Article
Neurosciences
Susanna Campesan, Ivana del Popolo, Kyriaki Marcou, Anna Straatman-Iwanowska, Mariaelena Repici, Kalina Boytcheva, Victoria E. Cotton, Natalie Allcock, Ezio Rosato, Charalambos P. Kyriacou, Flaviano Giorgini
Summary: This study shows that Huntington's disease is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with limited treatment options. The researchers used high-resolution respirometry to reveal defective mitochondrial function in a fruit fly model of the disease and found that enhancing mitochondrial function can improve these defects. Furthermore, they discovered that co-expression of the protein parkin significantly enhances mitochondrial respiration and rescues neurodegeneration, viability, and longevity in the fruit flies.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Noah Sciambra, Stanislava Chtarbanova
Summary: This review outlines the known cellular pathways and mechanisms involved in Drosophila age-dependent immunity to pathogenic microorganisms. Factors such as host signaling pathways, sexual dimorphism, environmental stress, and cellular physiology impact age-dependent immunity in Drosophila. Understanding potential tradeoffs between heightened immune function and longevity in the absence of infection is crucial for future studies.
Review
Cell Biology
Michelle L. Bland
Summary: In Drosophila melanogaster, the Toll and Imd signaling pathways are activated to combat pathogenic microbes and induce metabolic changes in the host. These immune-mediated metabolic phenotypes can either confer resistance or susceptibility to infection, and are influenced by variables such as sex, diet, and pathogen characteristics. Understanding the mechanisms by which the immune system regulates metabolism is a key focus for future research.
SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Taro Onuma, Toshitaka Yamauchi, Hina Kosakamoto, Hibiki P. Kadoguchi, Takayuki Kuraishi, Takumi P. Murakami, Hiroshi Mori, Masayuki P. Miura, Fumiaki Obata
Summary: Commensal microbes have a significant impact on tissue homeostasis, stress resistance, and ageing in animals. This study investigates the molecular mechanism behind how a specific gut bacterium shortens lifespan and promotes intestinal stem cell proliferation in fruit flies. The findings reveal that the bacterium induces the production of antimicrobial peptides and alters the balance between lifespan and host defence through peptidoglycan specificity.
Article
Biology
Brian P. Lazzaro, Ann T. Tate
Summary: Activation and deactivation of the immune response play a crucial role in balancing the immune system. An optimal immune system responds rapidly and robustly to infection threats, and quickly deactivates once the threat is controlled. Genetic variation can influence the sensitivity of the immune system and the dynamics of immune response, affecting pathogen virulence and host tolerance of infection. Understanding immune regulatory dynamics helps clarify the fundamental principles underlying the evolution and maintenance of innate immune systems.
CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Nicholas M. Maurice, Ruxana T. Sadikot
Summary: Mitochondria play a critical role in cellular processes, including energy generation. Bacterial pathogens target host cell mitochondria to disrupt host response and promote bacterial survival. This review discusses recent advancements in understanding how bacteria cause mitochondrial dysfunction, including disruptions in cell-death pathways, energy production, mitochondrial dynamics, quality control, DNA repair, and the unfolded protein response. Potential therapeutic approaches aimed at restoring host mitochondrial function to enhance the response to bacterial infection are also briefly highlighted.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fernanda Almeida-Oliveira, Bryon F. Tuthill, Katia C. Gondim, David Majerowicz, Laura Palanker Musselman
Summary: The study demonstrates the important role of HNF4 in regulating lipid metabolism and ovarian development in fruit flies. Overexpression of dHNF4 in the fat body or ovary can lead to phenotypic effects on oogenesis.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Beatriz Acuna Hidalgo, Luis M. Silva, Mathias Franz, Roland R. Regoes, Sophie A. O. Armitage
Summary: The relationship between virulence and pathogen clearance in the context of bacterial infections in Drosophila melanogaster is explored. The study demonstrates that variation in infection outcomes is determined by differences in bacterial infection intensity and parasite pathogenicity, while pathogen clearance is influenced by early-phase exploitation. The application of the virulence decomposition framework provides valuable insights into host-pathogen interactions.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiaowen Li, Keke Wu, Sen Zeng, Feifan Zhao, Jindai Fan, Zhaoyao Li, Lin Yi, Hongxing Ding, Mingqiu Zhao, Shuangqi Fan, Jinding Chen
Summary: Mitochondria, crucial organelles in eukaryotic cells, play a role in metabolism, programmed cell death, and the host's innate immunity against viruses. Studies have shown that viral infections can alter mitochondrial dynamics, induce cell death, and impact cellular immune responses, highlighting the importance of mitochondria in the host-virus interaction.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
A. Raquel Esteves, Diana F. Silva, Diogo Banha, Emanuel Candeias, Beatriz Guedes, Sandra M. Cardoso
Summary: Sporadic Parkinson's disease (sPD) is a complex multifactorial disorder with unknown etiology. Our study reveals that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of innate immunity requires functional mitochondria and mimics PD pathology in cells. We also demonstrate that a-synuclein overproduction is an innate immune response, and mitochondria play a crucial role in innate immunity activation in idiopathic PD.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Louis Schlecker, Christopher Page, Mikhail Matz, Rachel M. Wright
Summary: Microfragmentation is a technique to accelerate coral growth rates by cutting corals into small pieces. It has been successful in restoring Caribbean reefs, but the biological processes and tradeoffs involved are not well understood.
Editorial Material
Immunology
Simon P. Jochems, Daniela M. Ferreira, Hermelijn H. Smits
Summary: During acute COVID-19, the correlation between antibodies or cytokines and the nose or blood is minimal, and instead, these factors are associated with nasal microbiota.
Article
Cell Biology
Yulia Gnainsky, Nofar Zfanya, Michael Elgart, Eman Omri, Alexander Brandis, Tevie Mehlman, Maxim Itkin, Sergey Malitsky, Jerzy Adamski, Yoav Soen
Summary: The gut microbiota have been shown to influence host oogenesis by supplying mitochondrial coenzymes, with removal of microbiota leading to repression of oogenesis that can be reversed by riboflavin supplementation. This bacterial-mitochondrial axis of influence links gut bacteria with systemic regulation of host energy and reproduction.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Tapan Behl, Rashita Makkar, Md. Khalid Anwer, Rym Hassani, Gulrana Khuwaja, Asaad Khalid, Syam Mohan, Hassan A. Alhazmi, Monika Sachdeva, Mahesh Rachamalla
Summary: Mitochondria are semiautonomous intracellular components involved in metabolism and energy production. Defects in mitochondria lead to chronic cellular diseases. Dysfunctional mitochondria play a critical role in cancer, diabetes, infections, and obesity.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Yizhou Yu, Giorgio Fedele, Ivana Celardo, Samantha H. Y. Loh, L. Miguel Martins
Summary: Alzheimer's disease is associated with changes in nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism critical for mitochondrial function. Increasing the bioavailability of NAD(+) can protect against A beta toxicity, while supplementation of vitamin B or genetic mutations of PARP can rescue mitochondrial defects and reduce behavioral impairments in an Alzheimer's disease model. Polymorphisms in the PARP1 gene or intake of vitamin B are linked to a decrease in the risk and severity of Alzheimer's disease. Enhancing NAD(+) availability through vitamin B supplements or inhibition of NAD(+)-dependent enzymes like PARPs are potential therapies for Alzheimer's disease.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2021)