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Bacterial engagement of specific host tissue structures can be a means of targeting a pathogen to a particular niche, establishing persistent infections and inducing invasion. In this context, primary adhesion is often the first crucial colonization step allowing pathogens to withstand the mechanical clearing mechanisms of the host. As a consequence, bacteria have evolved adhesins with the capacit
Identifying mechanisms behind assortative mating is central to the understanding of ecological divergence and speciation. Recent studies show that populations of the freshwater isopod Asellus aquaticus can rapidly become locally differentiated when submerged Chara vegetation expands in lakes. In the novel Chara habitat, isopods have become lighter pigmented and smaller than in ancestral reed stand
Background: Noise is typically conceived of as being detrimental to cognitive performance. However, given the mechanism of stochastic resonance, a certain amount of noise can benefit performance. We investigate cognitive performance in noisy environments in relation to a neurocomputational model of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dopamine. The Moderate Brain Arousal model (MBA;
There has been considerable scepticism in Europe over the reliability of Russia as a secure source of energy for the EU. Despite Russia and EU being economically interdependent with regard to energy and other trade, there is still concern over potential supply disruptions. What can be gathered from media and scholarly sources is that Russia is potentially an unreliable supplier yet it is currently
The linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC) is required for optimal gene activation and prevention of cell death upon activation of immune receptors, including TNFR1 1 . Deficiency in the LUBAC components SHARPIN or HOIP in mice results in severe inflammation in adulthood or embryonic lethality, respectively, owing to deregulation of TNFR1-mediated cell death 2-8 . In humans, deficiency in
Although endometriosis is considered an inflammatory disease, no reliable diagnostic biomarkers exist for use in clinical practice. The aim was to investigate the inflammatory profile in endometriosis using an exploratory approach of inflammation-related proteins. Patients with laparoscopy-verified endometriosis (N = 172), women with microscopic colitis (N = 50), healthy controls (N = 31), and age
Background: In a previous smaller study, we found evidence of a diminished global coagulation capacity after maximal exercise in patients with severe haemophilia A (HA). Aim: To validate these results, we repeated the study in a larger cohort. We also examined if the exercise-induced increased levels of von Willebrand factor (VWF) might prolong the effect of factor concentrate administered just be
The LIN28B RNA binding protein exhibits an ontogenically restricted expression pattern and is a key molecular regulator of fetal and neonatal B lymphopoiesis. It enhances the positive selection of CD5+ immature B cells early in life through amplifying the CD19/PI3K/c-MYC pathway and is sufficient to reinitiate self-reactive B-1a cell output when ectopically expressed in the adult. In this study, i
Mitochondria play essential roles in plant metabolism, supporting both development and stress responses. To maintain a healthy pool of mitochondria, several quality control systems are in place. Selected degradation of mitochondria by autophagy -mitophagy- has been extensively studied in yeast and animals, but information on mitophagy components in plants is limited. The ‘Friendly Mitochondria’ (F
Digitalization, including recent and rapid advances in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), constitutes a technological shift on a scale comparable to the introduction of the steam engine or electricity. This shift has altered the way we organize work and business, how we interact socially and shop. But what are the implications for other parts of the economy? What are the consequences for t
Horizontal gene transfer by conjugative plasmids plays a critical role in the evolution of antibiotic resistance. Interactions between bacteria and other organisms can affect the persistence and spread of conjugative plasmids. Here we show that protozoan predation increased the persistence and spread of the antibiotic resistance plasmid RP4 in populations of the opportunist bacterial pathogen Serr
Rewetting dry soil induces enormous changes in microbial growth and biogeochemistry. Upon drying-rewetting (D/RW), bacteria have been shown to exhibit two different responses: (1) a more resilient response where bacteria start growing immediately with a quick recovery after rewetting and (2) a less resilient response where there is a pronounced lag-period before bacterial growth starts to increase
Will developing countries benefit economically from strengthening their protection of intellectual property? They have been repeatedly urged to do so by developed nations. But so far there is little empirical experience of either quite successful or failed examples. What we could hear from the media seems that the international protection of IPRs is getting stricter and more codified, while the si
Background: Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia is a clonal hematological disorder with an inherent risk of transformation to acute myeloid leukemia. Recently, there has been exponential discovery of molecular abnormalities in patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. Some of these mutations independently contribute to a higher risk of transformation and result in inferior overall survival. Treat
Transcription factors involved in the specification and differentiation of neurons often continue to be expressed in the adult brain, but remarkably little is known about their late functions. Nurr1, one such transcription factor, is essential for early differentiation of midbrain dopamine (mDA) neurons but continues to be expressed into adulthood. In Parkinson's disease, Nurr1 expression is dimin
