Article
Reproductive Biology
Hsien-Ming Wu, Liang-Hsuan Chen, Andrew Schally, Hong-Yuan Huang, Yung-Kuei Soong, Peter C. K. Leung, Hsin-Shih Wang
Summary: Research has shown the expression of growth hormone-releasing hormone and its receptor variant in decidual stromal cells of early pregnant women, and the antagonist JMR-132 can induce apoptosis by activating ERK1/2 and JNK signaling pathways to suppress cell survival in these cells.
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bo Ding, Xinbo Ma, Yang Liu, Bangyao Ni, Siqi Lu, Yuting Chen, Xiaona Liu, Wei Zhang
Summary: Chronic exposure to arsenic in drinking water damages cognitive function, and nerve cell apoptosis is one of the primary characteristics. The damage to mitochondrial structure and/or function is one of the main characteristics of apoptosis. In this study, we aimed to study the role of PGC-1α in sodium arsenite (NaAsO2)-induced mitochondrial apoptosis in rat hippocampal cells.
Article
Immunology
Vincenzo Torraca, Dominik Brokatzky, Sydney L. Miles, Charlotte E. Chong, P. Malaka De Silva, Stephen Baker, Claire Jenkins, Kathryn E. Holt, Kate S. Baker, Serge Mostowy
Summary: Shigella, including specific serotypes, can establish persistent infection in the zebrafish model. The O-antigen plays a crucial role in this process, and the serotype-associated effects observed in humans are also observed in zebrafish.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Haochen Wang, Jianbang Su, Minghao Yu, Yang Xia, Yingliang Wei
Summary: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disease that affects the entire joint, with articular cartilage degeneration playing a crucial role. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1a (PGC-1a) is a master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis that has been shown to have chondroprotective effects in OA. PGC-1a delays OA development and progression by influencing mitochondrial biogenesis, oxidative stress, mitophagy, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication, metabolic abnormalities, and chondrocyte apoptosis. This review discusses the regulatory mechanisms of PGC-1a and its potential as a therapeutic target for OA, including potential drugs and nanohybrids that modulate PGC-1a activity.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Sunil Kumar Surapaneni, Nilkumar Patel, Li Sun, Nagavendra Kommineni, Anil Kumar Kalvala, Aragaw Gebeyehu, Peggy Arthur, Leanne C. Duke, Ramesh Nimma, David G. Meckes, Mandip Singh
Summary: This study explores the anti-cancer potential of synthetic cannabidiol (CBD) in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells, and finds that CBD can increase sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs by inhibiting autophagy and reducing cell migration.
DRUG DELIVERY AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Hoan Van Ngo, Stevens Robertin, Dominik Brokatzky, Magdalena K. Bielecka, Damian Lobato-Marquez, Vincenzo Torraca, Serge Mostowy
Summary: Apoptosis is a crucial mechanism that regulates cell death, and septins are important components that promote mitochondrial apoptosis and combat bacterial infection.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Jurate Skerniskyte, Celine Mulet, Antonin C. Andre, Mark C. Anderson, Louise Injarabian, Achim Buck, Verena M. Prade, Philippe J. Sansonetti, Sophie Reibel-Foisset, Axel K. Walch, Michel Lebel, Jens Lykkesfeldt, Benoit S. Marteyn
Summary: Shigella spp. are bacterial pathogens that cause bacterial dysentery and shigellosis, primarily in children in developing countries. The lack of a suitable animal model has hindered the study of the complete life cycle of Shigella in vivo and the evaluation of vaccine candidates' efficacy. By inducing moderate ascorbate deficiency in guinea pigs and using a Gulo-/- mouse infection model, researchers found that vitamin C deficiency increased the severity of shigellosis symptoms and Shigella penetration into the colon epithelium layer. These new rodent models provide new opportunities for studying Shigella infection strategies and immune responses.
Letter
Immunology
Hosoon Choi, Dhammika H. Navarathna, Brennon L. Harston, Munok Hwang, Brandon Corona, Ma Rowena San Juan, Chetan Jinadatha
Summary: We present a case of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Shigella sonnei infection in an immunocompromised patient in Texas, USA. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry was unable to identify the XDR Shigella, but whole-genome sequencing accurately characterized the strain. First-line antimicrobials are ineffective against emerging XDR Shigella, and potential alternatives include fosfomycin, carbapenems, and tigecycline.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Zheng-Hong Li, Rong Xu, Jun Shi, Man-Shu Yu, Yu Zhong, Wei-Ming He, Li-Ping Cao, Mei-Xiao Sheng
Summary: This study investigated the protective effect of Astragalus total saponins (ATS) against peritoneal fibrosis (PF) and its underlying mechanism. The results showed that ATS effectively reduced the thickness of peritoneal tissues, increased the viability of peritoneal mesothelial cells (PMCs), enhanced mitochondrial membrane potential, and reduced apoptosis. ATS treatment also suppressed the expression of fibrosis and apoptosis markers, while restoring the expression of mitochondrial synthesis proteins. Furthermore, the protective effect of ATS on PF was blocked in the presence of PGC-1 alpha inhibition.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hye Joung Choi, Tong-xiang Chen, Ming-Jie Hou, Ji Hoon Song, Peng Li, Chun-feng Liu, Pan Wang, Bao Ting Zhu
Summary: This study found that norepinephrine and dopamine can slow the progression of oxidative neurodegeneration by inhibiting protein disulfide isomerase. These neurotransmitters can protect neuronal cells from oxidative damage by suppressing mitochondrial dysfunction and related signaling pathways.
ACTA PHARMACOLOGICA SINICA
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Feng-hua Xu, Yue-zi Qiu, Yun Zhang, Fang-hao Yang, Min-min Ji, Ke-chun Liu, Meng Jin, Shan-shan Zhang, Bing Li
Summary: Previous studies have shown that peptides isolated from C-phycocyanin (C-PC) possess various functions including antioxidant and anticancer activities. However, there is little research on C-PC peptides applied for the neuroprotective effect against a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinson's disease (PD) model. In this study, twelve novel peptides from C-PC were isolated, purified and identified, and the anti-PD effect of the synthesized peptides was evaluated in a zebrafish PD model. Three of these peptides (MAAAHR, MPQPPAK, and MTAAAR) significantly reversed the loss of dopamine neurons and cerebral vessels, and reduced the locomotor impairment in PD zebrafish. Furthermore, these peptides also exhibited antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects in the zebrafish model. The potential molecular mechanism of peptides' anti-PD effects were further elucidated, showing their ability to modulate genes associated with oxidative stress, autophagy, and apoptosis signaling pathways.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Natalia O. Dranenko, Maria N. Tutukina, Mikhail S. Gelfand, Fyodor A. Kondrashov, Olga O. Bochkareva
Summary: The pathogenicity of Shigella and enteroinvasive Escherichia coli is based on the type 3 secretion system (T3SS) encoded by the pINV virulence plasmid. Recent genomic studies have found ipaH genes in potential marmot pathogens and E. coli from fecal samples of bovine calves, suggesting that non-human hosts may also be infected by these strains. Comparative genomic analysis revealed gene losses, duplications, and inconsistencies between strains phylogeny and composition of effectors, indicating horizontal gene transfer between E. coli adapted to different hosts.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joao D. Magalhaes, Emanuel Candeias, Ines Melo-Marques, Diana F. Silva, A. Raquel Esteves, Nuno Empadinhas, Sandra Morais Cardoso
Summary: Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons. It has been found that autonomic symptoms and a-synuclein pathology in peripheral tissues are related in the early stage. By infecting the gut with Listeria monocytogenes, we observed oligomerization of a-synuclein in the ileum, along with a pro-inflammatory response and neuronal mitochondria dysfunction.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ming Pan, Zi-Wei Cheng, Chen-Guang Huang, Zhu-Qing Ye, Li-Jun Sun, Hua Chen, Bei-Bei Fu, Kai Zhou, Zhi-Rui Fang, Zi-Jian Wang, Qing-Zhong Xiao, Xue-Sheng Liu, Feng-Qin Zhu, Shan Gao
Summary: This study investigated the role of excessive copper accumulation in mitochondrial damage and cell apoptosis inhibition in the heart. The results showed that copper accumulation leads to mitochondrial injury and apoptosis, resulting in heart damage.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Mario Meza-Segura, James R. Birtley, Ana Maldonado-Contreras, Christian Mueller, Karl J. Simin, Lawrence J. Stern, Beth A. McCormick
Summary: Shigella spp. are highly adapted pathogens that cause bacillary dysentery by disrupting the intestinal epithelial barrier, with SepA releasing a neutrophil chemoattractant that promotes Shigella invasion.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Sara Mangiaterra, Anne Schmidt-Kuntzel, Laurie Marker, Alessandro Di Cerbo, Renato Piccinini, Davide Guadagnini, Maria Elena Turba, Sara Berardi, Livio Galosi, Silvia Preziuso, Matteo Cerquetella, Giacomo Rossi
Summary: This study evaluated the efficacy of a specific probiotic mixture in cheetahs, showing that high concentrations of live probiotics can help manage gastrointestinal signs in these animals.
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Lucia Biagini, Livio Galosi, Alessandra Roncarati, Anna-Rita Attili, Sara Mangiaterra, Giacomo Rossi
Summary: The use of nutraceuticals and phytonutrients in poultry nutrition has been extensively studied in recent years as a natural alternative to antibiotics in preventing and treating gastrointestinal diseases in chickens. This review summarizes the current status and effects of various substances in the prevention and treatment of four main gastrointestinal diseases in poultry, including salmonellosis, necrotic enteritis, campylobacteriosis, and coccidiosis. While some studies show promising results, further research is needed to confirm the effectiveness and practical applicability of these compounds.
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Nicola Pugliese, Ludovico Alfarone, Ivan Arcari, Silvia Giugliano, Tommaso Lorenzo Parigi, Maria Rescigno, Ana Lleo, Alessio Aghemo
Summary: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is replacing viral hepatitis as the leading cause of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in many Western countries. NAFLD-associated HCC usually affects older patients with multiple comorbidities, frequently develops in the absence of cirrhosis, and is often diagnosed later with worse chance of survival. The worse prognosis is also due to limited surveillance strategies and a lower efficacy of standard treatments.
EXPERT REVIEW OF GASTROENTEROLOGY & HEPATOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Maria Rescigno
Summary: Immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint blockade, has greatly improved treatment of metastatic cancer patients. However, some patients do not respond to therapy or develop resistance. Microbiota composition plays a role in treatment response and toxicity, and by changing the microbiota or utilizing its tricks, treatment efficacy can be improved and toxicity reduced.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Chiara Pozzi, Elena Azzolini, Maria Rescigno
Summary: To monitor SARS-CoV-2 diffusion, the research team measured anti-Spike S1/S2 IgGs in the serum of almost 4000 healthcare workers for a year. They found that the antibody response can last at least 8 months in symptomatic individuals, especially those with anosmia/dysgeusia. Additionally, in a smaller group vaccinated with two doses of Comirnaty vaccine, they observed that previously exposed symptomatic subjects only needed one dose to stimulate high levels of antibodies.
EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL PLUS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Elena Azzolini, Maximiliano Mollura, Chiara Pozzi, Leonardo Ubaldi, Alberto Mantovani, Carlo Selmi, Riccardo Barbieri, Maria Rescigno
Summary: An important issue often ignored is the discrepancy in medical treatment response between male and female genders. COVID-19 vaccine administration has revealed that females tend to experience more adverse events compared to males despite following identical protocols. Through logistic regression analysis of adverse events in 2385 healthcare workers receiving the Comirnaty vaccine, we found that age, sex, COVID-19 history, and BMI may contribute to the development of adverse events, particularly in young subjects, females, and individuals with a BMI below 25 kg/m(2). Furthermore, partial dependence plots indicate a 50% probability of mild adverse events lasting for a long period (>= 7 days) or any duration of severe adverse events in women below 40 years old with a BMI < 20 kg/m(2). Given that this effect is more prominent after the second vaccine dose, we propose adjusting the vaccine dosage for additional booster doses based on age, sex, and BMI to reduce adverse events without compromising vaccine efficacy.
Article
Immunology
Maria Elena Romero-Ibarguengoitia, Diego Rivera-Salinas, Riccardo Sarti, Riccardo Levi, Maximiliano Mollura, Arnulfo Garza-Silva, Andrea Rivera-Cavazos, Yodira Guadalupe Hernandez-Ruiz, Irene Antonieta Barco-Flores, Arnulfo Gonzalez-Cantu, Miguel Angel Sanz-Sanchez, Milton Henriques Guimaraes Junior, Chiara Pozzi, Riccardo Barbieri, Devany Paola Morales-Rodriguez, Mauro Martins Texeira, Maria Rescigno
Summary: This study evaluated the real-life efficacy of six different vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and found that mRNA vaccines had the highest antibody levels during follow-up. Infection before vaccination and after complete vaccination scheme correlated with higher antibody titers. The CoronaVac vaccine was found to lower the risk of infection in the presence of certain comorbidities.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Matteo Cerquetella, Sara Mangiaterra, Giacomo Rossi, Alessandra Gavazza, Andrea Marchegiani, Gianni Sagratini, Massimo Ricciutelli, Simone Angeloni, Licia Fioretti, Carlotta Marini, Stefania Pucciarelli, Silvia Vincenzetti
Summary: This study used proteomic approach to investigate changes in the digestive environment of dogs suffering from acute uncomplicated diarrhea at different time points. Four groups of proteins showed significant differences, indicating a reaction of the organism to the disease. Further studies are needed for confirmation.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Chiara Pozzi, Riccardo Sarti, Riccardo Levi, Maximiliano Mollura, Elena Azzolini, Riccardo Barbieri, Alberto Mantovani, Maria Rescigno
Summary: In an observational study, it was found that 34.1% of healthcare workers previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 developed long COVID. The likelihood of developing long COVID increased with the duration of infection, but 3 doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine provided protection, even during the Omicron wave.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Elisabetta Notario, Grazia Visci, Bruno Fosso, Carmela Gissi, Nina Tanaskovic, Maria Rescigno, Marinella Marzano, Graziano Pesole
Summary: The 16S rRNA amplicon-based sequencing approach is commonly used and cost-effective for microbiome profiling. This study compared different methods and found that the full-length approach has the best discriminatory power for microbiome taxonomic characterization.
Article
Oncology
Laura Marconato, Luca Tiraboschi, Marina Aralla, Silvia Sabattini, Alessia Melacarne, Chiara Agnoli, Andrea Balboni, Marta Salvi, Armando Foglia, Sofia Punzi, Noemi Romagnoli, Maria Rescigno
Summary: Canine hemangiosarcoma shares similar features with human angiosarcoma, making dogs a valuable model for studying and developing treatments for hemangiosarcoma. Surgery and chemotherapy are currently the standard treatments, but there is still a need for better treatment options. Immunotherapy, specifically anticancer vaccination, has shown promising results in improving outcomes for dogs with aggressive hemangiosarcoma.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gabriele Brecchia, Gerald Muca, Albana Munga, Laura Menchetti, Livio Galosi, Giacomo Rossi, Olimpia Barbato, Grazia Pastorelli, Stella Agradi, Valentina Serra, Majlind Sulce, Enkeleda Ozuni, Luigj Turmalaj, Marta Castrica, Maria Rachele Ceccarini, Federica Riva, Bernard Fioretti, Alda Quattrone, Maria Laura Marongiu, Giulio Curone, Alessandra Napolitano
Summary: This study found that dietary supplementation of goji berry improves semen quality and reproductive tract histology in rabbits, but further research is needed to understand its effect on oxidative stress.
Review
Oncology
Valentina Ferrari, Maria Rescigno
Summary: The intratumoral microbiota plays a crucial role in cancer evasion strategies, causing DNA damage, promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition, inactivating drugs, influencing immune system polarization, inducing vascular reshaping and metastasis formation, and protecting tumor cells during migration. Recent research has also shown positive effects, such as activation of bacterial antigen-specific responses to broaden immune and anti-tumor responses. The ratio of symbionts to pathobionts likely affects the outcome, and further research is needed to understand this dual role.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Barbara Biancani, Livio Galosi, Adolfo Maria Tambella, Sara Berardi, Lucia Biagini, Subeide Mari, Giacomo Rossi
Summary: The bottlenose dolphin and Risso's dolphin, both belonging to the Delphinidae family, exhibit significant differences in their feeding habits. While the bottlenose dolphin prefers blue fish rich in histamine, the Risso's dolphin is strictly teutophagous, feeding on cephalopods. In captivity, both species are fed with several kilograms of fish daily, but Risso's dolphin shows sensitivity to bony fish, leading to gastrointestinal discomfort. Differences in gastric morphology and cell composition suggest that inappropriate diet could result in severe clinical signs due to gastric acidity in Risso's dolphin.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Matteo Cerquetella, Andrea Marchegiani, Giacomo Rossi, Massimo Trabalza-Marinucci, Fabrizio Passamonti, Marco Isidori, Fabrizio Rueca
Summary: This case report describes the effects of orally administered fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in a dog with chronic diarrhea. The results showed that FMT improved the clinical score and reduced the canine inflammatory bowel disease activity index (CIBDAI) score. Additionally, the gastrointestinal symptoms of bloating and painful defecation rapidly improved. During the 18-month follow-up, there were no serious relapses and no increase in medication dosage.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)