TY  - JOUR
A1  - Müller, Laura S. M.
A1  - Cosentino, Raúl O.
A1  - Förstner, Konrad U.
A1  - Guizetti, Julien
A1  - Wedel, Carolin
A1  - Kaplan, Noam
A1  - Janzen, Christian J.
A1  - Arampatzi, Panagiota
A1  - Vogel, Jörg
A1  - Steinbiss, Sascha
A1  - Otto, Thomas D.
A1  - Saliba, Antoine-Emmanuel
A1  - Sebra, Robert P.
A1  - Siegel, T. Nicolai
T1  - Genome organization and DNA accessibility control antigenic variation in trypanosomes
JF  - Nature
N2  - Many evolutionarily distant pathogenic organisms have evolved similar survival strategies to evade the immune responses of their hosts. These include antigenic variation, through which an infecting organism prevents clearance by periodically altering the identity of proteins that are visible to the immune system of the host1. Antigenic variation requires large reservoirs of immunologically diverse antigen genes, which are often generated through homologous recombination, as well as mechanisms to ensure the expression of one or very few antigens at any given time. Both homologous recombination and gene expression are affected by three-dimensional genome architecture and local DNA accessibility2,3. Factors that link three-dimensional genome architecture, local chromatin conformation and antigenic variation have, to our knowledge, not yet been identified in any organism. One of the major obstacles to studying the role of genome architecture in antigenic variation has been the highly repetitive nature and heterozygosity of antigen-gene arrays, which has precluded complete genome assembly in many pathogens. Here we report the de novo haplotype-specific assembly and scaffolding of the long antigen-gene arrays of the model protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei, using long-read sequencing technology and conserved features of chromosome folding4. Genome-wide chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) reveals a distinct partitioning of the genome, with antigen-encoding subtelomeric regions that are folded into distinct, highly compact compartments. In addition, we performed a range of analyses—Hi-C, fluorescence in situ hybridization, assays for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing and single-cell RNA sequencing—that showed that deletion of the histone variants H3.V and H4.V increases antigen-gene clustering, DNA accessibility across sites of antigen expression and switching of the expressed antigen isoform, via homologous recombination. Our analyses identify histone variants as a molecular link between global genome architecture, local chromatin conformation and antigenic variation.
KW  - histone variants
KW  - genome architecture
KW  - single molecule real time (SMRT)
KW  - brucei genome
KW  - distance-dependent decay
Y1  - 2018
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-224265
VL  - 563
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Müller, P.A.
A1  - Bröcker, E.B.
A1  - Klinker, E.
A1  - Stoevesandt, J.
A1  - Benoit, S.
T1  - Adjuvant treatment of recalcitrant Bullous pemphigoid with immunoadsorption
JF  - Dermatology
N2  - Elimination of pathogenic autoantibodies by immunoadsorption (IA) has been described as an effective adjuvant treatment in severe bullous autoimmune diseases, especially in pemphigus. There is much less experience in the treatment of bullous pemphigoid (BP). BP was diagnosed in a 62-year-old Caucasian woman presenting a pruritic rash with multiple tense blisters. Standard treatments with topical and oral corticosteroids, steroid-sparing agents including dapsone, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and intravenous immunoglobulins were ineffective or had to be discontinued due to adverse events. An immediate clinical response could be achieved by two treatment cycles of adjuvant protein A immunoadsorption (PA-IA) in addition to continued treatment with MMF (2 g/day) and prednisolone (1 mg/kg/day). Tolerance was excellent. Clinical improvement remained stable after discontinuation of IA and went along with sustained reduction of circulating autoantibodies. Our data demonstrate that PA-IA might be a safe and effective adjuvant treatment in severe and recalcitrant BP.
KW  - Bullous pemphigoid
KW  - Immunoadsorption
KW  - Immunoapheresis
Y1  - 2012
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-196620
SN  - 1018-8665
SN  - 1421-9832
N1  - This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.
VL  - 224
IS  - 3
SP  - 224
EP  - 227
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Gratwohl, A
A1  - Pfirrmann, M
A1  - Zander, A
A1  - Kröger, N
A1  - Beelen, D
A1  - Novotny, J
A1  - Nerl, C
A1  - Scheid, C
A1  - Spiekermann, K
A1  - Mayer, J
A1  - Sayer, HG
A1  - Falge, C
A1  - Bunjes, D
A1  - Döhner, H
A1  - Ganser, A
A1  - Schmidt-Wolf, I
A1  - Schwerdtfeger, R
A1  - Baurmann, H
A1  - Kuse, R
A1  - Schmitz, N
A1  - Wehmeier, A
A1  - Fischer, J Th
A1  - Ho, AD
A1  - Wilhelm, M
A1  - Goebeler, M-E
A1  - Lindemann, HW
A1  - Bormann, M
A1  - Hertenstein, B
A1  - Schlimok, G
A1  - Baerlocher, GM
A1  - Aul, C
A1  - Pfreundschuh, M
A1  - Fabian, M
A1  - Staib, P
A1  - Edinger, M
A1  - Schatz, M
A1  - Fauser, A
A1  - Arnold, R
A1  - Kindler, T
A1  - Wulf, G
A1  - Rosselet, A
A1  - Hellmann, A
A1  - Schäfer, E
A1  - Prümmer, O
A1  - Schenk, M
A1  - Hasford, J
A1  - Heimpel, H
A1  - Hossfeld, DK
A1  - Kolb, H-J
A1  - Büsche, G
A1  - Haferlach, C
A1  - Schnittger, S
A1  - Müller, MC
A1  - Reiter, A
A1  - Berger, U
A1  - Saußele, S
A1  - Hochhaus, A
A1  - Hehlmann, R
T1  - Long-term outcome of patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia: a randomized comparison of stem cell transplantation with drug treatment
JF  - Leukemia
N2  - Tyrosine kinase inhibitors represent today's treatment of choice in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is regarded as salvage therapy. This prospective randomized CML-study IIIA recruited 669 patients with newly diagnosed CML between July 1997 and January 2004 from 143 centers. Of these, 427 patients were considered eligible for HSCT and were randomized by availability of a matched family donor between primary HSCT (group A; N=166 patients) and best available drug treatment (group B; N=261). Primary end point was long-term survival. Survival probabilities were not different between groups A and B (10-year survival: 0.76 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.69–0.82) vs 0.69 (95% CI: 0.61–0.76)), but influenced by disease and transplant risk. Patients with a low transplant risk showed superior survival compared with patients with high- (P<0.001) and non-high-risk disease (P=0.047) in group B; after entering blast crisis, survival was not different with or without HSCT. Significantly more patients in group A were in molecular remission (56% vs 39%; P = 0.005) and free of drug treatment (56% vs 6%; P<0.001). Differences in symptoms and Karnofsky score were not significant. In the era of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, HSCT remains a valid option when both disease and transplant risk are considered.
KW  - chronic myeloid leukemia
KW  - stem cell transplantation
KW  - drug treatment
KW  - CML
KW  - tyrosine kinase inhibitors
KW  - allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Y1  - 2016
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-150368
VL  - 30
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Wurmb, T
A1  - Schorscher, N
A1  - Justice, P
A1  - Dietz, S
A1  - Schua, R
A1  - Jarausch, T
A1  - Kinstle, U
A1  - Greiner, J
A1  - Möldner, G
A1  - Müller, J
A1  - Kraus, M
A1  - Simon, S
A1  - Wagenhäuser, U
A1  - Hemm, J
A1  - Roewer, N
A1  - Helm, M
T1  - Structured analysis, evaluation and report of the emergency response to a terrorist attack in Wuerzburg, Germany using a new template of standardised quality indicators
JF  - Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine
N2  - Background:
Until now there has been a reported lack of systematic reports and scientific evaluations of rescue missions during terror attacks. This however is urgently required in order to improve the performance of emergency medical services and to be able to compare different missions with each other. Aim of the presented work was to report the systematic evaluation and the lessons learned from the response to a terror attack that happened in Wuerzburg, Germany in 2016.

Methods:
A team of 14 experts developed a template of quality indicators and operational characteristics, which allow for the description, assessment and comparison of civil emergency rescue missions during mass killing incidents. The entire systematic evaluation process consisted of three main steps. The first step was the systematic data collection according to the quality indicators and operational characteristics. Second was the systematic stratification and assessment of the data. The last step was the prioritisation of the identified weaknesses and the definition of the lessons learned.

Results:
Five important “lessons learned” have been defined. First of all, a comprehensive concept for rescue missions during terror attacks is essential. Furthermore, the establishment of a defined high priority communication infrastructure between the different dispatch centres (“red phone”) is vital. The goal is to secure the continuity of information between a few well-defined individuals. Thirdly, the organization of the incident scene needs to be commonly decided and communicated between police, medical services and fire services during the mission. A successful mission tactic requires continuous flux of reports to the on-site command post. Therefore, a predefined and common communication infrastructure for all operational forces is a crucial point. Finally, all strategies need to be extensively trained before the real life scenario hits.

Conclusion:
According to a systematic evaluation, we defined the lessons learned from a terror attack in 2016. Further systematic reports and academic work surrounding life threatening rescue missions and mass killing incidents are needed in order to ultimately improve such mission outcomes. In the future, a close international collaboration might help to find the best database to report and evaluate major incidents but also mass killing events.
KW  - terror attack
KW  - mass casualties
KW  - evaluation
KW  - quality indicators
KW  - rescue mission
Y1  - 2018
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-177054
VL  - 26
IS  - 87
ER  -