A Computational Model of the Belief System Under the Scope of Social Communication

This paper presents an approach to the belief system based on a computational framework in three levels: first, the logic level with the definition of binary local rules, second, the arithmetic level with the definition of recursive functions and finally the behavioural level with the definition of a recursive construction pattern. Social communication is achieved when different beliefs are expressed, modified, propagated and shared through social nets. This approach is useful to mimic the belief system because the defined functions provide different ways to process the same incoming information as well as a means to propagate it. Our model also provides a means to cross different beliefs so, any incoming information can be processed many times by the same or different functions as it occurs is social nets.     

Transcriptome analysis of the acoelomate human parasite Schistosoma mansoni

Schistosoma mansoni is the primary causative agent of schistosomiasis, which affects 200 million individuals in 74 countries. We generated 163,000 expressed-sequence tags (ESTs) from normalized cDNA libraries from six selected developmental stages of the parasite, resulting in 31,000 assembled sequences and 92% sampling of an estimated 14,000 gene complement. By analyzing automated Gene Ontology assignments, we provide a detailed view of important S. mansoni biological systems, including characterization of metazoa-specific and eukarya-conserved genes. Phylogenetic analysis suggests an early divergence from other metazoa. The data set provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of tissue organization, development, signaling, sexual dimorphism, host interactions and immune evasion and identifies novel proteins to be investigated as vaccine candidates and potential drug targets.     

Non-redundant role of the long pentraxin PTX3 in anti-fungal innate immune response

Pentraxins are a superfamily of conserved proteins that are characterized by a cyclic multimeric structure. The classical short pentraxins, C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid P component (SAP), are acute-phase proteins produced in the liver in response to inflammatory mediators. Short pentraxins regulate innate resistance to microbes and the scavenging of cellular debris and extracellular matrix components. In contrast, long pentraxins have an unrelated, long amino-terminal domain coupled to the carboxy-terminal pentraxin domain, and differ, with respect to short pentraxins, in their gene organization, chromosomal localization, cellular source, and in their stimuli-inducing and ligand-recognition ability. To investigate the in vivo function of the long pentraxin PTX3, we generated mice deficient in Ptx3 by homologous recombination. Ptx3-null mice were susceptible to invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Ptx3 binds selected microbial agents, including conidia of Aspergillus fumigatus, and we found that susceptibility of Ptx3-null mice was associated with defective recognition of conidia by alveolar macrophages and dendritic cells, as well as inappropriate induction of an adaptive type 2 response. Thus, the long pentraxin Ptx3 is a secreted pattern-recognition receptor that has a non-redundant role in resistance to selected microbial agents, in particular to the opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus.     

L-colony production bySalmonelleae isolated from the mouse

Riassunto Si è studiata la produzione di colonie L da 20 ceppi diSalmonelleae di laboratorio e dagli stessi ceppi dopo passaggio nel topino. In terreno naturale, con inoculo in doppio strato, si producono colonie L da 4 ceppi di laboratorio e da 12 ceppi di quelli isolati dal topino. Non si ottengono colonie L con inoculo in superficie. In terreno sintetico, con inoculo in doppio strato, si ha produzione di colonie L da 8 ceppi di laboratorio. Colonie L si ottengono da 6 ceppi anche con inoculo in superficie.      

柳杉树轮δ~(13)C与气候要素的分析与应用

<正>对采自气候为非限制性因子地区的柳杉树轮稳定碳同位素比 δ１３ Ｃ进行气候响应分析。用排除法消除大气二氧化碳中δ１３Ｃ的变化对柳杉树轮δ１３Ｃ变化的影响后,建立残差年序列ＲＥ,并结合西天目山气象站的气象记录,分析了树轮δ１３Ｃ年序列对气候要素的响应。结果表明：西天目山地区树轮 δ１３Ｃ的高频振荡与 １１、１２月最高气温的平均值,１、２、３月降水总和以及６、７月降水总和显著相关,在一定程度上反映了东亚季风对该区的影响大小。可见气候非限制性因子地区树轮稳定碳同位素组成年序列同样可以作为气候变化指针。     

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells sense self-DNA coupled with antimicrobial peptide

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) sense viral and microbial DNA through endosomal Toll-like receptors to produce type 1 interferons. pDCs do not normally respond to self-DNA, but this restriction seems to break down in human autoimmune disease by an as yet poorly understood mechanism. Here we identify the antimicrobial peptide LL37 (also known as CAMP) as the key factor that mediates pDC activation in psoriasis, a common autoimmune disease of the skin. LL37 converts inert self-DNA into a potent trigger of interferon production by binding the DNA to form aggregated and condensed structures that are delivered to and retained within early endocytic compartments in pDCs to trigger Toll-like receptor 9. Thus, our data uncover a fundamental role of an endogenous antimicrobial peptide in breaking innate tolerance to self-DNA and suggest that this pathway may drive autoimmunity in psoriasis.