Agerskovbloom1475

Proteases secreted by pathogens have been shown to be important virulence factors modifying plant immunity, and cysteine proteases have been demonstrated to participate in different pathosystems. However, the virulence functions of the cysteine proteases secreted by Phytophthora parasitica are poorly understood. Using a publicly available genome database, we identified 80 cysteine proteases in P. parasitica, 21 of which were shown to be secreted. Most of the secreted cysteine proteases are conserved among different P. parasitica strains and are induced during infection. The secreted cysteine protease proteins PpCys44/45 (proteases with identical protein sequences) and PpCys69 triggered cell death on the leaves of different Nicotiana spp. A truncated mutant of PpCys44/45 lacking a signal peptide failed to trigger cell death, suggesting that PpCys44/45 functions in the apoplastic space. Analysis of three catalytic site mutants showed that the enzyme activity of PpCys44/45 is required for its ability to trigger cell death. A virus-induced gene silencing assay showed that PpCys44/45 does not induce cell death on NPK1 (Nicotiana Protein Kinase 1)-silenced Nicotiana benthamiana plants, indicating that the cell death phenotype triggered by PpCys44/45 is dependent on NPK1. PpCys44- and PpCys45-deficient double mutants showed decreased virulence, suggesting that PpCys44 and PpCys45 positively promote pathogen virulence during infection. PpCys44 and PpCys45 are important virulence factors of P. parasitica and trigger NPK1-dependent cell death in various Nicotiana spp. © 2020 The Authors. Molecular Plant Pathology published by British Society for Plant Pathology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.CD40-activated CD40L reverse signaling is a major physiological regulator of the growth of neural processes in the developing nervous system. Previous work on superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons of the paravertebral sympathetic chain has shown that CD40L reverse signaling enhances NGF-promoted axon growth and tissue innervation. Here we show that CD40L reverse signaling has the opposite function in prevertebral ganglion (PVG) sympathetic neurons. During a circumscribed perinatal window of development, PVG neurons cultured from Cd40-/- mice had substantially larger, more exuberant axon arbors in the presence of NGF than PVG neurons cultured from wild-type mice. Tissues that receive their sympathetic innervation from PVG neurons were markedly hyperinnervated in Cd40-/- mice compared with wild-type mice. The exuberant axonal growth phenotype of cultured CD40-deficient perinatal PVG neurons was pared back to wild-type levels by activating CD40L reverse signaling with a CD40-Fc chimeric protein, but not by activating CD40 forward signaling with CD40L. The co-expression of CD40 and CD40L in PVG neurons suggests that these proteins engage in an autocrine signaling loop in these neurons. Our work shows that CD40L reverse signaling is a physiological regulator of NGF-promoted sympathetic axon growth and tissue innervation with opposite effects in paravertebral and prevertebral neurons. © 2020 The Authors. Developmental Neurobiology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.OBJECTIVE To report on the spontaneous resolution of caval syndrome in 5 dogs selected for their response to medical stabilization prior to scheduled heartworm extraction. SERIES SUMMARY Five dogs with heartworm caval syndrome were treated with sildenafil, fluid, and supplemental oxygen therapy. Moreover, 4 of 5 dogs were also administered pimobendan to achieve hemodynamic stabilization in preparation for percutaneous heartworm extraction. Spontaneous heartworm migration back into the pulmonary arteries was detected from 2 h to 5 days after treatment initiation. UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED Unanticipated spontaneous resolution of caval syndrome was documented in a low number of dogs after initiation of a patient stabilization protocol aiming at improving right ventricular hemodynamics and reducing pulmonary artery pressure prior to scheduled heartworm extraction. At this time, it is unknown if intervention to improve the hemodynamic status of the animal prior to heartworm extraction improves procedure outcome, and which factors contributed to the migration of the heartworms back into the pulmonary arteries in these selected cases. Therefore, this approach cannot be recommended in place of current recommendations for treatment of caval syndrome. © Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2020.INTRODUCTION Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a fungal disease with high mortality and morbidity. Guidelines suggest treatment with azoles as first-line therapy. However, patients often develop treatment intolerance or increasingly azole resistance. OBJECTIVES This retrospective review assesses outcomes in azole resistant or intolerant patients with CPA treated with cyclical echinocandin therapy. Akt inhibitor METHODS We retrospectively examined records of 25 patients with CPA treated with cyclical caspofungin, 6 of whom were either azole-resistant or azole intolerant. Baseline characteristics, high-resolution computed tomography severity scores, forced expiratory volume after 1 minute (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), body mass index and serology (Aspergillus fumigatus-specific IgG, Aspergillus fumigatus-specific IgE, total IgE and CRP) were assessed before and after caspofungin. RESULTS Of the six patients, four (66%) started caspofungin due to intolerance and two (33%) due to pan-azole resistance. On treatment, there was stability in FEV1 with an overall mortality of 33% during the follow-up period with a median survival of 875.5 days (IQR 529-1024). No significant change in serology (A. fumigatus-specific IgG and CRP was seen. CONCLUSIONS With pulsed echinocandin therapy, azole-intolerant or pan-resistant CPA patients have similar mortality rates to azole-naïve CPA patients. Pulsed echinocandin therapy may present a strategy to stabilize CPA in patients with pan resistance or intolerance to, azole therapy. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.AIM The primary aim of this study was to examine the impact of age, gender and the stage of dementia on the results of an assistive technology intervention that make use of communication robots (com-robots). The intervention was designed to improve the social participation and interactions of nursing home residents. While our previous study showed that the overall effects of com-robot intervention were positive, it was unknown what impact age, gender and the stage of dementia of participants had on such an intervention. METHODS This was a non-randomized, multicenter quasi-experimental intervention study conducted in residential care homes in Japan. Two types of com-robots were introduced for 8 weeks after baseline evaluation. The World Health Organization's ICF was used for evaluating any changes present after the 8-week intervention. In total, 78 residents (68 women, 10 men, 86.5 ± 7.7 years old) participated in the study. The Degree of Daily Life Independence Score for People with Dementia (DDLIS-PD) was employed for measuring the stage of dementia.