Article
Plant Sciences
Taras Pasternak, Jose Manuel Perez-Perez, Benedetto Ruperti, Tatiana Aleksandrova, Klaus Palme
Summary: Arabidopsis thaliana research often relies on in vitro culture media for studying plant responses to various signals. This study describes an optimized and nutritionally balanced culture medium that enables the growth and propagation of A. thaliana mutants, even those lacking a root system. The use of this protocol can avoid bias in phenotypic characterization during stress experiments.
JOURNAL OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATION
(2023)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Sabrina Valente, Carmen Ciavarella, Anna Hernandez-Aguilera, Fernandez-Arroyo Salvador, Marina Buzzi, Jorge Joven, Gianandrea Pasquinelli
Summary: hVW-MSCs isolated from femoral arteries exhibited the ability to form spheroids under non-adherent conditions and displayed features of stemness, dormancy, and slow metabolism in 3D culture, which could serve as an accurate model for investigating MSCs characteristics in future clinical applications in the vascular field.
MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Eva Martinez-Ispizua, Angeles Calatayud, Jose Ignacio Marsal, Ruben Mateos-Fernandez, Maria Jose Diez, Salvador Soler, Jose Vicente Valcarcel, Mary-Rus Martinez-Cuenca
Summary: Traditional vegetable varieties have important biodiversity value and studying their characteristics can provide insights for future food security. This study characterized 17 traditional pepper varieties using morphological descriptors and identified key traits for cultivation and marketing purposes.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lucas N. Besada, Melisa Hermet, Laura Bakas, Ana M. Cortizo, M. Susana Cortizo
Summary: Vitamin D plays a crucial role in the human body and can be encapsulated in polymersomes to enhance stability and encapsulation efficiency. The novel nanocarriers show good biocompatibility and no cytotoxicity against cells.
JOURNAL OF NANOPARTICLE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Zhen Li, Junle Li, Ningkai Wang, Yating Lv, Qihong Zou, Jinhui Wang
Summary: This study investigates the phenotypic associations and neurobiological substrates of single-subject morphological brain networks using structural magnetic resonance imaging scans, behavioral and cognitive measures, and transcriptomic, cytoarchitectonic, and chemoarchitectonic data. The results show that these brain networks explain inter-individual variance, predict individual outcomes in Motor and Cognition domains, and distinguish individuals from each other. Different morphological indices can be integrated for improved network construction. The networks have low-moderate heritability, with the highest heritability for sulcal depth-derived networks and higher heritability for inter-module connections. Genetic, cytoarchitectonic, and chemoarchitectonic factors play differential roles in these networks.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Elena Facchini, Maria Grazia De Iorio, Federica Turri, Flavia Pizzi, Daniela Laurino, Marco Porporato, Rita Rizzi, Giulio Pagnacco
Summary: The study highlights the importance of honeybee queen quality, with genetic and morphological traits playing a significant role in the performance and survivability of honeybee colonies.
Article
Microbiology
Clara Duffner, Susanne Kublik, Barbel Fosel, Asa Frostegard, Michael Schloter, Lars Bakken, Stefanie Schulz
Summary: Stimulating litho-autotrophic denitrification with hydrogen is a promising strategy to remove excess NO3-, but it often leads to the accumulation of cytotoxic intermediate NO2- and greenhouse gas N2O. This study investigated if the genomic composition, gene transcription regulation, or kinetics of reductases contribute to the high concentrations of NO2- and N2O. The findings suggest that the kinetics of reductases and the expression of N2O reductase play a role in the accumulation of NO2- and N2O during denitrification.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ana Cruz Morillo-Coronado, Elsa Helena Manjarres Hernandez, Lucimar Forero-Mancipe
Summary: The study aimed to conduct an in situ morphoagronomic evaluation of yellow pitahaya genotypes from five municipalities in Boyaca, Colombia, showing that different genotypes exhibited variations in morphological and fruit characteristics, with Gen2 and Gen9 identified as genotypes with good morphological and fruit characteristics.
Article
Agronomy
Bruna Dias Gomes Brilhante, Talles de Oliveira Santos, Pedro Henrique Araujo Diniz Santos, Samuel Henrique Kamphorst, Jose Dias Souza Neto, Leandro Heitor Rangel, Fernanda Vargas Valadares, Rafael Nunes de Almeida, Rosana Rodrigues, Alexandre Cristiano Santos Junior, Monique Moreira Moulin
Summary: Population growth and high demand for food production have led to environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity. Conservation of genetic resources is crucial for maintaining species variability, such as Capsicum peppers. This study characterized 69 pepper accessions from Brazil using qualitative and quantitative descriptors and molecular markers, revealing significant genetic diversity among accessions and providing valuable information for breeding programs.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Koen M. Santifort, Elise Bertijn, Sofie F. M. Bhatti, Peter Leegwater, Andrea Fischer, Paul J. J. Mandigers
Summary: This retrospective study analyzed data of Border Collies with idiopathic epilepsy, revealing a correlation between the age of onset of the first epileptic seizure and the severity of epilepsy. The study also characterized the phenotype of idiopathic epilepsy in Border Collies and emphasized the significant impact of epilepsy on their quality of life.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Eunyoung Park, Song Ih Ahn, Jin-Sung Park, Jennifer H. Shin
Summary: This study investigates the effects of shear flow on the phenotypes of microglia, revealing that shear flow can significantly transform the morphology and motility of microglia, leading to a shift towards proinflammatory states. These findings shed light on the pathological outbreaks of severe brain diseases and highlight the importance of considering fluid flow as a crucial element in regulating the immune activities of microglia in brain diseases.
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Elliot Whittard, James Redfern, Guoqing Xia, Andrew Millard, Roobinidevi Ragupathy, Sladjana Malic, Mark C. Enright
Summary: This study validates the potential of phage therapy for treating Staphylococcus aureus infections by examining the characteristics and host range of lytic S. aureus phages. Phages with the widest host range and effective killing abilities against various isolates were identified, showing promise as therapeutic candidates for future studies.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Ehab H. EL-Harty, Abdelhalim Ghazy, Talal K. Alateeq, Sulieman A. Al-Faifi, Muhammad Altaf Khan, Muhammed Afzal, Salem S. Alghamdi, Hussein M. Migdadi
Summary: The study evaluated 32 introduced quinoa genotypes under Saudi Arabia conditions, showing significant variation in plant height, maturity, and morphological traits. Genotypes clustered into four major groups based on their morphological traits. Genotypes from South America exhibited higher genetic diversity and polymorphic percentage compared to other regions, with most of the genetic variation attributed to differences within populations.
Article
Immunology
Rocio Simon, Alba Martin-Martin, Esther Morel, Patricia Diaz-Rosales, Carolina Tafalla
Summary: The immune response of adipose tissue, specifically the presence of B cells and their secretion of specific antibodies, has been investigated in rainbow trout. The study found that adipose tissue contains B cell subsets that show a higher capacity for antibody secretion compared to blood B cells. These specific differentiated B cells in adipose tissue function as a secondary lymphoid organ and contribute to the immune response to peritoneal antigens.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Kangrong Yu, Xuelin Zhao, Yangxi Xiang, Chenghua Li
Summary: The hemocytes of invertebrates have different cell subsets with different morphologies and structures, which have different immune functions. In this study, two coelomocyte subpopulations of Apostichopus japonicus were identified and found to have functional differences. Spherical cells showed higher phagocytic capacity and lysosomal activity, suggesting they play a more critical role in immune responses. Transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed significantly different gene expression patterns between the two cell subsets, with spherical cells participating in immune defense and lymphocyte-like cells participating in energy metabolism.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Aurelio Lorico, Marco Lorico-Rappa, Jana Karbanova, Denis Corbeil, Giuseppe Pizzorno
Summary: In this review, the history of CD9 involvement in oncogenesis and cancer metastasis is briefly discussed, highlighting its potential value as a tumor-associated antigenic target. CD9 has been identified as a favorable prognostic marker or predictor of metastatic potential depending on the cancer type. Besides its use as an antigenic biomarker, CD9 plays a role in intercellular communication under physiological and pathological conditions, notably in the establishment of cancer metastases.
EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Hematology
David Astapenko, Alena Ticha, Radomir Hyspler, Adela Tomasova, Pavel Navratil, Ondrej Maly, Renata Cerna Parizkova, Dana Cizkova, Shin Chua Huey, Christian Lehmann, Manu L. N. G. Malbrain, Vladimir Cerny
Summary: This study successfully established an EG damage model in pigs, showing that EG damage induced by specific enzymes can be reflected by changes in biochemical markers, microcirculation, and fluorescent microscopy images of the EG layer.
CLINICAL HEMORHEOLOGY AND MICROCIRCULATION
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Mark F. Santos, Germana Rappa, Jana Karbanova, Simona Fontana, Maria Antonietta Di Bella, Marshall R. Pope, Barbara Parrino, Stella Maria Cascioferro, Giulio Vistoli, Patrizia Diana, Girolamo Cirrincione, Goffredo O. Arena, Gyunghwi Woo, Kevin Huang, Tony Huynh, Marta Moschetti, Riccardo Alessandro, Denis Corbeil, Aurelio Lorico
Summary: The antifungal compound itraconazole disrupts the binding of Rab7 to ORP3-VAP-A complexes, inhibiting EV-mediated pro-metastatic morphological changes such as cell migration in colon cancer cells. This discovery may lead to the development of new therapeutic approaches for cancer treatment.
JOURNAL OF EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Lila Bemmerlein, Ilker A. Deniz, Jana Karbanova, Angela Jacobi, Stephan Drukewitz, Theresa Link, Andy Goebel, Lisa Sevenich, Anna V. Taubenberger, Pauline Wimberger, Jan Dominik Kuhlmann, Denis Corbeil
Summary: This study investigates the use of cell morphology to predict bone metastasis in breast cancer. The researchers found that the morphology of breast cancer cells can reflect their molecular, migratory, and biophysical characteristics, and is specifically altered in cells that adopt a bone-tropic phenotype. The findings suggest that cell morphology could be an informative readout for understanding breast cancer heterogeneity and predicting bone metastasis.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Maksym Chylii, Liudmila Loghina, Anastasia Kaderavkova, Stanislav Slang, Petr Svec, Jhonatan Rodriguez Pereira, Bozena Frumarova, Dana Cizkova, Ales Bezrouk, Miroslav Vlcek
Summary: This study presents a tunable approach for synthesizing monodisperse, highly photoluminescent ZnSexS1-x and Mn-doped ZnSe0.1S0.9 quantum dots using environmentally friendly and highly reactive thio- and selenoureas. The molar ratios of sulphur and selenium sources were varied to obtain ZnSexS1-x quantum dots with different compositions. Mn-doped ZnSe0.1S0.9 quantum dots were successfully synthesized using a low-cost hot-injection method, and their optical properties were studied.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hana Bavorova, Tereza Svadlakova, Zdenek Fiala, Rishikaysh Pisal, Jaroslav Mokry
Summary: Graphene-based nanomaterials have unique properties and can be applied in various sectors. This study evaluates the influence of graphene nanoplatelets in vitro and in vivo, revealing their dose- and time-dependent cytotoxic potential.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Blanka Sestakova, Ladislava Schroterova, Ales Bezrouk, Dana Cizkova, Moustafa Elkalaf, Radim Havelek, Emil Rudolf, Vera Kralova
Summary: This study evaluated the biological responses of A549 tumor cells to long-term exposure to graphene. The results showed that despite the accumulation of graphene nanoplates inside the cells, the viability, growth, and proliferation of the cells remained unchanged. Additionally, there were no significant effects on mitochondrial function and energy production, but the chronic accumulation of graphene nanoplates impaired cellular motility.
Article
Cell Biology
Mark F. Santos, Germana Rappa, Simona Fontana, Jana Karbanova, Feryal Aalam, Derek Tai, Zhiyin Li, Marzia Pucci, Riccardo Alessandro, Chikao Morimoto, Denis Corbeil, Aurelio Lorico
Summary: Intercellular communication between cancer cells and healthy cells in the tumor microenvironment plays a crucial role in cancer progression and metastasis. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as novel mediators in this communication. In this study, the researchers developed a monovalent Fab fragment antibody targeting CD9 tetraspanin and demonstrated its effectiveness in blocking the internalization of melanoma cell-derived EVs and the transfer of their cargo proteins. The study also showed the potential of this anti-CD9 Fab antibody in inhibiting the phenotypic transformation and migration of colorectal cancer cells. Intercepting EV-mediated communication in the tumor niche with this antibody could lead to new anti-cancer therapeutic strategies.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jana Bacova, Petr Knotek, Katerina Kopecka, Ludek Hromadko, Jan Capek, Pavlina Nyvltova, Lenka Bruckova, Ladislava Schroterova, Blanka Sestakova, Jiri Palarcik, Martin Motola, Dana Cizkova, Ales Bezrouk, Jiri Handl, Zdenek Fiala, Emil Rudolf, Zuzana Bilkova, Jan M. Macak, Tomas Rousar
Summary: The study optimized the experimental conditions for preparing TiO2 P25 for toxicity testing in A549 cells. Results showed that the use of fetal bovine serum to maintain sufficient colloid stability of dispersed TiO2 P25 is crucial. Under these conditions, TiO2 P25 did not significantly impair A549 cells. When the defined parameters for using TiO2 P25 in A549 cells were met, similar biological effects results were obtained in two independent cell laboratories.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NANOMEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Dana Cizkova, Jitka M. Zurmanova, Lucie Gerykova, Alexandros Kouvelas, Mario Heles, Barbara Elsnicova, Frantisek Galatik, Jan Silhavy, Michal Pravenec, Jaroslav Mokry
Summary: Using immunohistochemistry, this study detected the expression and distribution pattern of nestin in different types of myocardial cells, and found that nestin is re-expressed during myocardial hypertrophy and aging. The results suggest that nestin is involved in cytoskeletal remodeling during myocardial hypertrophy and aging.
JOURNAL OF MUSCLE RESEARCH AND CELL MOTILITY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lukas Skoloudik, Viktor Chrobok, Jan Laco, Jana Dedkova, Daniel Diaz Garcia, Stanislav Filip
Summary: This study evaluated the effect of cyclosporin A (CsA) and a combined biomaterial in the healing process of postoperative temporal bone defects in an animal model. The results showed that the therapeutic efficacy of the combination of MSCs with CsA is greater than the sole application of MSCs in a hydroxyapatite carrier.
Article
Cell Biology
Ilker A. Deniz, Jana Karbanova, Manja Wobus, Martin Bornhaeuser, Pauline Wimberger, Jan Dominik Kuhlmann, Denis Corbeil
Summary: In this study, it is found that MSCs isolated from bone marrow can generate migrasomes, a newly discovered organelle involved in intercellular communication. Migrasomes have the ability to attract both leukemic cells and hematopoietic progenitors, possibly through the SDF-1 signaling pathway.
CELL COMMUNICATION AND SIGNALING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Alena Ticha, Radomir Hyspler, Veronika Molnarova, Peter Priester, Adela Tomasova, Stanislav Filip
Summary: This pilot study aimed to explore the effectiveness of using sipping as a nutritional support to improve the nutritional status of cancer patients in palliative care. The results showed that providing nutritional support through sipping on a daily basis can prevent the loss of active tissue mass in these patients.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL FOOD
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mark F. Santos, Germana Rappa, Jana Karbanova, Patrizia Diana, Girolamo Cirrincione, Daniela Carbone, David Manna, Feryal Aalam, David Wang, Cheryl Vanier, Denis Corbeil, Aurelio Lorico
Summary: Santos et al. discovered that HIV-1 promotes nuclear envelope invagination through endocytosis mediated by VAP-A, ORP3, and Rab7 protein complex, allowing the virus to enter T-cell nuclei. This cellular pathway and its molecular players could be potential therapeutic targets and may be shared by other viruses requiring nuclear entry to complete their life cycle.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sean P. Harrison, Richard Siller, Yoshiaki Tanaka, Maria Eugenia Chollet, Maria Eugenia de la Morena-barrio, Yangfei Xiang, Benjamin Patterson, Elisabeth Andersen, Carlos Bravo-Perez, Henning Kempf, Kathrine S. Asrud, Oleg Lunov, Alexandr Dejneka, Marie-Christine Mowinckel, Benedicte Stavik, Per Morten Sandset, Espen Melum, Saphira Baumgarten, Flavio Bonanini, Dorota Kurek, Santosh Mathapati, Runar Almaas, Kulbhushan Sharma, Steven R. Wilson, Froydis S. Skottvoll, Ida C. Boger, Inger Lise Bogen, Tuula A. Nyman, Jun Jie Wu, Ales Bezrouk, Dana Cizkova, Javier Corral, Jaroslav Mokry, Robert Zweigerdt, In-Hyun Park, Gareth J. Sullivan
Summary: The lack of physiological parity between 2D cell culture and in vivo culture has led to the development of more organotypic models, such as organoids. Organoids are characterized by a reliance on extracellular matrices (ECMs), 2D culture patterning, costly growth factors, and a lack of cellular diversity, structure, and organization. However, a new approach has been developed that overcomes these limitations and produces liver-like organoids with high cellular complexity and functionality. These organoids exhibit key liver functions and can be transplanted and maintained long-term. This approach has significant potential in various applications such as cellular therapy, tissue engineering, drug toxicity assessment, and disease modeling.
EXPERIMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2023)