During lytic infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), several viral lytic proteins function to evade immune recognition or to actively suppress immune cells. An EBV lytic transactivator, Zta, induces an immunosuppressive cytokine interleukin 10 (IL-10) in B cells, but whether it regulates IL-10 in the context of epithelial cells is unclear. In this study, we tested nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell lines and found that Zta did not induce IL-10 in these epithelial cells. Interestingly, the conditioned medium of Zta-expressing NPC cells enhanced IL-10 production from monocytes. We further revealed that the IL-10-inducing effect involved at least two immunomodulators that were upregulated by Zta and secreted from NPC cells: granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ). Zta was recruited to and activated the GM-CSF promoter, thus upregulating GM-CSF expression. Zta also activated the promoter of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and Zta-induced COX-2 increased downstream PGE 2 production. Cotreatment with GM-CSF and PGE 2 synergistically induced IL-10 production from monocytes. The IL-10-inducing effect of the Ztaconditioned medium was reduced when GM-CSF or the COX-2/PGE 2 pathway was blocked. The conditioned medium of NPC cells with EBV lytic infection showed a similar increase of GM-CSF and PGE 2 levels as well as the IL-10-inducing effect on monocytes, and knockdown of Zta abolished all the effects. Therefore, through Zta-induced immunomodulators, EBV lytic infection in NPC cells can direct bystander monocytes to produce IL-10, which may be a novel way of EBV to promote local immunosuppression.Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) establishes lifelong persistence in more than 90% of the adult population worldwide, showing its successful dealings with the human immune system (51). Compared with EBV latent infection, in which only few viral antigens are expressed, the lytic infection expresses abundant viral proteins with high antigenicity, serving as a more attractive target recognized and attacked by the host immune system. To survive under the immune surveillance, EBV is equipped with several lytic proteins that evade immune recognition. For example, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-restricted antigen presentation is inhibited by EBV BNLF2a, which blocks peptide transport (25), and by BILF1, which promotes degradation of MHC class I molecules (62). MHC class II-restricted antigen presentation is hampered by the interaction between EBV BZLF2 and MHC class II molecules (50). Moreover, expression of MHC class I and II genes can be downregulated by other EBV lytic proteins: Zta acting at the transcriptional level and BGLF5 acting at the posttranscriptional level (32,38,52).In addition to the strategies that prevent EBV from being recognized by immune cells, EBV may actively cause suppressive effects on immune cells during the lytic cycle, through several secreted factors that are encoded or induced by EBV.

Nanodiamond (ND) is a carbon-based nanomaterial with potential for a wide range of biological applications. One of such applications is to facilitate the nucleation of protein crystals in aqueous solution. Here, we show that NDs (nominal diameters of 30 and 100 nm) after surface oxidation in air and subsequent treatment in strong acids are useful as heterogeneous nucleating agents for protein crystallization. Tested with lysozyme, ribonuclease A, proteinase K, and catalase, the nanomaterials in either aggregate or film form are found to be able to increase the crystallization efficiency of all proteins. Particularly, for 30 nm NDs, the films with an area of ∼2 mm can effectively induce the crystallization of lysozyme at a concentration as low as 5 mg/mL. The efficiency can be further improved by adding preformed protein clusters (∼300 nm in diameter) as inherent nucleation precursors, as demonstrated for ribonuclease A. This combined approach is easy to implement, highly compatible with existing technologies, and can be applied to other protein samples as well.

No abstract

With the development of Super Wi-Fi technology starting in 2011, TV White Space (TVWS) trials have been conducted in the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and other developed countries, and applicable spectrum band, technology regulations and types of applications with regard to TVWS technology have been examined in this article. In many trials, Microsoft and Google have played a significant role. Supported by Spectrum Bridge, Microsoft set up spectrum databases in the UK’s and Singapore’s trials and voluntarily promoted TVWS applications in Kenya and Tanzania. This enabled Microsoft to provide broadband services in rural areas at a lower cost than previously possible in developing countries. Google also actively developed TVWS-related applications to increase broadband penetration and provide various innovative services, especially for the vertical markets. In addition, after Google obtained the authorization of the TVWS database from FCC on 28 June 2013, it became the third largest TVWS database provider in the United States. In order to improve the accessibility of broadband in Africa, Google supported the roll-out of TVWS broadband services in Republic of Liberia and Cape Town, South Africa. As a result, both Google and Microsoft have helped narrow the digital divide between African countries and developed ones.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract