Publications by authors named "Ludovit Skultety"

Spontaneous tumor regression is a recognized phenomenon across various cancer types. Recent research emphasizes the alterations in autoantibodies against carbonic anhydrase I (CA I) (anti-CA I) levels as potential prognostic markers for various malignancies. Particularly, autoantibodies targeting CA I and II appear to induce cellular damage by inhibiting their respective protein's catalytic functions.

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In this study, we conducted an extensive investigation of the biodegradation capabilities and stress response of the newly isolated strain SM-20 in order, to assess its potential for bioremediation of sites contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Initially, phenotype microarray technology demonstrated the strain's proficiency in utilizing various carbon sources and its resistance to certain stressors. Genomic analysis has identified numerous genes involved in aromatic hydrocarbon metabolism.

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Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are the main metabolites produced by bacterial fermentation of non-digestible carbohydrates in the gastrointestinal tract. They can be seen as the major flow of carbon from the diet, through the microbiome to the host. SCFAs have been reported as important molecules responsible for the regulation of intestinal homeostasis.

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Drought is among the most limiting factors for sustainable agricultural production. Water shortage at the onset of flowering severely affects the quality and quantity of grain yield of bread wheat (). Herein, we measured oxidative stress and photosynthesis-related parameters upon applying transient drought on contrasting wheat cultivars at the flowering stage of ontogenesis.

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A total of, 78 Clostridium septicum (CLSE) isolates were screened for genes encoding: α-toxin, flagellin, and resistance to vancomycin (VANg). The isolates were also tested for their ability to form biofilm and their antibiotic susceptibility. All isolates were positive for α-toxin and flagellin genes.

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Rickettsial infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are manifested by severe neurological symptoms and represent a serious life-threatening condition. Despite the considerable health danger, only a few studies have been conducted focusing on the pathogenesis induced by sp. in CNS.

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Although the cat flea, , has been identified as the primary vector of , additional flea, tick, mite, and louse species have also been associated with this bacterium by molecular means; however, the role of these arthropods in the transmission of has not been clarified. Here, we succeeded in culture isolation of from a host-seeking castor bean tick, , the most common tick in Slovakia. The bacterial isolation was performed on XTC-2 cells at 28 °C using the shell-vial technique.

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A total of 750 ticks feeding on humans were collected during the years 2008-2018. The majority of ticks (94.8 %) came from Slovakia, with 3.

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Human carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX), a unique member of the α carbonic anhydrase family, is a transmembrane glycoprotein with high enzymatic activity by which CAIX contributes to tumorigenesis through pH regulation. Due to its aberrant expression, CAIX is considered to be a marker of tumor hypoxia and a poor prognostic factor of several human cancers. Hypoxia-activated catalytic function of CAIX is dependent on posttranslational modification of its short intracellular domain.

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Background: Rickettsialpox is a febrile illness caused by the mite-borne pathogen Rickettsia akari. Several cases of this disease are reported worldwide annually. Nevertheless, the relationship between the immunogenicity of R.

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Ionizing radiation is a genotoxic anthropogenic stressor. It can cause heritable changes in the plant genome, which can be either adaptive or detrimental. There is still considerable uncertainty about the effects of chronic low-intensity doses since earlier studies reported somewhat contradictory conclusions.

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Bread wheat ( L.) is one of the most valuable cereal crops for human consumption. Its grain storage proteins define bread quality, though they may cause food intolerances or allergies in susceptible individuals.

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Antibiotic resistance is a global threat with a top concern in healthcare. Doxycycline is an antibiotic highly permeable to cell membrane used for treating a broad variety of bacteria, including Coxiella burnetii. This intracellular pathogen is the causative agent of Q fever, a re-emerging zoonosis found worldwide.

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Background: Tick-borne rickettsial diseases are caused by pathogens acquired from hard ticks. In particular, Rickettsia slovaca, a zoonotic infectious bacterium causing tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA), is transmitted by the vectors Dermacentor spp. that can be found all over Europe.

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The molecular genetics of well-characterized inherited diseases, such as phenylketonuria (PKU) and hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) predominantly caused by mutations in the phenylalanine hydroxylase () gene, is often complicated by the identification of many novel variants, often with no obvious impact on the associated disorder. To date, more than 1100 PAH variants have been identified of which a substantial portion have unknown clinical significance. In this work, we study the functionality of seven yet uncharacterized PAH missense variants p.

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We report results showing that the silencing of carbonic anhydrase I (siCA1) in prostatic (PC3) tumour cells has a significant impact on exosome formation. An increased diameter, concentration and diversity of the produced exosomes were noticed as a consequence of this knock-down. The protein composition of the exosomes' cargo was also altered.

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Large areas polluted with toxic heavy metals or radionuclides were formed as a side product of rapid industrial development of human society. Plants, due to their sessile nature, should adapt to these challenging genotoxic environmental conditions and develop resistance. Herein, we evaluated the response of three natural ecotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.

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Article Synopsis
  • Essential oils from mint plants, such as peppermint, cornmint, and spearmint, have a historical use in treating infections and promoting health, particularly in repelling insects and treating skin conditions.
  • The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of these mint oils against the tick-borne bacterium Rickettsia slovaca, using both in vitro and in vivo methods.
  • Results demonstrated that peppermint and cornmint oils significantly inhibited the growth of R. slovaca, indicating their potential as natural preventative measures against tick-borne illnesses.
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Article Synopsis
  • Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy uses a nontoxic photosensitizer activated by visible light to produce reactive oxygen species that combat infections.
  • The study tested the effectiveness of methylene blue as a photosensitizer against Vero cells infected with Rickettsia slovaca, revealing a 96% reduction in viable bacteria after treatment.
  • This research is the first to demonstrate the potential of photodynamic therapy as a supportive treatment for rickettsial infections.
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We previously developed an efficient deletion system for streptomycetes based on the positive selection of double-crossover events using bpsA, a gene for producing the blue pigment indigoidine. Using this system, we removed interfering secondary metabolite clusters from Streptomyces lividans TK24, resulting in RedStrep strains with dramatically increased heterologous production of mithramycin A (up to 3-g/l culture). This system, however, required a time-consuming step to remove the resistance marker genes.

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Cyclodextrins (CDs) were used in the present study for the ring-opening oligomerization (ROO) of l-lactide (LA) in order to synthesize biodegradable products with possible applications in pharmaceutical and medical fields. The practical importance of ROO reactions may reside in the possibility of synthesizing novel CD derivatives with high purity due to the dual role played by CDs, the role of the initiator through the hydroxylic groups, and the role of the catalyst by monomer inclusion in the CD cavity. The analyzed compounds were CDs modified with oligolactides obtained through ROO reactions of l-lactide in dimethylformamide.

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Plum pox virus (PPV, family Potyviridae) is one of the most important viral pathogens of Prunus spp. causing considerable damage to stone-fruit industry worldwide. Among the PPV strains identified so far, only PPV-C, PPV-CR, and PPV-CV are able to infect cherries under natural conditions.

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Ticks are important vectors of pathogens affecting humans and animals worldwide. They do not only carry pathogens but diverse commensal and symbiotic microorganisms are also present in ticks. A molecular screening for tick-borne pathogens and endosymbionts was carried out in Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus and Haemaphysalis inermis questing ticks collected in Slovakia.

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