Role of interferons in the antiviral battle: from virus-host crosstalk to prophylactic and therapeutic potential in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Mammalians sense antigenic messages from infectious agents that penetrate the respiratory and digestive epithelium, as well as signals from damaged host cells through membrane and cytosolic receptors. The transduction of these signals triggers a personalized response, depending on the nature of the stimulus and the host's genetics, physiological condition, and comorbidities. Interferons (IFNs) are the primary effectors of the innate immune response, and their synthesis is activated in most cells within a few hours after pathogen invasion.

Role of probiotics in managing various human diseases, from oral pathology to cancer and gastrointestinal diseases.

The imbalance of microbial composition and diversity in favor of pathogenic microorganisms combined with a loss of beneficial gut microbiota taxa results from factors such as age, diet, antimicrobial administration for different infections, other underlying medical conditions, etc. Probiotics are known for their capacity to improve health by stimulating the indigenous gut microbiota, enhancing host immunity resistance to infection, helping digestion, and carrying out various other functions. Concurrently, the metabolites produced by these microorganisms, termed postbiotics, which include compounds like bacteriocins, lactic acid, and hydrogen peroxide, contribute to inhibiting a wide range of pathogenic bacteria.

Implications of oral dysbiosis and HPV infection in head and neck cancer: from molecular and cellular mechanisms to early diagnosis and therapy.

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the sixth most common type of cancer, with more than half a million new cases annually. This review focuses on the role of oral dysbiosis and HPV infection in HNCs, presenting the involved taxons, molecular effectors and pathways, as well as the HPV-associated particularities of genetic and epigenetic changes and of the tumor microenvironment occurred in different stages of tumor development. Oral dysbiosis is associated with the evolution of HNCs, through multiple mechanisms such as inflammation, genotoxins release, modulation of the innate and acquired immune response, carcinogens and anticarcinogens production, generation of oxidative stress, induction of mutations.

Bioactive-Loaded Hydrogels Based on Bacterial Nanocellulose, Chitosan, and Poloxamer for Rebalancing Vaginal Microbiota.

Biocompatible drug-delivery systems for soft tissue applications are of high interest for the medical and pharmaceutical fields. The subject of this research is the development of hydrogels loaded with bioactive compounds (inulin, thyme essential oil, hydro-glycero-alcoholic extract of , powder, lactic acid, citric acid) in order to support the vaginal microbiota homeostasis. The nanofibrillar phyto-hydrogel systems developed using the biocompatible polymers chitosan (CS), never-dried bacterial nanocellulose (NDBNC), and Poloxamer 407 (PX) incorporated the water-soluble bioactive components in the NDBNC hydrophilic fraction and the hydrophobic components in the hydrophobic core of the PX fraction.

In Search of Authenticity Biomarkers in Food Supplements Containing Sea Buckthorn: A Metabolomics Approach.

Sea buckthorn ( L.) (SB) is increasingly consumed worldwide as a food and food supplement. The remarkable richness in biologically active phytochemicals (polyphenols, carotenoids, sterols, vitamins) is responsible for its purported nutritional and health-promoting effects.

Green Extraction Techniques of Phytochemicals from L. and In Vitro Characterization of the Extracts.

L. contains phytochemicals with good biological properties which are beneficial to human health and can be used to protect plants against different diseases. The aim of this research was to find the most suitable extraction method and the most favorable parameters for the extraction of different bioactive compounds from ivy leaves.

Alginate-Based Hydrogels Enriched with Lavender Essential Oil: Evaluation of Physicochemical Properties, Antimicrobial Activity, and In Vivo Biocompatibility.

Owing to its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities, in the last few years, lavender essential oil (LVO) has been used in medical applications as a promising approach for treating infected wounds. However, the practical applicability of LVO is limited by its high volatility and storage stability. This study aimed to develop a novel hybrid hydrogel by combining phytic acid (PA)-crosslinked sodium alginate (SA) and poly(itaconic anhydride-co-3,9-divinyl-2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro[5.

Sustainable Development Solutions: Growing and Processing Raspberries on Lithuanian Farms.

The EU's goals by 2050 are to ensure food security, prevent bio-diversity loss, and strengthen the EU food system's resilience. Recent scientific research and the situation in the global market show that the cultivation and processing of raspberries is currently completely unsustainable. This sector is experiencing a huge decline in Lithuania.

Artificial light at night (ALAN) causes shifts in soil communities and functions.

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is increasing worldwide, but its effects on the soil system have not yet been investigated. We tested the influence of experimental manipulation of ALAN on two taxa of soil communities (microorganisms and soil nematodes) and three aspects of soil functioning (soil basal respiration, soil microbial biomass and carbon use efficiency) over four and a half months in a highly controlled Ecotron facility. We show that during peak plant biomass, increasing ALAN reduced plant biomass and was also associated with decreased soil water content.

In Vitro Assessment of the Antidiabetic and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of and Extracts Processed Using Membrane Technologies.

Recently, there has been increased interest in the discovery of new natural herbal remedies for treating diabetes and inflammatory diseases. In this context, this work analyzed the antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory potential of , and herbs, which have been studied less from this point of view. Therefore, extracts were prepared and processed using membrane technologies, micro- and ultrafiltration, to concentrate the biologically active principles.

Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Recently Isolated Multidrug-Resistant Clinical and Aquatic Strains and Demonstration of Silver Nanoparticle Potency.

This study aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) on multidrug-resistant (MDR) (AB) strains isolated from the clinical and aquatic environment. Three types of Ag NPs were investigated for their antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and antivirulence properties on a total number of 132 AB strains isolated in the same temporal sequence from intra-hospital infections (IHIs), wastewater (WW), and surface water (SW) samples between 2019 and 2022 from different Romanian locations and characterized at the phenotypic and genotypic levels. The comparative analysis of the antimicrobial resistance (AR) profiles according to the isolation source and the geographical location demonstrated a decrease in MDR level in AB recovered from WW samples in 2022 from north-eastern/central/southern regions (N-E/C-W/analyzed strains S): 87.

Impact of Arieş River Contaminants on Algae and Plants.

The Arieş River (Western Romania) represents one of the most important affluents of the Mureş River, with great significance in the Mureş Tisza basin. The environmental quality of the Arieş basin is significantly affected by both historic mining activities and contemporary impacts. Thus, an evaluation of the effects of the main contaminants found in water (organochlorine pesticides-OCPs, monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-MAHs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-PAHs, and metals) on cyanobacteria and plants was performed.

Bioinspired 3D scaffolds with antimicrobial, drug delivery, and osteogenic functions for bone regeneration.

A major clinical challenge today is the large number of bone defects caused by diseases or trauma. The development of three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds with adequate properties is crucial for successful bone repair. In this study, we prepared biomimetic mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG)-based scaffolds with and without ceria addition (up to 3 mol %) to explore the biological structure and chemical composition of the marine sponge Spongia Agaricina (SA) as a sacrificial template.

Ecosystem consequences of invertebrate decline.

Human activities cause substantial changes in biodiversity. Despite ongoing concern about the implications of invertebrate decline, few empirical studies have examined the ecosystem consequences of invertebrate biomass loss. Here, we test the responses of six ecosystem services informed by 30 above- and belowground ecosystem variables to three levels of aboveground (i.

Unraveling phylogenetic relationships and species boundaries in the arid adapted Gerbillus rodents (Muridae: Gerbillinae) by RAD-seq data.

Gerbillus is one of the most speciose genera among rodents, with ca. 51 recognized species. Previous attempts to reconstruct the evolutionary history of Gerbillus mainly relied on the mitochondrial cyt-b marker as a source of phylogenetic information.

The multifaceted effects of fluoranthene and polystyrene on the taxonomic composition and associated functional traits of marine meiofauna, by using single and mixture applications.

The current experiment measured the multifaceted effects of polystyrene and fluoranthene, acting alone or in a mixture on marine meiofauna, but with a special focus on nematodes' morphological and functional traits. The results showed changes in the abundances for all tested concentrations of both compounds. The nematode communities exposed to the highest concentrations of fluoranthene (30 ng.

The Vermiform Appendix and Its Pathologies.

The vermiform appendix is a muscular cylindrical structure originating near the junction of the cecum and ileum, averaging 9 cm (5-35 cm) in size. As the most mobile viscera, it can adopt several positions, the most common being the retrocecal position. Perceived as an atavistic organ lacking physiological relevance, the vermiform appendix appears to be involved in immune function, serving in the maturation of B lymphocytes and the production of immunoglobulin A, in endocrine function, excreting amines and hormones in the 2-3 mL of mucus secreted daily, and in digestive function, by storing beneficial bacteria from where they can recolonize the colon.

Landscape of Genetic Mutations in Appendiceal Cancers.

In appendiceal cancers, the most frequently mutated genes are (i) , which, when reactivated, restores signal transduction via the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling pathway and stimulates cell proliferation in the early stages of tumor transformation, and then angiogenesis; (ii) , whose inactivation leads to the inhibition of programmed cell death; (iii) , which, when reactivated, links the cAMP pathway to the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling pathway, stimulating cell proliferation and angiogenesis; (iv) , exhibiting typical tumor-suppressive activity, blocking the transmission of oncogenic TGFB signals via the SMAD2/SMAD3 heterodimer; and (v) , which is part of the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling pathway. Diverse mutations are reported in other genes, which are part of secondary or less critical signaling pathways for tumor progression, but which amplify the phenotypic diversity of appendiceal cancers. In this review, we will present the main genetic mutations involved in appendix tumors and their roles in cell proliferation and survival, and in tumor invasiveness, angiogenesis, and acquired resistance to anti-growth signals.

Antioxidant and Wound Healing Bioactive Potential of Extracts Obtained from Bark and Needles of Softwood Species.

Interest in the extraction of phytochemical bioactive compounds, especially polyphenols from biomass, has recently increased due to their valuable biological potential as natural sources of antioxidants, which could be used in a wide range of applications, from foods and pharmaceuticals to green polymers and bio-based materials. The present research study aimed to provide a comprehensive chemical characterization of the phytochemical composition of forest biomass (bark and needles) of softwood species ( L., H.

Extent of intraspecific trait variability in ecologically central and marginal populations of a dominant alpine plant across European mountains.

Background And Aims: Studying trait variability and restricted gene flow between populations of species can reveal species dynamics. Peripheral populations commonly exhibit lower genetic diversity and trait variability due to isolation and ecological marginality, unlike central populations experiencing gene flow and optimal conditions. This study focused on Carex curvula, the dominant species in alpine acidic meadows of European mountain regions.

The development of decontamination methods in coastal marine habitats by transplantation of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lamarck, 1819): Comparison between in vivo and in situ investigations.

The health status of Mytilus galloprovincialis native from a polluted habitat was surveyed before and after 30 and 60 days of in situ transplantation and in vivo experiments. The results showed a reduction in filtration rate by 24 % and 45 %, respectively, after 60 days of in vivo and in situ experiments compared to the rates at polluted sites. The respiration rate reached a minimum of 0.

Cavitation-Effect-Based Treatments and Extractions for Superior Fruit and Milk Valorisation.

Ultrasound generates cavities in liquids with high-energy behaviour due to large pressure variations, leading to (bio)chemical effects and material modification. Numerous cavity-based treatments in food processes have been reported, but the transition from research to industrial applications is hampered by specific engineering factors, such as the combination of several ultrasound sources, more powerful wave generators or tank geometry. The challenges and development of cavity-based treatments developed for the food industry are reviewed with examples limited to two representative raw materials (fruit and milk) with significantly different properties.