HIV-1 superinfection results in broad polyclonal neutralizing antibodies

<div><p>HIV-1 vaccines designed to date have failed to elicit neutralizing antibodies (Nabs) that are capable of protecting against globally diverse HIV-1 subtypes. One relevant setting to study the development of a strong, cross-reactive Nab response is HIV-1 superinfection (SI), defined as sequential infections from different source partners. SI has previously been shown to lead to a broader and more potent Nab response when compared to single infection, but it is unclear whether SI also impacts epitope specificity and if the epitopes targeted after SI differ from those targeted after single infection. Here the post-SI Nab responses were examined from 21 Kenyan women collectively exposed to subtypes A, C, and D and superinfected after a median time of ~1.07 years following initial infection. Plasma samples chosen for analysis were collected at a median time point ~2.72 years post-SI. Because previous studies of singly infected populations with broad and potent Nab responses have shown that the majority of their neutralizing activity can be mapped to 4 main epitopes on the HIV-1 Envelope, we focused on these targets, which include the CD4-binding site, a V1/V2 glycan, the N332 supersite in V3, and the membrane proximal external region of gp41. Using standard epitope mapping techniques that were applied to the previous cohorts, the present study demonstrates that SI did not induce a dominant Nab response to any one of these epitopes in the 21 women. Computational sera delineation analyses also suggested that 20 of the 21 superinfected women’s Nab responses could not be ascribed a single specificity with high confidence. These data are consistent with a model in which SI with diverse subtypes promotes the development of a broad polyclonal Nab response, and thus would provide support for vaccine designs using multivalent HIV immunogens to elicit a diverse repertoire of Nabs.</p></div

Comparison of transformation behavior of the peritectic steels with different carbon content and its correlation to the slab quality during solidification

In order to investigate the phase transformation behavior of peritectic steels, we devise an integrated facility for X-ray transmission imaging combined with Laue diffraction analysis and precise temperature control. This integrated facility can measure the temperature at which the delta phase transforms into the gamma phase during solidification with continuous cooling. The investigation of four alloys with different carbon content reveals the dependence of carbon content on the minimum undercooling required for gamma phase formation. As carbon content increases, the amount of undercooling for the peritectic transformation decreases, and the gamma phase onset temperature necessarily increases. X-ray transmission images, which present the growing dendrites and moving delta-to-gamma interface, confirm that the peritectic reaction is likely to occur with high carbon content, leading to the gamma phase formation before the end of solidification. On the contrary, the low carbon content suppresses the gamma phase formation, and the solid delta and liquid phase exist under equilibrium peritectic temperature. Once after the gamma phase nucleation, the phase change occurs rapidly with increasing undercooling. The delay in gamma phase formation results in massive phase transition and rapid change of interface velocity with a slight variation of undercooling. The fast kinetic of solid phase transformation is associated with a corresponding increase of internal stress, leading to the degradation of slab quality.This research is supported by POSCO steelmaking company in South Korea (Project number: 4.0026102.01)

Effect of volatile organic chemicals in chrysanthemum indicum linné on blood pressure and electroencephalogram

This study identified the volatile organic compounds in the essential oils that are extracted from Chrysanthemum indicum Linné (C. indicum Linné) and investigated the effects of the inhalation of these compounds. We detected a total of 41 volatile organic compounds, including 32 hydrocarbons, four acids, three alcohols, two ketones, and one aldehyde. In a sniffing test, seven types of volatile organic compounds were identified. Furthermore, the volatile organic compounds in C. indicum Linné that were identified were found to be derived from 1,8-cineole and camphor. After inhalation of the essential oils, the subjects' systolic blood pressure and heart rate decreased. This indicates that inhalation of the essential oils extracted from C. indicum Linné provides mental and physical relaxation. We examined the changes in electroencephalogram findings that are observed after C. indicum Linné essential oil inhalation. An increase in theta and alpha waves, which usually appear during relaxation, as well as a decrease in beta and gamma waves, which appear during brain activity such as excessive attention, were noted. These results indicate that C. indicum Linné essential oil inhalation helps to reduce blood pressure and may provide mental and physical relaxatio