-
Injury Epidemiology Jun 2024Unintentional injuries disproportionately impact American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Developing effective and culturally tailored data collection and... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Unintentional injuries disproportionately impact American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Developing effective and culturally tailored data collection and intervention programs requires an understanding of past prevention efforts in AI/AN communities, but limited peer-reviewed literature on the topic is available. This scoping review aims to summarize efforts that have been published in the Primary Care Provider newsletter, a source of gray literature available through the Indian Health Service.
METHODS
The research team obtained all injury related articles in the Provider newsletter and excluded those that did not describe an unintentional injury prevention effort. Included articles were organized chronologically and by topic, and outcomes were described in a data abstraction form.
RESULTS
A total of 247 articles from the Provider newsletter were screened, and 68 were included in this review. The most number of articles were published in 2007 (n = 15). Many focused not specifically on one tribal community but on the AI/AN community as a whole (n = 27), while others reported that certain tribes were the focus of study but did not identify tribes by name (n = 24). The following is a list of 14 tribal communities explicitly mentioned: Omaha, Cherokee, Ute, Yakama, Chippewa, Apache, Ho-Chunk, The Crow Tribe, Tohono O'odham Nation, Fort Mojave Tribe, Chemehuevi Tribe, The Rosebud Tribe, Navajo, and The Pueblo of Jemez. Published unintentional injury prevention efforts have covered the following 7 topics in AI/AN communities: falls, motor vehicle crashes, poisonings, improving data, burns, children, and other.
CONCLUSION
This scoping review makes available and searchable information on injury prevention work conducted in and for AI/AN communities that is not currently found in the peer-reviewed literature.
PubMed: 38915110
DOI: 10.1186/s40621-024-00509-1 -
BMC Biology Jun 2024The intermediate filament protein vimentin is widely recognized as a molecular marker of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Although vimentin expression is strongly...
BACKGROUND
The intermediate filament protein vimentin is widely recognized as a molecular marker of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Although vimentin expression is strongly associated with cancer metastatic potential, the exact role of vimentin in cancer metastasis and the underlying mechanism of its pro-metastatic functions remain unclear.
RESULTS
This study revealed that vimentin can enhance integrin β1 surface expression and induce integrin-dependent clustering of cells, shielding them against anoikis cell death. The increased integrin β1 surface expression in suspended cells was caused by vimentin-mediated protection of the internal integrin β1 pool against lysosomal degradation. Additionally, cell detachment was found to induce vimentin Ser38 phosphorylation, allowing the translocation of internal integrin β1 to the plasma membrane. Furthermore, the use of an inhibitor of p21-activated kinase PAK1, one of the kinases responsible for vimentin Ser38 phosphorylation, significantly reduced cancer metastasis in animal models.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that vimentin can act as an integrin buffer, storing internalized integrin β1 and releasing it when needed. Overall, this study provides insights regarding the strong correlation between vimentin expression and cancer metastasis and a basis for blocking metastasis using this novel therapeutic mechanism.
Topics: Vimentin; Integrin beta1; Anoikis; Humans; Animals; Cell Survival; Mice; Cell Line, Tumor; Phosphorylation; p21-Activated Kinases
PubMed: 38915055
DOI: 10.1186/s12915-024-01942-w -
PLoS Computational Biology Jun 2024Carbohydrates and glycoproteins modulate key biological functions. However, experimental structure determination of sugar polymers is notoriously difficult....
Carbohydrates and glycoproteins modulate key biological functions. However, experimental structure determination of sugar polymers is notoriously difficult. Computational approaches can aid in carbohydrate structure prediction, structure determination, and design. In this work, we developed a glycan-modeling algorithm, GlycanTreeModeler, that computationally builds glycans layer-by-layer, using adaptive kernel density estimates (KDE) of common glycan conformations derived from data in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) and from quantum mechanics (QM) calculations. GlycanTreeModeler was benchmarked on a test set of glycan structures of varying lengths, or "trees". Structures predicted by GlycanTreeModeler agreed with native structures at high accuracy for both de novo modeling and experimental density-guided building. We employed these tools to design de novo glycan trees into a protein nanoparticle vaccine to shield regions of the scaffold from antibody recognition, and experimentally verified shielding. This work will inform glycoprotein model prediction, glycan masking, and further aid computational methods in experimental structure determination and refinement.
PubMed: 38913746
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011895 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2024The Nipah virus (NiV), a highly deadly bat-borne paramyxovirus, poses a substantial threat due to recurrent outbreaks in specific regions, causing severe respiratory and...
The Nipah virus (NiV), a highly deadly bat-borne paramyxovirus, poses a substantial threat due to recurrent outbreaks in specific regions, causing severe respiratory and neurological diseases with high morbidity. Two distinct strains, NiV-Malaysia (NiV-M) and NiV-Bangladesh (NiV-B), contribute to outbreaks in different geographical areas. Currently, there are no commercially licensed vaccines or drugs available for prevention or treatment. In response to this urgent need for protection against NiV and related infections, we developed a novel homotypic virus-like nanoparticle (VLP) vaccine co-displaying NiV attachment glycoproteins (G) from both strains, utilizing the self-assembling properties of ferritin protein. In comparison to the NiV G subunit vaccine, our nanoparticle vaccine elicited significantly higher levels of neutralizing antibodies and provided complete protection against a lethal challenge with NiV infection in Syrian hamsters. Remarkably, the nanoparticle vaccine stimulated the production of antibodies that exhibited superior cross-reactivity to homologous or heterologous . These findings underscore the potential utility of ferritin-based nanoparticle vaccines in providing both broad-spectrum and long-term protection against NiV and emerging zoonotic challenges.
Topics: Animals; Nipah Virus; Henipavirus Infections; Ferritins; Mesocricetus; Antibodies, Viral; Antibodies, Neutralizing; Nanoparticles; Viral Vaccines; Cricetinae; Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle; Female; Humans; Nanovaccines
PubMed: 38911870
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1387811 -
Frontiers in Pediatrics 2024In contrast to significant declines in deaths due to lung cancer and cardiac disease in Westernised countries, the mortality due to 'chronic obstructive pulmonary... (Review)
Review
In contrast to significant declines in deaths due to lung cancer and cardiac disease in Westernised countries, the mortality due to 'chronic obstructive pulmonary disease' (COPD) has minimally changed in recent decades while 'the incidence of bronchiectasis' is on the rise. The current focus on producing guidelines for these two airway 'diseases' has hindered progress in both treatment and prevention. The elephant in the room is that neither COPD nor bronchiectasis is a disease but rather a consequence of progressive untreated airway inflammation. To make this case, it is important to review the evolution of our understanding of airway disease and how a pathological appearance (bronchiectasis) and an arbitrary physiological marker of impaired airways (COPD) came to be labelled as 'diseases'. Valuable insights into the natural history of airway disease can be obtained from the pre-antibiotic era. The dramatic impacts of antibiotics on the prevalence of significant airway disease, especially in childhood and early adult life, have largely been forgotten and will be revisited as will the misinterpretation of trials undertaken in those with chronic (bacterial) bronchitis. In the past decades, paediatricians have observed a progressive increase in what is termed 'persistent bacterial bronchitis' (PBB). This condition shares all the same characteristics as 'chronic bronchitis', which is prevalent in young children during the pre-antibiotic era. Additionally, the radiological appearance of bronchiectasis is once again becoming more common in children and, more recently, in adults. Adult physicians remain sceptical about the existence of PBB; however, in one study aimed at assessing the efficacy of antibiotics in adults with persistent symptoms, researchers discovered that the majority of patients exhibiting symptoms of PBB were already on long-term macrolides. In recent decades, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of the respiratory microbiome and an understanding of the ability of bacteria to persist in potentially hostile environments through strategies such as biofilms, intracellular communities, and persister bacteria. This is a challenging field that will likely require new approaches to diagnosis and treatment; however, it needs to be embraced if real progress is to be made.
PubMed: 38910961
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2024.1391290 -
Journal of Medical Imaging and... Jun 2024According to current literature, there is a lack of information regarding the radiation protection (RP) practices of interventional radiology (IR) and cardiology...
BACKGROUND
According to current literature, there is a lack of information regarding the radiation protection (RP) practices of interventional radiology (IR) and cardiology catheter laboratory (CCL) staff. This study aims to determine the RP practices of staff within IR and CCLs internationally and to suggest areas for improvement.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study in the form of an online questionnaire was developed. Participation was advertised via online platforms and through email. Participants were included if they were healthcare professionals currently working in IR and CCLs internationally. Questionnaire design included Section 1 demographic data, Section 2 assessed RP training and protocols, Section 3 surveyed the use of different types of RP lead shields, both personal and co-worker use and Section 4 assessed other methods of minimising radiation dose within practice. Questions were a mix of open and closed ended, descriptive statistics were used for closed questions and thematic analysis was employed for open ended responses.
RESULTS
A total of 178 responses to the questionnaire were recorded with 130 (73 %) suitable for analysis. Most respondents were female (n = 94, 72 %) and were radiographers (n = 97, 75 %). Only 68 (53 %) had received training, the majority receiving this in-house (n = 54, 79 %). 118 (98 %) of respondents had departmental protocols in place for RP. Radiology managers (n = 106, 82 %) were most likely to contribute to such protocols. Multiple methods of dose minimisation exist, these include low-dose fluoroscopy, staff rotation, radiation dose audits and minimal time in the controlled areas. Respondents reported that lead apron shields were wore personally by 99 % of respondents and by co-workers in 95 % of cases.
CONCLUSION
The practices of RP by IR and CCL staff in this survey was variable and can be improved. The unavailability of basic radiation protection tools and RP specific training courses/modules were some of the reasons for sub-optimal self-protection against ionising radiation reported by respondents.
PubMed: 38908031
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmir.2024.101440 -
Multiple Sclerosis (Houndmills,... Jun 2024
PubMed: 38907631
DOI: 10.1177/13524585241254989 -
Molecular Plant Jun 2024
PubMed: 38907525
DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2024.06.012 -
MSphere Jun 2024Epitopes from the cell surface proteins Fba and Met6 are putative vaccine targets for invasive candidiasis. Here, we describe a vaccine approach in which short...
UNLABELLED
Epitopes from the cell surface proteins Fba and Met6 are putative vaccine targets for invasive candidiasis. Here, we describe a vaccine approach in which short peptides derived from Fba and Met6 are used in spontaneous nanoliposome antigen particle (SNAP) format. SNAP was enabled by the interaction of cobalt porphyrin phospholipid in liposomes with three histidine residues on the N-terminus of synthetic short peptide immunogens from Fba (F-SNAP), Met6 (M-SNAP), or bivalent Fba and Met6 (FM-SNAP). Liposomes were adjuvanted with synthetic monophosphoryl lipid and QS-21. In mice, immunization with F-SNAP, M-SNAP, or FM-SNAP induced antigen-specific IgG responses and mixed Th1/Th2 immunity. The duplex FM-SNAP vaccine elicited stronger antibody responses against each peptide, even at order-of-magnitude lower peptide dosing than a comparable adjuvanted, conjugate vaccine. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot analysis revealed the induction of antigen-specific, cytokine-producing T cells. Compared to F-SNAP or M-SNAP, higher production of TNFα, IL-2, and IFNγ was observed with re-stimulation of splenocytes from bivalent FM-SNAP-immunized mice. When vaccinated BALB/c mice were challenged with , analysis of the fungal burden in the kidneys showed that SNAP vaccination protected from disseminated candidiasis. In a lethal fungal exposure model in A/J mice, F-SNAP, M-SNAP, and FM-SNAP vaccination protected mice from candidiasis challenge. Together, these results show that further investigation into the SNAP adjuvant platform is warranted using Fba and Met6 epitopes for a pan- peptide vaccine that provides multifaceted protective immune responses.
IMPORTANCE
This study introduces a promising vaccine strategy against invasive candidiasis, a severe fungal infection, by targeting specific peptides on the surface of . Using a novel approach called spontaneous nanoliposome antigen particle (SNAP), we combined peptides from two key proteins, Fba and Met6, into a vaccine. This vaccine induced robust immune responses in mice, including the production of protective antibodies and the activation of immune cells. Importantly, mice vaccinated with SNAP were shielded from disseminated candidiasis in experiments. These findings highlight a potential avenue for developing a broad-spectrum vaccine against infections, which could significantly improve outcomes for patients at risk of these often deadly fungal diseases.
PubMed: 38904363
DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00189-24 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2024Waterlogging is a constant threat to crop productivity and ecological biodiversity. Plants face multiple challenges during waterlogging stress like metabolic... (Review)
Review
Waterlogging is a constant threat to crop productivity and ecological biodiversity. Plants face multiple challenges during waterlogging stress like metabolic reprogramming, hypoxia, nutritional depletion, reduction in gaseous exchange, pH modifications, microbiome alterations and disease promotion all of which threaten plants survival. Due to global warming and climatic change, the occurrence, frequency and severity of flooding has dramatically increased posing a severe threat to food security. Thus, developing innovative crop management technologies is critical for ensuring food security under changing climatic conditions. At present, the top priority among scientists is to find nature-based solutions to tackle abiotic or biotic stressors in sustainable agriculture in order to reduce climate change hazards to the environment. In this regard, utilizing plant beneficial microbiome is one of the viable nature based remedial tool for mitigating abiotic stressors like waterlogging. Beneficial microbiota provides plants multifaceted benefits which improves their growth and stress resilience. Plants recruit unique microbial communities to shield themselves against the deleterious effects of biotic and abiotic stress. In comparison to other stressors, there has been limited studies on how waterlogging stress affects plant microbiome structure and their functional traits. Therefore, it is important to understand and explore how waterlogging alters plant microbiome structure and its implications on plant survival. Here, we discussed the effect of waterlogging stress in plants and its microbiome. We also highlighted how waterlogging stress promotes pathogen occurrence and disease development in plants. Finally, we highlight the knowledge gaps and areas for future research directions on unwiring how waterlogging affects plant microbiome and its functional traits. This will pave the way for identifying resilient microbiota that can be engineered to promote their positive interactions with plants during waterlogging stress.
PubMed: 38903424
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1407789