Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Houriyeh Sohrabnavi, Mohammad Mohammadimasoudi, Hassan Hajghassem
Summary: This article reports a liquid crystal-based biosensor for the detection of the main biomarker of Alzheimer's disease, amyloid beta protein. The sensor has a fast response time, high specificity, and a low detection limit.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mohsen Tavakoli, Seyyed Abolghasem Ghadami, Hadi Adibi, Hayrettin Ozan Gulcan
Summary: Aggregated protein, such as amyloid beta, is a common cause of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Detecting and quantifying amyloid in the early stages of the disease is crucial for its treatment and prevention. In this study, 17 new biomarker compounds were synthesized to detect and identify amyloid in vitro and in cells, showing promising results in terms of selectivity and detectability of amyloid fibrils. Compound 10 exhibited the best binding properties and was able to detect intracellular amyloid in vivo.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bogachan Tahirbegi, Alastair J. Magness, Maria Elena Piersimoni, Xiangyu Teng, James Hooper, Yuan Guo, Thomas Knopfel, Keith R. Willison, David R. Klug, Liming Ying
Summary: Aggregation kinetics of proteins and peptides have been extensively studied for their importance in human diseases and physiological processes. However, most studies rely on bulk measurements and cannot directly measure assembly reactions at low protein concentrations. Using single-molecule methods and machine learning models, we developed a high-throughput protocol to study protein oligomers' stoichiometry and aggregation kinetics. Our results show promising classification accuracy.
FRONTIERS IN CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Stephanie Makdissi, Brendon D. D. Parsons, Francesca D. Di Cara
Summary: The gut-brain axis facilitates communication between the gastrointestinal tract and the nervous system through various connections. Alterations in this axis are becoming recognized as a contributing factor to neuroinflammation, which is involved in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Changes in diet, the microbiota, and intestinal epithelial functions have been found to influence the inflammatory state of neurons and contribute to the onset and progression of these diseases.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Yingying Zhao, Kamil Kuca, Wenda Wu, Xu Wang, Eugenie Nepovimova, Kamil Musilek, Qinghua Wu
Summary: The JNK signaling pathway is hypothesized to be a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases, with sustained activation leading to synaptic dysfunction and neuronal apoptosis. JNK phosphorylates amyloid precursor protein and tau, ultimately resulting in the formation of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qin Ouyang, Kai Liu, Qubo Zhu, Huiyin Deng, Yuan Le, Wen Ouyang, Xiaoxin Yan, Wenhu Zhou, Jianbin Tong
Summary: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common form of dementia in elderly individuals, with no effective treatment currently available. This study presents a novel DNA nanoflowers-based delivery system for AD therapy, which allows exogenous supplementation of miR-124 to ameliorate AD-like pathology. The nanosystem demonstrates promising results in increasing miR-124 levels in the brain and achieving robust therapeutic efficacy in a mouse model of AD.
Article
Biophysics
Valecia Natalia Carvalho da Silva, Emanuel Airton de O. Farias, Alyne R. Araujo, Francisco Elezier Xavier Magalhaes, Jacks Renan Neves Fernandes, Jessica Maria Teles Souza, Carla Eiras, Durcilene Alves da Silva, Victor Hugo do Vale Bastos, Silmar Silva Teixeira
Summary: A novel composite material was developed and applied for the detection of neurotransmitter dopamine. The composite exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity, allowing for direct detection in human serum without sample pretreatment. The proposed method showed promising potential for clinical diagnosis.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Hyun-ju Lee, Jin-Hee Park, Hyang-Sook Hoe
Summary: This study explores the effects of idebenone on neuroinflammatory responses, cognitive function, and underlying molecular mechanisms. The results suggest that idebenone can enhance neuroprotective NRF2 expression, reduce neuroinflammation, and improve learning and memory in mice. It also targets NLRP3 inflammasome activation and decreases gliosis and proinflammatory cytokine levels. In a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, idebenone improves cognitive dysfunction and inhibits neuroinflammation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Banashree Chetia Phukan, Rubina Roy, Indira Gahatraj, Pallab Bhattacharya, Anupom Borah
Summary: Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, two major neurodegenerative diseases, are characterized by memory and motor function impairment, respectively. Despite some breakthroughs, there is currently a lack of disease-modifying treatment for these diseases. Bioactive compounds have been reported to have neuroprotective properties, but their specific neuroprotective mechanisms are not well understood. This review explores the neuroprotective mechanisms of several major phyto-compounds in pre-clinical and clinical studies of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, in order to understand their potential in combating these diseases.
PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Guillermo Prieto-Avalos, Laura Nely Sanchez-Morales, Giner Alor-Hernandez, Jose Luis Sanchez-Cervantes
Summary: Neurodegenerative diseases are one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide, causing irreversible motor impairments that affect patients, families, and social environments. Using wearable devices to early identify and remotely monitor these motor impairments is one strategy to mitigate the pain of NDDs.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tatsuya Karaki, Hisao Haniu, Yoshikazu Matsuda, Tamotsu Tsukahara
Summary: Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by protein misfolding and aggregation. Inhibiting this aggregation may be a potential therapeutic strategy, and dietary bioactive phospholipids have been suggested to possess this ability. However, further research is needed to understand the mechanisms involved.
Article
Virology
Hailong Li, Kristen A. McLaurin, Charles F. Mactutus, Benjamin Likins, Wenfei Huang, Sulie L. Chang, Rosemarie M. Booze
Summary: The prevalence of HIV-1 associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) is higher in older individuals, and using HIV-1 Tg rats as a model, researchers found abnormal beta-amyloid accumulation in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, suggesting a potential mechanism underlying synaptodendritic damage in HAND.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Patrycja Pawlik, Katarzyna Blochowiak
Summary: Neurodegenerative diseases result in progressive neuronal degeneration, emphasizing the need for early screening and diagnosis. Biomarkers show promise for early detection, with saliva being explored as a potential non-invasive diagnostic tool. Research on salivary biomarkers for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases continues, aiming to identify correlations between specific biomarkers and early clinical symptoms for improved treatment strategies.
Review
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Rodrigo Diaz-Espinoza
Summary: Amyloids are highly ordered aggregates composed of proteins or peptides involved in various pathologies, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The specific features of these amyloid structures, such as the Greek-key topology and two-fold symmetry, can serve as novel guides for seeking potential molecular targets in drug design efforts. Advances in solid state NMR and Cryogenic-electron microscopy have allowed the elucidation of these elusive conformations at high resolution.
FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Medvedeva, Natalia Kitsilovskaya, Yulia Stroylova, Irina Sevostyanova, Ali Akbar Saboury, Vladimir Muronetz
Summary: This study identified hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives in coffee extracts, with 3,4-dimethoxycinnamic acid present in significant amounts. The inhibitory effect of coffee extracts on alpha-synuclein fibrillization was dose-dependent, showcasing their potential in preventing synucleinopathies like Parkinson's disease.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Peter J. Halfmann, Shun Iida, Kiyoko Iwatsuki-Horimoto, Tadashi Maemura, Maki Kiso, Suzanne M. Scheaffer, Tamarand L. Darling, Astha Joshi, Samantha Loeber, Gagandeep Singh, Stephanie L. Foster, Baoling Ying, James Brett Case, Zhenlu Chong, Bradley Whitener, Juan Moliva, Katharine Floyd, Michiko Ujie, Noriko Nakajima, Mutsumi Ito, Ryan Wright, Ryuta Uraki, Prajakta Warang, Matthew Gagne, Rong Li, Yuko Sakai-Tagawa, Yanan Liu, Deanna Larson, Jorge E. Osorio, Juan P. Hernandez-Ortiz, Amy R. Henry, Karl Ciuoderis, Kelsey R. Florek, Mit Patel, Abby Odle, Lok-Yin Roy Wong, Allen C. Bateman, Zhongde Wang, Venkata-Viswanadh Edara, Zhentu Chong, John Franks, Trushar Jeevan, Thomas Fabrizio, Jennifer DeBeauchamp, Lisa Kercher, Patrick Seiler, Ana Silvia Gonzalez-Reiche, Emilia Mia Sordillo, Lauren A. Chang, Harm van Baker, Viviana Simon, Daniel C. Douek, Nancy J. Sullivan, Larissa B. Thackray, Hiroshi Ueki, Seiya Yamayoshi, Masaki Imai, Stanley Perlman, Richard J. Webby, Robert A. Seder, Mehut S. Suthar, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Michael Schotsaert, Tadaki Suzuki, Adrianus C. M. Boon, Michael S. Diamond, Yoshihiro Kawaoka
Summary: The recent study by the SAVE/NIAID network shows that the B.1.1.529 Omicron variant causes milder lung disease in rodents, which is consistent with preliminary human clinical data.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Karl A. Ciuoderis, Laura S. Perez, Andres Cardona, Juan Pablo Hernandez-Ortizl, Jorge E. Osorio
Summary: This study describes a surveillance strategy of Influenza A virus (IAV) at the herd level during respiratory disease outbreaks in swine farms at tropical settings using porcine oral fluids. The results demonstrate that oral fluids can be easily implemented as a novel, user-friendly, welfare-friendly, accurate and cost-effective sampling method for active surveillance and monitoring of IAV infections in swine farms in tropical settings.
REVISTA COLOMBIANA DE CIENCIAS PECUARIAS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Applied
Dong-Wook Park, Gene Tsvid, Juan P. Hernandez-Ortiz, David C. Schwartz, Zhenqiang Ma
Summary: This study demonstrated trench-shaped silicon FETs with a microfluidic channel for simultaneous electrical and optical detection of charged fluorescent beads. The integration of PDMS and glass materials provided optical transparency and physical robustness to the microfluidic channel. The study also presented device evaluation methodologies and demonstrated synchronized time-lapse imaging and electronic detection of bead transport.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2022)
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Juan Hernandez-Ortiz, Andres Cardona, Karl Ciuoderis, Francisco Averhoff, Maria-Angelica Maya, Gavin Cloherty, Jorge E. Osorio
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sepideh Norouzi, Antonio Tavera-Vazquez, Johanan Ramirez-de Arellano, Dae Seok Kim, Teresa Lopez-Leon, Juan J. de Pablo, Jose A. Martinez-Gonzalez, Monirosadat Sadati
Summary: This study investigates the crystallization behavior of blue phase liquid crystals under curved confinement. The results show that the high curvature and spatial confinement can lead to the reconfiguration of the BPI phase into the BPII phase, resulting in different optical characteristics and structural morphologies. Additionally, the coupling of curvature and confinement leads to the nucleation of skyrmions at greater thicknesses.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Ciuoderis-Aponte Karl, Diaz Andres, Muskus Carlos, Mario Pena, Hernandez-Ortiz Juan, Osorio Jorge
Summary: Biosecurity protocols and good management practices are crucial for reducing the risk of disease transmission in pig farms. This study analyzed data from pig farms in Colombia and identified two clustering patterns, highlighting the importance of biosecurity measures and husbandry practices in preventing and controlling swine respiratory diseases.
PORCINE HEALTH MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sepideh Norouzi, Rui Zhang, Juan G. Munguia-Fernandez, Luis de Pablo, Ye Zhou, Nader Taheri-Qazvini, Harrison Shapiro, Samuel Morin, Jose A. Martinez-Gonzalez, Monirosadat Sadati, Juan J. de Pablo
Summary: The study investigates the interplay between surface anchoring, spatially curved geometry, and the order associated with liquid crystals (LCs) in flexible and miniaturized technologies. Experimental methods and computational simulations were used to explore the effects of deformable curved boundaries on LC orientation in uniaxially and biaxially stretched droplets. The findings provide valuable insights for the design of LC-based flexible devices.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Abraham Reyes-Velazquez, Alberto Molgado, Jasel Berra-Montiel, Jose A. Martinez-Gonzalez
Summary: In this paper, a path-integral inspired framework is proposed for studying Chemical Reaction Networks (CRNs) which can generate exact numerical simulations of reaction networks. By applying this method to simulate a COVID-19 epidemiological model, it is found that the model closely agrees with the measured population dynamics. This framework can also be applied to study the spread dynamics of other contagious diseases.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Gregory S. Orf, Lester J. Perez, Karl Ciuoderis, Andres Cardona, Simon Villegas, Juan P. Hernandez-Ortiz, Guy Baele, Aurash Mohaimani, Jorge E. Osorio, Michael G. Berg, Gavin A. Cloherty
Summary: The first 18 months of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Colombia experienced three epidemic waves. During the third wave, the Mu variant replaced Alpha and Gamma through intervariant competition. Phylogeographic analysis showed that Mu acquired increased fitness in Colombia and spread to North America and Europe. Despite not being the most transmissible, Mu's genetic composition and ability to evade preexisting immunity allowed it to dominate the Colombian epidemic landscape.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kushal Bagchi, Tadej Emersic, Jose A. Martinez-Gonzalez, Juan J. de Pablo, Paul F. Nealey
Summary: Blue phase (BP) liquid crystals are chiral fluids that exhibit selective Bragg reflections in the visible due to their cubic lattices. Photopolymerization enables the exploitation of the photonic properties of BP for technological applications. This review focuses on the preparation and characterization of stimuli-responsive, polymeric photonic crystals based on BP, highlighting their potential for colorimetric sensing and dynamic light control, as well as the use of simulations and theory in guiding experimental design. Opportunities for synthesizing new soft materials, such as structured polymer meshes, using BP are also discussed.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Daniel Salgado-Blanco, Enrique Diaz-Herrera, Jose A. Martinez-Gonzalez, Carlos I. Mendoza
Summary: In this work, Monte Carlo (MC) simulations were performed on a discotic liquid crystal (DLC) droplet with edge-on (planar) anchoring. Phase transitions, including a first order isotropic-nematic transition and a nematic-columnar transition, were observed within the spherical droplet. The appearance of topological defects consisting of two disclination lines and the lower transition temperatures compared to the unconfined system were also observed.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Viviana Palacio-Betancur, Julio C. Armas-Perez, Juan P. Hernandez-Ortiz, Juan J. de Pablo
Summary: This paper investigates the morphologies that arise when chiral liquid crystals (ChLCs) are confined in toroidal and cylindrical cavities. By annealing a Landau-de Gennes free energy, the equilibrium morphologies were obtained. It was found that curvature introduces helical features, with the progression from Double Twist to Chiral Ribbons and ultimately to Helical Blue Phases (BP). Chiral ribbons are examined as promising candidates for driven assembly due to their tunability and robustness.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Guadalupe Falcon-Millan, J. Antonio Reyes-Aguilera, Teresa A. Razo-Lazcano, A. Ramirez-Hernandez, Julio C. Armas-Perez, M. Pilar Gonzalez-Munoz
Summary: In this study, Raman spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the interactions between polyethylene glycol (PEG) and phosphoric acid (H3PO4) in aqueous two-phase systems for phosphoric acid extraction. The results suggest that hydrogen bonding is the dominant factor in the solvation mechanism.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jeremy Money, Juan G. Munguia-Fernandez, Sepideh Norouzi, Mohsen Esmaeili, Jose A. Martinez-Gonzalez, Monirosadat Sadati
Summary: Blue phase liquid crystals possess unique optical and electro-optical properties but are limited by their thermal stability and crystalline nature. This feature article provides an overview of efforts to stabilize these phases and create monodomain structures, highlighting the complex relationship between geometrical confinement, induced curvature, and the structural stability and photonic features of blue phases. Understanding the coupling effects of physical and mechanical forces on the structural stability of these systems is crucial for the development of efficient and practical devices based on blue phase liquid crystals.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)