► Neutrinos leave a distinct imprint on the large scale structure of the Universe. ► Large surveys are sensitive to the sum of the neutrino masses. ► We collect and explain current and future ...constraints from different probes of the structure of the Universe.
Cosmological and astrophysical measurements provide powerful constraints on neutrino masses complementary to those from accelerators and reactors. Here we provide a guide to these different probes, for each explaining its physical basis, underlying assumptions, current and future reach.
The role played by antibodies (Abs) in the anticandidal defense has long been a matter of controversy, mostly due to the past inability to clearly define antigen specificity, the relationship between ...the type of immune response within the different settings of experimental and human candidiasis and, last but not least, a misunderstanding about the role of T helper cell in cell-mediated versus the humoral immunity. Contributory was also the lack of precise identification of virulence traits of the fungus which are the best candidates for a protective Ab response. In recent years, an impressive amount of experimental evidence, and also some clinical proof, have been generated which assign to Abs of defined specificity an important role in the anticandidal defense both at systemic and mucosal sites. Paradigmatic among them, Abs against defined virulence factors such as adhesins or aspartyl-proteinase enzymes, or against critical viability molecules such as beta-glucan, have been detected or generated which hold great promise for immunotherapeutic interventions in humans.
Among the putative virulence factors of Candida albicans, secreted aspartic proteinases (Sap, encoded by a family of at least nine genes) continue to attract the attention of many investigators ...studying the pathogenesis of candidiasis. Several early studies documented a correlation between the levels of Sap secretion and the virulence of different strains, but much stronger support for this role has been provided by more recent data on differential SAP gene(s) expression in ex vivo and in vivo models, the outcome of infections with SAP-deleted mutants, and use of Sap immunogens. In particular, some SAP-deleted strains suffered a substantial loss of virulence, and, more interestingly, this was specifically associated with selected gene products and selected experimental pathologies. Moreover, anti-Sap antibodies have been shown to mediate a degree of protection in an experimental mucosal candidiasis model. There is now initial evidence that distinct Saps are differentially produced in various Candida illnesses or stages of them. The exact mechanisms of each Sap involvement in any particular Candida disease, with special regard to human infections, and how the immune system deals with Sap, are critical issues for future research. An answer to these questions will possibly facilitate the generation of Sap-based anticandidal drugs or immunotherapeutics.
Not Available Herschel is an ESA space observatory with science instruments provided by European-led Principal Investigator consortia and with important participation from NASA.
We have developed PCR and Multiplex PCR assays for the detection of medically important
Candida spp. using different species and genus-specific PCR primers selected within the MP65 gene, a recently ...cloned gene encoding a mannoprotein adhesin. The genus-specific PCR primers were able to amplify
Candida species DNA (100% positivity) whereas DNA from all other isolates tested, belonging to other fungal genera, was not amplified. The species-specific PCR primers allowed differentiation of each of five
Candida species by the amplicon length produced. No amplicons were detected using species- or genus-specific primers in several bacterial or human DNA templates. The methods described in this study are reproducible, simple and specific. The total time required for each PCR method was less than 4 h from the extraction to the visualized amplicons after PCR. In conclusion, we developed PCR methods to differentiate the five most medically important
Candida species using primers directed to the MP65 gene.
Single chain fragment (ScFv) antiidiotypic antibodies (antilds) of a killer toxin (KT) from the yeast Pichia anomala have been produced by recombinant DNA methodology from the splenic lymphocytes of ...mice immunized by idiotypic vaccination with a KT-neutralizing monoclonal antibody (Mab KT4). ScFv KT-like antilds (KTIdAb) react with specific Candida albicans KT cell wall receptors (KTR) exerting a candidacidal activity in vitro could be neutralized by adsorption with Mab KT4. ScFv KTIdAb displayed an effective therapeutic activity in an experimental model of rat candidal vaginitis.
Among the putative virulence factors of Candida albicans, secreted aspartic proteinases (Sap, encoded by a family of at least nine genes) continue to attract the attention of many investigators ...studying the pathogenesis of candidiasis. Several early studies documented a correlation between the levels of Sap secretion and the virulence of different strains, but much stronger support for this role has been provided by more recent data on differential SAP gene(s) expression in ex vivo and in vivo models, the outcome of infections with SAP-deleted mutants, and use of Sap immunogens. In particular, some SAP-deleted strains suffered a substantial loss of virulence, and, more interestingly, this was specifically associated with selected gene products and selected experimental pathologies. Moreover, anti-Sap antibodies have been shown to mediate a degree of protection in an experimental, mucosal candidiasis model. There is now initial evidence that distinct Saps are differentially produced in various Candida illnesses or stages of them. The exact mechanisms of each Sap involvement in any particular Candida disease, with special regard to human infections, and how the immune system deals with Sap, are critical issues for future research. An answer to these questions will possibly facilitate the generation of Sap-based anticandidal drugs or immunotherapeutics.
Advanced ACTPol is a polarization-sensitive upgrade for the 6 m aperture Atacama Cosmology Telescope, adding new frequencies and increasing sensitivity over the previous ACTPol receiver. In 2016, ...Advanced ACTPol will begin to map approximately half the sky in five frequency bands (28-230 GHz). Its maps of primary and secondary cosmic microwave background anisotropies-imaged in intensity and polarization at few arcminute-scale resolution-will enable precision cosmological constraints and also awide array of cross-correlation science that probes the expansion history of the universe and the growth of structure via gravitational collapse. To accomplish these scientific goals, the AdvancedACTPol receiver will be a significant upgrade to the ACTPol receiver, including four new multichroic arrays of cryogenic, feedhorn-coupled AlMn transition edge sensor polarimeters (fabricated on 150 mm diameter wafers); a system of continuously rotating meta-material silicon half-wave plates; and a new multiplexing readout architecture which uses superconducting quantum interference devices and time division to achieve a 64-row multiplexing factor. Here we present the status and scientific goals of the Advanced ACTPol instrument, emphasizing the design and implementation of the AdvancedACTPol cryogenic detector arrays.
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