Invariant NK T (iNKT) cells are a separate lineage of T lymphocytes with innate effector functions. They express an invariant TCR specific for lipids presented by CD1d and their development and effector differentiation rely on a unique gene expression program. We asked whether this program includes microRNAs, small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression posttranscriptionally and play a ke...

Rv3291c gene from Mycobacterium tuberculosis codes for a transcriptional regulator belonging to the (leucine responsive regulatory protein/regulator of asparigine synthase C gene product) Lrp/AsnC-family. We have identified a novel effector-binding site from crystal structures of the apo protein, complexes with a variety of amino acid effectors, X-ray based ligand screening and qualitative fluo...

Memory T cells are heterogeneous in terms of their phenotype and functional properties. We investigated the molecular profiles of human CD8 naive central memory (T(CM)), effector memory (T(EM)), and effector memory RA (T(EMRA)) T cells using gene expression microarrays and phospho-protein-specific intracellular flow cytometry. We demonstrate that T(CM) have a gene expression and cytokine signal...

Plants and fungi display a broad range of interactions in natural and agricultural ecosystems ranging from symbiosis to parasitism. These ecological interactions result in coevolution between genes belonging to different partners. A well-understood example is secreted fungal effector proteins and their host targets, which play an important role in pathogenic interactions. Biotrophic smut fungi ...

Plasmopara halstedii (Farl.) Berl. & De Toni causing downy mildew of sunflower is responsible for considerable economic losses worldwide. Because P. can be seed-transmitted, monitoring seeds pathogen contamination important the seed trade. The relevance asymptomatic or latent infections as factors disease spread have not been studied by molecular techniques. A marker based on a putative effecto...

Abstract Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is caused by somatic mutations in hematopoietic stem cells and associates with worse prognosis patients heart failure. Patients harboring CHIP show enhanced inflammation. However, whether these signatures are derived from the relatively low number or indicators systemic pro-inflammatory activation that associated unclear. Here we a...

Pseudoperonospora cubensis, an obligate oomycete pathogen, is the causal agent of cucurbit downy mildew, a foliar disease of global economic importance. Similar to other oomycete plant pathogens, Ps. cubensis has a suite of RXLR and RXLR-like effector proteins, which likely function as virulence or avirulence determinants during the course of host infection. Using in silico analyses, we identif...