Monitoring with In Vivo Electrochemical Sensors: Navigating the Complexities of Blood and Tissue Reactivity

The disruptive action of an acute or critical illness is frequently manifest through rapid biochemical changes that may require continuous monitoring. Within these changes, resides trend information of predictive value, including responsiveness to therapy. In contrast to physical variables, biochemical parameters monitored on a continuous basis are a largely untapped resource because of the lack of clinically usable monitoring systems. This is despite the huge testing repertoire opening up in recent years in relation to discrete biochemical measurements. Electrochemical sensors offer one of the few routes to obtaining continuous readout and, moreover, as implantable devices information referable to specific tissue locations. This review focuses on new biological insights that have been secured through in vivo electrochemical sensors. In addition, the challenges of operating in a reactive, biological, sample matrix are highlighted. Specific attention is given to the choreographed host rejection response, as evidenced in blood and tissue, and how this limits both sensor life time and reliability of operation. Examples will be based around ion, O2, glucose, and lactate sensors, because of the fundamental importance of this group to acute health care.

DPSCs seeded in acellular nerve grafts processed by Myroilysin improve nerve regeneration

Since synthetic nerve conduits do not exhibit ideal regeneration characteristics, they are generally inadequate substitutes for autologous nerve grafts in the repair of long peripheral nerve defects. To resolve this problem, in this study, a nerve regeneration acellular nerve graft (ANG) with homologous dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) was constructed. Xenogeneic ANG was processed by Myroilysin to completely remove cells and myelin sheath, while preserving extracellular matrix (ECM) microstructure of the natural nerve. The study revealed that ANG could support cell attachment and proliferation and did not stimulate a vigorous host rejection response. After inoculation of rabbit DPSCs (r-DPSCs) onto ANG, cells were observed to align along the longitudinal axis of the acellular nerve matrix (ANM) and persistently express NGF and BDNF. Undifferentiated r-DPSCs also presented glial cell characteristics and promoted nerve regeneration after transplantation in vivo. We repaired 1 cm purebred New Zealand White Rabbits sciatic nerve defects using this nerve graft construction, and nerve gap regeneration was indicated by electrophysiological and histological analysis. Therefore, we conclude that the combination of an ANG processed by Myroilysin with DPSCs providing a microenvironment that increases nerve regeneration for repairing peripheral nerve defects.

Host–parasite coevolution beyond the nestling stage? Mimicry of host fledglings by the specialist screaming cowbird

Egg mimicry by obligate avian brood parasites and host rejection of non-mimetic eggs are well-known textbook examples of host–parasite coevolution. By contrast, reciprocal adaptations and counteradaptations beyond the egg stage in brood parasites and their hosts have received less attention. The screaming cowbird ( Molothrus rufoaxillaris ) is a specialist obligate brood parasite whose fledglings look identical to those of its primary host, the baywing ( Agelaioides badius ). Such a resemblance has been proposed as an adaptation in response to host discrimination against odd-looking young, but evidence supporting this idea is scarce. Here, we examined this hypothesis by comparing the survival rates of young screaming cowbirds and non-mimetic shiny cowbirds ( Molothrus bonariensis ) cross-fostered to baywing nests and quantifying the similarity in plumage colour and begging calls between host and cowbird fledglings. Shiny cowbirds suffered higher post-fledging mortality rates (83%) than screaming cowbirds (0%) owing to host rejection. Visual modelling revealed that screaming cowbirds, but not shiny cowbirds, were indistinguishable from host young in plumage colour. Similarly, screaming cowbirds matched baywings' begging calls more closely than shiny cowbirds. Our results strongly support the occurrence of host fledgling mimicry in screaming cowbirds and suggest a role of visual and vocal cues in fledgling discrimination by baywings.

How to evade a coevolving brood parasite: egg discrimination versus egg variability as host defences

Arms races between avian brood parasites and their hosts often result in parasitic mimicry of host eggs, to evade rejection. Once egg mimicry has evolved, host defences could escalate in two ways: (i) hosts could improve their level of egg discrimination; and (ii) negative frequency-dependent selection could generate increased variation in egg appearance (polymorphism) among individuals. Proficiency in one defence might reduce selection on the other, while a combination of the two should enable successful rejection of parasitic eggs. We compared three highly variable host species of the Afrotropical cuckoo finch Anomalospiza imberbis , using egg rejection experiments and modelling of avian colour and pattern vision. We show that each differed in their level of polymorphism, in the visual cues they used to reject foreign eggs, and in their degree of discrimination. The most polymorphic host had the crudest discrimination, whereas the least polymorphic was most discriminating. The third species, not currently parasitized, was intermediate for both defences. A model simulating parasitic laying and host rejection behaviour based on the field experiments showed that the two host strategies result in approximately the same fitness advantage to hosts. Thus, neither strategy is superior, but rather they reflect alternative potential evolutionary trajectories.

Feeding aggregation of the tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (Ixodidae): benefits and costs in the contest with host responses

Gregariousness can be advantageous in interspecific competition while intraspecific competition may favour solitude. We examined feeding behaviour of the ixodid tick, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, in the context of interspecific (tick–host) and intraspecific (tick–tick) competition. Such competition is mediated through host rejection responses to tick infestation to which ticks respond by secreting immunodulatory saliva. We observed that group feeding adults increased their blood-feeding rate, reducing the time to mating and repletion, compared with individual feeding of paired adults. The benefits of feeding aggregation indicate direct reciprocity between ticks, most likely resulting from the shared activities of their bioactive saliva. However, fast-feeding ticks appeared to impair blood-feeding success of slow-feeding females during group feeding. This may be explained by the faster feeders exacerbating host responses on detachment that are then directed against the slower feeders. As female fecundity is generally proportional to the size of the bloodmeal, there will be a selection pressure to feed gregariously. Greater understanding of the benefits and costs of feeding aggregation may help to improve tick control strategies.