Beyond Harmful: Exploring Biofilm Formation by Enterococci Isolated from Portuguese Traditional Cheeses.

This study investigated the biofilm-forming capabilities of isolates from Portuguese traditional cheeses with protected designation of origin (PDO) status, specifically and . Given the absence of added starter cultures in the cheesemaking process, the characteristics of these cheeses are intrinsically linked to the autochthonous microbiota present in the raw materials and the production environment. Our findings demonstrate that all isolates possess biofilm production abilities, which are crucial for their colonization and persistence within cheese factories, thereby maintaining factory-specific microbial heritage.

p66Shc Protein-Oxidative Stress Sensor or Redox Enzyme: Its Potential Role in Mitochondrial Metabolism of Human Breast Cancer.

This work presents a comprehensive evaluation of the role of p66Shc protein in mitochondrial physiology in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. The use of human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 and its genetically modified clones (obtained with the use of the CRISPR-Cas9 technique), expressing different levels of p66Shc protein, allowed us to demonstrate how the p66Shc protein affects mitochondrial metabolism of human breast cancer cells. Changes in the level of p66Shc (its overexpression, and overexpressing of its Serine 36-mutated version, as well as the knockout of p66Shc) exert different effects in breast cancer cells.

Persistent activity during working memory maintenance predicts long-term memory formation in the human hippocampus.

Working memory (WM) and long-term memory (LTM) are often viewed as separate cognitive systems. Little is known about how these systems interact when forming memories. We recorded single neurons in the human medial temporal lobe while patients maintained novel items in WM and completed a subsequent recognition memory test for the same items.

Pre-choice midbrain fluctuations affect self-control in food choice: A functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study.

Recent studies have shown that spontaneous pre-stimulus fluctuations in brain activity affect higher-order cognitive processes, including risky decision-making, cognitive flexibility, and aesthetic judgments. However, there is currently no direct evidence to suggest that pre-choice activity influences value-based decisions that require self-control. We examined the impact of fluctuations in pre-choice activity in key regions of the reward system on self-control in food choice.

Prion protein prevents the inhibition of large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel by Tau peptide K18 oligomers.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a tauopathy characterized by the deposition of amyloid aggregates of hyperphosphorylated Tau protein and amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) in the brain. Nevertheless, a soluble, oligomeric forms of Tau and Aβ are considered to be the most neurotoxic species responsible for neurodegenerative processes in AD. The mechanism of action of these oligomers remains largely unclear.

Dense but not alpha granules of platelets are required for insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells.

Objectives: Platelets, originally described for their role in blood coagulation, are now also recognized as key players in modulating inflammation, tissue regeneration, angiogenesis, and carcinogenesis. Recent evidence suggests that platelets also influence insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells. The multifaceted functions of platelets are mediated by the factors stored in their alpha granules (AGs) and dense granules (DGs).

Tracking changes in functionality and morphology of repopulated microglia in young and old mice.

Background: Microglia (MG) are myeloid cells of the central nervous system that support homeostasis and instigate neuroinflammation in pathologies. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) revealed the functional heterogeneity of MG in mouse brains. Microglia are self-renewing cells and inhibition of colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) signaling depletes microglia which rapidly repopulate.

Circulating microRNAs and isomiRs as biomarkers for the initial insult and epileptogenesis in four experimental epilepsy models: The EPITARGET study.

Objective: Structural epilepsies can manifest months or years after the occurrence of an initial epileptogenic insult, making them amenable for secondary prevention. However, development of preventive treatments has been challenged by a lack of biomarkers for identifying the subset of individuals with the highest risk of epilepsy after the epileptogenic insult.

Methods: Four different rat models of epileptogenesis were investigated to identify differentially expressed circulating microRNA (miRNA) and isomiR profiles as biomarkers for epileptogenesis.

Exploring Taxonomic and Genetic Relationships in the Complex Using Genome Skimming Data.

Genome skimming is a novel approach that enables obtaining large-scale genomic information based on high-copy DNA fractions from shallow whole-genome sequencing. The simplicity of this method, low analysis costs, and large amounts of generated data have made it widely used in plant research, including species identification, especially in the case of protected or endangered taxa. This task is particularly difficult in the case of closely related taxa.

Fluctuating Asymmetry Spotted Wing Drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae) Exposed to Sublethal Doses of Acetamiprid and Nicotine.

Long-term exposure to low concentrations of toxic substances can cause several adverse consequences ranging from molecular to morphological. Sublethal doses may also lead to increased tolerance in the offspring of surviving individuals. One of the consequences of such stress is deviations from the ideal body symmetry during development, reflected by increased levels of fluctuating asymmetry (FA).

Mutation in the mitochondrial chaperone TRAP1 leads to autism with more severe symptoms in males.

There is increasing evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), but the causal relationships are unclear. In an ASD patient whose identical twin was unaffected, we identified a postzygotic mosaic mutation p.Q639* in the TRAP1 gene, which encodes a mitochondrial chaperone of the HSP90 family.

A tomato a day keeps the beetle away - the impact of Solanaceae glycoalkaloids on energy management in the mealworm Tenebrio molitor.

Solanine (SOL), chaconine (CHA), and tomatine (TOM) are plant secondary metabolites produced mainly by the species of Solanaceae family, such as tomato Solanum lycopersicum L. These glycoalkaloids (GAs) have a wide range of biological activity, also in insects. However, their mechanisms of action are not precisely understood.

Distribution of calbindin-positive neurons across areas and layers of the marmoset cerebral cortex.

The diversity of the mammalian cerebral cortex demands technical approaches to map the spatial distribution of neurons with different biochemical identities. This issue is magnified in the case of the primate cortex, characterized by a large number of areas with distinctive cytoarchitectures. To date, no full map of the distribution of cells expressing a specific protein has been reported for the cortex of any primate.

Analysis of Deposition and Diffusion of Cholesterol in Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses Using Confocal Microscopy.

In this study, we investigated lipid deposition and diffusion in silicone hydrogel (Si-Hy) contact lenses using confocal microscopy. Different Si-Hy lenses were analyzed to understand the interaction patterns of cholesterol with various lens materials. The results highlight significant differences in the deposition and diffusion of lipids through the lenses, revealing that some materials, such as comfilcon A, allow lipids to diffuse more freely compared to others, such as samfilcon A, which provides a greater barrier.

The ubiquitin-specific protease 21 is critical for cancer cell mitochondrial function and regulates proliferation and migration.

Ubiquitin-specific proteases (USPs) are the main members of deubiquitinases (DUBs) that catalyze removing ubiquitin chains from target proteins, thereby modulating their half-life and function. Enzymatic activity of USP21 regulates protein degradation which is critical for maintaining cell homeostasis. USP21 determines the stability of oncogenic proteins and therefore is implicated in carcinogenesis.