Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lucia Gaddini, Antonietta Bernardo, Anita Greco, Alessandro Campa, Giuseppe Esposito, Andrea Matteucci
Summary: The retina can be exposed to incidental gamma-ray radiation from various sources. It has been found that immature retinal cells are more vulnerable to gamma radiation than differentiated neurons. This study shows that pre-irradiation at a low dose can reduce the effects of high-dose gamma radiation on retinal cells, including apoptotic cell number, H2AX phosphorylation, and oxidative stress. These findings suggest that low-dose irradiation may enhance the ability of retinal cells to counteract damage induced by higher doses.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jose A. Carrillo-Avila, Amanda de la Fuente, Rocio Aguilar-Quesada, Gertrudis Ligero, Juan Manuel del Rio-Ortiz, Purificacion Catalina
Summary: Cell culture has become essential in research, diagnostic, and biotechnological development laboratories. Detecting mycoplasma contamination in cell culture is crucial as it can negatively impact cell parameters and lead to unreliable experimental results. This study proposes an alternative detection method using real-time PCR that is fast, sensitive, and reliable.
CURRENT ISSUES IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jolanta Krzyszton-Russjan, Jakub Chudziak, Malgorzata Bednarek, Elzbieta Lidia Anuszewska
Summary: This study utilized a quantitative PCR with SYBR Green I fluorochrome for detection and identification of Mycoplasma, Acholeplasma, and Ureaplasma sp. DNA, with two tests allowing for the detection of 11 species and pre-identification of subgroups to streamline species identification. The tests met pharmacopeial requirements for microbial quality control of mammal cells.
Article
Microbiology
Emily McDowell, Maria Pieters, Taylor Spronk, Joel Nerem, Eduardo Fano, Amanda Sponheim, Scott Dee
Summary: Swine disease elimination programs for Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae commonly use aerosolization of lung tissue to achieve population exposure. This study found that M. hyopneumoniae can persist in female pigs for at least 240 days post-herd closure. It emphasizes the importance of performing diagnostic testing to confirm negativity to the bacterium, especially late in the herd closure timeline.
VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Charalampos Pitsalidis, Douglas van Niekerk, Chrysanthi-Maria Moysidou, Alexander J. Boys, Aimee Withers, Romane Vallet, Roisin M. Owens
Summary: In this study, a novel multiwell plate bioelectronic platform, called e-transmembrane, was developed to support and monitor complex 3D cell structures. The e-transmembrane, made of PEDOT:PSS, functions as both a separating membrane for compartmentalized cell cultures and electronic components for real-time recordings. Its high surface area-to-volume ratio allows the generation of deep tissues and cell polarization. Impedance spectroscopy measurements can identify different cellular systems and extract critical functional parameters. This platform has the potential to be a universal tool for high-throughput drug screening assays.
Article
Microbiology
Nancy Rueger, Hicham Sid, Jochen Meens, Michael P. Szostak, Wolfgang Baumgaertner, Frederik Bexter, Silke Rautenschlein
Summary: This study investigated the impact of co-infections on pathogen invasion and host immune responses in respiratory diseases. Dual-inoculations resulted in more severe host reactions, while pre-infection with AMPV followed by M. gallispeticum showed prolonged viral replication and significant innate immune responses. AMPV as the secondary pathogen impaired bacterial attachment process and delayed M. gallispeticum replication.
Letter
Immunology
Aricia Duarte-Benvenuto, Carlos Sacristan, Ana Carolina Ewbank, Irene Sacristan, Roberta Zamana-Ramblas, Waleska Gravena, Daniela M. D. Mello, Vera M. Ferreira da Silva, Miriam Marmontel, Vitor L. Carvalho, Juliana Marigo, Jose L. Catao-Dias
Summary: A potentially novel hemoplasma species was detected in blood samples from wild river dolphins in the Amazon River Basin, Brazil. Further investigation is needed to determine the pathogenicity and zoonotic potential of the detected hemoplasma.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Juan Zhou, Fei Xiao, Jin Fu, Nan Jia, Xiaolan Huang, Chunrong Sun, Zheng Xu, Yu Zhang, Dong Qu, Yi Wang
Summary: A detection platform called MP-RPA-CRISPR was developed for rapid, simple, and accurate diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection. The platform amplified the MP strains' CARDS toxin gene using RPA at 37°C and detected the resulting amplicons using CRISPR-Cas12b-based detection platform. The MP-RPA-CRISPR assay accurately diagnosed MP-infected samples and can be used as a promising tool in various settings.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Michele Lai, Elena Iacono, Pietro Giorgio Spezia, Giulia Lottini, Veronica La Rocca, Paola Quaranta, Mauro Pistello, Giulia Freer
Summary: Mollicutes, including Mycoplasma and Acholeplasma, are parasitic bacteria that are naturally resistant to many antibiotics and often found as contaminants in cultured cells. Various methods exist to detect Mycoplasma infection in cell lines, but they typically require hours of hands-on work to perform.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGICAL METHODS
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Yukang Wen, Zhengkun Chen, Yaqin Tian, Mei Yang, Qingshuang Dong, Yujiao Yang, Honglei Ding
Summary: Autophagy plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of M. hyopneumoniae infection in porcine alveolar macrophages. M. hyopneumoniae infection enhances autophagosome formation but prevents fusion with lysosomes, allowing the bacteria to escape degradation. Incomplete autophagy promotes intracellular proliferation of M. hyopneumoniae. Blocking the JNK and Akt signaling pathways downregulates autophagy induction by M. hyopneumoniae. Targeting autophagy may be a potential strategy for preventing or treating M. hyopneumoniae infection.
VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elhem Yacoub, Imen Chniba, Nadine Khadraoui, Behija Mlik, Boutheina Ben Abdelmoumen Mardassi
Summary: Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a challenging pathogen to diagnose due to its fastidious nature and potential for asymptomatic carriage. Currently, the most practiced method for laboratory diagnosis is antibody titration, but there is a problem of immunological cross-reactivity. To improve specificity, an antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed to accurately identify M. pneumoniae antigens in patient serum samples.
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Zhikun Zhang, Ruijie Wan, Qing Yuan, Haiwei Dou, Peng Tu, Dawei Shi, Xiaoyan Fu, Deli Xin
Summary: This study revealed that lung damage and functional decline of neutrophils caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection are important factors in the pathogenesis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP).
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Friederike Pfeiffer, Amin Sherafat, Akiko Nishiyama
Summary: The study investigated the protrusions of oligodendrocyte precursor cells and the impact of different fixation methods on the fluorescence signal of a cell surface marker. It was found that the fluorescence signal is more likely to be lost on the protrusions compared to the cell body. Additionally, numerous contacts between oligodendrocyte precursor cells and brain vasculature were revealed, contributing to the understanding of their interactions.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Safi U. Rehman, Jessica Day, Baharak Afshar, Richard S. Rowlands, Harriet Billam, Amelia Joseph, Malcolm Guiver, Sarah E. Maddocks, Victoria J. Chalker, Michael L. Beeton
Summary: Mycoplasma amphoriforme and Ureaplasma parvum were detected in clinical samples from England, with no evidence of acquired macrolide resistance. These atypical respiratory pathogens may have a potential role in human disease.
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Criselda Jean G. Cruz, Richard Kil, Stanley Wong, Louis C. Dacquay, Denise Mirano-Bascos, Pilarita T. Rivera, David R. McMillen
Summary: A novel agglutination assay using modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells as antigen-displaying particles was developed to capture malaria antibodies. The assay showed high sensitivity in detecting low parasitemia and can be produced at a low cost, making it suitable for local production in regions aiming to eliminate malaria.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zuzana Mala, Ludmila Zarska, Lukas Malina, Katerina Langova, Renata Vecerova, Milan Kolar, Petr Henke, Jiri Mosinger, Hana Kolarova
Summary: Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) using sulfonated polystyrene nanoparticles with encapsulated hydrophobic 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP-NP) photosensitizers showed high phototoxicity on both Gram-positive (including multi-resistant) and Gram-negative bacterial strains, with Gram-positive bacteria being more sensitive to TPP-NPs. Atomic force microscopy detected morphological changes in bacteria after PDI treatment.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Klara Latrova, Noemi Havlova, Renata Vecerova, Dominik Pinkas, Katerina Bogdanova, Milan Kolar, Radovan Fiser, Ivo Konopasek, Duy Dinh Do Pham, Dominik Rejman, Gabriela Mikusova
Summary: LPPOs are synthetic antibacterial compounds that target the cytoplasmic membrane, with second-generation LPPOs showing broader activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Research has shown that both generations of LPPOs permeabilize the bacterial membrane by forming oligomeric conductive pores.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Robert Prucek, Ales Panacek, Zaneta Gajdova, Renata Vecerova, Libor Kvitek, Jiri Gallo, Milan Kolar
Summary: Utilizing a combination of Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) with streptavidin-biotin complex offers a promising alternative for rapid and effective disease therapy. This system, utilizing biotinylated antibodies, provides a powerful tool for various analytical applications, with a fast and easy-to-use preparation procedure for streptavidin coated magnetic polystyrene-Au (or Ag) nanocomposite particles.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
David Panacek, Lucie Hochvaldova, Aristides Bakandritsos, Tomas Malina, Michal Langer, Jan Belza, Jana Martincova, Renata Vecerova, Petr Lazar, Katerina Polakova, Jan Kolarik, Lucie Valkova, Milan Kolar, Michal Otyepka, Ales Panacek, Radek Zboril
Summary: The study reveals that GCN/Ag can kill silver-nanoparticle-resistant bacteria at lower concentrations and with potent antibacterial activity. The strong dative bonds between cyanographene and silver result in minimal silver ion leaching and high cytocompatibility. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest strong interaction of GCN/Ag with bacterial membrane, independent of silver nanoparticles or ions release.
Article
Biophysics
Ladislav Svoboda, Jiri Bednar, Richard Dvorsky, Ales Panacek, Lucie Hochvaldova, Libor Kvitek, Tomas Malina, Zuzana Konvickova, Jiri Henych, Zuzana Nemeckova, Renata Vecerova, Milan Kolar, Dalibor Matysek, Zuzana Vilamova
Summary: The study investigates the antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of Ag-modified carbon nitride with different Ag content, revealing that HeLa cells are more immune to nanomaterials compared to A549 cells. Testing cytotoxicity using the LIVE/DEAD assay provides important information about biocompatibility of the materials.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna Ligasova, Karel Koberna
Summary: This study developed a new concept of cytocentrifugation based on threaded connection, using a homemade device for the capture and processing of cell samples, demonstrating its efficiency for a variety of samples. This device not only offers a cost-effective alternative but also facilitates the eventual automation of the staining procedure.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna Ligasova, Karel Koberna
Summary: Cell quantification is widely used in both basic and applied research, with a special emphasis on techniques based on fluorescent DNA dyes. This review aims to guide readers through the various methods of cell quantification and highlight the strengths and weaknesses of these methods, particularly in terms of sensitivity, accuracy, and time. Additionally, some approaches for analyzing cell proliferation and viability are also described.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna Ligasova, Karel Koberna
Summary: Cell synchronization is commonly used for analyzing cellular metabolism at specific stages of the cell cycle, often achieved by inhibiting specific metabolic pathways. This review provides an overview of protocols for synchronizing mammalian cells based on inhibiting DNA synthesis, discussing their mechanisms, examples of use, and advantages and disadvantages to guide protocol selection for different research situations.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna Ligasova, Ivan Rosenberg, Marketa Bockova, Jiri Homola, Karel Koberna
Summary: This study introduces a novel approach for real-time measurement of uracil DNA glycosylase activity by immobilizing selected oligonucleotides on magnetic nanoparticles and utilizing Forster resonance energy transfer. The results demonstrate that this method provides more reliable data than using free oligonucleotides, and offers the possibility to investigate the relationship between uracil DNA glycosylase activity and the arrangement of oligonucleotide probes. Additionally, introducing a nick into oligonucleotides containing the target base (uracil) significantly decreases the activity of both bacterial glycosylase and glycosylases naturally present in nuclear lysates.
Article
Immunology
Michal Krupka, Tereza Matusu, Helena Sutova, Katerina Wezdenkova, Renata Vecerova, Yvona Smesna, Milan Kolar, Hana Bilkova Frankova, Jana Krivankova, Miroslav Jorenek, Zdenek Novak, Milan Raska, Ondrej Holy
Summary: This study analyzed data from four laboratories in the Olomouc Region, Czech Republic, and found significant differences in measles positive results depending on the individual laboratories and detection methods used. However, individuals born before the introduction of vaccination showed higher levels of antibodies.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jiri Hodon, Ivo Frydrych, Zdenka Trhlikova, Jan Pokorny, Lucie Borkova, Sandra Benicka, Martin Vlk, Barbora Liskova, Agata Kubickova, Martina Medvedikova, Martin Pisar, Jan Sarek, Viswanath Das, Anna Ligasova, Karel Koberna, Petr Dzubak, Marian Hajduch, Milan Urban
Summary: A set of triterpenoid pyrazines and pyridines were prepared and tested for their cytotoxicity in cancer cell lines. The results showed that the triterpenoid core determined the activity of the compounds, while the heterocycle increased the activity and modulated the specificity. Several compounds showed high cytotoxicity against leukemia cells, especially in multidrug-resistant cells. Some compounds also inhibited the growth of solid tumors. These promising compounds have potential for further development as anticancer drugs.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna Ligasova, Ivo Frydrych, Karel Koberna
Summary: Cellular growth and preparation for division are collectively known as the cell cycle, which consists of several phases with different durations. The progression through these phases is regulated by both internal and external factors. Various methods, particularly those focusing on analyzing the duration of cell cycle phases, have been developed to study the role of these factors. This review aims to provide an overview of the basic methods for determining cell cycle phases and estimating their length, emphasizing on the effectiveness and reproducibility of these techniques.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ladislav Stepanek, Magdalena Janosikova, Marie Nakladalova, Lubomir Stepanek, Antonin Tihelka, Alena Borikova, Renata Vecerova, Pavel Sauer
Summary: The study analyzed the relationship between acute-phase symptoms of COVID-19 and infection-induced antibody responses. The results showed that dyspnea and anosmia increased the chance of IgG seropositivity. These findings can be used for assessing the long-term protection by IgG and creating effective surveillance strategies.
MEDICINA-LITHUANIA
(2022)