105 research outputs found
Role of antimicrobial peptides in controlling symbiotic bacterial populations
No full textInternational audienceCovering: up to 2018 Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been known for well over three decades as crucial mediators of the innate immune response in animals and plants, where they are involved in the killing of infecting microbes. However, AMPs have now also been found to be produced by eukaryotic hosts during symbiotic interactions with bacteria. These symbiotic AMPs target the symbionts and therefore have a more subtle biological role: not eliminating the microbial symbiont population but rather keeping it in check. The arsenal of AMPs and the symbionts' adaptations to resist them are in a careful balance, which contributes to the establishment of the host-microbe homeostasis. Although in many cases the biological roles of symbiotic AMPs remain elusive, for a number of symbiotic interactions, precise functions have been assigned or proposed to the AMPs, which are discussed here. The microbiota living on epithelia in animals, from the most primitive ones to the mammals, are challenged by a cocktail of AMPs that determine the specific composition of the bacterial community as well as its spatial organization. In the symbiosis of legume plants with nitrogen-fixing rhizobium bacteria, the host deploys an extremely large panel of AMPs - called nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides - that drive the bacteria into a terminally differentiated state and manipulate the symbiont physiology to maximize the benefit for the host. The NCR peptides are used as tools to enslave the bacterial symbionts, limiting their reproduction but keeping them metabolically active for nitrogen fixation. In the nutritional symbiotic interactions of insects and protists that have vertically transmitted bacterial symbionts with reduced genomes, symbiotic AMPs could facilitate the integration of the endosymbiont and host metabolism by favouring the flow of metabolites across the symbiont membrane through membrane permeabilization
diCenzo_et_al_2021
No full textSupplementary Material forDNA methylation in Ensifer species during free-living growth and during nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with Medicago spp. George C. diCenzo, Lisa Cangioli, Quentin Nicoud, Janis H.T. Cheng, Matthew J. Blow, Nicole Shapiro, Tanja Woyke, Emanuele G Biondi, Benoît Alunni, Alessio Mengoni, and Peter Mergaert George diCenzoEmail: [email protected] File S1 includes:Figures S1 to S20Tables S1 to S8Legends for Datasets S1 to S2Supplementary References</p
UniSAFE D6.2 Assessment framework to take stock, measure progresses, and identify strengths and weakness in organisational responses to gender-based violence along the 7Ps
No full textThis deliverable presents an assessment framework to support universities and research organisations in their work against gender-based violence. It is based in the logic of the Impact Driver Model (Mergaert et al. 2022) and draws on the knowledge produced throughout the UniSAFE project. The objective is to develop an assessment framework to enable the identification of the strengths and weaknesses of universities and research organisations, and to assess progress, in addressing gender-based violence. It is informed by the micro, meso and macro level research conducted in UniSAFE WP3, WP4, WP5, WP6 and the consortium and stakeholder workshops in WP5, WP6, and WP7. The assessment framework is presented as tool to be used by individual universities and research organisations, and includes the 7P model (Prevalence, Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, Provision of Services, Partnerships and Policy). It builds upon the ideas and concepts established in the Impact Driver Model on gender equality and provides specific indicators that can be used by RPOs to assess their overall institutional capacity and progress on addressing gender-based violence. The assessment framework consists of eight impact drivers and 18 indicators, and seven sub-indicators detailing each P of the 7P model. The impact drivers include institutional frameworks, concepts, institutional measures, victim-centred approach, knowledge and expertise, leadership commitment, information and communication, and monitoring and evaluatio
Assessment framework to take stock, measure progresses, and identify strengths and weakness in organisational responses to gender-based violence along the 7Ps
No full textThis deliverable presents an assessment framework to support universities and research organisations in their work against gender-based violence. It is based in the logic of the Impact Driver Model (Mergaert et al. 2022) and draws on the knowledge produced throughout the UniSAFE project. The objective is to develop an assessment framework to enable the identification of the strengths and weaknesses of universities and research organisations, and to assess progress, in addressing gender-based violence. It is informed by the micro, meso and macro level research conducted in UniSAFE WP3, WP4, WP5, WP6 and the consortium and stakeholder workshops in WP5, WP6, and WP7. The assessment framework is presented as tool to be used by individual universities and research organisations, and includes the 7P model (Prevalence, Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, Provision of Services, Partnerships and Policy).
It builds upon the ideas and concepts established in the Impact Driver Model on gender equality and provides specific indicators that can be used by RPOs to assess their overall institutional capacity and progress on addressing gender-based violence. The assessment framework consists of eight impact drivers and 18 indicators, and seven sub-indicators detailing each P of the 7P model. The impact drivers include institutional frameworks, concepts, institutional measures, victim-centred approach, knowledge and expertise, leadership commitment, information and communication, and monitoring and evaluation
The Reality of Gender Mainstreaming Implementation. The Case of the EU Research Policy
No full textContains fulltext :
93602.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen, 11 juni 2012Promotores : Verloo, M.M.T., Benschop, Y.W.M.272 p
Updating of data concerning the impact of certain dangerous substances on the aquatic environment chlorinated and brominated hydrocarbons ; October 1991
No full textBudget impact analysis of orphan drugs in Belgium : estimates from 2008 to 2013
No full textp. 295-301OBJECTIVE: This article aims to calculate the impact of orphan drugs on the Belgian drug budget in 2008 and to forecast its impact over the following 5 years. METHOD: The 2008 budget impact was calculated by triangulating information derived from multiple Belgian data sources. The 2008-2013 budget impact analysis was based on three scenarios reflecting different levels of growth in the number of registered orphan drugs in the European Union, the number of drugs reimbursed in Belgium, and the average annual cost per patient per drug in Belgium. RESULTS: The orphan drug budget impact amounted to euro66.2 million (or 5% of the Belgian hospital drug budget) in 2008. The impact would increase to euro130-204 million in 2013, depending on the scenario. CONCLUSIONS: This static analysis measured orphan drug costs only, assuming that other components of health expenditure do not change over time. The analysis showed that the budget impact of orphan drugs in Belgium is substantial and rising, thereby putting pressure on total drug expenditure. Policy options to address the rising budget impact include pricing linked to return on investment, risk-sharing arrangements and re-appraisal of orphan drug status if additional indications are approved
Theorising Gender-Based Violence Policies: A 7P Framework
No full textThis paper presents and critically interrogates a comprehensive 7Ps framework for analysing and addressing gender-based violence. It takes the UN and the Council of Europe's models as points of departure and develops the framework beyond the current state of the art, explains its different components, and offers reflections on its use in the practice of gender-based violence research. The UN 3P model, encompassing prevention, protection, and prosecution, later developed by the Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention into a 4P model, comprising prevention, protection, prosecution, and integrated policies, has since been revisited, elaborated upon, and expanded in work focusing on gender-based violence in particular domains, such as female genital mutilation or gender-based violence in sport. To study gender-based violence in academia, the comprehensive 7Ps analytical framework has been deployed to interrogate the policies in place at national and institutional levels, including sexual harassment. Based on empirical data and conceptual analysis in the EU project UniSAFE: Gender-based violence and institutional responses: Building a knowledge base and operational tools to make universities and research organisations safe (2021-2024), the paper argues that the refined 7Ps model, comprising Prevalence, Prevention, Protection, Prosecution of offenders (and disciplinary measures), Provision of services, Partnerships between actors, and Policies specifically addressing the issue, allows for a more encompassing approach, in turn allowing a more fine-grained understanding of variations and explanations for success (or lack thereof) in terms of outcomes.</p
A comparative study of European rare disease and orphan drug markets
No full textp. 173-179OBJECTIVES: This article aims to compare regulatory aspects of rare disease and orphan drug markets in Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom. METHODS: Information was derived from the international literature, analysis of legal texts, and a survey completed by national experts. RESULTS: These countries adopted varying approaches towards regulating rare disease and orphan drug markets and, hence, the availability, pricing and reimbursement of orphan drugs vary between countries. Strategies to keep down prices include public procurement in Sweden, profit controls in the United Kingdom, and price comparisons with other countries. To gain reimbursement, the cost-effectiveness and/or budget impact of orphan drugs is considered in some countries. Other societal considerations, such as whether the drug treats a life-threatening disease, are sometimes taken into account. CONCLUSIONS: Extensive government intervention exists in rare disease and orphan drug markets in the countries studied. Our recommendations are to define priorities for research on rare diseases and orphan drugs at the European level, to set up disease and patient registries with a view to investigating the long-term effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of orphan drugs, to assess the profitability of orphan drugs, and to take into account societal considerations when evaluating orphan drugs
Issues surrounding orphan disease and orphan drug policies in Europe
No full textp. 343-350An orphan disease is a disease with a very low prevalence. Although there are 5000-7000 orphan diseases, only 50 orphan drugs (i.e. drugs developed to treat orphan diseases) were marketed in the EU by the end of 2008. In 2000, the EU implemented policies specifically designed to stimulate the development of orphan drugs. While decisions on orphan designation and the marketing authorization of orphan drugs are made at the EU level, decisions on drug reimbursement are made at the member state level. The specific features of orphan diseases and orphan drugs make them a high-priority issue for policy makers. The aim of this article is to identify and discuss several issues surrounding orphan disease and drug policies in Europe. The present system of orphan designation allows for drugs for non-orphan diseases to be designated as orphan drugs. The economic factors underlying orphan designation can be questioned in some cases, as a low prevalence of a certain indication does not equal a low return on investment for the drug across its indications. High-quality evidence about the clinical added value of orphan drugs is rarely available at the time of marketing authorization, due to the low number of patients. A balance must be struck between ethical and economic concerns. To this effect, there is a need to initiate a societal dialogue on this issue, to clarify what society wants and accepts in terms of ethical and economic consequences. The growing budgetary impact of orphan drugs puts pressure on drug expenditure. Indications can be extended for an orphan drug and the total prevalence across indications is not considered. Finally, cooperation needs to be fostered in the EU, particularly through a standardized approach to the creation and use of registries. These issues require further attention from researchers, policy makers, health professionals, patients, pharmaceutical companies and other stakeholders with a view to optimizing orphan disease and drug policies in Europe
- …
