Synergistic impacts of propargite exposure and deformed wing virus infection on the health of western honey bees.

This study aimed to elucidate the possible synergistic effects of chemical pesticides and viral infections. Our experiments demonstrated that the Varroa mite-borne deformed wing virus (DWV) by itself had a minimal impact on bees. Conversely, when bees were simultaneously treated with acaricides, their mortality rate increased.

Insecticidal action of mammalian galectin-1-transfected Arabidopsis thaliana.

Background: Galectins (GALs) are a family of mammalian sugar-binding proteins specific for β-galactosides. Our previous studies have shown that the larval development of the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) is significantly disturbed when fed with recombinant mammalian galectin 1 (GAL1) derived from Escherichia coli. To further explore its applicability, two GAL1-overexpressed Arabidopsis [GAL1-Arabidopsis (whole plant) and GAL1-Arabidopsis-vas (vascular bundle-specific)] lines were established for insecticidal activity and mechanism studies.

Extracellular Pgk1 interacts neural membrane protein enolase-2 to improve the neurite outgrowth of motor neurons.

Understanding the molecular interaction between ligand and receptor is important for providing the basis for the development of regenerative drugs. Although it has been reported that extracellular phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (Pgk1) can promote the neurite outgrowth of motoneurons, the Pgk1-interacting neural receptor remains unknown. Here we show that neural membranous Enolase-2 exhibits strong affinity with recombinant Pgk1-Flag, which is also evidently demonstrated by immunoelectron microscopy.

TO901317 activation of LXR-dependent pathways mitigate amyloid-beta peptide-induced neurotoxicity in 3D human neural stem cell culture scaffolds and AD mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the major cause of neurodegeneration worldwide and is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) in the brain, which is associated with neuronal loss and cognitive impairment. Liver X receptor (LXR), a critical nuclear receptor, and major regulator in lipid metabolism and inflammation, is suggested to play a protective role against the mitochondrial dysfunction noted in AD. In our study, our established 3D gelatin scaffold model and a well characterized in vivo (APP/PS1) murine model of AD were used to directly investigate the molecular, biochemical and behavioral effects of neuronal stem cell exposure to Aβ to improve understanding of the in vivo etiology of AD.

Exposure to PM induces neurotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress and inflammation in human SH-SY5Y neuronal cells.

Ambient air pollution is a global public health issue. Recent evidence suggests that exposure to fine aerosolized particulate matter (PM) as small as ≤2.5 microns (PM) is neurotoxic to brain structures.

Toxicity of Terahertz-Based Functional Mineral Water (Plant-Derived) to Immature Stages of Mosquito Vectors.

Functional mineral water and related products are popular in some Asian countries as health drinks and, recently, have been employed in agricultural crop production as well as pest control. This study aimed to investigate the survival of mosquito vectors exposed to plant-derived functional mineral water produced by terahertz technology. The terahertz-based functional mineral water used in the current study not only decreased the hatching of (Say) larvae but also showed concentration-dependent toxicity to the 3rd instar larvae and pupae of the three mosquito species tested.

Nanogold induces anti-inflammation against oxidative stress induced in human neural stem cells exposed to amyloid-beta peptide.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with progressive memory loss resulting in dementia. Amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides play a critical role in the pathogenesis of the disease by promoting inflammation and oxidative stress, leading to neurodegeneration in the brains of AD patients. Numerous in vitro 3D cell culture models are useful mimics for understanding cellular changes that occur during AD under in vivo conditions.

Electrorotation of single microalgae cells during lipid accumulation for assessing cellular dielectric properties and total lipid contents.

Photosynthetic microalgae not only perform fixation of carbon dioxide but also produce valuable byproducts such as lipids and pigments. However, due to the lack of effective tools for rapid and noninvasive analysis of microalgal cellular contents, the efficiency of strain screening and culture optimizing is usually quite low. This study applied single-cell electrorotation on Scenedesmus abundans to assess cellular dielectric properties during lipid accumulation and to promptly quantify total cellular contents.

Nanogold Neuroprotection in Human Neural Stem Cells Against Amyloid-beta-induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neuronal dementia with progressive memory loss. Amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides has major effect in the neurodegenerative disorder, which are thought to promote mitochondrial dysfunction in AD brains. Anti-AD drugs acting upon the brain are generally difficult to develop, often cause serious side effects or lack therapeutic efficacy.

Phytochemical composition and larvicidal activity of essential oils from herbal plants.

The essential oils (EOs) of Plectranthus amboinicus showed the highest larvicidal activity among four herbal plants studied and β-caryophyllene might be the major component responsible for its differential toxicity to the larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes Aegypti. Mosquitoes act as vectors for many life-threatening diseases, including malaria, dengue fever, and Zika virus infection. Management of mosquitoes mainly relies on synthetic insecticides, which usually result in the rapid development of resistance; therefore, alternative mosquito control strategies are urgently needed.

Rosiglitazone rescues human neural stem cells from amyloid-beta induced ER stress via PPARγ dependent signaling.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) belongs to a family of ligand-activated nuclear receptors known to regulate many crucial physiological and pathological conditions. Indeed, altered PPARγ transcriptional activity contributes to metabolic syndromes (obesity and hyperglycemia associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus), stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. Various studies suggest that PPARγ agonists influence neuronal deficits in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) patients and rodent models of AD.

Metformin activation of AMPK suppresses AGE-induced inflammatory response in hNSCs.

A growing body of evidence suggests type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although the precise mechanisms remain unclear, T2DM may exacerbate neurodegenerative processes. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling is an evolutionary preserved pathway that is important during homeostatic energy biogenesis responses at both the cellular and whole-body levels.

Phylogenetic Identification, Phenotypic Variations, and Symbiotic Characteristics of the Peculiar Rhizobium, Strain CzR2, Isolated from Crotalaria zanzibarica in Taiwan.

Crotalaria zanzibarica is an exotic and widely distributed leguminous plant in Taiwan. The relationship between C. zanzibarica and its rhizobial symbionts has been suggested to contribute to its successful invasion.

Metformin activation of AMPK-dependent pathways is neuroprotective in human neural stem cells against Amyloid-beta-induced mitochondrial dysfunction.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the general consequence of dementia and is diagnostic neuropathology by the cumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) protein aggregates, which are thought to promote mitochondrial dysfunction processes leading to neurodegeneration. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a critical regulator of energy homeostasis and a major player in lipid and glucose metabolism, is potentially implied in the mitochondrial deficiency of AD. Metformin, one of the widespread used anti- metabolic disease drugs, use its actions in part by stimulation of AMPK.

Expression and Functions of CreD, an Inner Membrane Protein in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.

CreBC is a highly conserved two-component regulatory system (TCS) in several gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Aeromonas spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. CreD is a conserved gene that encodes a predicted inner-membrane protein and is located near the creBC loci.

Rosiglitazone activation of PPARγ-dependent signaling is neuroprotective in mutant huntingtin expressing cells.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a crucial transcription factor for neuroprotection in several brain diseases. Using a mouse model of Huntington's Disease (HD), we recently showed that PPARγ not only played a major function in preventing HD, but also oral intake of a PPARγ agonist (thiazolidinedione, TZD) significantly reduced the formation of mutant Huntingtin (mHtt) aggregates in the brain (e.g.

The SmeYZ efflux pump of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia contributes to drug resistance, virulence-related characteristics, and virulence in mice.

The resistance-nodulation-division (RND)-type efflux pump is one of the causes of the multidrug resistance of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. The roles of the RND-type efflux pump in physiological functions and virulence, in addition to antibiotic extrusion, have attracted much attention. In this study, the contributions of the constitutively expressed SmeYZ efflux pump to drug resistance, virulence-related characteristics, and virulence were evaluated.

Revealing the functions of the transketolase enzyme isoforms in Rhodopseudomonas palustris using a systems biology approach.

Background: Rhodopseudomonas palustris (R. palustris) is a purple non-sulfur anoxygenic phototrophic bacterium that belongs to the class of proteobacteria. It is capable of absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide and converting it to biomass via the process of photosynthesis and the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle.

A simple cryo-holder facilitates specimen observation under a conventional scanning electron microscope.

A pre-cryogenic holder (cryo-holder) facilitating cryo-specimen observation under a conventional scanning electron microscope (SEM) is described. This cryo-holder includes a specimen-holding unit (the stub) and a cryogenic energy-storing unit (a composite of three cylinders assembled with a screw). After cooling, the cryo-holder can continue supplying cryogenic energy to extend the observation time for the specimen in a conventional SEM.

Loss of cofilin 1 disturbs actin dynamics, adhesion between enveloping and deep cell layers and cell movements during gastrulation in zebrafish.

During gastrulation, cohesive migration drives associated cell layers to the completion of epiboly in zebrafish. The association of different layers relies on E-cadherin based cellular junctions, whose stability can be affected by actin turnover. Here, we examined the effect of malfunctioning actin turnover on the epibolic movement by knocking down an actin depolymerizing factor, cofilin 1, using antisense morpholino oligos (MO).

Recovery of heat shock-triggered released apoplastic Ca2+ accompanied by pectin methylesterase activity is required for thermotolerance in soybean seedlings.

Synthesis of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in response to heat shock (HS) is essential for thermotolerance. The effect of a Ca(2+) chelator, EGTA, was investigated before a lethal HS treatment in soybean (Glycine max) seedlings with acquired thermotolerance induced by preheating. Such seedlings became non-thermotolerant with EGTA treatment.

Effect of recombinant galectin-1 on the growth of immortal rat chondrocyte on chitosan-coated PLGA scaffold.

The effect of galectin-1 (GAL1) on the growth of immortal rat chondrocyte (IRC) on chitosan-modified PLGA scaffold is investigated. The experimental results showed that water absorption ratio of chitosan-modified PLGA scaffold was 70% higher than that of PLGA alone after immersion in ddH(2)O for 2 weeks, indicating that chitosan-modification significantly enhances the hydrophilicity of PLGA. The experimental results also showed that GALl efficiently and spontaneously coats the chitosan-PLGA scaffold surface to promote adhesion and growth of immortal rat chondrocyte (IRC).

Insecticidal action of mammalian galectin-1 against diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella).

Background: Previous studies showed that mammalian galectin-1 (GAL1) could interact with chitosan or chitin, one component of the peritrophic membrane (PM). This finding suggests that the PM could be a target of GAL1, which prompted the authors to explore the effect of GAL1 on larval growth and its potential mechanism.

Results: The development of Plutella xylostella (L.

A nanoscale drug-entrapment strategy for hydrogel-based systems for the delivery of poorly soluble drugs.

The hydrophilic nature of hydrogel matrices makes them disadvantageous to entrap poorly soluble therapeutic agents and greatly restricts their applications as drug-delivery systems. In this study, we demonstrated that sustained delivery of lipophilic drugs in hydrogel-based devices can be readily achieved by enhancing retention of drugs within micelles. This nanoscale drug-entrapment strategy was applied to develop a polymeric drug-eluting stent.

Identification of oxalic acid and tartaric acid as major persistent pain-inducing toxins in the stinging hairs of the nettle, Urtica thunbergiana.

Background And Aims: Once human skin contacts stinging hairs of Urtica spp. (stinging nettles), the irritant is released and produces pain, wheals or a stinging sensation which may last for >12 h. However, the existence of pain-inducing toxins in the stinging hairs of Urtica thunbergiana has never been systematically demonstrated.