Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (M-CSF) and Interleukin-34 (IL-34) Expression in Canine Osteosarcoma in the Context of the Tumour Immune Microenvironment.

Canine osteosarcoma (OSA) is a malignancy that has been shown to modulate the host immune system. Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF; CSF1) and interleukin-34 (IL-34; IL34) are both ligands of colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF-1R), and may play a role in the pathogenesis of a variety of human cancers, including OSA. This study aimed to, (1) assess M-CSF and IL-34 expression in canine OSA cell lines and tissue samples, and (2) determine any correlations between M-CSF and IL-34 expression and immune cell infiltrates within canine OSA tissues.

Synthesis and glycosidase inhibition of 3,4,5-trihydroxypiperidines using a one-pot amination-cyclisation cascade reaction.

Trihydroxypiperidines are a therapeutically valuable class of iminosugar. We applied a one-pot amination-cyclisation cascade reaction to synthesise 3,4,5-trihydroxypiperidine stereoisomers in three steps from commercially available pentoses and in excellent overall yields. Using our methodology, the yields of the syntheses of meso-1, meso-2 and 3L are the highest reported to date.

Carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) discovery and engineering (Ultra)high-throughput screening.

Carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) constitute a diverse set of enzymes that catalyze the assembly, degradation, and modification of carbohydrates. These enzymes have been fashioned into potent, selective catalysts by millennia of evolution, and yet are also highly adaptable and readily evolved in the laboratory. To identify and engineer CAZymes for different purposes, (ultra)high-throughput screening campaigns have been frequently utilized with great success.

An alternative broad-specificity pathway for glycan breakdown in bacteria.

The vast majority of glycosidases characterized to date follow one of the variations of the 'Koshland' mechanisms to hydrolyse glycosidic bonds through substitution reactions. Here we describe a large-scale screen of a human gut microbiome metagenomic library using an assay that selectively identifies non-Koshland glycosidase activities. Using this, we identify a cluster of enzymes with extremely broad substrate specificities and thoroughly characterize these, mechanistically and structurally.

Novel paradigm enables accurate monthly gestational screening to prevent congenital toxoplasmosis and more.

Background: Congenital toxoplasmosis is a treatable, preventable disease, but untreated causes death, prematurity, loss of sight, cognition and motor function, and substantial costs worldwide.

Objectives: We asked whether high performance of an Immunochromatographic-test (ICT) could enable accurate, rapid diagnosis/treatment, establishing new, improved care-paradigms at point-of-care and clinical laboratory.

Methods: Data were obtained in 12 studies/analyses addressing: 1-feasibility/efficacy; 2-false-positives; 3-acceptability; 4-pink/black-line/all studies; 5-time/cost; 6-Quick-Information/Limit-of-detection; 7, 8-acute;-chronic; 9-epidemiology; 10-ADBio; 11,12-Commentary/Cases/Chronology.