The effect of conditioned medium from human amniotic membrane-derived mesenchymal stem cells on thymus involution.

Aims: The development and selection of T cells occur within the thymus. This organ involutes throughout life, compromising the generation of T cells and, consequently, the efficacy of the immune system. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have beneficial effects on the immune system.

Residual Longevity of Recaptured Sterile Mosquitoes as a Tool to Understand Field Performance and Reveal Quality.

Invasive mosquito species, such as , pose significant threats to both ecosystems and public health due to their role in transmitting diseases, such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is a promising vector control strategy aimed at reducing mosquito populations by releasing sterile males to mate with wild females and reduce their reproduction rates. In this study, we employed the captive cohort method, which assesses the remaining longevity of randomly caught released individuals, to assess the longevity and frailty dynamics of sterile and non-sterile males.

α-tubulin detyrosination fine-tunes kinetochore-microtubule attachments.

Post-translational cycles of α-tubulin detyrosination and tyrosination generate microtubule diversity, the cellular functions of which remain largely unknown. Here we show that α-tubulin detyrosination regulates kinetochore-microtubule attachments to ensure normal chromosome oscillations and timely anaphase onset during mitosis. Remarkably, detyrosinated α-tubulin levels near kinetochore microtubule plus-ends depend on the direction of chromosome motion during metaphase.

Biofilm matrix regulation by Zap1 under acidic conditions: transcriptomic and proteomic analyses.

The vaginal acidic environment potentiates the formation of biofilms, leading to complicated and recurrent infections. Importantly, the production of matrix is known to contribute to the recalcitrant features of biofilms. In this study, we reveal that Zap1 regulates the matrix of acidic biofilms and analyzed the modulation of their transcriptome (by microarrays) and matrix proteome (by LC-MS/MS) by Zap1.

Toscana Virus in Wild-Caught Sand Flies in Portugal, Findings from the National Vector Surveillance Network, 2023.

Phlebotomine sand flies play a crucial role in both human and veterinary medicine, acting as vectors for parasites and most known phleboviruses. In Portugal, the REVIVE program, a comprehensive national surveillance network under the Ministry of Health, has included sand fly surveys since 2016. REVIVE aims to identify existing sand fly species in the country, determine which pathogens are circulating among them, and provide actionable insights for prevention and control measures when necessary.