Redox-active vitamin C suppresses human osteosarcoma growth by triggering intracellular ROS-iron-calcium signaling crosstalk and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Pharmacological vitamin C (VC) has gained attention for its pro-oxidant characteristics and selective ability to induce cancer cell death. However, defining its role in cancer has been challenging due to its complex redox properties. In this study, using a human osteosarcoma (OS) model, we show that the redox-active property of VC is critical for inducing non-apoptotic cancer cell death via intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS)-iron-calcium crosstalk and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Inhibition of UV-Induced Stress Signaling and Inflammatory Responses in SKH-1 Mouse Skin by Topical Small-Molecule PD-L1 Blockade.

The immune checkpoint ligand PD-L1 has emerged as a molecular target for skin cancer therapy and might also hold promise for preventive intervention targeting solar UV light-induced skin damage. In this study, we have explored the role of PD-L1 in acute keratinocytic photodamage testing the effects of small-molecule pharmacological inhibition. Epidermal PD-L1 upregulation in response to chronic photodamage was established using immunohistochemical and proteomic analyses of a human skin cohort, consistent with earlier observations that PD-L1 is upregulated in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Real-Time Quantification of Size-Resolved Bioaerosols and Inert Particles in Spacecraft Assembly Facilities at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Responsible space exploration is a cornerstone of planetary protection, particularly at sites in the Solar System with a high potential for the existence of extant life. To limit spacecraft assembly occurs in cleanroom facilities. Cleanroom levels are established through air particulate counters that can assess particle size distribution and concentration but cannot detect bioaerosols.

Review: PD-L1 as an emerging target in the treatment and prevention of keratinocytic skin cancer.

Recent advances in the understanding and targeting of immune checkpoints have led to great progress in immune therapies against many forms of cancer. While many types of immune checkpoints are currently targeted in the clinic, this review will focus on recent research implicating the programmed cell death protein 1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) axis as an emerging focus for the treatment of keratinocytic tumors. PD-L1 is of particular interest in nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), as it is not only upregulated in these tumors but is stimulated by environmental ultraviolet exposure.

Adaptation to Environmental Extremes Structures Functional Traits in Biological Soil Crust and Hypolithic Microbial Communities.

Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are widespread in drylands and deserts. At the microhabitat scale, they also host hypolithic communities that live under semitranslucent stones. Both environmental niches experience exposure to extreme conditions such as high UV radiation, desiccation, temperature fluctuations, and resource limitation.

The Drinking Water and Swimming Pool Disinfectant Trichloroisocyanuric Acid Causes Chlorination Stress Enhancing Solar UV-Induced Inflammatory Gene Expression in AP-1 Transgenic SKH-1 Luciferase Reporter Mouse Skin.

Freshwater sanitation and disinfection using a variety of chemical entities as chlorination agents is an essential public health intervention ensuring water safety for populations at a global scale. Recently, we have published our observation that the small molecule oxidant, innate immune factor and chlorination agent HOCl antagonize inflammation and photocarcinogenesis in murine skin exposed topically to environmentally relevant concentrations of HOCl. Chlorinated isocyanuric acid derivatives (including the chloramines trichloroisocyanuric acid [TCIC] and dichloroisocyanuric acid [DCIC]) are used worldwide as alternate chlorination agents serving as HOCl precursor and stabilizer compounds ensuring sustained release in aqueous environments including public water systems, recreational pools and residential hot tubs.

Herbal nanocosmecuticals: A review on cosmeceutical innovation.

Background: Cosmeceuticals are drugs, cosmetics, or a combination of both. Cosmeceuticals are personal care products that not only beautify but also need to have healing, therapeutic, and disease-fighting characteristics. For decades, phytocompounds have been employed in cosmeceuticals and have shown potential in applications such as moisturizing, sunscreen, antiaging, and hair-based therapy.

Increased PD-L1 Expression in Human Skin Acutely and Chronically Exposed to UV Irradiation.

Overexpression of PD-L1 (CD274) on tumor cells may represent a hallmark of immune evasion, and overexpression has been documented in several tumors including cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). While PD-L1/PD-1 activity in the skin has been primarily described in inflammatory models, our goal was to examine PD-L1 expression in human keratinocytes exposed to UV irradiation. We assessed PD-L1 expression in human sun-protected (SP) and sun-damaged (SD) skin, actinic keratosis (AK), and cSCC using IHC and protein microarray.

Fundamental Biological Features of Spaceflight: Advancing the Field to Enable Deep-Space Exploration.

Research on astronaut health and model organisms have revealed six features of spaceflight biology that guide our current understanding of fundamental molecular changes that occur during space travel. The features include oxidative stress, DNA damage, mitochondrial dysregulation, epigenetic changes (including gene regulation), telomere length alterations, and microbiome shifts. Here we review the known hazards of human spaceflight, how spaceflight affects living systems through these six fundamental features, and the associated health risks of space exploration.

End-to-End Protocol for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 from Built Environments.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019, is a respiratory virus primarily transmitted person to person through inhalation of droplets or aerosols, laden with viral particles. However, as recent studies have shown, virions can remain infectious for up to 72 h on surfaces, which can lead to transmission through contact. Thus, a comprehensive study was conducted to determine the efficiency of protocols to recover SARS-CoV-2 from surfaces in built environments.

Draft Genome Sequences of Bacillus glennii V44-8, Bacillus saganii V47-23a, sp. Strain V59.32b, sp. Strain MER_TA_151, and sp. Strain MER_111, Isolated from Cleanrooms Where the Viking and Mars Exploration Rover Spacecraft Were Assembled.

We report the draft genome sequences of V44-8, V47-23a, and sp. strain V59.32b, isolated from the Viking spacecraft assembly cleanroom, and sp.

Are we There Yet? Understanding Interplanetary Microbial Hitchhikers using Molecular Methods.

Since the early time of space travel, planetary bodies undergoing chemical or biological evolution have been of particular interest for life detection missions. NASA's and ESA's Planetary Protection offices ensure responsible exploration of the solar system and aim at avoiding inadvertent contamination of celestial bodies with biomolecules or even living organisms. Life forms that have the potential to colonize foreign planetary bodies could be a threat to the integrity of science objectives of life detection missions.

sp. nov. and sp. nov., isolated from the vehicle assembly building at Kennedy Space Center where the Viking spacecraft were assembled.

Two Gram-stain-positive, motile, endospore-forming, aerobic strains, designated V44-8 and V47-23a, were isolated from environmental air sampling at the vehicle assembly building at Cape Canaveral, Florida, where the Viking spacecraft were assembled. Growth was observed at pH 7-9 (optimum, pH 9) for strain V44-8, and pH 5-10 (pH 9) for strain V47-23a. Both strains displayed growth in 0-5 % NaCl with an optimum at 1 % for strain V44-8; 0 % for strain V47-23a.

Alteration of Proteomes in First-Generation Cultures of Bacillus pumilus Spores Exposed to Outer Space.

SAFR-032 was originally isolated from the Jet Propulsion Lab Spacecraft Assembly Facility and thoroughly characterized for its enhanced resistance to UV irradiation and oxidative stress. This unusual resistance of SAFR-032 is of particular concern in the context of planetary protection and calls for development of novel disinfection techniques to prevent extraterrestrial contamination. Previously, spores of SAFR-032 were exposed for 18 months to a variety of space conditions on board the International Space Station to investigate their resistance to Mars-like conditions and space travel.

Survival of Extremotolerant Bacteria from the Mukundpura Meteorite Impact Crater.

Carbonaceous meteorites provide clues with regard to prebiotic chemistry and the origin of life. Geological Survey of India recorded a carbonaceous chondrite meteorite fall in Mukundpura, India, on June 6, 2017. We conducted a study to investigate the microbial community that survived the meteorite impact.

Paenibacillus xerothermodurans sp. nov., an extremely dry heat resistant spore forming bacterium isolated from the soil of Cape Canaveral, Florida.

A Gram-stain-positive, motile, endospore-producing, facultative anaerobic bacterial strain, designated ATCC 27380, was isolated from heat-stressed soil of Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA. Growth was observed at 20-42 °C (optimum, 37 °C), at pH 6.0-10.

Taxonomic description and draft genome of Pseudomonas sediminis sp. nov., isolated from the rhizospheric sediment of Phragmites karka.

The taxonomic position of a Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated PI11, isolated from the rhizospheric sediment of Phragmites karka was characterized using a polyphasic approach. Strain PI11 could grow optimally at 1.0% NaCl concentration with pH 7.

Development of a Custom MALDI-TOF MS Database for Species-Level Identification of Bacterial Isolates Collected From Spacecraft and Associated Surfaces.

Since the 1970s, the Planetary Protection Group at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has maintained an archive of spacecraft-associated bacterial isolates. Identification of these isolates was routinely performed by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. Although this technique is an industry standard, it is time consuming and has poor resolving power for some closely related taxa.

Venus' Spectral Signatures and the Potential for Life in the Clouds.

The lower cloud layer of Venus (47.5-50.5 km) is an exceptional target for exploration due to the favorable conditions for microbial life, including moderate temperatures and pressures (∼60°C and 1 atm), and the presence of micron-sized sulfuric acid aerosols.

Draft Genome Sequences of 12 Dry-Heat-Resistant Bacillus Strains Isolated from the Cleanrooms Where the Viking Spacecraft Were Assembled.

Spore-forming microorganisms are of concern for forward contamination because they can survive harsh interplanetary travel. Here, we report the draft genome sequences of 12 spore-forming strains isolated from the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building (MSOB) and the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) in Cape Canaveral, FL, where the Viking spacecraft were assembled.

Draft Genome Sequences of and Strains Isolated from Spacecraft-Associated Surfaces.

We report here the draft genome sequences of four strains isolated from spacecraft-associated surfaces exhibiting increased resistance to stressors such as UV radiation and exposure to HO The draft genomes of strains 1P01SC, FO-92, 50v1, and 2P01AA had sizes of 5,500,894 bp, 4,699,376 bp, 3,174,402 bp, and 4,328,804 bp, respectively.

Microbial Community and Biochemical Dynamics of Biological Soil Crusts across a Gradient of Surface Coverage in the Central Mojave Desert.

In this study, we expand upon the biogeography of biological soil crusts (BSCs) and provide molecular insights into the microbial community and biochemical dynamics along the vertical BSC column structure, and across a transect of increasing BSC surface coverage in the central Mojave Desert, CA, United States. Next generation sequencing reveals a bacterial community profile that is distinct among BSCs in the southwestern United States. Distribution of major phyla in the BSC topsoils included Cyanobacteria (33 ± 8%), Proteobacteria (26 ± 6%), and Chloroflexi (12 ± 4%), with being the numerically dominant genus.

Draft Genome Sequence of , Isolated from an Air Filter Aboard the International Space Station.

We report here the draft genome of ISSFR-015, isolated from a high-energy particulate arrestance filter aboard the International Space Station. The draft genome sequence of this strain contains 3,809,180 bp with an estimated G+C content of 38.61%.