Dyhr Dyhr (chardbull3)
(1) Background Wild cervids play an important role in transmission cycles of tick-borne pathogens; however, investigations of tick-borne pathogens in sika deer in Germany are lacking. (2) Methods Spleen tissue of 74 sympatric wild cervids (30 roe deer, 7 fallow deer, 22 sika deer, 15 red deer) and of 27 red deer from a farm from southeastern Germany were analyzed by molecular methods for the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia species. (3) Results Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia DNA was demonstrated in 90.5% and 47.3% of the 74 combined wild cervids and 14.8% and 18.5% of the farmed deer, respectively. Twelve 16S rRNA variants of A. phagocytophilum were delineated. While the infection rate for A. phagocytophilum among the four cervid species was similar (71.4% to 100%), it varied significantly for Babesia between roe deer (73.3%), fallow deer (14.3%), sika deer (27.3%) and red deer (40.0%). Deer ≤2 years of age tested significantly more often positive than the older deer for both A. phagocytophilum and Babesia species. (4) Conclusions This study confirms the widespread occurrence of A. phagocytophilum and Babesia species in wild cervids and farmed red deer in Germany and documents the co-occurrence of the two tick-borne pathogens in free-ranging sika deer.Human thymic CD8αα+ CD10+ PD-1+ αβ T cells selected through early agonist selection have been proposed as the putative thymic precursors of the human CD8αα+ intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs). However, the progeny of these thymic precursor cells in human blood or tissues has not yet been characterized. Here, we studied the phenotypical and transcriptional differentiation of the thymic IEL precursor (IELp) lineage upon in vitro exposure to cytokines prominent in the peripheral tissues such as interleukin-15 (IL-15) and the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interleukin-18 (IL-18). We showed that only the CD1a- fraction of the CD10+ PD-1+ IELp population was able to proliferate with IL-15, suggesting that this subset had acquired functionality. These cells downregulated PD-1 expression and completely lost CD10 expression, whereas other surface markers such as CD95 and CXCR3 remained highly expressed. RNA-seq analysis of the IL-15-cultured cells clearly showed induction of innate-like and effector genes. Induction of the cytotoxic machinery by the CD10+ PD-1+ population was acquired in the presence of IL-15 and was further augmented by inflammatory cytokines. Our data suggest that only the CD1a- CD10+ PD-1+ population exits the thymus and survives in the periphery. Furthermore, PD-1 and CD10 expression is not an intrinsic property of this lineage, but rather characterizes a transient stage in differentiation. CD95 and CXCR3 expression combined with the absence of CD28, CCR7, and CD6 expression might be more powerful markers to define this lineage in the periphery.The scientific paper presents practical research carried out by a mixed team of Romanian researchers from universities and the business environment. The research consists in applying the process of cutting metallic materials through electrical discharge machining with contact breaking using a metal band as a transfer object. The research was implemented with the help of a specially designed installation in the laboratory and subsequently all the necessary steps were taken to obtain the patent for it. Various metallic materials were cut using this process, but first of all, high alloy steels. In the global research conducted by the authors, active experimental programs and classic experimental programs were used. The composite central factorial experiment was the method that led to the most effective results in terms of interpretations and conclusions. The research as a whole includes unique elements from an engineering point of view and here we can highlight the use of a metal band as a transfer object for this type of process as well as the designed, realized, and subsequ