The QDOT MICROTM Catheter is a novel open-irrigated contact force-sensing single-tip radiofrequency ablation catheter. It incorporates six thermocouples at its tip and offers temperature-controlled and very high-power short-duration (vHPSD) ablation with 90 Watts for 4 seconds to improve safety and efficacy of catheter ablation procedures. The QDOT MICROTM Catheter was recently evaluated for pulmonary vein isolation and safety, efficacy and long-term follow-up found promising results. Although the QDOT MICROTM Catheter was mainly designed for pulmonary vein isolation its versatility to treat atrial fibrillation as well as other types of arrythmias was recently evaluated by the FAST and FURIOUS study series and other studies and will be presented in this article.

Glyoxalase 2 (Glo2) is the second enzyme in the glyoxalase system, and while its cytoplasmic function is well-established, its subcellular localization in the nucleus and potential role there remain unexplored. This study investigates nuclear localization and function of Glo2 in human breast cancer (MCF7) and normal fibroblast-derived (HDF) cells. Glo2 was present in both cytoplasm and nucleus of MCF7 and HDF cells. Interestingly, Glo2 expression levels were significantly higher in MCF7 compared to HDF, especially when considering the nuclear Glo2. Western-blot analysis revealed the monomeric 29 KDa Glo2 form and a 47 KDa Glo2 form suggesting complex formation with other proteins in the cytoplasm of MCF7 and HDF cells. Interestingly, at the nuclear level only the tumor cells showed the 47 KDa Glo2 form. Sequential salt extraction indicated a potential association of Glo2 with non-histone proteins. Intriguingly, nuclear Glo2 positively correlated with cell cycle proliferative phase (G2/M), more markedly in MCF7. Furthermore, higher levels of S-glutathionylation of nuclear proteins were observed in MCF7 compared to HDFs, and “in vitro” addition of Glo2 to nuclear extracts increased S-glutathionylation levels, significantly in MCF7. Finally, inhibiting Glo2 increased doxorubicin cytotoxicity in MCF7. Overall, these results indicate that nuclear Glo2 may play a role in in promoting cancer cell survival and targeting Glo2 could be a promising strategy to improve the efficacy of some anticancer therapies in breast cancer.

Understanding the neurocognitive mechanisms of the coordination of habitual and goal-directed behaviors is particularly important, as impaired coordination will cause various behavioral disorders. However, inducing habitual responses in human beings through repetitive stimuli-response training in a laboratory setting is a challenge. Well-trained sports experts, who have automatic perception-action associations towards expertise-related stimuli, provide a natural sample to address this critical knowledge gap. We used scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) to record the brain activity of well-trained sports experts when they performed a Simon task using expertise-related stimuli. By manipulating the congruency between the location of expertise-related stimuli and the response hand, we dissociated automatic habitual response and goal-directed inhibition control. We observed a stronger congruency effect on expertise-related stimuli than neutral stimuli. Particularly, sports experts exhibited larger response-locked lateralized readiness potentials (LRP) and stronger frontocentral beta band (15-25Hz) activity in the congruent condition than the incongruent condition, which indicate an enhanced automatic habitual response tendency towards expertise-related stimuli. In contrast, prominent mid-frontal theta (3-7Hz) activity observed in the incongruent condition signaled the involvement of inhibition control. Moreover, the response-locked lateralized readiness potential (LRP) amplitude and theta power showed significant behavioral relevance to performance efficiency. Taken together, these results suggest that sports experts exhibit an enhanced coordination process towards expertise-related stimuli, with automatic response preparation and proficient response inhibition through extensive training.

The potentially wide application of Phenolic acids (PAs) in industries was severely limited by their inadequate solubility and stability in polar/non-polar media. To overcome these limits, studies on the enzymatic esterification of PAs with glycerol were carried out to reach a yield of 95% of phenolic acid glycerols (PAGs) under the following reaction conditions: 1:150 molar ratio of caffeic acid (CA) to glycerol; 25% Lipozyme 435 relative to the weight of total substrates; temperature 80 oC, 500 rpm; 86.7 kPa and reaction time 10 h. Three resulting PAGs including caffeoyl glycerol (CG), feruloyl glycerol (FG) and p-hydroxycinnamoyl glycerol ( p-HCG) were confirmed by MS, 1H NMR and 13C NMR. Among them, CG showed a comparative free radical scavenging ability to CA, indicating its potential use as a water-soluble antioxidant alternative to CA for food and cosmetic applications.

Objective : To evaluate the effects of Complete Decongestive Treatment (CDT) on both cancer-related fatigue and sleep quality using validated and reliable questionnaires in cancer patients is commendable. Material and Metods: 94 patients between the ages of 18 and 75 were included in the study. The demographic characteristics of the patients were recorded. The participants’ Stages of Lymphedema , Hirai Cancer Fatigue Scale (HCFS) score, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) Global score, lymphedema-specific quality of life questionnaire (LYMQOL- ARM) score, and Global health status were recorded before and after CDT. Results : The mean age of the patients was 58.49±10.96 years. Strong correlations were found between the severity of edema and global health status . There was a significant positive relationship among the HCFS score, PSQI Global score, LYMQOL- ARM score and CDT. After decongestive physiotherapy, majority of the lymphedema stages were downstaging .(P < 0.05), respectively. There was also a trend toward improvement in general well-being (P < 0.05). Conclusion : In our study, which is the first study to investigate the HCFS score in postmastectomy patients and relationship between PSQI Global score and CDT. The findings identify the risk factors that affect these outcomes in women with lymphedema can provide valuable insights for targeted interventions and improved patient care.

Anti-VEGF therapy is commonly used to treat proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), but the exact mechanism of VEGF signaling is not fully understood. Using data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry (DIA-MS), we analyzed proteomic changes in aqueous humor (AH) samples collected before and one week after intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) treatment from 10 PDR patients to discover potential biomarkers. Resultantly, 875 proteins were quantified and 26 proteins were significantly altered in response to IVR treatment in PDR. Further investigation through gene ontology (GO) and pathway analysis revealed that these differentially expressed proteins were primarily involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) and platelet degranulation signaling. Protein-protein interaction analysis highlighted five hub proteins (COL3A1, DPT, VEGFA, SPP1, SERPING1) that were found to be ECM components. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) confirmed the decreased levels of VEGFA and increased levels of DPT proteins after IVR treatment in another 8 samples of AH in 4 PDR patients. Our study provided novel insights into aqueous proteins of PDR following IVR treatment. Targeting the ECM pathway, particularly the elevation of DPT protein, may provide a deeper understanding of the anti-VEGF resistance and VEGF signaling in PDR.

Myeloproliferative disorder (MPD) is a rare complication in individuals with Noonan syndrome (NS) and an RIT1 pathogenic variant; only three cases have previously been reported. However, this condition can be life-threatening. In the present case, a neonate with a massive capillary leak and compromised general condition caused by aggressive MPD, we employed cytoreductive chemotherapy using low-dose cytarabine, which proved to be a valuable therapeutic intervention. For patients presenting with suspected MPD and exhibiting features associated with NS early in life, genetic testing that includes sequencing of RIT1 may confer significant benefits to diagnosis and disease management.

Immunotherapy harnesses neoantigens encoded within the human genome, but their therapeutic potential is hampered by low expression, which may be controlled by the Nonsense-Mediated Decay (NMD) pathway. This study investigates the impact of UPF1-knockdown on the expression of non-canonical/mutant proteins, employing proteogenomic to explore UPF1 role within the NMD pathway. Additionally, we conducted a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of UPF1 expression and evaluated UPF1 expression in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) tissue in-vivo. Our findings reveal that UPF1-knockdown leads to increased transcription of non-canonical/mutant proteins, particularly those originating from retained-introns, pseudogenes, long non-coding RNAs, and unannotated transcript biotypes. Moreover, our analysis demonstrates elevated UPF1 expression in various cancer types, with notably heightened protein levels in patient-derived TNBC tumours compared to adjacent tissues. This study elucidates UPF1 role in mitigating transcriptional noise by degrading transcripts encoding non-canonical/mutant proteins. Intriguingly, we observe an upregulation of the NMD pathway in cancer, potentially acting as a “neoantigen-masking” mechanism that suppresses non-canonical/mutant protein expression. Targeting this mechanism may reveal a new spectrum of neoantigens accessible to the antigen presentation pathway. Our novel findings provide a strong foundation for the development of therapeutic strategies aimed at targeting UPF1 or modulating the NMD pathway.

Background: Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5) human infections are a global concern, with many A(H5) human cases detected in Vietnam, including a case in October 2022. Using avian influenza virus surveillance from March 2017‒September 2022, we described the percent of pooled samples that were positive for avian influenza A, A(H5), A(H5N1), A(H5N6), and A(H5N8) viruses in live bird markets in Vietnam. Methods: Monthly at each LBM, 30 poultry oropharyngeal swab specimens and five environmental samples were collected. Samples were pooled in groups of five and tested for influenza A, A(H5), A(H5N1), A(H5N6), and A(H5N8) viruses by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Trends in the percent of pooled samples that were positive for avian influenza were summarized by LBM characteristics and time and compared to the number of passively detected avian influenza outbreaks using Spearman’s rank correlation. Results: A total of 25,774 pooled samples were collected through active surveillance at 167 LBMs in 24 provinces; 36.9% of pooled samples were positive for influenza A, 3.6% A(H5), 1.9% A(H5N1), 1.1% A(H5N6), and 0.2% A(H5N8). Influenza A(H5) viruses were identified January–December and at least once in 91.7% of sampled provinces. In 246 A(H5) outbreaks in poultry; 20.3% were influenza A(H5N1), 60.2% A(H5N6), and 19.5% A(H5N8); outbreaks did not correlate with active surveillance. Conclusions: In Vietnam, influenza A(H5) viruses were detected by active surveillance in LBMs year-round and in most provinces sampled. In addition to outbreak reporting, active surveillance for A(H5) viruses in settings with high potential for animal-to-human spillover can provide situational awareness.

Being a Letter to the Editor, abstract is not needed

In this paper, we study the uniqueness of nodal radial solutions to nonlinear elliptic equations in the unit ball in R 3 . Under suitable conditions, we prove that, for any given positive integer k, the problem we considered has at most one solution possessing exactly k−1 nodes. Together with the results presented by Nagasaki [J. Fac. Sci. Univ. Tokyo Sect. IA Math. 36 (2): 211–232, 1989] and Tanaka [Proc. Roy. Soc. Edinburgh Sect. A. 138 (6): 1331–1343, 2008], we can prove that more types of nonlinear elliptic equations have the uniqueness of nodal radial solutions.

The effects of three Bacillus strains and one Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain on nitrogen transformation and microbial communities in pig and chicken manure compost were investigated. The findings revealed that employing compound microbial inoculants raised compost temperature, expedited moisture reduction, enhanced cellulase activity, and stimulated the accumulation of NH4+-N, NO3–N, and total nitrogen (TN), resulting in a 9% increase in TN content. The abundance of Firmicutes at the maturation phase decreased by 3.95%, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes increased by 1.64% and 1.85%, respectively. Inoculation resulted in an augmentation of amoA, nxrA, and nifH gene copy numbers, while concurrently reducing the abundance of nirK, nosZ, and nirS genes. Furthermore, it led to an increase in functional enzyme levels, specifically nif and amo, along with a corresponding decrease in nor. Clostridium, Phascolarctobacterium, Eubacterium, and Faecalibacterium from class Clostridium, which exists a significant correlation with nifH and nxrA genes, suggesting their likely pivotal role in nitrogen retention and fixation. Inoculation helped remove pathogenic bacteria and ARGs like fluoroquinolones, nucleoside and nitroimidazole. This study provide effective theoretical support for nitrogen retention and fixation mechanism and improving the quality of compost.

Although gaining much attention in recent years, it is unclear whether mycorrhizal fungi distribute meaningful amounts of resources among trees in ways that increase the fitness of the receiving trees. To this end, we used shaded and non-shaded pairs of inter- and intra-species Pinus halepensis and Quercus calliprinos saplings growing outdoors in forest soil. Carbon transfer was measured using pulse labeling with 13CO2 and the mycorrhizal community of each tree was identified by DNA barcoding. The effects of belowground connections were examined by tree performance and Non-Structural Carbohydrates (NSC) pools. Although we did not observe any growth benefits, shaded recipient oaks exhibited higher levels of root NSC compared to their control counterparts, which were not connected belowground. This finding suggests a potential benefit of establishing below-ground connections. We also show that non-shaded pines connected to shaded oaks were depleted of their starch pools, suggesting a possible cost of the tree-fungi-tree interaction. Additionally, we monitored the carbon (C) flow from a 13CO2 labeled donor pine tree to the final recipient oak tree and were able to demonstrate C transfer from pines to shaded oaks. Finally, we were able to identify the main fungal symbionts interacting with pines and oaks. Our results link specific mycorrhizal species to belowground C transfer and suggest C-driven fitness costs and benefits to the trees.

Background: As the population of people with CF (pwCF) continues to age, attention is shifting towards addressing the unique challenges teenagers and adults face, including substance use. Changing attitudes and legality regarding marijuana and CBD may influence their use among pwCF, but data on their prevalence, reasons for use, and administration methods are lacking. Objective: Investigate marijuana, cannabidiol (CBD), e-cigarette, and cigarette usage among pwCF and explore differences in demographics, disease severity, and CFTR modulator use between current and non-users. Methods: This cross-sectional study used a one-time electronic survey to assess marijuana, CBD, e-cigarette, and cigarette use in pwCF aged >13 years. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between current users and non-users. The association between current substance use and CFTR modulator use was analyzed using logistic regressions. Results: Among 226 participants, 29% used marijuana, 22% used CBD, 27% used e-cigarettes, and 22% used cigarettes. Current users of all substances were more likely to be college-educated, Black, or aged 29-39 years than non-users. Current e-cigarette users were 2.9 times more likely to use CFTR modulators (95% CI 0.98-11.00, p=0.08) and current marijuana users were 2.5 times more likely to use CFTR modulators compared to non-users, adjusted for confounders. Current users of CBD, e-cigarettes, and cigarettes were more likely to have an abnormal mental health screen compared to non-users. A high proportion of never-users of marijuana and CBD expressed interest in using. Conclusion: Substance use is more prevalent among pwCF than previously reported and needs to be addressed by healthcare providers.

Although it is well known that groundwater significantly influences plant communities, there have been few studies on how the soil and plant communities respond to groundwater level decline in a short time affected by coal mining. This paper examined the changes in groundwater depth before and after coal mining and the soil-vegetation response in a typical semi-arid grassland coal mine area of Hulunbuir Steppe, Northeastern China. The IsoSource model, based on the dual stable isotopes of δ D and δ 18O, was employed to estimate groundwater contributions to shallow soil (0-100cm) water under different groundwater depths. The results revealed that groundwater was the dominant water source (75.7±17.1%) for shallow soil water when the groundwater depth is less than 4 meters, indicating that 4m is a threshold in groundwater depth, separating groundwater-dependent, and precipitation-driven vegetation system in the study area. Secondly, a strong non-linear response between vegetation species, height, coverage, and groundwater decline was identified in the coal mine area. The vegetation properties were found to be lowest in the areas where groundwater depth increased from 1.5~4 m to 4~28 m before and after coal mining. Finally, the groundwater level decline in the mining area significantly influenced the groundwater-dependent vegetation ecosystem, with the soil CEC and organic matter reduced, and the plant community degraded, succeeding from mesophytic to xerophytic. Whereas, the soil-vegetation system in the non-groundwater-dependent area has no obvious response to the groundwater decline. These results suggest that caution should be exercised when mining in groundwater-dependent ecosystem regions.

Background Adolescents living with obesity (AlwO) can have limited exercise capacity. Exercise capacity can be predicted by a 2-factor model comprising lung function and leg muscle function, but no study has looked at cycling leg muscle function and its contribution to cycling exercise capacity in AlwO. Methods 22 nonobese adolescents and 22 AlwO (BMI>95 percentile) were studied. Anthropometry, body composition (DEXA), spirometry, 30-sec isokinetic work capacity, and maximal exercise (cycle ergometry) were measured. Results AlwO had greater lean leg mass (LLM) (14.8±4.1 vs 21.0±4.3 kg, Con vs AlwO p<0.001). Lung function did not differ, although FEV 1 trended higher in AlwO (101.0±13.1 vs 107.9±12.7 percent predicted, p=0.08). Leg 30-second work output did not differ in absolute terms or per allometrically scaled LLM. Peak oxygen consumption did not differ between the groups in absolute terms or as percent predicted values (78.5±15.4 vs 82.1±16.5 percent predicted), but was lower in AlwO when expressed per scaled kg of LLM. Peak oxygen consumption related to both lung function and 30-second work capacity, with no observed group effect. 30-second leg work capacity related to the scaled muscle mass, with a small group effect. There was some correlation between leg work capacity and time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity in AlwO (r s=0.39, p=0.07). Conclusion AlwO have larger LLM and preserved exercise capacity, when expressed as percentage of predicted, but not per allometrically scaled LLM. Increasing time spent in moderate to vigorous activity may benefit AlwO.

The characteristic protection villages (CPVs) are the basic types of rural revitalization, and one of the essential carriers of rural cultural heritage. Identifying its spatial structure characteristics contributes to the inheritance and continuation of rural civilization. Based on the CPVs data in Hubei Province, this paper identified spatial structure and evolution characteristic of CPVs in the perspective of spatial distribution types, direction, density, and equilibrium, respectively. At the same time, the Geodetector was used to analyze the influence mechanism of CPVs from 2009 to 2020. The main results showed that: (1) The spatial distribution of CPVs was an agglomeration structure type, which showed an increasing agglomeration trend of evolution characteristics in Hubei Province. And among them, the traditional villages (TVs) had the highest degree of agglomeration. (2) The CPVs showed the pattern of “east (slightly south) – west (slightly north)” with strong centripetal force and obvious directional, and they also showed a trend of gradual diffusion to east and west. (3) The high–density areas of CPVs presented an evolution trend from scattered independent structure to massive cluster structure, and generally presented a horizontal V shape kernel density structure. Meanwhile, the high–density areas of different types of CPVs had significant differences. (4) The CPVs were distributed in an unequal probability, and there were agglomerations in Yichang, Jingzhou, Shiyan, Xiangyang, and Enshi where it showed a gradually balanced development trend. The natural environment is the background and cornerstone of the site selection and layout of CPVs in Hubei Province. The influence of resource endowment, social economy and policy environment on the spatial distribution of CPVs are increasing gradually, and there are significant differences between different types of CPVs affected by various factors. We try to fill the gap in quantitative identification on the structure of CPVs to enrich the research regarding the special type features mechanism, which has significance for the protection and revitalization development of CPVs.

Our knowledge of biodiversity hinges on sufficient data, reliable methods, and realistic models. Without an accurate assessment of species distributions, we cannot effectively target and stem biodiversity loss. Species range maps are the foundation of such efforts, but countless studies have failed to account for the most basic assumptions of reliable species mapping practices, undermining the credibility of their results and potentially misleading and hindering conservation and management efforts. Here, we use examples from the recent literature and broader conservation community to highlight the substantial shortfalls in current practices and their consequences for both analyses and conservation management. We detail how different decisions on data filtering impact the outcomes of analysis and provide practical recommendations and steps for more reliable analysis, whilst understanding the limits of what available data will reliably allow and what methods are most appropriate. Whilst “perfect” analyses are not possible for many taxa given limited data, and biases, ensuring we use data within reasonable limits and understanding inherent assumptions is crucial to ensure appropriate use. By embracing and enacting such best practices, we can ensure both the accuracy and improved comparability of biodiversity analyses going forward, ultimately enhancing our ability to use data to facilitate our protection of the natural world.

Introduction: The oral cavity is an important site for the entry and multiplication of respiratory viruses, and the immune system and oral microbiome act as antiviral barriers. Data regarding oral microbiome and COVID-19 is scarce. Therefore, a prospective cohort was conducted at the Hospital das Clínicas of FMUSP to evaluate the frequency of oral lesions associated with COVID-19 and the diversity of the oral microbiome on disease severity. Methods: Oral samples from SARS-CoV-2 positive patients were collected. After DNA extraction from the whole saliva samples, sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene using the Ion Torrent PGM platform was performed. Alpha and beta diversity analyses were conducted using the R program. Clinical data from electronic medical records were collected and multiple logistic regression model was constructed to assess the association between oral microbiome diversity and COVID-19 severity (oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation). Results: The study included a total of 115 samples from 125 patients, 14 had oral lesions, the majority were female (54.8%), with a mean age of 55.4 years old. Around 59.1% of patients were in intensive care units(ICUs), 87.2% were using antibiotics, and 18.3% died. The most frequently antibiotics used were third-generation cephalosporins(35.7%), piperacillin/tazobactam(27%), and glycopeptides(21.7%). In general, the most abundant phyla were Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, representing 86.3% of the oral microbiome. Oral microbiome diversity analysis revealed statistical differences in COVID-19 severity (Shannon p=0.05), presence of oral lesions Shannon p=0.05), antibiotic use(Shannon p=0.04), and oxygen therapy Observed p=0.04). Differential abundance analysis identified specific taxa related to each variable, such as Prevotella in severe patients and Staphylococcus in individuals with oral lesions. Multivariable logistic regression pointed out that the SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive on the oral cavity and the age (above 60 years) were risk factors for disease severity. Conclusion: Despite the small number of participants with oral cavity lesions, we found significant differences in the microbial communities, particularly in the genus Staphylococcusd associated with oral lesions. Although the abundance of Prevotella was associated with severity of COVID-19 on the microbiome analysis, the multivariate model showed that only age and RT-PCR positive for SARS-CoV-2 on the oral cavity were independent risk factors for severity.

This study investigates the impact of cyberterrorism on the global food supply chain, specifically focusing on the security of grain storage facilities. Drawing from recent geopolitical events that have disrupted grain supply, the paper underscores the potential global consequences of targeted cyber attacks. The research involves a thorough review of grain storage technologies and their associated security vulnerabilities, supported by existing literature and case studies. Findings reveal significant security gaps in grain storage systems, such as centralized control systems and inadequate security protocols. The study not only offers actionable recommendations for enhancing supply chain resilience but also informs policy development aimed at safeguarding critical infrastructure. The research is pivotal for academics, industry stakeholders, and policy makers concerned with food security in the digital age.

SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the COVID-19 pandemic, affects multiple organs, including the male reproductive system. The male reproductive tract expresses ACE-2, the primary viral entry receptor, in spermatogonia, Leydig, and Sertoli cells. While viral infections can harm male fertility through cytokine storms, the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on fertility are still unclear. Thus, this study aimed to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the male reproductive tract. Semen samples from 20 patients, collected 3 months post-SARS-CoV-2 infection, revealed the presence of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 receptors in both plasmatic and spermatozoa fractions. Five patients showed viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), indicating potential viral persistence. Elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were observed in the plasmatic fraction, suggesting a persistent inflammatory condition affecting sperm vitality. Immune cell populations associated with viral clearance were identified in the semen fraction, correlating with receptor expression and inflammatory cytokines. To address SARS-CoV-2 uncertainties in reproductive medicine, we assessed the virus’s presence in seminal fluid before and after cryopreservation using slow freezing and vitrification. Our study confirms the safety of both techniques in preserving male fertility for assisted reproductive technology programs. In conclusion, our study highlights the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on male reproductive health, emphasizing the persistence of viral entry receptors, potential viral RNA presence, the inflammatory environment, and the involvement of immune populations in the male reproductive tract post-infection. Importantly, we confirm the safety of conventional freezing and vitrification techniques for preserving male fertility in assisted reproductive technology programs amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Title: Interstitial Lung Diseases and COVID19 Pneumonia

In the unique landscape of immunology research in New Zealand, this article explores the collaborative networks spanning the two main islands, through a conversation with Associate Professor Joanna Kirman and Dr. Robert Weinkove. The discussions delve into their dynamic collaborations with countries like Asia, Australia, and the United States from their labs at the University of Otago and the Malaghan Institute respectively, provides insight into the translational research landscape of New Zealand, and the integration of Māori culture into all aspects of scientific research and clinical practise. Kirman’s work in understanding immunological memory in tuberculosis and Weinkove’s research in cancer immunotherapies, particularly CAR-T cells, are highlighted. The natural beauty and accessibility of New Zealand supports it’s research diversity.

The emergence of compulsive drug seeking habits, a hallmark feature of substance use disorder, has been shown to be predicated on the engagement of dorsolateral striatum (DLS) control over behaviour, which is underpinned by a dopamine-dependent functional coupling of the nucleus accumbens and the DLS. However, the mechanisms by which this coupling occurs have not been fully elucidated. The striatum is tiled by a syncytium of astrocytes that express the dopamine transporter (DAT), whose expression is altered in individuals with a heroin use disorder. Thus, astrocytes are uniquely placed functionally to bridge dopamine-dependent mechanisms across the striatum. Thus, here we tested the hypothesis that exposure to heroin, which does not interact with DAT, influences its expression in astrocytes across the striatum before the development of DLS-dependent incentive heroin seeking habits. Using Western-blot, qPCR and RNAscope we measured DAT protein and mRNA levels in whole tissue, cultured or in situ astrocytes from striatal territories of rats with a well-established cue-controlled heroin seeking habit and rats trained to respond for heroin or food under continuous reinforcement. Incentive heroin seeking habits were associated with a reduction in DAT protein levels in the anterior DLS (aDLS) that was preceded by a heroin-induced reduction in DAT mRNA and protein content in astrocytes across the striatum. aDLS astrocytes were also shown to be uniquely susceptible to direct dopamine- and opioid-induced downregulation of DAT expression. These results suggest that astrocytes may critically regulate the striatal dopaminergic adaptations that lead to the development of incentive habits for heroin.