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Nicola Angel

Bio: Nicola Angel is an academic researcher from University of Queensland. The author has contributed to research in topics: Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase & Messenger RNA. The author has an hindex of 10, co-authored 16 publications receiving 1570 citations.

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The quantification of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater affords the ability to monitor the prevalence of infections among the population via wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) and highlights the viability of WBE for monitoring infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, in communities.

1,325 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Nov 2000-Bone
TL;DR: The view that TRAP, like several other hydrolases, is synthesized as a relatively inactive proen enzyme, and cleavage is the physiological mechanism of proenzyme activation in osteoclasts is put forth.

210 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Measurements of the bone formation rate suggest that the animals compensate for the increased resorption by increasing bone synthesis, which partly ameliorates the phenotype, and provides evidence that inclusion of an irrelevant enhancer does not necessarily override a tissue‐specific promoter.
Abstract: Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) is a secreted product of osteoclasts and a lysosomal hydrolase of some tissue macrophages. To determine whether TRAP expression is rate-limiting in bone resorption, we overexpressed TRAP in transgenic mice by introducing additional copies of the TRAP gene that contained the SV40 enhancer. In multiple independent mouse lines, the transgene gave a copy number-dependent increase in TRAP mRNA levels and TRAP activity in osteoclasts, macrophages, serum, and other sites of normal low-level expression (notably, liver parenchymal cells, kidney mesangial cells, and pancreatic secretory acinar cells). Transgenic mice had decreased trabecular bone consistent with mild osteoporosis. Measurements of the bone formation rate suggest that the animals compensate for the increased resorption by increasing bone synthesis, which partly ameliorates the phenotype. These mice provide evidence that inclusion of an irrelevant enhancer does not necessarily override a tissue-specific promoter.

177 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Surveillance of wastewater from large transport vessels with their own sanitation systems has potential as a complementary data source to prioritize clinical testing and contact tracing among disembarking passengers and must be further optimized to maximize detection sensitivity.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can be an important source of information for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) management during and after the pandemic. Currently, governments and transportation industries around the world are developing strategies to minimize SARS-CoV-2 transmission associated with resuming activity. This study investigated the possible use of SARS-CoV-2 RNA wastewater surveillance from airline and cruise ship sanitation systems and its potential use as a COVID-19 public health management tool. METHODS: Aircraft and cruise ship wastewater samples (n = 21) were tested for SARS-CoV-2 using two virus concentration methods, adsorption-extraction by electronegative membrane (n = 13) and ultrafiltration by Amicon (n = 8), and five assays using reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and RT-droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR). Representative qPCR amplicons from positive samples were sequenced to confirm assay specificity. RESULTS: SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in samples from both aircraft and cruise ship wastewater; however concentrations were near the assay limit of detection. The analysis of multiple replicate samples and use of multiple RT-qPCR and/or RT-ddPCR assays increased detection sensitivity and minimized false-negative results. Representative qPCR amplicons were confirmed for the correct PCR product by sequencing. However, differences in sensitivity were observed among molecular assays and concentration methods. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates that surveillance of wastewater from large transport vessels with their own sanitation systems has potential as a complementary data source to prioritize clinical testing and contact tracing among disembarking passengers. Importantly, sampling methods and molecular assays must be further optimized to maximize detection sensitivity. The potential for false negatives by both wastewater testing and clinical swab testing suggests that the two strategies could be employed together to maximize the probability of detecting SARS-CoV-2 infections amongst passengers.

164 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Several lines of evidence show that the gene encoding the enzyme tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) is a target of microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF) and will allow osteoclast‐specific mechanisms of gene regulation to be studied in greater detail.
Abstract: The defective terminal differentiation of osteoclasts in mice homozygous for the mi allele of the microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF) gene implies that MITF plays a critical role in regulating gene expression during osteoclast ontogeny. To begin addressing the role of this transcription factor in the osteoclast, target genes need to be identified. In the present work, several lines of evidence show that the gene encoding the enzyme tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) is a target of MITF. Analysis of osteoclasts in vivo in the embryonic forelimb showed that MITF and TRAP RNA were coexpressed in a dynamic pattern during the process of endochondral ossification of long bone. Primary osteoclast-like cells (OCLs) produced from mi/mi mutant mice expressed TRAP messenger RNA (mRNA) at 8-fold lower levels than in OCLs derived from normal mice, indicating a direct link between MITF function and TRAP expression. The activity of mouse TRAP promoter-reporter genes was assayed in the primary OCLs by DNA-mediated transfection, and this activity was shown to depend on a conserved sequence (GGTCATGTGAG) located in the proximal promoter. Recombinant MITF protein recognized specifically this conserved sequence element. Expression of a TRAP promoter-green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgene mimicked the expression of the endogenous TRAP gene during differentiation of osteoclast-like cells, and the expression of the transgene was decreased 8-fold when placed into the mutant mi/mi background. These results are consistent with a role for MITF in gene expression during terminal differentiation of the osteoclast and will allow osteoclast-specific mechanisms of gene regulation to be studied in greater detail.

139 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The cellular sources of these cytokines, receptor signaling pathways, and induced markers and gene signatures are reviewed and the concept of macrophage activation in the context of the immune response is revisit.
Abstract: Macrophages are innate immune cells with well-established roles in the primary response to pathogens, but also in tissue homeostasis, coordination of the adaptive immune response, inflammation, resolution, and repair. These cells recognize danger signals through receptors capable of inducing specialized activation programs. The classically known macrophage activation is induced by IFN-gamma, which triggers a harsh proinflammatory response that is required to kill intracellular pathogens. Macrophages also undergo alternative activation by IL-4 and IL-13, which trigger a different phenotype that is important for the immune response to parasites. Here we review the cellular sources of these cytokines, receptor signaling pathways, and induced markers and gene signatures. We draw attention to discrepancies found between mouse and human models of alternative activation. The evidence for in vivo alternative activation of macrophages is also analyzed, with nematode infection as prototypic disease. Finally, we revisit the concept of macrophage activation in the context of the immune response.

2,515 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The role and the molecular mechanism of action of regulatory molecules, such as cytokines and hormones, in osteoclast and osteoblast birth and apoptosis are reviewed to review the evidence for the contribution of changes in bone cell birth or death to the pathogenesis of the most common forms of osteoporosis.
Abstract: The adult skeleton regenerates by temporary cellular structures that comprise teams of juxtaposed osteoclasts and osteoblasts and replace periodically old bone with new. A considerable body of evidence accumulated during the last decade has shown that the rate of genesis of these two highly specialized cell types, as well as the prevalence of their apoptosis, is essential for the maintenance of bone homeostasis; and that common metabolic bone disorders such as osteoporosis result largely from a derangement in the birth or death of these cells. The purpose of this article is 3-fold: 1) to review the role and the molecular mechanism of action of regulatory molecules, such as cytokines and hormones, in osteoclast and osteoblast birth and apoptosis; 2) to review the evidence for the contribution of changes in bone cell birth or death to the pathogenesis of the most common forms of osteoporosis; and 3) to highlight the implications of bone cell birth and death for a better understanding of the mechanism of action and efficacy of present and future pharmacotherapeutic agents for osteoporosis.

2,398 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Transcriptome profiling reveals novel molecules and signatures associated with human monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation and polarized activation which may represent candidate targets in pathophysiology.
Abstract: Comprehensive analysis of the gene expression profiles associated with human monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation and polarization toward M1 or M2 phenotypes led to the following main results: 1) M-CSF-driven monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation is associated with activation of cell cycle genes, substantiating the underestimated proliferation potential of monocytes. 2) M-CSF leads to expression of a substantial part of the M2 transcriptome, suggesting that under homeostatic conditions a default shift toward M2 occurs. 3) Modulation of genes involved in metabolic activities is a prominent feature of macrophage differentiation and polarization. 4) Lipid metabolism is a main category of modulated transcripts, with expected up-regulation of cyclo-oxygenase 2 in M1 cells and unexpected cyclo-oxygenase 1 up-regulation in M2 cells. 5) Each step is characterized by a different repertoire of G protein-coupled receptors, with five nucleotide receptors as novel M2-associated genes. 6) The chemokinome of polarized macrophages is profoundly diverse and new differentially expressed chemokines are reported. Thus, transcriptome profiling reveals novel molecules and signatures associated with human monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation and polarized activation which may represent candidate targets in pathophysiology.

2,194 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The past five years have witnessed important insights into osteoclast formation and function and many of these discoveries have been made through genetic experiments that involved the rare hereditary disorder osteopetrosis.
Abstract: Osteoclasts are the principal, if not exclusive, bone-resorbing cells, and their activity has a profound impact on skeletal health. So, disorders of skeletal insufficiency, such as osteoporosis, typically represent enhanced osteoclastic bone resorption relative to bone formation. Prevention of pathological bone loss therefore depends on an appreciation of the mechanisms by which osteoclasts differentiate from their precursors and degrade the skeleton. The past five years have witnessed important insights into osteoclast formation and function. Many of these discoveries have been made through genetic experiments that involved the rare hereditary disorder osteopetrosis.

1,548 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The role of the principal growth factors and transcription factors affecting different processes of skeletal development, chondrogenesis, joint formation, and osteogenesis are addressed and the genetic cascade leading to cell differentiation is presented.

1,367 citations