M860, a Monoclonal Antibody against Human Lactoferrin, Enhances Tumoricidal Activity of Low Dosage Lactoferrin via Granzyme B Induction.

Lactoferrin (LF) is a soluble glycoprotein of the transferring family found in most biological fluids, functioning as a major first line defense molecule against infection in mammals. It also shows certain anti-tumor activity, but its clinical application in tumor therapy is limited because high dosage is required. In this study, we demonstrate that M860, a monoclonal antibody against human LF (hLF), could significantly increase the anti-tumor potential of low dosage hLF by forming LF-containing immune complex (IC).

sp. nov., isolated from a deep subsurface aquifer.

A bacterial strain M05W1-28 was isolated from a well that collected water for irrigation from a deep aquifer at a depth of 400 m. Cells were observed to be rod-shaped, non-motile, aerobic, stained Gram-negative. Optimal growth was obtained at pH 7.

Genes: The Role in Genome Stability, Cancer Stemness and Therapy Resistance.

Carcinogenesis is a multistep process, and tumors frequently harbor multiple mutations regulating genome integrity, cell division and death. The integrity of cellular genome is closely controlled by the mechanisms of DNA damage signaling and DNA repair. The association of breast cancer susceptibility genes and with breast and ovarian cancer development was first demonstrated over 20 years ago.

Collective Motion as an Ultimate Effect in Crowded Selfish Herds.

The selfish herd hypothesis explains how social prey can assemble cohesive groups for maximising individual fitness. However, previous models often abstracted away the physical manifestation of the focal animals such that the influence of getting stuck in a crowded herd on individual adaptation was less intensively investigated. Here, we propose an evolutionary model to simulate the adaptation of egoistic social prey to predation given that individual mobility is strictly restrained by the presence of other conspecifics.

BRCA1 and EZH2 cooperate in regulation of prostate cancer stem cell phenotype.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common malignancy and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death among men worldwide. Prostate carcinogenesis is driven by the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic aberrations, which regulate cancer cell transition between a stem- and nonstem-cell state and accelerate tumor evolution. Elevated expression of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) histone methyltransferase, a core member of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), results in cancer progression through histone methylation-driven tumor cells dedifferentiation.

Robots mediating interactions between animals for interspecies collective behaviors.

Self-organized collective behavior has been analyzed in diverse types of gregarious animals. Such collective intelligence emerges from the synergy between individuals, which behave at their own time and spatial scales and without global rules. Recently, robots have been developed to collaborate with animal groups in the pursuit of better understanding their decision-making processes.

Apoptotic effect of Aralia echinocaulis extract on fibroblast-like synoviocytes in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis via inhibiting the Akt/Hif-1α signaling pathway in vitro.

Aralia echinocaulis is used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by Tujia Minority in China. A previous study demonstrated that A. echinocaulis had a significant anti-arthritic effect on adjuvant arthritis (AA) rats in vivo.

The clinical significance of insulin resistance in non-diabetic patients with early forms of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Aim: To assess the presence of insulin resistance (IR) in non-diabetic patients with early forms of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) - liver steatosis (LS) and steatohepatitis (SH) of mild activity and the influence of IR on the clinical course of these diseases.

Materials And Methods: 134 patients with NAFLD were examined: 54 with LS and 80 with SH. The control group consisted of 37 healthy donors.

A simulated geomagnetic storm unsynchronizes with diurnal geomagnetic variation affecting calpain activity in roach and great pond snail.

It has been suggested that geomagnetic storms could be perceived by organisms via disruption of naturally occurring diurnal geomagnetic variation. This variation, in turn, is viewed by way of a zeitgeber for biological circadian rhythms. The biological effects of a geomagnetic storm, therefore, could depend on the local time of day when its main phase occurs.

Targeted Delivery to Tumors: Multidirectional Strategies to Improve Treatment Efficiency.

Malignant tumors are characterized by structural and molecular peculiarities providing a possibility to directionally deliver antitumor drugs with minimal impact on healthy tissues and reduced side effects. Newly formed blood vessels in malignant lesions exhibit chaotic growth, disordered structure, irregular shape and diameter, protrusions, and blind ends, resulting in immature vasculature; the newly formed lymphatic vessels also have aberrant structure. Structural features of the tumor vasculature determine relatively easy penetration of large molecules as well as nanometer-sized particles through a blood⁻tissue barrier and their accumulation in a tumor tissue.

Radioprotective Role of Peroxiredoxin 6.

Peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6) is a member of an evolutionary ancient family of peroxidase enzymes with diverse functions in the cell. Prdx6 is an important enzymatic antioxidant. It reduces a wide range of peroxide substrates in the cell, thus playing a leading role in the maintenance of the redox homeostasis in mammalian cells.

Functional foods and cancer on Pinterest and PubMed: myths and science.

Aim: This article examines whether social media postings dealing with cancer and so-called 'functional foods' simply reflect a fashionable subject or are based on scientific evidence.

Methods: The first step consisted of an analysis of a sample of Pins published on Pinterest. The second consisted of an analysis to determine whether the content of the Pins was based on scientific research.

Erythrobacter nanhaiensis sp. nov., A Novel Member of the Genus Erythrobacter Isolated from the South China Sea.

A Gram-negative, motile, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterial strain with tufty polar flagella, JLT1363, was isolated from the South China Sea. The bacteria formed yellow colonies on rich organic medium. The major cellular fatty acids present in JLT1363 were C ω7c and/or C ω6c (36.

Radioactive (Y) upconversion nanoparticles conjugated with recombinant targeted toxin for synergistic nanotheranostics of cancer.

We report combined therapy using upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP) coupled to two therapeutic agents: beta-emitting radionuclide yttrium-90 (Y) fractionally substituting yttrium in UCNP, and a fragment of the exotoxin A derived from genetically fused with a targeting designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin) specific to HER2 receptors. The resultant hybrid complex UCNP-R-T was tested using human breast adenocarcinoma cells SK-BR-3 overexpressing HER2 receptors and immunodeficient mice, bearing HER2-positive xenograft tumors. The photophysical properties of UCNPs enabled background-free imaging of the UCNP-R-T distribution in cells and animals.

Flavobacterium aurantiibacter sp. nov., an orange-pigmented bacterium isolated from cyanobacterial aggregates in a eutrophic lake.

A bacterial strain, designated TH167, was isolated from cyanobacterial aggregates in eutrophic Lake Taihu in China. Cells were observed to be slightly curved rod-shaped, motile by gliding, aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, proteorhodopsin-containing. Optimal growth was obtained at pH 7.

Freshwater Megafauna: Flagships for Freshwater Biodiversity under Threat.

Freshwater biodiversity is highly threatened and is decreasing more rapidly than its terrestrial or marine counterparts; however, freshwaters receive less attention and conservation investment than other ecosystems do. The diverse group of freshwater megafauna, including iconic species such as sturgeons, river dolphins, and turtles, could, if promoted, provide a valuable tool to raise awareness and funding for conservation. We found that freshwater megafauna inhabit every continent except Antarctica, with South America, Central Africa, and South and Southeast Asia being particularly species rich.

Flavobacterium cyanobacteriorum sp. nov., isolated from cyanobacterial aggregates in a eutrophic lake.

A Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic, non-flagellated, non-gliding, rod-shaped and yellow-pigmented bacterium, designated strain TH021, was isolated from cyanobacterial aggregates in a eutrophic lake, Taihu Lake, China. Optimal growth occurred at pH 7.0 (range: 5.

Sandarakinorhabdus cyanobacteriorum sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from cyanobacterial aggregates in a eutrophic lake.

A bacterial strain, designated TH057, was isolated from cyanobacterial aggregates in a eutrophic lake in China. Cells were observed to be slightly curved, rod-shaped, capsule-forming and stained Gram-negative. Optimal growth was obtained at pH 7.

Niveispirillum lacus sp. nov., isolated from cyanobacterial aggregates in a eutrophic lake.

A bacterial strain, 1-14, was isolated from cyanobacterial aggregates in a eutrophic lake, Taihu Lake, China. Cells were observed to be slightly curved, rod-shaped, aerobic and Gram-stain-negative. Optimal growth occurred at pH 7.

Structural features of the TatC membrane protein that determine docking and insertion of a twin-arginine signal peptide.

Twin-arginine translocation (Tat) systems transport folded proteins across cellular membranes with the concerted action of mostly three membrane proteins: TatA, TatB, and TatC. Hetero-oligomers of TatB and TatC form circular substrate-receptor complexes with a central binding cavity for twin-arginine-containing signal peptides. After binding of the substrate, energy from an electro-chemical proton gradient is transduced into the recruitment of TatA oligomers and into the actual translocation event.

Elstera cyanobacteriorum sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from cyanobacterial aggregates in a eutrophic lake.

A bacterial strain, TH019, was isolated from cyanobacterial aggregates in a eutrophic lake, Taihu Lake, China. Cells were observed to be slightly curved rod-shaped and stained Gram-negative. Optimal growth was obtained at pH 7.

Thauera phenolivorans sp. nov., a phenol degrading bacterium isolated from activated sludge.

A Gram-stain negative, short rod-shaped and non-motile bacterial strain ZV1C capable of degrading phenol was isolated from a wastewater treatment system of Huafu mustard tuber salinity preservation factory in Chongqing, China. Aerobic growth was observed at 20-42 °C (optimum, 30 °C) and at pH 5-10 (optimum, pH 8). Cells tolerated NaCl concentrations of 0-2% (w/v) (optimum, 0%).

Aquidulcibacter paucihalophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel member of family Caulobacteraceae isolated from cyanobacterial aggregates in a eutrophic lake.

A bacterial strain, TH1-2, was isolated from cyanobacterial aggregates in the eutrophic Lake Taihu, Jiangsu Province, China. Cells were observed to be Gram-negative, slightly curved and rod-shaped. Optimal growth was obtained at pH 7.

National Ecosystem Assessments in Europe: A Review.

National ecosystem assessments form an essential knowledge base for safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystem services. We analyze eight European (sub-)national ecosystem assessments (Portugal, United Kingdom, Spain, Norway, Flanders, Netherlands, Finland, and Germany) and compare their objectives, political context, methods, and operationalization. We observed remarkable differences in breadth of the assessment, methods employed, variety of services considered, policy mandates, and funding mechanisms.

Downregulation of Gene Ameliorates Metabolic and Cardiac Traits in the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat.

The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), one of the most widely used model of essential hypertension, is predisposed to left ventricular hypertrophy, myocardial fibrosis, and metabolic disturbances. Recently, quantitative trait loci influencing blood pressure, left ventricular mass, and heart interstitial fibrosis were genetically isolated within a minimal congenic subline that contains only 7 genes, including mutant (promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger) candidate gene. To identify as a quantitative trait gene, we targeted in the SHR using the transcription activator-like effector nuclease technique and obtained SHR line harboring targeted gene with a premature stop codon.