Competitive amperometric immunosensor for determination of p53 protein in urine with carbon nanotubes/gold nanoparticles screen-printed electrodes: A potential rapid and noninvasive screening tool for early diagnosis of urinary tract carcinoma.

Since p53 protein has become recognized biomarker for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in oncological diseases with particular relevance for bladder cancer, it is highly desirable to search for a novel sensing tool for detecting the patient's p53 level at the early stage. Here we report the first study on the development and validation of a novel disposable competitive amperometric immunosensor for determination of p53 protein at subnanomolar levels, based on p53 immobilization on gold nanoparticles/carbon nanotubes modified screen-printed carbon electrodes. The assay protocol requires the use of single anti-p53 mouse monoclonal antibody (DO-7 clone), able to recognize both wild-type and mutant p53.

Dynamic adhesive environment alters the differentiation potential of young and ageing mesenchymal stem cells.

Engineering dynamic stem cell niche-like environment offers opportunity to obtain better control of the fate of stem cells. We identified, for the first time, that periodic changes in the adhesive environment of human adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) alters dramatically their asymmetric division but not their ability for symmetric renewal. Hereby, we used smart thermo-responsive polymer (PNIPAM) to create a dynamic adhesive environment for ADSCs by applying periodic temperature cycles to perturb adsorbed adhesive proteins to substratum interaction.

HTLV-1/-2 and HIV-1 co-infections: retroviral interference on host immune status.

The human retroviruses HIV-1 and HTLV-1/HTLV-2 share similar routes of transmission but cause significantly different diseases. In this review we have outlined the immune mediated mechanisms by which HTLVs affect HIV-1 disease in co-infected hosts. During co-infection with HIV-1, HTLV-2 modulates the cellular microenvironment favoring its own viability and inhibiting HIV-1 progression.