High-throughput Techniques Research Articles

Molecular and transcriptomic analysis of the ovary during laying and brooding stages in Zhedong white geese (Anser cygnoides domesticus)

ABSTRACT 1. This study investigates the molecular mechanisms affecting brooding in Zhedong white geese by examining differences in reproductive endocrine levels, ovarian histology and transcriptomics. 2. Twenty 18-month-old Zhedong white geese were selected to examine their ovaries using histological, biochemical, molecular biological, and high-throughput sequencing techniques during the laying and brooding periods. 3. The results showed that the number of atretic follicles and apoptotic cells in the ovaries increased significantly (p < 0.05), the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, gonadotropin-releasing hormone and oestradiol decreased significantly (p < 0.05), and the level of prolactin increased significantly (p < 0.01) during the brooding stage. 4. In broody geese, the expression of CASP3, CASP9, P53, BAX, and Cyt-c were considerably higher (p < 0.05), but BCL2 expression was significantly lower (p < 0.05). 5. In ovarian tissues, 260 differentially expressed lncRNAs, 13 differentially expressed miRNA and 60 differentially expressed mRNA were all discovered using transcriptome sequencing analysis. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the differentially expressed mRNA and non-coding RNA target genes were primarily involved in ECM-receptor interaction, cell adhesion, cardiac muscle contraction, mTOR signalling, and the calcium signalling pathway. 6. In conclusion, follicular atrophy and apoptosis occurred in the ovaries and serum reproductive hormone levels were significantly changed during the brooding period of Zhedong white geese. COL3A1, COL1A2, GRIA1, RNF152, miR-192, and miR-194 may be important candidates for the regulation of brooding behaviour, with the mTOR signalling pathway playing a key role.

Analysis of differential effects of host plants on the gut microbes of Rhoptroceros cyatheae.

As an indispensable part of insects, intestinal symbiotic bacteria play a vital role in the growth and development of insects and their adaptability. Rhoptroceros cyatheae, the main pest of the relict plant Alsophila spinulosa, poses a serious threat to the development of the A. spinulosa population. In the present study, 16S rDNA and internal transcribed spacer high-throughput sequencing techniques were used to analyze the structure of intestinal microbes and the diversity of the insect feeding on two different plants, as well as the similarities between the intestinal microorganisms of R. cyatheae. The dominant bacteria of leaf endophytes were also compared based on the sequencing data. The results showed that Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria were the dominant phyla of intestinal bacteria, and Ascomycota was the dominant phylum of intestinal fungi. Allorhizobium-Neorhizobium-Pararhizobium-Rhizobium, Methylobacterium-Methylorubrum, and Enterococcus were the dominant genera in the intestine of R. cyatheae feeding on two plants, and the relative abundance was significantly different between the two groups. Candida was the common dominant genus of intestinal fungi in the two groups, and no significant difference was observed in its abundance between the two groups. This showed that compared with the intestinal fungi of R. cyatheae, the abundance of the intestinal bacteria was greatly affected by food. The common core microbiota between the microorganisms in A. spinulosa leaves and the insect gut indicated the presence of a microbial exchange between the two. The network correlation diagram showed that the gut microbes of R. cyatheae feeding on Gymnosphaera metteniana were more closely related to each other, which could help the host to better cope with the adverse external environment. This study provides a theoretical basis for the adaptation mechanism of R. cyatheae and a new direction for the effective prevention and control of R. cyatheae.

Enhancing Crop Resilience: Advances and Challenges in Marker-Assisted Selection for Disease Resistance

Marker-assisted selection (MAS) has emerged as a pivotal technique in crop improvement programs, enabling the identification and incorporation of disease-resistant traits in crops. This review highlights the significance of MAS in enhancing disease resistance, the current state of research, and the challenges faced in its implementation. Various case studies, including successful applications in crops such as rice, wheat, and maize, demonstrate the potential of MAS in sustainable agriculture. The review also discusses the integration of MAS with other modern breeding techniques and emphasizes the need for advanced genomic tools for future advancements in this field. The development of advanced molecular markers, high-throughput screening techniques, and the incorporation of genomic selection approaches have all contributed to recent developments in MAS. Even in intricate polygenic situations, these developments have significantly improved t+he precision and speed of discovering disease-resistant characteristics. Case studies involving important crops such as maize, wheat, and rice show how MAS can be successfully applied to create varieties with improved resistance to certain diseases, significantly lowering crop losses and reduced use of pesticides. These developments have consequences that go beyond the purely technical; they could have a big influence on environmentally friendly agriculture methods, cost effectiveness, and sustainable development. This study addresses the possible future path of MAS in crop breeding and summarizes the major discoveries from current research, highlighting both the successes and difficulties in the field. The body of data highlights MAS as a critical instrument in the toolbox of the contemporary breeder, essential for satisfying the ever-increasing demands of a world that is changing quickly.

A Multi-Omics Approach to Defining Target Organ Injury in Youth with Primary Hypertension.

Primary hypertension in childhood tracks into adulthood and may be associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Studies conducted in children and adolescents provide an opportunity to explore the early cardiovascular target organ injury (CV-TOI) in a population free from many of the comorbid cardiovascular disease risk factors that confound studies in adults. Youths (n=132, mean age 15.8 years) were stratified by blood pressure (BP) as low, elevated, and high-BP and by left ventricular mass index (LVMI) as low- and high-LVMI. Systemic circulating RNA, miRNA, and methylation profiles in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and deep proteome profiles in serum were determined using high-throughput sequencing techniques. VASH1 gene expression was elevated in youths with high-BP with and without high-LVMI. VASH1 expression levels positively correlated with systolic BP (r=0.3143, p=0.0034). The expression of hsa-miR-335-5p, one of the VASH1-predicted miRNAs, was downregulated in high-BP with high-LVMI youths and was inversely correlated with systolic BP (r=-0.1891, p=0.0489). GSE1 hypermethylation, circulating PROZ upregulation (log2FC=0.61, p=0.0049 and log2FC=0.62, p=0.0064), and SOD3 downregulation (log2FC=-0.70, p=0.0042 and log2FC=-0.64, p=0.010) were observed in youths with elevated BP and high-BP with high-LVMI. Comparing the transcriptomic and proteomic profiles revealed elevated HYAL1 levels in youths displaying high-BP and high-LVMI. The findings are compatible with a novel blood pressure-associated mechanism that may occur through impaired angiogenesis and extracellular matrix degradation through dysregulation of Vasohibin-1 and Hyaluronidase1 was identified as a possible mediator of CV-TOI in youth with high-BP and suggests strategies for ameliorating TOI in adult-onset primary hypertension.

Astrovirus induced nonpurulent encephalomyelitis in sheep: First report from Türkiye by high-throughput sequencing.

This study presents the case of non-purulent encephalomyelitis associated with astrovirus infection in a sheep from Eastern Anatolia, Türkiye. A necropsy was performed on a sheep showing nervous signs. Afterwards, brain tissue samples were taken and examined with histopathological, immunohistochemical and molecular techniques. Neuropathologic changes included neuronal degeneration, diffuse gliosis, multifocal perivascular cuffing, neuronophagy and neuronal necrosis in the cerebrum, the cerebellum and the cervical spinal cord. Aerobic and anaerobic bacterial culture, selective culture for Listeria monocytogenes, and PCR analysis for rabies virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Türkiye encephalitis virus, small ruminant lentiviruses and border disease virus were negative. However, the presence of astrovirus RNA in cerebral, cerebellar and spinal cord samples was demonstrated by a pan-astrovirus RT-PCR. Immunohistochemical examinations revealed astrovirus antigens within the neuronal cytoplasm. High-throughput sequencing techniques identified the causative agent as a member of the genotype species Mamastrovirus 13 but representing a distinct genetic lineage with similarity to ovine astrovirus 1 in the open-reading frames (ORF)1ab region and muskox astrovirus in the ORF2 region. This report provides evidence that astroviruses are potentially encephalitis-causing pathogens in ovine populations in Türkiye, featuring an astrovirus strain distinct from those previously identified in sheep.

Bacteria of healthy periodontal tissues as candidates of probiotics: a systematic review

ObjectivesThe use of probiotics could promote the balance of the subgingival microbiota to contribute to periodontal health. This study aimed to identify the potential of bacteria commonly associated with healthy periodontal tissues as probiotic candidates.Material and methodsA systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines using the PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, ProQuest, and Ovid databases as well as the combination of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and non-MeSH terms. Based on the selection criteria, original studies published in English and identifying the microorganisms present in the periodontium of healthy individuals and patients with periodontitis using the high-throughput 16S ribosomal gene sequencing technique were included.ResultsOut of 659 articles, 12 met the criteria for this review. These articles were published from 2012 to 2020 and mainly originated from the United States, China, and Spain. Most of these studies reported adequate criteria for selecting participants, using standardized clinical criteria, and compliance with quality based on the tools used. In periodontal healthy tissue were identified species like Actinomyces viscosus, Actinomyces naeslundii, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Rothia dentocariosa, Streptococcus sanguinis, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus gordonii, Streptococcus intermedius, and Prevotella nigrescens which have recognized strains with a capacity to inhibit periodontopathogens.ConclusionsS. sanguinis, S. oralis, S. mitis, and S. gordonii are among the bacterial species proposed as potential probiotics because some strains can inhibit periodontopathogens and have been reported as safe for humans.

Direct production of low-oxygen-concentration titanium from molten titanium

Titanium (Ti) is an attractive material, abundant in nature and possessing superior mechanical and chemical properties. However, its widespread use is significantly hampered by the strong affinity between titanium and oxygen (O), resulting in elevated manufacturing costs during the refining, melting, and casting processes. The current work introduces a high-throughput technique that effectively reduces the oxygen content in molten titanium to a level suitable for structural material applications (1000 mass ppm, equivalent to 0.1 mass%). This technique aspires to streamline the mass production of titanium by seamlessly integrating the refining, melting, and casting processes. The developed method leverages the high affinity of rare-earth metals, such as yttrium (Y), for oxygen. This method utilizes the formation reaction of their oxyhalides (YOF) to directly remove oxygen from liquid titanium, resulting in titanium with a significantly reduced oxygen content of 200 mass ppm. This technique enables the direct conversion of titanium oxide feeds into low-oxygen titanium without requiring conversion into intermediate compounds. Additionally, this process offers a pathway for the upgrade recycling of high-oxygen-content titanium scrap directly into low-oxygen titanium. Consequently, this technology holds the potential to dramatically lower titanium production costs, thereby facilitating its more widespread utilization.

Forest-to-Cropland Conversion Reshapes Microbial Hierarchical Interactions and Degrades Ecosystem Multifunctionality at a National Scale.

Conversion from natural lands to cropland, primarily driven by agricultural expansion, could significantly alter soil microbiome worldwide; however, influences of forest-to-cropland conversion on microbial hierarchical interactions and ecosystem multifunctionality have not been fully understood. Here, we examined the effects of forest-to-cropland conversion on intratrophic and cross-trophic microbial interactions and soil ecosystem multifunctionality and further disclosed their underlying drivers at a national scale, using Illumina sequencing combined with high-throughput quantitative PCR techniques. The forest-to-cropland conversion significantly changed the structure of soil microbiome (including prokaryotic, fungal, and protistan communities) while it did not affect its alpha diversity. Both intrakingdom and interkingdom microbial networks revealed that the intratrophic and cross-trophic microbial interaction patterns generally tended to be more modular to resist environmental disturbance introduced from forest-to-cropland conversion, but this was insufficient for the cross-trophic interactions to maintain stability; hence, the protistan predation behaviors were still disturbed under such conversion. Moreover, key soil microbial clusters were declined during the forest-to-cropland conversion mainly because of the increased soil total phosphorus level, and this drove a great degradation of the ecosystem multifunctionality (by 207%) in cropland soils. Overall, these findings comprehensively implied the negative effects of forest-to-cropland conversion on the agroecosystem, from microbial hierarchical interactions to ecosystem multifunctionality.

Abstract B014: Unveiling the future: Exploring cutting-edge technologies for synthetic lethality discovery

Abstract Synthetic lethality discovery is an emerging field of research that aims to reshape the landscape of cancer treatment, offering new hope and possibilities for patients faced with challenging diagnoses. In this article, we explored the cutting-edge technologies shaping the future of synthetic lathality research. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are not just buzzwords but indispensable tools that are shaping the field of precision medicine and personalized cancer treatment. By leveraging the power of computational tools, scientists can accelerate the identification of synthetic lethal interactions and pave the way for the development of more effective targeted cancer therapies. Through case studies, researchers can uncover the functional genomics of complex diseases and identify novel drug targets for cancer therapy. The integration of multi-omics approaches not only enhances the depth of analysis but also offers a more nuanced understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving synthetic lethal interactions, paving the way to unlock novel therapeutics and personalized treatment strategies. In addition, the integration of high-throughput screening techniques, such as CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, opens up new avenues for identifying new drug targets and therapeutic strategies, ultimately paving a new era where personalized and targeted therapies redefine the way we approach cancer care, ushering in a novel era of precision and efficacy in medicine. Citation Format: Peter Oloche David. Unveiling the future: Exploring cutting-edge technologies for synthetic lethality discovery [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Expanding and Translating Cancer Synthetic Vulnerabilities; 2024 Jun 10-13; Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2024;23(6 Suppl):Abstract nr B014.

Simultaneous assessment of human genome and methylome data in a single experiment using limited deamination of methylated cytosine.

Multiomics require concerted recording of independent information, ideally from a single experiment. In this study, we introduce RIMS-seq2, a high-throughput technique to simultaneously sequence genomes and overlay methylation information while requiring only a small modification of the experimental protocol for high-throughput DNA sequencing to include a controlled deamination step. Importantly, the rate of deamination of 5-methylcytosine is negligible and thus does not interfere with standard DNA sequencing and data processing. Thus, RIMS-seq2 libraries from whole- or targeted-genome sequencing show the same germline variation calling accuracy and sensitivity compared with standard DNA-seq. Additionally, regional methylation levels provide an accurate map of the human methylome.

Correlation between physicochemical properties, flavor characteristics and microbial community structure in Dushan shrimp sour paste

Dushan shrimp sour paste (DSSP), a traditional Guizhou condiment, and its unique flavor is determined by the fermentation microbiota. However, the relationship between the microbiota structure and its flavor remains unclear. This study identified 116 volatile flavor compounds using electronic nose and headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC–MS) techniques, of which 19 were considered as key flavor compounds, mainly consisting of 13 esters and 1 alcohol. High-throughput sequencing technique, the bacterial community structure of nine groups of DSSPs was determined. Further analysis revealed Vagococcus, Lactococcus, and Tepidimicrobium as key bacteria involved in flavor formation. This study contributes to our understanding of the relationship between bacterial communities and the flavor formation, and provides guidance for screening starter culture that enhance the flavor of DSSP in industrial production.

High-throughput screening unveils nitazoxanide as a potent PRRSV inhibitor by targeting NMRAL1

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) poses a major threat to the global swine industry, yet effective prevention and control measures remain elusive. This study unveils Nitazoxanide (NTZ) as a potent inhibitor of PRRSV both in vitro and in vivo. Through High-Throughput Screening techniques, 16 potential anti-PRRSV compounds are identified from a library comprising FDA-approved and pharmacopeial drugs. We show that NTZ displays strong efficacy in reducing PRRSV proliferation and transmission in a swine model, alleviating viremia and lung damage. Additionally, Tizoxanide (TIZ), the primary metabolite of NTZ, has been identified as a facilitator of NMRAL1 dimerization. This finding potentially sheds light on the underlying mechanism contributing to TIZ’s role in augmenting the sensitivity of the IFN-β pathway. These results indicate the promising potential of NTZ as a repurposed therapeutic agent for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS). Additionally, they provide valuable insights into the antiviral mechanisms underlying NTZ’s effectiveness.

In situ thermal conductivity measurement revealing kinetics of thermochemical reactions

Utilizing thermochemical reactions for thermal energy storage and solar fuel production has been an emerging research topic. Thermal transport properties of the materials are an important parameter that can determine the kinetics and efficiency of thermochemical reactions. With the increasing number of new thermochemical materials (TCMs); however, there is a lack of reliable techniques to monitor the thermal transport property of the materials and their changes as a function of reactions in real time. In this work, we report the in situ monitoring of thermochemical reactions using modulated photothermal radiometry (MPR). The thermal conductivities of two TCMs, namely, calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) and Ba0.15Sr0.85FeO3−δ (BSF1585), were measured as a function of temperature and time using the MPR technique. The measured thermal conductivities were correlated to the reaction. The work has two significant contributions to the research communities. First, it provides a non-invasive diagnostic tool for monitoring the thermal transport properties of TCMs that can potentially be a high-throughput measurement technique conducive to optimizing TCMs, reactors, and related thermal systems. Second, for TCMs that show observable changes in thermal transport properties, a correlation between the measured thermal conductivity and the conversion fraction of the reaction can be established for monitoring the reaction kinetics based on thermal characterization.

Microbial respiration in contrasting ocean provinces via high-frequency optode assays

Microbial respiration is a critical component of the marine carbon cycle, determining the proportion of fixed carbon that is subject to remineralization as opposed to being available for export to the ocean depths. Despite its importance, methodological constraints have led to an inadequate understanding of this process, especially in low-activity oligotrophic and mesopelagic regions. Here, we quantify respiration rates as low as 0.2 µmol O2 L-1 d-1 in contrasting ocean productivity provinces using oxygen optode sensors to identify size-fractionated respiration trends. In the low productivity region of the North Pacific Ocean at Station Papa, surface whole water microbial respiration was relatively stable at 1.2 µmol O2 L-1 d-1. Below the surface, there was a decoupling between respiration and bacterial production that coincided with increased phytodetritus and small phytoplankton. Size-fractionated analysis revealed that cells &amp;lt;5 µm were responsible for the majority of the respiration in the Pacific, both at the surface and below the mixed layer. At the North Atlantic Porcupine Abyssal Plain, surface whole water microbial respiration was higher (1.7 µmol O2 L-1 d-1) than in the Pacific and decreased by 3-fold below the euphotic zone. The Atlantic size-fraction contributions to total respiration shifted on the order of days during the evolution of a phytoplankton bloom with regular storm disturbances. The high-resolution optode method used in the Atlantic captured these significant shifts and is consistent with coinciding stain-based respiration methods and historical site estimates. This study highlights the dynamic nature of respiration across vertical, temporal, and size-fractionated factors, emphasizing the need for sensitive, high-throughput techniques to better understand ocean ecosystem metabolism.

Clustering single-cell RNA sequencing data via iterative smoothing and self-supervised discriminative embedding.

Single-cell transcriptome sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a high-throughput technique used to study gene expression at the single-cell level. Clustering analysis is a commonly used method in scRNA-seq data analysis, helping researchers identify cell types and uncover interactions between cells. However, the choice of a robust similarity metric in the clustering procedure is still an open challenge due to the complex underlying structures of the data and the inherent noise in data acquisition. Here, we propose a deep clustering method for scRNA-seq data called scRISE (scRNA-seq Iterative Smoothing and self-supervised discriminative Embedding model) to resolve this challenge. The model consists of two main modules: an iterative smoothing module based on graph autoencoders designed to denoise the data and refine the pairwise similarity in turn to gradually incorporate cell structural features and enrich the data information; and a self-supervised discriminative embedding module with adaptive similarity threshold for partitioning samples into correct clusters. Our approach has shown improved quality of data representation and clustering on seventeen scRNA-seq datasets against a number of state-of-the-art deep learning clustering methods. Furthermore, utilizing the scRISE method in biological analysis against the HNSCC dataset has unveiled 62 informative genes, highlighting their potential roles as therapeutic targets and biomarkers.

Comparative RNA-seq analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana response to AtPep1 and flg22, reveals the identification of PP2-B13 and ACLP1 as new members in pattern-triggered immunity.

In this research, a high-throughput RNA sequencing-based transcriptome analysis technique (RNA-Seq) was used to evaluate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the wild type Arabidopsis seedlings in response to AtPep1, a well-known peptide representing an endogenous damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP), and flg22, a well-known microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP). We compared and dissected the global transcriptional landscape of Arabidopsis thaliana in response to AtPep1 and flg22 and could identify shared and unique DEGs in response to these elicitors. We found that while a remarkable number of flg22 up-regulated genes were also induced by AtPep1, 256 genes were exclusively up-regulated in response to flg22, and 328 were exclusively up-regulated in response to AtPep1. Furthermore, among down-regulated DEGs upon flg22 treatment, 107 genes were exclusively down-regulated by flg22 treatment, while 411 genes were exclusively down-regulated by AtPep1. We found a number of hitherto overlooked genes to be induced upon treatment with either flg22 or with AtPep1, indicating their possible involvement general pathways in innate immunity. Here, we characterized two of them, namely PP2-B13 and ACLP1. pp2-b13 and aclp1 mutants showed increased susceptibility to infection by the virulent pathogen Pseudomonas syringae DC3000 and its mutant Pst DC3000 hrcC (lacking the type III secretion system), as evidenced by increased proliferation of the two pathogens in planta. Further, we present evidence that the aclp1 mutant is deficient in ethylene production upon flg22 treatment, while the pp2-b13 mutant is deficient in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The results from this research provide new information for a better understanding of the immune system in Arabidopsis.

High-throughput composition screening of high-entropy rare-earth monosilicates for superior CMAS corrosion resistance up to 1873 K

Superior calcium-magnesium-aluminum-silicate (CMAS) corrosion resistance is the key to the applications of high-entropy rare-earth monosilicates (HEREMs) as environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) for next-generation gas turbine engines. Here, we report a high-throughput composition screening strategy to achieve superior CMAS corrosion resistance in HEREMs for the first time. Specifically, we first fabricate ten kinds of (Ho0.25Yb0.25Lu0.25X0.25)2SiO5 (X = Sc, Tm, Er, Y, Dy, Gd, Eu, Sm, Nd, and La) HEREM samples using a high-throughput pressure-less sintering technique, and subsequently screen their CMAS corrosion resistance at 1673 K via a high-throughput testing apparatus. Among all the as-fabricated samples, the HEREM-Er samples are found to have the best CMAS corrosion resistance, even up to 1873 K, which outperforms the EBC materials that have been reported. Such superior CMAS corrosion resistance of the HEREM-Er samples is primarily attributed to the formation of a dense apatite barrier layer, which results from its decreased melting point, as confirmed by first-principles calculations and molecular dynamic simulations. Our work provides a guide for designing exceptional anti-CMAS corrosion high-entropy rare-earth silicates.

Metabolomics analysis reveals characteristic metabolites in different levels of oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity.

Oxaliplatin (L-OHP), a third-generation platinum-based anti-tumor drug, finds widespread application in the first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Despite its efficacy, the drug's usage is curtailed by a litany of side effects, with L-OHP-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN) being the most debilitating. This condition can be classified into varying degrees of severity. Employing serum metabolomics, a high-sensitivity, high-throughput technique, holds promise as a method to identify biomarkers for clinical assessment and monitoring of OIPN patients across different severity levels. In our study, we analyzed serum metabolites in patients with different OIPN levels using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. By employing statistical analyses and pathway enrichment studies, we aimed to identify potential biomarkers and metabolic pathways. Our findings characterized the serum metabolic profiles of patients with varying OIPN levels. Notably, pathway analysis revealed a significant correlation with lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and energy metabolism. Multivariate statistical analysis and receiver operator characteristic curve evaluation pointed to anhalamine and glycochenodeoxycholic acid as potential biomarkers for OIPN C and A, which suggest that serum metabolomics may serve as a potent tool for exploring the metabolic status of patients suffering from diverse diseases and for discovering novel biomarkers.

Theranostic Potential of Bacteriophages against Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) is a widespread and challenging disease that accounts for 94% of cancers of the oral cavity worldwide. Bacteriophages (phages) have shown promise as a potential theranostic agent for the treatment of OSCC. It may offer advantages in overcoming the challenges of conventional methods. Modern high-throughput pyrosequencing techniques confirm the presence of specific bacterial strains associated with OSCC. Bio-panning and filamentous phages facilitate visualization of the peptide on surfaces and show high affinity in OSCC cells. The peptide has the potential to bind integrin (αvβ6), aid in diagnosis, and inhibit the proliferation of OSCC cells. Mimotopes of tumor-associated antigens show cytotoxic and immune responses against cancer cells. Biomarker-based approaches such as transferrin enable early OSCC diagnosis. A modified temperate phage introduces CRISPR-Cas3 to target antimicrobial-resistant bacteria associated with OSCC. The research findings highlight the evolving field of phage diagnostics and therapy and represent a new avenue for non-invasive, targeted approaches to the detection and treatment of OSCC. However, extensive clinical research is required to validate the efficacy of phages in innovative cancer theranostic strategies.

Who inhabits the built environment? A microbiological point of view on the principal bacteria colonizing our urban areas.

Modern lifestyle greatly influences human well-being. Indeed, nowadays people are centered in the cities and this trend is growing with the ever-increasing population. The main habitat for modern humans is defined as the built environment (BE). The modulation of life quality in the BE is primarily mediated by a biodiversity of microbes. They derive from different sources, such as soil, water, air, pets, and humans. Humans are the main source and vector of bacterial diversity in the BE leaving a characteristic microbial fingerprint on the surfaces and spaces. This review, focusing on articles published from the early 2000s, delves into bacterial populations present in indoor and outdoor urban environments, exploring the characteristics of primary bacterial niches in the BE and their native habitats. It elucidates bacterial interconnections within this context and among themselves, shedding light on pathways for adaptation and survival across diverse environmental conditions. Given the limitations of culture-based methods, emphasis is placed on culture-independent approaches, particularly high-throughput techniques to elucidate the genetic and -omic features of BE bacteria. By elucidating these microbiota profiles, the review aims to contribute to understanding the implications for human health and the assessment of urban environmental quality in modern cities.