Tracking fine particles in urban and rural environments using honey bees as biosamplers in Mexico.

This work explores the efficiency of honey bees (Apis mellifera) as biosamplers of metal pollution. To understand this, we selected two cities with different urbanization (a medium-sized city and a megacity), and we collected urban dust and honey bees captured during flight. We sampled two villages and a university campus as control areas.

Antimycobacterial Precatorin A Flavonoid Displays Antibiofilm Activity against BCG.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential antibiofilm activity of () compounds over BCG ( BCG) as a model for (). We evaluated the antibiofilm activity as the ability to both inhibit biofilm formation and disrupt preformed biofilms (bactericidal) of compounds, which have been previously described as being antimycobacterials against . BCG developed air-liquid interface biofilms with surface attachment ability and drug tolerance.

Raman spectroscopy and silver nanoparticles for efficient detection of membrane proteins in living cells.

Molecular fingerprints revealed by Raman techniques show great potential for biomedical applications, like disease diagnostic through Raman detection of tumor markers and other molecules in the cell membrane. However, SERS substrates used in membrane molecule studies produce enhanced Raman spectra of high variability and challenging band assignments that limit their application. In this work, these drawbacks are addressed to detect membrane-associated hemoglobin (Hb) in human erythrocytes through Raman spectroscopy.

Nanoscale Changes on RBC Membrane Induced by Storage and Ionizing Radiation: A Mini-Review.

The storage lesions and the irradiation of blood cellular components for medical procedures in blood banks are events that may induce nanochanges in the membrane of red blood cells (RBCs). Alterations, such as the formation of pores and vesicles, reduce flexibility and compromise the overall erythrocyte integrity. This review discusses the alterations on erythrocytic lipid membrane bilayer through their characterization by confocal scanning microscopy, Raman, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy techniques.

Effects of Untreated Drinking Water at Three Indigenous Yaqui Towns in Mexico: Insights from a Murine Model.

Background: Reports in a northwestern Mexico state linked arsenic (As) in drinking water to DNA damage in people from indigenous communities. However, this correlation remains under discussion due to unknown variables related to nutrition, customs, and the potential presence of other metal(oid)s.

Methods: To determine this association, we sampled water from three Yaqui towns (Cócorit, Vícam, and Pótam), and analyzed the metals by ICP-OES.

Evaluation of gamma irradiation for human norovirus inactivation and its effect on strawberry cells.

Norovirus (NoV) is the leading cause of epidemic and sporadic gastroenteritis worldwide; a high number of those cases are attributed to the consumption of contaminated food. Crop producers have used several strategies to inactivate the virus present in these products and thus stop the NoV transmission chain. Physical methods such as gamma radiation show excellent results in the inactivation of bacteria, but its effect on NoV has been little studied.

Atomic force microscopy and Raman spectra profile of blood components associated with exposure to cigarette smoking.

Tobacco smoke contains several compounds with oxidant and pro-oxidant properties with the capability of producing structural changes in biomolecules, as well as cell damage. This work aimed to describe and analyse the effect of tobacco smoke on human blood components, red blood cell (RBC) membrane, haemoglobin (Hb) and blood plasma by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Raman spectroscopy. Our results indicate that tobacco induced RBC membrane nano-alterations characterized by diminished RBC diameter and increased nano-vesicles formation, and RBC fragility.

Lactosylated Albumin Nanoparticles: Potential Drug Nanovehicles with Selective Targeting Toward an In Vitro Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks fifth in occurrence and second in mortality of all cancers. The development of effective therapies for HCC is urgently needed. Anticancer drugs targeted to the liver-specific asialoglycoprotein receptors (ASGPRs) are viewed as a promising potential treatment for HCC.

Specific capture of glycosylated graphene oxide by an asialoglycoprotein receptor: a strategic approach for liver-targeting.

In this work, we report the evaluation of lactosylated graphene oxide (GO-AL) as a potential drug carrier targeted at an asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) from hepatic cancer cells. Structural-modification, safety evaluation, and functional analysis of GO-AL were performed. The structure and morphology of the composite were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), while Raman and FTIR spectroscopy were used to track the chemical modification.

Effect of gamma irradiation doses in the structural and functional properties of mice splenic cells.

Purpose: Ionizing radiation is nowadays effectively used in cancer treatments. However, the effect of irradiation in immune-system cells is poorly understood and remains controversial. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of γ-irradiation in the structural and functional properties of mice splenic cells.

Nanodiamonds and gold nanoparticles to obtain a hybrid nanostructure with potential applications in biomedicine.

Using detonation nanodiamonds and fluorescent nitrogen-vacancy center nanodiamonds, linked to gold nanoparticles, we synthesized two hybrid nanostructures (HGDs) that were subsequently conjugated with a fluorophore. An amplification effect induced by the gold nanoparticles increased the emission spectrum of the fluorophore, maximizing the possibilities for imaging applications of these HGDs. The incubation of the nanostructures with HeLa cells produced no alteration of cell viability after 3 h and showed the presence of nanostructures in the cell cytoplasm at 24 h.

Molecular recognition of glyconanoparticles by RCA and E. coli K88 - designing transports for targeted therapy.

The targeted drug delivery has been studied as one of the main methods in medicine to ensure successful treatments of diseases. Pharmaceutical sciences are using micro or nano carriers to obtain a controlled delivery of drugs, able to selectively interact with pathogens, cells or tissues. In this work, we modified bovine serum albumin (BSA) with lactose, obtaining a neoglycan (BSA-Lac).

Nano alterations of membrane structure on both γ-irradiated and stored human erythrocytes.

Purpose: Storage and ionizing radiation of human red blood cells (RBC) produce alterations on RBC membranes and modify their normal shape and functionality. We investigated early morphological and biochemical changes in RBC due to those stressing agents at the nanoscale level and their impact on blood quality.

Materials And Methods: Whole blood samples from healthy donors were γ-irradiated with 15, 25, 35, and 50 Gy.

Characterization of antigen-presenting cells from the porcine respiratory system.

Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) are strategically placed in all anatomic sites with high antigen exposure such as the respiratory system. The aim of this study was to evaluate phenotypic and functional properties of APCs from the lung (L-Cs), mediastinal lymph node (LN-Cs) and bronchoalveolar lavage cells (BAL-Cs). The APCs were first analyzed based on forward scatter and side scatter profiles and the selection of MHC-II(high)CD172a(+) cells (referred to as APCs); then the expression of CD1a, CD163, CD206, CD16 and CD11R3 was evaluated in the APCs.

Production of interferon α and β, pro-inflammatory cytokines and the expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) in obese subjects infected with influenza A/H1N1.

Background & Aims: Obesity was recognized as an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality during last influenza A/H1N1 pandemic. Mechanisms involved in the high mortality risk from obesity during influenza A virus include reduced type I interferon production and delayed pro-inflammatory response, which lead to a higher rate of morbidity and mortality in murine models. In this study, we evaluated the production of type I interferons, pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from obese and lean subjects with and without confirmed infection of influenza A/H1N1.

Swine, human or avian influenza viruses differentially activates porcine dendritic cells cytokine profile.

Swine influenza virus (SwIV) is considered a zoonosis and the fact that swine may act as an intermediate reservoir for avian influenza virus, potentially infectious for humans, highlights its relevance and the need to understand the interaction of different influenza viruses with the porcine immune system. Thus, in vitro porcine bone marrow-derived dendritic cell (poBMDCs) were infected with a circulating SwIV A/Swine/Spain/SF32071/2007(H3N2), 2009 human pandemic influenza virus A/Catalonia/63/2009(H1N1), low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) A/Anas plathyrhynchos/Spain/1877/2009(aH7N2) or high pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) A/Chicken/Italy/5093/1999(aH7N1). Swine influenza virus H3N2 infection induced an increase of SLA-I and CD80/86 at 16 and 24h post infection (hpi), whereas the other viruses did not.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus induces CD4+CD8+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs).

The aim of this study was to analyze the regulatory T cells (Tregs) induced by the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in pigs. Serum, blood, tonsil, and mediastinal lymph nodes' samples were obtained at different time post-infection (dpi). The frequencies of CD4(+)CD8(-)CD25(+)Foxp3(+), CD4(+)CD8(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+), or CD4(-)CD8(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) phenotypes were determined in PBMC and lymph node cells, and cells producing IL-10 or TGF-β were analyzed.

Antioxidant capacity of binuclear Cu(II)-cyclophanes, insights from two synthetic bioactive molecules.

The compounds 2,9,25,32-tetraoxo-4,7,27,30-tetrakis(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7,10,24,27,30,33-octaaza-17,40-dioxa[10.1.10.

European genotype of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRSV) infects monocyte-derived dendritic cells but does not induce Treg cells.

The aim of this study was to characterize the immune responses of DCs after infection with four different EU strains of PRRSV and whether they show any ability to immunomodulate T cells activation. Our results show that all EU strains can efficiently infect and replicate in DCs. Nevertheless, SLA-II levels remained unaltered in DC infected by all EU PRRSV strains, whereas SLA-I expression was only reduced when strain 2992 was used.

Induction of T helper 3 regulatory cells by dendritic cells infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.

Delayed development of virus-specific immune response has been observed in pigs infected with the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Several studies support the hypothesis that the PRRSV is capable of modulating porcine immune system, but the mechanisms involved are yet to be defined. In this study, we evaluated the induction of T regulatory cells by PRRSV-infected dendritic cells (DCs).

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infects mature porcine dendritic cells and up-regulates interleukin-10 production.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infects mature dendritic cells (mDCs) derived from porcine monocytes and matured with lipopolysaccharide. The infection of mDCs induced apoptosis, reduced the expression of CD80/86 and major histocompatibility complex class II molecules, and increased the expression of interleukin-10, thus suggesting that such mDC modulation results in the impairment of T-cell activation.