-
Microorganisms Dec 2019The or tree shrew (), a small mammal of the Tupaiidae family, is an increasingly used and promising infection model for virological and immunological research.... (Review)
Review
The or tree shrew (), a small mammal of the Tupaiidae family, is an increasingly used and promising infection model for virological and immunological research. Recently, sequencing of the whole genome revealed that it is more homologous to the genome of humans than of rodents. Viral infections are a global threat to human health, and a complex series of events are involved in the interactions between a virus and the host immune system, which play important roles in the activation of an immune response and the outcome of an infection. Majority of immune response data in viral infections are obtained from studies using animal models that enhance the understanding of host-virus interactions; a proper understanding of these interactions is very important for the development of effective antivirals and prophylactics. Therefore, animal models that are permissive to infection and that recapitulate human disease pathogenesis and immune responses to viral infections are essential. Several studies have shown the permissiveness of to a number of important human viral infections in vitro and in vivo without prior adaptation of the viruses; the immune responses and clinical manifestations were comparable to those observed in human infections. Thus, the is being utilized and developed as a promising immunocompetent small animal model for viral infection studies. In this review, we focused on the immune responses, mostly innate, during viral infection and pathogenesis in the model; we evaluated the interaction between the virus and the components of host resistance, the usefulness of this model for immunopathogenesis studies, and the vaccines and antivirals available.
PubMed: 31842286
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7120686 -
Addictive Behaviors Jul 2021Despite almost 1 in 5 college students being Latinx, research examining risk factors for college alcohol misuse and consequences to inform prevention efforts for Latinx...
BACKGROUND
Despite almost 1 in 5 college students being Latinx, research examining risk factors for college alcohol misuse and consequences to inform prevention efforts for Latinx is limited. The current study attempts to address a health disparity among Latinx college students by examining the effects of parental permissiveness of underage drinking and perceived ethnic discrimination on drinking outcomes.
METHODS
Latinx students from three large and geographically diverse public universities (N = 215; 73% female) completed measures during the fall of their first (T1) and second (T2) years. Analyses used moderated regression with bootstrapping to obtain asymmetrical 95% confidence intervals. Parental permissiveness of underage drinking and perceived ethnic discrimination were assessed as predictors at T1. Drinking outcomes were assessed at T2 as typical weekly drinking, peak blood alcohol content (BAC), and alcohol-related consequences.
RESULTS
T1 permissiveness was significantly positively associated with T2 peak BAC. T1 discrimination significantly moderated the association between T1 permissiveness and T2 peak BAC as well as T2 consequences. The effects of T1 permissiveness on T2 peak BAC and T2 consequences were stronger among Latinx who experienced above-average levels of T1 discrimination.
CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that among Latinx parental permissiveness of underage drinking and perceived ethnic discrimination are risk factors for peak BAC and alcohol-related consequences. The positive associations between parental permissiveness and peak BAC/consequences were stronger among Latinx students who experienced high levels of ethnic discrimination. Efforts to address these risk factors in future culturally sensitive parent-based interventions for Latinx college students are warranted.
Topics: Alcohol Drinking; Alcohol Drinking in College; Female; Humans; Male; Parenting; Parents; Permissiveness; Risk Factors; Students; Universities
PubMed: 33743494
DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.106900 -
Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers &... Apr 2022A social media campaign for mothers aimed at reducing indoor tanning (IT) by adolescent daughters reduced mothers' permissiveness toward IT in an immediate posttest.... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
A social media campaign for mothers aimed at reducing indoor tanning (IT) by adolescent daughters reduced mothers' permissiveness toward IT in an immediate posttest. Whether the effects persisted at 6 months after the campaign remains to be determined.
METHODS
Mothers (N = 869) of daughters ages 14-17 in 34 states without bans on IT by minors were enrolled in a randomized trial. All mothers received an adolescent health campaign over 12 months with posts on preventing IT (intervention) or prescription drug misuse (control). Mothers completed a follow-up at 18 months post-randomization measuring IT permissiveness, attitudes, intentions, communication, and behavior, and support for state bans. Daughters (n = 469; 54.0%) just completed baseline and follow-up surveys.
RESULTS
Structural equation modeling showed that intervention-group mothers were less permissive of IT by daughters [unstandardized coefficient, -0.17; 95% confidence interval (CI), -0.31 to -0.03], had greater self-efficacy to refuse daughter's IT requests (0.17; 95% CI, 0.06-0.29) and lower IT intentions themselves (-0.18; 95% CI, -0.35 to -0.01), and were more supportive of bans on IT by minors (0.23; 95% CI, 0.02-0.43) than control-group mothers. Intervention-group daughters expressed less positive IT attitudes than controls (-0.16; 95% CI, 0.31 to -0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
The social media campaign may have had a persisting effect of convincing mothers to withhold permission for daughters to indoor tan for 6 months after its conclusion. Reduced IT intentions and increased support for bans on IT by minors also persisted among mothers.
IMPACT
Social media may increase support among mothers to place more restrictions on IT by minors.
Topics: Adolescent; Female; Health Promotion; Humans; Mothers; Nuclear Family; Social Media; Sunbathing
PubMed: 35064063
DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-21-0059 -
Behavioral Sciences (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2023Recent research on child-to-parent violence (CPV) is advancing in the analysis of the specialist profile (aggressors who show only CPV) and the generalist profile...
Recent research on child-to-parent violence (CPV) is advancing in the analysis of the specialist profile (aggressors who show only CPV) and the generalist profile (aggressors who show peer violence in addition to CPV). However, although differences have been found between girls and boys in the risk factors for CPV, there are no studies that analyze these differences according to the type of aggressor. Likewise, the importance of identifying the factors that differentially predict reactive and proactive CPV has been noted but has not been examined in different types of aggressors. The aims of this study were to examine gender differences in CPV patterns, emotional intelligence, parental victimization, and parental permissiveness and to analyze whether these variables predict reactive and proactive CPV, both according to aggressor type. A total of 1559 Spanish CPV aggressors (54.6% females) aged between 12 and 18 years from educational centers participated in the study (22.4% exercised only CPV (specialists) and 77.6% exercised peer violence in addition to CPV (generalists)). In general, no differences were found between girls and boys in the specialist profile, but differences were found in the generalist profile. Specifically, generalist girls exercised more psychological and control/domain violence toward mothers, while boys exercised more physical violence toward fathers and had more parental permissiveness. In specialists, parental victimization predicted reactive CPV, while parental permissiveness predicted proactive CPV. In contrast, in generalists, both parental victimization and parental permissiveness predicted both reactive and proactive CPV. Low emotional regulation was a significant predictor in both cases. This study identifies differences among girls and boys in CPV risk factors and among variables that predict reactive and proactive CPV and that these results differ between specialist and generalist aggressors. Implications for research and professional practice are discussed, highlighting the need to design and implement prevention and intervention programs specialized in the type of aggressor, paying special attention to gender differences and to the factors that motivate one or the other type of CPV.
PubMed: 36829314
DOI: 10.3390/bs13020085 -
PLoS Pathogens Jun 2023Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical regulatory roles in various cellular and metabolic processes in mosquitoes and all other organisms studied thus far. In...
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical regulatory roles in various cellular and metabolic processes in mosquitoes and all other organisms studied thus far. In particular, their involvement in essential processes such as reproduction makes them potential targets for the development of novel pest control approaches. However, their function in mosquito biology remains largely unexplored. To elucidate the role of lncRNAs in mosquitoes' reproduction and vector competence for arboviruses, we have implemented a computational and experimental pipeline to mine, screen, and characterize lncRNAs related to these two biological processes. Through analysis of publicly available Zika virus (ZIKV) infection-regulated Aedes aegypti transcriptomes, at least six lncRNAs were identified as being significantly upregulated in response to infection in various mosquito tissues. The roles of these ZIKV-regulated lncRNAs (designated Zinc1, Zinc2, Zinc3, Zinc9, Zinc10 and Zinc22), were further investigated by dsRNA-mediated silencing studies. Our results show that silencing of Zinc1, Zinc2, and Zinc22 renders mosquitoes significantly less permissive to ZIKV infection, while silencing of Zinc22 also reduces fecundity, indicating a potential role for Zinc22 in trade-offs between vector competence and reproduction. We also found that silencing of Zinc9 significantly increases fecundity but has no effect on ZIKV infection, suggesting that Zinc9 may be a negative regulator of oviposition. Our work demonstrates that some lncRNAs play host factor roles by facilitating viral infection in mosquitoes. We also show that lncRNAs can influence both mosquito reproduction and permissiveness to virus infection, two biological systems with important roles in mosquito vectorial capacity.
Topics: Animals; Female; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection; Aedes; RNA, Long Noncoding; Mosquito Vectors; Reproduction
PubMed: 37319296
DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011440 -
Nature Communications Apr 2024The horizontal transfer of plasmids has been recognized as one of the key drivers for the worldwide spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across bacterial pathogens....
The horizontal transfer of plasmids has been recognized as one of the key drivers for the worldwide spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across bacterial pathogens. However, knowledge remain limited about the contribution made by environmental stress on the evolution of bacterial AMR by modulating horizontal acquisition of AMR plasmids and other mobile genetic elements. Here we combined experimental evolution, whole genome sequencing, reverse genetic engineering, and transcriptomics to examine if the evolution of chromosomal AMR to triclosan (TCS) disinfectant has correlated effects on modulating bacterial pathogen (Klebsiella pneumoniae) permissiveness to AMR plasmids and phage susceptibility. Herein, we show that TCS exposure increases the evolvability of K. pneumoniae to evolve TCS-resistant mutants (TRMs) by acquiring mutations and altered expression of several genes previously associated with TCS and antibiotic resistance. Notably, nsrR deletion increases conjugation permissiveness of K. pneumoniae to four AMR plasmids, and enhances susceptibility to various Klebsiella-specific phages through the downregulation of several bacterial defense systems and changes in membrane potential with altered reactive oxygen species response. Our findings suggest that unrestricted use of TCS disinfectant imposes a dual impact on bacterial antibiotic resistance by augmenting both chromosomally and horizontally acquired AMR mechanisms.
Topics: Triclosan; Plasmids; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Bacteriophages; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Mutation; Gene Transfer, Horizontal; Whole Genome Sequencing; Evolution, Molecular; Anti-Bacterial Agents
PubMed: 38688912
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48006-9 -
Viruses Jul 2020Macrophages are the first line of defence against invading pathogens. They play a crucial role in immunity but also in regeneration and homeostasis. Their remarkable... (Review)
Review
Macrophages are the first line of defence against invading pathogens. They play a crucial role in immunity but also in regeneration and homeostasis. Their remarkable plasticity in their phenotypes and function provides them with the ability to quickly respond to environmental changes and infection. Recent work shows that macrophages undergo cell cycle transition from a G0/terminally differentiated state to a G1 state. This G0-to-G1 transition presents a window of opportunity for HIV-1 infection. Macrophages are an important target for HIV-1 but express high levels of the deoxynucleotide-triphosphate hydrolase SAMHD1, which restricts viral DNA synthesis by decreasing levels of dNTPs. While the G0 state is non-permissive to HIV-1 infection, a G1 state is very permissive to HIV-1 infection. This is because macrophages in a G1 state switch off the antiviral restriction factor SAMHD1 by phosphorylation, thereby allowing productive HIV-1 infection. Here, we explore the macrophage cell cycle and the interplay between its regulation and permissivity to HIV-1 infection.
Topics: Animals; Cell Cycle; Cell Cycle Checkpoints; Cells, Cultured; DNA Damage; G1 Phase; Gram-Negative Bacteria; HIV-1; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; Humans; Macrophages; Phosphorylation; Resting Phase, Cell Cycle; SAM Domain and HD Domain-Containing Protein 1; vif Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
PubMed: 32751972
DOI: 10.3390/v12080839 -
Virus Research Aug 2017Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders by which the native cellular prion protein (PrP) is misfolded into an accumulating, disease-associated isoform...
Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders by which the native cellular prion protein (PrP) is misfolded into an accumulating, disease-associated isoform (PrP). To improve the understanding of prion pathogenesis and develop effective treatments, it is essential to elucidate factors contributing to cellular permissiveness. We previously isolated five clones from an immortalized subline of ovine microglia, two of which had demonstrated differential permissiveness to a natural isolate of sheep scrapie and distinct transcriptomic profiles. To more robustly identify factors contributing to this activity, relative permissiveness, cell proliferation, selected gene transcript level, and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) activity were compared amongst all five clones. Differences in cell proliferation were not detected between clones; however, significant correlations were identified between relative permissiveness and genes associated with cell growth (i.e., RARRES1 and PTN), protein degradation (i.e., CTSB and SQSTM1), and heparin binding (i.e., SEPP1). MMP2 activity varied amongst clones, but did not correlate with permissiveness. These associations support the contribution of cell division and protein degradation on the permissiveness of cultured ovine microglia to PrP.
Topics: Animals; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; Microglia; PrPSc Proteins; Scrapie; Sheep; Transcriptome
PubMed: 28754560
DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2017.07.016 -
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs Mar 2023Whether college students' reports of their parents' behaviors are as reliable a predictor of student drinking as their parents' own reports remains an open question and...
OBJECTIVE
Whether college students' reports of their parents' behaviors are as reliable a predictor of student drinking as their parents' own reports remains an open question and a point of contention in the literature. To address this, the current study examined concordance between college student and mother/father reports of the same parenting behaviors relevant to parent-based college drinking interventions (relationship quality, monitoring, and permissiveness), and the extent to which student and parental reports differed in their relation to college drinking and consequences.
METHOD
The sample consisted of 1,429 students and 1,761 parents recruited from three large public universities in the United States (814 mother-daughter, 563 mother-son, 233 father-daughter, and 151 father-son dyads). Students and their parents were each invited to complete four surveys over the course of the students' first 4 years of college (one survey per year).
RESULTS
Paired samples tests revealed that parental reports of parenting constructs were typically more conservative than student reports. Intraclass correlations revealed moderate associations between parental and student reports on relationship quality, general monitoring, and permissiveness. The associations between parenting constructs and drinking and consequences were also consistent when using parental and student reports of permissiveness. Results were generally consistent for all four types of dyads, and at each of the four time points.
CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, these findings provide additional support for the use of student reports of parental behaviors as a valid proxy of parents' actual reports and as a reliable predictor of college student drinking and consequences.
Topics: Humans; Alcohol Drinking; Parent-Child Relations; Universities; Parenting; Ethanol; Students
PubMed: 36971719
DOI: 10.15288/jsad.22-00002 -
Oncolytic Virotherapy 2019Replication conditional oncolytic human adenovirus has long been considered a promising biological therapeutic to target high-grade gliomas (HGG), a group of essentially... (Review)
Review
Replication conditional oncolytic human adenovirus has long been considered a promising biological therapeutic to target high-grade gliomas (HGG), a group of essentially lethal primary brain cancer. The last decade has witnessed initiation and some completion of a number of Phase I and II clinical investigations of oncolytic adenovirus for HGG in the US and Europe. Results of these trials in patients are pivotal for not only federal approval but also filling an existing knowledge gap that primarily derives from the stark differences in permissivity to human adenovirus between humans and preclinical mouse models. DNX-2401 (Delta-24-RGD), the current mainstream oncolytic adenovirus with modifications in E1A and the fiber, has been shown to induce impressive objective response and long-term survival (>3 years) in a fraction of patients with recurrent HGG. Responders exhibited initial enlargement of the treated lesions for a few months post treatment, followed by shrinkage and near complete resolution. In accord with preclinical research, post-treatment specimens revealed virus-mediated alteration of the immune tumor microenvironment as evidenced by infiltration of CD8+ T cells and M1-polarized macrophages. These findings are encouraging and together with further information from ongoing studies have a potential to make oncolytic adenovirus a viable option for clinical management of HGG. This review deals with this timely topic; we will describe both preclinical and clinical development of oncolytic adenovirus therapy for HGG, summarize updated knowledge on clinical trials and discuss challenges that the field currently faces.
PubMed: 31750274
DOI: 10.2147/OV.S196403