The Vulnerability Scan, a Web Tool to Increase Institutional Biosecurity Resilience.

The importance of vigilance within organizations working with high-risk biological material receives increasing attention. However, an in-depth and comprehensive tool, dedicated to increase awareness of potential risks and to assess an organization's current biosecurity vulnerabilities, has not been available yet. We developed the "Biosecurity Vulnerability Scan," a web tool that identifies biosecurity gaps in an organization based on eight biosecurity pillars of good practice. Although the tool aims primarily to assist biosafety and biosecurity officers, it can also be useful to researchers working with dangerous pathogens, their principal investigators, management, or those responsible for security issues in the life sciences. Results are only stored locally and are provided in an "overview report," which includes information on relevant risks and control measures. This can support well-substantiated decision-making on strengthening biosecurity measures within a specific organization. With this article, we aim to support institutes to increase their overall security resilience and to improve institutional biosecurity in particular by providing practical recommendations. The Biosecurity Vulnerability Scan is available at www.biosecurityvulnerabilityscan.nl.

Development of a Biosecurity Checklist for Laboratory Assessment and Monitoring.

INTRODUCTION: Laboratory biosecurity is of continuously growing interest due to increasing concerns about deliberate misuse of biological materials and emerging biological risks. These risks continue to be magnified by globalization, the rapid pace of scientific development, and dual-use technologies. Worldwide laboratory capacities are expanding, which calls for concrete actions to improve laboratory biosafety and biosecurity practices to protect researchers and the community. Hence, laboratories require comprehensive biorisk management programs to minimize the risk of accidental and deliberate release of infectious biological materials. OBJECTIVE: Malaysia has prioritized the concern of national biosecurity and aims to consolidate laboratory biosecurity performance to detect and prevent the deliberate release of biological agents. METHODS: Two 3-day workshops were organized over the course of four months in which Malaysia collaborated with The Netherlands. This bilateral engagement aimed to integrate biosecurity practices in their national biorisk management programs, and resulted into a comprehensive biosecurity checklist for laboratory assessment and monitoring. RESULTS: This biosecurity checklist is based on Malaysian and Dutch expert opinions and national and international guidelines and regulations. The biosecurity checklist is a survey-driven tool that consists of a set of concrete questions for each key biosecurity area, which are discussion points for assessment. CONCLUSION: We display a practical biosecurity checklist for laboratory assessment and monitoring. Although the presented checklist was the template for the specific Malaysia checklist, it could serve as a template for other countries.

Langerhans Cell-Dendritic Cell Cross-Talk via Langerin and Hyaluronic Acid Mediates Antigen Transfer and Cross-Presentation of HIV-1.

Human epidermal and mucosal Langerhans cells (LCs) express the C-type lectin receptor langerin that functions as a pattern recognition receptor. LCs are among the first immune cells to interact with HIV-1 during sexual transmission. In this study, we demonstrate that langerin not only functions as a pattern recognition receptor but also as an adhesion receptor mediating clustering between LCs and dendritic cells (DCs). Langerin recognized hyaluronic acid on DCs and removal of these carbohydrate structures partially abrogated LC-DC clustering. Because LCs did not cross-present HIV-1-derived Ags to CD8(+) T cells in a cross-presentation model, we investigated whether LCs were able to transfer Ags to DCs. LC-DC clustering led to maturation of DCs and facilitated Ag transfer of HIV-1 to DCs, which subsequently induced activation of CD8(+) cells. The rapid transfer of Ags to DCs, in contrast to productive infection of LCs, suggests that this might be an important mechanism for induction of anti-HIV-1 CD8(+) T cells. Induction of the enzyme hyaluronidase-2 by DC maturation allowed degradation of hyaluronic acid and abrogated LC-DC interactions. Thus, we have identified an important function of langerin in mediating LC-DC clustering, which allows Ag transfer to induce CTL responses to HIV-1. Furthermore, we showed this interaction is mediated by hyaluronidase-2 upregulation after DC maturation. These data underscore the importance of LCs and DCs in orchestrating adaptive immunity to HIV-1. Novel strategies might be developed to harness this mechanism for vaccination.

Dectin-1 activation induces proliferation and migration of human keratinocytes enhancing wound re-epithelialization.

Beta-glucans in temporary wound dressings have immuno-stimulatory capacities and have been shown to enhance wound healing in burn patients. Curdlan is a 1,3-linked bacterial/fungal derived beta-glucan that induces inflammatory responses via the C-type lectin receptor dectin-1 on dendritic cells (DCs). Here we investigated the effect of beta-glucan curdlan and the role of dectin-1 expressed by keratinocytes (KCs) in wound healing. Curdlan enhanced migration, proliferation and wound closure of human KCs in a dectin-1 dependent manner, both in vitro and ex vivo. Our data suggest that curdlan induces human KC proliferation and migration and could therefore be used in creams to enhance wound healing.

Caveolin-1 mediated uptake via langerin restricts HIV-1 infection in human Langerhans cells.

BACKGROUND: Human Langerhans cells (LCs) reside in foreskin and vaginal mucosa and are the first immune cells to interact with HIV-1 during sexual transmission. LCs capture HIV-1 through the C-type lectin receptor langerin, which routes the virus into Birbeck granules (BGs), thereby preventing HIV-1 infection. BGs are langerin-positive organelles exclusively present in LCs, however, their origin and function are unknown. RESULTS: Here, we not only show that langerin and caveolin-1 co-localize at the cell membrane and in vesicles but also that BGs are langerin/caveolin-1-positive vesicles are linked to the lysosomal degradation pathway in LCs. Moreover, inhibition of caveolar endocytosis in primary LCs abrogated HIV-1 sequestering into langerin(+) caveolar structures. Notably, both inhibition of caveolar uptake and silencing of caveolar structure protein caveolin-1 resulted in increased HIV-1 integration and subsequent infection. In contrast, inhibition of clathrin-mediated endocytosis did not affect HIV-1 integration, even though HIV-1 uptake was decreased, suggesting that clathrin-mediated endocytosis is not involved in HIV-1 restriction in LCs. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, our data strongly indicate that BGs belong to the caveolar endocytosis pathway and that caveolin-1 mediated HIV-1 uptake is an intrinsic restriction mechanism present in human LCs that prevents HIV-1 infection. Harnessing this particular internalization pathway has the potential to facilitate strategies to combat HIV-1 transmission.

Antiviral immune responses by human langerhans cells and dendritic cells in HIV-1 infection.

The main route of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection is via unprotected sexual intercourse, and therefore, vaginal tissues and male foreskin are viral entry sites. Langerhans cells (LCs) and dendritic cells (DCs) are amongst the first immune cells encountering HIV-1 since these cells line these mucosal tissues. Both LCs and DCs are equipped with specific pattern recognition receptors that not only sense pathogens, but induce specific immune responses against these pathogens. LCs express the C-type lectin receptor langerin, which provides protection against HIV-1 infection. In contrast, DCs express the C-type lectin receptor DC-SIGN, which facilitates capture as well as infection of DCs and subsequent transmission to CD4(+) T cells. This chapter gives an update on immune responses elicited against viruses and sheds a light on different immune mechanisms that are hijacked by HIV-1 to infect the host. HIV-1 infection ultimately leads to the worldwide pandemic acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

An evolutionary perspective on C-type lectins in infection and immunity.

Host-pathogen interactions have coevolved for many years. On the one hand, the human immune system consists of innate and adaptive immune cells that function to defeat pathogens, and on the other hand, pathogens have coevolved to use the system for their own propagation. C-type lectins are conserved receptors recognizing carbohydrate structures on viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi. C-type lectins such as DC-SIGN, langerin, and dectin-1 are expressed by dendritic cell subsets and macrophages. Pathogen recognition by C-type lectins triggers signaling pathways that lead to the expression of specific cytokines which subsequently instruct adaptive T helper immune responses. T helper cell differentiation is crucial for initiating proper adaptive immune responses; some pathogens, however, use pattern recognition receptors like C-type lectins to subvert immune responses for survival. This review provides an update on the role of C-type lectins in HIV-1, mycobacterial, and Candida infections, and the coevolution of hosts and pathogens.

The macrophage mannose receptor promotes uptake of ADAMTS13 by dendritic cells.

ADAMTS13 is a plasma metalloproteinase that regulates platelet adhesion and aggregation by cleaving ultra-large VWF multimers on the surfaces of endothelial cells. Autoantibodies directed against ADAMTS13 prohibit the processing of VWF multimers, initiating a rare and life-threatening disorder called acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. The formation of autoantibodies depends on the activation of CD4(+) T cells. This process requires immune recognition, endocytosis, and subsequent processing of ADAMTS13 into peptides that are presented on MHC class II molecules to CD4(+) T cells by dendritic cells (DCs). In the present study, we investigated endocytosis of recombinant ADAMTS13 by immature monocyte-derived DCs using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. After incubation of fluorescently labeled ADAMTS13 with DCs, significant uptake of ADAMTS13 was observed. Endocytosis of ADAMTS13 was completely blocked by the addition of EGTA and mannan. ADAMTS13 endocytosis was decreased in the presence of a blocking mAb directed toward the macrophage mannose receptor (MR). Furthermore, siRNA silencing of MR reduced the uptake of ADAMTS13 by DCs. In addition, in vitro binding studies confirmed the interaction of ADAMTS13 with the carbohydrate recognition domains of MR. The results of the present study indicate that sugar moieties on ADAMTS13 interact with MR, thereby promoting its endocytosis by APCs.

Burn injury suppresses human dermal dendritic cell and Langerhans cell function.

Human skin contains epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) and dermal dendritic cells (DCs) that are key players in induction of adaptive immunity upon infection. After major burn injury, suppressed adaptive immunity has been observed in patients. Here we demonstrate that burn injury affects adaptive immunity by altering both epidermal LC and dermal DC functions. We developed a human ex vivo burn injury model to study the function of DCs in thermally injured skin. No differences were observed in the capacity of both LCs and dermal DCs to migrate out of burned skin compared to unburned skin. Similarly, expression levels of co-stimulatory molecules were unaltered. Notably, we observed a strong reduction of T cell activation induced by antigen presenting cell (APC) subsets that migrated from burned skin through soluble burn factors. Further analyses demonstrated that both epidermal LCs and dermal DCs have a decreased T cell stimulatory capacity after burn injury. Restoring the T cell stimulatory capacity of DC subsets might improve tissue regeneration in patients with burn wounds.

HIV-1 exploits innate signaling by TLR8 and DC-SIGN for productive infection of dendritic cells.

Pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) elicit antiviral immune responses to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Here we show that HIV-1 required signaling by the PRRs Toll-like receptor 8 (TLR8) and DC-SIGN for replication in dendritic cells (DCs). HIV-1 activated the transcription factor NF-kappaB through TLR8 to initiate the transcription of integrated provirus by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). However, DC-SIGN signaling was required for the generation of full-length viral transcripts. Binding of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 to DC-SIGN induced kinase Raf-1-dependent phosphorylation of the NF-kappaB subunit p65 at Ser276, which recruited the transcription-elongation factor pTEF-b to nascent transcripts. Transcription elongation and generation of full-length viral transcripts was dependent on pTEF-b-mediated phosphorylation of RNAPII at Ser2. Inhibition of either pathway abrogated replication and prevented HIV-1 transmission. Thus, HIV-1 subverts crucial components of the immune system for replication that might be targeted to prevent infection and dissemination.

Radiotherapy is not associated with reduced quality of life and cognitive function in patients treated for nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma.

PURPOSE: To assess the influence of different treatment modalities on long-term health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) and cognitive problems among patients who had been treated for nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma (NFA). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Eighty-one patients (49 men and 32 women, aged 55 +/- 10 years) with a minimal follow-up period of 1 year after treatment for NFA participated in this cross-sectional study. Sixty-two patients were initially treated by transsphenoidal surgery and 19 by craniotomy. Subsequently, 45 of these 81 subjects (56%) received additional radiotherapy (RT) after surgery because of a tumor remnant or regrowth. All subjects filled in standardized questionnaires measuring HR-QoL, depression, fatigue, and cognitive problems. RESULTS: Patients who underwent additional RT more frequently underwent a craniotomy and were younger at surgery, but not at entering this study. They also used more hormonal substitution. Most HR-QoL domains showed a similar score in patients who underwent RT when compared with patients who did not receive RT. However, vitality and physical functioning proved to be better in RT subjects, and RT subjects also had better scores for depression and physical and mental fatigue (all p < 0.05). Some aspects of HR-QoL of patients who have been successfully treated for NFA are reduced compared with the normal population, but this was much more pronounced in the group that did not receive RT. In multivariate analysis, RT remained significantly associated with improved HR-QoL. No differences in cognitive function scores were observed. CONCLUSION: Postoperative RT in patients with NFA is not associated with reduced quality of life or cognition when compared with surgery alone.