Research Event

Event participants

Dr Katherine Morton, Senior Fellow, Department of International Relations, Australian National University
Chair: Professor Shaun Breslin, Associate Fellow, Asia Programme, Chatham House

17 May 2016

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Overwatch

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem sent letters to two Sioux tribes demanding they remove COVID-19 checkpoints because they interfere with traffic.

The government said it's distributing the promising coronavirus drug, remdesivir, to some hard-hit states. Eventually, all 50 states should get it.

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (App) is the etiological agent of acute porcine pneumonia and responsible for severe economic losses worldwide. The capsule polymer of App serotype 1 (App1) consists of [4)-GlcNAc-β(1,6)-Gal-α-1-(PO4-] repeating units that are O-acetylated at O-6 of the GlcNAc. It is a major virulence factor and was used in previous studies in the successful generation of an experimental glycoconjugate vaccine. However, the application of glycoconjugate vaccines in the animal health sector is limited, presumably because of the high costs associated with harvesting the polymer from pathogen culture. Consequently, here we exploited the capsule polymerase Cps1B of App1 as an in vitro synthesis tool and an alternative for capsule polymer provision. Cps1B consists of two catalytic domains, as well as a domain rich in tetratricopeptide repeats (TPRs). We compared the elongation mechanism of Cps1B with that of a ΔTPR truncation (Cps1B-ΔTPR). Interestingly, the product profiles displayed by Cps1B suggested processive elongation of the nascent polymer, whereas Cps1B-ΔTPR appeared to work in a more distributive manner. The dispersity of the synthesized products could be reduced by generating single-action transferases and immobilizing them on individual columns, separating the two catalytic activities. Furthermore, we identified the O-acetyltransferase Cps1D of App1 and used it to modify the polymers produced by Cps1B. Two-dimensional NMR analyses of the products revealed O-acetylation levels identical to those of polymer harvested from App1 culture supernatants. In conclusion, we have established a protocol for the pathogen-free in vitro synthesis of tailored, nature-identical App1 capsule polymers.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer arises from cross-resistance to structurally- and functionally-divergent chemotherapeutic drugs. In particular, MDR is characterized by increased expression and activity of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily transporters. Sphingolipids are substrates of ABC proteins in cell signaling, membrane biosynthesis, and inflammation, for example, and their products can favor cancer progression. Glucosylceramide (GlcCer) is a ubiquitous glycosphingolipid (GSL) generated by glucosylceramide synthase, a key regulatory enzyme encoded by the UDP-glucose ceramide glucosyltransferase (UGCG) gene. Stressed cells increase de novo biosynthesis of ceramides, which return to sub-toxic levels after UGCG mediates incorporation into GlcCer. Given that cancer cells seem to mobilize UGCG and have increased GSL content for ceramide clearance, which ultimately contributes to chemotherapy failure, here we investigated how inhibition of GSL biosynthesis affects the MDR phenotype of chronic myeloid leukemias. We found that MDR is associated with higher UGCG expression and with a complex GSL profile. UGCG inhibition with the ceramide analog d-threo-1-(3,4,-ethylenedioxy)phenyl-2-palmitoylamino-3-pyrrolidino-1-propanol (EtDO-P4) greatly reduced GSL and monosialotetrahexosylganglioside levels, and co-treatment with standard chemotherapeutics sensitized cells to mitochondrial membrane potential loss and apoptosis. ABC subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1) expression was reduced, and ABCC-mediated efflux activity was modulated by competition with nonglycosylated ceramides. Consistently, inhibition of ABCC-mediated transport reduced the efflux of exogenous C6-ceramide. Overall, UGCG inhibition impaired the malignant glycophenotype of MDR leukemias, which typically overcomes drug resistance through distinct mechanisms. This work sheds light on the involvement of GSL in chemotherapy failure, and its findings suggest that targeted GSL modulation could help manage MDR leukemias.

Noncoercive, pay-to-go, voluntary, assisted voluntary, and nonforced returns generally can offer paid travel and/or other financial incentive to encourage unauthorized immigrants to cooperate with immigration officials and leave host countries. A look at three key rationales for governments to choose pay-to-go and other returns.

Almost five years ago, lawmakers on a bipartisan committee of Parliament agreed unanimously to amend the law to give the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) the power to arrest and prosecute cops. That proposed amendment, which was...

There is nothing average about Bishop Cleveland Mattis who uses the skills and knowledge he has acquired over the years, from varying areas, to be more relatable to the people he serves and transform lives through the teachings of the Holy Spirit...

This book explores how developing-country governments have institutionalized ties with emigrants and their descendents. It offers an unprecedented taxonomy of 45 diaspora-engaging institutions found in 30 developing countries, exploring their activities and objectives. It also provides important practitioner insights from Mali, Mexico, and the Philippines.

Or better yet go back to Africa, we don’t need any feminazis ruining our society

Is this some sort of properties for fractions? I know how to arrive at step 1 from step 2 but not step 1 to step 2.

He catches the fish, breathes on them, then throws them back. These infected fish will infect all bodies of water with Covid-19. He goes saltwater and fresh water fishing 

Examples being: XTro (UK), Oldboy (S.Korea), Girl With a Dragon Tattoo (Sweden), Predestination (Australia) ... something like these

So I was talking to this cute Christian girl and she was apparently interested in me. We even set up a date and aal that. Then she found out I'm an atheist, and she said that "She's looking for someone to share her faith" and bailed out on me. Why does God want me to kiss his a ss so badly, for me to simply date a girl? Does he have a perverted crush on me?

The Nova Scotia government is going ahead with its annual lottery for moose hunting licences after the latest survey found Cape Breton moose numbers have rebounded from a low of 1,300 last year.

(May 6, 2020) On April 16, 2020, the Norwegian government launched a smartphone app to track the spread of the coronavirus in Norway. By downloading the app, users voluntarily allow the app to track their physical location and notify them if they have been in close proximity to a person who later becomes infected with […]

Taulia Tagovailoa (date: 5/10/2020 - Rank: 7)

Today, we came across an interesting video where Govinda can be seen shaking his leg with actress Kriti Sanon on his hit song 'Main Toh Raste Se Ja Raha Tha'.

Amid lockdown crisis, Guwahati NGO lends helping hand to musicians  Northeast Now

Post-pandemic effect: The show must go home  Hindustan Times

Gurus of classical music, dance go digital  Times of India

On Mother’s Day, be inspired by these mother-daughter duos who are going places  YourStory

1. Xiaomi's Mi Box 4K Box to go on sale today: Price and other details  Livemint
2. Xiaomi Mi 10 vs OnePlus 8 Pro: A quick comparison of two flagship phones  India Today
3. “Too expensive!”: Does Xiaomi have an image problem in India?  TechPP
4. Xiaomi Mi 10 vs Samsung Galaxy S20: Price in India, Specifications Compared  Gadgets 360
5. Xiaomi Mi Box 4K to go on sale today in India  Hindustan Times
6. View Full coverage on Google News

1. UFC 249: Justin Gaethje halts the Tony Ferguson vs Khabib Nurmagomedov storyline  Hindustan Times
2. UFC 249 news: Khabib Nurmagomedov tweets immediately after Tony Ferguson loses to Justin Gaethje  GIVEMESPORT
3. Twitter Salutes Tony Ferguson After Surviving a Barrage of Attacks From Justin Gaethje  Essentially Sports
4. UFC 249: ‘He is epitome of an athlete,’ Justin Gaethje full of praise for opponent Tony Ferguson  Hindustan Times
5. Justin Gaethje batters Tony Ferguson to win UFC interim lightweight title  ESPN India
6. View Full coverage on Google News

Gold bonds open tomorrow for subscription when investment demand is rising  LivemintHere's All You Need to Know About Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme Opening on Monday  News18Sovereign Gold Bond opens tomorrow: Issue price fixed at Rs 4,...

After flip-flops, IndiGo clarifies pay cut for senior employees will be for entire 2020-21  MoneycontrolCovid-19: IndiGo's senior employees to face pay cut up to 25% for entire FY21  LivemintAfter Flip-Flops, IndiGo Announces Pay Cu...

Alberta has charged a Calgary-based supply company with COVID-19 price gouging, but the company's owner says he himself is paying massively inflated prices just to bring in supplies like masks and sanitizer.

One sister was formally trained in France. The other learned how to bake off the internet and shows how you don't need to go abroad to know about bread.

Cyclist Michel Di Felciantonio writes an open letter to supporters of Ride2Transform, a tour through Italy to raise awareness for OM projects.

As the OM Transform team share the Gospel with children in Sicily, Italy, they also experience God’s touch in their own lives.

A Muslim woman relates to the story of the Good Samaritan and receives comfort from God.

God opens doors for an international team to minister in Urfa, Turkey, an ancient city with no Christian church and only a handful of believers.

Church planters with the BCC in Turkey are encouraged by growth in a city where the gospel was previously unknown.

Two OMer's plan a trip out to eastern Turkey to share the gospel with the lost, as their plans keep changing along the way.

A Christian teacher shares from the Bible with her Muslim headmaster in Turkey.