Non-professional efferocytosis of Salmonella-infected intestinal epithelial cells in the neonatal host.

The intestinal epithelium is the first line of defense against enteric pathogens. Removal of infected cells by exfoliation prevents mucosal translocation and systemic infection in the adult host, but is less commonly observed in the neonatal intestine. Instead, here, we describe non-professional efferocytosis of Salmonella-infected enterocytes by neighboring epithelial cells in the neonatal intestine. Intestinal epithelial stem cell organoid cocultures of neonatal and adult cell monolayers with damaged enterocytes replicated this observation, confirmed the age-dependent ability of intestinal epithelial cells for efferocytosis, and identified the involvement of the "eat-me" signals and adaptors phosphatidylserine and C1q as well as the "eat-me" receptors integrin-αv (CD51) and CD36 in cellular uptake. Consistent with this, massive epithelial cell membrane protrusions and CD36 accumulation at the contact site with apoptotic cells were observed in the infected neonatal host in vivo. Efferocytosis of infected small intestinal enterocytes by neighboring epithelial cells may represent a previously unrecognized mechanism of neonatal antimicrobial host defense to maintain barrier integrity.

Minimal SPI1-T3SS effector requirement for Salmonella enterocyte invasion and intracellular proliferation in vivo.

Effector molecules translocated by the Salmonella pathogenicity island (SPI)1-encoded type 3 secretion system (T3SS) critically contribute to the pathogenesis of human Salmonella infection. They facilitate internalization by non-phagocytic enterocytes rendering the intestinal epithelium an entry site for infection. Their function in vivo has remained ill-defined due to the lack of a suitable animal model that allows visualization of intraepithelial Salmonella. Here, we took advantage of our novel neonatal mouse model and analyzed various bacterial mutants and reporter strains as well as gene deficient mice. Our results demonstrate the critical but redundant role of SopE2 and SipA for enterocyte invasion, prerequisite for transcriptional stimulation and mucosal translocation in vivo. In contrast, the generation of a replicative intraepithelial endosomal compartment required the cooperative action of SipA and SopE2 or SipA and SopB but was independent of SopA or host MyD88 signaling. Intraepithelial growth had no critical influence on systemic spread. Our results define the role of SPI1-T3SS effector molecules during enterocyte invasion and intraepithelial proliferation in vivo providing novel insight in the early course of Salmonella infection.

European operative registry to avoid complications in operative gynecology.

The aim of this study is to determine how complications can be avoided in gynecological minimally invasive surgery in Europe. The Norwegian Gynecological Endoscopic Registry (NGER) facilitates medical research over a long duration. Can experiences from the Norwegian registry be used to develop a European registry to avoid complications? To answer this question, we used the NGER data from February 2013 until March 2015 to analyze the complications of gynecological endoscopy. The registry includes sociodemographic factors, related comorbidity, previous surgery, present procedure, and intraoperative complications. Postoperative complications were identified with a questionnaire administered 4 weeks after surgery. The risk factors leading to complications in gynecological endoscopy were found to be obesity, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, hypertension, previous surgery due to cervical carcinoma in situ, and low educational level. Regional differences in the complication rate were noted. National web-based operation registries such as the NGER can identify the risk factors for complications of gynecological endoscopic surgery and can help improve the outcome after surgery. The experience from NGER can be used to establish a European register.

Eco-friendly fabrication of 4% efficient organic solar cells from surfactant-free P3HT:ICBA nanoparticle dispersions.

Photo-active layers from non-stabilized P3HT:ICBA nanoparticles enable the fabrication of inverted organic solar cells from eco-friendly, alcoholic dispersions. Exhibiting power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) ≈4%, the devices are competitive to state-of-the-art P3HT:ICBA solar cells from chlorinated solvents. Upon thermal annealing, the short circuit current density and consequently the PCE of the inverted solar cells improve radically due to a more intimate contact of the nanoparticles and hence an enhanced charge carrier extraction.

The Australian Byrrhinae (Coleoptera: Byrrhidae) with descriptions of new genera and species.

The generic classification of the Australian Byrrhinae is revised and the following new genera are described: Notolioon gen. n., Nothochaetes gen. n., Idiothrix gen. n., Akidomorychus gen. n., Brachybyrrhulus gen. n. and Pseudomorychus gen. n. A key is provided for the genera of Australian Byrrhidae. The following new combinations are proposed: Notolioon atronitens (Lea 1920) comb. n., N. bryophagus (Lea 1907) comb. n., N. carissimus (Lea 1907). comb. n., N. dives (Lea 1907) comb. n., N. gemmatus (Lea 1920) comb. n., N. globosus (Wilson 1921) comb. n., N. griffithi (Lea 1907) comb. n., N. maculatipes (Lea 1920) comb. n., N. multicolor (Lea 1907) comb. n., N. nodipennis (Lea 1920) comb. n., N. simplicicornis (Lea 1907) comb. n., N. viridinitens (Lea (1920). comb. n., Nothochaetes fasciculatus (Lea 1920) comb. n., Idiothrix carinaticeps (Lea 1920) comb. n., Akidomorychus comatus (Oke 1932) comb. n., A. polychromus (Lea 1920) comb. n., A. raucus (Blackburn 1891) comb. n., A. venustus (Wilson 1921) comb. n., Brachybyrrhulus discicollis (Lea 1920) comb. n., Pseudomorychus torrensensis (Blackburn 1889) comb. n., P. mixtus (Lea 1907) comb. n. The following new species are described: Notolioon cardamine sp. n., Nothochaetes howensis sp. n. and Brachybyrrhulus malleecola sp. n.