Jagiellonian University

About: Jagiellonian University is a education organization based out in Krakow, Poland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Catalysis. The organization has 17438 authors who have published 44092 publications receiving 862633 citations. The organization is also known as: Academia Cracoviensis & Akademia Krakowska.

Taurine chloramine, a product of activated neutrophils, inhibits in vitro the generation of nitric oxide and other macrophage inflammatory mediators.

Abstract: Taurine (Tan) is an exceptionally abun- darn free amino acid in the cytosol of inflammatory cells and especially in neutrophils. Taurine protects cells from self-destruction during processes that gen- erate oxidants. The major function of Tau in leuko- cytes is to trap chlorinated oxidants (HOC1). Taurine reacts with HOC1 to produce the long-lived compound taurine chioramine (TauCi). Previously, we have shown that other products of the neutrophil chiorin- ating system are able to modify functions of macro- phages. In this study, we investigated in vitro the influence ofTauCi on the generation of inflammatory mediators by activated macrophages. We have found that TauCi inhibited the generation of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor a, and inter- leukin-6, but TauCi slightly enhanced the release of IL-la. The formation of nitrites by interferon-'y-acti- vated macrophages was inhibited by TauCl in a dose- dependent manner. Taurine chioramine also reduced the level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA in macrophages, in a similar concentration- dependent manner. Although our experiments do not exclude a direct effect of TauCl on enzymatic activity of iNOS, the inhibition of iNOS expression seems to be the major mechanism responsible for suppression of NO formation. Finally, we discuss the biological role of TauCl in vivo. We suggest that at the site of inflammation TauCl works as a specific signaling molecule ofactivated neutrophils that coordinates the generation of inflammatory mediators in macro- phages.J. Leukoc. Bin!. 58: 667-674; 1995.

Measurements of the nuclear modification factor for jets in Pb+Pb Collisions at √sNN = 2.76 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Abstract: Measurements of inclusive jet production are performed in pp and Pb+Pb collisions at √sNN = 2.76 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC, corresponding to integrated luminosities of 4.0 pb−1 and 0.14 nb−1, respectively. The jets are identified with the anti-kt algorithm with R = 0.4, and the spectra are measured over the kinematic range of jet transverse momentum 32 < pT < 500 GeV, and absolute rapidity |y| < 2.1 and as a function of collision centrality. The nuclear modification factor, RAA, is evaluated and jets are found to be suppressed by approximately a factor of two in central collisions compared to pp collisions. The RAA shows a slight increase with pT and no significant variation with rapidity.

Fungi pathogenic to humans: molecular bases of virulence of Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus fumigatus

Abstract: The frequency of severe systemic fungal diseases has increased in the last few decades. The clinical use of antibacterial drugs, immunosuppressive agents after organ transplantation, cancer chemotherapy, and advances in surgery are associated with increasing risk of fungal infections. Opportunistic pathogens from the genera Candida and Aspergillus as well as pathogenic fungi from the genus Cryptococcus can invade human organism and may lead to mucosal and skin infections or to deep-seated mycoses of almost all inner organs, especially in immunocompromised patients. Nowadays, there are some effective antifungal agents, but, unfortunately, some of the pathogenic species show increasing resistance. The identification of fungal virulence factors and recognition of mechanisms of pathogenesis may lead to development of new efficient antifungal therapies. This review is focused on major virulence factors of the most common fungal pathogens of humans: Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus and Cryptococcus neoformans. The adherence to host cells and tissues, secretion of hydrolytic enzymes, phenotypic switching and morphological dimorphism contribute to C. albicans virulence. The ability to grow at 37 degrees C, capsule synthesis and melanin formation are important virulence factors of C. neoformans. The putative virulence factors of A. fumigatus include production of pigments, adhesion molecules present on the cell surface and secretion of hydrolytic enzymes and toxins.

Role of ocular melanin in ophthalmic physiology and pathology.

Abstract: The mammalian eye consists of several layers of pigmented tissues that contain melanin. The eye is a unique organ for pigment cell research because one can isolate and compare melanosomes from different tissues and embryonic origins. Retinal, iris and ciliary pigment epithelial cells are derived from the neural ectoderm, more specifically from the extremity of the embryonic optical cup, which is also the origin of the retina. In contrast, the pigment-generating cells in the choroid and in the stroma of the iris and ciliary body, uveal melanocytes, are developed from the neural crest, the same origin as the melanocytes in skin and hair. This review examines the potential functions of ocular melanin in the human eye. Following a discussion of the role of melanins in the pigment epithelium and uveal melanocytes, three specific topics are explored in detail—photo-screening protective effects, biophysical and biochemical protective effects, and the biologic and photobiologic effects of the two main classes of melanins (generally found as mixtures in ocular melanosomes)—eumelanin and pheomelanin.