Streptococcus pyogenes activates human platelets via streptolysin S-mediated calcium ion influx.

Introduction: Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus, GAS) is an exclusively human pathogen. It causes a wide spectrum of diseases, ranging from mild infections such as pharyngitis to severe life-threatening conditions such as streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS). Thrombocytopenia is a common feature of STSS and is associated with severe outcome.

Identification and Protein Engineering of Galactosidases for the Conversion of Blood Type B to Blood Type O.

The supply of blood products such as red blood cells poses a challenge due to rising demand and declining donor numbers. Careful matching of blood products of different types is required. Only type O of the blood types A, B, AB and O can be received by any patient without transfusion incompatibilities.

Preparation and Characterization of an Engineered FGF1 Conjugated to Tb for Targeting of FGFRs.

The fibroblast growth factor receptor family members, FGFR1-4, are frequently overexpressed in various solid tumors, including breast cancer and sarcomas. This overexpression highlights the potential of the family of FGFRs as promising targets for cancer therapy. However, conventional FGFR kinase inhibitors often encounter challenges such as limited efficacy or drug resistance.

Impact of DMI fungicides on cell growth and consequences for disease control.

Strategic mixtures of biological control agents (BCA) with demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides to control diseases of fruit crops can result in additive interaction, synergism, or antagonism. To evaluate the compatibility of eight commercial DMI fungicides with the BCA Bacillus subtilis AFS032321, marketed as Theia, bacteria were cultured in nutrient broth with 0, 10, 50, 100, and 150 µg/ml of each DMI fungicide at 30°C on a shaker rotating at 180 rpm and the optical density (OD600) was measured after 24 and 48 h. In addition, nutrient agar (NA) was enriched with the same concentrations and an endospore suspension was streaked out to count colony-forming units (CFU/ml) and measure the colony diameter.

Lyophilized human platelet lysate: manufacturing, quality control, and application.

Background: A significant number of platelet concentrates (PCs) is discarded daily in blood banks due to limited shelf life. Human platelet lysate (HPL), derived from expired PCs, has gained attention as an ethical and sustainable cell culture media supplement in biomedical research and cell therapy production. However, HPL is subject to decisive disadvantages such as batch differences and lack of storage stability.

Cross-resistance between strain AFS009 metabolites (Howler EVO) and fludioxonil in .

Howler EVO is a biological fungicide based on metabolites of the bacterium Pseudomonas chlororaphis strain AFS009. One of the metabolites, pyrrolnitrin (PRN), is a chemical analogue of the phenylpyrrole fludioxonil used to manage gray mold of fruit crops caused by Botrytis cinerea. Resistance to fludioxonil in B.

Pyrrolnitrin in strain AFS009 metabolites reduces constitutive and DMI-induced MfCYP51 gene expression in .

Brown rot, caused by Monilinia fructicola, is one of the most economically important diseases of peach. Demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides play an important part in managing brown rot in the southeastern U.S.

Characterization and Fungicide Sensitivity of Causing Gnomonia Leaf Blotch of Strawberry in the Carolinas.

Emerging fungal pathogens have always been an issue of concern in southeastern U.S. strawberry production.

Pneumococcal Neuraminidases Increase Platelet Killing by Pneumolysin.

Background:  Platelets prevent extravasation of capillary fluids into the pulmonary interstitial tissue by sealing gaps in inflamed endothelium. This reduces respiratory distress associated with pneumonia. is the leading cause of severe community-acquired pneumonia.

Metabolites Reduce Expression and Yield Synergistic Efficacy in Mixture with Reduced Rates of Propiconazole Against DMI-Resistant Isolates.

Brown rot caused by is one of the most important diseases affecting peach production in the southeastern United States. Management often involves the use of demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides, but efficacy can be compromised because of overexpression of the gene encoding the 14α-demethylase of the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway. This study aimed to investigate the influence of the biorational fungicide Howler EVO containing ASF009 metabolites on the expression of in and associated synergy with a DMI fungicide for control of DMI-resistant strains.

Bioproducts of Suppress DMI Fungicide-Induced and Gene Expression in and Generate Synergistic Effects with Metconazole and Propiconazole.

Mixtures of fungicides with different modes of action are commonly used as disease and resistance management tools, but little is known of mixtures of natural and synthetic products. In this study, mixtures of metabolites from the rhizobacterium strain ASF009 formulated as Howler EVO with below-label rates (50 µg/ml) of conventional sterol demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides were investigated for control of anthracnose of cherry () caused by . Howler mixed with metconazole or propiconazole synergistically reduced disease severity through lesion growth.

Indocyanine Green-Labeled Platelets for Survival and Recovery Studies.

Introduction: Before being implemented in daily clinical routine, new production strategies for platelet concentrates (PCs) must be validated for their efficacy. Besides in vitro testing, the establishment of new methods requires the labeling of platelets for in vivo studies of platelets' survival and recovery. Indocyanine green (ICG) is a Food and Drug Administration-approved near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent dye for diagnostic use in vivo, suitable for non-radioactive direct cell labeling of platelets.

Changes in electrodermal activity following sympathicotomy in hyperhidrosis patients.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the potential of electrodermal activity (EDA) as a diagnostic tool for preoperative evaluation in hyperhidrosis patients. EDA levels and patterns in different skin areas were investigated before and after endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy (ETS) and was compared to healthy subjects.

Methods: Thirty-seven patients underwent two days of measurements before and after the operation.

Influence of Propiconazole and Metconazole Formulations on Vegetative Cell Growth and Disease Control of Fruit Crops.

Biological control agent formulated as Theia is registered for control of fungal and bacterial diseases of fruit crops. Combinations of Theia and strategic concentrations of two demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides were investigated to explore potential synergisms. Bacteria were cultured in nutrient broth and combined with technical grades and two formulations of propiconazole (emulsifiable concentrate [EC] and wettable powder) and metconazole (EC and water-dispersible granule) at 0, 10, 50, 100, and 150 µg/ml of active ingredient.

Automated tracking of cell migration in phase contrast images with CellTraxx.

The ability of cells to move and migrate is required during development, but also in the adult in processes such as wound healing and immune responses. In addition, cancer cells exploit the cells' ability to migrate and invade to spread into nearby tissue and eventually metastasize. The majority of cancer deaths are caused by metastasis and the process of cell migration is therefore intensively studied.

Aggregates of nonmuscular myosin IIA in erythrocytes associate with GATA1- and GFI1B-related thrombocytopenia.

Background: The transcription factor GATA1 is an essential regulator of erythroid cell gene expression and maturation and is also relevant for platelet biogenesis. GATA1-related thrombocytopenia (GATA1-RT) is a rare X-linked inherited platelet disorder (IPD) characterized by macrothrombocytopenia and dyserythropoiesis. Enlarged platelet size, reduced platelet granularity, and noticeable red blood cell anisopoikilocytosis are characteristic but unspecific morphological findings in GATA1-RT.

Anti-PF4 immunothrombosis without proximate heparin or adenovirus vector vaccine exposure.

Platelet-activating anti-platelet factor 4 (PF4)/heparin antibodies and anti-PF4 antibodies cause heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT), respectively. Diagnostic and treatment considerations differ somewhat between HIT and VITT. We identified patients with thrombocytopenia and thrombosis without proximate heparin exposure or adenovirus-based vaccination who tested strongly positive by PF4/polyanion enzyme-immunoassays and negative/weakly positive by heparin-induced platelet activation (HIPA) test but strongly positive by PF4-induced platelet activation (PIPA) test (ie, VITT-like profile).

Comprehensive interrogation of gene lists from genome-scale cancer screens with oncoEnrichR.

Genome-scale screening experiments in cancer produce long lists of candidate genes that require extensive interpretation for biological insight and prioritization for follow-up studies. Interrogation of gene lists frequently represents a significant and time-consuming undertaking, in which experimental biologists typically combine results from a variety of bioinformatics resources in an attempt to portray and understand cancer relevance. As a means to simplify and strengthen the support for this endeavor, we have developed oncoEnrichR, a flexible bioinformatics tool that allows cancer researchers to comprehensively interrogate a given gene list along multiple facets of cancer relevance.

Gas plasma-induced platelet activation corresponds to reactive species profiles and lipid oxidation.

Surgical-induced hemostasis is a critical step in the closure of incisions, which is frequently achieved via electrocauterization and subsequent tissue necrotization. The latter is associated with postoperative complications. Recent in vivo work suggested reactive species-producing gas plasma technology as a pro-homeostatic agent acting via platelet activation.