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Topic Review
Composition and Metabolic Activity of Gut Microbiota
The gut microbiota comprises species from all three domains of life (bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes) as well as viruses, with each human individual harbouring a unique combination of constituent species. 
  • 397
  • 25 May 2023
Topic Review
Molecular Mechanisms in Fibrotic Evolution during Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmunity is a chronic process resulting in inflammation, tissue damage, and subsequent tissue remodelling and organ fibrosis. In contrast to acute inflammatory reactions, pathogenic fibrosis typically results from the chronic inflammatory reactions characterizing autoimmune diseases. Despite having obvious aetiological and clinical outcome distinctions, most chronic autoimmune fibrotic disorders have in common a persistent and sustained production of growth factors, proteolytic enzymes, angiogenic factors, and fibrogenic cytokines, which together stimulate the deposition of connective tissue elements or epithelial to mesenchymal transformation (EMT) that progressively remodels and destroys normal tissue architecture leading to organ failure. 
  • 385
  • 25 May 2023
Topic Review
Understanding Antimicrobial Resistance Using Genome-Scale Metabolic Modeling
The urgent necessity to fight antimicrobial resistance is universally recognized. In the search of new targets and strategies to face this global challenge, a promising approach resides in the study of the cellular response to antimicrobial exposure and on the impact of global cellular reprogramming on antimicrobial drugs’ efficacy. The metabolic state of microbial cells has been shown to undergo several antimicrobial-induced modifications and, at the same time, to be a good predictor of the outcome of an antimicrobial treatment. Metabolism is a promising reservoir of potential drug targets/adjuvants that has not been fully exploited to date. One of the main problems in unraveling the metabolic response of cells to the environment resides in the complexity of such metabolic networks. To solve this problem, modeling approaches have been developed, and they are progressively gaining in popularity due to the huge availability of genomic information and the ease at which a genome sequence can be converted into models to run basic phenotype predictions.
  • 300
  • 25 May 2023
Topic Review
Oropharyngeal Mucosal Epithelium in HIV-1 Transmission
The oropharyngeal mucosal epithelia have a polarized organization, which is critical for maintaining a highly efficient barrier as well as innate immune functions. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) disease, the barrier and innate immune functions of the oral mucosa are impaired via a number of mechanisms.
  • 490
  • 25 May 2023
Topic Review
Gender Differences of Cortisol and Receptors in Depression
There are significant gender differences in the relationship between cortisol and depression. While the results may vary based on the age group and source of the samples, several mixed-gender studies show that there appears to be heightened serum cortisol levels in depressed males compared to depressed females. There are also differences noticed in salivary cortisol reactivity, with male children having increased reactivity, though these differences seem to diminish with age. Significant gender differences can also be seen in glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptor expression. These differences are found both in expression levels as well as epigenetic regulation depending on the disorder and on the brain region.
  • 276
  • 25 May 2023
Topic Review
Non-Specific Lipid Transfer Proteins (nsLTPs)
Non-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) stand out among plant-specific peptide superfamilies due to their multifaceted roles in plant molecular physiology and development, including their protective functions against pathogens. These antimicrobial agents have demonstrated remarkable efficacy against bacterial and fungal pathogens. The discovery of plant-originated, cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides such as nsLTPs has paved the way for exploring the mentioned organisms as potential biofactories for synthesizing antimicrobial compounds.
  • 305
  • 25 May 2023
Topic Review
Oxidative Stress and Laminopathies Caused by LMNA Mutations
Mutations in the genes that encode for lamins, predominantly lamin A/C, cause a wide spectrum of human diseases, referred to as laminopathies, including muscular dystrophy, lipodystrophy, and systemic premature aging syndrome. HGPS, one of the most severe laminopathies, is a rare genetic disorder characterized by multisystem abnormalities, including premature aging. The most frequent mutation causing HGPS is c.1842C>T (p.G608G) in exon 11 of LMNA, resulting in cryptic splicing between an abnormal donor site in the middle of exon 11 and the usual acceptor of exon 12. This change causes a 50-amino acid deletion in the carboxyl-terminal tail of prelamin A, producing a truncated protein referred to as progerin. The 50 missing amino acids include the recognition sites for the prelamin A-cleaving enzyme ZMPSTE24. Consequently, progerin is normally farnesylated but cannot be further processed because of the lack of docking sites for ZMPSTE24. The farnesylated domain of progerin is firmly anchored to the nuclear membrane, leading to nuclear deformation and deleterious effects in HGPS cells. Blocking the farnesylation of progerin with a farnesyltransferase inhibitor (FTI) successfully reduced the cytotoxic effects of progerin in vitro; however, a clinical trial of FTIs did not yield promising results. A study showed that the interaction between progerin and wild-type lamin A/C was also a critical cause of nuclear deformation in HGPS and normal aging cells, providing a new therapeutic target for HGPS. Progerin expression in various cell types induces excessive ROS production and reduces the activities of the antioxidant system. Oxidative stress is also implicated in other types of laminopathies, such as Dunnigan-type familial partial lipodystrophy (FPLD), amyotrophic quadricipital syndrome with cardiac involvement, autosomal dominant Emery–Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (AD-EDMD), and restrictive dermopathy (RD).
  • 340
  • 25 May 2023
Topic Review
Ebola Virus Disease Vaccines
The global outgoing outbreaks of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in different regions of Sudan, Uganda, and Western Africa have brought into focus the inadequacies and restrictions of pre-designed vaccines for use in the battle against EVD, which has affirmed the urgent need for the development of a systematic protocol to produce Ebola vaccines prior to an outbreak. There are several vaccines available being developed by preclinical trials and human-based clinical trials. The group of vaccines includes virus-like particle-based vaccines, DNA-based vaccines, whole virus recombinant vaccines, incompetent replication originated vaccines, and competent replication vaccines. The limitations and challenges faced in the development of Ebola vaccines are the selection of immunogenic, rapid-responsive, cross-protective immunity-based vaccinations with assurances of prolonged protection.
  • 401
  • 25 May 2023
Topic Review
Human Sperm as Model and Relationship with ROS
Spermatozoa are highly differentiated cells that produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to aerobic metabolism. Below a certain threshold, ROS are important in signal transduction pathways and cellular physiological processes, whereas ROS overproduction damages spermatozoa. Sperm manipulation and preparation protocols during assisted reproductive procedures—for example, cryopreservation—can result in excessive ROS production, exposing these cells to oxidative damage. Human spermatozoa represent an ideal cell model to test numerous compounds in vitro, including antioxidants that can be used as supplements to improve the outcome of these procedures.
  • 535
  • 24 May 2023
Topic Review
Melatonin in Plant Biocontrol
Melatonin is a multifunctional and ubiquitous molecule. In animals, melatonin is a hormone that is involved in a wide range of physiological activities and is also an excellent antioxidant. In plants, it has been considered a master regulator of multiple physiological processes as well as of hormonal homeostasis.
  • 443
  • 24 May 2023
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