scholarly journals Probing the immune responses to nanoparticles across environmental species. A perspective of the EU Horizon 2020 project PANDORA

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 3216-3232
Author(s):  
Annalisa Pinsino ◽  
Neus G. Bastús ◽  
Martí Busquets-Fité ◽  
Laura Canesi ◽  
Paola Cesaroni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Immune Status ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Engineered Nanoparticles ◽  
Horizon 2020 ◽  
The Eu

Here we discuss the potential of engineered nanoparticles to act as agents affecting the immune status in different environmentally relevant species, with a focus on the emerging experimental models launched by the EU Horizon 2020 project PANDORA.

New Scientific Information Can Help to Inform the Evaluation of EU Deep-sea Fisheries Regulations

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Phillip J Turner ◽  
Matthew Gianni ◽  
Ellen Kenchington ◽  
Sebastian Valanko ◽  
David E Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Deep Sea ◽  
Scientific Information ◽  
Fish Population ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Fish Stocks ◽  
Horizon 2020 ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Sea Fish ◽  
The Eu ◽  
Fish Population Structure

Abstract The European Union’s deep-sea fisheries regulations (Regulation (EU) No. 2016/2336) established obligations to manage deep-sea fisheries and to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs). The European Commission is scheduled to complete a review of the regulations in 2021, providing an opportunity for new scientific information to be incorporated into the implementation of the regulations. Here, we summarise research outputs from the EU-funded Horizon 2020 ATLAS Project and explain their relevance to the regulation of deep-sea fisheries in EU waters. ATLAS research has increased our understanding of the distribution of VMEs and their importance in terms of ecosystem functioning. ATLAS research has also highlighted the utility of molecular techniques to understand fish population structure and the potential for habitat suitability models to help incorporate climate change into decision-making. Building on these scientific advances, we provide recommendations to help increase the effectiveness of management measures to conserve deep-sea fish stocks and protect VMEs.

scholarly journals Acellular Pertussis Vaccines and Pertussis Resurgence: Revise or Replace?

mBio ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Clara Maria Ausiello ◽  
Antonio Cassone
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Whooping Cough ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Adaptive Immune Responses ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Antigenic Composition ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Adaptive Immune ◽  
Antibody Levels ◽  
Stimulation Of

ABSTRACTThe resurgence of pertussis (whooping cough) in countries with high vaccination coverage is alarming and invites reconsideration of the use of current acellular pertussis (aP) vaccines, which have largely replaced the old, reactogenic, whole-cell pertussis (wP) vaccine. Some drawbacks of these vaccines in terms of limited antigenic composition and early waning of antibody levels could be anticipated by the results of in-trial or postlicensure human investigations of B- and T-cell responses in aP versus wP vaccine recipients or unvaccinated, infected children. Recent data in experimental models, including primates, suggest that generation of vaccines capable of a potent, though regulated, stimulation of innate immunity driving effective, persistent adaptive immune responses againstBordetella pertussisinfection should be privileged. Adjuvants that skew Th1/Th17 responses or new wP (detoxified or attenuated) vaccines should be explored. Nonetheless, the high merits of the current aP vaccines in persuading people to resume vaccination against pertussis should not be forgotten.

scholarly journals The Influence of the European H2020 Program on the Development of Regions: The Multiplier Impact of EU Funding in the Regions under Horizon 2020 in NUT III - North

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 853-871
Author(s):  
Natacha Jesus Silva ◽  
Diamantino Ribeiro
Keyword(s):  
Regional Economy ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Final Phase ◽  
Investment Funds ◽  
Horizon 2020 ◽  
Regional Investment ◽  
Partnership Agreement ◽  
The Eu

The partnership agreement between the European Union and the Member States for the implementation of the European Structural and Investment Funds for the period 2014 to 2020 is in its final phase. This study analyzes the multiplier impact on regional investment of the European funds made available to the northern region of Portugal - NUTS III, until September 2018 and intends to answer the following questions: What is the amount invested in the regional economy for each euro of support allocated by the EU through the H2020 program, and what is the percentage distribution of community support versus investment per area of intervention?

scholarly journals Human infection withStrongyloides stercoralisand other related Strongyloides species

Parasitology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 144 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
THOMAS B. NUTMAN
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Immune Status ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Strongyloides Stercoralis ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Molecular Tests ◽  
Intestinal Nematode ◽  
Hyperinfection Syndrome ◽  
Asymptomatic Infections ◽  
And Control

SUMMARYThe majority of the 30–100 million people infected withStrongyloides stercoralis, a soil transmitted intestinal nematode, have subclinical (or asymptomatic) infections. These infections are commonly chronic and longstanding because of the autoinfective process associated with its unique life cycle. A change in immune status can increase parasite numbers, leading to hyperinfection syndrome, dissemination, and death if unrecognized. Corticosteroid use and HTLV-1 infection are most commonly associated with the hyperinfection syndrome.Strongyloidesadult parasites reside in the small intestine and induce immune responses both local and systemic that remain poorly characterized. Definitive diagnosis ofS. stercoralisinfection is based on stool examinations for larvae, but newer diagnostics – including new immunoassays and molecular tests – will assume primacy in the next few years. Although good treatment options exist for infection and control of this infection might be possible,S. stercoralisremains largely neglected.

The European Union and Israel since Oslo

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry van Bommel
Keyword(s):  
The European Union ◽  
Cooperation Agreement ◽  
Scientific Cooperation ◽  
Association Agreement ◽  
Horizon 2020 ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Political Relations ◽  
Peace Initiatives ◽  
The Eu

This chapter discusses the strengthening of ties between the EU and Israel during the breakdown of Oslo as well as during other fruitless peace initiatives. Shortly after the Oslo process began, the EU and Israel initiated negotiations on broadening their cooperation. This led to the signing of the EU–Israel Association Agreement in 1995. As well as economic cooperation, which was established as early as 1975 in a cooperation agreement, this new treaty included other areas, such as scientific and technical research. In more recent years the relationship between the EU and Israel has been deepened further. In 2014 the EU and Israel signed the Horizon 2020 scientific cooperation agreement, which gives Israel equal access with EU member states to the largest-ever EU research and innovation program. In itself, there is nothing wrong with the deepening of economic, scientific, cultural, and political relations between countries. However, the deepening of relations between the EU and Israel means indirect support for the Israeli occupation and the policy of expanding the settlements.

Immune system changes and immunosenescence

2017 ◽  
pp. 331-336
Author(s):  
Graham Pawelec ◽  
Ludmila Müller ◽  
Tamas Fülöp ◽  
Deborah Dunn-Walters
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Older People ◽  
Protective Immunity ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
Immune Status ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Degenerative Diseases ◽  
System Changes ◽  
Increased Susceptibility

The immune system defends against infection, but older people paradoxically suffer not only from failing immunity resulting in increased susceptibility to infections and decreased responsiveness to vaccination, but at the same time increased inflammation and immunopathology accompanying immune responses. Interventions to reduce such deleterious effects while enhancing protective immunity are challenging but need to be confronted if we are to deal successfully with the increasing numbers of elderly and frail people in modern societies. To do this, we need to understand the mechanisms responsible for age-associated increased susceptibility to infections and immune-influenced chronic degenerative diseases of ageing. Defining relevant age-associated alterations and identifying reliable biomarkers for monitoring clinically-relevant immune status in the elderly population is crucial to overcoming these problems. Here, we briefly outline age-associated changes to immunity collectively termed ‘immunosenescence’.

scholarly journals Science and Technology Policy Research in the EU: From Framework Programme to HORIZON 2020

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junic Kim ◽  
Jaewook Yoo
Keyword(s):  
Technology Policy ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Science And Technology Policy ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Framework Programme ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Horizon 2020 ◽  
The Eu

Science and Technology policy is regarded as an essential factor for future growth in the EU, and Horizon 2020 is the world’s most extensive research and innovation programme created by the European Union to support and encourage research in the European Research Area (ERA). The purpose of this study is to analyse and evaluate the changes to the EU’s science and technology policies from Framework Programme to Horizon 2020 and to provide vital information to research organisations and academia to conceive and conduct future research on international cooperation with the EU. Through a policy analysis, this study summarised the four science and technology policy implications: (1) building ecosystems through mutual complementation among industries, (2) solving social problems through science and technology, (3) strengthening SMEs’ participation, and (4) sharing knowledge and strengthening collaboration with non-EU countries.

scholarly journals Life Cycle Analysis of a Game-Based Solution for Domestic Energy Saving

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 6699
Author(s):  
Marta Gangolells ◽  
Miquel Casals ◽  
Núria Forcada ◽  
Marcel Macarulla
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Energy Saving ◽  
Resource Availability ◽  
Social Housing ◽  
Life Cycle Analysis ◽  
Comprehensive Analysis ◽  
Horizon 2020 ◽  
Domestic Energy ◽  
The Eu

ICT-based solutions are seen to be almost totally environmentally friendly, but game-based solutions for energy saving have not been explored yet. This paper describes a comprehensive analysis and an in-depth interpretation of the life cycle environmental impact of a game-based solution for domestic energy saving, developed and validated within the EU-funded Horizon 2020 project EnerGAware—Energy Game for Awareness of energy efficiency in social housing communities. Life cycle impacts were calculated with SimaPRO 8.5.2.0 using the ReCiPe 2016 v1.02 midpoint and endpoint methods and information contained within the Ecoinvent v3.4 database. Although the pre-competitive solution, directly arising from the research project, was found to have a relatively high environmental impact, its future exploitation, which mostly relies on existing infrastructure, was found to be highly competitive from an environmental perspective. The game will help reduce the life cycle impact of domestic energy consumption on damage to human health (3.68%), ecosystem quality (3.87%), and resource availability (4.81%). Most of the environmental impact of the market solution was found in the manufacturing phase (77.96–80.12%). Transport (8.86–7.57%), use (3.86–5.82%), and maintenance (7.24–7.54%) phases were found to contribute little to environmental impact. This research provides a useful reference for decision-making as it contributes to the environmental benchmarking of competing energy-saving strategies.

scholarly journals Photoperiodic manipulation modulates the innate and cell mediated immune functions in the fresh water snake, Natrix piscator

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alka Singh ◽  
Ramesh Singh ◽  
Manish Kumar Tripathi
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Immune Status ◽  
Gradient Centrifugation ◽  
Day Length ◽  
Immune Functions ◽  
Functional Responses ◽  
Water Snake ◽  
Nitrite Assay ◽  
Reproductive Activities

Abstract Objectives of the current work were to investigate the role of photoperiod and melatonin in the alteration of immune responses in a reptilian species. Animals were kept on a regimen of short or long days. Blood was obtained and leucocytes were isolated to study various innate immune responses. Lymphocytes were separated from blood by density gradient centrifugation and were used to study proliferation. Respiratory burst activity was measured through nitrobluetetrazolium reduction assay while nitric oxide production by leucocytes was assayed by nitrite assay. Lymphocytes were isolated and used to study proliferation with and without B and T cell mitogens. Photoperiodic manipulation acted differentially on leucocyte counts. Nitrite release was increased while superoxide production was decreased in cultures obtained from the snakes kept on the short day regimen. Significant enhancement of mitogen induced lymphocyte proliferation was observed in cultures from the animals kept in either long or short days compared to cultures from the animals kept in natural ambient day length. Use of in vitro melatonin showed that lymphocytes from the animals, kept in long days, were more reactive. Photoperiod induces changes in immune status which may permit adaptive functional responses in order to maintain seasonal energetic budgets of the animals. Physiological responses (like elevated immune status) are energetically expensive, therefore, animals have evolved a strategy to reduce immune functions at times when energy is invested in reproductive activities. Natrix piscator breeds from September to December and elevated pineal hormone in winter suppresses reproduction while immunity is stimulated.

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