University of Hertfordshire

About: University of Hertfordshire is a education organization based out in Hatfield, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Galaxy & Population. The organization has 14455 authors who have published 23821 publications receiving 768488 citations.

Therapeutic antibodies directed at G protein-coupled receptors

Abstract: G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are one of the most important classes of targets for small molecule drug discovery, but many current GPCRs of interest are proving intractable to small molecule discovery and may be better approached with bio-therapeutics. GPCRs are implicated in a wide variety of diseases where antibody therapeutics are currently used. These include inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn disease, as well as metabolic disease and cancer. Raising antibodies to GPCRs has been difficult due to problems in obtaining suitable antigen because GPCRs are often expressed at low levels in cells and are very unstable when purified. A number of new developments in over-expressing receptors, as well as formulating stable pure protein, are contributing to the growing interest in targeting GPCRs with antibodies. This review discusses the opportunities for targeting GPCRs with antibodies using these approaches and describes the therapeutic antibodies that are currently in clinical development.

Laboratory evaluation of temperature effects on the germination and growth of entomopathogenic fungi and on their pathogenicity to two aphid species.

Abstract: As part of an approach to select potential mycoinsecticides for aphid biocontrol, we investigated the effects of temperature on the growth, germination and pathogenicity of some hyphomycete fungi. Commercially available mycoinsecticides (based on Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and Verticillium lecanii (Zimmermann) Viegas) and other isolates of B bassiana, V lecanii, Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (Wize) Brown & Smith were evaluated. The rate of in vitro conidial germination of all isolates was slower at 10 and 15degreesC than at 20 and 25degreesC. Similarly, in vitro growth of most isolates was adversely affected at 10 and 15degreesC. The greatest reduction at 10degreesC in rates of conidial germination and colony growth, compared with other temperatures, was for M anisopliae isolates. Germination of V lecanii (isolate HRI 1.72) was fastest at 10degreesC compared with the other fungi. It was also the most pathogenic of three isolates tested against Aphis fabae Scopoli and Myzus persicae Sulzer at 10, 18 and 23degreesC. Generally, A fabae was more susceptible than M persicae to infection by the fungal isolates tested. A significant interaction between aphid species and temperature indicated that the pathogenic nature of an isolate was dependent not only on the target aphid species but also the temperature conditions of the bioassay. The series of studies, detailed above, allowed a temperature profile to be formed for the different isolates. Verticillium lecanii isolate HRI 1.72 (commercialised as Ver-talec(R)) was the most promising isolate selected from results of the series of experiments. Temperature profiles in conjunction with infectivity assays can be useful in selecting appropriate isolates for a particular thermal environment. (C) 2003 Society of Chemical Industry.

Overexpression of heat-shock proteins reduces survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the chronic phase of infection.

Abstract: Elevated expression of heat-shock proteins (HSPs) can benefit a microbial pathogen struggling to penetrate host defenses during infection, but at the same time might provide a crucial signal alerting the host immune system to its presence. To determine which of these effects predominate, we constructed a mutant strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that constitutively overexpresses Hsp70 proteins. Although the mutant was fully virulent in the initial stage of infection, it was significantly impaired in its ability to persist during the subsequent chronic phase. Induction of microbial genes encoding HSPs might provide a novel strategy to boost the immune response of individuals with latent tuberculosis infection.

Promoting innovation and excellence to face the rapid diffusion of novel psychoactive substances in the EU: the outcomes of the ReDNet project.

Abstract: Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology (IPIN), Warsaw, PolandObjectives The recent emergence of new psychoactive compounds (novel psychoactive substances (NPS)) has raised prominent challengesin the fields of drug policy, substance use research, public health and service provision The Recreational Drugs European Network project,funded by the European Commission, was implemented to improve the information stream to young people and professionals about effects/risks of NPS by identifying online products and disseminating relevant information through technological toolsMethods Regular multilingual qualitative assessments of websites, drugs fora and other online resources were carried out using the Googlesearch engine in eight languages from collaborating countries These included the following: the UK, Norway, Belgium, Germany, Hungary,Poland, Italy and Spain Products were tested and prevention messages were developed and disseminated via technological tools such asinteractive websites, SMS alert, social networking (Facebook, Twitter), Multimedia (You Tube), Smartphone applications (iPhone) andvirtual learning environments (Second Life)Results The Recreational Drugs European Network project established itself as the first Europe-wide prevention programme designed forNPS based on the efficacy of novel information and communication technology-based forms of intervention More than 650 NPS productsand combinations were identified; relevant information was disseminated to target population and advice was given to both European Union/international agencies and national policy makersConclusions Web-monitoring activities are essential for mapping the diffusion of NPS and the use of technological tools can besuccessfully incorporated in specific prevention programmes Furthermore, the involvement of multi-disciplinary internationalpartnerships was and continues to be fundamental for responding to such a prominent challenge Copyright © 2013 John Wiley& Sons, Ltdkey words—new psychoactive compounds; addiction; public health