Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hung-Jin Huang, Yu-Hsuan Lee, Yung-Ho Hsu, Chia-Te Liao, Yuh-Feng Lin, Hui-Wen Chiu
Summary: Millions of experimental animals are widely used in evaluating the toxicological or biological effects of manufactured nanomaterials in medical technology, but the principle of the 3Rs is applied to ensure more ethical animal research. Alternative methods, such as in vitro and in silico approaches, have been employed to replace or reduce the use of experimental animals and have been implemented in many countries for scientific purposes. These non-animal approaches, including cell culture testing, tissue engineering, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and QSAR modeling, have the potential to help minimize the use of experimental animals for nanomaterial toxicity assessments.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ferid Abdulhafiz, Arifullah Mohammed, Mohd Farhan Hanif Reduan, Zulhisyam Abdul Kari, Lee Seong Wei, Khang Wen Goh
Summary: Plants have been used for their medicinal values since ancient times. The medicinal properties of plants are based on the secondary metabolites they produce, which are present in low amounts. These natural compounds are gaining attention in industries such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and nutraceuticals. The production of plant secondary metabolites depends on factors like plant species and environmental conditions. Challenges in mass production include quality and quantity issues during synthesis. In vitro plant cell culture technology and bioengineering methods have been employed to increase the production of secondary metabolites. This technological advancement has led to the production of a large number of medicinal herbs and high-value secondary metabolites that are used in various industries. This article focuses on the applications of plant cell culture systems for the production of secondary metabolites and recent techniques to improve metabolite contents, with an emphasis on the safety of plant cell culture-derived products.
ARABIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Justin Scott, Shannon Mortensen, Matteo Minghetti
Summary: Toxicity assays using fish cells and embryos are gaining popularity as an ethical and informative alternative to traditional toxicity testing methods. This study confirmed the accuracy of RTgill-W1 cells and fathead minnow embryos in predicting whole effluent toxicity in fathead minnow larvae, and demonstrated their applicability for regulatory testing. The results also highlighted the potential benefits of using hypoosmotic exposure media in aquatic toxicity testing.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yoshiyasu Takefuji
Summary: The future fake meat industry is expected to be worth a huge amount, with many companies focusing on animal-free production of meat, eggs, and dairy. However, specific information on their production capabilities, efficiencies, and costs is currently not publicly available.
TRENDS IN FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Meike Rombach, David L. Dean, Vera Bitsch
Summary: This study focuses on consumer intentions to purchase and pay a premium for plant-based milk alternatives in the U.S. A survey found that factors such as food curiosity, food price inflation, animal welfare concerns, and the green and clean product image influenced these intentions.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yoon-Young Kim, Jin-Soo Kim, Jeong-Hwan Che, Seung-Yup Ku, Byeong-Cheol Kang, Jun-Won Yun
Summary: Immunodeficient animal models serve as valuable tools for stem cell research, with different gene defects resulting in a variety of phenotypes. Selecting the most appropriate immunodeficient strain, target gene, and animal species based on research type, mutant gene effects, and similarity to human immunological features is crucial for guiding researchers in stem cell research.
Review
Biology
Alekhya Peruri, Alexandra Morgan, Alida D'Souza, Bridget Mellon, Carey W. Hung, Gabriella Kayal, Haejung Shin, Kim Nguyen, Malek Zahed, Mason Yount, Reilly Ellis, Taylor Wynne, Virginia Fritz, Zachary Simmons, Kelly C. S. Roballo
Summary: This review provides an overview of current literature on the physiology and pathology of the pineal gland, as well as animal model experiments. It explores the potential for future research in understanding the function of the pineal gland and its neuro-regenerative properties. The pineal gland is integral in sleep and recovery, and it also has neuroprotective effects that can modulate nerve injuries. Additionally, studies have shown correlations between pineal gland function and metabolic homeostasis, as well as the prevention and progression of certain diseases. The review also highlights the use of cell culturing methods and animal models in studying pineal gland function and nervous system injuries.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Younsik Jeong, Woon-Yong Choi, Areumi Park, Yeon-Ji Lee, Youngdeuk Lee, Gun-Hoo Park, Su-Jin Lee, Won-Kyu Lee, Yong-Kyun Ryu, Do-Hyung Kang
Summary: The study explored the potential of using edible cyanobacterium as a substitute for fetal bovine serum in in vitro cell culture. It was found that edible cyanobacterium had better growth-promoting capabilities compared to fetal bovine serum, showing minimal differences in cell morphology, viability, cell cycle, apoptosis, proteomes, and transcriptomes. This suggests that edible cyanobacterium could be an effective, low-cost, and eco-friendly alternative to fetal bovine serum in cell culture.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yin Ying Ho, Hao Kim Lu, Zhi Feng Sherman Lim, Hao Wei Lim, Ying Swan Ho, Say Kong Ng
Summary: Animal cells have been utilized in the production of complex biotherapeutic products since the 1980s. While serum serves as a crucial source of nutrients for cell growth, efforts are being made to replace it with recombinant proteins and explore the potential benefits of hydrolysates. This review discusses the use of hydrolysates in animal cell culture and their potential role in future media formulations.
BIORESOURCES AND BIOPROCESSING
(2021)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
E. Sindhoj, C. Lindahl, L. Bark
Summary: Research shows that alternative methods to stunning pigs with carbon dioxide are not prominent, and there is a need to increase research and development efforts to improve animal welfare during slaughter.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Danielle L. Tomasello, Donald Wlodkowic
Summary: The significance of neurotoxicological risks associated with anthropogenic pollution is being recognized worldwide. However, there is still a lack of understanding regarding the neurophysiological foundations responsible for the altered behavioral phenotypes. Noninvasive, in situ electrophysiology based on multielectrode arrays (MEAs) offers a promising approach for studying neurobehavioral changes in aquatic species.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Navya Reddy, Barry Lynch, Jaspreet Gujral, Kavita Karnik
Summary: The development of alternative methods to animal testing has gained great momentum since the introduction of the 3Rs concept. Various alternatives, such as in vitro and computational models, have been introduced to predict chemical toxicity. While the cosmetics sector is pioneering the adoption of these methods, the food industry lags behind in implementing alternative methodologies for safety evaluations, particularly for systemic toxicity assessment. This paper reviews the current alternatives and their applicability and limitations in food safety evaluations.
FOOD AND CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ilya Klabukov, Victoria Shestakova, Olga Krasilnikova, Anna Smirnova, Olga Abramova, Denis Baranovskii, Dmitri Atiakshin, Andrey A. Kostin, Peter Shegay, Andrey D. Kaprin
Summary: To achieve the highest ethical standards in laboratory research, it is important to minimize animal discomfort during the identification phase. Reliable methods for identifying rodents play a crucial role in successful preclinical studies. However, the comfort of rodents during routine identification procedures is often overlooked, which can cause pain and complications.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Natalie C. Sinclair, James Ursell, Alex South, Luke Rendell
Summary: This article discusses the applicability of cumulative cultural evolution in the realm of aesthetics, highlighting fundamental differences with philosophical analyses of aesthetics and the challenges in characterizing the evolution of aesthetic cultures.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Hematology
Yuekun Qi, Mingfeng Zhao, Yongxian Hu, Ying Wang, Ping Li, Jiang Cao, Ming Shi, Jiaqi Tan, Meng Zhang, Xia Xiao, Jieyun Xia, Sha Ma, Jianlin Qiao, Zhiling Yan, Hujun Li, Bin Pan, Wei Sang, Depeng Li, Zhenyu Li, Jianfeng Zhou, He Huang, Aibin Liang, Junnian Zheng, Kailin Xu
Summary: This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of CD19-specific CAR T-cell therapy for patients with B-ALL and CNSL. The results showed high response rates in both BM and CNS diseases, with longer remission duration in CNSL, suggesting it as a potential treatment option for previously excluded patients with CNSL.
Article
Neurosciences
Kathleen Wallace, Jenna D. Strickland, Pablo Valdivia, William R. Mundy, Timothy J. Shafer
Meeting Abstract
Neurosciences
Timothy Shafer
NEUROTOXICOLOGY AND TERATOLOGY
(2015)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jenna D. Strickland, William R. LeFew, James Crooks, Diana Hall, Jayna N. R. Ortenzio, Kevin Dreher, Timothy J. Shafer
Article
Neurosciences
Andrew F. M. Johnstone, Jenna D. Strickland, Kevin M. Crofton, Chris Gennings, Timothy J. Shafer
Article
Toxicology
Christopher L. Frank, Jasmine P. Brown, Kathleen Wallace, William R. Mundy, Timothy J. Shafer
TOXICOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2017)
Article
Neurosciences
Pablo Valdivia, Matt Martin, William R. LeFew, James Ross, Keith A. Houck, Timothy J. Shafer
Article
Neurosciences
Cina M. Mack, Bryant J. Lin, James D. Turner, Andrew F. M. Johnstone, Lyle D. Burgoon, Timothy J. Shafer
Article
Neurosciences
Stephen R. Lantz, Cina M. Mack, Kathleen Wallace, Ellen F. Key, Timothy J. Shafer, John E. Casida
Article
Toxicology
Magdalini Sachana, Anna Bal-Price, Kevin M. Crofton, Susanne H. Bennekou, Timothy J. Shafer, Mamta Behl, Andrea Terron
TOXICOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2019)
Article
Toxicology
Timothy J. Shafer, Jasmine P. Brown, Brittany Lynch, Sylmarie Davila-Montero, Kathleen Wallace, Katie Paul Friedman
TOXICOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2019)
Article
Toxicology
Marissa B. Kosnik, Jenna D. Strickland, Skylar W. Marvel, Dylan J. Wallis, Kathleen Wallace, Ann M. Richard, David M. Reif, Timothy J. Shafer
ARCHIVES OF TOXICOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Toxicology
Lorena Saavedra, Kathleen Wallace, Theresa F. Freudenrich, Moritz Mall, William R. Mundy, Jorge Davila, Timothy J. Shafer, Marius Wernig, Daniel Haag
Summary: This study established highly functional neuron/glia cocultures using excitatory and inhibitory neurons directly reprogrammed from hiPSCs and primary human astrocytes, demonstrating their utility for functional neurotoxicity screening of environmental chemicals. Acute changes in network activity in response to compounds with known adverse effects were observed, showing concentration-dependent effects on multiple neural network activity metrics using both human neuron/glia cocultures and rat primary cortical cultures.
TOXICOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Toxicology
Carmen A. Marable, Christopher L. Frank, Roland F. Seim, Susan Hester, W. Matthew Henderson, Brian Chorley, Timothy J. Shafer
Summary: This study investigated the signaling pathways and physiological regulators underlying chemically induced neural network dysfunction. The results showed that different classes of compounds produce different responses and changes in network formation are accompanied by transcriptomic and metabolomic changes.
TOXICOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Toxicology
Kelly E. Carstens, Amy F. Carpenter, Melissa M. Martin, Joshua A. Harrill, Timothy J. Shafer, Katie Paul Friedman
Summary: In vivo developmental neurotoxicity testing is resource intensive and lacks information on cellular processes affected by chemicals. This study evaluates new approach methodologies for DNT and finds that the DNT NAM battery provides a sensitive biomarker for DNT bioactivity, particularly in cytotoxicity and network connectivity parameters. Selective bioactivity provides insight into specific functional processes affected by chemical exposure.
TOXICOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Toxicology
Jenna D. Strickland, Matthew T. Martin, Ann M. Richard, Keith A. Houck, Timothy J. Shafer
ARCHIVES OF TOXICOLOGY
(2018)