BK Polyomavirus bkv-miR-B1-5p: A Stable Micro-RNA to Monitor Active Viral Replication after Kidney Transplantation

Background: Bkv-miR-B1-5p is a viral micro-RNA (miRNA) specifically produced during BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) replication. Recent studies have suggested using bkv-miR-B1-5p as a biomarker to monitor viral infection and predict complications in kidney transplant patients. To identify the technical limitations of this miRNA quantification in biological samples, knowledge of its stability and distribution in the extracellular compartment is necessary. Moreover, a proof of concept for using bkv-miR-B1-5p as a biomarker of active replication in chronic infection is still missing in the published literature. Methods: The stability of bkv-miR-B1-5p was evaluated in samples derived from cell cultures and in urine from BKPyV-infected kidney transplant recipients. The miRNA was quantified in different fractions of the extracellular compartment, including exosomes, and protein binding was evaluated. Finally, we developed an in vitro model for chronic culture of BKPyV clinical isolates to observe changes in the bkv-miR-B1-5p level during persistent infections. Results: Bkv-miR-B1-5p is a stable biomarker in samples from humans and in vitro experiments. Marginally associated with the exosomes, most of the circulating bkv-miR-B1-5p is bound to proteins, especially Ago2, so the miRNA quantification does not require specific exosome isolation. The bkv-miR-B1-5p level is predictable of viral infectivity, which makes it a potential specific biomarker of active BKPyV replication after kidney transplantation.     

Comparing the growth of a molecular semiconductor on amorphous and semi-crystalline polycarbonate substrates

Polymeric substrates are of importance in plastic electronics. However, polymeric surfaces can exhibit different morphologies depending on whether they are amorphous or semi-crystalline. This work focuses on the impact of the surface structure of bisphenol A polycarbonate substrates on the nucleation and growth of a p-type semi-conductor, namely zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc). ZnPc films were deposited under high vacuum at different substrate temperatures on oriented semi-crystalline as well as amorphous substrates of PC. The oriented substrates of PC were prepared by a method combining mechanical rubbing and solvent induced crystallization: the substrates show a periodic and regular alternation of oriented crystalline lamellae. Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction shows that the crystalline lamellae of PC have a preferential (a, c) contact plane. Moreover, the substrates show a bilayer structure made of a 60 nm-thick semi-crystalline overlayer atop an amorphous underlayer. UV–vis spectroscopy shows that the polymorphism of the ZnPc films is not modified by the surface structure of the PC substrate (amorphous versus semi-crystalline). However, the statistical analysis of domain size and density versus substrate temperature T_s evidences different apparent activation energies of the growth mechanism. High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy suggests that twinning along a (2 ?1 0) plane accounts for the bifurcations of the in-plane b-axis direction of the ZnPc nanocrystals. On oriented substrates of PC, such bifurcations are partly suppressed by the nanocorrugation of the surface, resulting in larger apparent domain sizes and unidirectional in-plane orientation.     

Phylogenetic-Derived Insights into the Evolution of Sialylation in Eukaryotes: Comprehensive Analysis of Vertebrate β-Galactoside α2,3/6-Sialyltransferases (ST3Gal and ST6Gal)

Cell surface of eukaryotic cells is covered with a wide variety of sialylated molecules involved in diverse biological processes and taking part in cell–cell interactions. Although the physiological relevance of these sialylated glycoconjugates in vertebrates begins to be deciphered, the origin and evolution of the genetic machinery implicated in their biosynthetic pathway are poorly understood. Among the variety of actors involved in the sialylation machinery, sialyltransferases are key enzymes for the biosynthesis of sialylated molecules. This review focus on β-galactoside α2,3/6-sialyltransferases belonging to the ST3Gal and ST6Gal families. We propose here an outline of the evolutionary history of these two major ST families. Comparative genomics, molecular phylogeny and structural bioinformatics provided insights into the functional innovations in sialic acid metabolism and enabled to explore how ST-gene function evolved in vertebrates.     

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin and Early Embryogenesis: Review

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) has four major isoforms: classical hCG, hyperglycosylated hCG, free β subunit, and sulphated hCG. Classical hCG is the first molecule synthesized by the embryo. Its RNA is transcribed as early as the eight-cell stage and the blastocyst produces the protein before its implantation. This review synthetizes everything currently known on this multi-effect hormone: hCG levels, angiogenetic activity, immunological actions, and effects on miscarriages and thyroid function.     

Multilayer films ageing under ultraviolet radiations: Complementary study by dielectric spectroscopy

The effect of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on a multilayer film made of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/Polyamide 6/poly(ethylene terephthalate) was investigated by uniaxial tractions, UV‐visible‐NIR and Fourier transformed infra‐red‐attenuated total reflection spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry ( DSC), and dynamic dielectric spectroscopy (DDS). The multilayer was exposed to ultraviolet radiations (filtered at 270 nm) for 7 days, in air. The complexity of the multilayer thermograms recorded by DSC and DDS has required the study of each film constituting the multilayer to assess each the contribution of each one of them. A deterioration in mechanical properties and a decrease in UV transmission for low wavelengths are observed. These evolutions seem to result to the photo‐oxidation of the poly(ethylene terephthalate) film mainly localized at the exposed layer. This layer acts as a UV protection filter for the other layers. However, the DDS analyses show a plasticization effect of the primary mode in the Polyamide 6, which is evidence of photo‐oxidation. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

When NHC Ligands Make a Difference in Gold Catalysis

Thanks to their unique electronic and steric properties, carbene ligands offer highly valuable features for catalysis, including homogenous gold catalysis. The use of carbene-gold complexes has improved existing reactions, either by modifying reactivity modes or by leading to highly asymmetric processes. These topics will be discussed on the basis of selected examples.     

PCA3 and PCA3-Based Nomograms Improve Diagnostic Accuracy in Patients Undergoing First Prostate Biopsy

While now recognized as an aid to predict repeat prostate biopsy outcome, the urinary PCA3 (prostate cancer gene 3) test has also been recently advocated to predict initial biopsy results. The objective is to evaluate the performance of the PCA3 test in predicting results of initial prostate biopsies and to determine whether its incorporation into specific nomograms reinforces its diagnostic value. A prospective study included 601 consecutive patients addressed for initial prostate biopsy. The PCA3 test was performed before ≥12-core initial prostate biopsy, along with standard risk factor assessment. Diagnostic performance of the PCA3 test was evaluated. The three available nomograms (Hansen’s and Chun’s nomograms, as well as the updated Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial risk calculator; PCPT) were applied to the cohort, and their predictive accuracies were assessed in terms of biopsy outcome: the presence of any prostate cancer (PCa) and high-grade prostate cancer (HGPCa). The PCA3 score provided significant predictive accuracy. While the PCPT risk calculator appeared less accurate; both Chun’s and Hansen’s nomograms provided good calibration and high net benefit on decision curve analyses. When applying nomogram-derived PCa probability thresholds ≤30%, ≤6% of HGPCa would have been missed, while avoiding up to 48% of unnecessary biopsies. The urinary PCA3 test and PCA3-incorporating nomograms can be considered as reliable tools to aid in the initial biopsy decision.     

Germanium-antimony-selenium-tellurium thin films: Clusters formation by laser ablation and comparison with clusters from mixtures of elements

Quaternary germanium-antimony-selenium-tellurium (Ge-Sb-Se-Te) thin films deposited from Ge_19.4Sb_16.7Se_63.9−xTe_x (x = 5, 10, 15, and 20) glass-ceramics targets by radio frequency magnetron sputtering were studied using laser ablation quadrupole ion trap time of flight mass spectrometry. Binary, ternary, and quaternary Ge_aSb_bSe_cTe_d clusters were formed and their stoichiometry was determined. By comparison of the clusters obtained from quaternary Ge-Sb-Se-Te thin films and those from ternary Ge-Sb-Te materials, we found that Ge-Te species are not detected from the quaternary system. Furthermore, Ge-Se and Se-Te species are missing in mass spectra generated from Ge-Sb-Se-Te thin films. From the Ge-Sb-Se-Te thin films, 16 clusters were detected while ternary Ge-Sb-Se glasses yielded 26 species. This might be considered as a signal of higher stability of Ge-Sb-Se-Te thin films which is increasing with a higher content of Te. The missing (Se₂⁺, Ge_aSb⁺ (a = 1–4), and GeSe_c⁺ (c = 1, 2)) and new (Ge⁺ and Sb_bTe⁺ (b = 1–3)) clusters may indicate that some of the structural features of the films (Ge₂Se_6/2 and Se₂Sb-SbSe₂) were replaced by (GeSe_4−xTe_x and SbSe_3−xTe_x) ones. In addition, when comparing the stoichiometry of clusters formed from Ge-Sb-Se-Te thin films with those from the mixtures of the elements, only Sb₃⁺ and SbSe⁺ were observed in both cases. The knowledge gained concerning clusters stoichiometry contributes to the elucidation of the processes proceeding during plasma formation used for the chalcogenide thin films deposition.