene expression studies yield large amounts of data. The processing of such data typically leads to lists of differentially-regulated genes. A common terminal data analysis step is to map pathways of potentially interrelated genes.     

Interactions of Npc1 and amyloid accumulation/deposition in the APP/PS1 mouse model of Alzheimer’s

Although Niemann-Pick C1 disease has frequently been called “juvenile Alzheimer’s”, the effects of introducing Npc1 mutations into a mouse model of Alzheimer’s have not previously been performed. We have crossed Npc1 ^+/− mice with APP/PS1 “Alzheimer’s” mice and studied Aβ42 accumulation and amyloid plaque formation. Mice heterozygous for Npc1 and positive for the APP and PS1 transgenes accumulated Aβ42 more rapidly than the APP/PS1 controls and this correlated, as expected, with the area of amyloid plaques. We conclude that the alterations of intracellular cholesterol present in Npc1 ^+/− mice can influence the progress of Alzheimer’s disease in the APP/PS1 mouse model.