Biological Modifiers Research Articles

ANTIFUNGAL EFFECT AND PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF SOLANUM MACROCARPON LIN. LEAF EXTRACT IN SOUTHEAST NIGERIA

The study investigated the antifungal activities and phytochemical composition of Solanum macrocarpon Lin. Leaf extract. The research was carried out at the Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria. The phytochemical revealed that alkaloid, phenol, saponin, flavonoid and tannin were present while steroid and terpenoid were absent. Quantitatively, flavonoid, constitutes the highest substance at 9.44% while phenol was lowest with 0.145. Antifungal investigation reveals that aqueous and ethanol extract of Solanum macrocarpon Lin was able to exhibit strong inhibitory activity against fungal isolates. (Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, Geotrichum candidum and Botrodipodia theobromae tested). Ethanol extract showed higher inhibitory effect than aqueous extract. In aqueous extract the inhibitory effect is independent of the extract concentration. For 0.5ml aqueous, Fusarium oxysporum had 2.3cm mycelium growth while it was 2.93cm in 1ml. Botrodipodia theobromae had 3.95cm mycelium growth in 0.5ml but 2.75cm in 1ml. The ethanol extract inhibition increases with increase in concentration. In Geotrichum candidum at 0.5ml, mycelium growth was 1.60cm but 1.02cm in 1ml. The antifungal activity of these extract is possibly linked to the presence of flavonoids, saponins and tannins. Further analysis should be carried out to determine the precise active bioactive compounds from Solanum macrocarpon L. that could inhibit fungi growth.

Abstracts fook of the Scientific Session of the Faculty of Biology (SSFB), New Trends in Biology: from Molecules to Complex Systems, 4th edition, October 25th - 26th, 2024

Abstracts of the scientific works that have been presented at the Scientific Session of the Faculty of Biology (SSFB), New Trends in Biology: from Molecules to Complex Systems, 4th edition, October 25-26, 2024, Iasi, Romania

Faculty perceptions of a professional development program for developing CUREs and promoting inclusive and equitable teaching.

The Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) model can be used to explore how faculty prioritize learning about and adopting new pedagogical approaches. Here, we use the DOI framework to contextualize biology faculty perceptions of a professional development (PD) program designed to help them create a full semester course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) class at a large, public comprehensive university. PD sessions included exploring self-reflexive identity while fostering inclusive classroom spaces through understanding and interrupting implicit bias and microaggressions. This qualitative study sought to determine 11 biology faculty members' beliefs about the influence of their year-long PD on their CURE development and teaching practices. Findings suggest that faculty were motivated to teach CUREs for a variety of reasons. A common incentive was integrating research into a CURE to bring their passion into their classroom and to engage more students in research. This may be particularly important at institutions where faculty have a heavy teaching load. Faculty also reported modifying their teaching in their CUREs and other courses to be more inclusive and equitable. The importance of peer interactions in the PD was emphasized repeatedly as faculty learned from experts, the literature, and faculty who had already developed a CURE. Our results illustrate that a community of practice structure can enhance the learning aspect of the community, helping faculty consider their implementation of inclusive, equitable, and high-impact practices as an ongoing educational process for themselves and emphasizing the importance of reflection and iteration in a DOI framework.

Tregs levels and phenotype modifications during Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis course.

T regulatory cells (Tregs) inversely correlate with disease progression in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and fast-progressing ALS patients have been reported to exhibit dysfunctional, as well as reduced, levels of Tregs. This study aimed to evaluate the longitudinal changes in Tregs among ALS patients, considering potential clinical and biological modifiers of their percentages and concentrations. Additionally, we explored whether measures of ALS progression, such as the decline over time in the revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-r) or forced vital capacity (FVC) correlated Treg levels and whether Treg phenotype varied during the course of ALS. Total Tregs (detected by CD3, CD4, FoxP3, CD25, and CD127) were quantified at five time points over 54 weeks in 21 patients in the placebo arm of the RAP-ALS trial; next they were characterized for the expression of surface markers including CD38, CD39, CXCR3, and PD1. Repeated measures mixed models were used to analyze the longitudinal course of Tregs, considering potential associations with other clinical and laboratory characteristics. Correlations between ALSFRS-r or FVC and Tregs over time were similarly investigated. Our study showed that Treg levels did not change significantly on average during the observation period in our ALS cohort. However, PD1+Tregs decreased and CD39+Tregs increased over time. Male sex and cholesterol levels were associated with increasing Tregs (%) over time, while monocytes positively affected Treg concentrations. Treg concentrations showed a modesty association with FVC decline but were not associated with ALSFRS-r decline. Treg levels remained stable during the ALS observation period and were not significantly associated with ALSFRS-r variations, suggesting that Treg numbers alone may have limited utility as a pharmaco-dynamic biomarker for ALS trials. However the observed changes in Treg phenotypes, such as the decrease in PD1+Tregs, indicate that phenotypic variations may warrant further investigation for their potential role in ALS progression and therapeutic targeting.

Exploration and morphological characterization of Trichoderma spp from organic waste at TPST Rempoah-Baturraden, Banyumas Regency

Members of the Trichoderma genera are able to adapt to various habitats including organic waste, with a fairly high population density. This study aimed to determine the differences in the morphological characteristics of Trichoderma spp isolated from the Rempoah Integrated Waste Processing Facility (TPST), Baturraden District, Banyumas Regency. The experiment was conducted at the Mycology and Phytopathology Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, Jenderal Soedirman University. The results of the exploration of the Trichoderma genera obtained three isolates. The characteristics observed were macroscopic characteristics including the colour and shape of the colonies, and microscopic characteristics including the shape of conidiophores, phialides, and conidia. The results showed that the three Trichoderma isolates from Rempoah TPST had different morphological characteristics. The species of Trichoderma spp obtained were T. koningii, T. asperellum, and T. harzianum.

Graph-Theoretical Prediction and Analysis of Biologically Relevant Substructures in an Open and Closed Conformation of Respiratory Complex I.

Protein complexes are functional modules within the hierarchy of the cellular organization. Large protein complexes often consist of smaller functional modules, which are biologically relevant substructures with specific functions. The first protein complex of the respiratory chain, complex I, consists of functional modules for the electron transfer from NADH to quinone and the translocation of protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane. Complex I is well-characterized and biological modules have been experimentally assigned. Nevertheless, there is an ongoing discussion about the coupling of the electron transfer and the proton translocation, and about the proton translocation pathways.We modelled a mammalian complex I in open and closed conformations as complex graphs, with vertices representing protein chains and edges representing chain-chain contacts. Using a graph-theoretical method, we computed the structural modules of complex I, which indicated functional, biological substructures. We described characteristic structural features of complex I and observed a rearrangement of the structural modules. The changes in the structural modules indicated the formation of a functional module in the membrane arm of complex I during the conformational change.

Two-stepped pH-responsive peptide microsphere/carboxymethyl chitosan complex: enhanced protection of an inflamed dentin-pulp complex.

Dental caries is the most prevalent infectious disease affecting oral health, leading to the destruction of tooth hard tissues and dental pulp inflammation. The dentin-pulp complex, as the biological core of the tooth, can generate reparative dentin to protect the dental pulp from infection progression. However, untreated carious lesions chronically disrupt the structural integrity and reparative capacity of the dentin-pulp complex, thereby significantly compromising pulp vitality as deep caries progresses. In this study, a two-stepped pH-responsive peptide microsphere/carboxymethyl chitosan complex (PM/CS) was designed to offer comprehensive protection for the inflamed dentin-pulp complex. PM/CS has a three-dimensional network structure, and it constructs an intelligent drug delivery system by integrating TVH-19 self-assembled peptide microspheres that we developed earlier into carboxymethyl chitosan. This complex not only exhibited pH-controlled release characteristics, but also showed antibacterial properties against Streptococcus mutans and a mineralization-promoting effect on human dental pulp cells (hDPCs). PM/CS exerted acute anti-inflammatory effects on early pulpal lesions in rats, while longitudinal studies revealed its remarkable capacity to induce tertiary dentinogenesis, indicating therapeutic efficacy through biological modulation. This study provides a potential pulp capping complex material for the restoration treatment of the dentin-pulp complex under the influence of deep caries.

Exchange, promiscuity, and orthogonality in de novo designed coiled-coil peptide assemblies.

De novo protein design is delivering new peptide and protein structures at a rapid pace. Many of these synthetic polypeptides form well-defined and hyperthermal-stable structures. Generally, however, less is known about the dynamic properties of the de novo designed structures. Here, we explore one aspect of dynamics in a series of de novo coiled-coil peptide assemblies: namely, peptide exchange within and between different oligomers from dimers through to heptamers. First, we develop a fluorescence-based reporter assay for peptide exchange that is straightforward to implement, and, thus, would be useful to others examining similar systems. We apply this assay to explore both homotypic exchange within single species, and heterotypic exchange between coiled coils of different oligomeric states. For the former, we provide a detailed study for a dimeric coiled coil, CC-Di, finding a half-life for exchange of 4.2 ± 0.3 minutes at a peptide concentration of 200 μM. Interestingly, more broadly when assessing exchange across all of the oligomeric states, we find that some of the designs are faithful and only undergo homotypic strand exchange, whereas others are promiscuous and exchange to form unexpected hetero-oligomers. Finally, we develop two design strategies to improve the orthogonality of the different oligomers: (i) using alternate positioning of salt bridge interactions; and (ii) incorporating non-canonical repeats into the designed sequences. In so doing, we reconcile the promiscuity and deliver a set of faithful homo-oligomeric de novo coiled-coil peptides. Our findings have implications for the application of these and other coiled coils as modules in chemical and synthetic biology.

Insight on the complete process of photoacoustic generation and propagation of cerebrovascular in brain via multi-physics coupling method

The presence of the skull hinders photoacoustic imaging from being used for brain imaging. In order to understand the mechanism of photoacoustic signal generation of cerebrovascular in the presence of skull, a photoacoustic model of cerebrovascular was established by using COMSOL Multiphysics to achieve the visualization of the whole process of the generation and transmission of the cerebrovascular photoacoustic signal. The diffusion equation is approximated by the partial differential equations in the form of coefficients in the mathematical module of COMSOL to describe laser propagation in brain tissue. The light energy absorbed by the gray matter and blood vessels was used as a heat source, and the biological heat transfer module of COMSOL Multiphysics was used to describe the instantaneous temperature rise of gray matter and blood vessels. A thermal strain model was constructed by the solid mechanics module to visualize the surface displacement caused by the adiabatic expansion of blood vessels. The photoacoustic signal is generated by the surface displacement of the vessel, and the propagation of the photoacoustic signal is visualized using a transient pressure acoustic model of COMSOL Multiphysics. This visualization study provides theoretical guidance for the research and application of photoacoustic imaging in brain structural and functional imaging.

Initial Assessment the Effects of Polyethylene Microplastics on the Growth of Zebrafish Embryos Danio rerio

The aim of this study to evaluate the effect of polyethylene (PE) microplastics to mortality rates and morphological changes of zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos by determining the mortality ratio of embryos and changes in embryo morphological structure after 24, 48, 72 and 96 h of exposure. Zebrafish were obtained from the Faculty of Biology - Hanoi University of Science. 24-hour-old fish embryos were exposed to PE microplastic concentrations of 5; 10; 20; 50 and 100 µg/mL. The results showed that when exposed to microplastics at concentrations of 10 µg/mL or higher, only about 5-10% of mortality embryos and the ratio did not increase with increasing concentration. These embryos died in the first 24 h and the number of dead embryos did not increase throughout the experiment. A similar trend was also observed when evaluating the ratio of morphologically abnormal embryos, embryos with abnormal pericardial edema were observed throughout the experiment at the highest concentration of 100 µg/mL. The results showed the potential risk in the using plastic products for the ecological environment.

Inga D. Neumann: Molecular underpinnings of the brain oxytocin system and its involvement in socio-emotional behaviour: More than a love story

Professor Inga Neumann stands at the forefront of neuropeptide research, bringing over three decades of expertise to her role as Chair of the Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology at the University of Regensburg, Germany. Her journey in science began in East Germany at the Karl-Marx-University in Leipzig (now the University of Leipzig), where she earned both her diploma in biology and her PhD. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, her career path led her through a postdoctoral position at the University of Calgary in Canada and seven enriching years at the Max-Planck Institute for Psychiatry in Munich before assuming her current position at Regensburg in 2001. As the first woman to be appointed full professor at the Faculty of Biology and Preclinical Medicine, she has shaped the University's neuroscience landscape by establishing and directing the Elite Masters Programme in Experimental and Clinical Neuroscience. Currently, she heads the Graduate School “Neurobiology of Socio-Emotional Dysfunctions,” a prestigious program funded by the German Research Foundation since 2017. The heart of her research lies in understanding how neuropeptides, particularly oxytocin, vasopressin, and CRF, orchestrate stress responses and social behaviours. Her work spans multiple levels of analysis – from molecular mechanisms and epigenetics to neural circuits and behaviour – primarily using rodent models to unlock the mysteries of the social brain. In this Genomic Press Interview, Professor Neumann shares her reflections on a life dedicated to unravelling the intricate relationships between brain chemistry and behaviour, offering insights into both her scientific journey and personal philosophy.

Characterizing full-time, non-tenure-track teaching faculty in biology.

Institutions of higher education play a major role in teaching undergraduate students. Historically, most courses have been taught by tenure-track (TT) faculty who may also be responsible for research or scholarly activities. However, a recent shift from "teaching-intensive" TT faculty to "teaching-only" contingent faculty off the tenure track has highlighted the importance of understanding the experiences of contingent faculty. While there have been an increasing number of studies examining the experiences of part-time contingent faculty, few studies have directly surveyed the increasing number of full-time, non-tenure-track (NTT) teaching faculty in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to capture their experiences, nor are we aware of any study that has examined the roles of NTT teaching faculty within one discipline to examine any potential disciplinary differences that may arise across STEM fields. Here, we focus on the experiences of full-time, non-tenure-track faculty in biology whose primary responsibility is teaching. We conducted a random stratified sampling of institutions using the Carnegie classifications to identify potential full-time NTT teaching faculty at over 10% of all institutions in the United States. Our results from surveying these faculty found both positive and negative themes, including (i) NTT teaching faculty being less diverse than the STEM professoriate at large; (ii) NTT teaching faculty reporting mixed feelings on institutional support, identifying a range of opportunities to better support NTT teaching faculty; (iii) NTT teaching faculty often having limited participation in voting for department and institutional matters and reporting mixed feelings of belonging and value; and (iv) NTT teaching faculty having high amounts of autonomy over their teaching but still struggling in key areas. We end with specific implications and recommendations for our field to better support NTT teaching faculty in biology.

Metal‐Organic Frameworks: A Solution for Greener Polymeric Materials with Low Fire Hazards

AbstractThe non‐degradability of polymeric materials and the flammability of their products have resulted in significant environmental pollution. Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) serve as innovative flame retardants, featuring a high specific surface area, ample pore volume, and customizable structure. By leveraging the structural adjustability of MOFs, biological modifiers containing flame retardant elements can be integrated into MOFs, thereby ensuring flame retardation while imparting biodegradable properties. Moreover, the issue of material pollution can be effectively addressed by utilizing MOFs as flame retardants within renewable polymer matrices. Recently, an increasing number of researchers have concentrated on developing green flame‐retardant polymer materials using MOFs. However, as far as is known, no comprehensive review on green polymers with minimal fire risk produced using MOFs currently exists. Consequently, this study reviews the recent advancements in the development of green flame‐retardant polymer materials utilizing MOFs, covering the preparation and utilization of bio‐based and recyclable MOFs. Additionally, a flame‐retardant renewable matrix based on MOFs is also synthesized. Furthermore, this review anticipates discussing the benefits and drawbacks associated with using MOFs to manufacture green flame‐retardant polymer products. This work aims to assist researchers in rapidly comprehending the most recent advancements in this field and guiding efficient design.

Ultrasensitive Organic Photoelectrochemical Transistor Biosensor Based on DNA as Nanocarrier for Efficient Immobilization of Signal Probe with Pimping Background.

Organic photoelectrochemical transistor (OPECT) assays are mainly focused on the improvement of photoactive materials at the gating interface, which leads to an enhanced initial signal alongside significant background noise. This phenomenon can cause considerable deviations and impose limits on target detection. In this study, we achieved sensitive and low-background detection of alkaline phospholipase (ALP) activity using single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) as a nanocarrier to effectively immobilizing CdS quantum dots (QDs) sensitizing UiO-66. Specifically, ssDNA-labeled CdS QDs could be connected to UiO-66 via Zr-O-P bonds, while sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) interfered with the binding of CdS QD-ssDNA to UiO-66 due to an occupancy effect. The hydrolysis of STPP, catalyzed by ALP, diminished this occupancy effect, allowing for increased binding of CdS QDs-ssDNA to UiO-66 and thereby enhancing the responsive signal. The competitive dynamic between STPP and ssDNA allowed for controlled binding of CdS QDs-ssDNA photosensitizers on UiO-66, thus realizing sensitive detection of ALP. This organic integration of biological modulation and signal amplification in OPECT has led to the creation of a novel sensing platform for detecting ALP concentrations ranging from 0.005 to 100 U·L-1, and the detection limit is 0.0012 U·L-1, thus paving the way for innovative approaches to sensitively monitor ALP activity.

History of Biology in the Moldovan SSR (1947-1991): Chronological Dimension

Institutionalization of academic and university biological sciences in the Moldovan SSR had started 75 years ago. They have been evolving within the Botany Section and the Zoology Section of the Moldovan Base of the USSR Academy of Sciences (1947), as well as the Faculty of Biology of Chişinau State University (1947). Following the Base was transformation into the Moldovan Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences, biological sciences were developing in the Institute of Biology, the Microbiology Section and the Botanical Gardens Institute. With the establishing of the Academy of Sciences of Moldovan SSR (1961), new academic institutions have been created: Institute of Zoology, Institute of Plants Physiology and Biochemistry, Section of Plant Genetics. Scientific schools were founded in the field of genetics and melioration (academician A. Kovarski), parasitology (academician A. Spassky), hydrobiology (academician M. Iaroshenko), ornithology (academician I. Ganea), mycology and phytopathology (academician I. Popushoi), fodder plants biology (academician M. Lupashcu), cytoembryology (academician A. Ciubotaru), stress physiology (academician T. Furdui), cellular and vegetal tissue biology (academic. B. Matienco), etc.

MSU anthropologists in the new century: key interests and field of activity

The article is devoted to a brief overview of the achievements of anthropologists of Moscow State University over the past quarter of a century in honor of the anniversary of MSU (270th anniversary of its foundation). The review is divided into several subsections devoted to the main scientific activities of the employees of the Institute of Anthropology, in which current scientific areas are discussed. The work of anthropologists in the scientific funds of the Museum of Anthropology, as well as the achievements and results obtained in the course of studying materials from anthropological and archaeological expeditions of the Institute of Anthropology of Moscow State University are presented. The work of the weekly scientific seminar "Anthropological Environment" is described. Since 2020, it has been broadcast online, which has significantly expanded the audience for participation not only by specialists from Moscow, but also for anthropologists and scientists of related specialties from other regions. Thematic master classes, approbation of reports of young applicants, meetings of the Anthropology section of the annual International Scientific Conference of Students, Postgraduates and Young Scientists "Lomonosov" are held on the platform of the seminar. The unity of anthropologists is promoted by a professional journal. Anthropologists can defend their scientific research in the Thematic Dissertation Council of Moscow State University, which has been functioning since 1958. The review discusses the features of the educational process at the Department of Anthropology of the Biological Faculty of Moscow State University - the only one in the Russian Federation that provides professional education in the field of human biology. The article presents a list of thematic exhibitions organized on the basis of the Museum of Anthropology of Moscow State University over the past 5 years, and discusses events to promote anthropology at the Museum. © 2024. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license

Мирон Пилипович Деркач (1931–2012). Той, що почав розмовляти з комп’ютером…

Myron Derkach is a world-class scientist in the field of biophysics and informational aspects of speech communication – analysis, synthesis and recognition of speech signals. He is the founder of the scientific direction, who formulated the principles of the deductive strategy of auditory language perception. In 1976, he created one of the first biophysics departments in Ukraine on the basis of the biological faculty of Ivan Franko University of Lviv. Dr. Myron Derkach is the author of the first university textbooks in Ukrainian on biophysics and mathematical methods in biology, which have not lost their relevance to this day.

Insights into the Identification of iPSC- and Monocyte-Derived Macrophage-Polarizing Compounds by AI-Fueled Cell Painting Analysis Tools.

Macrophage polarization critically contributes to a multitude of human pathologies. Hence, modulating macrophage polarization is a promising approach with enormous therapeutic potential. Macrophages are characterized by a remarkable functional and phenotypic plasticity, with pro-inflammatory (M1) and anti-inflammatory (M2) states at the extremes of a multidimensional polarization spectrum. Cell morphology is a major indicator for macrophage activation, describing M1(-like) (rounded) and M2(-like) (elongated) states by different cell shapes. Here, we introduced cell painting of macrophages to better reflect their multifaceted plasticity and associated phenotypes beyond the rigid dichotomous M1/M2 classification. Using high-content imaging, we established deep learning- and feature-based cell painting image analysis tools to elucidate cellular fingerprints that inform about subtle phenotypes of human blood monocyte-derived and iPSC-derived macrophages that are characterized as screening surrogate. Moreover, we show that cell painting feature profiling is suitable for identifying inter-donor variance to describe the relevance of the morphology feature 'cell roundness' and dissect distinct macrophage polarization signatures after stimulation with known biological or small-molecule modulators of macrophage (re-)polarization. Our novel established AI-fueled cell painting analysis tools provide a resource for high-content-based drug screening and candidate profiling, which set the stage for identifying novel modulators for macrophage (re-)polarization in health and disease.

Integrated proteomics and metabolomics analyses reveal new insights into the antitumor effects of valproic acid plus simvastatin combination in a prostate cancer xenograft model associated with downmodulation of YAP/TAZ signaling

BackgroundDespite advancements in therapeutic approaches, including taxane-based chemotherapy and androgen receptor-targeting agents, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) remains an incurable tumor, highlighting the need for novel strategies that can target the complexities of this disease and bypass the development of drug resistance mechanisms. We previously demonstrated the synergistic antitumor interaction of valproic acid (VPA), an antiepileptic agent with histone deacetylase inhibitory activity, with the lipid-lowering drug simvastatin (SIM). This combination sensitizes mCRPC cells to docetaxel treatment both in vitro and in vivo by targeting the cancer stem cell compartment via mevalonate pathway/YAP axis modulation.MethodsHere, using a combined proteomic and metabolomic/lipidomic approach, we characterized tumor samples derived from 22Rv1 mCRPC cell-xenografted mice treated with or without VPA/SIM and performed an in-depth bioinformatics analysis.ResultsWe confirmed the specific impact of VPA/SIM on the Hippo–YAP signaling pathway, which is functionally related to the modulation of cancer-related extracellular matrix biology and metabolic reprogramming, providing further insights into the molecular mechanism of the antitumor effects of VPA/SIM.ConclusionsIn this study, we present an in-depth exploration of the potential to repurpose two generic, safe drugs for mCRPC treatment, valproic acid (VPA) and simvastatin (SIM), which already show antitumor efficacy in combination, primarily affecting the cancer stem cell compartment via MVP/YAP axis modulation. Bioinformatics analysis of the LC‒MS/MS and 1H‒NMR metabolomics/lipidomics results confirmed the specific impact of VPA/SIM on Hippo–YAP.

Abstract IA007: Modulating cfDNA biology to enhance liquid biopsies

Abstract Liquid biopsies could transform cancer care but require higher sensitivity to detect early-stage tumors and minimal residual disease (MRD) and to enable tumor molecular profiling and therapy response monitoring for most patients. In this talk, I will focus on the significant biological bottlenecks upstream of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing. I will posit that in many circumstances, insufficient circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) drawn in a blood tube cannot be overcome by assay technology alone, and that in vivo modulation of cfDNA biology may also be required to enhance liquid biopsies. Inspired by widespread use of diagnostic drugs in other areas of medicine, we sought to create the first “priming agents” for liquid biopsies that could be administered before a blood draw to recover more ctDNA. I will describe two such approaches—a monoclonal antibody against double-stranded DNA and a liposome nanoparticle—that briefly attenuate cfDNA clearance by shielding it from nuclease digestion and cellular uptake. These enabled >10x more ctDNA to be collected when administered within 1-2 hours of a blood draw in mice. This improved the analytical limit of detection for ctDNA testing by >10-fold, provided more complete representation of the tumor genome in each blood sample, and increased the sensitivity for detection of small tumors from <10% to >75% in mice. Envisioning a future where liquid biopsies are optionally enhanced with priming, I will also explore a unique potential pairing with our tumor-informed, whole-genome, mutation enrichment sequencing MRD test called MAESTRO, and how it stands to enable routine ctDNA detection below 1 part per million. Citation Format: Viktor Adalsteinsson. Modulating cfDNA biology to enhance liquid biopsies [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Liquid Biopsy: From Discovery to Clinical Implementation; 2024 Nov 13-16; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2024;30(21_Suppl):Abstract nr IA007.