The chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model: From its origins in developmental biology to its role in cancer research.

Over the past century, the chick embryo model, historically employed for research in developmental biology, has become a valuable tool for cancer research. The characteristics of the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) make it a convenient model for the study of cancer, leading to the establishment of the CAM assay as an alternative to traditional in vivo cancer models. In this review we will explore the characteristics of the CAM that make it suitable for cancer research, as well as its consolidation as a versatile platform in this field.

Has the time finally come for green oleochemicals and biodiesel production using large-scale enzyme technologies? Current status and new developments.

With the growth of the chemical industry over the last decade, the need for cheaper (and more environmentally friendly) alternatives to petrochemicals of ever-increasing cost has grown steadily. Oleochemicals and biodiesel (OC/BD) are considered as green alternatives to petroleum derivatives, because they come from renewable oils and fats. OC/BD are currently produced by the traditional energy intensive chemical catalyzed methods, which have several economic and environmental drawbacks.

MrgprA3 neurons drive cutaneous immunity against helminths through selective control of myeloid-derived IL-33.

Skin uses interdependent cellular networks for barrier integrity and host immunity, but most underlying mechanisms remain obscure. Herein, we demonstrate that the human parasitic helminth Schistosoma mansoni inhibited pruritus evoked by itch-sensing afferents bearing the Mas-related G-protein-coupled receptor A3 (MrgprA3) in mice. MrgprA3 neurons controlled interleukin (IL)-17 γδ T cell expansion, epidermal hyperplasia and host resistance against S.