Common Bed Bugs: Non-Viable Hosts for Parasites.

The hemoflagellate parasite is transmitted by triatomine kissing bugs and may co-infect humans together with its Chagas disease-causing congener . Using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and antimicrobial assays, we studied () the temporal and spatial distribution of in common bed bugs, , following oral ingestion and hemocoelic injection of and () the immune responses of bed bugs induced by infections. Irrespective of infection mode, no live were present in the bed bugs' hemolymph, salivary glands, or feces.

Artificial Metalloenzymes with Two Catalytic Cofactors for Tandem Abiotic Transformations.

Artificial metalloenzymes (ArMs) enable the integration of abiotic cofactors within a native protein scaffold, allowing for non-natural catalytic activities. Previous ArMs, however, have primarily relied on single cofactor systems, limiting them to only one catalytic function. Here we present an approach to construct ArMs embedding two catalytic cofactors based on the biotin-streptavidin technology.

The Vsr-like protein FASTKD4 regulates the stability and polyadenylation of the MT-ND3 mRNA.

Expression of the compact mitochondrial genome is regulated by nuclear encoded, mitochondrially localized RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). RBPs regulate the lifecycles of mitochondrial RNAs from transcription to degradation by mediating RNA processing, maturation, stability and translation. The Fas-activated serine/threonine kinase (FASTK) family of RBPs has been shown to regulate and fine-tune discrete aspects of mitochondrial gene expression.

Large-Scale Transient Transfection of Suspension-Adapted Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells for the Production of the Trimeric SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein.

The production and purification of the secreted ectodomain of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S protein) were performed by transiently transfecting suspension-adapted Chinese hamster ovary cells (ExpiCHO). The method involved the separate addition of plasmid DNA expressing the S protein and polyethyleneimine to a suspension culture at a density of 5 × 10 cells/mL; and the subsequent addition of dimethyl sulfoxide at 2% (v/v). The transfected ExpiCHO cells were cultivated at 31 °C with agitation by orbital shaking under 5% CO.

Matalili-Aga Gahua: Development of the Matalili Framework as a Holistic Model for the Well-being of the Niue People.

Culturally appropriate research frameworks are needed for investigating Pacific well-being. This study expands on existing Pacific methodologies and presents a well-being research framework by studying the Niue community. Traditional storytelling or talanoa methodology, referred to as tala in the Niue context, was used to explore and understand the lived experiences of well-being from Niue elders.

Inhibitory Components in Muscle Synergies Factorized by The Rectified Latent Variable Model from Electromyographic Data.

Non-negative matrix factorization (NMF), widely used in motor neuroscience for identifying muscle synergies from electromyographical signals (EMGs), extracts non-negative synergies and is yet unable to identify potential negative components (NegCps) in synergies underpinned by inhibitory spinal interneurons. To overcome this constraint, we propose to utilize rectified latent variable model (RLVM) to extract muscle synergies. RLVM uses an autoencoder neural network, and the weight matrix of its neural network could be negative, while latent variables must remain non-negative.

Low-dose cryo-electron ptychography of proteins at sub-nanometer resolution.

Cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-EM) of frozen hydrated specimens is an efficient method for the structural analysis of purified biological molecules. However, cryo-EM and cryo-electron tomography are limited by the low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of recorded images, making detection of smaller particles challenging. For dose-resilient samples often studied in the physical sciences, electron ptychography - a coherent diffractive imaging technique using 4D scanning transmission electron microscopy (4D-STEM) - has recently demonstrated excellent SNR and resolution down to tens of picometers for thin specimens imaged at room temperature.

New diagnostic and nonsurgical local treatment modalities for early stage lung cancer.

This paper highlights developments in diagnostic and nonsurgical local treatment modalities that have changed the management of early-stage lung cancer. These innovations aim to enhance diagnostic accuracy, minimize invasiveness, and improve patient outcomes. Liquid biopsies are emerging as promising tools for non-invasive diagnosis and monitoring, enabling earlier intervention without being standardized yet as well as not yet anchored in the guidelines.

Standardized Production of Anti-Desmoglein 3 Antibody AK23 for Translational Pemphigus Vulgaris Research.

Antibody-mediated receptor activation is successfully used to develop medical treatments. If the activation induces a pathological response, such antibodies are also excellent tools for defining molecular mechanisms of target receptor malfunction and designing rescue therapies. Prominent examples are naturally occurring autoantibodies inducing the severe blistering disease pemphigus vulgaris (PV).

Concerto of movement: how expertise shapes the synergistic control of upper limb muscles in complex motor tasks with varying tempo and dynamics.

. This research aims to reveal how the synergistic control of upper limb muscles adapts to varying requirements in complex motor tasks and how expertise shapes the motor modules..

Small-Scale Cultivation and Transfection of ExpiCHO and HEK293E Cells in Single-Use Orbitally Shaken Bioreactors.

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells are the two most important mammalian hosts for the production of recombinant proteins. In this chapter, the suspension cultivation and transfection of these cells in small-scale, single-use orbitally shaken bioreactors, TubeSpin™ bioreactor 50 [orbitally shaken reactor 50 (OSR50)], and TubeSpin™ bioreactor 600 [orbitally shaken reactor 600 (OSR600)] are described. These are conical centrifuge tubes with nominal volumes of 50 mL and 600 mL, respectively, that have been redesigned with a ventilated cap for the cultivation of animal cells in suspension at working volumes up to 20 mL and 400 mL, respectively.

Antibody-peptide conjugates deliver covalent inhibitors blocking oncogenic cathepsins.

Cysteine cathepsins are a family of proteases that are relevant therapeutic targets for the treatment of different cancers and other diseases. However, no clinically approved drugs for these proteins exist, as their systemic inhibition can induce deleterious side effects. To address this problem, we developed a modular antibody-based platform for targeted drug delivery by conjugating non-natural peptide inhibitors (NNPIs) to antibodies.

Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction as the Treatment of Choice versus Robotic-Assisted Lung Volume Reduction Surgery in Similar Patients with Emphysema - An Initial Experience of the Benefits and Complications.

Objective: There is an assumption that because EBLVR requires less use of hospital resources, offsetting the higher cost of endobronchial valves, it should therefore be the treatment of choice wherever possible. We have tested this hypothesis in a retrospective analysis of the two in similar groups of patients.

Methods: In a 4-year experience, we performed 177 consecutive LVR procedures: 83 patients underwent Robot Assisted Thoracoscopic (RATS) LVRS and 94 EBLVR.

Extended pleurectomy decortication and chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for pleural mesothelioma (MARS 2): a phase 3 randomised controlled trial.

Background: Extended pleurectomy decortication for complete macroscopic resection for pleural mesothelioma has never been evaluated in a randomised trial. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes after extended pleurectomy decortication plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone.

Methods: MARS 2 was a phase 3, national, multicentre, open-label, parallel two-group, pragmatic, superiority randomised controlled trial conducted in the UK.

Differential microRNA editing may drive target pathway switching in human temporal lobe epilepsy.

MicroRNAs have emerged as important regulators of the gene expression landscape in temporal lobe epilepsy. The mechanisms that control microRNA levels and influence target choice remain, however, poorly understood. RNA editing is a post-transcriptional mechanism mediated by the adenosine acting on RNA (ADAR) family of proteins that introduces base modification that diversifies the gene expression landscape.

Broadly potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody shares 93% of epitope with ACE2 and provides full protection in monkeys.

Objectives: Due to the rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 to variants with reduced sensitivity to vaccine-induced humoral immunity and the near complete loss of protective efficacy of licensed therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, we isolated a potent, broad-spectrum neutralizing antibody that could potentially provide prophylactic protection to immunocompromised patient populations.

Methods: Spike-specific B-cell clones isolated from a vaccinated post-infected donor were profiled for those producing potent neutralizing antibodies against a panel of SARS-CoV-2 variants. The P4J15 antibody was further characterized to define the structural binding epitope, viral resistance, and in vivo efficacy.

Transbronchial Microwave Ablation of Peripheral Lung Tumors: The NAVABLATE Study.

Background: Image-guided thermal ablation is a minimally invasive local therapy for lung malignancies. NAVABLATE characterized the safety and performance of transbronchial microwave ablation (MWA) in the lung.

Methods: The prospective, single-arm, 2-center NAVABLATE study (NCT03569111) evaluated transbronchial MWA in patients with histologically confirmed lung malignancies ≤30 mm in maximum diameter who were not candidates for, or who declined, both surgery and stereotactic body radiation therapy.

Manganese Transfer Hydrogenases Based on the Biotin-Streptavidin Technology.

Artificial (transfer) hydrogenases have been developed for organic synthesis, but they rely on precious metals. Native hydrogenases use Earth-abundant metals, but these cannot be applied for organic synthesis due, in part, to their substrate specificity. Herein, we report the design and development of manganese transfer hydrogenases based on the biotin-streptavidin technology.

CPEB4-CLOCK crosstalk during temporal lobe epilepsy.

Objective: Posttranscriptional mechanisms are increasingly recognized as important contributors to the formation of hyperexcitable networks in epilepsy. Messenger RNA (mRNA) polyadenylation is a key regulatory mechanism governing protein expression by enhancing mRNA stability and translation. Previous studies have shown large-scale changes in mRNA polyadenylation in the hippocampus of mice during epilepsy development.

Pulmonary benign metastasizing uterine leiomyoma (PBML): a case report and review of the literature.

Unlabelled: Benign metastasizing leiomyoma (BML) is a rare disorder characterized by the presence of benign smooth muscle tumours in extrauterine sites, typically the lungs. It classically involves perimenopausal women with a history of uterine surgery. The condition follows an indolent course but may cause clinical symptoms with large or widespread lesions.

High-affinity peptides developed against calprotectin and their application as synthetic ligands in diagnostic assays.

Common inflammatory disorders such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are non-invasively diagnosed or monitored by the biomarker calprotectin. However, current quantitative tests for calprotectin are antibody-based and vary depending on the type of antibody and assay used. Additionally, the binding epitopes of applied antibodies are not characterized by structures and for most antibodies it is unclear if they detect calprotectin dimer, tetramer, or both.