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Gandasegui J, Grau-Pujol B, Cambra-Pelleja M, Escola V, Demontis MA, Cossa A, Jamine JC, Balaña-Fouce R, van Lieshout L, Muñoz J, Martínez-Valladares M. Improving stool sample processing and pyrosequencing for quantifying benzimidazole resistance alleles in Trichuris trichiura and Necator americanus pooled eggs. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:490. [PMID: 34563247 PMCID: PMC8466976 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04941-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is an urgent need for an extensive evaluation of benzimidazole efficacy in humans. In veterinary science, benzimidazole resistance has been mainly associated with three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the isotype-1 β-tubulin gene. In this study, we optimized the stool sample processing methodology and resistance allele frequency assessment in Trichuris trichiura and Necator americanus anthelmintic-related SNPs by pyrosequencing, and standardized it for large-scale benzimidazole efficacy screening use. METHODS Three different protocols for stool sample processing were compared in 19 T. trichiura-positive samples: fresh stool, egg concentration using metallic sieves with decreasing pore size, and egg concentration followed by flotation with saturated salt solution. Yield of each protocol was assessed by estimating the load of parasite DNA by real-time PCR. Then, we sequenced a DNA fragment of the β-tubulin gene containing the putative benzimidazole resistance SNPs in T. trichiura and N. americanus. Afterwards, resistant and susceptible-type plasmids were produced and mixed at different proportions, simulating different resistance levels. These mixtures were used to compare previously described pyrosequencing assays with processes newly designed by our own group. Once the stool sample processing and the pyrosequencing methodology was defined, the utility of the protocols was assessed by measuring the frequencies of putative resistance SNPs in 15 T. trichiura- and 15 N. americanus-positive stool samples. RESULTS The highest DNA load was provided by egg concentration using metallic sieves with decreasing pore size. Sequencing information of the β-tubulin gene in Mozambican specimens was highly similar to the sequences previously reported, for T. trichiura and N. americanus, despite the origin of the sample. When we compared pyrosequencing assays using plasmids constructs, primers designed in this study provided the most accurate SNP frequencies. When pooled egg samples were analysed, none of resistant SNPs were observed in T. trichiura, whereas 17% of the resistant SNPs at codon 198 were found in one N. americanus sample. CONCLUSIONS We optimized the sample processing methodology and standardized pyrosequencing in soil-transmitted helminth (STH) pooled eggs. These protocols could be used in STH large-scale screenings or anthelmintic efficacy trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Gandasegui
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), Grulleros, León, Spain.,Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, León, Spain
| | - Berta Grau-Pujol
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigação Em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique.,Fundación Mundo Sano, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Cambra-Pelleja
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), Grulleros, León, Spain.,Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, León, Spain
| | - Valdemiro Escola
- Centro de Investigação Em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
| | | | - Anelsio Cossa
- Centro de Investigação Em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
| | | | | | - Lisette van Lieshout
- Departement of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - José Muñoz
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Martínez-Valladares
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), Grulleros, León, Spain. .,Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, León, Spain.
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Cook LBM, Demontis MA, Sagawe S, Witkover A, Melamed A, Turpin J, Dillon R, Haddow J, Marks AJ, Bangham CRM, Fields P, Taylor GP, Rowan AG. Molecular remissions are observed in chronic adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma in patients treated with mogamulizumab. Haematologica 2019; 104:e566-e569. [PMID: 31004017 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2019.219253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lucy B M Cook
- Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London.,Department of Haematology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Hammersmith Hospital.,National Centre for Human Retrovirology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, St Mary's Hospital, London
| | | | - Sophie Sagawe
- Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London
| | - Aviva Witkover
- Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London
| | - Anat Melamed
- Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London
| | - Jocelyn Turpin
- Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London
| | - Richard Dillon
- Department of Haematology, Guys' Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London, UK
| | - Jana Haddow
- National Centre for Human Retrovirology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, St Mary's Hospital, London
| | - Alexandra J Marks
- Department of Haematology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Hammersmith Hospital
| | | | - Paul Fields
- Department of Haematology, Guys' Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London, UK
| | - Graham P Taylor
- Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London.,National Centre for Human Retrovirology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, St Mary's Hospital, London
| | - Aileen G Rowan
- Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London
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3
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Kagdi H, Demontis MA, Ramos JC, Taylor GP. Switching and loss of cellular cytokine producing capacity characterize in vivo viral infection and malignant transformation in human T- lymphotropic virus type 1 infection. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1006861. [PMID: 29444188 PMCID: PMC5828519 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATL) arises from chronic non-malignant human T lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) infection which is characterized by high plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines whereas ATL is characterized by high plasma anti-inflammatory (IL-10) concentrations. The poor prognosis of ATL is partly ascribed to disease-associated immune suppression. ATL cells have a CD4+CCR4+CD26-CD7- immunophenotype but infected cells with this immunophenotype (‘ATL-like’ cells) are also present in non-malignant HTLV-1 infection. We hypothesized that ‘ATL-like’ and ATL cells have distinct cytokine producing capacity and a switch in the cytokines produced occurs during leukemogenesis. Seventeen asymptomatic carriers (ACs), 28 patients with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM) and 28 with ATL were studied. Plasma IL-10 concentration and the absolute frequency of IL-10-producing CD4+ T cells were significantly higher in patients with ATL compared to AC. IL-10-producing ATL cells were significantly more frequent than ‘ATL-like’ cells. The cytokine-producing cells were only a small fraction of ATL cells. Clonality analysis revealed that even in patients with ATL the ATL cells were composed not only of a single dominant clone (putative ATL cells) but also tens of non-dominant infected clones (‘ATL-like’ cells). The frequency of cytokine-producing cells showed a strong inverse correlation with the relative abundance of the largest clone in ATL cells suggesting that the putative ATL cells were cytokine non-producing and that the ‘ATL-like’ cells were the primary cytokine producers. These findings were confirmed by RNAseq with cytokine mRNA expression in ATL cells in patients with ATL (confirmed to be composed of both putative ATL and ‘ATL-like’ cells by TCR analysis) significantly lower compared to ‘ATL-like’ cells in patients with non-malignant HTLV-1 infection (confirmed to be composed of hundreds of non-dominant clones by TCR analysis). A significant inverse correlation between the relative abundance of the largest clone and cytokine mRNA expression was also confirmed. Finally, ‘ATL-like’ cells produced less pro- and more anti-inflammatory cytokines than non ‘ATL-like’ CD4+ cells (which are predominantly HTLV uninfected). In summary, HTLV-1 infection of CD4+ T cells is associated with a change in cytokine producing capacity and dominant malignant clonal growth is associated with loss of cytokine producing capacity. Non-dominant clones with ‘ATL-like’ cells contribute to plasma cytokine profile in patients with non-malignant HTLV-1 infection and are also present in patient with ATL. Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) infection of CD4+ T cells is associated with a change in their cytokine producing capacity and is responsible for the different plasma cytokine profiles in patients with adult T-cell leukaemia/Lymphoma (ATL) and non-malignant HTLV-1 infection. Dominant malignant clonal growth of the infected CD4+ T cells is associated with loss of cytokine producing capacity. ACs, patients with HAM and patients with ATL have a common cytokine cluster with positive correlations between pro- (TNFα and IL-6) and anti- (IL-10) inflammatory cytokines. Plasma IL-10 was higher in the HAM and ATL states compared to AC whilst there was no difference in pro-inflammatory cytokines. Patients with HAM have raised plasma concentrations of IFNγ, IL-10 and IL-17 suggesting a complex interaction between these cytokine in HAM which was not seen in ATL. Aggressive ATL is associated with raised plasma concentrations of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines compared to indolent ATL. This cytokine profile did not precede or predict aggressive ATL. The ‘ATL-like’ infected cells in ACs and in patients with HAM have lower pro- and higher anti-inflammatory cytokine secretion than non- ‘ATL-like’ cells which are predominantly HTLV-1 uninfected. Putative ATL cells have little or no cytokine producing capacity. ‘ATL-like’ infected cells from non-dominant infected clones were present not only in patients with non-malignant HTLV-1 infection but also ATL. ‘ATL-like’ cells have cytokine producing capacity and contribute to plasma cytokine profile in patients with non-malignant HTLV-1 infection and possibly also in ATL.
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MESH Headings
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Cell Transformation, Viral/physiology
- Clonal Evolution/physiology
- Cohort Studies
- Cytokines/blood
- Cytokines/genetics
- Cytokines/metabolism
- Disease Progression
- Female
- HTLV-I Infections/immunology
- HTLV-I Infections/metabolism
- HTLV-I Infections/pathology
- Human T-lymphotropic virus 1/immunology
- Human T-lymphotropic virus 1/pathogenicity
- Human T-lymphotropic virus 1/physiology
- Humans
- Immunophenotyping
- Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell/immunology
- Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell/metabolism
- Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell/virology
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic/immunology
- Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic/metabolism
- Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic/pathology
- Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic/virology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/metabolism
- Viral Load
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Affiliation(s)
- Huseini Kagdi
- Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Juan Carlos Ramos
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Graham P. Taylor
- Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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4
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Buell KG, Puri A, Demontis MA, Short CL, Adonis A, Haddow J, Martin F, Dhasmana D, Taylor GP. Effect of Pulsed Methylprednisolone on Pain, in Patients with HTLV-1-Associated Myelopathy. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0152557. [PMID: 27077747 PMCID: PMC4831674 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is an immune mediated myelopathy caused by the human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1). The efficacy of treatments used for patients with HAM/TSP is uncertain. The aim of this study is to document the efficacy of pulsed methylprednisolone in patients with HAM/TSP. Data from an open cohort of 26 patients with HAM/TSP was retrospectively analysed. 1g IV methylprednisolone was infused on three consecutive days. The outcomes were pain, gait, urinary frequency and nocturia, a range of inflammatory markers and HTLV-1 proviral load. Treatment was well tolerated in all but one patient. Significant improvements in pain were: observed immediately, unrelated to duration of disease and maintained for three months. Improvement in gait was only seen on Day 3 of treatment. Baseline cytokine concentrations did not correlate to baseline pain or gait impairment but a decrease in tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) concentration after pulsed methylprednisolone was associated with improvements in both. Until compared with placebo, treatment with pulsed methylprednisolone should be offered to patients with HAM/TSP for the treatment of pain present despite regular analgesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin G Buell
- Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - Aiysha Puri
- Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Antonietta Demontis
- Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte L Short
- Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - Adine Adonis
- National Centre for Human Retrovirology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY, United Kingdom
| | - Jana Haddow
- National Centre for Human Retrovirology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY, United Kingdom
| | - Fabiola Martin
- Centre of Immunology and Infection, Hull York Medical School, Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Divya Dhasmana
- National Centre for Human Retrovirology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY, United Kingdom
| | - Graham P Taylor
- Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom
- National Centre for Human Retrovirology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY, United Kingdom
- Centre of Immunology and Infection, Hull York Medical School, Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
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5
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Cook LBM, Melamed A, Demontis MA, Laydon DJ, Fox JM, Tosswill JHC, de Freitas D, Price AD, Medcalf JF, Martin F, Neuberger JM, Bangham CRM, Taylor GP. Rapid dissemination of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 during primary infection in transplant recipients. Retrovirology 2016; 13:3. [PMID: 26745892 PMCID: PMC4706667 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-015-0236-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infects an estimated 10 million persons globally with transmission resulting in lifelong infection. Disease, linked to high proviral load, occurs in a minority. In established infection HTLV-1 replicates through infectious spread and clonal expansion of infected lymphocytes. Little is known about acute HTLV-1 infection. The kinetics of early HTLV-1 infection, following transplantation-acquired infection in three recipients from one HTLV-1 infected donor, is reported. The recipients were treated with two HTLV-1 enzyme inhibitors 3 weeks post exposure following the detection of HTLV-1 provirus at low level in each recipient. HTLV-1 infection was serially monitored by serology, quantification of proviral load and HTLV-1 2LTR DNA circles and by HTLV-1 unique integration site analysis. Results HTLV-1 antibodies were first detected 16–39 days post-transplantation. HTLV-1 provirus was detected by PCR on day 16–23 and increased by 2–3 log by day 38–45 with a peak proviral doubling time of 1.4 days, after which
steady state was reached. The rapid proviral load expansion was associated with high frequency of HTLV-1 2LTR DNA circles. The number of HTLV-1 unique integration sites was high compared with established HTLV-1 infection. Clonal expansion of infected cells was detected as early as day 37 with high initial oligoclonality index, consistent with early mitotic proliferation. Conclusions In recipients infected through organ transplantation HTLV-1 disseminated rapidly despite early anti-HTLV-1 treatment. Proviral load set point was reached within 6 weeks. Seroconversion was not delayed. Unique integration site analysis and HTLV-1 2LTR DNA circles indicated early clonal expansion and high rate of infectious spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy B M Cook
- Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK.
| | - Anat Melamed
- Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK.
| | - Maria Antonietta Demontis
- Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK.
| | - Daniel J Laydon
- Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK.
| | - James M Fox
- Department of Biology and Hull York Medical School, Centre for Immunology and Infection, University of York, York, UK.
| | | | - Declan de Freitas
- Department of Renal Medicine, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Central Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK.
| | - Ashley D Price
- Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.
| | - James F Medcalf
- John Walls Renal Unit, Leicester General Hospital, Gwendolen Road, Leicester, UK.
| | - Fabiola Martin
- Department of Biology and Hull York Medical School, Centre for Immunology and Infection, University of York, York, UK.
| | - James M Neuberger
- Organ Donation and Transplantation, NHS Blood and Transplant, Bristol, UK.
| | - Charles R M Bangham
- Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK.
| | - Graham P Taylor
- Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK.
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6
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Buell K, Puri A, Demontis MA, Short CL, Adonis A, Haddow J, Martin F, Dhasmana D, Taylor GP. Effect of pulsed methylprednisolone on disease severity, viral load and inflammation in patients with human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 associated myelopathy. Retrovirology 2015. [PMCID: PMC4577757 DOI: 10.1186/1742-4690-12-s1-p96] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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7
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Demontis MA, Sadiq MT, Golz S, Taylor GP. HTLV-1 viral RNA is detected rarely in plasma of HTLV-1 infected subjects. J Med Virol 2015; 87:2130-4. [PMID: 25982784 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.24264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Plasma of patients infected with HTLV-1 is considered non-infectious but detection of HTLV-1 genomic RNA in plasma has been recently reported. The aim of this project was to detect and quantify HTLV-1 RNA in plasma and assess its potential value in diagnosis and prognosis. RNA from 1 ml of plasma from 65 subjects infected with HTLV-1 (27 asymptomatic carriers [AC]), 17 patients with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM/TSP), 14 with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), two co-infected with HIV, and five with other HTLV-1-associated disease, was extracted and reverse transcribed. HTLV-1 specific nested PCR was performed using primers to amplify the conserved Tax region. All samples were run in quadruplicate, nested PCR products were detected by gel electrophoresis. HTLV-1 RNA was detected in plasma from 18 (28%) patients, always at a very low copy number (3-13 copies viral cDNA per milliliter of plasma). Mean values of HTLV-1 proviral load did not differ between patients in whom HTLV-1 RNA was detected and patients in whom it was not possible to detect HTLV-1 RNA in plasma. HTLV-1 genomic RNA can be detected in the plasma of a minority of patients but not at a level or frequency to be useful clinically or diagnostically. Lack of transmission of HTLV-1 by plasma is due to the rare presence of HTLV-1 virions, regardless of any other factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Antonietta Demontis
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College, Norfolk Place, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maaz Tahir Sadiq
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College, Norfolk Place, London, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Golz
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College, Norfolk Place, London, United Kingdom
| | - Graham P Taylor
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College, Norfolk Place, London, United Kingdom
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8
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Ahmed S, Adonis A, Hilburn S, Demontis MA, Fedina A, Haddow J, Gabriel C, Fidler S, Taylor GP. Treatment of patients with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy with methotrexate. Retrovirology 2014. [PMCID: PMC4042499 DOI: 10.1186/1742-4690-11-s1-p33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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9
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Fox JM, Hiburn S, Cook LBM, Demontis MA, Rowan A, Martin F, Taylor GP. Circularised 1 and 2 LTR DNA circles are present in freshly- and chronically-infected cell lines and patient PBMCs, indicating ongoing reverse transcriptase usage. Retrovirology 2011. [PMCID: PMC3112765 DOI: 10.1186/1742-4690-8-s1-a51] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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10
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Zara S, Bakalinsky AT, Zara G, Pirino G, Demontis MA, Budroni M. FLO11-based model for air-liquid interfacial biofilm formation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Appl Environ Microbiol 2005; 71:2934-9. [PMID: 15932987 PMCID: PMC1151800 DOI: 10.1128/aem.71.6.2934-2939.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sardinian wine strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae used to make sherry-like wines form a biofilm at the air-liquid interface at the end of ethanolic fermentation, when grape sugar is depleted and further growth becomes dependent on access to oxygen. Here, we show that FLO11, which encodes a hydrophobic cell wall glycoprotein, is required for the air-liquid interfacial biofilm and that biofilm cells have a buoyant density greater than the suspending medium. We propose a model for biofilm formation based on an increase in cell surface hydrophobicity occurring at the diauxic shift. This increase leads to formation of multicellular aggregates that effectively entrap carbon dioxide, providing buoyancy. A visible biofilm appears when a sufficient number of hydrophobic cell aggregates are carried to and grow on the liquid surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Severino Zara
- Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali Agrarie e Biotecnologie Agroalimentari, Sezione di Microbiologia Generale ed Applicata, Università di Sassari, Viale Italia 39, 07100 Sassari, Italy
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11
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Tomasi PA, Fanciulli G, Palermo M, Pala A, Demontis MA, Delitala G. Opioid-receptor blockade blunts growth hormone (GH) secretion induced by GH-releasing hormone in the human male. Horm Metab Res 1998; 30:34-6. [PMID: 9503036 DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-978827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the existence of an opioid stimulatory tone on growth hormone (GH) secretion in the human male. DESIGN Seven healthy male volunteers, aged 19-30, were studied in the Endocrine Unit of the University of Sassari. GH-releasing hormone (GHRH), 100 micrograms as an intravenous (IV) bolus, as administered with and without preadministration of IV naloxone, 2 mg as a bolus followed by a constant infusion of 2 mg/h. Blood samples were taken for 120 minutes after GHRH administration. RESULTS Naloxone significantly blunted the GH response to GHRH, measured either as mean peak value (at times 30 to 90) or as integrated concentrations. CONCLUSIONS Naloxone is able to decrease the effect of a maximal dose of GHRH, thus suggesting the existence of an opioid stimulatory tone on GH secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- P A Tomasi
- Istituto di Ematologia e di Endocrinologia, Universitá di Sassari, Italy
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12
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Abstract
Hypothyroid women may have various disturbances of the reproductive system. Although menstrual cycle disturbances and infertility have been reported in hypothyroidism, gonadotrophin levels have usually been found in the normal range. We have investigated whether female hypothyroid patients of reproductive age have any alteration in the pulsatile secretory pattern of gonadotrophin secretion. LH and FSH were assayed on days 2-5 of the menstrual cycle in blood samples taken every 10 min for 8 h from six hypothyroid women and six age-matched control subjects. Pulsatility was analysed using the Cluster and Detect programs. There was no significant difference in the number of peaks identified (3.7 +/- 0.8 vs 3.7 +/- 0.8 for LH, and 3.7 +/- 0.8 vs 4.2 +/- 0.5 for ESH), the mean duration of peaks (LH: 68.0 +/- 6.9 vs 72.7 +/- 5.1 min; FSH: 81.9 +/- 8.1 vs 71.2 +/- 10.3 min), the area under the peaks (LH: 91.5 +/- 20.4 vs 148.2 +/- 55.1 IU/l per min; FSH: 71.5 +/- 4.5 vs 62.7 +/- 15.0 IU/l per min), and the incremental amplitude from baseline (LH: 2.2 +/- 0.4 vs 3.0 +/- 0.8 IU/l; FSH: 1.4 +/- 0.2 vs 2.1 +/- 0.5 IU/ l). However, the absolute pulse amplitude was greater in hypothyroid patients (LH: 14.5 +/- 1.4 vs 8.3 +/- 1.3 IU/l, P < 0.01; FSH: 9.0 +/- 1.5 vs 5.8 +/- 1.2 IU/l, P = 0.04), as were the integrated concentrations (LH: 6.6 +/- 0.7 vs 3.2 +/- 0.4 IU/l per min, P < 0.01; FSH: 4.3 +/- 0.4 vs 2.1 +/- 0.5 IU/l per min, P < 0.01). Oestradiol values were comparable in the two groups (42.7 +/- 0.4 vs 43.5 +/- 9.7 pg/ml). These results indicate that in hypothyroid women there is an increased baseline level with a normal pulsatility of the gonadotrophin secretion. Similar oestrogen levels in both groups, and normal or near-normal cycles in our patients suggest either a decreased biological potency of the gonadotrophins or a mild ovarian resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- P A Tomasi
- Istituto di Ematologia e di Endocrinologia, Università di Sassari, Italy
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