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The advent of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) has enabled in-depth gene expression analysis of several thousand cells isolated from tissues. We recently reported the application of scRNAseq toward the dissection of the tumor-infiltrating T-cell repertoire in human pancreatic cancer samples. In this study, we demonstrated that combined whole transcriptome and T-cell receptor (TCR) sequencing provides an effective way to identify tumor-reactive TCR clonotypes on the basis of gene expression signatures. An important aspect in this respect was the experimental validation of TCR-mediated anti-tumor reactivity by means of an in vitro functional assay, which is the subject of the present protocol. This assay involves the transient transfection of mRNA gene constructs encoding TCRα/β pairs into a well-defined human T-cell line, followed by co-cultivation with the tumor cells of interest and detection of T-cell activation by flow cytometry. Due to the high transfectability and the low background reactivity of the mock-transfected T-cell line to a wide variety of tumor cells, this assay offers a highly robust and versatile platform for the functional screening of large numbers of TCR clonotypes as identified in scRNAseq data sets. Whereas the assay was initially developed to test TCRs of human origin, it was more recently also applied successfully for the screening of TCRs of murine origin.

The successful 2020 launch and 2021 landing of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Perseverance Mars rover initiated the first phase of the NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) Mars Sample Return (MSR) campaign. The goal of the MSR campaign is to collect scientifically interesting samples from the Martian surface and return them to Earth for further study in terrestrial laboratories. The MSR campaign consists of three major spacecraft components to accomplish this objective: the Perseverance Mars rover, the Sample Retrieval Lander (SRL) and the Earth Return Orbiter (ERO). Onboard the ERO spacecraft is the Capture, Containment and Return System (CCRS). CCRS will capture, process and return to Earth the samples that have been collected after they are launched into Mars orbit by the Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV), which is delivered to Mars onboard the SRL. To facilitate the processing of the orbiting sample (OS) via the CCRS, we have designed and developed a vision system to determine the OS capture orientation. The vision system is composed of two cameras sensitive to the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum and two illumination modules constructed from broadband light emitting diodes (LED). Vision system laboratory tests and physics-based optical simulations predict CCRS ground processing will be able to correctly identify the OS post-capture orientation using only a single vision system image that is transmitted to Earth from Mars orbit.

Abstract Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular events and high socioeconomic costs. Despite lifestyle interventions focusing on exercise are effective strategies to improve parameters of the above aspects, many programs fail to show sustained effects in the long-term. Methods At visit 2 (V2) 129 company employees with diagnosed MetS, who previously participated in a 6-month telemonitoring-supported exercise intervention, were randomized into three subgroups for a 6-month maintenance treatment phase. A wearable activity device was provided to subgroup A and B to assess and to track physical activity. Further subgroup A attended personal consultations with individual instructions for exercise activities. Subgroup C received neither technical nor personal support. 6 months later at visit (V3), changes in exercise capacity, MetS severity, work ability, health-related quality of life and anxiety and depression were compared between the subgroups with an analysis of variance with repeated measurements. Results The total physical activity (in MET*h/week) declined between visit 2 and visit 3 (subgroup A: V2: 48.0 ± 33.6, V3: 37.1 ± 23.0; subgroup B: V2: 52.6 ± 35.7, V3: 43.8 ± 40.7, subgroup C: V2: 51.5 ± 29.7, V3: 36.9 ± 22.8, for all p = 0.00) with no between-subgroup differences over time (p = 0.68). In all three subgroups the initial improvements in relative exercise capacity and MetS severity were maintained. Work ability declined significantly in subgroup C (V2: 40.3 ± 5.0, V3: 39.1 ± 5.7; p

The planting of native perennial woody species tolerant to variable salt concentrations can facilitate the recovery of degraded dry forests. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare, under experimentally controlled conditions, the response to saline of young plants from four provenances of Prosopis alba, a mesquite species useful for restoration plans. The seeds of P. alba were from different localities of the Chaco region of Argentina (Santiago del Estero, Chaco, Formosa, and Salta). The plants were evaluated for 45 days under greenhouse-controlled growth conditions in the presence of 0,100, and 300 mmol * [L.sup.-1] NaCl. We measured variables associated with growth, photosynthesis, and redox state. The imposed salt stress condition did not cause plant death in any provenance. However, salinity produced a strong effect on growth and physiological variables of all provenances. Salta provenance was associated with higher net values of biomass and stem diameter. Chaco registered the greatest relative values of height and stem diameter, indicating a higher salinity tolerance than the other provenances. Chaco also produced more antioxidants to cope with the oxidative stress associated with saline stress. Chaco and Salta provenances may be the most promising for use in restoration plans of dry forests in areas with saline soils in the Chaco region. We emphasize the importance of using different provenances in forest restoration for a more successful system recovery. Key words: Prosopis alba, provenances, salinity, dry forests, restoration. La plantation d'especes ligneuses perennes et indigenes, tolerantes a diverses concentrations de sel, facilite la recuperation des forets seches degradees. L'objectif de cette etude consistait a evaluer et comparer, dans des conditions experimentales controlees, la reaction au stress cause par le sel de jeunes plants issus de quatre provenances de Prosopis alba, une espece de mesquite utile pour les projets de restauration. Les graines de P. alba provenaient de differentes localites dans la region de Chaco en Argentine (Santiago del Estero, Chaco, Formosa et Salta). Les plants ont ete evalues pendant 45 jours dans des conditions de croissance controlees en serre en presence de 0, 100 et 300 milli-moles de NaCl. Nous avons mesure les variables associees a la croissance, la photosynthese et l'etat d'oxydoreduction. La condition imposee de stress salin n'a pas cause de mortalite peu importe la provenance. Cependant, la salinite a eu un effet important sur la croissance et les variables physiologiques de toutes les provenances. La provenance Salta etait associee a des valeurs nettes de biomasse et de diametre de la tige plus elevees. Les plus grandes valeurs relatives de hauteur et de diametre de la tige, l'indication d'une tolerance a la salinite plus elevee que celle des autres provenances, ont ete observees chez la provenance Chaco. Cette provenance produisait aussi plus d'antioxydants pour faire face au stress oxydatif associe au stress salin. Les provenances Chaco et Salta pourraient etre les plus prometteuses pour l'utilisation dans les projets de restauration des forets seches dans les zones de la region de Chaco oU l'on trouve des sols salins. Nous insistons sur l'importance d'utiliser differentes provenances dans la restauration des forets pour avoir un systeme de recuperation qui a davantage du succes. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : Prosopis alba, provenances, salinite, forets seches, restauration., Introduction In arid and semiarid zones, under conditions of water and saline stress, the ecosystems are very sensitive to human activities, which can lead to degradation processes, where the possibility [...]

El objetivo de esta revisión es presentar los avances en la conservación y en la obtención de material selecto del BNGP. El BNGP cuenta en el Banco Pasivo con 1.650 accesiones correspondientes a 1.106 árboles de nueve especies arbóreas de Prosopis y a 8 poblaciones de P. alba que se encuentran bajo estudio para constituirse en Áreas Productoras de Semillas (APS) o Rodales Semilleros (RS). Con la información del Banco de Datos desde 1986 y el aporte de investigaciones se crearon 6 RS en proceso de inscripción como Rodal Semillero, 14 APS inscriptas, 17 nuevas APS en la región del Espinal aún en estudio y 3 en el sur- oeste de Córdoba en proceso de inscripción. Los APS y RS logrados, inscriptos en INASE, se constituyen en material base para la obtención de semillas de las categorías “Fuente identificada” y “Seleccionada”, respectivamente, disponibles para abastecer a las necesidades de forestación.

M2 macrophages promote tumor progression and therapy resistance, whereas proimmunogenic M1 macrophages can contribute to the efficacy of cytostatic and immunotherapeutic strategies. The abundance of M2 macrophages in the immune infiltrate of many cancer types has prompted the search for strategies to target and eliminate this subset. From our prior experiments in syngeneic mouse tumor models, we learned that pharmacological inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) did not merely result in tumor cell death, but also in the modulation of the tumor immune infiltrate. This included a prominent decrease in the numbers of macrophages as well as an increase in the M1/M2 macrophage ratio. Investigation of the mechanism underlying this finding in primary murine macrophage cultures revealed that M2 macrophages are significantly more sensitive to MEK inhibition-induced cell death than their M1 counterparts. Further analyses showed that the p38 MAPK pathway, which is activated in M1 macrophages only, renders these cells resistant to death by MEK inhibition. In conclusion, the dependency of M2 macrophages on the MEK/extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) pathway empowers MEK inhibitors to selectively eliminate this subset from the tumor microenvironment.

The current approaches to diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis, а form of IgG4-related disease, are being discussed. The pathology, clinical presentation and radiological features of different imaging modalities (CT, MRI) have been described. Difficulties of differential diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis with some malignant tumors are reviewed.