scholarly journals The people behind the papers – Zoe Grant, Tim Thomas, Anne Voss and Leigh Coultas

Development ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 148 (20) ◽  

Abstract The histone acetyltransferase HBO1 (KAT1) is required for histone H3 lysine 14 acetylation, which is crucial for embryonic development. A new paper in Development reveals that, in the vascular system, HBO1 is required in endothelial cells for sprouting angiogenesis regulation. To hear more about the story, we caught up with first author Zoe Grant and senior authors Professor Anne Voss, Associate Professor Tim Thomas and Leigh Coultas, Business Development Manager, from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), Australia.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Zhang ◽  
Kyle Brown ◽  
Yucong Yu ◽  
Ziad Ibrahim ◽  
Mohamad Zandian ◽  
...  

AbstractThe transcriptional co-activator and acetyltransferase p300 is required for fundamental cellular processes, including differentiation and growth. Here, we report that p300 forms phase separated condensates in the cell nucleus. The phase separation ability of p300 is regulated by autoacetylation and relies on its catalytic core components, including the histone acetyltransferase (HAT) domain, the autoinhibition loop, and bromodomain. p300 condensates sequester chromatin components, such as histone H3 tail and DNA, and are amplified through binding of p300 to the nucleosome. The catalytic HAT activity of p300 is decreased due to occlusion of the active site in the phase separated droplets, a large portion of which co-localizes with chromatin regions enriched in H3K27me3. Our findings suggest a model in which p300 condensates can act as a storage pool of the protein with reduced HAT activity, allowing p300 to be compartmentalized and concentrated at poised or repressed chromatin regions.


Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 171-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piers Blombery ◽  
Ella Thompson ◽  
Tamia Nguyen ◽  
Xiangting Chen ◽  
Michelle McBean ◽  
...  

The BCL2 Gly101Val mutation may be acquired in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) treated with venetoclax (VEN), leading to reduced drug binding affinity and secondary resistance. In the majority of patients, the Gly101Val mutation is subclonal within the CLL compartment consistent with the presence of alternative resistance mechanisms in CLL cells not harboring the Gly101Val mutation. To date, two Gly101Val mutated patients have been identified with co-existing candidate resistance mechanisms in Gly101Val non-mutated cells; one with BCL-XL over-expression (Blombery et al, Cancer Discov., 2019) and another with a second subclonal candidate BCL2 resistance mutation - Asp103Tyr (Tausch et al, Haematologica 2019). Given the possibility of additional resistance mechanisms, we investigated patients with progressive CLL on VEN harboring the Gly101Val mutation for the presence of additional acquired resistance mutations in BCL2. Ten patients with progressive CLL on VEN with Gly101Val mutations were identified by sensitive allele-specific droplet digital PCR. To further assess for alternative BCL2 mutations in this cohort we performed ultra-deep amplicon-based next generation sequencing (NGS) (median depth ~50,000X) targeting BCL2. An amplicon variant caller (Canary) specifically designed for low level variant calling was used (Doig et al, BMC Bioinformatics, 2017). To achieve enhanced specificity we performed digital NGS with PCR error-correction using unique molecular indexes (UMI) (QiaSEQ Targeted DNA Panel). Given the high GC content of BCL2 we also used hybridization-based NGS using a custom targeted panel (Blombery et al, BJH 2017) combined with a sensitive unpaired variant caller (GATK4/Mutect2). In 7/10 (70%) patients, BCL2 mutations in addition to the Gly101Val were detected. Recurrent mutations (detected in more than one patient) were Asp103Tyr, Asp103Glu, Arg107_Arg110dup, and Val156Asp. All additional recurrent mutations were confirmed to be absent prior to commencing VEN (sensitivity 1% variant allele frequency[VAF]). Phase-analysis of NGS reads was consistent with the presence of the additional recurrent mutations on different alleles (and therefore cells, assuming heterozygosity) to both each other and to Gly101Val. Multiple addition recurrent mutations were observed in patients in the cohort with one patient harboring three recurrent mutations in addition to the Gly101Val (Asp103Tyr, Asp103Glu, Val156Asp). In multiple patients in the cohort, the VAF of non-Gly101Val mutations exceeded that of the Gly101Val mutation. Importantly, in all patients a significant (albeit variable) proportion of CLL cells were found to be BCL2 wild-type consistent with the presence of as yet unidentified resistance mechanisms unrelated to BCL2 mutations. In one patient, two additional non-recurrent mutations were observed (Ala113Gly and Arg129Leu) in addition to Gly101Val and Val156Asp. Again, all four mutations in this patient were observed to be in mutually exclusive NGS reads. Strikingly, all of the recurrent acquired BCL2 mutated residues identified in our cohort are situated in the BCL2 binding groove that binds VEN (Figure 1). The Asp103 codon in the P4 pocket is critical for VEN binding through hydrogen bonding between its sidechain and the azaindole moiety of VEN. The Asp103Glu mutation is noteworthy given that the equivalent residue to Asp103 in BCL-XL is a Glu, which reduces VEN binding to BCL-XL. The Val156 mutation situated at the base of the P2 pocket is close to the chlorophenyl moiety of VEN and a change to Asp in this position may disrupt VEN binding. Ongoing binding experiments and modeling in cellular systems will further elucidate the mechanism and contributions of these new recurrent mutations to VEN resistance. In summary, we have extended the landscape of acquired candidate resistance mutations occurring in patients treated with VEN to include four novel recurrent BCL2 mutations. Moreover, our data are consistent with the emerging observation of multiple acquired resistance mechanisms operating in different CLL cells in a single patient contributing to an "oligoclonal" pattern of clinical relapse on VEN therapy. Figure 1 - BCL2 protein structure surface bound to venetoclax (VEN) in orange. The Asp103Tyr, Asp103Glu and Val156Asp mutation sites are shown in red and Arg107_Arg110dup region in blue Disclosures Blombery: Janssen: Honoraria; Invivoscribe: Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy. Anderson:Walter and Eliza Hall Institute: Employment, Patents & Royalties: Institute receives royalties for venetoclax, and I receive a fraction of these.. Seymour:Acerta: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy. Huang:Genentech: Patents & Royalties: DCSH is an employee of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute which receives milestone and royalty payments related to venetoclax. Roberts:AbbVie: Other: Unremunerated speaker for AbbVie, Research Funding; Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Research Funding; Walter and Eliza Hall Institute: Patents & Royalties: Institute receives royalties for venetoclax, and I receive a fraction of these.; BeiGene: Research Funding.


Gerundium ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3-4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Attila Paládi-Kovács

At the University of Budapest at the end of the 18th century it was Dániel Cornides (1732–1787) who dealt with issues of Hungarian ancient religion, while András Dugonics (1740–1818) paid attention to various aspects of Hungarian folk poetry (tales, idiomatic phrases, proverbs) and folk customs in his lectures.  Descriptive statistics, reports of the state of affairs in various regions and ethnic groups within the country documented the ethnographic character of these areas and groups in the first half of the 19th century.  In the second half of the century professors of Hungarian literature and language investigated and discussed these topics with a comparative European perspective at universities. Ethnographic and folklore-related knowledge was disseminated by excellent professors of classical philology and oriental studies. Professors of geography (János Hunfalvy, Lajos Lóczy) played a crucial role in providing information about faraway peoples and continents at the University of Budapest. The first associate professor (Privatdozent) in ethnography was Antal Herrmann at the University of Kolozsvár (Cluj-Napoca, now Romania) in 1898. He delivered his lectures until 1918 in Kolozsvár, and between 1921 and 1926 in Szeged where the University of Cluj was relocated to. The first university department for ethnographic and folklore studies was established at the University of Szeged, where Sándor Solymossy, a scholar of comparative folkloristics, became professor.  At the University of Budapest the first department for ethnography and folklore studies was founded for professor István Györffy, who primarily studied material culture and the people of the Great Hungarian Plain.  His successors were Károly Viski (1942), then folklorist Gyula Ortutay (1946). In 1951 at the University of Budapest another department came into being for István Tálasi who was a scholar of  material culture studies and historical ethnography. The head of the ethnography and folklore department of the Hungarian University of Kolozsvár (Klausenburg, Cluj) was Károly Viski in 1940–1941, and Béla Gunda between 1943 and 1948.  At the University of Debrecen established in 1912  a number of associate professors held ethnographic and folklore lectures between 1925 and 1949 (István Ecsedi, Károly Bartha N., Tibor Mendöl, Gábor Lükő), but an autonomous department was established only in 1949, led by Béla Gunda until 1979. At the University of Szeged Sándor Bálint was appointed professor of ethnography and folklore studies in 1949, but only after 1990 became it possible to provide M. A. degrees in ethnography and folkloristics. M.A. degrees in ethnography and folkloristics have been provided at the University of Budapest since 1950, while at the University of Debrecen since 1959.  


Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 9-10
Author(s):  
Piers Blombery ◽  
Ella R Thompson ◽  
Xiangting Chen ◽  
Tamia Nguyen ◽  
Mary Ann Anderson ◽  
...  

Venetoclax (Ven) is an effective element of treatments for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with high response rates observed in the upfront and relapsed/refractory (R/R) settings. In addition to inducing apoptosis in CLL cells, Ven also induces apoptosis within normal and malignant myeloid lineage populations (accounting for its efficacy in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia). We investigated the effects of Ven outside the target tumor compartment in patients (pts) with CLL receiving long-term continuous Ven and make the novel observation of the development of BAX-mutated clonal hematopoiesis in this heavily pre-treated patient group. 92 pts with CLL receiving continuous non time-limited Ven have been treated at our institutions on clinical trials. Of these, 41 had sufficient (>6 mo) follow up (median 70; range 14-95 mo) and suitable samples available for further analysis. 38/41 (93%) pts had received previous treatment with alkylators and/or fludarabine. In order to assess the non-CLL compartment in these 41 pts we identified those with peripheral blood or bone marrow aspirate samples taken during deep response to Ven demonstrating either minimal (<5%) or no CLL involvement by flow cytometry (sensitivity 10-4). We initially performed unique molecular index (UMI)-based targeted next generation sequencing of apoptosis pathway genes as well a panel of 60 genes recurrently mutated in lymphoid and myeloid malignancy. From these 41 pts we identified mutations in the apoptosis effector BAX in samples from 12 (29%). 20 different BAX mutations were observed across these 12 pts at variant allele frequencies (VAF) consistent with their occurrence in the non-CLL compartment. Mutations included frameshift, nonsense, canonical splice site and missense mutations occurring in key structural elements of BAX consistent with a loss-of-function mechanism (Fig 1A). Interestingly, an enrichment of missense and truncating mutations predicted to escape nonsense mediated decay were observed at the C-terminus of the BAX protein affecting the critical α9 helix. Mutations in this region have previously been shown in cell lines to cause aberrant intracellular BAX localization and abrogation of normal BAX function in apoptosis (Fresquet Blood 2014; Kuwana J Biol Chem 2020). For comparison, NGS targeted sequencing for BAX mutations was performed on samples from cohorts of pts with (i) myeloid or lymphoid malignancy (n=80) or (ii) R/R CLL treated with BTK inhibitors (n=15) after a similar extent of preceding chemotherapy. Neither of these cohorts had previous exposure to Ven. BAX mutations were not detected in any samples from these pts. Longitudinal sampling from pts on Ven harboring BAX mutations in the non-CLL compartment was performed to further understand compartment dynamics over time (in 9 pts over 21-93 months of follow up). Multiple pts demonstrated a progressive increase in VAF of single BAX mutations over time to become clonally dominant within the non-CLL compartment and with observed VAFs consistent with their presence in the myeloid compartment. Mutations in other genes implicated in clonal hematopoiesis and myeloid malignancy including ASXL1, DNMT3A, TET2, U2AF1 and ZRSR2 were also detected in these pts samples. Targeted amplicon single cell sequencing (Mission Bio) demonstrated the co-occurrence of clonally progressive BAX mutations within the same clones as mutations in DNMT3A and ASXL1 as well as the existence of further BAX mutations at low VAF outside these dominant clones which remained non-progressive over time (Fig 1B). In addition, fluctuations in the presence and VAF of myeloid-disease associated mutations was noted with Ven exposure. In aggregate these data are consistent with the existence of a selective pressure within the myeloid compartment of these pts and an interplay of BAX with other mutations in determining survival and enrichment of these clones over time with ongoing Ven therapy. In summary, we have observed the development of BAX-mutated clonal hematopoiesis specifically in pts with CLL treated with long-term Ven. These data are consistent with a multi-lineage pharmacological effect of Ven leading to a survival advantage for clones harboring BAX mutations within the myeloid compartment during chronic Ven exposure. Finally, our data support the further investigation of BAX mutations as a potential resistance mechanism in myeloid malignancies treated with Ven. Disclosures Blombery: Invivoscribe: Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy; Janssen: Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy. Anderson:Walter and Eliza Hall Institute: Patents & Royalties: milestone and royalty payments related to venetoclax.. Seymour:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Consultancy; Mei Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria; Morphosys: Consultancy, Honoraria; Nurix: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Tam:Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding; BeiGene: Honoraria. Huang:Servier: Research Funding; Walter and Eliza Hall Institute: Patents & Royalties: milestone and royalty payments related to venetoclax.; Genentech: Research Funding. Wei:Janssen: Honoraria, Other; Walter and Eliza Hall Institute: Patents & Royalties; AMGEN: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Astellas: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee; Pfizer: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee; Macrogenics: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee; Abbvie: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee; Servier: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee, Speakers Bureau; Astra-Zeneca: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee, Research Funding. Roberts:Janssen: Research Funding; Servier: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Genentech: Patents & Royalties: for venetoclax to one of my employers (Walter & Eliza Hall Institute); I receive a share of these royalties.


Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 1216-1216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constantine S. Tam ◽  
Judith Trotman ◽  
Stephen Opat ◽  
Paula Marlton ◽  
Gavin Cull ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: The BTK inhibitor ibrutinib (IB) is highly active in WM, achieving major responses (CR+VGPR+PR) in approximately 70% of pts. However, VGPR is infrequent, with rates ≤15% in reported series (Treon NEJM 2015, Dimopoulos EHA 2016). BGB-3111 is a potent, highly-specific and irreversible BTK inhibitor, with greater selectivity than IB for BTK vs. other TEC- and HER-family kinases, and superior bioavailability. We previously reported that the recommended phase 2 dose of BGB-3111 is 320mg daily (in single or split dose) in pts with advanced B cell malignancies. This achieves plasma levels equivalent to 6-10 fold that of IB, and >90% continuous inhibition of BTK in lymph node biopsies. We specifically investigated the safety and efficacy of BGB-3111 in pts with WM in an expansion cohort of the initial Phase 1 trial. Reported here are updated results of this study, including data from WM specific expansion cohorts. Aims: To define the safety profile, and clinical activity of BGB-3111 in pts with WM. Methods: These results are from a pre-specified a component of a Phase 1 study (Part 1: dose escalation [DEsc] in pts with R/R B cell malignancies, Part 2: disease-specific dose expansion cohorts [EC] at the recommended Phase 2 dose that included patients with relapsed / refractory or previously untreated WM). Adverse events (AEs) were reported per CTCAE v4.03. Responses were determined according to the modified Sixth International Workshop on WM (IWWM) criteria. The data cut-off is 10 June 2016. Results: As of 10 June 2016, 31 pts with WM have been enrolled; 6 pts in DEsc (40mg [n=2], 80mg [n=2], 160mg QD [n=1], and 320mg QD [n=1]), and 25 in the WM EC (160mg BID [n=18], 320mg QD [n=7]). Three pts in DEsc were increased to 160mg QD after analysis of DEsc data, as allowed by protocol. Twenty-four pts are included in this analysis; 5 pts were excluded because of short (<60 day) follow-up for safety and efficacy, and 2 pts accrued at a single site were excluded because of insufficient documentation at baseline. Patient demographics, disease characteristics, and prior treatment history are summarized in Table 1. BGB-3111 was well tolerated with 71% reporting no drug related AE >Gr 1 severity within the first 12 weeks of therapy. The most frequent AEs (>20%) of any attribution (all Gr 1/2) were upper respiratory infection (25%), diarrhea (25%), and nausea (21%). There were 2 SAEs assessed as possibly related to BGB-3111 (Gr 2 atrial fibrillation, Gr 3 cryptococcal meningitis); in both cases, BGB-3111 was temporarily held but safely resumed. In total, 2 pts developed AF (one Gr 1, one Gr 2). No serious hemorrhage (≥Gr 3 or CNS hemorrhage of any grade) was reported. After a median follow-up of 7.6 months (2-21 months), the response rate was 92% (22/24). The major response rate was 83% (20/24), with VGPR (>90% reduction in IgM and reduction in extramedullary disease) in 33% (8/24) and PR (50-90% reduction in IgM and reduction in extramedullary disease) in 50% (12/24) pts. Pts with WM refractory to their last therapy were equally responsive: major response 77% [10/13], VGPR 31% [4/13], PR 46% [6/13]. Median time to initial response and major response were 29 days and 34 days, respectively. IgM decreased from a median of 29.9g/l at baseline to 3.0g/l; hemoglobin increased from a median of 10.1 g/dl at baseline to 13.5g/l. Two of 3 pts who had a dose increase after reaching a stable IgM plateau had further falls in IgM levels after dose escalation. Kinetics of IgM and hemoglobin response are presented in Figure 1. Lymphadenopathy was present in 8 pts at baseline; serial CT demonstrated reduction or resolution in all 8 pts (27%-100% reduction in SPD). Only one patient discontinued BGB-3111, due to exacerbation of pre-existing bronchiectasis while in VGPR. There have been no cases of disease progression. Analysis of response by genomic characteristics (including MYD88 and CXCR4 mutational status) is ongoing. Conclusions: BGB-3111 is well-tolerated and highly active in WM. The depth and quality of responses, as reflected by the VGPR rate of 33%, warrant a randomized comparison against ibrutinib in pts with WM. Table 1. Table 1. Figure 1. Figure 1. Disclosures Tam: Roche: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding. Opat:Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Provision of subsidised drugs, Research Funding. Simpson:Amgen Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Celgene, Roche, Janssen: Honoraria. Anderson:Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research: Other: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research receives milestone payments for the development of venetoclax. Kirschbaum:Beigene: Employment. Wang:Beigene: Employment. Xue:Beigene: Employment. Yang:BeiGene: Employment. Hedrick:Beigene: Employment. Seymour:Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; AbbVie Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Roberts:AbbVie: Research Funding; Servier: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Genentech: Patents & Royalties: Employee of Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research which receives milestone payments related to venetoclax.


Cell Cycle ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (13) ◽  
pp. 2458-2466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian M. Love ◽  
Pedja Sekaric ◽  
Dingding Shi ◽  
Steven R. Grossman ◽  
Elliot J. Androphy

2006 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 1254-1263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomomi Inai ◽  
Masashi Yukawa ◽  
Eiko Tsuchiya

ABSTRACT The IME2 gene is one of the key regulators of the initiation of meiosis in budding yeast. This gene is repressed during mitosis through the repressive chromatin structure at the promoter, which is maintained by the Rpd3-Sin3 histone deacetylase (HDAC) complex. IME2 expression in meiosis requires Gcn5/histone acetyltransferase, the transcriptional activator Ime1, and the chromatin remodeler RSC; however, the molecular basis of IME2 activation had not been previously defined. We found that, during mitotic growth, a nucleosome masked the TATA element of IME2, and this positioning depended on HDAC. This chromatin structure was remodeled at meiosis by RSC that was recruited to TATA by Ime1. Stable tethering of Ime1 to the promoter required the presence of Gcn5. Interestingly, Ime1 binding to the promoter was kept at low levels during the very early stages in meiosis, even when the levels of Ime1 and histone H3 acetylation at the promoter were at their highest, making a 4- to 6-h delay of the IME2 expression from that of IME1. HDAC was continuously present at the promoter regardless of the transcriptional condition of IME2, and deletion of RPD3 allowed the IME2 expression shortly after the expression of IME1, suggesting that HDAC plays a role in regulating the timing of IME2 expression.


Development ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoe L. Grant ◽  
Peter F. Hickey ◽  
Waruni Abeysekera ◽  
Lachlan Whitehead ◽  
Sabrina M. Lewis ◽  
...  

Blood vessel growth and remodelling are essential during embryonic development and disease pathogenesis. The diversity of endothelial cells (ECs) is transcriptionally evident and ECs undergo dynamic changes in gene expression during vessel growth and remodelling. Here, we investigated the role of the histone acetyltransferase HBO1 (KAT7), which is important for activating genes during development and histone H3 lysine 14 acetylation (H3K14ac). Loss of HBO1 and H3K14ac impaired developmental sprouting angiogenesis and reduced pathological EC overgrowth in the retinal endothelium. Single-cell RNA-sequencing of retinal ECs revealed an increased abundance of tip cells in Hbo1 deleted retinas, which lead to EC overcrowding in the retinal sprouting front and prevented efficient tip cell migration. We found that H3K14ac was highly abundant in the endothelial genome in both intra- and intergenic regions suggesting that the role of HBO1 is as a genome organiser that promotes efficient tip cell behaviour necessary for sprouting angiogenesis.


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