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The gut CD4+ T cells, particularly the T helper type 17 (Th17) subset, are not completely restored in most HIV-1-infected individuals despite combined antiretroviral therapy, when initiated at the chronic phase of infection. We show here that the CCR6–CCL20 chemotactic axis is altered, with reduced CCL20 production by small intestine epithelial cells in treated HIV-1-infected individuals. This leads to impaired CCR6+CD4+ T-cell homing, particularly Th17 cells, to the small intestine mucosa. In contrast, the frequency of gut FoxP3+ T regulatory (Treg) cells, specifically the CCR6− subset, was increased. The resulting imbalance in the Th17/CCR6− Treg ratio and the associated shift from interleukin (IL)-17 to IL-10 and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) blunts CCL20 production by enterocytes, perpetuating a negative feedback for the recruitment of CCR6+CD4+ T cells to the small intestine in treated HIV-1-infected individuals.

distribution of auxin within plant tissues is of great importance for developmental plasticity, including root gravitropic growth. Auxin flow is directed by the subcellular polar distribution and dynamic relocalisation of auxin transporters such as the PIN-FORMED (PIN) efflux carriers, which can be influenced by the main natural plant auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Anthranilic acid (AA) is an important early precursor of IAA and previously published studies with AA analogues have suggested that AA may also regulate PIN localisation. Using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model species, we studied an AA-deficient mutant displaying agravitropic root growth, treated seedlings with AA and AA analogues and transformed lines to over-produce AA while inhibiting its conversion to downstream IAA precursors. We showed that AA rescues root gravitropic growth in the AA-deficient mutant at concentrations that do not rescue IAA levels. Overproduction of AA affects root gravitropism without affecting IAA levels. Treatments with, or deficiency in, AA result in defects in PIN polarity and gravistimulus-induced PIN relocalisation in root cells. Our results revealed a previously unknown role for AA in the regulation of PIN subcellular localisation and dynamics involved in root gravitropism, which is independent of its better known role in IAA biosynthesis.

Twenty-six patients living in the Midi-Pyrenees region of France who were infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 5 were investigated. Most of these patients were of advanced age and had been infected nosocomially or by blood transfusion. Our case-control study, in which we treated patients with interferon-α plus ribavirin, indicated that, 24 weeks after the beginning of treatment, the virus response in patients infected with HCV genotype 5 was better than that in patients infected with HCV genotype 1 (100% of patients negative for detectable HCV RNA vs. 36.3%, respectively; P < .01); furthermore, 48 weeks after the end of treatment, the virus response in patients infected with HCV genotype 5 was better than that in patients infected with HCV genotype 1 (63.6% vs. 22.7%, respectively; P < .05) and was similar to that in patients infected with HCV genotype 2 or 3 (66.6%). These results show that HCV genotype 5 might have good intrinsic sensitivity to combination therapy with interferon-α plus ribavirin.

[...] the single-layer RPE scan shows three points of pigment epithelial detachments, which were identified by FFA at the first presentation itself. [...] FFA documents classical expanding dot sign, which corresponds to the patient becoming symptomatic due to acute attack.

Background: Coffee intake has been shown to modulate both the effect of ethanol on serum GGT activities in some alcohol consumers and the risk of alcoholic cirrhosis in some patients with chronic diseases. This study aimed to analyze the impact of coffee intake and alcohol consumption on advanced liver fibrosis (ALF) in HIV-HCV co-infected patients. Methods: ANRS CO13-HEPAVIH is a French, nationwide, multicenter cohort of HIV-HCV-co-infected patients. Sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical data including alcohol and coffee consumption were prospectively collected using annual self-administered questionnaires during five years of follow-up. Mixed logistic regression models were performed, relating coffee intake and alcohol consumption to ALF. Results: 1019 patients were included. At the last available visit, 5.8% reported high-risk alcohol consumption, 27.4% reported high coffee intake and 14.5% had ALF. Compared with patients with low coffee intake and high-risk alcohol consumption, patients with low coffee intake and low-risk alcohol consumption had a lower risk of ALF (aOR (95% CI) 0.24 (0.12–0.50)). In addition, patients with high coffee intake had a lower risk of ALF than the reference group (0.14 (0.03–0.64) in high-risk alcohol drinkers and 0.11 (0.05–0.25) in low-risk alcohol drinkers). Conclusions: High coffee intake was associated with a low risk of liver fibrosis even in HIV-HCV co-infected patients with high-risk alcohol consumption.

Comment in Reply to Marcellin et al. [Clin Infect Dis. 2014]Comment on Relationship between alcohol use categories and noninvasive markers of advanced hepatic fibrosis in HIV-infected, chronic hepatitis C virus-infected, and uninfected patients. [Clin Infect Dis. 2014]

Distribution of auxin within plant tissues is of great importance for developmental plasticity, including root gravitropic growth. Auxin flow is directed by the subcellular polar distribution and dynamic relocalization of auxin transporters such as the PIN-FORMED (PIN) efflux carriers, which can be influenced by the main natural plant auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Anthranilic acid (AA) is an important early precursor of IAA and previously published studies with AA analogues suggested that AA may also regulate PIN localization. Using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model species, we studied an AA-deficient mutant displaying gravitropic root growth, treated seedlings with AA and AA analogues and transformed lines to over-produce AA while inhibiting its conversion to downstream IAA precursors. We showed that AA rescues root gravitropic growth in the AA-deficient mutant at concentrations that do not rescue IAA levels. Overproduction of AA affects root gravitropism without affecting IAA levels. Treatments with, or deficiency in, AA result in defects in PIN polarity and gravistimulus-induced PIN relocalization in root cells. Our results reveal a previously unknown role for AA in the regulation of PIN subcellular localization and dynamics involved in root gravitropism, which is independent of its better-known role in IAA biosynthesis. Footnotes * New data has been incorporated into the manuscript (Fig. S6a, Fig. S10, Fig. S12) and Fig. S11 (former Fig. S10) has been simplified.

Existing methods to predict the effects of climate change on the biomass and production of marine communities are predicated on modelling the interactions and dynamics of individual species, a very challenging approach when interactions and distributions are changing and little is known about the ecological mechanisms driving the responses of many species. An informative parallel approach is to develop size-based methods. These capture the properties of food webs that describe energy flux and production at a particular size, independent of species' ecology. We couple a physical–biogeochemical model with a dynamic, size-based food web model to predict the future effects of climate change on fish biomass and production in 11 large regional shelf seas, with and without fishing effects. Changes in potential fish production are shown to most strongly mirror changes in phytoplankton production. We project declines of 30–60% in potential fish production across some important areas of tropical shelf and upwelling seas, most notably in the eastern Indo-Pacific, the northern Humboldt and the North Canary Current. Conversely, in some areas of the high latitude shelf seas, the production of pelagic predators was projected to increase by 28–89%.