A connectomic approach for subcallosal cingulate deep brain stimulation surgery: prospective targeting in treatment-resistant depression.

Target identification and contact selection are known contributors to variability in efficacy across different clinical indications of deep brain stimulation surgery. A retrospective analysis of responders to subcallosal cingulate deep brain stimulation (SCC DBS) for depression demonstrated the common impact of the electrical stimulation on a stereotypic connectome of converging white matter bundles (forceps minor, uncinate fasciculus, cingulum and fronto-striatal fibers). To test the utility of a prospective connectomic approach for SCC DBS surgery, this pilot study used the four-bundle tractography 'connectome blueprint' to plan surgical targeting in 11 participants with treatment-resistant depression. Before surgery, targets were selected individually using deterministic tractography. Selection of contacts for chronic stimulation was made by matching the post-operative probabilistic tractography map to the pre-surgical deterministic tractography map for each subject. Intraoperative behavioral responses were used as a secondary verification of location. A probabilistic tract map of all participants demonstrated inclusion of the four bundles as intended, matching the connectome blueprint previously defined. Eight of 11 patients (72.7%) were responders and 5 were remitters after 6 months of open-label stimulation. At one year, 9 of 11 patients (81.8%) were responders, with 6 of them in remission. These results support the utility of a group probabilistic tractography map as a connectome blueprint for individualized, patient-specific, deterministic tractography targeting, confirming retrospective findings previously published. This new method represents a connectomic approach to guide future SCC DBS studies.

Belimumab alters transitional B-cell subset proportions in patients with stable systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effects of the B-cell activating factor (BAFF)-targeting antibody Belimumab on human nonmemory B-cell pools. Human B-cell pools were identified using surface markers adapted from mouse studies that specifically assessed reductions in immature B cells due to BAFF depletion. Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have high levels of both BAFF and immature B cells. Mechanistic mouse studies provide a framework for understanding human responses to therapies that target B cells. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from healthy donors and SLE patients on Belimumab or standard-of-care therapy (SCT). Cells were stained for flow cytometry to identify B-cell subsets based on CD21/CD24. Differences in subset proportions were determined by one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test. RESULTS: Patients treated with Belimumab show alterations in the nonmemory B-cell pool characterized by a decrease in the Transitional 2 (T2) subset (p = 0.002), and an increase in the proportion of Transitional 1 (T1) cells (p = 0.005) as compared with healthy donors and SCT patients. The naïve B-cell compartment showed no significant differences between the groups (p = 0.293). CONCLUSION: Using a translational approach, we show that Belimumab-mediated BAFF depletion reduces the T2 subset in patients, similar to observations in mouse models with BAFF depletion.

Entanglement of spin waves among four quantum memories.

Quantum networks are composed of quantum nodes that interact coherently through quantum channels, and open a broad frontier of scientific opportunities. For example, a quantum network can serve as a 'web' for connecting quantum processors for computation and communication, or as a 'simulator' allowing investigations of quantum critical phenomena arising from interactions among the nodes mediated by the channels. The physical realization of quantum networks generically requires dynamical systems capable of generating and storing entangled states among multiple quantum memories, and efficiently transferring stored entanglement into quantum channels for distribution across the network. Although such capabilities have been demonstrated for diverse bipartite systems, entangled states have not been achieved for interconnects capable of 'mapping' multipartite entanglement stored in quantum memories to quantum channels. Here we demonstrate measurement-induced entanglement stored in four atomic memories; user-controlled, coherent transfer of the atomic entanglement to four photonic channels; and characterization of the full quadripartite entanglement using quantum uncertainty relations. Our work therefore constitutes an advance in the distribution of multipartite entanglement across quantum networks. We also show that our entanglement verification method is suitable for studying the entanglement order of condensed-matter systems in thermal equilibrium.

Routine endoscopic screening for synchronous esophageal neoplasm in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a prospective study.

Early detection of synchronous esophageal squamous cell neoplasm (ESCN) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients can significantly affect their prognosis. We investigated the prevalence of synchronous ESCN and the risk factors for developing ESCN in patients with HNSCC, and evaluated the effect of routine endoscopic screening in these patients. Subjects who were diagnosed as HNSCC from May 2010 to January 2014 were eligible. All patients underwent conventional white light endoscopic examinations with narrow band imaging and Lugol chromoendoscopy. Among 458 subjects screened, 28 synchronous ESCN were detected in 24 patients (5.2%). The prevalence of ESCN was greatest in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer (20.9%). In multivariate analysis, pyriform sinus involvement was independent risk factor for developing synchronous ESCN (odds ratio 171.2, P < 0.001). During the follow-up period (median, 24 months), the 3-year overall survival rates was significantly lower in patients with ESCN than in patients without ESCN (54.2% vs. 78.3%, P = 0.0013). Routine endoscopic screening for detecting synchronous ESCN should be recommended for patients with HNSCC, especially those with pyriform sinus involvement.

Development of a highly immunogenic Newcastle disease virus chicken vaccine strain of duck origin.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strain NDRL0901 was developed as a live vaccine candidate for control of Newcastle disease. NDV isolate KR/duck/13/07 (DK1307) of duck origin was used as the selected vaccine strain. DK1307 was passaged 6 times in chickens. Then a single clone from the chicken-adapted virus (DK1307C) was finally selected, and the vaccine strain was named NDRL0901. DK1307C and the clone NDRL0901 viruses showed enhanced immunogenicity compared to the DK1307 virus. Principal component analysis based on fusion and hemagglutinin-neuraminidase genes revealed the codon usage pattern in the dataset is distinct separating duck viral sequences and avian sequences, and passage of the duck origin virus into the chicken host causes deviation in the codon usage pattern. The NDRL0901 virus was avirulent and did not acquire viral virulence even after 7 back passages in chickens. When day-old chicks were vaccinated with the NDRL0901 virus via spray, eye drops, and drinking water, the vaccinated birds showed no clinical signs and had significant protection efficacy (>80%) against very virulent NDV (Kr005 strain) infection regardless of the administration route employed. The results indicate that the NDRL0901 strain is safe in chickens and can offer protective immunity.

Effect of endoscopy screening on stage at gastric cancer diagnosis: results of the National Cancer Screening Programme in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Although gastric cancer screening is common among countries with a high prevalence of gastric cancer, there is little data to support the effectiveness of this screening. This study was designed to determine the differences in stage at diagnosis of gastric cancer according to the screening history and screening method (upper gastrointestinal series (UGIS) vs endoscopy). METHODS: The study population was derived from the National Cancer Screening Programme (NCSP), a nationwide organised screening programme in Korea. The study cohort consisted of 19 168 gastric cancer patients who had been diagnosed in 2007 and who were invited to undergo gastric cancer screening via the NCSP between 2002 and 2007. RESULTS: Compared with never-screened patients, the odds ratios for being diagnosed with localised gastric cancer in endoscopy-screened patients and UGIS-screened patients were 2.10 (95% CI=1.90-2.33) and 1.24 (95% CI=1.13-1.36), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Screening by endoscopy was more strongly associated with a diagnosis of localised stage gastric cancer compared with screening by UGIS.

Mapping photonic entanglement into and out of a quantum memory.

Developments in quantum information science rely critically on entanglement-a fundamental aspect of quantum mechanics that causes parts of a composite system to show correlations stronger than can be explained classically. In particular, scalable quantum networks require the capability to create, store and distribute entanglement among distant matter nodes by means of photonic channels. Atomic ensembles can play the role of such nodes. So far, in the photon-counting regime, heralded entanglement between atomic ensembles has been successfully demonstrated through probabilistic protocols. But an inherent drawback of this approach is the compromise between the amount of entanglement and its preparation probability, leading to intrinsically low count rates for high entanglement. Here we report a protocol where entanglement between two atomic ensembles is created by coherent mapping of an entangled state of light. By splitting a single photon and performing subsequent state transfer, we separate the generation of entanglement and its storage. After a programmable delay, the stored entanglement is mapped back into photonic modes with overall efficiency of 17%. Together with improvements in single-photon sources, our protocol will allow 'on-demand' entanglement of atomic ensembles, a powerful resource for quantum information science.

First Report of Freesia sneak virus in Commercial Freesia hybrida Cultivars in Korea.

In order to investigate the virus infection rate of commercial freesia cultivars in early February 2013, 19 freesia cultivars showing necrotic purple speckles or streaks on leaves, purple streaks parallel to the midrib, and necrotic speckles on leaves were collected from three different regions (Suwon and Icheon in Gyeonggi Province and Jeonju in North Jeonla Province) and used for virus detection. Nucleic acid extracts were analyzed for detection of major freesia-infecting viruses including Freesia sneak virus (FreSV) by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR with specific primer pairs. The FreSV CP gene was amplified using primer pair FreSV-F (5'-TTAGATAGTGAATCCATAAGCTGC-3') and FreSV-R (5'-ATGTCTGGAAAATACTCCGTCCAA-3'). The approximately 1.3-kb fragment of the FreSV amplified product was cloned and sequenced (GenBank Accession No. KC771891 to 98). The nucleotide sequences of CP gene of FreSV korean isolates showed 99.2 to 99.8% similarity to other FreSV isolates DQ885455, FJ807730, and GU071089, which are registered in GenBank. FreSV was detected from 71.7% of 138 plants tested while the infection rate of Freesia mosaic virus (FreMV) was 34.8%. Neither Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) nor Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) were detected from any plants tested in this study. In certain cultivars, such as 'Bluebau' (II) and 'Pretty women,' most plants planted in the field showed purple streak symptoms on the leaves. In conclusion, FreSV was detected from some symptomatic freesia cultivars showing purple streak or speckles on leaves with or without necrotic spots and necrotic speckles on leaves. FreSV is currently widespread in Korea and some freesia plants were mixed infected with FreMV. FreSV has been occurring in the Netherlands for over 40 years (2). It is a plant virus in the family Ophioviridae and Ophiovirus genus. Once it occurs in freesia plantation fields, eradication is almost impossible because FreSV is transmitted by zoospores of Olpidium brassicae, which is a soilborne root-infecting fungus (3). Resting spores of O. brassicae can remain dormant in the soil and can be infective for 20 years (1). To produce virus-free freesia plants, growers should consider whether or not their fields are contaminated with O. brassicae carrying FreSV. To our knowledge, this is the first report of FreSV in freesia plants in Korea. References: (1) R. N. Campbell. Can. J. Bot. 63:2288, 1985. (2) Y. Koot et al. Tijdschrift over Plantenziekten 60:157, 1954. (3) H. J. M. van Dorst. Neth. J. Plant Pathol. 81:45, 1975.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for sessile, nonampullary duodenal adenomas.

Although endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is increasingly utilized to treat early neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract, its use for duodenal neoplasms is limited by the thin wall and narrow lumen of the duodenum. We have reviewed cases where ESD was used to treat sessile, nonampullary duodenal neoplasms. To do this, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients treated with ESD for adenomas of the duodenum from January 2001 to December 2010, assessing the curative outcomes and complication rates. A total of 14 cases were reviewed. Mean patient age was 56.4 years. The mean size of tumors and mean size of the specimens were 17.1 mm and 26.4 mm, respectively. The en bloc resection rate with ESD was 78.6%, and the complete (R0) resection rate was 85.7%. No patient in the study experienced major bleeding. However, second-look endoscopy revealed minor bleeding requiring endoscopic homeostasis in one case (7.1%). Perforations were observed in five cases (35.7%). Two of the five patients with perforation underwent surgery. The ESD methods yielded acceptable curative resection rates for duodenal adenomas, although ESD was associated with a higher rate of perforation. Therefore, duodenal ESD should be performed with care and only in selected patients to avoid serious complications.

Epidemiology of egg drop syndrome virus in ducks from South Korea.

Egg drop syndrome virus (EDSV) is an important pathogen of poultry that decreases egg production in chickens and causes respiratory disease in goslings. In 2011, we obtained serum samples from 139 domestic Pekin ducks, 416 one-day-old Pekin ducklings, and 75 wild ducks (67 mallards and 8 pintails) to survey their exposure to EDSV. A total of 123 of 139 sera (88.5%) from Pekin ducks, 396 of the ducklings (95.2%), and 16 of 67 mallards (23.9%) were positive. Field cases of EDSV in wild and domestic ducks were investigated. Six cases from domestic Pekin ducks were identified by PCR detection and were used for virus isolation and molecular analysis. Phylogenetic analyses of the partial hexon and full fiber genes showed that the D11-JW-012 and D11-JW-017 strains among 6 isolates belonged to different clusters compared with other known strains including the 127 strain. We assessed cell growth efficiency by hemagglutination (HA) titers and cytopathic effects in duck embryo liver cells and chicken embryo liver (CEL) cells to investigate host adaptation. The D11-JW-017 strain propagated more in chicken embryo liver than the D11-JW-012 strain and the field isolate from chickens. Our results demonstrate the high prevalence of EDSV in wild and domestic ducks in South Korea and provide information on EDSV from ducks that showed variable adaptability in chickens.

Development and field application of a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of Newcastle disease virus antibodies in chickens and ducks.

A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (C-ELISA) using a baculovirus-expressed recombinant nucleocapsid protein antigen (rNDV-N) and an rNDV-N-specific monoclonal antibody (5B3) was developed for the detection of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) antibodies, and its diagnostic performance was evaluated. The specificity and sensitivity of the C-ELISA was found to be 98.4 and 98.9%, respectively, for chickens, and 98.2 and 97.9% for ducks. However, the C-ELISA showed weak cross-reaction with hyperimmune antisera to some other avian paramyxovirus serotypes. In all experimentally vaccinated chickens, seroconversion rates at 7 d postinoculation were 100 and 40% when measured by C-ELISA and hemagglutination inhibition (HI), respectively. In field trials, the C-ELISA showed positive results in 98.9% of HI-positive sera and 40.8% of HI-negative sera from NDV-vaccinated chickens (n = 705). In domestic ducks (n = 158) from NDV-positive duck farms (n = 8), the positive rates according to C-ELISA were significantly higher than those according to the HI test. At the same time, 98.1% of ducks (n = 209) from NDV-negative duck farms (n = 11) were also negative by C-ELISA. Our results indicate that C-ELISA could be a useful alternative to HI testing for detecting NDV antibodies in different avian species such as chickens and ducks.

Demonstration of a state-insensitive, compensated nanofiber trap.

We report the experimental realization of an optical trap that localizes single Cs atoms ≃215 nm from the surface of a dielectric nanofiber. By operating at magic wavelengths for pairs of counterpropagating red- and blue-detuned trapping beams, differential scalar light shifts are eliminated, and vector shifts are suppressed by ≈250. We thereby measure an absorption linewidth Γ/2π=5.7±0.1 MHz for the Cs 6S(1/2), F=4→6P(3/2), F'=5 transition, where Γ0/2π=5.2 MHz in free space. An optical depth d≃66 is observed, corresponding to an optical depth per atom d1≃0.08. These advances provide an important capability for the implementation of functional quantum optical networks and precision atomic spectroscopy near dielectric surfaces.

Natural course of noncurative endoscopic resection of differentiated early gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Following noncurative endoscopic resection of early gastric cancer (EGC), the patient should be observed when the underlying disease is severe, the patient is elderly, or the patient refuses further treatment. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical outcomes of patients with differentiated EGC who underwent noncurative endoscopic resection without additional treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Included patients underwent noncurative endoscopic resection for differentiated EGC without additional treatment at the Asan Medical Center between July 1994 and January 2009. Clinical and oncological outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 159 patients were included in the analysis. The median follow-up period was 33 months (interquartile range [IQR] 22 - 52 months). In total, 40 patients died (25.2 %) - 3 due to stomach cancer, 34 due to other causes, and 3 from unknown causes; the median survival time after endoscopic treatment for these patients was 27.5 months (IQR 13.8 - 48.3 months). Multivariate analysis showed that the rates of underlying disease (P < 0.001) and lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.005) were higher among the 40 patients who died than among the 119 survivors. The overall 3-  and 5-year survival rates were 82.9 % and 77.1 %, respectively; the rates of the patients with lymphovascular invasion were 61.9 % and 42.4 %, respectively, and the rates of patients without lymphovascular invasion were 86.1 % and 81.8 %, respectively (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Additional treatment provides fewer benefits to patients who do not have long life expectancies. Additional surgery can be considered for patients with lymphovascular invasion because of its high mortality rate; however, the benefits and risks of surgery should be considered carefully.

Evidence for X-linked introgression between molecular forms of Anopheles gambiae from Angola.

The M and S molecular forms of the African malaria vector Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae) are morphologically identical incipient species in which reproductive isolation is incomplete, enabling low-level gene flow between forms. In an attempt to find differences between the M and S forms, sequence variation was studied at loci along the X chromosome in adult female An. gambiae from Angola. A high proportion of M form specimens from Angola (79% of the 456 X chromosomes sampled) were found to contain a 16-bp insertion in intron 4 of the X-linked GPRCCK1 locus, relative to the AgamP3 release of the An. gambiae PEST genome sequence. The insertion was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in Angolan M form populations. The same insertion was found in all S form specimens examined, regardless of where in Africa they were sampled, but was absent from a sample of M form specimens collected in Ghana, Bioko and Mali. In M form specimens from Angola, there was an association between alleles at the GPRCCK1 locus and those at a microsatellite locus, AGXH678, close to the centromere of the X chromosome, with significant linkage disequilibrium between loci separated by 0.472 Mbp (P < 0.033). We show that the insertion results from introgression from the S form into the M form, rather than from the retention of an ancestral character. Gene flow from the S to M form could allow genes of adaptive value to be transferred, including those conferring insecticide resistance and others influencing ecology and behaviour, and thus malaria transmission and control. We discuss factors that may have led to this introgression event.

Epidemiological investigation of outbreaks of fowl adenovirus infection in commercial chickens in Korea.

In total, 39 clinical cases of fowl adenoviruses (FAdV) infection in chickens (28 broiler, 7 native, and 4 layer chickens) between 2007 and 2010 in Korea were investigated. The FAdV types 4, 8b, and 11 comprised 18, 9, and 12 clinical cases, respectively. All FAdV type 4 cases showed clinical hydropericardium (HPS) lesions as well as inclusion body hepatitis (IBH), whereas all FAdV types 8b and 11 cases exhibited IBH lesions without HPS. All 3 types were detected in broiler (9-30 d old) and layer chickens (23-112 d old), whereas most native chickens (14-65 d old) were affected only by FAdV type 4. Infectious bursal disease virus and chicken infectious anemia virus were complications in 51.3% of FAdV cases, with mortalities of 55% to <0.1%. Chicken infectious anemia virus was detected in all native chicken cases. These results indicate that preventive measures against FAdV infection and immunosuppressive diseases on poultry farms should be implemented.

Search for CP violation in the decays D(0)→K(S)(0)P(0).

We have searched for CP violation in the decays D(0)→K(S)(0)P(0) where P(0) denotes a neutral pseudoscalar meson that is either a π(0), η, or η' using KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 791 fb(-1) collected with the Belle detector. No evidence of significant CP violation is observed. We report the most precise CP asymmetry measurement in the decay D(0)→K(S)(0)π(0) to date: A(CP)(D(0)→K(S)(0)π(0))=(-0.28±0.19±0.10)%. We also report the first measurements of CP asymmetries in the decays D(0)→K(S)(0)η and D(0)→K(S)(0)η': A(CP)(D(0)→K(S)(0)η)=(+0.54±0.51±0.16)% and A(CP)(D(0)→K(S)(0)η')=(+0.98±0.67±0.14)%, respectively.

Transnasal endoscope-assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection for gastric adenoma and early gastric cancer in the pyloric area: a case series.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is an important therapeutic option for gastric adenoma and early gastric cancer (EGC). However, ESD is technically difficult when lesions are located in the pyloric area. Our aim was to introduce the transnasal endoscope-assisted ESD method, which provides for excellent cutting-line visualization through control of submucosal traction. A total of eight patients with gastric adenoma or EGC located in the pyloric area were consecutively enrolled. A primary operating endoscope was used to perform marking, incision, submucosal dissection, and hemostasis, while a thinner, transnasal endoscope operated by a second endoscopist was used to retract connective submucosal tissue to provide cutting-line visualization using V-shaped grasping forceps. En bloc resection was achieved in all eight cases, as was complete resection. The median longest lesion diameter was 19 mm (range: 12-25 mm), and the median procedure time was 37.5 minutes (range: 29-59 minutes). There were no incidents of significant bleeding or perforation. Transnasal endoscope-assisted ESD was useful for treating gastric neoplasms in the pyloric area. The procedure was relatively easy and safe, provided excellent visualization through tissue retraction, and allowed for complete en bloc resection.

Factors associated with the intention to have colorectal cancer screening in Korean adults.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors related to screening intention in a population-based screening programme for colorectal cancer. The data were taken from the 2008 Korean National Cancer Screening Survey. We conducted a nationwide survey with trained interviewers using a questionnaire. A total of 2038 participants agreed to answer the survey. There were 955 study subjects aged ≥ 50 years in the target age group for colorectal cancer screening. Colorectal cancer screening behaviour and demographic characteristics were collected to evaluate intention for colorectal cancer screening and related factors. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression were used in the analysis. The lifetime screening rate was 50.4% (50.9% for men and 49.8% for women). The screening rate with recommendation was 39.7% (39.3% for men and 40.1% of women). The odds ratios of intention to be screened increased significantly in younger subjects and those screened with double-contrast barium enema or colonoscopy. 'Without any symptoms' was reported as the most frequent reason for non-attendance or no intention to be screened. Age and recent screening methods were important factors related to intention to be screened for colorectal cancer. Further research is needed to identify remaining barriers to screening.

Satisfaction with mammography in the National Cancer Screening Programme participants of age 40s in Korea.

The aim of this study was to evaluate satisfaction with the National Cancer Screening Programme of mammography in Korea and to examine the association between subscales of satisfaction and general satisfaction. We conducted a cross-sectional telephone survey for women who had obtained a National Cancer Screening Programme mammographic screening at general hospitals between May and October 2008. The present study included 2005 women in their forties. We performed multivariate linear regression using dependent variable as general satisfaction and independent variables as subscales of satisfaction, such as pre-screening information transfer, staff interpersonal skills, physical surroundings and results reporting. Participants were stratified according to the result of their mammogram as negative or positive. Mean score of satisfaction was above 2.5 of 4 for all subscales. Women who received positive results were less satisfied with all of subscale factors. Staff interpersonal skills were the most important factor that contributed to general satisfaction. Future efforts such as staff training programme of communication/attitude skills, ensuring privacy and explanation of possible discomfort of the screening would be needed.

Expression and localization of MCsialec, a sialic acid-specific lectin in the marine bivalve Manila clam, Ruditapes philppinarum.

A novel sialic acid-specific lectin (MCsialec) was detected from an expressed sequenced tag (EST) sequence from Manila clam haemocytes infected with Perkinsus olseni. The cDNA of the lectin was cloned using gene-specific primers based on a previously determined EST and characterized. The full-length cDNA of MCsialec is 603 bp in length and encodes a polypeptide of 200 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 21.928 kDa. Sequence alignment and protein motif analyses showed that MCsialec shares identity with sialic acid-specific invertebrate lectins from Cepaea hortensis, Helix pomatia and Haliotis discus discus. The lectin was expressed in Escherichia coli M15 cells and purified using a Ni-NTA His-binding resin matrix for antibody production. The presence of the lectin in various tissues of Perkinsus-infected and uninfected Manila clams was analysed by both PCR and immunohistochemical localization assays. MCsialec was detected in each tissue of the clams; however, upon infection, the level of expression of the lectin increased in each tissue. Vibrio tapetis infection also induced high-level expression of MCsialec in the haemocytes. These data suggest that MCsialec plays a crucial role in the immune system of the Manila clam during pathogenic infection.