Sox-positive cell population in the adult cerebellum increases upon tissue degeneration.

Adult neurogenesis is well-described in the subventricular and subgranular zones of the mammalian brain. Recent observations that resident glia express stem cell markers in some areas of the brain not traditionally associated with neurogenesis hint to a possible role in tissue repair. The Bergmann glia (BG) population in the cerebellum displays markers and in vitro features associated with neural stem cells (NSC), however the physiological relevance of this phenotypic overlap remains unclear in the absence of established in vivo evidence of tissue regeneration in the adult cerebellum.

Structural assessment of SARS-CoV2 accessory protein ORF7a predicts LFA-1 and Mac-1 binding potential.

ORF7a is an accessory protein common to SARS-CoV1 and the recently discovered SARS-CoV2, which is causing the COVID-19 pandemic. The ORF7a protein has a structural homology with ICAM-1 which binds to the T lymphocyte integrin receptor LFA-1. As COVID-19 has a strong immune component as part of the disease, we sought to determine whether SARS-CoV2 would have a similar structural interaction with LFA-1.

Cryo-FIB-lift-out: practically impossible to practical reality.

In this paper, we explore the development of the Cryo-Lift-Out (cryo-LO) technique as preparation tool for cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). What started in early work defying what was considered 'practically impossible' has developed into state-of-the-art practical reality. This paper presents the key hardware, basic principles and key considerations for the practical usage of cryogenic Lift-Out for those new to the field.

Exposure to the ROCK inhibitor fasudil promotes gliogenesis of neural stem cells in vitro.

Fasudil is a clinically approved Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor that has been used widely to treat cerebral consequences of subarachnoid hemorrhage. It is known to have a positive effect on animal models of neurological disorders including Parkinson's disease and stroke. However, its cellular effect on progenitor populations and differentiation is not clearly understood.