MAIT cell heterogeneity across paired human tissues reveals specialization of distinct regulatory and enhanced effector profiles.

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are unconventional T cells that recognize microbial riboflavin pathway metabolites presented by evolutionarily conserved MR1 molecules. We explored the human MAIT cell compartment across organ donor-matched blood, barrier, and lymphoid tissues. MAIT cell population size was donor dependent with distinct tissue compartmentalization patterns and adaptations: Intestinal CD103 resident MAIT cells presented an immunoregulatory CD39CD27 profile, whereas MAIT cells expressing NCAM1/CD56 dominated in the liver and exhibited enhanced effector capacity with elevated response magnitude and polyfunctionality.

Chalcones induce apoptosis, autophagy and reduce spreading in osteosarcoma 3D models.

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone malignancy with a challenging prognosis marked by a high rate of metastasis. The limited success of current treatments may be partially attributed to an incomplete understanding of osteosarcoma pathophysiology and to the absence of reliable in vitro models to select the best molecules for in vivo studies. Among the natural compounds relevant for osteosarcoma treatment, Licochalcone A (Lic-A) and chalcone derivatives are particularly interesting.

Warming, but not infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, increases off-host winter activity in the ectoparasite, Ixodes scapularis.

Warming winters will change patterns of behaviour in temperate and polar arthropods, but we know little about the drivers of winter activity in animals such as ticks. Any changes in behaviour are likely to arise from a combination of both abiotic (e.g.

Circuital modelling in muscle tissue impedance measurements.

Electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) stands as a widely employed characterization technique for studying muscular tissue in both physio/pathological conditions. This methodology commonly involves modeling tissues through equivalent electrical circuits, facilitating a correlation between electrical parameters and physiological properties. Within existing literature, diverse equivalent electrical circuits have been proposed, varying in complexity and fitting properties.

Direct Current Stimulation of Prefrontal Cortex Is Not Effective in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy: A Randomized Trial.

Background: Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a rare 4R-tauopathy. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may improve specific symptoms.

Objectives: This randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled trial aimed at verifying the short-, mid-, and long-term effect of multiple sessions of anodal tDCS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) cortex in PSP.

Persistent complement dysregulation with signs of thromboinflammation in active Long Covid.

Long Covid is a debilitating condition of unknown etiology. We performed multimodal proteomics analyses of blood serum from COVID-19 patients followed up to 12 months after confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. Analysis of >6500 proteins in 268 longitudinal samples revealed dysregulated activation of the complement system, an innate immune protection and homeostasis mechanism, in individuals experiencing Long Covid.

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination enhances the effector qualities of spike-specific T cells induced by COVID-19.

T cells are critical for immune protection against severe COVID-19, but it has remained unclear whether repeated exposure to SARS-CoV-2 antigens delivered in the context of vaccination fuels T cell exhaustion or reshapes T cell functionality. Here, we sampled convalescent donors with a history of mild or severe COVID-19 before and after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination to profile the functional spectrum of hybrid T cell immunity. Using combined single-cell technologies and high-dimensional flow cytometry, we found that the frequencies and functional capabilities of spike-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells in previously infected individuals were enhanced by vaccination, despite concomitant increases in the expression of inhibitory receptors such as PD-1 and TIM3.

Manduca sexta caterpillars parasitized by the wasp Cotesia congregata stop chewing despite an intact motor system.

The parasitic wasp Cotesia congregata suppresses feeding in its host, the caterpillar Manduca sexta, during specific periods of wasp development. We examined both feeding behaviour and the neurophysiology of the mandibular closer muscle in parasitized and unparasitized control M. sexta to determine how the wasp may accomplish this.

Assessing satisfaction of search in virtual mammograms for experienced and novice searchers.

Purpose: Satisfaction of search (SOS) is a phenomenon where searchers are more likely to miss a lesion/target after detecting a first lesion/target. Here, we investigated SOS for masses and calcifications in virtual mammograms with experienced and novice searchers to determine the extent to which: (1) SOS affects breast lesion detection, (2) similarity between lesions impacts detection, and (3) experience impacts SOS rates.

Approach: The open virtual clinical trials framework was used to simulate the breast anatomy of patients, and up to two simulated masses and/or single-calcifications were inserted into the breast models.

White matter hyperintensities and smaller cortical thickness are associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms in neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases.

Background: Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are a core feature of most neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases. White matter hyperintensities and brain atrophy have been implicated in NPS. We aimed to investigate the relative contribution of white matter hyperintensities and cortical thickness to NPS in participants across neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases.

Muscle in the caterpillar Manduca sexta responds to an immune challenge, but at a cost, suggesting a physiological trade-off.

Although skeletal muscle is a specialized tissue that provides the motor for movement, it also participates in other functions, including the immune response. However, little is known about the effects of this multitasking on muscle. We show that muscle loses some of its capacity while it is participating in the immune response.

Association of Dual-Task Gait Cost and White Matter Hyperintensity Burden Poststroke: Results From the ONDRI.

Background: Acute change in gait speed while performing a mental task [dual-task gait cost (DTC)], and hyperintensity magnetic resonance imaging signals in white matter are both important disability predictors in older individuals with history of stroke (poststroke). It is still unclear, however, whether DTC is associated with overall hyperintensity volume from specific major brain regions in poststroke.

Methods: This is a cohort study with a total of 123 older (69 ± 7 years of age) participants with history of stroke were included from the Ontario Neurodegenerative Disease Research Initiative.

Memory profiles distinguish cross-reactive and virus-specific T cell immunity to mpox.

Mpox represents a persistent health concern with varying disease severity. Reinfections with mpox virus (MPXV) are rare, possibly indicating effective memory responses to MPXV or related poxviruses, notably vaccinia virus (VACV) from smallpox vaccination. We assessed cross-reactive and virus-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells in healthy individuals and mpox convalescent donors.

Female ticks (Ixodes scapularis) infected with Borrelia burgdorferi have increased overwintering survival, with implications for tick population growth.

The tick, Ixodes scapularis, vectors pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Over the last few decades I. scapularis has expanded its range, introducing a novel health threat into these areas.

Human memory B cells show plasticity and adopt multiple fates upon recall response to SARS-CoV-2.

The B cell response to different pathogens uses tailored effector mechanisms and results in functionally specialized memory B (B) cell subsets, including CD21 resting, CD21CD27 activated and CD21CD27 B cells. The interrelatedness between these B cell subsets remains unknown. Here we showed that single severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-specific B cell clones showed plasticity upon antigen rechallenge in previously exposed individuals.

NOTCH1: A Novel Player in the Molecular Crosstalk Underlying Articular Chondrocyte Protection by Oleuropein and Hydroxytyrosol.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease, but no effective and safe disease-modifying treatment is available. Risk factors such as age, sex, genetics, injuries and obesity can concur to the onset of the disease, variably triggering the loss of maturational arrest of chondrocytes further sustained by oxidative stress, inflammation and catabolism. Different types of nutraceuticals have been studied for their anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.

From perplexing to predictive: are we ready to forecast insect disease susceptibility in a warming world?

Insects are critical to our ecosystems, but we do not fully understand their future in our warming world. Rising temperatures are affecting insect physiology in myriad ways, including changes to their immune systems and the ability to fight infection. Whether predicted changes in temperature will contribute to insect mortality or success, and the role of disease in their future survival, remains unclear.

Hypes, hopes, and the way forward for microalgal biotechnology.

The urge for food security and sustainability has advanced the field of microalgal biotechnology. Microalgae are microorganisms able to grow using (sun)light, fertilizers, sugars, CO, and seawater. They have high potential as a feedstock for food, feed, energy, and chemicals.