Heterogeneous bone-marrow stromal progenitors drive myelofibrosis via a druggable alarmin axis

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Influence of the introduced parasitoid Torymus sinensis (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) on T. koreanus and T. beneficus as indigenous parasitoids of the chestnut gall wasp Dryocosmuskuriphilus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) on chestnut trees in Nagano Prefecture, Japan

We describe here the parasitoid wasps Torymus sinensis Kamijo and T. beneficus Yasumatsu & Kamijo (early-spring and late-spring strains), which are introduced and indigenous natural enemies of the chestnut gall wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu, an invasive chestnut pest in Japan. We recently discovered specimens of T. koreanus Kamijo, endemic in Korea, among Torymus parasitoids collected from D. kuriphilus galls in a Japanese chestnut orchard. In this study we compare the composition of Torymus parasitoids emerging from D. kuriphilus galls before and after the release of T. sinensis. Before the release of T. sinensis, early-spring and late-spring strains of T. beneficus predominated (58.3 and 20.8% of specimens collected). However, a few years after the release, both T. beneficus strains had been almost completely displaced by T. sinensis. In contrast to the rapid decrease in T. beneficus, T. koreanus did not decrease drastically before and even after the release of T. sinensis (approximately 10–20% of specimens collected). These results suggest that not a few T. koreanus were present in the Japanese chestnut orchard investigated at least several years after the release of T. sinensis, although both the T. beneficus strains were rapidly displaced by T. sinensis during this period.     

SARS-CoV-2 spike variants exhibit differential infectivity and neutralization resistance to convalescent or post-vaccination sera

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Life history parameters of Orius sauteri (Poppius) (Het., Anthocoridae) reared on Ephestia kuehniella eggs and the minimum amount of the diet for rearing individuals

Abstract: Mass rearing techniques are essential elements in developing a reliable and economic biological control method for Orius sauteri, a promising indigenous Orius species for biological control of Thrips palmi in greenhouses. Orius sauteri was reared on Ephestia kuehniella eggs and life history parameters and the minimum number of E. kuehniella eggs for rearing O. sauteri individuals were measured at 25°C and L16:D8. Developmental time during the nymphal stages was about 14 days for both sexes. Total fecundity and female longevity were 103.9 and 27.9 days, respectively. The intrinsic rate of natural increase per day was 0.115. An individual requires at least 30 eggs for nymphal development and survival and 20 eggs for adult oviposition and survival per four days.     

A Passiflora homolog of a D-type cyclin gene is differentially expressed in response to sucrose, auxin, and cytokinin

In higher plants, one of the major components of developmental processes is cell division. The cell division cycle in plants is controlled by cyclins and cyclin-dependend kinases. Nutrient and hormonal signals can influence the roles that D-type cyclins play in the G1-to-S phase transition. Auxins and cytokinins are long known to be important plant hormones controlling plant growth. Additionally, as sucrose is the major transported carbon source in higher plants, it is possible that it plays a major role in cell division. To access the molecular aspects of the effect of auxin, cytokinin and sucrose on the regulation of cell cycle machinery and plant development, we cloned a Passiflora morifolia putative homolog to a D-type cyclin, PmCYCD1, which showed high sequence similarity to other known plant D-type cyclins. We examined the expression patterns of PmCYCD1 during callus induction and growth in in vitro conditions. We observed incremented expression levels of PmCYCD1 correlated to increasing concentrations of sucrose, α-naphthalene acetic acid and 6-benzyladenine in the culture medium. Additionally, the results of in situ hybridization experiments indicated a dynamic spatial expression pattern for PmCYCD1 during callus growth.     

New records of Mansonella ozzardi: a parasite that is spreading from the state of Amazonas to previously uninfected areas of the state of Acre in the Purus River region

Mansonella ozzardi infections are common in the riverside communities along the Solimões, Negro and Purus Rivers in the state of Amazonas (AM). However, little is known about the presence of this parasite in communities located in regions bordering AM and the state of Acre. The prevalence rate of M. ozzardi infections was determined in blood samples from volunteers according to the Knott method. A total of 355 volunteers from six riverine communities were enrolled in the study and 65 (18.3%) were found to be infected with M. ozzardi. As expected, most of the infections (25%) occurred in individuals involved in agriculture, cattle rearing and fishing and an age/sex group analysis revealed that the prevalence increased beginning in the 40-50-years-of-age group and reached 33% in both sexes in individuals over 50 years of age. Based on the described symptomatology, articular pain and headache were found to be significantly higher among infected individuals (56 and 65% prevalence, respectively, p < 0.05). Sera from volunteers were subjected to ELISA using a cocktail of recombinant proteins from Onchocerca volvulus to evaluate the specificity of the test in an endemic M. ozzardi region. No cross-reactions between M. ozzardi-infected individuals and recombinant O. volvulus proteins were detected, thus providing information on the secure use of this particular cocktail in areas where these parasites are sympatric.     

Gestation and breastfeeding in schistosomotic mothers differently modulate the immune response of adult offspring to postnatal Schistosoma mansoni infection

Schistosoma mansoni antigens in the early life alter homologous and heterologous immunity during postnatal infections. We evaluate the immunity to parasite antigens and ovalbumin (OA) in adult mice born/suckled by schistosomotic mothers. Newborns were divided into: born (BIM), suckled (SIM) or born/suckled (BSIM) in schistosomotic mothers, and animals from noninfected mothers (control). When adults, the mice were infected and compared the hepatic granuloma size and cellularity. Some animals were OA + adjuvant immunised. We evaluated hypersensitivity reactions (HR), antibodies levels (IgG1/IgG2a) anti-soluble egg antigen and anti-soluble worm antigen preparation, and anti-OA, cytokine production, and CD4⁺FoxP3⁺T-cells by splenocytes. Compared to control group, BIM mice showed a greater quantity of granulomas and collagen deposition, whereas SIM and BSIM presented smaller granulomas. BSIM group exhibited the lowest levels of anti-parasite antibodies. For anti-OA immunity, immediate HR was suppressed in all groups, with greater intensity in SIM mice accompanied of the remarkable level of basal CD4⁺FoxP3⁺T-cells. BIM and SIM groups produced less interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon (IFN)-g. In BSIM, there was higher production of IL-10 and IFN-g, but lower levels of IL-4 and CD4⁺FoxP3⁺T-cells. Thus, pregnancy in schistosomotic mothers intensified hepatic fibrosis, whereas breastfeeding diminished granulomas in descendants. Separately, pregnancy and breastfeeding could suppress heterologous immunity; however, when combined, the responses could be partially restored in infected descendants.     

Binding capacity of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is associated with the severity of chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy

Chagas disease (CD) is a global problem. Currently, it affects approximately 15 million individuals in Latin America. It is well know that the human immune response is related to different clinical manifestations. Mannose binding lectin (MBL) plays an important role in innate immunity, and it mediates the phagocytosis and complement-mediated destruction of pathogens. The binding capacity is enhanced by the oligomerization of MBL. In this study, we evaluated the serum concentration and the binding capacity of MBL in patients with chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy. A total of 77 patients with chronic CD were included with indeterminate (n?=?19), mild cardiac (n?=?29) and severe cardiac (n?=?29) forms. The serum concentration and the binding capacity were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). There was no significant difference in the serum MBL levels between the groups of patients. However, we found a relationship between the binding capacity and the groups studied. Our results suggest that binding capacity of MBL could be an indicator of clinical manifestation in Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy. Furthermore, combined with the Mannose Binding Index results in a useful clinical tool for management of Chronic Chagas Patients.