Griffith University

About: Griffith University is a education organization based out in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 13830 authors who have published 49318 publications receiving 1420865 citations.

MUC1 cell surface mucin is a critical element of the mucosal barrier to infection

Abstract: Cell surface mucin glycoproteins are highly expressed by all mucosal tissues, yet their physiological role is currently unknown. We hypothesized that cell surface mucins protect mucosal cells from infection. A rapid progressive increase in gastrointestinal expression of mucin 1 (Muc1) cell surface mucin followed infection of mice with the bacterial pathogen Campylobacter jejuni. In the first week following oral infection, C. jejuni was detected in the systemic organs of the vast majority of Muc1(-/-) mice but never in Muc1(+/+) mice. Although C. jejuni entered gastrointestinal epithelial cells of both Muc1(-/-) and Muc1(+/+) mice, small intestinal damage as manifested by increased apoptosis and enucleated and shed villous epithelium was more common in Muc1(-/-) mice. Using radiation chimeras, we determined that prevention of systemic infection in wild-type mice was due exclusively to epithelial Muc1 rather than Muc1 on hematopoietic cells. Expression of MUC1-enhanced resistance to C. jejuni cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) in vitro and CDT null C. jejuni showed lower gastric colonization in Muc1(-/-) mice in vivo. We believe this is the first in vivo experimental study to demonstrate that cell surface mucins are a critical component of mucosal defence and that the study provides the foundation for exploration of their contribution to epithelial infectious and inflammatory diseases.

Experimental EPR-steering using Bell-local states

Abstract: Erwin Schrodinger introduced in 1935 the concept of ‘steering’, which generalizes the famed Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen paradox. Steering sits in between quantum entanglement and non-locality — that is, entanglement is necessary for steering, but steering can be achieved, as has now been demonstrated experimentally, with states that cannot violate a Bell inequality (and therefore non-locality).

The macrophage-inducible C-type lectin, Mincle, is an essential component of the innate immune response to Candida albicans

Abstract: The recognition of carbohydrate moieties by cells of the innate immune system is emerging as an essential element in antifungal immunity, but despite the number and diversity of lectins expressed by innate immune cells, few carbohydrate receptors have been characterized. Mincle, a C-type lectin, is expressed predominantly on macrophages, and is here shown to play a role in macrophage responses to the yeast Candida albicans. After exposure to the yeast in vitro, Mincle localized to the phagocytic cup, but it was not essential for phagocytosis. In the absence of Mincle, production of TNF-alpha by macrophages was reduced, both in vivo and in vitro. In addition, mice lacking Mincle showed a significantly increased susceptibility to systemic candidiasis. Thus, Mincle plays a novel and nonredundant role in the induction of inflammatory signaling in response to C. albicans infection.

Coordination of Atomic Co-Pt Coupling Species at Carbon Defects as Active Sites for Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

Abstract: Platinum (Pt) is the state-of-the-art catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), but its high cost and scarcity limit its large-scale use. However, if the usage of Pt reduces to a sufficiently low level, this critical barrier may be overcome. Atomically dispersed metal catalysts with high activity and high atom efficiency have the possibility to achieve this goal. Herein, we report a locally distributed atomic Pt-Co nitrogen–carbon-based catalyst (denoted as A-CoPt-NC) with high activity and robust durability for ORR (267 times higher than commercial Pt/C in mass activity). The A-CoPt-NC shows a high selectivity for the 4e– pathway in ORR, differing from the reported 2e– pathway characteristic of atomic Pt catalysts. Density functional theory calculations suggest that this high activity originates from the synergistic effect of atomic Pt-Co located on a defected C/N graphene surface. The mechanism is thought to arise from asymmetry in the electron distribution around the Pt/Co metal centers, as well as...

A review on the viable technology for construction waste recycling

Abstract: Environmental problems have been considered as a serious situation in the construction. Waste management is pressing harder with the alarming signal warning the industry. Reuse, recycling and reduce the wastes consider as the only methods to recover those waste generated; however, the implementations still have much room for improvement. This paper reviews the technology on construction waste recycling and their viability. Ten material recycling practices are studied, including: (i) asphalt, (ii) brick, (iii) concrete, (iv) ferrous metal, (v) glass, (vi) masonry, (vii) non-ferrous metal, (viii) paper and cardboard, (ix) plastic and (x) timber. The viable technology of the construction material recycling should be provided an easy reference for future applications.