| 1. |
- Hudson, Lawrence N, et al.
(author)
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The database of the PREDICTS (Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems) project
- 2017
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In: Ecology and Evolution. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2045-7758. ; 7:1, s. 145-188
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The PREDICTS project-Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems (www.predicts.org.uk)-has collated from published studies a large, reasonably representative database of comparable samples of biodiversity from multiple sites that differ in the nature or intensity of human impacts relating to land use. We have used this evidence base to develop global and regional statistical models of how local biodiversity responds to these measures. We describe and make freely available this 2016 release of the database, containing more than 3.2 million records sampled at over 26,000 locations and representing over 47,000 species. We outline how the database can help in answering a range of questions in ecology and conservation biology. To our knowledge, this is the largest and most geographically and taxonomically representative database of spatial comparisons of biodiversity that has been collated to date; it will be useful to researchers and international efforts wishing to model and understand the global status of biodiversity.
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| 2. |
- Hudson, Lawrence N., et al.
(author)
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The PREDICTS database : a global database of how local terrestrial biodiversity responds to human impacts
- 2014
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In: Ecology and Evolution. - : Wiley. - 2045-7758. ; 4:24, s. 4701-4735
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Biodiversity continues to decline in the face of increasing anthropogenic pressures such as habitat destruction, exploitation, pollution and introduction of alien species. Existing global databases of species' threat status or population time series are dominated by charismatic species. The collation of datasets with broad taxonomic and biogeographic extents, and that support computation of a range of biodiversity indicators, is necessary to enable better understanding of historical declines and to project - and avert - future declines. We describe and assess a new database of more than 1.6 million samples from 78 countries representing over 28,000 species, collated from existing spatial comparisons of local-scale biodiversity exposed to different intensities and types of anthropogenic pressures, from terrestrial sites around the world. The database contains measurements taken in 208 (of 814) ecoregions, 13 (of 14) biomes, 25 (of 35) biodiversity hotspots and 16 (of 17) megadiverse countries. The database contains more than 1% of the total number of all species described, and more than 1% of the described species within many taxonomic groups - including flowering plants, gymnosperms, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, beetles, lepidopterans and hymenopterans. The dataset, which is still being added to, is therefore already considerably larger and more representative than those used by previous quantitative models of biodiversity trends and responses. The database is being assembled as part of the PREDICTS project (Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems - ). We make site-level summary data available alongside this article. The full database will be publicly available in 2015.
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| 3. |
- Böhm, M., et al.
(author)
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The conservation status of the world’s freshwater molluscs
- 2021
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In: Hydrobiologia. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0018-8158 .- 1573-5117. ; 848, s. 3231-3254
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- With the biodiversity crisis continuing unchecked, we need to establish levels and drivers of extinction risk, and reassessments over time, to effectively allocate conservation resources and track progress towards global conservation targets. Given that threat appears particularly high in freshwaters, we assessed the extinction risk of 1428 randomly selected freshwater molluscs using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, as part of the Sampled Red List Index project. We show that close to one-third of species in our sample are estimated to be threatened with extinction, with highest levels of threat in the Nearctic, Palearctic and Australasia and among gastropods. Threat levels were higher in lotic than lentic systems. Pollution (chemical and physical) and the modification of natural systems (e.g. through damming and water abstraction) were the most frequently reported threats to freshwater molluscs, with some regional variation. Given that we found little spatial congruence between species richness patterns of freshwater molluscs and other freshwater taxa, apart from crayfish, new additional conservation priority areas emerged from our study. We discuss the implications of our findings for freshwater mollusc conservation, the adequacy of a sampled approach and important next steps to estimate trends in freshwater mollusc extinction risk over time. © 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
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| 5. |
- Borestrom, C., et al.
(author)
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A CRISP(e)R view on kidney organoids allows generation of an induced pluripotent stem cell-derived kidney model for drug discovery
- 2018
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In: Kidney International. - : Elsevier BV. - 0085-2538 .- 1523-1755. ; 94:6, s. 1099-1110
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Development of physiologically relevant cellular models with strong translatability to human pathophysiology is critical for identification and validation of novel therapeutic targets. Herein we describe a detailed protocol for generation of an advanced 3-dimensional kidney cellular model using induced pluripotent stem cells, where differentiation and maturation of kidney progenitors and podocytes can be monitored in live cells due to CRISPR/Cas9-mediated fluorescent tagging of kidney lineage markers (SIX2 and NPHS1). Utilizing these cell lines, we have refined the previously published procedures to generate a new, higher throughput protocol suitable for drug discovery. Using paraffin-embedded sectioning and whole-mount immunostaining, we demonstrated that organoids grown in suspension culture express key markers of kidney biology (WT1, ECAD, LTL, nephrin) and vasculature (CD31) within renal cortical structures with microvilli, tight junctions and podocyte foot processes visualized by electron microscopy. Additionally, the organoids resemble the adult kidney transcriptomics profile, thereby strengthening the translatability of our in vitro model. Thus, development of human nephron-like structures in vitro fills a major gap in our ability to assess the effect of potential treatment on key kidney structures, opening up a wide range of possibilities to improve clinical translation.
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| 8. |
- Anttila, V., et al.
(author)
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Direct intramyocardial injection of VEGF mRNA in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting
- 2023
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In: Molecular Therapy. - : Elsevier BV. - 1525-0016. ; 31:3, s. 866-874
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) has therapeutic cardiovascular effects, but delivery challenges have impeded clinical development. We report the first clinical study of naked mRNA encoding VEGF-A (AZD8601) injected into the human heart. EPICCURE (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03370887) was a randomized, double-blind study of AZD8601 in patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 30%–50% who were undergoing elective coronary artery bypass surgery. Thirty epicardial injections of AZD8601 (total 3 mg) or placebo in citrate-buffered saline were targeted to ischemic but viable myocardial regions mapped using quantitative [15O]-water positron emission tomography. Seven patients received AZD8601 and four received placebo and were followed for 6 months. There were no deaths or treatment-related serious adverse events and no AZD8601-associated infections, immune reactions, or arrhythmias. Exploratory outcomes indicated potential improvement in LVEF, Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire scores, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels, but the study is limited in size, and significant efficacy conclusions are not possible from the dataset. Naked mRNA without lipid encapsulation may provide a safe delivery platform for introducing genetic material to cardiac muscle, but further studies are needed to confirm efficacy and safety in a larger patient pool. © 2022
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| 9. |
- Gan, Li-Ming, 1969, et al.
(author)
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Intradermal delivery of modified mRNA encoding VEGF-A in patients with type 2 diabetes
- 2019
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In: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Chemically modified mRNA is an efficient, biocompatible modality for therapeutic protein expression. We report a first-time-in-human study of this modality, aiming to evaluate safety and potential therapeutic effects. Men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) received intradermal injections of modified mRNA encoding vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) or buffered saline placebo (ethical obligations precluded use of a non-translatable mRNA control) at randomized sites on the forearm. The only causally treatment-related adverse events were mild injection-site reactions. Skin microdialysis revealed elevated VEGF-A protein levels at mRNA-treated sites versus placebo-treated sites from about 4-24 hours post-administration. Enhancements in basal skin blood flow at 4 hours and 7 days post-administration were detected using laser Doppler fluximetry and imaging. Intradermal VEGF-A mRNA was well tolerated and led to local functional VEGF-A protein expression and transient skin blood flow enhancement in men with T2DM. VEGF-A mRNA may have therapeutic potential for regenerative angiogenesis.
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| 10. |
- Abrahamsson, K, et al.
(author)
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Marine algae - a source of trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene
- 1995
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In: Limnology and Oceanography. - 0024-3590 .- 1939-5590. ; 40:7, s. 1321-1326
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Our results show the natural production of two olefins, trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene, by various marine macroalgae and a microalga. We found significant difference in the ability of the algae to produce these compounds. The production rates for trichloroethylenevaried between 0.022 and 3,400 ng g-l fresh wt (FW)h-l and were generally higher than those for perchloroethylene(0.0026-8.2 ng g-l FW h-l). The two subtropicalalgae, Asparagopsis taxiformis and Falkenbergia hillebrandii,showed the highest formation rates. One axenicmarine red microalga, Porphyridium purpureum, was alsotested and it could also produce trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene.The measured rates suggest that the emissionof trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene from theoceans to the atmosphere may be of such a magnitude thatit cannot be neglected in the global atmospheric chlorinebudget.
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