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Plasmodium falciparum glutamic acid-rich protein (PfGARP) is a recently characterized cell surface antigen encoded by Plasmodium falciparum , the causative agent of severe human malaria pathophysiology. Previously, we reported that the human erythrocyte band 3 (SLC4A1) serves as a host receptor for PfGARP. Antibodies against PfGARP did not affect parasite invasion and growth. We surmised that PfGARP may play a role in the rosetting and adhesion of malaria. Another study reported that antibodies targeting PfGARP exhibit potent inhibition of parasite growth. This inhibition occurred without the presence of any immune or complement components, suggesting the activation of an inherent density-dependent regulatory system. Here, we used polyclonal antibodies against PfGARP and a monoclonal antibody mAb7899 to demonstrate that anti-PfGARP polyclonal antibodies, but not mAb7899, exerted potent inhibition of parasite growth in infected erythrocytes independent of PfGARP. These findings suggest that an unknown malaria protein(s) is the target of growth arrest by polyclonal antibodies raised against PfGARP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We argue that proactive work behavior's future orientation allows individuals to establish a connection with the future and thus to experience their work as meaningful. We further expect that this effect is enhanced when individuals are faced with an unpredictability of the future in their core job. We tested our hypotheses in three independent studies with employees. We first established the effect of proactive work behavior on work meaningfulness in a scenario‐based experiment (n = 140). A second experiment (n = 116) replicated this and also demonstrated that the effect was not driven by the benefits of proactive work behavior to others. A daily diary study (n = 107, k = 391) showed that day‐level proactive work behavior was positively associated with daily work meaningfulness and that this effect was again independent from having benefitted others. The results also confirmed that this relationship was stronger when an individual's job was characterized by unpredictability of the future. Our findings highlight the active role employees play for the experience of work as meaningful and suggests that encouraging proactive work behavior may be one avenue to promote work meaningfulness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent health care sector changes have created a need for shorter, more focused neuropsychological assessments. The WAIS-R provides useful information on patients’ general cognitive abilities, but poses problems in that it is time-consuming and may contribute to fatigue, especially among geriatric patients with dementia. This study evaluated Ward’s (1990) 7-subtest version of the WAIS-R among 32 patients with presumptive Alzheimer’s disease. Among all patients, the abbreviated test underestimated full WAIS-R scores by an average of 2.0, 0.2, and 1.8 points for the Verbal Intelligence Quotient (VIQ), Performance Intelligent Quotient (PIQ), and Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ). This general finding held true regardless of whether scores were generated using the standard WAIS-R method (for patients age 75 and younger) or using age corrections (i.e., Mayo Older Americans’ Normative Studies [MOANS]) for older patients. Most patients scored within the mean standard errors of measurement defined in the WAIS-R manual for VIQ, PIQ, and FSIQ. In general, the 7-subtest and full versions of the WAIS-R yielded similar findings among this closely screened sample, but further testing among a more typical sample of patients with multiple risk factors for dementing conditions is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Human babesiosis is a malaria-like illness caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia . Babesia microti is responsible for most cases of human babesiosis in the United States, particularly in the Northeast and the Upper Midwest. Babesia microti is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected deer ticks but also through the transfusion of blood components, particularly red blood cells. There is a high risk of severe and even fatal disease in immunocompromised patients. To date, serology testing relies on an indirect immunofluorescence assay that uses the whole Babesia microti antigen. Here, we report the construction of phage display cDNA libraries from Babesia microti -infected erythrocytes as well as human reticulocytes obtained from donors with hereditary hemochromatosis. Plasma samples were obtained from patients who were or had been infected with Babesia microti . The non-specific antibody reactivity of these plasma samples was minimized by pre-exposure to the human reticulocyte library. Using this novel experimental strategy, immunoreactive segments were identified in three Babesia microti antigens termed BmSA1 (also called BMN1-9; BmGPI12), BMN1-20 (BMN1-17; Bm32), and BM4.12 (N1-15). Moreover, our findings indicate that the major immunoreactive segment of BmSA1 does not overlap with the segment that mediates BmSA1 binding to mature erythrocytes. When used in combination, the three immunoreactive segments form the basis of a sensitive and comprehensive diagnostic immunoassay for human babesiosis, with implications for vaccine development., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.