A Global Collaborative Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 Antigenicity Across 15 Laboratories.

Setting up a global SARS-CoV-2 surveillance system requires an understanding of how virus isolation and propagation practices, use of animal or human sera, and different neutralisation assay platforms influence assessment of SARS-CoV-2 antigenicity. In this study, with the contribution of 15 independent laboratories across all WHO regions, we carried out a controlled analysis of neutralisation assay platforms using the first WHO International Standard for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (source: NIBSC). Live virus isolates (source: WHO BioHub or individual labs) or spike plasmids (individual labs) for pseudovirus production were used to perform neutralisation assays using the same serum panels.

Boosting Vaccine Research: The 16-Year Journey of TRANSVAC Vaccine Infrastructure.

TRANSVAC represents a long-running effort to accelerate the development of novel vaccines by integrating institutions from across Europe under a single collaborative framework. This initiative has empowered the global vaccine community since 2009 including contributing toward the development and optimization of vaccine candidates as well as the provision of new adjuvants, research protocols, and technologies. Scientific services were provided in support of 88 different vaccine development projects, and 400 professionals attended TRANSVAC training events on various vaccine-related topics.

Plant Cell Culture-Derived Saponin Adjuvant Enhances Immune Response Against a Stabilized Human Metapneumovirus Pre-Fusion Vaccine Candidate.

Unlabelled: Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a significant respiratory pathogen, particularly in vulnerable populations.

Background: No vaccine for the prevention of HMPV is currently licensed, although several subunit vaccines are in development. Saponin-based adjuvant systems (AS), including QS-21, have transformed the field of subunit vaccines by dramatically increasing their potency and efficacy, leading to the development of several licensed vaccines.

Double Deletion of EP402R and EP153R in the Attenuated Lv17/WB/Rie1 African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) Enhances Safety, Provides DIVA Compatibility, and Confers Complete Protection Against a Genotype II Virulent Strain.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a devastating disease affecting domestic and wild suids and causing significant economic losses in the global pig industry. Attenuated modified live virus (MLV) vaccines are the most promising approaches for vaccine development. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of four recombinant ASFV genotype II strains, derived from the non-hemadsorbing (non-HAD) attenuated isolate Lv17/WB/Rie1, through the single or simultaneous deletion of virulence-associated genes.

Vaccination Coverage for Medically Indicated Vaccines in a Convenience Sample of Severely Immunocompromised Patients with COVID-19: An Observational Cohort Study.

Background: In recent decades, the number of immunocompromised patients (ICPs) has increased significantly. ICPs have an impaired immune system, making them susceptible to complicated infections. To protect them from infections, ICPs are eligible to receive several medically indicated vaccines.

Thermal Cameras for Continuous and Contactless Respiration Monitoring.

Continuous respiration monitoring is an important tool in assessing the patient's health and diagnosing pulmonary, cardiovascular, and sleep-related breathing disorders. Various techniques and devices, both contact and contactless, can be used to monitor respiration. Each of these techniques can provide different types of information with varying accuracy.

Micro Coriolis Mass Flow Sensor with Large Channel Diameter Realized by HNA Wet Etching.

This paper introduces a Coriolis mass flow and density sensor. The sensor is made using Surface Channel Technology (SCT) but with selective wet etching to create the channels. This method forms suspended microfluidic channels with a larger cross-sectional area.

Pharmacogenetics of Neoadjuvant MAP Chemotherapy in Localized Osteosarcoma: A Study Based on Data from the GEIS-33 Protocol.

Osteosarcoma is a rare disease, but it is the most frequent malignant bone tumor. Primary treatment consists of preoperative MAP (methotrexate (MTX), doxorubicin and cisplatin) chemotherapy followed by surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Pathological response to preoperative chemotherapy is one of the most important prognostic factors, but molecular biomarkers are lacking.

The Use of Tissue Concentrations of Biological and Small-Molecule Therapies in Clinical Studies of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

The introduction of biological therapies has revolutionized inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management. A critical consideration in developing these therapies is ensuring adequate drug concentrations at the site of action. While blood-based biomarkers have shown limited utility in optimizing treatment (except for TNF-alpha inhibitors and thiopurines), tissue drug concentrations may offer valuable insights.

Elucidating Extracellular Vesicle Isolation Kinetics via an Integrated Off-Stoichiometry Thiol-Ene and Cyclic Olefin Copolymer Microfluidic Device.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are promising biomarkers for diagnosing complex diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Yet, their clinical application is hindered by challenges in isolating cancer-derived EVs efficiently due to their broad size distribution in biological samples. This study introduces a microfluidic device fabricated using off-stoichiometry thiol-ene and cyclic olefin copolymer, addressing the absorption limitations of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).

Overcoming Challenges in the Commercialization of Biopolymers: From Research to Applications-A Review.

Biopolymers are promising sustainable alternatives to petrochemical polymers, but the recent increase in published research articles has not translated into marketable products. Here, we discuss barriers to market entry by exploring application-specific, ecological, and economic aspects, such as the utilization of biodegradable polymers to mitigate the accumulation of microplastics. We summarize previous studies revealing how fiber surface properties and the dwell time during fiber spinning affect degradability.

Ecophysiological and Molecular Analysis of Contrasting Genotypes for Leaf Senescence in Sunflower ( L.) Under Differential Doses of N in Soil.

Leaf senescence in plants is the last stage of leaf development and is characterized by a decline in photosynthetic activity, an active degeneration of cellular structures, and the recycling of accumulated nutrients to areas of active growth, such as buds, young leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds. This process holds economic significance as it can impact yield, influencing the plant's ability to maintain an active photosynthetic system during prolonged periods, especially during the grain filling stage, which affects plant weight and oil content. It can be associated with different stresses or environmental conditions, manifesting itself widely in the context of climate change and limiting yield, especially in crops of agronomic relevance.

Assessment of Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity of Plasma-Treated Perfluorooctanesulfonate Containing Water Using In Vitro Bioassays.

The contamination of ground and surface waters with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) is of major concern due to their potential adverse effects on human health. The carbon-fluorine bond makes these compounds extremely stable and hardly degradable by natural processes. Therefore, methods for PFAS removal from water are desperately needed.

From Structure to Function: How Prebiotic Diversity Shapes Gut Integrity and Immune Balance.

The microbiota stability, diversity, and composition are pillars for an efficient and beneficial symbiotic relationship between its host and itself. Microbial dysbiosis, a condition where a homeostatic bacterial community is disturbed by acute or chronic events, is a predisposition for many diseases, including local and systemic inflammation that leads to metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and some types of cancers. Classical dysbiosis occurs in the large intestine.

In Vitro Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Ethyl Acetate Extracts of Leaves and Five Associated Endophytic Fungi.

The exploration of new pharmacological compounds from endophytic fungi offers infinite possibilities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of extracts from the leaves of and five of its endophytic fungi and investigate the chemical diversity of the secondary metabolites produced. Isolated, purified, and molecularly identified endophytes and plant leaves were subjected to ethyl acetate extraction.

Genomic Investigation and Comparative Analysis of European High-Risk Clone of ST2.

Multidrug-resistant is a major concern in healthcare institutions worldwide. Several reports described the dissemination of high-risk clones that are responsible for a high number of difficult-to-treat infections. In our study, 19 multidrug-resistant strains from Budapest, Hungary, were investigated based on whole-genome sequencing (WGS).

The Influence of Microbiota on Wild Birds' Parental Coprophagy Behavior: Current Advances and Future Research Directions.

This comprehensive review provides an in-depth exploration of the intriguing phenomenon of parental coprophagy in wild birds and its profound implications on the influence of adult avian parents' health. This review investigates the composition and dynamics of avian feces' microbiota, casting light on the various dietary, environmental, and genetic factors that influence its diversity. Furthermore, it emphasizes parental coprophagy, a behavior observed in numerous bird species, particularly among herbivorous and passerine birds.

A Repurposed Drug Selection Pipeline to Identify CNS-Penetrant Drug Candidates for Glioblastoma.

Background: Glioblastoma is an aggressive and incurable type of brain cancer. Little progress has been made in the development of effective new therapies in the past decades. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) and drug efflux pumps, which together hamper drug delivery to these tumors, play a pivotal role in the gap between promising preclinical findings and failure in clinical trials.

The Comparative Effect of Morphine on Proliferation of Cancer Cell Lines Originating from Different Organs: An In Vitro Study.

: Opium consumption was recently classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) monograph as carcinogenic to humans based on strong evidence for cancers of the larynx, lung, and urinary bladder, and limited evidence for cancers of the oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, and pharynx. This poses the question of a potential pro-cancer effect of pharmaceutical opioid analgesics. In vitro studies employing a variety of experimental conditions suggest that opioid alkaloids have proliferative or antiproliferative effects.

Drug Safety During Breastfeeding: A Comparative Analysis of FDA Adverse Event Reports and LactMed.

Background/objectives: While breastfeeding is highly recommended, breastfed infants may be exposed to drugs by milk due to maternal pharmacotherapy, resulting in a risk of adverse drug events (ADE) or reactions (ADRs). The U.S.

Danaparoid-Consensus Recommendations on Its Clinical Use.

(1) Background: Danaparoid sodium is a heparinoid antithrombotic that has been used for over 40 years for prophylaxis of DVT in non-HIT patients and for the treatment of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) with and without thrombosis. This update summarises current information on its pharmacology and reviews danaparoid dose management in a broad spectrum of clinical situations, including off-label indications. (2) Methods: Evidence from published clinical studies, case reports, compassionate use of danaparoid, and spontaneously reported serious adverse events is summarised and analysed by an interdisciplinary expert group to develop a consensus on dosing regimens of danaparoid for complex clinical situations, including vulnerable patient populations.

Exploring the Antimycobacterial Potential of Podocarpusflavone A from : In Vitro and In Vivo Insights.

: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading infectious causes of death worldwide, highlighting the importance of identifying new anti-TB agents. In previous research, our team identified antimycobacterial activity in leaf extract; therefore, this study aims to conduct further exploration of its potential. : Classical chromatography was applied for fractionation and spectrometric techniques were utilized for chemical characterization.

Variable Assembly and Procapsid Binding of Bacteriophage P22 Terminase Subunits in Solution.

Concatemeric viral DNA is packaged into bacteriophage P22 procapsids via a headful packaging mechanism mediated by a molecular machine consisting of small (gp3) and large (gp2) terminase subunits. Although a negative stain reconstruction exists for the terminase holoenzyme, it is not clear how this complex binds the dodecameric portal protein located at a 5-fold mismatch vertex. Herein, we describe new assemblies for the holoenzyme.

Strategies to Enhance Diagnostic Capabilities for the New Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB) Drugs.

The global burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) continues to challenge healthcare systems worldwide. There is a critical need to tackle DR-TB by enhancing diagnostics and drug susceptibility testing (DST) capabilities, particularly for emerging DR-TB drugs. This endeavor is crucial to optimize the efficacy of new therapeutic regimens and prevent the resistance and overuse of these invaluable weapons.

Intestinal Cells-on-Chip for Permeability Studies.

Background: To accurately measure permeability of compounds in the intestine, there is a need for preclinical in vitro models that accurately represent the specificity, integrity and complexity of the human small intestinal barrier. Intestine-on-chip systems hold considerable promise as testing platforms, but several characteristics still require optimization and further development.

Methods: An established intestine-on-chip model for tissue explants was adopted for intestinal cell monolayer culture.