Essential Matrix Research Articles

Chemoenzymatic synthesis with the Pasteurella hyaluronan synthase; production of a multitude of defined authentic, derivatized, and analog polymers

AbstractHyaluronan (HA; [‐3‐GlcNAc‐1‐beta‐4‐GlcA‐1‐beta]n), an essential matrix polysaccharide of vertebrates and the molecular camouflage coating in certain pathogens, is polymerized by “HA synthase” (HAS) enzymes. Three HAS classes have been identified with biotechnological utility, but only the Class II PmHAS from Pasteurella multocida Type A has been useful for preparation of very defined HA polymers in vitro. Two general chemoenzymatic strategies with different size products are possible: (1) repetitive step‐wise extension reactions by sequential addition of a single monosaccharide from a donor UDP‐sugar onto an acceptor (or “primer”) comprised of a short glycosaminoglycan chain (e.g., HA di‐, tri‐ or tetrasaccharide) or an artificial glucuronide yielding homogeneous oligosaccharides in the range of 2 to ~20 monosaccharide units (n = 1 to ~10), or (2) “one‐pot” polymerization reactions employing acceptor‐mediated synchronization with stoichiometric size control yielding quasi‐monodisperse (i.e., polydispersity approaching 1; very narrow size distributions) polysaccharides in the range of ~7 kDa to ~2 MDa (n = ~17 to 5000). In either strategy, acceptors containing non‐carbohydrate functionalities (e.g., biotin, fluorophores, amines) can add useful moieties to the reducing termini of HA chains at 100% efficiency. As a further structural diversification, PmHAS can utilize a variety of unnatural UDP‐sugar analogs thus adding novel groups (e.g., trifluoroacetyl, alkyne, azide, sulfhydryl) along the HA backbone and/or at its nonreducing terminus. This review discusses the current understanding and recent advances in HA chemoenzymatic synthesis methods using PmHAS. This powerful toolbox has potential for creation of a multitude of HA‐based probes, therapeutics, drug conjugates, coatings, and biomaterials.

Engineering a Biomimetic Glomerular Filtration Barrier: Coculturing Endothelial Podocytes on Kidney ECM-Bacterial Cellulose Membrane Hybrid.

A novel avenue for advancing our understanding of kidney disease mechanisms and developing targeted therapeutics lies in overcoming the limitations of the existing in vitro models. Traditional animal models, while useful, do not fully capture the intricacies of human kidney physiology and pathophysiology. Tissue engineering offers a promising solution, yet current models often fall short in replicating the complex microarchitecture and biochemical milieu of the kidney. To address this challenge, we propose the development of a sophisticated in vitro glomerular filtration barrier (GFB) utilizing advanced biomaterials and a kidney decellularized extracellular matrix (kdECM). In our approach, we employ a bacterial cellulose membrane (BC) as a scaffold, providing a robust framework for cell growth and interaction. Coating this scaffold with kdECM hydrogel derived from caprine kidney tissue via a detergent-free decellularization method ensures the preservation of vital extracellular matrix proteins crucial for cellular compatibility and signaling. Our engineered GFB not only supports the growth of endothelial and podocyte cells but also exhibits the presence of key markers such as CD31 and nephrin, indicating successful cellular integration. Furthermore, the expression of collagen IV, an essential extracellular matrix (ECM) protein, validates the fidelity of our model in simulating cellular interactions within a kdECM matrix. Additionally, we assessed the filtration efficiency of the developed GFB model using albumin, a standard protein, to evaluate its performance under conditions that closely mimic the native physiological environment. This innovative approach, which faithfully recapitulates the native microenvironment of the glomerulus, holds immense promise for elucidating kidney disease mechanisms, conducting permeability studies, and advancing personalized therapeutic strategies. By leveraging cutting-edge biomaterials and tissue-specific coculture technology, this study can be further extended to develop GFB for the treatment of renal diseases, ultimately improving patient outcomes and quality of life.

Hemicentin-1 is an essential extracellular matrix component during tooth root formation by promoting mesenchymal cells differentiation.

Introduction: Root dentin formation is an important process in tooth development. We tried to identify potential genes that regulate root dentin formation which could be potentially used for the regeneration and repair of defective or damaged dental roots. Methods: Tissues harvested from the labial and lingual sides of mouse incisors were used for microarray analysis. Gene ontology (GO) analysis of differentially expressed genes indicated the critical role of extracellular matrix in the discrepancy of dentin formation between root and crown, for which hemicentin-1 (Hmcn1) was selected as the target gene. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis the expression pattern of Hmcn1 at different developmental stages in mouse molars. The spatiotemporal expression of HMCN1 in mouse incisors and molars was detected by immunohistochemical staining. The functions of HMCN1 in human dental pulp cells, including proliferation, differentiation and migration, were examined in vitro by CCK8 assay, BrdU assay, wound-healing assay, ALP staining and alizarin red staining, respectively. Results: It was showed that HMCN1 expression was more pronounced in papilla-pulp on the root than crown side in mouse incisors and molars. In vitro experiments presented inhibited dentinogenesis and migration after HMCN1-knockdown in human dental pulp cells, while there was no significant difference in proliferation between the HMCN1-knockdown group and control group. Discussion: These results indicated that HMCN1 plays an important role in dentinogenesis and migration of pulp cells, contributing to root dentin formation.

Structurally and mechanically tuned macroporous hydrogels for scalable mesenchymal stem cell–extracellular matrix spheroid production

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are essential in regenerative medicine. However, conventional expansion and harvesting methods often fail to maintain the essential extracellular matrix (ECM) components, which are crucial for their functionality and efficacy in therapeutic applications. Here, we introduce a bone marrow-inspired macroporous hydrogel designed for the large-scale production of MSC-ECM spheroids. Through a soft-templating approach leveraging liquid-liquid phase separation, we engineer macroporous hydrogels with customizable features, including pore size, stiffness, bioactive ligand distribution, and enzyme-responsive degradability. These tailored environments are conducive to optimal MSC proliferation and ease of harvesting. We find that soft hydrogels enhance mechanotransduction in MSCs, establishing a standard for hydrogel-based 3D cell culture. Within these hydrogels, MSCs exist as both cohesive spheroids, preserving their innate vitality, and as migrating entities that actively secrete functional ECM proteins. Additionally, we also introduce a gentle, enzymatic harvesting method that breaks down the hydrogels, allowing MSCs and secreted ECM to naturally form MSC-ECM spheroids. These spheroids display heightened stemness and differentiation capacity, mirroring the benefits of a native ECM milieu. Our research underscores the significance of sophisticated materials design in nurturing distinct MSC subpopulations, facilitating the generation of MSC-ECM spheroids with enhanced therapeutic potential.

Cartilage decellularized matrix hydrogel loaded with protocatechualdehyde for targeted epiphycan treatment of osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent chronic disease, characterized by chronic inflammation and cartilage degradation. This study aims to deepen the understanding of OA's pathophysiology and to develop novel therapeutic strategies. Our study underscores the pivotal role of Epiphycan (EPYC) and the IL-17 signaling pathway in OA. EPYC, an essential extracellular matrix constituent, has been found to exhibit a positive correlation with the severity of OA. We have discovered that EPYC modulates the activation of the IL-17 signaling pathway within chondrocytes by regulating the interaction between IL-17A and its receptor, IL-17RA. This regulatory mechanism underscores the intricate interplay between the extracellular matrix and immune signaling in the pathogenesis of OA Another finding of our study is the therapeutic effectiveness of protocatechualdehyde (PAH) in OA. PAH significantly reduces chondrocyte hypertrophy and supports cartilage tissue recovery.by targets EPYC. To reduce the side effects of orally administered PAH and maintain its effective drug concentration, we have developed a decellularized matrix hydrogel loaded with PAH for intra-articular injection. This novel drug delivery system is advantageous in minimizing drug-related side effects and ensuring sustained release PAH within the joint cavity.

An enhanced multifunctional chitosan-based active packaging film reinforced with cinnamon essential oil encapsulating onion peel anthocyanins

The fabrication of bio-hybrid composites utilizing polymers, nanomaterials, essential oils, and other substances is gaining popularity due to its multi-functionality and application across various fields. Many industries today effectively employ innovative composite and multilayer materials by considering their benefits in several areas. In particular, the food industry uses innovative, multi-functional packaging materials based on biodegradability to accomplish multiple tasks. Many researchers have recently shown interest in an innovative and intelligent food packaging film with indicators for real-time food safety and protection. It is preferable to use anthocyanins, as an indicator in the active packaging film to track the freshness of food by observing color changes in the packaged film upon a shift in pH. In the current investigation, ethanol was used as a solvent to obtain anthocyanin-rich onion peel extracts (AROPE), using conventional and ultrasound-assisted extraction techniques, which were then used as an indicator in the packaging films. To develop antioxidant and pH-sensing films, anthocyanin-rich onion peel extract was blended into the chitosan and cinnamon essential oil matrix. Films displayed significant color variations in acidic and alkaline environments over short periods making them easy to perceive with the naked eye. For real-world applications, the fabricated films mechanical, structural, and physical characteristics were further explored. Because of their sensory qualities, colors, and antimicrobial benefits, these novel chitosan-based films could be ideal for food packaging to enhance food security.

An Eye into the Aorta: The Role of Extracellular Matrix Regulatory Genes ZNF469 and PRDM5, from Their Previous Association with Brittle Cornea Syndrome to Their Novel Association with Aortic and Arterial Aneurysmal Diseases.

The extracellular matrix is a complex network of proteins and other molecules that are essential for the support, integrity, and structure of cells and tissues within the human body. The genes ZNF469 and PRDM5 each produce extracellular-matrix-related proteins that, when mutated, have been shown to result in the development of brittle cornea syndrome. This dysfunction results from aberrant protein function resulting in extracellular matrix disruption. Our group recently identified and published the first known associations between variants in these genes and aortic/arterial aneurysms and dissection diseases. This paper delineates the proposed effects of mutated ZNF469 and PRDM5 on various essential extracellular matrix components, including various collagens, TGF-B, clusterin, thrombospondin, and HAPLN-1, and reviews our recent reports associating single-nucleotide variants to these genes' development of aneurysmal and dissection diseases.

Nano-Enhanced Phase Reinforced Magnesium Matrix Composites: A Review of the Matrix, Reinforcement, Interface Design, Properties and Potential Applications.

Magnesium matrix composites are essential lightweight metal matrix composites, following aluminum matrix composites, with outstanding application prospects in automotive, aerospace lightweight and biomedical materials because of their high specific strength, low density and specific stiffness, good casting performance and rich resources. However, the inherent low plasticity and poor fatigue resistance of magnesium hamper its further application to a certain extent. Many researchers have tried many strengthening methods to improve the properties of magnesium alloys, while the relationship between wear resistance and plasticity still needs to be further improved. The nanoparticles added exhibit a good strengthening effect, especially the ceramic nanoparticles. Nanoparticle-reinforced magnesium matrix composites not only exhibit a high impact toughness, but also maintain the high strength and wear resistance of ceramic materials, effectively balancing the restriction between the strength and toughness. Therefore, this work aims to provide a review of the state of the art of research on the matrix, reinforcement, design, properties and potential applications of nano-reinforced phase-reinforced magnesium matrix composites (especially ceramic nanoparticle-reinforced ones). The conventional and potential matrices for the fabrication of magnesium matrix composites are introduced. The classification and influence of ceramic reinforcements are assessed, and the factors influencing interface bonding strength between reinforcements and matrix, regulation and design, performance and application are analyzed. Finally, the scope of future research in this field is discussed.

Crucial roles of specialized chitinases in elytral and hindwing cuticles construction in Leptinotarsa decemlineata.

The Colorado potato beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata, is a major potato (Solanum tuberosum) pest, infesting over 16 million km2 and causing substantial economic losses. The insect cuticle forms an apical extracellular matrix (ECM) envelope covering exposed organs to direct morphogenesis and confer structural protection. While select chitinase (Cht) genes have proven essential for larval development, their potential activities directing ECM remodeling underlying adult wing maturation remain undefined. We investigated the expression patterns and performed an oral RNA interference (RNAi) screen targeting 19 LdChts in late-instar L. decemlineata larvae. Subsequently, we assessed their effects on adult eclosion and wing characteristics. Knockdown of LdCht5, LdCht7, LdCht10, LdIDGF2, and LdIDGF4, as well as others from Group IV (LdCht15, LdCht12, LdCht17, and LdCht13) and Groups VII-X (LdCht2, LdCht11, LdCht1, and LdCht3), resulting in shrunken, misshapen elytra with reduced areal density, as well as transverse wrinkling and impaired wing-tip folding in hindwings. Scanning electron micrographs revealed eroded elytral ridges alongside thinned, ruptured hindwing veins, indicative of mechanical fragility post-LdCht suppression. Spectroscopic analysis uncovered biomolecular alterations underlying the elytral anomalies, including decreases in peaks representing chitin, proteins, and lipids. This loss of essential ECM components provides evidence for the fragility, wrinkling, and shrinkage observed in the RNAi groups. Our findings elucidate the crucial role of chitinases in the turnover of chitinous cuticles on beetle wings, offering insights into RNAi-based control strategies against this invasive pest. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Periapical lesion-derived decellularized extracellular matrix as a potential solution for regenerative endodontics.

Pulp regeneration remains a crucial target in the preservation of natural dentition. Using decellularized extracellular matrix is an appropriate approach to mimic natural microenvironment and facilitate tissue regeneration. In this study, we attempted to obtain decellularized extracellular matrix from periapical lesion (PL-dECM) and evaluate its bioactive effects. The decellularization process yielded translucent and viscous PL-dECM, meeting the standard requirements for decellularization efficiency. Proteomic sequencing revealed that the PL-dECM retained essential extracellular matrix components and numerous bioactive factors. The PL-dECM conditioned medium could enhance the proliferation and migration ability of periapical lesion-derived stem cells (PLDSCs) in a dose-dependent manner. Culturing PLDSCs on PL-dECM slices improved odontogenic/angiogenic ability compared to the type I collagen group. In vivo, the PL-dECM demonstrated a sustained supportive effect on PLDSCs and promoted odontogenic/angiogenic differentiation. Both in vitro and in vivo studies illustrated that PL-dECM served as an effective scaffold for pulp tissue engineering, providing valuable insights into PLDSCs differentiation. These findings pave avenues for the clinical application of dECM's in situ transplantation for regenerative endodontics.

Using Regularized Methods to Validate Q-Matrix in Cognitive Diagnostic Assessment

One of the central components of cognitive diagnostic assessment is the Q-matrix, which is an essential loading indicator matrix and is typically constructed by subject matter experts. Nonetheless, to a large extent, the construction of Q-matrix remains a subjective process and might lead to misspecifications. Many researchers have recognized the importance of estimating or validating the Q-matrix, but most of them focus on the conditions of relatively large sample sizes. This article aims to explore Q-matrix validation possibilities under small sample conditions and uses regularized methods to validate the Q-matrix based on the compensatory reparametrized unified model and generalized deterministic inputs, noisy “and” gate models. Simulation studies were conducted to evaluate the viability of the modified least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) and modified smoothly clipped absolute deviation (SCAD) methods, comparing them with existing methods. Results show that the modified Lasso and the modified SCAD methods outperform the stepwise, Hull, and MLR-B methods in general, especially under the conditions of small sample sizes. While good recovery in all small sample size conditions is not guaranteed, the modified methods demonstrate advantages across various item quality conditions. Also, a real data set is analyzed to illustrate the application of the modified methods.

Estimation of planar angles from non-orthogonal imaging.

Photogrammetry-based methods are traditionally used to estimate the geometrical parameters using optical images. These methods employ specific equipment, computationally sophisticated and expensive algorithms, and utilize projective geometry to reconstruct real-life scenes up to a scale. In this work, we used a computationally less-expensive method for sparse reconstruction to estimate the planar angles using two-view geometry and linear algorithms from non-orthogonal images acquired by a smartphone camera. First, intrinsic camera parameters were determined. Next, scale-invariant feature transform was used to identify the correspondence points from each pair of images. Epipolar constraint was applied on all these points to determine the essential matrix using the eight-point algorithm. Thereafter, extrinsic camera parameters were estimated from the essential matrix and combined with the intrinsic matrix to get the camera projection matrix. Finally, linear triangulation was used to get the sparse point cloud representing the scene. Planar angles were estimated by backprojecting the chosen image points and applying simple vector algebra on the obtained 3D points. The method was successful in estimating the planar angles in less than 10s on non-curved edges with an average error of 3% by using only ten images. Given the simplicity of methods used, this technique can be integrated into a smartphone for on-site measurements as well as large deformations.

Harnessing the Regenerative Potential of Fetal Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Endothelial Colony‐Forming Cells in the Biofabrication of Tissue‐Engineered Vascular Grafts (TEVGs)

Tissue engineering is a promising approach for the production of small‐diameter vascular grafts; however, there are limited data directly comparing the suitability of applicable cell types for vessel biofabrication. Here, we investigated the potential of adult smooth muscle cells (SMCs), placental mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), placental endothelial colony‐forming cells (ECFCs), and a combination of MSCs and ECFCs on highly porous biocompatible poly(ɛ‐caprolactone) (PCL) scaffolds produced via melt electrowriting (MEW) for the biofabrication of tissue‐engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs). Cellular attachment, proliferation, and deposition of essential extracellular matrix (ECM) components were analysed in vitro over four weeks. TEVGs cultured with MSCs accumulated the highest levels of collagenous components within a dense ECM, while SMCs and the coculture were more sparsely populated, ascertained via histological and immunofluorescence imaging, and biochemical assessment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) enabled visualisation of morphological differences in cell attachment and growth, with MSCs and SMCs infiltrating and covering scaffolds completely within the 28‐day culture period. Coverage and matrix deposition by ECFCs was limited. However, ECFCs lined the ECM formed by MSCs in coculture, visualised via immunostaining. Thus, of cells investigated, placental MSCs were identified as the preferred cell source for the fabrication of tissue‐engineered constructs, exhibiting extensive population of porous polymer scaffolds and production of ECM components; with the inclusion of ECFCs for luminal endothelialisation, an encouraging outcome warranting further consideration in future studies. In combination, these findings represent a substantial step toward the development of the next generation of small‐diameter vascular grafts in the management of cardiovascular disease.

Mono camera-based GPS spoofing detection for aerial vehicles

This paper presents mono camera-based GPS spoofing detection for aerial vehicles utilizing only image information besides the initial orientation of the vehicle. Orientation information is propagated and motion direction is estimated solely from the mono camera images through the estimation of the essential matrix. Histograms of Oriented Displacements and their correlation are considered to detect spoofing considering GPS and image-based data. Straight and turning simulated fight trajectories of a fixed wing research drone with different turbulence levels are compared to evaluate the method. The results are promising with timely detection of every spoofing scenario and without false alarm. The exploration of real fight data is the topic of future development.

SOLUTION SELECTION FOR FASTER ESSENTIAL MATRIX BASED STEREO VISUAL ODOMETRY

For autonomous navigation systems used in robots and self-driving vehicles, the usage of sequence images captured from single or multiple cameras for localization has been widely adopted due to both the low cost and high accuracy. The approach using essential matrix estimation for calculating the transformation is so popular that the essential matrix is estimated from five points which is the minimum number of points for pose estimation. However, each five pairs of points provides up to ten solutions for the essential matrix. In this paper, we propose an approach to improve the computation speed of the essential matrix by selecting the number of solutions based on a comparison with the previous essential vector of the two consecutive frames. The proposed method evaluated on the KITTI dataset shows at least 15% reduction in computation speed compared to the conventional method.

Surface modification of aligned electrospun poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)-based scaffold for binding with fibronectin or collagen in vascular tissue engineering

BackgroundVascular diseases are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The combination of the natural polymer poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) with essential extracellular matrix proteins such as fibronectin (FN) or collagen (COL) using various methods (coating, grafting and air plasma) to create small-diameter vascular grafts holds significant promise in the field of vascular tissue engineering. MethodsThe final data from this study indicated that after conjugation, the films maintained a smooth surface area and preserved morphology. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were employed to assess the cytotoxicity, biocompatibility, and proliferation potential of cell lines treated with the synthesized films. The FN-binding PHBV and COL-binding PHBV films exhibited remarkable cell biocompatibility and cell proliferation rates. Furthermore, the treated cells exhibited specific gene expressions, including VEGFR-2, vWF, CD31, CD34, and CD133. Additionally, at specified time points, the cell retention rate and anti-coagulation ability of EPCs and HUVECs cultured on various PHBV films were tested, yielding successful outcomes. Significant findingsThe results suggested that FN-binding PHBV films represent an ideal bio-based polymer for applications in vascular tissue engineering.

A dual basis approach to multidimensional scaling

Classical multidimensional scaling (CMDS) is a technique that embeds a set of objects in a Euclidean space given their pairwise Euclidean distances. The main part of CMDS involves double centering a squared distance matrix and using a truncated eigendecomposition to recover the point coordinates. In this paper, motivated by a study in Euclidean distance geometry, we explore a dual basis approach to CMDS. We give an explicit formula for the dual basis vectors and fully characterize the spectrum of an essential matrix in the dual basis framework. We make connections to a related problem in metric nearness.

5′-Methylthioadenosine strongly suppresses RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation and function via inhibition of RANK-NFATc1 signalling pathways

Excessive osteoclast-mediated bone resorption is a critical cause of osteoporosis affecting many aging people worldwide. 5′-Methylthioadenosine (MTA) is a natural sulfur-containing nucleoside normally produced in prokaryotes, plants, yeast, and higher eukaryotes via polyamine metabolism. MTA affects various physiological responses particularly the inflammatory pathway in both normal and cancerous cells and modulates the activation of nuclear factor-κB involved in the osteoclastogenesis signalling process. While several studies have reported that natural products possess anti-osteoclastogenesis phenolics and flavonoids, the effect of nucleoside derivatives on osteoclastogenesis remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the molecular mechanisms by which MTA affects pre-osteoclastic RAW 264.7 cells as a potential alleviation compound for inflammation-mediated bone loss. Osteoclasts were established by incubating RAW264.7 macrophage cells with receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor, the vital cytokines for activation of osteoclast differentiation. Cell viability was measured using MTT assays at 24, 48, and 72 h. The suppressive effect of MTA on RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation and function was assessed using tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) analysis, qRT-PCR, and pit formation, Western blot, and immunofluorescence assays. MTA showed dose-dependent anti-osteoclastogenic activity by inhibiting TRAP-positive cell and pit formation and reducing essential digestive enzymes, including TRAP, cathepsin K, and matrix metallopeptidase 9. MTA was observed to suppress the osteoclast transduction pathway through (RANKL)-induced nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NFƘB); it attenuated NFƘB-P65 expression and down-regulated cFos proto-oncogene and nuclear factor of activated T cell c1 (NFATc1), the main regulators of osteoclasts. Moreover, the suppression of RANK (the initial receptor triggering several osteoclastogenic transduction pathways) was observed. Thus, this study highlights the potential of MTA as an effective therapeutic compound for restoring bone metabolic disease by inhibiting the RANK-NFATc1 signal pathway.

Abstract PO-100: Fusobacterium nucleatum promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) via INHBA-dependent SMAD/Laminin332/PI3K/AKT pathway

Abstract Introduction The enrichment of Fusobacterium nucleatum has been reported in both oral rinses and lesion samples from oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients based on several case-control sequencing analyses, but studies on the potential role of F. nucleatum in OSCC tumorigenesis are still limited. In this study, we sought to elucidate the relationship between F. nucleatum and host transcriptome dysregulation in potentially carcinogenic pathways. Method The association between microbiota dysbiosis and host gene transcriptome was profiled by bacterial 16S rRNA V3-V4 amplicon sequencing and host gene long non-coding RNA sequencing (lncRNA-seq) for tumor and adjacent normal (AN) tissues from OSCC patients. Cell migration and invasion assays were performed using the in vitro bacteria-cell co-culture model. EMT-related molecular mechanisms induced by F. nucleatum were further validated by IncRNA-seq, real-time PCR, and western blot for bacteria-infected cells, respectively, at the genetic and proteomic levels. Result Significant enrichment of Fusobacterium was observed in OSCC tumor samples when compared to the paired AN samples. Correlation analysis between mucosal oral bacteria and host transcriptome in the OSCC tumor microenvironment elucidated the positive relationship between Fusobacterium and EMT pathways including significantly upregulated genes INHBA, SNAI2, and LAMC2. Using in-vitro cell models, we further observed that F. nucleatum significantly promoted cell migration and invasion, and significantly dysregulated the expression of several EMT factors including the increased inducer inhibin beta A (INHBA), core regulators SNAI1 (snai1) and SLUG (snai2), effectors vimentin (VIM) and N-cadherin (CDH2), and decreased E-cadherin (CDH1). Following the INHBA/SMAD pathway induced by F. nucleatum infection, the expression of an essential extracellular matrix glycoprotein, Laminin 332, was dramatically enhanced, which may trigger the phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and AKT kinase in the downstream PI3K/AKT pathway for the promoted cell migration and invasion ability. Conclusion Our study confirms the enrichment of Fusobacterium in the OSCC tumor microenvironment and reveals that F. nucleatum infection induces the INHBA/SAMD pathway and subsequently increases Laminin 332 expression, which may further promote the phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT and enhance OSCC migration and invasion. Citation Format: Hengyan Zhu, Liuyang Cai, Zigui Chen, Jason Y. K. Chan. Fusobacterium nucleatum promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) via INHBA-dependent SMAD/Laminin332/PI3K/AKT pathway [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-AHNS Head and Neck Cancer Conference: Innovating through Basic, Clinical, and Translational Research; 2023 Jul 7-8; Montreal, QC, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2023;29(18_Suppl):Abstract nr PO-100.

IMPROVING CAMERA POSE ESTIMATION USING SWARM PARTICLE ALGORITHMS

Abstract. Most computer vision and photogrammetry applications rely on accurately estimating the camera pose, such as visual navigation, motion tracking, stereo photogrammetry, and structure from motion. The Essential matrix is a well-known model in computer vision that provides information about the relative orientation between two images, including the rotation and translation, for calibrated cameras with a known camera matrix. To estimate the Essential matrix, the camera calibration matrices, which include focal length and principal point location must be known, and the estimation process typically requires at least five matching points and the use of robust algorithms, such as RANSAC to fit a model to the data as a robust estimator. From the usually large number of matched points, choosing five points, the Essential matrix can be determined based on a simple solution, which could be good or bad. Obtaining a globally optimal and accurate camera pose estimation, however, requires additional steps, such as using evolutionary algorithms (EA) or swarm algorithms (SA), to prevent getting trapped in local optima by searching for solutions within a potentially huge solution space.This paper aims to introduce an improved method for estimating the Essential matrix using swarm particle algorithms that are known to efficiently solve complex problems. Various optimization techniques, including EAs and SAs, such as Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Gray Wolf Optimization (GWO), Improved Gray Wolf Optimization (IGWO), Genetic Algorithm (GA), Salp Swarm Algorithm (SSA) and Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA), are explored to obtain the global minimum of the reprojection error for the five-point Essential matrix estimation based on using symmetric geometric error cost function. The experimental results on a dataset with known camera orientation demonstrate that the IGWO method has achieved the best score compared to other techniques and significantly speeds up the camera pose estimation for larger number of point pairs in contrast to traditional methods that use the collinearity equations in an iterative adjustment.