University of Rijeka

About: University of Rijeka is a education organization based out in Rijeka, Croatia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Tourism. The organization has 3471 authors who have published 7993 publications receiving 110386 citations. The organization is also known as: Rijeka University & Sveučilište u Rijeci.

What we need to know when calculating the coefficient of correlation

Abstract: Correlation is a statistical procedure applied to calculate association between two variables. The value of correlation is numerically shown by a coefficient of correlation, most often by Pearson's or Spearman's coefficient, while the significance of the coefficient is expressed by P value. The coefficient of correlation shows the extent to which changes in the value of one variable are correlated to changes in the value of the other. A sign preceding the coefficient of correlation (+ or -) indicates the direction of correlation. The most frequent errors in calculating correlation are related to conditions for calculation, interpretation of the coefficient and correlation significance, high correlation coefficients, assumption of causal relationship, the strength of correlation (coefficient of determination), and comparison of two correlation coefficients.

Cytomegalovirus immunoevasin reveals the physiological role of “missing self” recognition in natural killer cell dependent virus control in vivo

Abstract: Cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) are renowned for interfering with the immune system of their hosts. To sidestep antigen presentation and destruction by CD8+ T cells, these viruses reduce expression of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I) molecules. However, this process sensitizes the virus-infected cells to natural killer (NK) cell–mediated killing via the “missing self” axis. Mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) uses m152 and m06 encoded proteins to inhibit surface expression of MHC I molecules. In addition, it encodes another protein, m04, which forms complexes with MHC I and escorts them to the cell surface. This mechanism is believed to prevent NK cell activation and killing by restoring the “self” signature and allowing the engagement of inhibitory Ly49 receptors on NK cells. Here we show that MCMV lacking m04 was attenuated in an NK cell– and MHC I–dependent manner. NK cell–mediated control of the infection was dependent on the presence of NK cell subsets expressing different inhibitory Ly49 receptors. In addition to providing evidence for immunoevasion strategies used by CMVs to avoid NK cell control via the missing-self pathway, our study is the first to demonstrate that missing self–dependent NK cell activation is biologically relevant in the protection against viral infection in vivo.