Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Philipp Palombo, Alexander Buerkle, Maria Moreno-Villanueva
Summary: In vitro mechanistic research often overlooks the potential influence of cell culture media and supplements, leading to the potential oversight of interactions between compounds and medium ingredients. Isoproterenol, a synthetic catecholamine commonly used in biomedical research, has different stability in different cell culture media. The differences in effective levels of isoproterenol and the formation of oxidation products may explain the discrepancies observed in its genotoxicity and cytotoxicity.
CHEMICO-BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nikolaos I. Vlachogiannis, Panagiotis A. Ntouros, Maria Pappa, Evrydiki Kravvariti, Evangelia Georgia Kostaki, Georgios E. Fragoulis, Christina Papanikolaou, Dimitra Mavroeidi, Vasiliki-Kalliopi Bournia, Stylianos Panopoulos, Katerina Laskari, Aikaterini Arida, Vassilis G. Gorgoulis, Maria G. Tektonidou, Dimitrios Paraskevis, Petros P. Sfikakis, Vassilis L. Souliotis
Summary: Aging is characterized by the progressive deregulation of homeostatic mechanisms causing the accumulation of macromolecular damage, affecting organ function and leading to chronic diseases. In this study, the relationship between chronological age and DNA damage response (DDR) signals in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy individuals was investigated. The results showed that DNA damage levels in PBMCs were only marginally correlated with age until 50 years, but a linear relationship was observed after 50 years. Furthermore, individuals older than 50 years exhibited higher levels of endogenous double-strand breaks (DSBs), oxidative stress, apurinic/apyrimidinic sites, and decreased DSBs repair capacity compared to those younger than 50 years. Prospective studies are needed to confirm DNA damage accumulation as a biomarker of aging and determine the relevant age threshold.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Beata P. Plitta-Michalak, Alice A. Ramos, Piotr Pupel, Marcin Michalak
Summary: The high-throughput comet assay is a sensitive tool for monitoring DNA integrity changes and assessing the viability status of plant germplasm.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tamara Bakuradze, Peter Meiser, Jens Galan, Elke Richling
Summary: This study found that consuming an aronia juice-based food supplement significantly reduced H2O2-induced DNA strand breaks, but had a low overall effect on background and total DNA strand breaks. This suggests that antioxidant supplements may only have marginal preventive effects under healthy conditions.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sarah May, Cordula Hirsch, Alexandra Rippl, Alexander Buerkle, Peter Wick
Summary: This study investigated the genotoxicity of different engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) using two complementary in vitro assays. The results showed that certain ENMs exhibited cytotoxicity and genotoxicity, while others did not have these effects.
Review
Oncology
Norah A. Owiti, Zachary D. Nagel, Bevin P. Engelward
Summary: DNA damage can lead to carcinogenic mutations and toxicity, and rapid assays using fluorescent readouts have proven effective in quantifying DNA damage and its consequences. These assays are useful for screening genotoxicity of chemicals and have applications in precision prevention and personalized medicine, contributing to improved understanding and treatment of cancer.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Amelie Cant, Anne Bado-Nilles, Jean-Marc Porcher, Dorothee Bolzan, Jean Prygiel, Audrey Catteau, Cyril Turies, Alain Geffard, Marc Bonnard
Summary: Aquatic species are exposed to various substances, which can harm their genetic integrity through DNA damage or oxidative stress. DNA strand breaks and chromosomal damages have been proven to be relevant biomarkers in aquatic biomonitoring. However, these biomarkers do not reflect DNA oxidative lesions, such as 8-oxodG, which are considered pre-mutagenic lesions in human biomonitoring.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Almudena Serrano-Benitez, Sophie E. Wells, Lylah Drummond-Clarke, Lilian C. Russo, John Christopher Thomas, Giovanna A. Leal, Mark Farrow, James Michael Edgerton, Shankar Balasubramanian, Ming Yang, Christian Frezza, Amit Gautam, Jan Brazina, Kamila Burdova, Nicolas C. Hoch, Stephen P. Jackson, Keith W. Caldecott
Summary: DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs) play a role in disrupting DNA replication and causing chromosome breakage. This study investigates whether SSBs induce chromosome breakage when located behind or ahead of replication forks, and finds that only SSBs ahead of replication forks trigger fork collapse and chromosome breakage. Furthermore, the study shows that CldU, a thymidine analogue, is cytotoxic to cells lacking SSB repair mechanisms and its incorporation in template DNA is particularly harmful during the following cell cycle. Additionally, BRCA-defective cells are highly sensitive to CldU, suggesting its potential clinical utility.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Galina N. Chelomina, Sergey P. Kukla, Viktor P. Chelomin, Pham N. Doanh
Summary: Parasite infection can lead to DNA damage, potentially involving oxidative stress and cancer development; these research findings are important for understanding the pathogenesis mechanisms of parasitic diseases.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Martin Roursgaard, Monika Hezareh Rothmann, Juliane Schulte, Ioanna Karadimou, Elena Marinelli, Peter Moller
Summary: This study investigated the extraction of nanoplastic particles from food containers and found that these nanoparticles can cause genotoxicity in cell cultures, while their cytotoxic effects were limited.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dimitra T. Stefanou, Marousa Kouvela, Dimitris Stellas, Konstantinos Voutetakis, Olga Papadodima, Konstantinos Syrigos, Vassilis L. Souliotis
Summary: The deregulated DNA damage response network is associated with the onset and progression of lung cancer. This study found that lung cancer patients have higher levels of endogenous DNA damage, which may be caused by oxidative stress and defective DNA repair mechanisms. The findings suggest that oxidative stress and DDR-related aberrations contribute to the accumulation of endogenous DNA damage in lung cancer patients.
Article
Immunology
Maria Pappa, Panagiotis A. Ntouros, Christina Papanikolaou, Petros P. Sfikakis, Vassilis L. Souliotis, Maria G. Tektonidou
Summary: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by oxidative stress and decreased DNA repair mechanisms, leading to the accumulation of endogenous DNA damage. In this study, thrombotic primary APS (thrPAPS) patients showed significantly higher levels of endogenous DNA damage, increased oxidative stress, and abasic sites, as well as lower nucleotide excision repair (NER) and double-strand breaks repair (DSB/R) capacities compared to healthy controls and asymptomatic antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) positive individuals without APS. These findings suggest that oxidative stress and impaired DNA repair may serve as potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers for APS.
CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Toxicology
Congying Zheng, Sergey Shaposhnikov, Andrew Collins, Gunnar Brunborg, Florin Oancea, Frederik-Jan Van Schooten, Roger Godschalk
Summary: DNA repair is crucial for maintaining genomic stability, and can be evaluated through comet assay-based approaches such as the cellular repair assay and the in vitro repair assay. However, a direct comparison of both assays in multiple cell lines showed no significant relationship between them. The in vitro repair assay correlated with the background level of DNA damage in the test cells and indicated that base excision repair is inducible. These findings suggest that these two assays measure different endpoints of DNA repair and should be considered complementary.
ARCHIVES OF TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mahsa Karbaschi, Yunhee Ji, Mubarak A. Mujawar, Mario Mendoza, Juan S. Marquez, Apurva Sonawane, Pratikkumar Shah, Chris Ross, Shekhar Bhansali, Marcus S. Cooke
Summary: This article describes the development of an automated device for high throughput sample processing in a comet assay, which reliably assesses DNA damage in individual eukaryotic cells. The device performs as well as manual methods but with the advantages of decreased human involvement and assay run time, making it a valuable approach for high throughput DNA damage assessment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wenjie Zhang, Xiaoming Xia, Jinhua Wang, Lusheng Zhu, Jun Wang, Guangchi Wang, Yangyang Chen, Young Mo Kim
Summary: The study utilized artificial soil poisoning method to investigate the antioxidative stress mechanism and gene changes of earthworms (Eisenia foetida) after exposure to nitenpyram. The toxic effects were analyzed comprehensively using the IBRv2 method, showing significant impact on the physiological and genetic levels of earthworms.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alina Kafel, Agnieszka Babczynska, Agnieszka Zawisza-Raszka, Monika Tarnawska, Anna Plachetka-Bozek, Maria Augustyniak
Summary: Cadmium, a common environmental stressor, can have toxic effects on herbivorous insects, with oxidative stress and energy reserve imbalance influenced by developmental stage, sex, and multigenerational exposure history; Cadmium exposure affects protein, carbohydrate, glycogen, and lipid peroxidation in larvae or pupae; Short-term exposure may involve higher protein and glycogen involvement in detoxification processes, while long-term exposure is linked to lower lipids and increased thiols utilization.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Eman A. Abdelfattah, Maria Augustyniak, Hesham A. Yousef
Summary: This study investigated physiological and biochemical changes in Aiolopus thalassinus under the influence of heavy metal pollution, focusing on differences in H2O2 and GSH levels among different life stages and sexes, with a particular importance on females.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lamia M. El-Samad, Saeed El-Ashram, Hussein K. Hussein, Karolin K. Abdul-Aziz, Eman H. Radwan, Nahed R. Bakr, Abeer El Wakil, Maria Augustyniak
Summary: The study revealed that silver nanoparticles have significant adverse effects on the reproductive gland structure and function of beetles. This includes increased cell apoptosis, DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, and decreased levels of antioxidant enzymes.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Pawel K. Beres, Patrycja Zietara, Miroslaw Nakonieczny, Lukasz Kontowski, Michal Grzbiela, Maria Augustyniak
Summary: The box tree moth is an invasive pest that originated from East Asia and has now spread widely in Poland. Despite not being a quarantine pest, there is limited official monitoring data. However, data collected through a dedicated monitoring website from 2018 to 2020 show that the moth is mainly concentrated in southern and central Poland, with its dispersal pattern following the main communication routes of the country and exhibiting long-distance spread. The invasion of the moth is influenced by both transportation routes and populated areas.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Saeed El-Ashram, Noura A. Toto, Abeer El Wakil, Maria Augustyniak, Lamia M. El-Samad
Summary: Assessing the time of death in forensic entomology is crucial, and this study investigated the effects of aluminum phosphide (AlP) on the growth and development of Chrysomya albiceps larvae. It was found that AlP significantly reduced the body length of the larvae and caused deformities. These findings suggest that disturbed growth and development of carrion flies at a crime scene could indicate pesticide poisoning, specifically aluminum phosphide.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Enas A. Ibrahim, Mokhtar Yousef, Doaa A. Ghareeb, Maria Augustyniak, John P. Giesy, Mourad A. M. Aboul-Soud, Abeer El Wakil
Summary: This study investigated the attenuating effect of artichoke leaf extracts on the adverse effects of aflatoxin B-1 in rat brains. The results showed that artichoke leaf extracts significantly reduced the neurotoxic effects caused by AFB(1).
BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria Augustyniak, Agnieszka Babczynska, Marta Dziewiecka, Barbara Flasz, Julia Karpeta-Kaczmarek, Andrzej Kedziorski, Beata Mazur, Katarzyna Rozp Edek, Reyhaneh Seyed Alian, Magdalena Skowronek, Ewa Swierczek, Agata Swietek, Monika Tarnawska, Klaudia Wisniewska, Patrycja Zietara
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of nanodiamonds on insects and found that they had prolonged adverse effects on cellular functions and DNA damage.
Article
Microbiology
Bassma H. Elwakil, Basant A. Bakr, Mohammed M. Aljeldah, Nourhan S. Shehata, Yahya H. Shahin, Zakia A. Olama, Maria Augustyniak, Mourad A. M. Aboul-Soud, Abeer El Wakil
Summary: This study compared the effects of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa meningitis, finding that both bacterial infections resulted in the release of pro-inflammatory mediators and caused pathological changes in brain tissue. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa meningitis model showed more significant time-dependent severity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Barbara Flasz, Marta Dziewiecka, Amrendra K. Ajay, Monika Tarnawska, Agnieszka Babczynska, Andrzej Kedziorski, Lukasz Napora-Rutkowski, Patrycja Zietara, Ewa Swierczek, Maria Augustyniak
Summary: The genotoxic effects of graphene oxide (GO) were examined in the species Acheta domesticus, focusing on DNA damage parameters, DNA damage response parameters, and global methylation. The study found that the sensitivity to GO varied among different life stages and strains, with larvae and young imago being more susceptible. However, the DNA damage response parameters were not significantly affected by life stage, strain, or GO exposure.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Patrycja Zietara, Marta Dziewiecka, Maria Augustyniak
Summary: The sirtuin system, consisting of seven highly conserved regulatory enzymes, plays a crucial role in metabolism, antioxidant protection, and cell cycle regulation. Sirtuins have attracted great interest due to their potential impact on life extension. This article provides a summary of the latest research on the activity of sirtuins and their involvement in the aging process. The effectiveness of compounds that modulate sirtuin activity has been demonstrated in numerous studies, highlighting the importance of carefully considering the risks associated with their manipulation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Alaa Amr, Aida Abd El-Wahed, Hesham R. El-Seedi, Shaden A. M. Khalifa, Maria Augustyniak, Lamia M. El-Samad, Ahmed E. Abdel Karim, Abeer El Wakil
Summary: Honeybee products, such as propolis and royal jelly, have attracted scientific interest due to their natural origin and various biological properties. This study investigated the potential of propolis and royal jelly in mitigating the adverse effects of cadmium exposure on reproductive function in female rats. The results showed that pretreatment and cotreatment with propolis or royal jelly alleviated the negative effects of cadmium. However, the effects of the cotreated groups were still distinct from the control and individual treatment groups. Further research on the chemical composition and treatment conditions of propolis and royal jelly may provide valuable insights for their potential as anti-infertility agents.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Hakim Rabia, Malek Ould Hamou, Katarzyna Kasperkiewicz, Tomasz Krzykawski, Monika Malicka, Izabela Potocka, Iryna Bodnaruk, Amira Merchichi, Magdalena Skowronek, Maria Augustyniak
Summary: This study investigated the biosorption and adhesion abilities of native microorganisms isolated from Algerian Djebel Onk ore. The native strain Bacillus HK4 significantly increased the recovery of Mg and Cd, and showed better adhesion to the ore particles compared to the reference strain. Therefore, HK4 strain can be considered in the development of eco-friendly methods for ore beneficiation and waste recovery.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Agnieszka Babczynska, Mikolaj Gorka, Artur Lis, Monika Tarnawska, Bartosz Lozowski, Jolanta Brozek, Katarzyna Rozpedek, Maria Augustyniak, Magdalena Skowronek, Alina Kafel
Summary: Microplastics, a contaminant of emerging concern in polluted environments, interact with traditional contaminants such as metals and cause increased accumulation of these contaminants in animal bodies. The harmful effects are dependent on the animals' preadaptation and/or cross-tolerance. This study aimed to assess the role of this phenomenon in the limited toxicity of polypropylene fibers (PPf) in larvae of Spodoptera exigua, which were multigenerationally selected for cadmium tolerance. The biomarkers used were digestive enzymes, defensins, and heat shock proteins (HSP70) activity levels. The study found that PPfs increased the accumulation of cadmium in the body, while intake of polypropylene microfibers did not affect the biomarker levels. Furthermore, multigenerational pre-exposure to cadmium prepared the insects for additional stress from PPf, possibly due to increased tolerance and cross-tolerance.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Barbara Flasz, Amrendra K. Ajay, Monika Tarnawska, Agnieszka Babczynska, Lukasz Majchrzycki, Andrzej Kedziorski, Lukasz Napora-Rutkowski, Ewa Swierczek, Maria Augustyniak
Summary: The use of nanoparticles like graphene oxide (GO) in nanocomposite industries is increasing rapidly. Concerns have been raised regarding GO entering the environment and becoming nanopollutants. Exposure to environmental pollutants at low concentrations may have long-lasting effects on subsequent generations, especially on DNA stability.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)