Protein-tyrosine kinases and Rho GTPases regulate many cellular processes, including the reorganization and dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton. The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) and its homolog neuronal WASP (N-WASP) are effectors of the Rho GTPase Cdc42 and provide a direct link between activated membrane receptors and the actin cytoskeleton. WASP and N-WASP are also regulated by a l...

The diagnosis of insect venom allergy and the indication for specific immunotherapy is based on history, skin tests and demonstration of hymenoptera venom-specific IgE-antibodies. Cellular tests can add useful information but the role of basophil activation tests for the different venoms has to be elucidated further. We evaluated positive reactions in a basophil activation test using CD63 expre...

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an X-linked recessive disorder characterized by thrombocytopenia with small platelets, severe eczema, and recurrent infections due to defects in the immune system. The disease arises from mutations in the gene encoding the WAS protein (WASP), which plays a role as an adaptor molecule in signal transduction accompanied by cytoskeletal rearrangement in T cells. T...

Background: Wasp stings usually cause local reactions such as itching, urticaria, angioedema and anaphylaxis. Life-threatening complications following multiple wasp stings are relatively rare and unexpected. However, rhabdomyolysis and acute respiratory distress syndrome following wasp stings are possible. Case presentation: A middle-aged male worker was stung by a swarm of wasps all over his b...

We report photometric follow-up observations of thirteen exoplanets (HATS-1 b, HATS-2 HATS-3 HAT-P-18 HAT-P-27 HAT-P-30 HAT-P-55 KELT-4A WASP-25 WASP-42 WASP-57 WASP-61 b and WASP-123 b), as part the Original Research By Young Twinkle Students (ORBYTS) programme. All these planets are potentially viable targets for atmospheric characterisation our data, which were taken using LCOGT network grou...

BACKGROUND Assembly and organization of actin filaments are required for many cellular processes, including locomotion and division. In many cases, actin assembly is initiated when proteins of the WASP/Scar family respond to signals from Rho family G proteins and stimulate the actin-nucleating activity of the Arp2/3 complex. Two questions of fundamental importance raised in the study of actin d...

In most patients, wasp stings cause local reactions and rarely anaphylaxis. Acute kidney injury and rhabdomyolysis are unusual complications of wasp stings. We report a case of acute kidney injury and rhabdomyolysis secondary to multiple wasp stings. A 55-year-old farmer developed multi organ dysfunction with acute kidney injury and rhabdomyolysis 3 days after he had sustained multiple wasp sti...

A fundamental aspect of skeletal myogenesis involves extensive rounds of cell fusion, in which individual myoblasts are incorporated into growing muscle fibers. Here we demonstrate that N-WASp, a ubiquitous nucleation-promoting factor of branched microfilament arrays, is an essential contributor to skeletal muscle-cell fusion in developing mouse embryos. Analysis both in vivo and in primary sat...

Under normal conditions, the Arp2/3 complex activator SCAR/WAVE controls actin polymerization in pseudopods, whereas Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) assembles actin at clathrin-coated pits. We show that, unexpectedly, Dictyostelium discoideum SCAR knockouts could still spread, migrate, and chemotax using pseudopods driven by the Arp2/3 complex. In the absence of SCAR, some WASP relocate...

Wiscott Aldrich Syndrome protein (WASP) deficiency results in defects in calcium ion signaling, cytoskeletal regulation, gene transcription and overall T cell activation. The activation of WASP constitutes a key pathway for actin filament nucleation. Yet, when WASP function is eliminated there is negligible effect on actin polymerization at the immunological synapse, leading to gaps in our unde...