Cellular plasticity is a hallmark function of cancer, but many of the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, we identify Caveolin-1, a scaffolding protein that organizes plasma membrane domains, as a context-dependent regulator of survival signaling in Ewing sarcoma (EwS). Single cell analyses reveal a distinct subpopulation of EwS cells, which highly express the surface marker CD99 as well as Caveolin-1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMosquito-borne illnesses pose a significant threat to eradication under existing vector management measures. Chemo-based vector control strategies (use of insecticides) raise a complication of resistance and environmental pollution. Biological control methods are an alternative approach to overcoming this complication arising from insecticides.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe need for better and simpler alternative crosslinking strategies to treat keratoconus (KC) is becoming essential as there is only a single approved way to treat it. Recently, conventional UV-A Riboflavin crosslinking is proven to have some disadvantages such as causing damage to the corneal endothelium and inducing keratocyte apoptosis. A chemical cross-linker (CXL) using carbodiimide chemistry and an octanedioic acid spacer is found effective in stiffening the cornea and has the potential to be developed as an alternative therapy to halt KC progression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHuman papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted virus, whose persistent infection is the main reason for invasive cervical cancer (ICC), which is the fourth most common type of cancer in women, with more than 500 000 new cases every year. After infection, various alterations occur in the host, facilitating the virus's evasion of immune system clearance and promoting its proliferation. Oral probiotic consumption can influence the whole body's immunity, inflammatory reflection, neural, endocrine humoral, metabolic pathways and other organs by adjusting the components of gut microbiota (GM).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFActa Trop
December 2024
In recent days, in tropical and subtropical regions, secondary vectors of Anopheles mosquitoes are becoming more important in transmitting diseases to humans as primary vectors. Various molecular techniques have separated closely related Anopheles subpictus and Anopheles vagus mosquitoes based on their diversity with other mosquito species. Despite their widespread distribution, the An.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdaptive optics (AO) can restore diffraction-limited performance when imaging beyond superficial cell layers and , and as such, is of interest for advanced 3D microscopy methods such as light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM). In a typical LSFM system, the illumination and detection paths are separate and subject to different optical aberrations. To achieve optimal microscope performance, it is necessary to sense and correct these aberrations in both light paths, resulting in a complex microscope system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe relative magnitudes of noncovalent stabilization energies or the coupling free energies in folded proteins are anisotropically distributed, uniquely influencing folding and functional behaviors. In this regard, the fructose repressor (FruR) DBD belonging to the LacR repressor family harbors a three-residue insertion─KQY─between the canonical second and third helices. This sequence insertion promotes a strong Tyr-Tyr stacking interaction that is not observed in related homologues.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFKeratin intermediate filaments confer structural stability to epithelial tissues, but the reason this simple mechanical function requires a protein family with 54 isoforms is not understood. During skin wound healing, a shift in keratin isoform expression alters the composition of keratin filaments. If and how this change modulates cellular functions that support epidermal remodeling remains unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPolystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) when exposed to nanopermethrin (NPER) exacerbate toxicity on . In the environment, NPs act as a vector for other pollutants mainly heavy metals and pesticides. Nanopesticides are efficient compared to their bulk form.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPoly(lactic acid) (PLA) stands as a compelling alternative to conventional plastic-based packaging, signifying a notable shift toward sustainable material utilization. This comprehensive analysis illuminates the manifold applications of PLA composites within the realm of the food industry, emphasizing its pivotal role in food packaging and preservation. Noteworthy attributes of PLA composites with phenolic active compounds (phenolic acid and aldehyde, terpenes, carotenoid, and so on) include robust antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, significantly enhancing its capability to bolster adherence to stringent food safety standards.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe actin filament (F-actin) bundling protein fascin-1 is highly enriched in many metastatic cancers. Fascin's contribution to metastasis have been ascribed to its enhancement of cell migration and invasion. However, mouse genetic studies clearly point to functions also in tumorigenesis, yet without mechanistic underpinnings.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDespite a significant amount of research on micronanoplastics (MNPs), there is still a gap in our understanding of their function as transporters of other environmental pollutants (known as the Trojan horse effect) and the combined effects of ingestion, bioaccumulation, and toxicity to organisms. This study examined the individual effects of polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) with various surface functionalizations (plain (PS), carboxylated (PS-COOH), and aminated (PS-NH)), particle sizes (100 nm and 500 nm), and a pharmaceutical co-contaminant (metformin hydrochloride (MH), an anti-diabetic drug) on the marine crustacean - . The study specifically aimed to determine if MH alters the detrimental effects of PSNPs on .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVanillin, a highly regarded flavor compound, has earned widespread recognition for its natural and aromatic qualities, piquing substantial interest in the scientific community. This comprehensive review delves deeply into the intricate world of vanillin synthesis, encompassing a wide spectrum of methodologies, including enzymatic, microbial, and immobilized systems. This investigation provides a thorough analysis of the precursors of vanillin and also offers a comprehensive overview of its transformation through these diverse processes, making it an invaluable resource for researchers and enthusiasts alike.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCutaneous melanomas harboring a B-Raf mutation are treated with immune check point inhibitors or kinase inhibitor combination therapies relying on MAPK inhibitors (MAPKi) Dabrafenib and Trametinib (Curti and Faries, 2021). However, cells become resistant to treatments over the timespan of a few months. Resistance to MAPKi has been associated with adoption of an aggressive amoeboid phenotype characterized by elevated RhoA signaling, enhanced contractility and thick cortical filamentous actin (F-actin) structures (Kim et al.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicrobial biosurfactants surpass synthetic alternatives due to their biodegradability, minimal toxicity, selective properties, and efficacy across a wide range of environmental conditions. Owing to their remarkable advantages, biosurfactants employability as effective emulsifiers and stabilizers, antimicrobial and antioxidant attributes, rendering them for integration into food preservation, processing, formulations, and packaging. The biosurfactants can also be derived from various types of food wastes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe study found that the enzyme activity of human salivary α-amylase (α-AHS) was competitively inhibited by nanoplastic polystyrene (PS-NPs), with a half-inhibitory concentration (IC) of 92 μg/mL, while the maximum reaction rate (V) remained unchanged at 909 μg/mL•min. An increase in the concentration of PS-NPs led to a quenching of α-AHS fluorescence with a slight red shift, indicating a static mechanism. The binding constant (K) and quenching constant (K) were calculated to be 2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicroplastics have a well-documented ability to adsorb various chemicals and contaminants found in the environment. By similar mechanisms, when medicines are stored in plastic packaging, the leaching of plastics into the contents poses the risk of possible toxicity and decreased drug efficacy. The work thus examines the presence of two categories of anthropogenic materials - microplastics (MPs) and medications - with their possible combined effects and fate in biological systems.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSoil is a source for diverse microbes that possess useful biotechnological capabilities. Here, we report the genome sequences of seven bacterial isolates from the species , , , , sp., and (two isolates) cultured from Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex soil samples.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNanoplastics and other cocontaminants have raised concerns due to their widespread presence in the environment and their potential to enter the food chain. The harmful effects of these particles depend on various factors, such as nanoparticle size, shape, surface charge, and the nature of the cocontaminants involved. On entering the human body, human serum albumin (HSA) molecules bind and transport these particles in the blood system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe entry of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) into the human body is inevitable. They enter blood circulation through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact by crossing the gut-lung-skin barrier (the epithelium of the digestive tract, the respiratory tract, and the cutaneous layer). There are many reports on their toxicities to organs and tissues.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. Though the cardinal features of PD are motor symptoms, it is also associated with many non-motor symptoms, such as cognitive impairment, autonomic dysfunction, sleep disorders, and depression, which could affect the quality of life. Early identification of PD's non-motor signs can aid in the diagnosis of PD.
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