Review
Neurosciences
Vimal Patel, Vishal Chavda, Jigar Shah
Summary: Neurology and nanotherapeutics present a complex field for treating neurological disorders, especially due to the challenges of crossing the blood-brain barrier. Nanotechnology offers a promising approach through targeted drug delivery using nano carriers to enhance drug efficiency and minimize degradation, leading to potential advancements in treating complex neurological conditions.
CURRENT NEUROPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Harrison Rudd, Michal Toborek
Summary: HIV can cross the blood-brain barrier through a Trojan horse-like mechanism, leading to central nervous system infection. Latent HIV can evade detection by the immune system and antiretroviral therapy (ART), and work synergistically with ART to promote neuroinflammatory pathophysiology. Therefore, further research into novel therapeutic approaches is needed.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
V. Manimaran, R. P. Nivetha, T. Tamilanban, J. Narayanan, Subramaniyan Vetriselvan, Neeraj Kumar Fuloria, Suresh V. Chinni, Mahendran Sekar, Shivkanya Fuloria, Ling Shing Wong, Anupam Biswas, Gobinath Ramachawolran, Siddharthan Selvaraj
Summary: Nanogels are highly recognized as adaptable drug delivery systems that significantly contribute to improving various therapies and diagnostic examinations for different human diseases. They effectively address the limitations of conventional drug therapy and are considered an innovative drug delivery system. This article covers topics such as the involvement of nanogels in the nanomedicine sector, their advantages and limitations, ideal properties, nanogel classification, synthesis, drug release mechanisms, and various biological applications.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wenli Chen, Shun Yao, Jie Wan, Yu Tian, Lan Huang, Shanshan Wang, Farhana Akter, Yinqiu Wu, Yizheng Yao, Xiaochun Zhang
Summary: This review discusses various approaches to improve transportation of therapeutic agents to the CNS, focusing on the advantages of using BBB-crossing AAVs as gene delivery vectors and the different types of BBB-AAV vectors that have been developed for potential applications in CNS diseases.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Silvia Torices, Leah Daire, Sierra Simon, Oandy Naranjo, Luisa Mendoza, Timea Teglas, Nikolai Fattakhov, Daniel Adesse, Michal Toborek
Summary: The compromised blood-brain barrier (BBB) in the brain infected with HIV-1 is characterized by altered expression of tight junction proteins, including occludin. Recent studies suggest that occludin, a redox-sensitive protein, has multiple functions and is involved in regulating HIV-1 infection. The relationship between occludin expression levels and HIV-1 infection rate is bidirectional and still not fully understood.
FLUIDS AND BARRIERS OF THE CNS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
David Male, Radka Gromnicova
Summary: This review discusses the ability of nanoparticles with oligonucleotides to enter the brain and modulate gene expression or disease. The size and surface charge of the nanocarrier, as well as the structure of the oligonucleotide and chemical formulation of the nanocarrier, play important roles in determining their efficacy. Successful gene therapy with oligonucleotides in humans has required intrathecal injection, while in animal models, progress has been made with intraventricular or intravenous injection.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Eliza Gil, Emma Wall, Mahdad Noursadeghi, Jeremy S. Brown
Summary: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of meningitis, which involves damage to the brain by both bacteria and host inflammatory response. The entry point of the bacteria into the central nervous system (CNS) is unknown, but it requires binding and translocation across various barriers including the vascular endothelial barrier and the blood-CSF barrier. The presence of the bacteria in the CNS leads to inflammation and neutrophil infiltration, causing damage to both pathogen and host. Understanding the interactions between Streptococcus pneumoniae and the CNS barriers can have therapeutic implications.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Ajay Vikram Singh, Vaisali Chandrasekar, Peter Laux, Andreas Luch, Sarada Prasad Dakua, Paolo Zamboni, Amruta Shelar, Yin Yang, Vaibhav Pandit, Veronica Tisato, Donato Gemmati
Summary: This study proposes a hybrid blood-brain barrier (BBB)-on-chip cell culture device that integrates microcontact printing and perfusion co-culture to facilitate the study of BBB function. The research reveals the biochemical regulation of BBB function by astrocytes and the geometry-force control of astrocyte-endothelial cell interactions in the BBB model.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ke Sun, Xue Zheng, Hongzhen Jin, Fan Yu, Wei Zhao
Summary: Central nervous system diseases pose a threat to global health, but developing drugs targeting the CNS is challenging due to the unique characteristics of the brain and spinal cord. Exosomes, as CNS drug delivery tools, stand out for their low immunogenicity, ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, and flexibility in drug encapsulation. Research over the past decade has shown the potential of exosomes in CNS drug delivery, and there are still challenges and prospects to be addressed.
Article
Immunology
Dylan Krajewski, Debayon Paul, Shujun Ge, Evan Jellison, Joel S. Pachter
Summary: In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), claudin-5 (CLN-5) was found on leukocytes in the blood and central nervous system (CNS), potentially facilitating leukocyte transendothelial migration (TEM) across the blood-brain barrier. Flow cytometry analysis showed CLN-5(+) populations among various leukocyte subtypes, with higher levels in CNS tissue than in blood, suggesting preferential access to the CNS. This novel mechanism may guide leukocytes to sites for diapedesis across the BBB.
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Barbara Sanchez-Dengra, Isabel Gonzalez-Alvarez, Marival Bermejo, Marta Gonzalez-Alvarez
Summary: The blood-brain barrier restricts the access of substances to the central nervous system, hindering the treatment of brain and spinal cord pathologies. This study analyzes and comments on various strategies, both invasive and non-invasive, to enhance substance access to the central nervous system. Invasive techniques include direct injection and therapeutic opening of the blood-brain barrier, while non-invasive techniques involve alternative administration routes, inhibition of efflux transporters, chemical modification of molecules, and the use of nanocarriers. The combination of different strategies may be the most promising approach to increase substance access to the central nervous system.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Sodiq Kolawole Lawal, Samuel Oluwaseun Olojede, Oluwaseun Samuel Faborode, Okikioluwa Stephen Aladeyelu, Matome Nadab Matshipi, Sheu Oluwadare Sulaiman, Edwin Coleridge Stephen Naidu, Carmen Olivia Rennie, Onyemaechi Okpara Azu
Summary: The use of nanoparticle drug delivery system can effectively manage HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders and the neurotoxicity of antiretroviral drugs, but precautions need to be taken to minimize toxicity and characterization and functionalization are required during the drug delivery approach.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tuomo Laitinen, Theres Meili, Maria Koyioni, Panayiotis A. Koutentis, Antti Poso, Regina Hofmann-Lehmann, Christopher R. M. Asquith
Summary: In this study, a series of potent anti-viral compounds derived from 4,5-dichloro-1,2,3-dithiazolium chloride were synthesized through a concise approach. Screening against FIV infected cells led to the discovery of sub-micromolar anti-viral compounds with reduced toxicity. Mechanistic understanding was gained through advanced QM-MM modeling.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Rebecca A. Drummond
Summary: Immunity to fungal infections of the central nervous system remains poorly understood in the field of medical mycology, despite brain-tropic fungi being responsible for the majority of deaths from invasive fungal infections. Recent discoveries in neuro-inflammation regulation and immune system involvement in CNS tissue homeostasis have shed light on this area. This review highlights five significant advances in the neuroimmunology field over the past decade and discusses the importance of using these discoveries to enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis of fungal CNS infections. It also summarizes the latest insights into fungal invasion tactics, microglia-astrocyte crosstalk, and regulation of antifungal adaptive immune responses in the context of our current understanding of CNS-specific immunity.
SEMINARS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Feng-Dan Zhu, Yu-Jiao Hu, Lu Yu, Xiao-Gang Zhou, Jian-Ming Wu, Yong Tang, Da-Lian Qin, Qing-Ze Fan, An-Guo Wu
Summary: Neuroinflammation is a common feature of neurodegenerative diseases, and inhibiting the over-activation of microglia is a promising approach for treatment.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Simon C. Rowan, Hanne Jahns, Liberty Mthunzi, Lucie Piouceau, Joanna Cornwell, Roisin Doody, Stephen Frohlich, John J. Callanan, Paul McLoughlin
JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Ruth Rattigan, John O'Doherty, Stafford Vigors, Marion T. Ryan, Rocco S. Sebastiano, John J. Callanan, Kevin Thornton, Gaurav Rajauria, Lekha M. Margassery, Alan D. W. Dobson, Niall D. O'Leary, Torres Sweeney
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Nicola F. Fletcher, Luke W. Meredith, Emma L. Tidswell, Steven R. Bryden, Daniel Goncalves-Carneiro, Yasmin Chaudhry, Claire Shannon-Lowe, Michael A. Folan, Daniella A. Lefteri, Marieke Pingen, Dalan Bailey, Clive S. McKimmie, Alan W. Baird
JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY
(2020)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Laura Sala-Comorera, Liam J. Reynolds, Niamh A. Martin, John J. O'Sullivan, Wim G. Meijer, Nicola F. Fletcher
Summary: The study found that the persistence of infectious SARS-CoV-2 in water was temperature dependent, with the virus remaining infectious for longer periods in colder temperatures. In contrast, viral RNA was relatively stable. The use of surrogate markers such as bacteriophages MS2 and PMMoV RNA showed significant differences in decay rates compared to SARS-CoV-2 RNA, limiting their effectiveness in assessing the persistence of the virus in the environment.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christopher Minnerly, Ibrahim M. Shokry, William To, John J. Callanan, Rui Tao
Summary: In this study, EEG signals from patients with different substance use disorders (SUD) were analyzed using a topographic approach. The findings revealed significant differences in EEG spectral powers between patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) compared to those with methamphetamine/stimulants use disorder (MUD) or alcohol use disorder (AUD). These differential changes were observed at multiple levels, including individual electrodes, subregions, hemispheres, anterior-posterior cortices, and across the cortex as a whole. Understanding these differences may be helpful for future applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence in diagnosing and predicting outcomes for patients with SUD.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Danielle Nader, Nicola Fletcher, Gerard F. Curley, Steven W. Kerrigan
Summary: The unprecedented global COVID-19 pandemic has led to an urgent international effort to accelerate the development of antiviral drugs. COVID-19 infections are associated with cardiovascular complications, highlighting the importance of vascular endothelial cells in viral propagation. The etiological pathogen, SARS-CoV-2, possesses novel characteristics that enhance transmissibility, potentially through the integrin alpha V beta 3.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
D. C. Brabazon, J. J. Callanan, C. M. Nolan
Summary: Genomic imprinting is a phenomenon in which gene expression differs based on the sex of the parent from whom the alleles were inherited. Although only a small number of genes are regulated in this way, they play important biological roles and are crucial for understanding disease processes and evolution.
Meeting Abstract
Clinical Neurology
I. M. Shokry, J. J. Callanan, W. To, G. Da Silva, M. Lewis, R. Tao
EUROPEAN NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuyang Zhou, Nicola F. Fletcher, Nan Zhang, Jaythoon Hassan, Michael D. Gilchrist
Summary: Research has shown that novel plastic films with nanomaterials and nanopatterns can effectively enhance the deactivation of SARS-CoV-2. These films are able to increase the deactivation of SARS-CoV-2 by up to 2 orders of magnitude within the first hour, reducing the likelihood of virus transmission. Furthermore, nanopatterns enhance antiviral effectiveness by increasing the contact area between nanoparticles and the virus.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Liam J. Reynolds, Laura Sala-Comorera, Mohd Faheem Khan, Niamh A. Martin, Megan Whitty, Jayne H. Stephens, Tristan M. Nolan, Eadaoin Joyce, Nicola F. Fletcher, Cormac D. Murphy, Wim G. Meijer
Summary: Wastewater surveillance is a cost-effective tool for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 transmission in a community. This study demonstrates the usefulness of coprostanol as a population biomarker for wastewater surveillance studies, as it exhibits the lowest variation in wastewater samples and shows strong correlations with COVID-19 cases when levels are normalized to coprostanol.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Liam J. Reynolds, Gabriel Gonzalez, Laura Sala-Comorera, Niamh A. Martin, Alannah Byrne, Sanne Fennema, Niamh Holohan, Sailusha Ratnam Kuntamukkula, Natasha Sarwar, Tristan M. Nolan, Jayne H. Stephens, Megan Whitty, Charlene Bennett, Quynh Luu, Ursula Morley, Zoe Yandle, Jonathan Dean, Eadaoin Joyce, John J. O'Sullivan, John M. Cuddihy, Angeline M. McIntyre, Eve P. Robinson, Darren Dahly, Nicola F. Fletcher, Michael Carr, Cillian De Gascun, Wim G. Meijer
Summary: Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater is a valuable tool for monitoring the prevalence of COVID-19 at a community level, complementing case-based surveillance systems. This study demonstrates the validity of wastewater surveillance for monitoring infection spread and identifying circulating variants. The findings suggest that wastewater monitoring can be a cost-effective alternative when sequencing capacity is limited.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Nicola Fletcher, Camilla Brena, Amanda Carson, Mark Wessels, Tobias Floyd
VETERINARY RECORD CASE REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
L. Alibrandi, R. Tognetti, O. Domenech, M. Croce, M. Giuntoli, G. Grosso, T. Vezzosi
Summary: This study assessed the feasibility and diagnostic reliability of a new smartphone-based ECG device in dogs, and found no significant differences compared to a traditional ECG device. The results suggest that the smartphone-based device is clinically reliable for assessing heart rate and rhythm in dogs.
VETERINARY JOURNAL
(2024)
