Summary
The feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) vaccines that are currently in wide use are generally poor inducers of virus‐neutralizing antibodies, although such antibodies appear after recovering from ...challenge. However, the presence of neutralizing antibodies in cats recovering from natural FeLV infection clearly correlates with resistance to subsequent infection and passive transfer of antibodies can protect other animals. After demonstrating the induction of neutralizing antibodies in rats and goats immunized with the transmembrane envelope protein p15E of FeLV, cats were immunized with the same antigen. High titres of neutralizing antibodies specific for FeLV were induced and epitope mapping revealed a pattern of recognition similar to that seen following immunization of rats and goats. These epitopes are highly related to epitopes recognized after immunization with porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) p15E and to epitopes recognized by neutralizing antibodies in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1. The ability of p15E to induce neutralizing antibodies in cats suggests that it should be included in the next generation of vaccines. In contrast, sera from FeLV‐infected animals usually fail to recognize the neutralization‐relevant epitopes in p15E. Since homologous epitope sequences are present in feline endogenous retroviruses, it appears that tolerance against these sequences is not induced.
Psychological theories and research often assume nations are culturally homogeneous and stable. But global demographic, political, and economic changes and massive immigration have sparked new ...scholarly and policy interest in cultural diversity and change within nations. This chapter reviews interdisciplinary advances linking culture and psychological development. These challenge and strengthen the external and ecological validity of psychological theories and their applications. Seven theoretical perspectives are reviewed: individualism-collectivism; ecological systems; cultural-ecological; social identity; ecocultural and sociocultural; structure-agency; and multiple worlds. Reviews of each theory summarize key constructs and evidence, recent advances, links between universal and community-specific research and applications, and strengths and limitations. The chapter traces complementarities across theories for the case of personal and social identity. It concludes by discussing implications for science and policy. By viewing theories as distinct yet complementary, researchers and policy makers can forge interdisciplinary, international, and intergenerational collaborations on behalf of the culturally diverse communities of which we are a part.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) are integrated in the genome of all pig breeds. Since some of them are able to infect human cells, they might represent a risk for xenotransplantation using ...pig cells or organs. However, the expression and biological role of PERVs in healthy pigs as well as in porcine tumours is largely unknown. Since we and others have recently shown overexpression of a human endogenous retrovirus, HERV-K, in human melanomas, we studied the expression of PERVs in melanomas of selectively bred Munich miniature swine (MMS) Troll. This breeding herd of MMS Troll is characterised by a high prevalence of melanomas, which histologically resemble various types of cutaneous melanomas in humans. Several genetic factors have been defined when studying inheritance of melanomas and melanocytic nevi in MMS Troll. Here we show that the polytropic PERV-A and PERV-B as well as the ecotropic PERV-C are present in the genome of all melanoma bearing MMS Troll investigated. Most interestingly, in the spleen, but not in other organs, recombinant PERV-A/C proviruses were found. PERV expression was found elevated in melanomas when compared to normal skin and viral proteins were expressed in melanomas and pulmonary metastasis-derived melanoma cell cultures. During passaging of these cells
in vitro the expression of PERV mRNA and protein increased and virus particles were released as shown by RT activity in the supernatant and by electron microscopy. Genomic RNA of PERV-A, -B and -C were found in pelleted virus particles. Although PERV expression was elevated in melanomas and pulmonary metastasis-derived cell cultures, the function of the virus in tumour development is still unclear.
Transgenic pigs are currently the most favored potential source of organs for xenotransplantation. Like all mammalian species they all harbor endogenous retroviruses in their genome. These porcine ...endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) are produced from several primary cells and cell lines and are able to infect human cells. Here we demonstrate that different pig strains and different animals of one strain differ in their ability to produce PERVs from normal blood cells. We report that purified PERV particles show a protein pattern typical for type C retroviruses and are antigenically related to mammalian leukemia viruses. Like most retroviruses, purified PERVs and peptides derived from the highly conserved immunosuppressive domain of their transmembrane envelope protein inhibit human immune cell functions. This indicates that high titer replication of PERVs in the transplant recipient could therefore lead to an immunodeficiency disease.
This study investigates how community characteristics can protect adolescents from the negative effects of poverty. Using economic predictors, eight communities with low or high birthrates for 15- to ...17-year-old Latinas were identified. Quantitative data on birth-rates, demographics, and the physical environment were obtained from government, hospital, and local sources. Qualitative data on the physical environment and social processes in the community were collected by interviews and observations in these eight communities. The low- and high-birthrate communities differed in their physical environment, the characteristics of the population, social capital, and cultural norms. The zip codes with low adolescent birthrates had a higher percentage of residents of Latino descent, stronger social networks, and more ties to their countries of origin. The findings support a model of community building that focuses on strengthening informal social networks and supporting protective cultural norms.
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