Analysis of an SVEIS epidemic model with partial temporary immunity and saturation incidence rate

In this paper, an SVEIS epidemic model for an infectious disease that spreads in the host population through horizontal transmission is investigated. The role that temporary immunity (natural, disease induced, vaccination induced) plays in the spread of disease, is incorporated in the model. The total host population is bounded and the incidence term is of the Holling-type II form. It is shown that the model exhibits two equilibria, namely, the disease-free equilibrium and the endemic equilibrium. The global dynamics are completely determined by the basic reproduction number R₀. If R₀<1, the disease-free equilibrium is globally stable which leads to the eradication of disease from population. If R₀>1, a unique endemic equilibrium exists and is globally stable in the feasible region under certain conditions. Further, the transcritical bifurcation at R₀=1 is explored by projecting the flow onto the extended center manifold. We use the geometric approach for ordinary differential equations which is based on the use of higher-order generalization of Bendixson’s criterion. Further, we obtain the threshold vaccination coverage required to eradicate the disease. Finally, taking biologically relevant parametric values, numerical simulations are performed to illustrate and verify the analytical results.     

一类具有体液免疫反应,且染病细胞存在返回期的HIV模型的全局稳定性分析

研究了具有Beddington-DeAngelis发生率和体液免疫反应的HIV模型的全局性.模型包含了一个染病细胞返回期,在这个时期,染病细胞可能有一部分会返回到健康细胞当中.得到模型的基本再生数R0和免疫基本再生数R1.通过建立适当的Lyapunov函数,得出无病平衡点Q0,无免疫平衡点Q1和免疫平衡点Q2是全局渐近稳定的.     

可变聚类无标度网络上的谣言免疫策略

提出一种聚类免疫策略,使用改进的经典谣言传播模型,在可变聚类无标度网络上研究其免疫效果.研究发现,聚类免疫的效果随着网络聚类系数的增加而变好.在不同聚类系数下,比较目标免疫、介数免疫、紧密度免疫和聚类免疫的免疫效果发现,无论网络的聚类特性如何,介数免疫始终是几种免疫策略中效果最好的,当网络聚类系数较大时,聚类免疫的效果超过紧密度免疫接近目标免疫,进一步增大网络的聚类系数,聚类免疫的效果超过目标免疫而接近介数免疫.     

Antitumor Effects of Newcastle Disease Virus Hemagglutinin-neuraminidase Used as a Molecular Adjuvant

Gene therapy is a potentially powerful tool used in cancer therapy. The strength of immune responses induced by some strategies is usually low, therefore, the development of agents capable of enhancing these responses is highlighted. The authors investigated the potential of an approach based on the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase(HN) of Newcastle disease virus(NDV) as a potential immune adjuvant. It was found that recombinant adenovirus(Ad) infected SGC7901 cells expressing HN exhibited both hemagglutinin(HA) and neuraminidase(NA) activities. It was demonstrated that administration of HN induced higher levels of the effector cytokines TNF-α, IFN-α and IFN-γ and increased natural killer(NK) cell activity. Based on the therapeutic tumor model, the results show that the administration of HN with Apoptin led to improved survival and tumor suppression. In conclusion, this study indicates that HN stimulates innate immune responses to make the activity of NK cells increased, which highlights the potential adjuvant activity of HN in cancer gene therapy.     

承继关系下多资源受限多项目选择计划模型及其智能决策方案

综合多资源、项目权重和承继因素,以充分利用资源和均衡分配计划期内资源为目标,提出含多重资源约束的多项目选择计划混合优化决策模型;进而,基于体液免疫应答中B细胞应答抗原的运行机制和机理,提取简化的应答框架并结合资源约束设计算子模块,获得寻求多资源受限多项目选择计划问题的最优决策方案的隐并行免疫算法;数值实验比较结果显示该算法能获得满足资源限制的最佳决策方案,论证了该决策模型的合理性和应用潜力.     

Potent Lymphatic Translocation and Spatial Control Over Innate Immune Activation by Polymer–Lipid Amphiphile Conjugates of Small‐Molecule TLR7/8 Agonists

Uncontrolled systemic inflammatory immune triggering has hampered the clinical translation of several classes of small‐molecule immunomodulators, such as imidazoquinoline TLR7/8 agonists for vaccine design and cancer immunotherapy. By taking advantage of the inherent serum‐protein‐binding property of lipid motifs and their tendency to accumulate in lymphoid tissue, we designed amphiphilic lipid–polymer conjugates that suppress systemic inflammation but provoke potent lymph‐node immune activation. This work provides a rational basis for the design of lipid–polymer amphiphiles for optimized lymphoid targeting.     

Attenuation of Tumor Development in Mammary Carcinoma Rats by Theacrine,an Antagonist of Adenosine 2A Receptor

Caffeine has been reported to induce anti-tumor immunity for attenuating breast cancer by blocking the adenosine 2A receptor. Molecular modeling showed that theacrine, a purine alkaloid structurally similar to caffeine, might be an antagonist of the adenosine 2A receptor equivalent to or more effective than caffeine. Theacrine was further demonstrated to be an effective antagonist of the adenosine 2A receptor as its concurrent supplementation significantly reduced the elevation of AMPK phosphorylation level in MCF-7 human breast cells induced by {"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"CGS21680","term_id":"878113053","term_text":"CGS21680"}}CGS21680, an agonist of adenosine 2A receptors. In an animal model, the development of mammary carcinoma induced by 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene in Sprague–Dawley rats could be attenuated by daily supplement of theacrine of 50 or 100 mg/kg body weight. Both expression levels of cleaved-caspase-3/pro-caspase-3 and granzyme B in tumor tissues were significantly elevated when theacrine was supplemented, indicating the induction of programmed cell death in tumor cells might be involved in the attenuation of mammary carcinoma. Similar to the caffeine, significant elevation of interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α was observed in the serum and tumor tissues of rats after the theacrine supplement of 50 mg/kg body weight. Taken together, theacrine is an effective antagonist of adenosine 2A receptors and possesses great potential to be used to attenuate breast cancer.     

Role of Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators in Modifying Host Defense and Decreasing Bacterial Virulence

Bacterial infection activates the innate immune system as part of the host’s defense against invading pathogens. Host response to bacterial pathogens includes leukocyte activation, inflammatory mediator release, phagocytosis, and killing of bacteria. An appropriate host response requires resolution. The resolution phase involves attenuation of neutrophil migration, neutrophil apoptosis, macrophage recruitment, increased phagocytosis, efferocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils, and tissue repair. Specialized Pro-resolving Mediators (SPMs) are bioactive fatty acids that were shown to be highly effective in promoting resolution of infectious inflammation and survival in several models of infection. In this review, we provide insight into the role of SPMs in active host defense mechanisms for bacterial clearance including a new mechanism of action in which an SPM acts directly to reduce bacterial virulence.     

Toward Understanding the Molecular Recognition of Fungal Chitin and Activation of the Plant Defense Mechanism in Horticultural Crops

Large volumes of fruit and vegetable production are lost during postharvest handling due to attacks by necrotrophic fungi. One of the promising alternatives proposed for the control of postharvest diseases is the induction of natural defense responses, which can be activated by recognizing molecules present in pathogens, such as chitin. Chitin is one of the most important components of the fungal cell wall and is recognized through plant membrane receptors. These receptors belong to the receptor-like kinase (RLK) family, which possesses a transmembrane domain and/or receptor-like protein (RLP) that requires binding to another RLK receptor to recognize chitin. In addition, these receptors have extracellular LysM motifs that participate in the perception of chitin oligosaccharides. These receptors have been widely studied in Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana) and Oryza sativa (O. sativa); however, it is not clear how the molecular recognition and plant defense mechanisms of chitin oligosaccharides occur in other plant species or fruits. This review includes recent findings on the molecular recognition of chitin oligosaccharides and how they activate defense mechanisms in plants. In addition, we highlight some of the current advances in chitin perception in horticultural crops.     

Asteroid debris: Temporary capture and escape orbits

We investigate the dynamical behaviour of debris ejected from the surface of an asteroid, due to a generic – natural or artificial – surface process. We make an extensive statistical study of the dynamics of particles flowing from the asteroid. We observe different behaviours: particles which fall again on the asteroid surface, or rather escape from its gravitational field or are temporary trapped in orbit around the asteroid. The tests are made by varying different parameters, like the size of the asteroid, its eccentricity, the angular velocity of the asteroid, the area-to-mass ratio of the debris.We also extend the study to the case of a sample of binary asteroids with a mass ratio equal to 10⁻³; we vary the distance of the moonlet from the asteroid, to see its effect on the debris dynamics.Our simulations aim to identify regions where the debris can temporarily orbit around the asteroid or rather escape from it or fall back on the surface. These results give an important information on where a spacecraft could be safely stay after the end of the process which has produced the debris.