Age-Associated Contraction of Tumor-Specific T Cells Impairs Antitumor Immunity.

Progressive decline of the adaptive immune system with increasing age coincides with a sharp increase in cancer incidence. In this study, we set out to understand whether deficits in antitumor immunity with advanced age promote tumor progression and/or drive resistance to immunotherapy. We found that multiple syngeneic cancers grew more rapidly in aged versus young adult mice, driven by dysfunctional CD8+ T-cell responses.

Fecal microbiota impacts development of Cryptosporidium parvum in the mouse.

The dependence of Cryptosporidium parasites on host cell metabolites suggests that the development of nutritional interventions to limit parasite proliferation should be feasible. Based on this concept, we are testing dietary interventions to affect the enterocytes' metabolism in a manner that limits intracellular multiplication of the parasite. We hypothesize that changes in the metabolic pathways encoded by the gastro-intestinal tract microbiota may restrict parasite proliferation.

Gold Nanomaterial-Based Microfluidic Paper Analytical Device for Simultaneous Quantification of Gram-Negative Bacteria and Nitrite Ions in Water Samples.

This study presents a rapid microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD) capable of simultaneously monitoring Gram-negative bacteria and nitrite ions (NO) for water quality monitoring. We utilize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalized with polymyxin molecules (AuNPs@polymyxin) to cause color change due to aggregation for the detection of Gram-negative bacteria, and antiaggregation in the presence of -phenylenediamine (OPD) for NO detection. In this study, () serves as the model of a Gram-negative bacterium.

The Impact of Physical Effort on the Gut Microbiota of Long-Distance Fliers.

Flying pigeons () are extensively studied for their physical endurance and superior sense of orientation. The extreme physical endurance of which these birds are capable creates a unique opportunity to investigate the possible impact of long-distance flying on the taxonomy and metabolic function of the gut microbiota. This project was enabled by access to two groups of pigeons raised by the same breeder in the same conditions, except that one group was trained in long-distance flying and participated in multiple races covering a total distance of over 2600 km over a 9-week period.

The association between fecal microbiota, age and endoparasitism in adult alpacas.

Endoparasitism is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in alpacas (Lama pacos), with growing emergence of anthelmintic resistance. The purpose of the study was to correlate nematode worm burden and selected host phenotypic characteristics, such as age and weight, with the composition of the intestinal microbiota of adult alpacas. Fecal samples were collected per rectum from 102 healthy adult (2.