Generation and Characterization of ALX-0171, a Potent Novel Therapeutic Nanobody for the Treatment of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is an important causative agent of lower respiratory tract infections in infants and elderly. Its fusion (F) protein is critical for virus infection. It is targeted by several investigational antivirals and by palivizumab, a humanised monoclonal antibody used prophylactically in infants considered at high risk of severe RSV disease. ALX-0171 is a trimeric Nanobody that binds the antigenic site II of RSV F-protein with subnanomolar affinity. ALX-0171 demonstrated superior in vitro neutralisation compared to palivizumab against prototypic RSV A and B strains. Moreover, ALX-0171 completely blocked replication below limit of detection in 87% of the viruses tested versus 18% for palivizumab at a fixed concentration. Importantly, ALX-0171 was highly effective in reducing both nasal and lung RSV titers when delivered prophylactically or therapeutically directly to the lungs of cotton rats. ALX-0171 represents a potent novel antiviral compound with significant potential to treat RSV-mediated disease.

Lightsite

Lightsite is a room-sized pinhole camera which has been transported to a number of locations throughout the south of Western Australia. Lightsite was conceived as a way to celebrate a variety of individuals and their families, who have a very strong sense of connection to the landscapes in this region. The project documented herein was completed for “Hotspot” a cultural project initiated by Mix Artists Incorporated for the 2006 Perth International Arts Festival. The photographic works illustrated within were exhibited in regional centres throughout Western Australia during 2006, and continuing into 2007.

Searching for common threads in threadfins: phylogeography of Australian polynemids in space and time

Proper management of marine fisheries requires an understanding of the spatial and temporal dynamics of marine populations, which can be obtained from genetic data. While numerous fisheries species have been surveyed for spatial genetic patterns, temporally sampled genetic data is not available for many species. We present a phylogeographic survey of the king threadfin Polydactylus macrochir across its species range in northern Australia and at a temporal scale of 1 and 10 yr. Spatially, the overall AMOVA fixation index was Omega(st) = 0.306 (F-st' = 0.838), p < 0.0001 and isolation by distance was strong and significant (r(2) = 0.45, p < 0.001). Temporally, genetic patterns were stable at a time scale of 10 yr. However, this did not hold true for samples from the eastern Gulf of Carpentaria, where populations showed a greater degree of temporal instability and lacked spatial genetic structure. Temporal but not spatial genetic structure in the Gulf indicates demographic interdependence but also indicates that fishing pressure may be high in this area. Generally, genetic patterns were similar to another co-distributed threadfin species Eleutheronema tetradactylum, which is ecologically similar. However, the historical demography of both species, evaluated herein, differed, with populations of P. macrochir being much younger. The data are consistent with an acute population bottleneck at the last glacio-eustatic low in sea level and indicate that the king threadfin may be sensitive to habitat disturbances.

Population genetics of Australian white sharks reveals fine-scale spatial structure, transoceanic dispersal events and low effective population sizes

Despite international protection of white sharks Carcharodon carcharias, important conservation parameters such as abundance, population structure and genetic diversity are largely unknown. The tissue of 97 predominately juvenile white sharks sampled from spatially distant eastern and southwestern Australian coastlines was sequenced for the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region and genotyped with 6 nuclear-encoded microsatellite loci. MtDNA population structure was found between the eastern and southwestern coasts (F-ST = 0.142, p < 0.0001), implying female reproductive philopatry. This concurs with recent satellite and acoustic tracking findings which suggest the sustained presence of discrete east coast nursery areas. Furthermore, population subdivision was found between the same regions with biparentally inherited micro satellite markers (F-ST = 0.009, p < 0.05), suggesting that males may also exhibit some degree of reproductive philopatry; 5 sharks captured along the east coast had mtDNA haplotypes that resembled western Indian Ocean sharks more closely than Australian/New Zealand sharks, suggesting that transoceanic dispersal, or migration resulting in breeding, may occur sporadically. Our most robust estimate of contemporary genetic effective population size was low and close to thresholds at which adaptive potential may be lost. For a variety of reasons, these contemporary estimates were at least 1, possibly 2, orders of magnitude below our historical effective size estimates. Population decline could expose these genetically isolated populations to detrimental genetic effects. Regional Australian white shark conservation management units should be implemented until genetic population structure, size and diversity can be investigated in more detail.

A study on seismicity and seismic hazard for Karnataka State

This paper presents a detailed study on the seismic pattern of the state of Karnataka and also quantifies the seismic hazard for the entire state. In the present work, historical and instrumental seismicity data for Karnataka (within 300 km from Karnataka political boundary) were compiled and hazard analysis was done based on this data. Geographically, Karnataka forms a part of peninsular India which is tectonically identified as an intraplate region of Indian plate. Due to the convergent movement of the Indian plate with the Eurasian plate, movements are occurring along major intraplate faults resulting in seismic activity of the region and hence the hazard assessment of this region is very important. Apart from referring to seismotectonic atlas for identifying faults and fractures, major lineaments in the study area were also mapped using satellite data. The earthquake events reported by various national and international agencies were collected until 2009. Declustering of earthquake events was done to remove foreshocks and aftershocks. Seismic hazard analysis was done for the state of Karnataka using both deterministic and probabilistic approaches incorporating logic tree methodology. The peak ground acceleration (PGA) at rock level was evaluated for the entire state considering a grid size of 0.05A degrees x 0.05A degrees. The attenuation relations proposed for stable continental shield region were used in evaluating the seismic hazard with appropriate weightage factors. Response spectra at rock level for important Tier II cities and Bangalore were evaluated. The contour maps showing the spatial variation of PGA values at bedrock are presented in this work.

Estudo da ancestralidade paterna em amostras de populações do Estado do Rio de Janeiro e do Oeste Africano: uma dinâmica populacional

O uso de marcadores do tipo STR e SNP tem se revelado de grande importância na discriminação entre indivíduos de uma mesma população, assim como para estudos evolutivos. A utilização de um conjunto de 17 STRs e 46 SNPs específicos de cromossomo Y permitiu a caracterização de um conjunto de amostras representativas das populações do Rio de Janeiro e do oeste africano, com uma avaliação mais ampla sobre a ancestralidade de origem paterna. Na primeira parte deste estudo foram analisados 605 indivíduos do sexo masculino do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Como resultado, não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre as populações do sudeste e do Rio de Janeiro, que apresentou uma alta diversidade de haplótipos (0,9999 0,0001) e de haplogrupos (0,7589 0,0171). A comparação da população miscigenada do Rio de Janeiro com diferentes grupos étnicos ou populacionais mostrou que a frequência de indivíduos com marcadores tipicamente Europeus é de 77%, africanos é de 14,87% e em ameríndios é de 2,31%. A segunda parte do estudo revelou uma grande diversidade haplotípica (1,0000 0,0018) numa amostra do Oeste africano. Quanto ao valor da diversidade de haplogrupos (0,6895 0,0200), este foi similar aos observados em populações de origem Bantu do oeste e centro africanos, principalmente de Benin, Nigéria e Costa do Marfim. A terceira parte deste estudo mostrou que não existem diferenças significativas entre o componente africano da amostra do Rio de Janeiro e as populações africanas do sudeste, oeste e centro oeste. Por outro lado, observamos diferenças significativas quando comparamos o componente africano do Rio de Janeiro e o oeste africano com populações de Uganda, Quênia e África do Sul. A ampliação de estudos genéticos nas populações da África se fazem necessários para o entendimento da diversidade genética no mundo. Este trabalho contribuiu para fornecer mais alguns dados genéticos, que podem ser somados aos estudos mundiais que estão sendo realizados, ampliando os nossos conhecimentos sobre a formação das populações que também foram influenciadas pelo fenômeno da Diáspora Africana.

内蒙古大针茅草原碳循环模式初步研究

本文综述了全球碳循环研究、中国陆地生态系统碳循环研究及国内外草地生态系统碳循环研究的理论、方法、最新进展及主要成果。根据碱液吸收法对大针茅草原整个生长季土壤呼吸和地表凋落物分解的CO2排放速率的测定结果，分析了大针茅草原土壤呼吸和凋落物分解的CO2排放速率季节动态，并比较了二者对大针茅草原土壤呼吸和凋落物分解共同的CO2排放量的贡献。探讨了大针茅草原土壤呼吸和凋落物分解的CO2排放速率与各种生物因子、环境因子的关系，以及生物因子、环境因子对大针茅草原土壤呼吸和凋落物分解的CO2排放速率的协同作用;建立了土壤呼吸和凋落物分解的CO2释放速率与各种生物因子、环境因子及与它们的协同效应的回归模型。根据所建立的模型估算了大针茅草原土壤呼吸和凋落物分解CO2年排放速率。最后，计算了大针茅草原生态系统各碳库的贮量及它们之间的流量，建立了大针茅草原生态系统的碳循环模式，初步评价了大针茅草原目前对于大气碳库的源汇功能。 本文初步得出以下结论： 1)在整个观测期内，大针茅草原由土壤呼吸和地表凋落物分解的CO2排放速率的季节动态呈梯形曲线型，它在8月下旬达到最大值2.51gCm-2d-l; 2)大针茅草原土壤呼吸和凋落物分解速率的CO2排放速率季节变化趋势与地上生物量，尤其是地上绿色生物量部分的季节动态有一‘定同步性;地表凋落物层有减缓土壤向大气排放CO2的作用; 3)建立了大针茅草原土壤呼吸和凋落物分解速率的CO2排放速率y(gCm-2d-1)与绿色生物量x1(g)、降水量X2 (mm)的回归模型： Y= -1.556+0.0171 x+0.0169 X2 （当y≤1.5867时） Y= 0.6395 - 0.0059 x+0.0103 X2 （当y>1.5867时） 其相关系数r为0.9954。 4)根据建立的模型估算大针茅草原土壤呼吸和凋落物分解C02年排放速率为367.81gCm-2Y-1; 5)大针茅草原目前对于大气碳库来说是一个碳汇，它每年从大气中净吸收C02速率平均为147.5gCm-2Y-1。