Centros Germinativos brilham na Science

Gabriel Victora, ex-colaborador aqui no SBlogI e pesquisador no Whitehead Institute/MIT, acaba de publicar um artigo científico na Science.

As imagens são lindas - uma verdadeira obra de arte. Segue abaixo o resumo.

T Follicular Helper Cell Dynamics in Germinal Centers
 
T follicular helper cells (TFH) are a specialized subset of effector T cells that provide help to and thereby select high-affinity B cells in germinal centers (GCs). To examine the dynamic behavior of TFH cells in GCs in mice, we combined two-photon microscopy and optical highlighting using a photoactivatable fluorescent reporter. Unlike GC B cells, which are clonally restricted, TFH distributed among all GCs in lymph nodes and continually emigrated into the follicle and neighboring GCs. Moreover, newly activated TFH cells invaded pre-existing GCs, where they contributed to B cell selection and plasmablast differentiation. Our data suggest that dynamic exchange of TFH between GCs ensures maximal diversification of T cell help, and their ability to enter ongoing GCs accommodates antigenic variation during the immune response.

"Business Insider" publica lista de cientistas atraentes

A minha primeira reação ao passar os olhos no ranking abaixo foi: "quem escolheu essas pessoas? para que serve tal informação?".

Tudo bem, o post entra na categoria "curiosidade" e "diversão".

Os brasileiros Gabriel Victora e Juliana Machado Ferreira aparecem nas posições 25 e 26, respectivamente, do ranking de cientistas mais atraentes da atualidade.

Aí vai: The Sexiest Scientists Alive!

Mais no G1 e Info Exame.

Gabriel Victora é agraciado com "early independence award", do NIH

Gabriel Victora, nosso colega imunologista e ex-colaborador aqui do blog, tem vários motivos para comemorar. Além de ter o seu próprio laboratório no Whitehead Institute, em Cambridge, nos Estados Unidos, ele recebeu, na semana passada, o "early independence award", concedido pelo NIH:

Fourteen exceptional junior scientists, who were within one year of completing their doctoral degrees or clinical residencies at the time of application, will be supported by the National Institutes of Health Director's Early Independence award. This program encourages young scientists who have demonstrated outstanding scientific creativity, intellectual maturity, and leadership skills with the opportunity to conduct independent biomedical or behavioral research by skipping the conventional post-doctoral training period. The NIH Common Fund and contributing NIH institutes plan to commit potentially $25.9 million to support these research projects over five years, contingent on the availability of funds.


Gabriel D. Victora, Ph.D., Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Mass.
Research Description: Dr. Victora will investigate the way cells of the immune system interact to generate high-affinity antibodies that protect us from disease-causing viruses and bacteria.

Parabéns, Gabriel!

Gabriel Victora e Francis Collins (Diretor do NIH), na cerimônia de entrega do "early independence award" (Dezembro, 2012).

Saiba mais:
- press release NIH
- Victora Lab