| 1. |
- Andac, T., et al.
(författare)
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Active matter alters the growth dynamics of coffee rings
- 2019
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Ingår i: Soft Matter. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 1744-683X .- 1744-6848. ; 15:7, s. 1488-1496
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- How particles are deposited at the edge of evaporating droplets, i.e. the coffee ring effect, plays a crucial role in phenomena as diverse as thin-film deposition, self-assembly, and biofilm formation. Recently, microorganisms have been shown to passively exploit and alter these deposition dynamics to increase their survival chances under harshening conditions. Here, we show that, as the droplet evaporation rate slows down, bacterial mobility starts playing a major role in determining the growth dynamics of the edge of drying droplets. Such motility-induced dynamics can influence several biophysical phenomena, from the formation of biofilms to the spreading of pathogens in humid environments and on surfaces subject to periodic drying. Analogous dynamics in other active matter systems can be exploited for technological applications in printing, coating, and self-assembly, where the standard coffee-ring effect is often a nuisance.
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| 2. |
- Bartholeyns, J, et al.
(författare)
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Cellular vaccines
- 1998
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Ingår i: Research in Immunology. - 0923-2494 .- 1879-1425. ; 149, s. 647-649
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This project is devoted to the development of novel cellular vaccines designed to treat cancer patients. These cellular vaccines present and enhance immunogens, which will elicit a potent immune response. The goal is to achieve safe and effective immune reaction against the patient's own tumour. (1) Autologous cellular vaccines are prepared by processing circulating brood mononuclear cells outside of the patient's body (ex vivo) to differentiate them into antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Monocyte-derived APCs (MD-APCs) are then grown in the presence of exogenous target antigens (tumour cell debris, or apoptotic bodies) to become fully mature APCs. (2) Functionality for antigen presentation to T cells of ex vivo MD-APCs is evaluated in vivo. (3) Cellular vaccines are tested in selected rodent animal models. Efficiency and immune response are monitored in pertinent experimental systems for cancer. Pharmacological data are generated for clinical investigation. Tolerance and biologic effects are documented in primates. (4) The first clinical trials on cancer patients are taking place in 1998 on melanoma and prostate cancer to validate the concept. Specialized eel processors with dedicated software and standardized controls are being developed and used for the preparation of cellular vaccines. (5) The evaluation of new non-viral vectors and the validation of new non-viral transfection methods of mononuclear cells with marker genes is in progress and will lead to the ex vivo transfection of genes coding for immunostimulating cytokines or for tumour antigens in MD-APCs. Efficiency will be validated in vitro and in animal models. The ex vivo and animal model studies validate the clinical relevance of this new cellular immunotechnology. Clinical validation of individual autologous cellular vaccines in specific indications for which no treatment is presently available will allow the development of cellular and gene immunotherapy for other types of cancers.
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| 3. |
- Nunes, A. S., et al.
(författare)
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Ordering of binary colloidal crystals by random potentials
- 2020
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Ingår i: Soft Matter. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 1744-683X .- 1744-6848. ; 16:17, s. 4267-4273
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Structural defects are ubiquitous in condensed matter, and not always a nuisance. For example, they underlie phenomena such as Anderson localization and hyperuniformity, and they are now being exploited to engineer novel materials. Here, we show experimentally that the density of structural defects in a 2D binary colloidal crystal can be engineered with a random potential. We generate the random potential using an optical speckle pattern, whose induced forces act strongly on one species of particles (strong particles) and weakly on the other (weak particles). Thus, the strong particles are more attracted to the randomly distributed local minima of the optical potential, leaving a trail of defects in the crystalline structure of the colloidal crystal. While, as expected, the crystalline ordering initially decreases with an increasing fraction of strong particles, the crystalline order is surprisingly recovered for sufficiently large fractions. We confirm our experimental results with particle-based simulations, which permit us to elucidate how this non-monotonic behavior results from the competition between the particle-potential and particle-particle interactions.
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| 4. |
- Rowbotham, S. E., et al.
(författare)
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Inositol in the MAnaGemENt of abdominal aortic aneurysm (IMAGEN) : Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
- 2017
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Ingår i: Trials. - : BioMed Central Ltd.. - 1745-6215. ; 18:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a focal dilation of the abdominal aorta and is associated with a risk of fatal rupture. Experimental studies suggest that myo-inositol may exert beneficial effects on AAAs through favourable changes to biological pathways implicated in AAA pathology. The aim of the Inositol in the MAnaGemENt of abdominal aortic aneurysm (IMAGEN) trial is to assess if myo-inositol will reduce AAA growth. Methods/design: IMAGEN is a multi-centre, prospective, parallel-group, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. A total of 164 participants with an AAA measuring ≥ 30 mm will be randomised to either 2 g of myo-inositol or identical placebo twice daily for 12 months. The primary outcome measure will be AAA growth estimated by increase in total infrarenal aortic volume measured on computed tomographic scans. Secondary outcome measures will include AAA diameter assessed by computed tomography and ultrasound, AAA peak wall stress and peak wall rupture index, serum lipids, circulating AAA biomarkers, circulating RNAs and health-related quality of life. All analysis will be based on the intention-to-treat principle at the time of randomisation. All patients who meet the eligibility criteria, provide written informed consent and are enrolled in the study will be included in the primary analysis, regardless of adherence to dietary allocation. Discussion: Currently, there is no known medical therapy to limit AAA progression. The IMAGEN trial will be the first randomised trial, to our knowledge, to assess the value of myo-inositol in limiting AAA growth.
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| 5. |
- Selvavinayagam, Sivaprakasam T., et al.
(författare)
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Clinical characteristics and novel mutations of omicron subvariant XBB in Tamil Nadu, India - a cohort study
- 2023
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Ingår i: The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia. - : ELSEVIER. - 2772-3682. ; 19
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Despite the continued vaccination efforts, there had been a surge in breakthrough infections, and the emergence of the B.1.1.529 omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 in India. There is a paucity of information globally on the role of newer XBB variants in community transmission. Here, we investigated the mutational patterns among hospitalised patients infected with the XBB omicron sub-variant, and checked if there was any association between the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases and the observed novel mutations in Tamil Nadu, India. Methods Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs, collected from symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients were subjected to real-time PCR followed by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to rule out the ambiguity of mutations in viruses isolated from the patients (n = 98). Using the phylogenetic association, the mutational patterns were used to corroborate clinico-demographic characteristics and disease severity among the patients. Findings Overall, we identified 43 mutations in the S gene across 98 sequences, of which two were novel mutations (A27S and T747I) that have not been reported previously with XBB sub-variants in the available literature. Additionally, the XBB sequences from our cohort had more mutations than omicron B.1.1.529. The phylogenetic analysis comprising six major branches clearly showed convergent evolution of XBB. Our data suggests that age, and underlying conditions (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease) or secondary complications confers increased susceptibility to infection rather than vaccination status or prior exposure. Many vaccinated individuals showed evidence of a breakthrough infection, with XBB.3 being the predominant variant identified in the study population. Interpretation Our study indicates that the XBB variant is highly evasive from available vaccines and may be more transmissible, and potentially could emerge as the 'next' predominant variant, which likely could overwhelm the existing variants of SARS-CoV-2 omicron variants.Funding National Health Mission (India), SIDA SARC, VINNMER (Sweden), ORIP/NIH (USA).Copyright (c) 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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| 6. |
- Selvavinayagam, Sivaprakasam T., et al.
(författare)
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Genomic surveillance of omicron B.1.1.529 SARS‐CoV‐2 and its variants between December 2021 and March 2023 in Tamil Nadu, India—A state‐wide prospective longitudinal study
- 2024
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Ingår i: Journal of Medical Virology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0146-6615 .- 1096-9071. ; 96:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A state-wide prospective longitudinal investigation of the genomic surveillance of the omicron B.1.1.529 SARS-CoV-2 variant and its sublineages in Tamil Nadu, India, was conducted between December 2021 and March 2023. The study aimed to elucidate their mutational patterns and their genetic interrelationship in the Indian population. The study identified several unique mutations at different time-points, which likely could attribute to the changing disease characteristics, transmission, and pathogenicity attributes of omicron variants. The study found that the omicron variant is highly competent in its mutating potentials, and that it continues to evolve in the general population, likely escaping from natural as well as vaccine-induced immune responses. Our findings suggest that continuous surveillance of viral variants at the global scenario is warranted to undertake intervention measures against potentially precarious SARS-CoV-2 variants and their evolution.
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| 7. |
- Selvavinayagam, Sivaprakasam T, et al.
(författare)
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Plasma CXCL8 and MCP-1 as surrogate plasma biomarkers of latent tuberculosis infection among household contacts-A cross-sectional study
- 2023
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Ingår i: PLOS Global Public Health. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 2767-3375. ; 3:11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Early detection of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is critical to TB elimination in the current WHO vision of End Tuberculosis Strategy. The study investigates whether detecting plasma cytokines could aid in diagnosing LTBI across household contacts (HHCs) positive for IGRA, HHCs negative for IGRA, and healthy controls. The plasma cytokines were measured using a commercial Bio-Plex Pro Human Cytokine 17-plex assay. Increased plasma CXCL8 and decreased MCP-1, TNF-a, and IFN-? were associated with LTBI. Regression analysis showed that a combination of CXCL8 and MCP-1 increased the risk of LTBI among HHCs to 14-fold. Our study suggests that CXCL-8 and MCP-1 could serve as the surrogate biomarkers of LTBI, particularly in resource-limited settings. Further laboratory investigations are warranted before extrapolating CXCL8 and MCP-1 for their usefulness as surrogate biomarkers of LTBI in resource-limited settings.
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| 8. |
- Selvavinayagam, Sivaprakasam T., et al.
(författare)
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Platelet-Large Cell Ratio and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate are Surrogate Predictors of Latent Tuberculosis Infection
- 2024
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Aims: Prompt detection and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) holds the key to global TB elimination. The lack of an established test for predicting LTBI poses a substantial challenge in disease management. Here, we identified the biochemical and hematological markers of LTBI, and correlated their usefulness to discriminate LTBI from healthy controls. Main Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional investigation and correlated the various biochemical and hematological markers for detecting LTBI among household contacts (HHCs) of TB infection. Our study included 90 individuals – 30 healthy controls, 30 interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) positive HHCs, and 30 IGRA-negative HHCs. Biomarkers were measured using designated auto analyzers. Key Findings: ESR, MPV, D-dimer, P-LCR, and PDW were significantly higher among LTBI subjects. ESR, PDW, and P-LCR were markedly associated with LTBI. Multivariate analysis showed that either ESR or P-LCR greater than their respective predetermined cut-off values showed higher odds of developing LTBI. Our study demonstrated that ESR and P-LCR are good surrogate markers for diagnosing LTBI. Also, significantly low ferritin in females and MCHC in males belonging to the HHC/IGRA-ve were observed. Significance: The ESR and P-LCR could aid in predicting LTBI among HHCs. Further, the low serum ferritin is associated with TB resisters.
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