Publications by authors named "Veronika Jurakova"
Astrocytes are specialized glial cell types of the central nervous system (CNS) with remarkably high abundance, morphological and functional diversity. Astrocytes maintain neural metabolic support, synapse regulation, blood-brain barrier integrity and immunological homeostasis through intricate interactions with other cells, including neurons, microglia, pericytes and lymphocytes. Due to their extensive intercellular crosstalks, astrocytes are also implicated in the pathogenesis of CNS disorders, such as ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Astrocytes have recently gained attention as key players in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. Numerous differentiation protocols have been developed to study human astrocytes in vitro. However, the properties of the resulting glia are inconsistent, making it difficult to select an appropriate method for a given research question.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Recent RNA sequencing studies shed light on how carbohydrate sources affect the cariogenic properties of Streptococcus mutans, a key player in dental caries.
- The bacterium ferments certain carbohydrates, especially sucrose, leading to acid production that lowers pH and contributes to tooth demineralization.
- Research reveals that while xylitol and lactose influence biofilm formation and bacterial metabolism, they don't significantly reduce biofilm formation, thereby maintaining a cariogenic environment.