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Topic Review
Metallophores Produced by Salmonella enterica
Salmonella enterica (S. enterica) serovars Enteritidis and Typhimurium are the main causes of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. This Gram-negative rods bacterium possesses several virulence factors that enable it to survive the host’s nutritional immunity. Toxins and metallophores are among these factors. Heavy metals, in particular, are essential for the survival of all living organisms including bacteria.
  • 639
  • 05 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome–related Coronavirus
Middle East respiratory syndrome–related coronavirus (MERS-CoV), or EMC/2012 (HCoV-EMC/2012), is the virus that causes Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). It is a species of coronavirus which infects humans, bats, and camels. The infecting virus is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus which enters its host cell by binding to the DPP4 receptor. The species is a member of the genus Betacoronavirus and subgenus Merbecovirus. Initially called simply novel coronavirus or nCoV, it was first reported in June 2012 after genome sequencing of a virus isolated from sputum samples from a person who fell ill in a 2012 outbreak of a new flu-like respiratory illness. By July 2015, MERS-CoV cases had been reported in over 21 countries, in Europe, North America and Asia as well as the Middle East. MERS-CoV is one of several viruses identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a likely cause of a future epidemic. They list it for urgent research and development.
  • 638
  • 27 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Natural Methods for Foodborne Biofilms
Biofilms are large aggregates of various species of bacteria or other microorganisms tightly attached to surfaces through an intricate extracellular matrix. These complex microbial communities present quite the challenge in the food processing industry, as conditions such as raw meats and diverse food product content in contact with workers, drains, machinery, and ventilation systems, make for prime circumstances for contamination. Adding to the challenge is the highly resistant nature of these biofilm growths and the need to keep in mind that any antimicrobials utilized in these situations risk health implications with human consumption of the products that are being processed in these locations. For that reason, the ideal means of sanitizing areas of foodborne biofilms would be natural means. 
  • 638
  • 09 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Mast Cells against Fungal Host Defense
Mast cells take part in host defense against various microorganisms as they are numerous at the portal of infection, exert several essential mechanisms of pathogen destruction, and they express pattern recognition receptors. MCs can support immune responses to fungi and their specific constituents through initiated degranulation, synthesis and release of cytokines, chemokines, mediators, and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), as well as immune cells' recruitment, phagocytosis, or formation of extracellular DNA traps. 
  • 637
  • 06 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Human Microbiota in Immunotherapy
Microbiota is considered an independent organ with the capability to modulate tumor growth and response to therapies. In the chemo-free era, the use of new immunotherapies, more selective and effective and less toxic, led to the extension of overall survival of patients, subject to their ability to not stop treatment. This has focused scientists’ attention to optimize responses by understanding and changing microbiota composition. While we have obtained abundant data from studies in oncologic and hematologic patients receiving conventional chemotherapy, we have less data about alterations in intestinal flora in those undergoing immunotherapy, especially based on Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cells. Actually, we know that the efficacy of Programmed Cell Death 1 (PD-1), PD-1 ligand, and Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) is improved by probiotics rich in Bifidobacterium spp., while compounds of Bacteroidales and Burkholderiales protect from the development of the anti-CTLA-4-induced colitis in mouse models.
  • 635
  • 06 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Non-Genetic Diversity in Chemosensing/Chemotactic Behavior
Non-genetic phenotypic diversity plays a significant role in the chemotactic behavior of bacteria, influencing how populations sense and respond to chemical stimuli.
  • 635
  • 15 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Fighting Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is one of the most threatening infectious diseases and represents an important and significant reason for mortality in high-burden regions. The only licensed vaccine, BCG, is hardly capable of establishing long-term tuberculosis protection and is highly variable in its effectiveness.
  • 634
  • 07 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Major Phytochemical Classes with Potent Antibacterial Activity
Plants have two major groups of metabolites: primary and secondary. Carbohydrates and lipids are products of the primary metabolism of plants, while phenolic compounds, carotenoids, alkaloids, saponins, and terpenoids are considered to be secondary metabolites. Numerous secondary metabolites exhibit multifaceted pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities, among others.
  • 631
  • 07 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Yeast-Based Screening of Anti-Viral Molecules
Viruses are microscopic, subcellular biological entities that mainly consist of proteins and nucleic acid [ssDNA or dsDNA or (+) ssRNA or (−) ssRNA or both DNA and RNA (for example, Leukovirus)]. Yeast emerged as a model of choice for in vivo assays. Several features that compel the use of a yeast-based platform for screening purposes are briefly highlighted here.
  • 631
  • 22 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Probiotic-Based Sanitation in the Built Environment
The use of conventional chemical disinfectants is a common practice in built environments and has drastically increased in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. While effective for instantaneous disinfection, the application of chemical disinfectants to indoor surfaces is associated with recontamination and is prone to select for antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. In contrast, probiotic-based sanitation (PBS) relies on the premise that probiotic bacteria, namely apathogenic Bacillus spp., when combined with eco-friendly detergents and applied to indoor surfaces can outcompete and exclude pathogens.
  • 629
  • 16 Jun 2023
Topic Review
California Proposition 71 (2004)
Proposition 71 of 2004 (or the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Act) is a law enacted by California voters to support stem cell research in the state. It was proposed by means of the initiative process and approved in the 2004 state elections on November 2. The Act amended both the Constitution of California and the Health and Safety Code. The Act makes conducting stem cell research a state constitutional right. It authorizes the sale of general obligation bonds to allocate three billion dollars over a period of ten years to stem cell research and research facilities. Although the funds could be used to finance all kinds of stem cell research, it gives priority to human embryonic stem cell research. Proposition 71 created the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), which is in charge of making "grants and loans for stem cell research, for research facilities, and for other vital research opportunities to realize therapies" as well as establishing "the appropriate regulatory standards of oversight bodies for research and facilities development". The Act also establishes a governing body called the Independent Citizen’s Oversight Committee (ICOC) to oversee CIRM. Proposition 71 is unique in at least three ways. Firstly, it uses general obligation bonds, which are usually used to finance brick-and-mortar projects such as bridges or hospitals, to fund scientific research. Secondly, by funding scientific research on such a large scale, California is taking on a role that is typically fulfilled by the U.S. federal government. Thirdly, Proposition 71 establishes the state constitutional right to conduct stem cell research. The initiative also represents a unique instance where the public directly decided to fund scientific research.
  • 628
  • 30 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Tools for Molecular Epidemiology of Streptococcus suis
Streptococcus suis is a pathogen of pigs that can cause infections in humans who are in close contact with infected animals and/or contaminated pork-derived products, as well as those who have consumed raw pork products. Several molecular methods have been applied to investigate S. suis strain diversity and identify phylogenetic groups. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST), commonly used to differentiate between S. suis strains, has been instrumental in identifying that the species is genetically highly diverse. Recent advances in whole-genome analysis have resulted in schemes permitting the classification of S. suis populations as pathogenic or non-pathogenic, or disease-associated or non-disease associated. 
  • 627
  • 10 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Microbiota and Obesity
Body weight is influenced not only by the quality of the diet and the amount of physical activity, but also by work schedules, ambient temperature, lack of sleep; drugs that modify endocrine and reproductive functions, gut microbiota, and epigenetic effects.
  • 627
  • 01 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Triboelectric Nanogenerators in Point-of-Care Diagnostics
In the constantly evolving field of medical diagnostics, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) stand out as a groundbreaking innovation for simultaneously harnessing mechanical energy from micromovements and sensing stimuli from both the human body and the ambient environment. This advancement diminishes the dependence of biosensors on external power sources and paves the way for the application of TENGs in self-powered medical devices, especially in the realm of point-of-care diagnostics.
  • 627
  • 20 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Factors That Impact L. monocytogenes in BSAAO
Biological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAO), such as animal waste or animal-waste-based composts, may contain foodborne pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes. Due to the ubiquitous nature of Listeria, it is essential to understand the behavior of L. monocytogenes in BSAAO in order to develop preharvest prevention strategies to reduce pathogen contamination. As biological control agents, competitive exclusion (CE) microorganisms have been widely utilized in agriculture to control plant- or foodborne pathogens. Due to the diverse microbial community, animal wastes and composts are the potential sources for isolating CE strains for pathogen control. To explore the potential of using CE to control L. monocytogenes in BSAAO.
  • 624
  • 03 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Microbiota and Immune/Semiochemical System
The expression microbiota-gut-brain axis is well recognised nowadays (alongside the related terms microbiome-gut-brain axis and, occasionally, brain-gut-microbiota axis), however it is also clear that the action of the microbiome includes an immune system component. In turn, any concerning reaction from this system will necessarily involve the brain in fashioning a coordinated response, such as is seen in the case of traveller’s diarrhoea, for example. The interaction of the microbiota with the body is therefore bidirectional: with the gut wall itself and with the immune system, both of which link through to the brain. Any chemical communication with the microbiome is actually semiochemical, in the sense of the transfer of signalling information between the Kingdoms of Life, i.e. prokaryote to eukaryote and vice versa. Accordingly, the two terms “microbiota-gut-brain axis” and “immune/semiochemical system” should be considered alongside one another.
  • 622
  • 17 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Arsenophonus Nasoniae
Arsenophonus nasoniae is a species of bacterium which was previously isolated from Nasonia vitripennis, a species of parasitoid wasp. These wasps are generalists which afflict the larvae of parasitic carrion flies such as blowflies, houseflies and flesh flies. A. nasoniae belongs to the phylum Proteobacteria and family Enterobacteriaceae.The genus Arsenophonus, has a close relationship to the Proteus (bacterium) rather than to that of Salmonella and Escherichia. The genus is composed of gammaproteobacterial, secondary-endosymbionts which are gram-negative. Cells are non-flagellated, non-motile, non-spore forming and form long to highly filamentous rods. Cellular division is exhibited through septation. The name 'Arsenophonus nasoniae gen. nov., sp. nov.' was therefore proposed for the discovered bacterium due to its characteristics and its microbial interaction with N. vitripennis. The type strain of A. nasoniae is Strain SKI4 (ATCC 49151).
  • 622
  • 18 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Gut Microbiota and Adipose Tissue Microenvironment in Obesity
Obesity is an increasingly serious global health problem. Some studies have revealed that the gut microbiota and its metabolites make important contributions to the onset of obesity. The gut microbiota is a dynamic ecosystem composed of diverse microbial communities with key regulatory functions in host metabolism and energy balance. Disruption of the gut microbiota can result in obesity, a chronic metabolic condition characterized by the excessive accumulation of adipose tissue. Host tissues (e.g., adipose, intestinal epithelial, and muscle tissues) can modulate the gut microbiota via microenvironmental interactions that involve hormone and cytokine secretion, changes in nutrient availability, and modifications of the gut environment. The interactions between host tissues and the gut microbiota are complex and bidirectional, with important effects on host health and obesity.
  • 622
  • 31 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Leishmania Protein Kinases
Leishmania is a protozoan parasite of the trypanosomatid family, causing a wide range of diseases with different clinical manifestations including cutaneous, mucocutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. According to WHO, one billion people are at risk of Leishmania infection as they live in endemic areas while there are 12 million infected people worldwide. Annually, 0.9–1.6 million new infections are reported and 20–50 thousand deaths occur due to Leishmania infection. As current chemotherapy for treating leishmaniasis exhibits numerous drawbacks and due to the lack of effective human vaccine, there is an urgent need to develop new antileishmanial therapy treatment. To this end, eukaryotic protein kinases can be ideal target candidates for rational drug design against leishmaniasis. Eukaryotic protein kinases mediate signal transduction through protein phosphorylation and their inhibition is anticipated to be disease modifying as they regulate all essential processes for Leishmania viability and completion of the parasitic life cycle including cell-cycle progression, differentiation and virulence. This review highlights existing knowledge concerning the exploitation of Leishmania protein kinases as molecular targets to treat leishmaniasis and the current knowledge of their role in the biology of Leishmania spp. and in the regulation of signalling events that promote parasite survival in the insect vector or the mammalian host.
  • 621
  • 23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Human Health and Climate Change
Human health is also affected by climate change effects. According to the World Health Organization, the epidemiology of infectious diseases constantly fluctuates in response to environmental changes and interactions among pathogens, hosts, reservoirs and vectors.
  • 621
  • 10 Aug 2023
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