Single Dose of Attenuated Vaccinia Viruses Expressing H5 Hemagglutinin Affords Rapid and Long-Term Protection Against Lethal Infection with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A H5N1 Virus in Mice and Monkeys.

Background/objectives: In preparation for a potential pandemic caused by the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, pre-pandemic vaccines against several viral clades have been developed and stocked worldwide. Although these vaccines are well tolerated, their immunogenicity and cross-reactivity with viruses of different clades can be improved.

Methods: To address this aspect, we generated recombinant influenza vaccines against H5-subtype viruses using two different strains of highly attenuated vaccinia virus (VACV) vectors.

Natural pigments: innovative extraction technologies and their potential application in health and food industries.

Natural pigments, or natural colorants, are frequently utilized in the food industry due to their diverse functional and nutritional attributes. Beyond their color properties, these pigments possess several biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antibacterial, and neuroprotective effects, as well as benefits for eye health. This review aims to provide a timely overview of the potential of natural pigments in the pharmaceutical, medical, and food industries.

Detection of Human GPCR Activity in Drosophila S2 Cells Using the Tango System.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are essential cell surface proteins involved in transducing extracellular signals into intracellular responses, regulating various physiological processes. This study validated the use of the Tango assay, a sensitive method for detecting GPCR activation, in Schneider 2 (S2) cells, focusing on the human Dopamine Receptor D4 (DRD4). Plasmids encoding the LexA-tagged human DRD4 receptor and a luciferase reporter were co-transfected into S2 cells and stimulated with dopamine.

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Hip Fractures: Evaluating Outcomes on Mortality and Secondary Hip Fractures.

Fracture liaison services (FLS) have been introduced in Japan and several other countries to reduce medical complications and secondary fractures. We aimed to evaluate the effects of the implementation of an FLS approach on patient outcomes during hospitalization at our hospital and over a 2-year follow-up post-injury. This retrospective cohort study included patients ≥ 60 years admitted to our hospital for hip fragility fractures between October 1, 2016, and July 31, 2020.

Transscleral drainage to treat peripheral exudative hemorrhagic chorioretinopathy caused by retinal pigment epithelial hemorrhage.

Purpose: To report a case of peripheral exudative hemorrhagic chorioretinopathy with hemorrhagic retinal detachment and subretinal pigment epithelial hemorrhage treated with transscleral subretinal fluid drainage.

Observations: The patient was a 70-year-old man with a 15-year history of diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. During follow-up, he developed a sudden decrease in visual acuity in the left eye.

Recognition of commensal bacterial peptidoglycans defines Drosophila gut homeostasis and lifespan.

Commensal microbes in animals have a profound impact on tissue homeostasis, stress resistance, and ageing. We previously showed in Drosophila melanogaster that Acetobacter persici is a member of the gut microbiota that promotes ageing and shortens fly lifespan. However, the molecular mechanism by which this specific bacterial species changes lifespan and physiology remains unclear.

as an Animal Model for Testing Plant-Based Immunomodulators.

Allopathic medicines play a key role in the prevention and treatment of diseases. However, long-term consumption of these medicines may cause serious undesirable effects that harm human health. Plant-based medicines have emerged as alternatives to allopathic medicines because of their rare side effects.

Skin microbiome profile of healthy Cameroonians and Japanese.

The commensal microbes of the skin have a significant impact on dermal physiology and pathophysiology. Racial and geographical differences in the skin microbiome are suggested and may play a role in the sensitivity to dermatological disorders, including infectious diseases. However, little is known about the skin microbiome profiles of people living in Central Africa, where severe tropical infectious diseases impose a burden on the inhabitants.

cGMP signaling pathway that modulates NF-κB activation in innate immune responses.

The nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway is an evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway that plays a central role in immune responses and inflammation. Here, we show that NF-κB signaling is activated via a pathway in parallel with the Toll receptor by receptor-type guanylate cyclase, Gyc76C. Gyc76C produces cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and modulates NF-κB signaling through the downstream Tollreceptor components dMyd88, Pelle, Tube, and Dif/Dorsal (NF-κB).

Focused Proteomics Analysis of Habu Snake () Venom Using Antivenom-Based Affinity Chromatography Reveals Novel Myonecrosis-Enhancing Activity of Thrombin-Like Serine Proteases.

Snakebites are one of the major causes of death and long-term disability in the developing countries due to the presence of various bioactive peptides and proteins in snake venom. In Japan, the venom of the habu snake () causes severe permanent damage due to its myonecrotic toxins. Antivenom immunoglobulins are an effective therapy for snakebites, and antivenom was recently developed with effective suppressive activity against myonecrosis induced by snake venom.

Molecular modeling and phenoloxidase inhibitory activity of arbutin and arbutin undecylenic acid ester.

Excessive melanin formation has been linked to various skin disorders such as hyperpigmentation and skin cancer. Tyrosinase is the most prominent target for inhibitors of melanin production. In this study, we investigated whether arbutin and its prodrug, arbutin undecylenic acid ester, might inhibit phenoloxidase (PO), a tyrosinase-like enzyme.

Recombinant SLAMblind Measles Virus Is a Promising Candidate for Nectin-4-Positive Triple Negative Breast Cancer Therapy.

One of the most refractory breast cancer types is triple negative (TN) breast cancer, in which cells are resistant to both hormone and Herceptin treatments and, thus, often cause recurrence and metastasis. Effective treatments are needed to treat TN breast cancer. We previously demonstrated that rMV-SLAMblind, a recombinant measles virus, showed anti-tumor activity against breast cancer cells.

Seronegative Oligoarthritis Preceding Psoriasis by 9.5 Years.

We report a case of psoriatic arthritis where oligoarthritis preceded the skin lesions. A 57-year-old man complained of left third-finger pain. Laboratory examinations were negative for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies and rheumatoid factor; he was treated for suspected rheumatoid arthritis.

Neuronal octopamine signaling regulates mating-induced germline stem cell increase in female .

Stem cells fuel the development and maintenance of tissues. Many studies have addressed how local signals from neighboring niche cells regulate stem cell identity and their proliferative potential. However, the regulation of stem cells by tissue-extrinsic signals in response to environmental cues remains poorly understood.

Molecular and Functional Analysis of Pore-Forming Toxin Monalysin From Entomopathogenic Bacterium .

is a highly pathogenic bacterium that infects insects. It is also used as a suitable model pathogen to analyze innate immunity. virulence is largely derived from Monalysin, a β-barrel pore-forming toxin that damages tissues, inducing necrotic cell death.

Synthetic biology based construction of biological activity-related library of fungal decalin-containing diterpenoid pyrones.

A synthetic biology method based on heterologous biosynthesis coupled with genome mining is a promising approach for increasing the opportunities to rationally access natural product with novel structures and biological activities through total biosynthesis and combinatorial biosynthesis. Here, we demonstrate the advantage of the synthetic biology method to explore biological activity-related chemical space through the comprehensive heterologous biosynthesis of fungal decalin-containing diterpenoid pyrones (DDPs). Genome mining reveals putative DDP biosynthetic gene clusters distributed in five fungal genera.

A Receptor Guanylate Cyclase, Gyc76C, Mediates Humoral, and Cellular Responses in Distinct Ways in Immunity.

Innate immunity is an evolutionarily conserved host defense system against infections. The fruit fly relies solely on innate immunity for infection defense, and the conservation of innate immunity makes an ideal model for understanding the principles of innate immunity, which comprises both humoral and cellular responses. The mechanisms underlying the coordination of humoral and cellular responses, however, has remained unclear.

Feasibility of microbial sample collection on the skin from people in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Characterization of microbial communities in the skin in healthy individuals and diseased patients holds valuable information for understanding pathogenesis of skin diseases and as a source for developing novel therapies. Notably, resources regarding skin microbiome are limited in developing countries where skin disorders from infectious diseases are extremely common. A simple method for sample collection and processing for skin microbiome studies in such countries is crucial.

Neurodegenerative disorders and sterile inflammation: lessons from a Drosophila model.

Central nervous system (CNS)-related disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases, are common but difficult to treat. As effective medical interventions are limited, those diseases will likely continue adversely affecting people's health. There is evidence that the hyperactivation of innate immunity is a hallmark of most neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and polyglutamine diseases.

Sterile induction of innate immunity in .

In the past decades, much has been learned about the protective signatures of innate immune responses during the course of infections. However, it is now evident that induction of immune effectors also commonly occurs in the absence of pathogenic cues. Such an event, termed sterile inflammation, has been linked to several debilitating acute and chronic host conditions.

Dual comprehensive approach to decipher the Drosophila Toll pathway, ex vivo RNAi screenings and immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry.

The Drosophila Toll pathway is involved in embryonic development, innate immunity, and cell-cell interactions. However, compared to the mammalian Toll-like receptor innate immune pathway, its intracellular signaling mechanisms are not fully understood. We have previously performed a series of ex vivo genome-wide RNAi screenings to identify genes required for the activation of the Toll pathway.