Kinetics and persistence of cellular and humoral immune responses to SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine in healthcare workers with or without prior COVID‐19

SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccines are highly efficient against severe forms of the disease, hospitalization and death. Nevertheless, insufficient protection against several circulating viral variants might suggest waning immunity and the need for an additional vaccine dose. We conducted a longitudinal study on the kinetics and persistence of immune responses in healthcare workers vaccinated with two doses of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine with or without prior SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. No new infections were diagnosed during follow‐up. At 6 months, post‐vaccination or post‐infection, despite a downward trend in the level of anti‐S IgG antibodies, the neutralizing activity does not decrease significantly, remaining higher than 75% (85.14% for subjects with natural infection, 88.82% for vaccinated after prior infection and 78.37% for vaccinated only). In a live‐virus neutralization assay, the highest neutralization titres were present at baseline and at 6 months follow‐up in persons vaccinated after prior infection. Anti‐S IgA levels showed a significant descending trend in vaccinated subjects (p < 0.05) after 14 weeks. Cellular immune responses are present even in vaccinated participants with declining antibody levels (index ratio 1.1–3) or low neutralizing activity (30%–40%) at 6 months, although with lower T‐cell stimulation index (p = 0.046) and IFN‐γ secretion (p = 0.0007) compared to those with preserved humoral responses.     

Attaining and maintaining strong vocal synapses in female Xenopus laevis

Synaptic efficacy at the laryngeal neuromuscular synapse differs markedly in adult male and female Xenopus laevis. Here, we examined the relation between circulating estrogen and synapse strength in developing and adult female frogs. Circulating estrogen levels in males and females during juvenile and adult stages were measured using radioimmunoassays. Synaptic strength was determined by quantal analysis in isolated female larynges. In males, estrogen levels are low (<40 pg/mL) throughout development. In females, estrogen levels are similar to those in males until 9 months after metamorphosis is complete and then increase throughout development. Female laryngeal synapses have low quantal contents until 24 months; quantal content increases significantly between 24 and 26 months, and high quantal contents are maintained thereafter. Measures of reproductive maturation, ovary, and oviduct weights, are strongly and positively correlated with estrogen level in 16- to 26-month females, while oocyte maturation is age dependent. Estrogen level and quantal content are not well correlated in these females. Ovariectomy at 24 months prevents the expected increase in quantal content and ovariectomy at 28 months results in a decrease in quantal content. Thus, the sex difference in efficacy of the laryngeal synapse develops under the influence of the ovary and requires the ovary for maintenance of strong synapses in adulthood. While the influence of the ovary is most likely due to estrogen secretion, the pattern of estrogen secretion required for maturation of the synapse in females is not known. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Neurobiol 37: 441–448, 1998     

Soil nitrogen balance assessment and its application for sustainable agriculture and environment

Soil nitrogen balance assessment (SNBA) serves as an effective tool for estimating the magnitude of nitrogen loss/gain of the agro-eco systems and to appraise their sustainability.SNBA brings forth awareness of soil fertility problems, besides providing information relating to the resultant release of nitrogen into the environment consequent to agricultural practices.Quantitative information relating to nitrogen escape into the environment through such exercises can be gainfully utilized for identification of causative factors, enhancing fertilizer use efficiency and formulating programmes aimed at plugging N leakages. An overview of nitrogen balance approaches and methodologies is presented. A deeper understanding and insight into the agro-eco systems provided by the SNBA exercises can lay the basis for the formulation of effective agronomic interventions and policies aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture and a benign environment.     

Neogene marine transgressions, palaeogeography and biogeographic transitions on the Thai–Malay Peninsula

Aim The aim of this review is to contribute to our understanding of the origination of the Sundaic and Indochinese biotas in Southeast Asia. Numerous unsolved problems surround the origination of the differences between these biotas and the determinants of the breadth and current position of the transition between them. Location Literature reviews show that phytogeographical and zoogeographical transitions between the Sundaic and Indochinese subregions lie on the Thai–Malay peninsula just north of the Isthmus of Kra. A second, more widely recognized botanical transition lies 500 km further south at the Kangar–Pattani line near the Thai–Malay border. Results The phytogeographical transition involves 575 genera of plants, and a change from wet seasonal evergreen dipterocarp rain forest to moist mixed deciduous forest. The zoogeographical transition is best characterized for forest birds, and more than half the species present in this region have species boundaries north of the Isthmus of Kra, at 11–13° N latitude. Although the phytogeographical transition is climate‐related today, and the avifaunal transition is viewed as being associated with the vegetation change, there is no obvious present day geological, physiographical or environmental feature to account for the origination of the provincial biotas. Similarly, known Neogene palaeoenvironmental changes on the tectonically stable peninsula, including those associated with periods of lower sea levels and the emergence of Sundaland, fail to account for either the origination of the provincial differences or the current position of the transition. Main conclusions Contrary to earlier palaeogeographical reconstructions, it is suggested that Neogene marine transgressions flooded the peninsula in two areas and created circumstances leading to the biogeographical patterns of the present day. The Vail global eustatic curve, supported by the oxygen isotope record, indicates that sea levels were c. 100 m above the present‐day level during the early/middle Miocene (24–13 Ma) and again during the early Pliocene (5.5–4.5 Ma). Present topography suggests such high sea stands would have created 30–100‐km wide seaways north and south of the Nakhon si Thammarat Range in the central peninsula (southern Thailand). Geological, palaeontological and phylogenetic evidence for such hypothetical seaways is scant (there have been no focussed searches) but does not preclude their occurrence. The role of such Neogene highstands in explaining present day biogeographical patterns in Southeast Asia and elsewhere requires assessment.     

Cattle breed-variation in infestation by the horn fly Haematobia irritans

A study was carried out to assess the resistance of pure and cross-bred groups of cattle to the horn fly Haematobia irritans (Linnaeus) (Diptera: Muscidae) in northern Argentina. Pure-bred cattle were Criolla, Iberian Bos taurus Linnaeus (Artiodactyla: Bovidae) and Nellore, Bos indicus Linnaeus (Artiodactyla: Bovidae). Cross-bred cattle were Hereford, British B. taurus (34%) X Nellore (66%) and Hereford (66%) X Nellore (34%). All were heifers and animals were maintained in two groups, each containing a mixture of pure and cross-breeds. The lowest fly numbers were found on Criolla heifers and the highest on Hereford X Nellore cross-breeds. However, it could not be determined from this study whether this was a consequence of breed and/or size, as Criolla heifers were lighter than the corresponding Hereford X Nellore heifers. Fly numbers on the heifers followed an approximately negative binomial distribution. However, the ranking of individual animals in their level of infestation within subgroups was not consistent. Hence, culling the most infested heifers on any given date would at best give only a small improvement in H. irritans control.     

Effects of food quality on maturation rate in Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (L.)

The effects of food quality on maturation rate were followed in progeny from wild Arctic charr, caught in Lake Fattjaure, northern Sweden. The fish were reared at five different food quality levels. In the first summer, the fry were given feed of three qualities: diluted with cellulose in three proportions (0, 15 and 25%). During the second winter the impact of changed food quality level was studied by transferring half the fish from the high (control) to the low food quality level and vice versa.
Maturation rate was lower in males reared at the high and improved food quality levels than in males reared at the medium, low and reduced food quality levels. The maturation rate in females was similar at all levels, though the rate tended to increase at the reduced food quality level.
Fish reared at the high and medium levels had similar growth rates, whereas fish at the low food quality level experienced slower growth. Reduced food quality did not arrest the growth offish, whereas improved food quality enhanced their growth.     

RALES, EPHESUS and redox

In RALES, low doses of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonist spironolactone, added to standard of care for severe heart failure, improved survival by 30% and lowered hospitalization by 35%. Animal studies with the selective MR antagonist eplerenone have similarly shown MR blockade to prevent the cerebral, renal and coronary vascular inflammatory response to elevated aldosterone levels. There is now general acceptance that aldosterone concentrations inappropriate for salt status have major deleterious effects on the cardiovascular system.

In many instances, however (e.g. Randomized Aldactone Evaluation Study (RALES), EPHESUS) aldosterone levels are normal and salt status unremarkable and yet MR blockade has unquestioned benefits. In these instances, there is increasing evidence that coronary and cardiac MR are activated by normal circulating cortisol levels, in the cellular context of generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and/or alteration in intracellular redox status.

MR in VSMC and cardiomyocytes are normally predominantly occupied by cortisol in tonic inhibitory mode. Blockade of 11β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type II (11βHSD2) or ROS generation both serve to activate cortisol–MR complexes, thus mimicking the effects of mineralocorticoid/salt imbalance on blood vessels and the heart. In RALES and EPHESUS, it is likely that the antagonists are blocking normal levels of cortisol, not aldosterone, from activating MR in the context of tissue damage and ROS generation. If this is the case, MR antagonists may be of wide therapeutic potential in cardiovascular disease and not confined to those characterized by aldosterone/salt excess. Finally, the pathophysiologic roles of always-occupied MR in ‘unprotected’ tissues such as cardiomyocytes or neurons in response to altered intracellular redox status remain to be explored.