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Contents:
From Language Garden to Sustainable Languaging: Bilingual Education in a Global World
Ofelia García, Graduate Center, City University of New York 5 ; Language Lost & Found: A Family’s Full Circle : Mary Curtis 10 ; Language Variation from a Bilingual Perspective : Miriam Eisenstein Ebsworth, New York University, Steinhardt 17 ; Letter from the President 4 ; Contributing to Perspectives - Guidelines for Writers 2.
Cephaloleia consanguinea Baly, Cephaloleia fulvolimbata Baly, Cephaloleia ruficollis Baly, Chalepus amabilis Baly, Chalepus brevicornis (Baly), Chalepus pici Descarpentries and Villiers, Microrhopala erebus (Newman), Octhispa bimaculata Uhmann, Octotoma championi Baly, Pseudispa tuberculata Staines, Sceloenopla erudita (Baly), Stenispa guatemalensis Uhmann, Sumitrosis gestroi (Weise), and Sumitrosis terminatus (Baly) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) are new country records of hispine chrysomelids for Belize, based on collections cited herein. These collections also document new host records for Calyptocephala gerstaeckeri Boheman (Chamaedorea tepejilote Liebm., Arecaceae), Cephaloleia consanguinea (Heliconia bourgaeana Petersen, H. collinsiana Griggs, H. latispatha Benth., H. wagneriana Petersen; Heliconiaceae), and Cephaloleia perplexa Baly (Heliconia bourgaeana, H. latispatha; Heliconiaceae).
Ein Vordenker, der in der internationalen Diskussion um « cultural translation » so gut wie nie diskutiert wird, ist Antonio Gramsci. Der Philosoph aus Sardinien, von Kindes Tagen an in Zweisprachigkeit (Sardisch-Italienisch) geübt, hat ein feines Sensorium für kulturelle Differenzen ausgebildet. In seinen Gefängnisjahren übersetzt er – als intellektuelles Training – aus dem Russischen und dem Deutschen ins Italienische, und in den Gefängnisheften setzt er sich wiederholt mit dem Begriff der traducibilità (Übersetzbarkeit) auseinander: Übersetzbarkeit von Sprachen, aber auch von Kulturen. Der Artikel geht den Linien nach, die von Gramscis Überlegungen zu der aktuellen Diskussion gezogen werden können, und diskutiert am Ende vergleichend die Positionen Homi K. Bhabhas und Gayatri Spivaks.
When, some two centuries ago, German Romantics turned their backs on modernity – industrialisation, urbanisation, commerce and secularisation – they turned to ancient India. For them, India exemplified the primordial unity of mankind with this and the afterworld. For sections of the emerging nationalist movement in Germany, found the deployment of India handy to question the cultural hegemony, and eventually break the political dominance, of France. They tried to surpass the French, who claimed the ancient Roman heritage, by claiming an even older heritage for the Germans. Friedrich Schlegel for example suggested that the German language, and not the French, stood in unbroken continuity with ancient Sanskrit. For Romantics such as he, Sanskrit, the oldest surviving Indo-European language, was closest to the language of original divine revelation. This lead Schlegel to romanticise India in a way that stood in marked contrast to the Orientalist clichés current in other parts of Europe at the time. For him, the link between Sanskrit and German made Germany the true oriental self of Europe. The importance of this particular representation of India for the German national movement is underlined by the great number of university chairs that sprang up in the course of the nineteenth century: twenty two in Germany as opposed to only three in the United Kingdom. This paper explores the particular kind of ‘inverse’ Orientalism of the Germans in the context of its recent post-colonial critique.
Most texts that deal with Martin tom Dieck’s black-and-white comic "hundert Ansichten der Speicherstadt" (Zürich: Arrache Cœur, 1997, French title: Vortex) claim that it depicts the eponymous warehouse district (Speicherstadt) in Hamburg. As this paper shows, this claim is inaccurate: although the architecture in tom Dieck’s drawings clearly refers to buildings in the warehouse district, the differences in the details are so obvious, that to speak of a straightforward depiction of the Speicherstadt is oversimplifying. After a brief comparison with Christoph Schäfer’s picture book "Die Stadt ist unsere Fabrik" (Leipzig: Spector Books, 2010), the paper concludes with a discussion of the depiction of urban environments in general and in tom Dieck's book in particular.
Guidelines for Writers 2 ; Letter from the President 4 ; Poverty is the Problem that Must be Solved… Our Schools are not broken - Stephen Krashen 5 ; Is Multicultural Education Relevant Today? - Christine Sleeter 8 ; Revitalizing Indigenous Language Using Picture Books - Rita Scotti Juric & Nada Poropat 10 ; Success Without Bilingual Education? Acquisiton of Academic Language in English through Comprehensible Input - Francisco Ramos & Stephen Krashen 13 ; Becoming Transnational: Filipino ELL Youth’s School Adaptation - Jeom Ja Yeo, Ph.D. 15
Contributing to NABE News - Guidelines for Writers 2 ; Letter from the President 4 ; Words of the World: Will Globalization Hurt World Languages? - Mariella Espinoza-Herold & Navin Singh 5 ; Bilingual Education in Italian Schools in Croatia: Diachronic and Synchronic Official Position and the New Linguistic Situation - Rita Scotti Juric & Nada Poropat 9 ; Globalization and the Changing of Parental Perceptions towards Multilingualism - Navin Singh & Mariella Esppinoza-Herold 12 ; Asian and Pacific Islanders: How about a National Consortium to Prepare Asian Bilingual Teachers? Clara C. Park 14 ; Personal Privilege Statement Texas Representative - Ana Hernandez Luna 16 ; NABE 2011 Conference highlights 17 ; Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award 19 ; Outstanding Dissertation Winners 20 ; Student Essay Winners 22 ; Bilingual Teacher of the Year 25 ; El desarrollo del español para maestros en programas de educación dual- Luis A. Rosado, Lidia Morris & Kelly A. Rosado 26 ; Indigenous Bilingual Education Honoring Our Heritage - Jon Reyhne 29
In 1947, 20 species of Staphylinidae were reported from the Cayman Islands as a result of an Oxford University expedition there in 1938 which made extensive use of a light trap. The list is here expanded to 62 species based on collections by R. R. Askew, G. E. Ball, E. A. Dilbert, B. K. Dozier, E. J. Gerberg, P. J. Fitzgerald, M. C. Thomas, and R. H. Turnbow since 1970, all of whom also used light traps except for a collection or two by flight intercept trap.
Twelve extant species of antlions are known from Hispaniola including four new species (Eremoleon petrophila, Eremoleon phasma, Purenleon nunezi, Purenleon woodruffi) and one new genus (Peruveleon). Five New World species are transferred into Peruveleon resulting in new combinations: Peruveleon bruneri (Alayo), Peruveleon camposi (Banks), Peruveleon dolichogaster (Navás), Peruveleon dorsalis (Banks), Peruveleon indiges (Walker). Vella fallax haitiensis Smith is considered a new synonym of Vella eggerti Esben-Petersen. Descriptions and records for the species are provided as well as keys to the adults and larvae. The larvae of eleven species were found and reared.
Two species of the genus Tefflus Latreille (Coleoptera: Carabidae), commonly known as “peaceful giant ground beetles,” are recorded from the Republic of South Africa: T. carinatus carinatus Klug and T. meyerlei delagorguei Guérin-Méneville. Distribution records from the Republic of South Africa are summarized and mapped for both species. Tefflus c. carinatus has been collected in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga Provinces, while T. m. delagorguei has been recorded from Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga Provinces. Adults of both species are illustrated. Seasonal and temporal activity patterns and defensive and foraging behaviors are characterized for T. m. delagorguei based on recent field studies in the Kruger National Park, Republic of South Africa.
Eight species of the genus Psilotreta Banks (Trichoptera: Odontoceridae) are currently known from Vietnam: P. albogera Mey 1997, P. androconiata Mey 1997, P. bidens Mey 1995, P. enikoae Oláh and Johanson 2010, P. frigidaria Mey 1996, P. jaroschi Malicky 1995, P. papaceki Malicky 1995, P. spitzeri Malicky 1995. A new species, Psilotreta kurenschikovorum, from Thua Thien-Hue Province is herein described. The new species differs from other species of the genus by peculiarities in wing venation, by the unusual shape of epicranial suture on the head, and by the bifid apical segment of the inferior appendage. Additional province and collection information for previously recorded species are included.
Curculionoidea (Coleoptera) of the West Indian island of Dominica are composed of 111 genera and 214 species and subspecies. Some of the species listed are morphospecies, or are known to be undescribed, but all are identified at least to genus. Previously the fauna was recorded as 31 species. Numbers presented herein represent a seven-fold increase in species diversity. Furthermore, the widespread nature of many species demonstrates that the supposedly endemic faunas of many West Indian islands may be based on collecting biases or a lack of people capable of providing species level identifications.
The beetles of Martinique, Lesser Antilles (Insecta: Coleoptera); diversity and distributions
(2011)
This paper summarizes the published information on the beetle fauna of the island of Martinique, in the Lesser Antilles. The fauna is known to contain 42 families, with 201 genera, and 270 species. The families with the largest numbers of species are Cerambycidae (57), Curculionidae (43), Scarabaeidae (42), Tenebrionidae (18), and Staphylinidae (17). At least 15species (5.5%) were probably accidentally introduced to the island by human activities. Forty six species (17.0%) are endemic (restricted) to the island and likely speciated on the island. Sixty seven species (24.8%) are shared only with other islands of the Lesser Antilles (Lesser Antillean endemics), and 26 species (9.6%) are more widespread Antilles endemics. The remaining 116 species (42.8%) in the fauna are otherwise mostly widely distributed in the Antilles and the Neotropical Region. The Martinique beetle fauna has mostly originated elsewhere than on Martinique and is largely an immigrant fauna from other islands of the West Indies or the continental Neotropics. The numbers of Martinique species shared with other larger islands of the Lesser Antilles are (north to south) Montserrat (73), Guadeloupe (175), Dominica (98), St. Lucia (68), St. Vincent (93), and Grenada (88). Undoubtedly, the real number of species on Martinique is much higher than now reported and may actually be around 1600 or more species.
Saba Island (Caribbean Netherlands) is one of the northernmost islands of the Lesser Antilles. It is only 13 square kilometers but contains a wide variety of potential spider habitats including dry, moist, and elfin forests. As part of a collaborative effort between Conservation International and Saba Conservation Foundation, during a several week period in March and May 2008 we briefly surveyed the island for spiders and other arthropods. This survey, the first for spiders of Saba, resulted in the identification of 18 families and 76 spider species, including six new species that will be described elsewhere and may be endemic to Saba. The species richness of Saba’s spider fauna is considerably higher than that reported from other small Caribbean islands. We conclude this is probably a combined result of undersampling and lower habitat diversity on these other islands.
A list of taxa belonging to Xylotrupes Hope (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Dynastini) is presented which incorporates several taxonomic actions: X. australicus darwinia Rowland comb. nov.; X. damarensis Rowland stat. nov.; X. lorquini zideki Rowland comb. nov.; X. macleayi szekessyi Endrödi comb. nov.; X. pachycera Rowland stat. nov.; X. philippinensis philippinensis Endrödi stat. nov.; X. philippinensis peregrinus Rowland comb. nov.; X. sumatrensis tanahmelayu Rowland comb. nov.; X. tadoana Rowland stat. nov.; X. telemachos Rowland stat. nov.; X. wiltrudae Silvestre stat. nov. Two new taxa are described: X. carinulus sp. nov. and X. clinias buru ssp. nov. Lectotypes are designated for X. lamachus Minck and X. clinias Schaufuss. Xylotrupes lamachus is found to be a junior subjective synonym of X. ulysses (Guérin-Méneville), new synonymy.
Neoma, a new genus of Cerambycidae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Prioninae: Macrotomini) is described for Mallodonopsis corrosus Bates, 1879, compared to related genera (Aplagiognathus Thomson, 1861; Archodontes Lameere, 1903; and Mallodonopsis Thomson, 1861), and its tribal position discussed. A lectotype for Mallodonopsis corrosus is here designated with the species redescribed and figured.
The Orizabus Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Pentodini) of the USA are reviewed. Orizabus pinalicus new species and O. mcclevei new species are described. Lectotypes are here designated for eight species names: Bothynus pyriformis LeConte, Pseudaphonus lucidus Casey, Orizabus snowii Horn, Orizabus cultripes Fairmaire, Orizabus isodonoides Fairmaire, Orizabus sallei Fairmaire, Orizabus fontinalis Casey, and Orizabus ponderosus Casey. Illustrations of diagnostic characters and a key to the five included species are presented. The Mexican species O. isodonoides and O. rubricollis Prell are also illustrated for comparison to the new species.
A revision of the genus Gymnetina Casey, 1915 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Gymnetini)
(2011)
The genus Gymnetina Casey (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Gymnetini) is redescribed and revised. Three new species and one new subspecies are described: G. borealis Warner and Ratcliffe, G. grossepunctata Ratcliffe and Warner, G. howdeni Warner and Ratcliffe, and G. cretacea sundbergi Warner and Ratcliffe. Gymnetina salicis (Bates), new status, is removed from synonymy with G. cretacea (LeConte), and G. alboscripta (Janson) is transferred from Gymnetis MacLeay to Gymnetina becoming Gymnetina alboscripta (Janson), new combination. Redescriptions of previously known species, a key for identification, and illustrations of the six species are provided. A brief biogeographical analysis suggests that ancestral taxa dispersed northwards from Guatemala and Mexico to the southwestern United States.
Acoma howdenorum, Acoma westcotti, Acoma quadrilaminata, and Acoma cimarron (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae), all new species, are described from Yuma County, Arizona, USA, and Baja California Sur, Baja California (Norte), and Sonora, Mexico, respectively. Habitus of the four new species is illustrated, and an updated key to the described species in the genus is provided. Distribution and variation of Acoma glabrata Cazier are also discussed.
The monotypic aesaline genus Lucanobium Howden and Lawrence (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) was previously known only from Venezuela. A second species is here described as new from French Guiana, extending the range of the genus approximately 1800 km to the southeast. The generic description of Lucanobium is updated with respect to the discovery of a second species.
The female of Nothopleurus subsulcatus (Dalman, 1823) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Prioninae: Macrotomini) is described for the first time, and the female of Strongylaspis bullata Bates, 1872 is redescribed. Color photographs of the habitus of both, and key characters for the former are included. New distributional records within Mexico for N. subsulcatus and Strongylaspis championi Bates, 1884 are given.
Neolecanium amazonensis Foldi is redescribed and illustrated and is transferred to the new genus Foldilecanium Kondo as Foldilecanium amazonensis (Foldi) comb. nov. A new species, Foldilecanium multisetosus Kondo, is described and illustrated based on specimens collected in Cali, Colombia, on Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook.f. and Thomson (Annonaceae). An updated taxonomic key to New World Myzolecaniinae and a key to separate the two species of Foldilecanium are provided.
From 1995 to 2004 collections for Bruchidae (Coleoptera) were made in La Reserva de la Biósfera Sierra de Huautla, Morelos, Mexico. Specimens were reared from mature seedpods, but also collected by net, malaise trap, and light trap. In total 72 species in 13 genera of Bruchidae were recovered. Of those two new species are here described: Amblycerus montalvoi Romero and Acanthoscelides camerinoi Romero. We record 27 host plants for the bruchids found in the study area.
I add new collection and phenological data on the North American earwigfly, Merope tuber Newman, and new county records for the red scorpionfly, Panorpa rufa Gray, and veined scorpionfly, Panorpa venosa Westwood, in Florida. Additionally, I report on a new Georgia county record for the extralimital species, Panorpa ferruginea Byers, the ferruginous scorpionfly, and speculate on its potential occurrence in Florida.
Five new species of anilline ground beetles (Carabidae: Trechinae: Bembidiini) are described from the Appalachian Mountains and Piedmont Plateau of eastern United States. Two species, Anillinus unicoi n. sp. (from the Unicoi Mountains, North Carolina) and A. carltoni n. sp. (from the Great Smoky Mountains, North Carolina/Tennessee), inhabit the crests of adjacent mountain ranges, and share similarities with A. moseleyae Sokolov and Carlton. These three comprise a high-altitude group of species in the region. The third species A. chilhowee n. sp. is one of the smallest representatives of the loweae-group of species. It differs from its relatives in characters of male genitalia and inhabits the isolated Chilhowee Mountain ridge between Ocoee and Hiwassee Rivers (Polk County, Tennessee). The fourth and fifth species possess complex arrays of spines on the internal sac of the aedeagus, similar to A. valentinei (Jeannel) from caves of Alabama. In the case of A. smokiensis n. sp. (Gregory Cave, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee), the aedeagal similarity suggests a close relationship with A. valentinei. Anillinus chandleri n. sp. from the Piedmont Plateau (Sumter National Forest, South Carolina) is similar to A. cornelli Sokolov and Carlton, also described from the Carolina Piedmont region. Keys are provided for the new species, where possible.
First discovered in 1934 and described as a variety of Cicindela abdominalis Fabricius (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), the form floridana, to our knowledge, has not been recollected until we discovered it in 2007, south of the presumed type locality. From our examination of the type specimen, eight paratypes and 40 specimens from the new locality and additional study, we reinterpreted its status to be a full species. This interpretation is based on distinctive and consistent differences from the closely related Cicindelidia scabrosa (Schaupp). These differences include morphology (maculation, color and elytral microsculpture), distribution, habitat, and seasonality. We present here a more detailed description of this species within the genus Cicindelidia Rivalier, following Rivalier and Wiesner becoming Cicindelidia floridana (Cartwright) new combination.
Nine new species of Hyperaspis from various South American localities are described, illustrated, and compared with previously described taxa. New taxa are: Hyperaspis luciae, H. corcovado, H. divaricata, H. humboldti, H. mimica, H. praecipua, H. unimaculosa, H. drechseli, and H. esmeraldas. Hyperaspis pectoralis Crotch is recognized as a valid species of Hyperaspis and integrated into the existing classification.
This paper summarizes the published information on the beetle fauna of the northern Leeward Islands (Anguilla, Antigua, Barbuda, Nevis, Saba, St. Barthélemy, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts, St. Martin-St. Maarten, and smaller associated islands, excluding Montserrat). These islands are generally smaller, lower, and drier than the remaining Leeward and Windward islands of the Lesser Antilles island arc. The fauna contains 26 families, with 155 genera, and 218 species. The families with the largest number of recorded species are Staphylinidae (36), Cerambycidae (28), Scarabaeidae (25), Tenebrionidae (23), Curculionidae (18), and Carabidae (15). At least 7 species (3.2% of the fauna) were probably introduced to the island by human activities. Sixteen species (7.3%) are endemic (restricted) to a single paleo-island bank and likely speciated there. Twenty nine species (13.3%) are shared only with other islands of the Lesser Antilles (Lesser Antillean endemics), and 43 species (19.7%) are more widespread Antilles endemics. The remaining 123 species (56.4%) in the fauna are otherwise mostly widely distributed in the Antilles and the Neotropical Region. The local beetle fauna is largely an immigrant fauna and has mostly originated elsewhere than on the islands of the northern Leewards. Summary data on total species endemicity of the entire Lesser Antilles indicate the presence of at least 1278 endemic beetle species, which is a density of about 20.7 species per 100 km2. This is now equivalent to that of the endemic vascular plants of the Caribbean islands. This truly makes the Caribbean islands a biodiversity hotspot for beetles. For the northern Leewards, it is evident that the beetle diversity is markedly understudied, and that the actual number of species is many times higher than now known.
The biogeographic significance of Diplopoda is substantiated by 50 maps documenting indigenous occurrences of the 16 orders, the three Spirostreptida s. l. suborders – Cambalidea, Epinannolenidea, Spirostreptidea – and all higher taxa including Diplopoda itself. The class is indigenous to all continents except Antarctica and islands/archipelagos in all temperate and tropical seas and oceans except the Arctic; it ranges from Kodiak Island and the northern Alaskan Panhandle, United States (USA), southern Hudson Bay, Canada, and near or north of the Arctic Circle in Iceland, continental Scandinavia, and Siberia to southern “mainland” Argentina, the southern tips of Africa and Tasmania, and Campbell Island, subantarctic New Zealand. The vast, global distribution is interrupted by sizeable, poorly- or unsampled areas including the Great Basin, USA; the Atacama Desert region of Chile and neighboring countries; southern South American islands; the central Kalahari and Sahara deserts; the Gobi Desert, Mongolia, and all of north-central and western China; from north of the Caspian Sea, Russia, to central Kazakhstan; and the “Outback” of central Australia. Five Arabian countries lack both samples and published records of indigenous diplopods – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates – as do Turks and Caicos, in the New World, and Mauritania and possibly Egypt, Africa. New records, including the first for Chilognatha from Botswana and the first specific localities from Northern Territory, Australia, are cited in the Appendix. Increased emphasis on mappings in taxonomic research is warranted along with investigations of insular “species swarms” that constitute a microcosm of the early evolution of the class. The largest “species swarm” in the Diplopoda is Diplopoda itself!
An annotated world catalogue and bibliography of the cucujoid family Propalticidae (Coleoptera) is presented. Each taxon is accompanied by a complete taxonomic history, including a full annotated synonymy with original references cited, and current location and status of primary types. The name Slipinskogenia nom. nov. is proposed to replace Discogenia Kolbe, 1897, junior homonym of Discogenia LeConte, 1866, resulting in 11 new combinations. A key is provided for separation of the two genera included in the family. Complete published and previously unpublished distributional data are given.
Pocket gopher burrows (Rodentia: Geomyidae) were sampled from five previously unsampled localities in northern Louisiana to determine the associated faunal composition of Histeridae and Scarabaeidae (Coleoptera). Sampling produced four species of Histeridae and seven species of Scarabaeidae, all of which had been previously reported from Louisiana. The most commonly collected scarab beetle was Cryptoscatomaseter haldemani (Horn) followed by Geomyphilus insolitus (Brown). Onthophilus kirni Ross was the most commonly collected hister beetle.
A catalogue of aphidiine parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) associated with various aphids species occurring in India was compiled. The present catalogue with 125 species under 22 genera has been further reinforced with not only all the latest taxonomic changes but also host names, host plants, distribution in India etc.
An additional 137 species and two tribes are added to the cerambycid fauna of Bolivia while 12 species are deleted. This brings the total number of species known from Bolivia to 1,561. Comments and statistics regarding the growth of knowledge on the Bolivian Cerambycid fauna and species endemicity are included.
Background: The interferon-inducible immunity-related GTPases (IRG proteins/p47 GTPases) are a distinctive family of GTPases that function as powerful cell-autonomous resistance factors. The IRG protein, Irga6 (IIGP1), participates in the disruption of the vacuolar membrane surrounding the intracellular parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, through which it communicates with its cellular hosts. Some aspects of the protein's behaviour have suggested a dynamin-like molecular mode of action, in that the energy released by GTP hydrolysis is transduced into mechanical work that results in deformation and ultimately rupture of the vacuolar membrane. Results: Irga6 forms GTP-dependent oligomers in vitro and thereby activates hydrolysis of the GTP substrate. In this study we define the catalytic G-domain interface by mutagenesis and present a structural model, of how GTP hydrolysis is activated in Irga6 complexes, based on the substrate-twinning reaction mechanism of the signal recognition particle (SRP) and its receptor (SRalpha). In conformity with this model, we show that the bound nucleotide is part of the catalytic interface and that the 3'hydroxyl of the GTP ribose bound to each subunit is essential for trans-activation of hydrolysis of the GTP bound to the other subunit. We show that both positive and negative regulatory interactions between IRG proteins occur via the catalytic interface. Furthermore, mutations that disrupt the catalytic interface also prevent Irga6 from accumulating on the parasitophorous vacuole membrane of T. gondii, showing that GTP-dependent Irga6 activation is an essential component of the resistance mechanism. Conclusions: The catalytic interface of Irga6 defined in the present experiments can probably be used as a paradigm for the nucleotide-dependent interactions of all members of the large family of IRG GTPases, both activating and regulatory. Understanding the activation mechanism of Irga6 will help to explain the mechanism by which IRG proteins exercise their resistance function. We find no support from sequence or G-domain structure for the idea that IRG proteins and the SRP GTPases have a common phylogenetic origin. It therefore seems probable, if surprising, that the substrate-assisted catalytic mechanism has been independently evolved in the two protein families.
Background: The treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma patients consists of multimodal induction therapy to achieve remission followed by consolidation therapy to prevent relapses. However, the type of consolidation therapy is still discussed controversial. We applied metronomic chemotherapy in the prospective NB90 trial and monoclonal anti-GD2-antibody (MAB) ch14.18 in the NB97 trial. Here, we present the long term outcome data of the patient cohort. Methods: A total of 334 stage 4 neuroblastoma patients one year or older were included. All patients successfully completed the induction therapy. In the NB90 trial, 99 patients received at least one cycle of the oral maintenance chemotherapy (NB90 MT, 12 alternating cycles of oral melphalan/etoposide and vincristine/cyclophosphamide). In the NB97 trial, 166 patients commenced the MAB ch14.18 consolidation therapy (six cycles over 12 months). Patients who received no maintenance therapy according to the NB90 protocol or by refusal in NB97 (n = 69) served as controls. Results: The median observation time was 11.11 years. The nine-year event-free survival rates were 41 ± 4%, 31 ± 5%, and 32 ± 6% for MAB ch14.18, NB90 MT, and no consolidation, respectively (p = 0.098). In contrast to earlier reports, MAB ch14.18 treatment improved the long-term outcome compared to no additional therapy (p = 0.038). The overall survival was better in the MAB ch14.18-treated group (9-y-OS 46 ± 4%) compared to NB90 MT (34 ± 5%, p = 0.026) and to no consolidation (35 ± 6%, p = 0.019). Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed ch14.18 consolidation to improve outcome compared to no consolidation, however, no difference between NB90 MT and MAB ch14.18-treated patients was found. Conclusions: Follow-up analysis of the patient cohort indicated that immunotherapy with MAB ch14.18 may prevent late relapses. Finally, metronomic oral maintenance chemotherapy also appeared effective.