Black phosphorus/silk fibroin films hamper filamentous and invasive growth of .

The ability of fungi and bacteria to form biofilms on surfaces poses a serious threat to health and a problem in industrial settings. In this work, we investigated how the surface stiffness of silk fibroin (SF) films is modulated by the interaction with black phosphorus (BP) flakes, quantifying the morphogenesis of cells. Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopies, along with scanning transmission electron microscopy, allowed us to quantify the thickness and diameter of BP flakes dispersed in the SF matrix (, 5.

Phenotypical Differences at the Physiological and Clinical Level between Two Genetically Closely Related Strains Isolated from Patients.

The occurrence of non-albicans species within the genus poses a major challenge in the clinical setting. , formerly known as , has gained attention due to its potential multidrug resistance, particularly to amphotericin B (AmB). While intrinsic resistance to AmB is rare, secondary resistance may develop during treatment due to phenotypic rearrangement and the reorganization of the cell wall.

Water Extracts from Industrial Hemp Waste Inhibit the Adhesion and Development of Biofilm and Showed Antioxidant Activity on HT-29 Colon Cancer Cells.

The evolution of regulatory perspectives regarding the health and nutritional properties of industrial hemp-based products ( L.) has pushed research to focus on the development of new methods for both the extraction and formulation of the bioactive compounds present in hemp extracts. While the psychoactive and medicinal properties of hemp-derived cannabinoid extracts are well known, much less has been investigated on the functional and antimicrobial properties of hemp extracts.

Modulating the skin mycobiome-bacteriome and treating seborrheic dermatitis with a probiotic-enriched oily suspension.

Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) affects 2-5% of the global population, with imbalances in the skin microbiome implicated in its development. This study assessed the impact of an oily suspension containing Lactobacillus crispatus P17631 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei I1688 (termed EUTOPLAC) on SD symptoms and the skin mycobiome-bacteriome modulation. 25 SD patients were treated with EUTOPLAC for a week.

Targeting Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase Counteracts the Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Keratinocyte-Derived Tumors.

The endocannabinoid system regulates physiological processes, and the modulation of endogenous endocannabinoid (eCB) levels is an attractive tool to contrast the development of pathological skin conditions including cancers. Inhibiting FAAH (fatty acid amide hydrolase), the degradation enzyme of the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) leads to the increase in AEA levels, thus enhancing its biological effects. Here, we evaluated the anticancer property of the FAAH inhibitor URB597, investigating its potential to counteract epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process crucially involved in tumor progression.

The αMSH-Dependent PI3K Pathway Supports Energy Metabolism, via Glucose Uptake, in Melanoma Cells.

Stimulation of melanocytes and murine melanoma cells with αMSH plus the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 resulted in ROS increase, oxidative DNA damage, and pigment retention. We performed cellular and molecular biology assays (Western blot, FACS, immunofluorescence analysis, scratch assay) on murine and human melanoma cells. Treatment with αMSH plus LY294002 altered cortical actin architecture.

The Activation of PPARγ by (2Z,4E,6E)-2-methoxyocta-2,4,6-trienoic Acid Counteracts the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Process in Skin Carcinogenesis.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the most common UV-induced keratinocyte-derived cancer, and its progression is characterized by the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. We previously demonstrated that PPARγ activation by 2,4,6-octatrienoic acid (Octa) prevents cutaneous UV damage. We investigated the possible role of the PPARγ activators Octa and the new compound (2Z,4E,6E)-2-methoxyocta-2,4,6-trienoic acid (A02) in targeting keratinocyte-derived skin cancer.

Overordering of tumor marker for outpatients revealed by performance indicators and the impact of a health policy intervention: An observational study using administrative records.

Purpose: The overuse of laboratory tests contributes to impair health systems effectiveness, tumor markers (TMs) being a paradigmatic example. In the present study we applied indicators of TMs appropriateness developed from administrative datasets to appraise regionwide overordering in the clinical practice.

Patients And Methods: TMs ordered to outpatients in the Veneto Region over 6 years were obtained from the eletronic Outpatients' Records of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures.

Renewing Lost Genetic Variability with a Classical Yeast Genetics Approach.

Due to their long domestication time course, many industrial strains are adopted in numerous processes mostly for historical reasons instead of scientific and technological needs. As such, there is still significant room for improvement for industrial yeast strains relying on yeast biodiversity. This paper strives to regenerate biodiversity with the innovative application of classic genetic methods to already available yeast strains.

MinION Sequencing of Yeast Mock Communities To Assess the Effect of Databases and ITS-LSU Markers on the Reliability of Metabarcoding Analysis.

Microbial communities play key roles both for humans and the environment. They are involved in ecosystem functions, maintaining their stability, and provide important services, such as carbon cycle and nitrogen cycle. Acting both as symbionts and as pathogens, description of the structure and composition of these communities is important.

Skin dysbiosis and Cutibacterium acnes biofilm in inflammatory acne lesions of adolescents.

Acne vulgaris is a common inflammatory disorder affecting more than 80% of young adolescents. Cutibacterium acnes plays a role in the pathogenesis of acne lesions, although the mechanisms are poorly understood. The study aimed to explore the microbiome at different skin sites in adolescent acne and the role of biofilm production in promoting the growth and persistence of C.

Metabolomic and Proteomic Changes in Biofilm in Response to Zosteric Acid Treatment.

Zosteric acid (ZA) is a secondary metabolite of the seagrass with antibiofilm activity against fungi. Information concerning its mechanisms of action is lacking and this limits the development of more potent derivatives based on the same target and activity structure. The aim of this work was to investigate the ZA mode of action by analyzing the metabolic status of biofilm and its protein expression profile upon ZA treatment.

National Email Communication Platforms May Indicate or Contribute to Gender Disparities: Preliminary Analysis of an Academic Medicine Listserv.

Gender disparities are well documented in the academic medicine literature and have been shown to impact representation, rank, and leadership opportunities for women. Social media platforms, including electronic mailing lists (listservs), may contribute to disparities by differentially highlighting or promoting individuals' work in academic and public health settings. Because of this, they provide a record by which to assess the presence of gender disparities; therefore, they become tools to identify gender differences in the frequency or pattern of representation.

Shining Light on Autophagy in Skin Pigmentation and Pigmentary Disorders.

Autophagy is a vital process for cell survival and it preserves homeostasis by recycling or disassembling unnecessary or dysfunctional cellular constituents. Autophagy ameliorates skin integrity, regulating epidermal differentiation and constitutive pigmentation. It induces melanogenesis and contributes to skin color through melanosome turnover.

Validation of a Standard Protocol to Assess the Fermentative and Chemical Properties of Wine Strains.

This paper reports on a common experiment performed by 17 Research Units of the Italian Group of Microbiology of Vine and Wine (GMVV), which belongs to the Scientific Society SIMTREA, with the aim to validate a protocol for the characterization of wine strains of . For this purpose, two commercial strains (EC 1118 and AWRI796) were used to carry out inter-laboratory-scale comparative fermentations using both synthetic medium and grape musts and applying the same protocol to obtain reproducible, replicable, and statistically valid results. Ethanol yield, production of acetic acid, glycerol, higher alcohols, and other volatile compounds were assessed.

Sebocytes contribute to melasma onset.

Melasma is a hyperpigmentary disorder with photoaging features, whose manifestations appear on specific face areas, rich in sebaceous glands (SGs). To explore the SGs possible contribution to the onset, the expression of pro-melanogenic and inflammatory factors from the SZ95 SG cell line exposed to single or repetitive ultraviolet (UVA) radiation was evaluated. UVA up-modulated the long-lasting production of α-MSH, EDN1, b-FGF, SCF, inflammatory cytokines and mediators.

PVC grafted zinc oxide nanoparticles as an inhospitable surface to microbes.

Antimicrobial Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was obtained by covalent bonding of zinc oxide nanoparticles, which have gained important achievements in antimicrobial fields because of their auspicious properties. This was achieved by grafting mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane onto PVC, followed by the growth of zinc oxide nanoparticles covalently bonded on the polymer surface. In this study, the relationship between the physicochemical features of modified-surface PVC and antimicrobial activity on Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans was investigated.

: more than a node or a foot-shaped basal cell.

Recent publications have argued that there are potentially serious consequences for researchers in recognising distinct genera in the terminal fusarioid clade of the family . Thus, an alternate hypothesis, namely a very broad concept of the genus was proposed. In doing so, however, a significant body of data that supports distinct genera in based on morphology, biology, and phylogeny is disregarded.

Anti-Inflammatory and Pro-Differentiating Properties of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Ligands NPD-0614-13 and NPD-0614-24: Potential Therapeutic Benefits in Psoriasis.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a ligand-activated transcription factor expressed in all skin cell types, plays a key role in physiological and pathological processes. Several studies have shown that this receptor is involved in the prevention of inflammatory skin diseases, e.g.

Nomenclatural issues concerning cultured yeasts and other fungi: why it is important to avoid unneeded name changes.

The unambiguous application of fungal names is important to communicate scientific findings. Names are critical for (clinical) diagnostics, legal compliance, and regulatory controls, such as biosafety, food security, quarantine regulations, and industrial applications. Consequently, the stability of the taxonomic system and the traceability of nomenclatural changes is crucial for a broad range of users and taxonomists.

Fungal taxonomy and sequence-based nomenclature.

The identification and proper naming of microfungi, in particular plant, animal and human pathogens, remains challenging. Molecular identification is becoming the default approach for many fungal groups, and environmental metabarcoding is contributing an increasing amount of sequence data documenting fungal diversity on a global scale. This includes lineages represented only by sequence data.

How does temperature trigger biofilm adhesion and growth in Candida albicans and two non-Candida albicans Candida species?

Background: Biofilm formation on biotic and abiotic surfaces is finely regulated by genetic factors but also by oxygen concentration, pH, temperature and other environmental factors, already extensively explored for bacterial biofilms. Much less is known about fungal biofilm, that is considered a virulence factor for Candida pathogenic species among the few fungal species able to grow and survive at high temperatures such as 37°C as well as those induced by fever. The resistance to high temperatures coupled with the ability to form biofilm are threatening factors of these fungal species that could severely impact at an epidemiological level.