The var genes of Plasmodium falciparum code for the antigenically variant erythrocyte membrane proteins 1 (PfEMP1), a major factor for cytoadherence and immune escape of the parasite. Herein, we analyzed the var gene transcript turnover in two ongoing, non-symptomatic infections at sequential time points during two weeks. The number of different circulating genomes was estimated by microsatelli...

Returns in financial assets show consistent excess kurtosis and skewness, indicating the presence of large fluctuations not predicted by Gaussian models. In this paper we propose a generalization to the popular RiskMetrics approach to Value-at-Risk. In order to model scale-consistent Valueat-Risk (VaR), we propose a model with a time varying scale parameter and error terms that are truncated Lé...

The var gene family of Plasmodium falciparum encodes the variant surface antigen Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1). PfEMP1 is considered an important pathogenicity factor in P. falciparum infection because it mediates cytoadherence to host cell endothelial receptors. var genes can be grouped into three major groups, A, B, and C, and the conserved var genes, var1-4, a...

The Plasmodium falciparum variant erythrocyte surface antigens known as PfEMP1, encoded by the var gene family, are thought to play a crucial role in malaria pathogenesis because they mediate adhesion to host cells and immuno-modulation. Var genes have been divided into three major groups (A, B and C) and two intermediate groups (B/A and B/C) on the basis of their genomic location and upstream ...

Observations from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) have been operationally assimilated into the Met Office’s Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) model since 26 May 2004. AIRS observations are screened by a 1D-Var pre-processing stage before being passed to the Met Office’s 4D-Var data assimilation system. The 1D-Var pre-processing stage is used for quality control, bias correction, cloud ...

The acaricidal efficacy of afoxolaner (NexGard(®), Merial) was evaluated against Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis in a field efficacy study, when administered orally at a minimum dose of 2.5 mg/kg to dogs naturally infested with the mites. Twenty mixed-breed dogs of either sex (6 males and 14 females), aged over 6 months and weighing 4-18 kg, were studied in this randomised controlled field efficac...

A 54-year-old male patient was admitted due to fever and cellulitis of the left leg (Figure 1). Three years before, he had undergone renal transplantation, and his immunosuppressive regimen was cyclosporine (75mg b.i.d.) and prednisone (10mg q.d.). His other significant medical history included previous deep venous thrombosis affecting the left leg, and type 2 diabetes, controlled with diet. At...

The Plasmodium falciparum genome is equipped with several subtelomeric gene families that are implicated in parasite virulence and immune evasion. Members of these families are uniformly positioned within heterochromatic domains and are thus subject to variegated expression. The best-studied example is that of the var family encoding the major parasite virulence factor P. falciparum erythrocyte...

Sequestration and antigenic variation are essential for Plasmodium falciparum survival in vivo contributing to severe pathologic findings and, also, chronic infection. Both are conferred by P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane proteins encoded by ~60 var genes. To study the dynamics of var gene expression, we conducted a 4-month longitudinal study of semi-immune children from Papua New Guinea. By...