Background
The generation of IgE‐mediated food allergy in humans is silent and only diagnosed upon manifestation of clinical symptoms. While experimental models have been used to investigate some ...mechanisms of allergic sensitization, the generation of humoral immunity and memory remains to be elucidated. Here, we defined the evolution of allergen‐specific B‐cell responses during epicutaneous sensitization to foods.
Methods
Wild‐type and genetic knockout animals, and drug or antibody strategies for cell depletion and immunoglobulin signaling blockade were used to investigate epicutaneous sensitization and disease progression; we analyzed allergen‐specific germinal centers and IgG1+ memory B cells by flow cytometry, evaluated humoral responses, and determined clinical reactivity (anaphylaxis).
Results
Epicutaneous sensitization caused microscopic skin damage, inflammation, and recruitment of activated dendritic cells to the draining lymph nodes. This process generated allergen‐specific IgG1+ germinal center B cells, serum IgG1, and anaphylaxis that was mediated by the alternative pathway. Whether we used peanut and/or ovalbumin from the egg white for sensitization, the allergen‐specific IgG1+ memory compartment predominantly exhibited an immature, pro‐germinal center phenotype (PDL‐2−CD80−CD35+CD73+). Subsequent subclinical exposures to the allergen induced IgE+ germinal center B cells, serum IgE, and likely activated the classical pathway of anaphylaxis.
Conclusions
Our data demonstrate that IgG1+ B‐cell immunity against food allergens in epicutaneous sensitization precedes the generation of IgE responses. Therefore, the assessment of allergen‐specific cellular and humoral IgG1+ immunity may help to identify individuals at risk of developing IgE‐mediated food allergy and hence provide a window for therapeutic interventions.
IgG1+ B‐cell immunity against food allergens in epicutaneous sensitization precedes the generation of IgE responses. Immature, pro‐germinal centre, allergen‐specific IgG1+ memory B cells are formed at the incipient stages of skin sensitization to foods. The assessment of allergen‐specific cellular and humoral IgG1+ immunity may help to identify individuals at risk of developing IgE‐mediated food allergy.
Summary
Allergic asthma is a prominent disease especially during childhood. Indoor allergens, in general, and particularly house dust mites (HDM) are the most prevalent sensitizers associated with ...allergic asthma. Available data show that 65–130 million people are mite‐sensitized world‐wide and as many as 50% of these are asthmatic. In fact, sensitization to HDM in the first years of life can produce devastating effects on pulmonary function leading to asthmatic syndromes that can be fatal. To date, there has been considerable research into the pathological pathways and structural changes associated with allergic asthma. However, limitations related to the disease heterogeneity and a lack of knowledge into its pathophysiology have impeded the generation of valuable data needed to appropriately phenotype patients and, subsequently, treat this disease. Here, we report a systematic and integral analysis of the disease, from airway remodelling to the immune response taking place throughout the disease stages. We present an overview of metabolomics, the management of complex multifactorial diseases through the analysis of all possible metabolites in a biological sample, obtaining a global interpretation of biological systems. Special interest is placed on the challenges to obtain biological samples and the methodological aspects to acquire relevant information, focusing on the identification of novel biomarkers associated with specific phenotypes of allergic asthma. We also present an overview of the metabolites cited in the literature, which have been related to inflammation and immune response in asthma and other allergy‐related diseases.
In this paper, a new and versatile approach to obtain a good dispersion in water-based paste of short (≅ 1.5 mm) and long (≅ 3.0 mm) millimeter-sized carbon nanotubes (CNT) for the fabrication of ...electroconductive textiles is reported. With this aim, N-3-(triethoxysilyl)propylethylenediamine (EDAES) was used in combination with a waterborne thermo-degradable surfactant to stabilize the dispersion of two different kinds of carbon nanotubes (CNT) in hydroalcoholic solutions. A polyurethane thickener was added to each CNT dispersion to obtain dense pastes that were deposited onto cotton fabrics using the knife-over-roll technique. High magnification images confirm that the nanotubes are well dispersed in both coatings, furthermore appearing homogeneously distributed on the cotton surface. The conductivity of the long CNT-coated fabrics was confirmed by the electrical resistance of 2.61 × 104 Ω/sq which decreased to 9.46 × 102 Ω/sq for short CNT size. Moreover, after one washing cycle, the electrical conductivity variations of coating containing the shortest nanotubes retain over 99%, demonstrating its adhesion on the fabric. The increase of the textile stiffness was less than 20% for both treated samples compared to the reference, without affecting significantly the fabric samples comfort. The developed cotton fabrics worked well as wearable conductive materials in heart rate monitoring using photoplethysmography.
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•Sol-gel technique allows immobilization of high aspect ratio CNT on cotton fabric.•CNT dispersion by thermo-degradable surfactant shows high electrical conductivity.•Knife-over-roll technique turns out to be a good strategy for the deposition of CNT.•Coated textiles shows reliability in signal transmission in Heart Rate Monitoring.
The evaluation of the potential for newly arrived species to survive and the determination whether a founder population can become established and subsequently spread and cause negative impacts are ...crucial considerations when performing a pest risk assessment in plant health. Climate change has clear consequences concerning the potential range of pests, and their potential for spread and impacts. Despite its importance, no guidance exists to support the evaluation of whether and how climate change should be incorporated into pest risk assessment. This paper reviews how climate change has been considered so far, not only in the area of pest risk assessment but also in other domains and provides guidance on how its incorporation could affect the overall assessment. Furthermore, from this analysis, some possible solutions for incorporating climate change into pest risk assessment are provided, taking into account that its outcomes have profound political, economic, social and environmental implications.
Inclure le changement climatique dans l'évaluation du risque phytosanitaire: pratiques actuelles et perspectives
L'évaluation du potentiel de survie de nouvelles espèces; et la détermination de la possibilité d'établissement et de dissémination d'une population fondatrice et de ses impacts négatifs sont des considérations cruciales lors de la réalisation d'une évaluation du risque phytosanitaire. Le changement climatique a des conséquences évidentes sur la répartition géographique potentielle d'organismes nuisibles ainsi que sur leurs éventuels dissémination et impacts. Malgré son importance, il n'existe aucune directive pour évaluer la pertinence de l'intégration du changement climatique dans l'évaluation du risque phytosanitaire. Cet article examine comment le changement climatique a été pris en compte jusqu'à présent, non seulement dans le domaine de l'évaluation du risque phytosanitaire, mais également dans d'autres domaines, et explique l'impact de son intégration sur l'ensemble de l'évaluation. En outre, à partir de cette analyse, certaines solutions pour intégrer le changement climatique dans l'évaluation du risque phytosanitaire sont fournies, en reconnaissant que le changement climatique aura de profondes implications politiques, économiques, sociales et environnementales.
Включение изменения климата в оценку фитосанитарного риска: текущие практики и перспективы будущего применения
Оценка потенциала выживания новоприбывших видов и определение того, может ли популяция акклиматизироваться, а затем распространиться и вызвать негативные последствия, являются важнейшими факторами при проведении оценки фитосанитарного риска. Изменение климата имеет очевидные последствия в отношении потенциального ареала вредных организмов, а также потенциала их распространения и масштаба наносимого вреда. Несмотря на важность проблемы климатических изменений, в настоящее время не существует четкого руководства, описывающего, следует ли и каким образом включать вопросы изменение климата в оценку фитосанитарного риска. В данной статье приведён обзор того, как проблема изменения климата рассматривалась до настоящего времени в области оценки фитосанитарного риска и в смежных областях, а также рассмотрено, как учёт климатических изменений может повлиять на общую оценку фитосанитарного риска. Кроме того, на основе проведенного анализа предлагаются возможные решения для включения вопросов изменения климата в оценку фитосанитарного риска, с учетом того, что они влекут за собой серьезные политические, экономические, социальные и экологические последствия.
Anaphylaxis is an acute, life-threatening, multisystem syndrome resulting from the sudden release of mediators from effector cells. There are two potential pathways for anaphylaxis. The first one, ...IgE-dependent anaphylaxis, is induced by antigen (Ag) cross-linking of Ag-specific IgE bound to the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) on mast cells and basophils. The second one, IgG-dependent anaphylaxis is induced by Ag cross-linking of Ag-specific IgG bound to IgG receptors (FcγRI, FcγRIIA, FcγRIIB, FcγRIIC, and FcγRIIIA) on macrophages, neutrophils, and basophils. Macrophages exhibit a huge functional plasticity and are capable of exerting their scavenging, bactericidal, and regulatory functions under a wide variety of tissue conditions. Herein, we will review their potential role in the triggering and development of anaphylaxis. Thereby, macrophages, among other immune cells, play a role in both anaphylactic pathways (1) by responding to anaphylactic mediators secreted by mast cells after specific IgE cross-linking or (2) by acting as effector cells in the anaphylactic response mediated by IgG. In this review, we will go over the cellular and molecular mechanisms that take place in the above-mentioned anaphylactic pathways and will discuss the clinical implications in human allergic reactions.
A new testing apparatus is proposed to measure the thermal properties of fabrics made from polymeric materials. The calibration of the apparatus and the data acquisition procedure are considered in ...detail in order to measure thermal conductivity, resistance, absorption and diffusivity constants of the tested fabric samples. Differences between dry and wet fabrics have been carefully detected and analyzed. We have developed a new measurement protocol, the ThermoTex protocol, which agrees with the UNI EN 31092 standard and entails accurate quantification of the experimental errors according to a standard statistical analysis, thus allowing a rigorous investigation of the physical behavior of the phenomena involved. As a consequence, our equipment exhibits great potential for optimizing the thermal comfort of fabrics, according to the market demand, thanks to the possible development of a predictive phenomenological theory of the effects involved.
Geopolymers are inorganic materials that form long-range, covalently bonded, networks; they are materials similar to ceramics, whose components are mainly aluminium and silicates. Any inorganic ...source of silica and alumina, dissolved in the alkaline solution, acts as a precursor of geopolymers. The type of clays most commonly used in the synthesis of geopolymers is based on kaolinite. The present work concerns the modification of the geopolymer at the chemical and nanostructural level, through the design and development of hybrid coating sol-gel formulations to improve characteristics such as mechanical strength, chemical inertness, heat resistance and porosity for possible use in the restoration and conservation of cultural heritage. The methods of functionalization of the geopolymers here shown are: (i) the treatment of the geopolymeric surface, post-drying, through the application of the sol-gel directly on the monolith, for a modification of the surface properties; (ii) the pretreatment of the geopolymeric mixture, through the addition of the alkoxysilane which can induce a homogeneous consolidation of the molecular structure, implementing the properties of the entire monolith. The employed alkoxysilanes differ according to the length of the hydrocarbon chain and the presence of halogen atoms. Hydrophobicity tests were performed on these formulations.
Carbazoles are aromatic heterocyclic compounds derived from the fusion of a benzene ring with an indole nucleus in 2,3 position. Today, many carbazole derivatives are widely studied as anticancer, ...anti-fungal, antioxidants, photoconductor, anti-bacterial, antimalarials, anti-Alzheimer, anti-tuberculosis, anti-HIV agents and for the treatment of obesity. Some of them, differently substituted on carbazole nucleus, have been synthetized and their biological activity have been evaluated. The purpose of this work is the study of new species obtained binding, a series of carbazole derivatives in which the carbazolic nitrogen has been functionalized with different alkyl-thiol chains, with gold nanoparticles, synthesized in organic solvent. The formation of self-assembled monolayers of these ligands is obtained on the spherical surface of gold nanoparticles, with a stabilizing effect against aggregation. These systems might present a double innovative function, matching an antineoplastic activity typical of carbazoles, with the photothermal effects of gold nanoparticles.
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