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Monoclonal antibody therapy using CD38 as a target remains central to managing human multiple myeloma (MM). CD38 was selected early on as a target for mAb-mediated therapy for MM, driven by findings from an early Cluster of Differentiation (CD) Workshop. The first CD38-targeting antibody to be approved yielded strong trial results, significantly improving survival rates and earning widespread patient acceptance. However, resistance to the therapy later emerged, complicating treatment management. Despite CD38's still central role in MM therapy, too little attention has been paid to its broader roles–not only as a myeloma marker but also as an enzyme and adhesion molecule in physiology. This review, a collaborative effort between basic scientists and clinical experts, explores some of the lesser-known mechanisms of antibody action and interactions with CD38 at key stages of treatment. The review also highlights the relevance of the MM environment, focusing on the importance of the bone marrow (BM) niche. The goal is to identify new agents whose unique properties may enhance tumor eradication. By gaining a deeper understanding of interactions between therapeutic antibodies, myeloma cells, and the tumor microenvironment (TME), it is hoped that previously unrecognized vulnerabilities within the disease may be revealed, paving the way to more effective treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the widely recognized role of pollinators in ecosystem services, we currently have a poor understanding of the contribution of Natural Protected Areas neighboring agricultural landscapes to crop pollinator diversity and plant-pollinator interactions. Here, we conducted monthly surveys over a period of one year to study the diversity of insect visitors in dominant fruit crops—avocado, plum, apple, and blackberry—and used pollen DNA metabarcoding to characterize the community of plant sources in and around low-intensive farmland bordered by protected montane forest in Costa Rica. We found that crops and native plants had distinct communities of flower visitors, suggesting the presence of fine-scale habitat differences. DNA metabarcoding coupled with a custom-built reference database, enabled us to identify plant sources among pollen samples with high taxonomic resolution (species or genus level). We found that insect visitors carried pollen from a large diversity of plant taxa, including species native to the montane forests and highland páramos of Costa Rica. The diversity and composition of plant sources were variable across fruit crops and insect groups. Wildflower visitors such as bumblebees and syrphid flies, use a diverse range of plant taxa at similar levels to managed honeybees. This indicates the potential contribution of a diverse community of insect visitors to the pollination services of fruit crops and native flora. Overall, our study suggests that low-intensive farming practices that promote the presence of common ruderals combined with nearby protected forests contribute to maintaining diverse insect communities that provide crucial pollination services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monoclonal antibody therapy using CD38 as a target remains central to managing human multiple myeloma (MM). CD38 was selected early on as a target for mAb-mediated therapy for MM, driven by findings from an early Cluster of Differentiation (CD) Workshop. The first CD38-targeting antibody to be approved yielded strong trial results, significantly improving survival rates and earning widespread patient acceptance. However, resistance to the therapy later emerged, complicating treatment management. Despite CD38’s still central role in MM therapy, too little attention has been paid to its broader roles–not only as a myeloma marker but also as an enzyme and adhesion molecule in physiology. This review, a collaborative effort between basic scientists and clinical experts, explores some of the lesser-known mechanisms of antibody action and interactions with CD38 at key stages of treatment. The review also highlights the relevance of the MM environment, focusing on the importance of the bone marrow (BM) niche. The goal is to identify new agents whose unique properties may enhance tumor eradication. By gaining a deeper understanding of interactions between therapeutic antibodies, myeloma cells, and the tumor microenvironment (TME), it is hoped that previously unrecognized vulnerabilities within the disease may be revealed, paving the way to more effective treatment strategies.

Despite the widely recognized role of pollinators in ecosystem services, we currently have a poor understanding of the contribution of Natural Protected Areas neighboring agricultural landscapes to crop pollinator diversity and plant-pollinator interactions. Here, we conducted monthly surveys over a period of one year to study the diversity of insect visitors in dominant fruit crops—avocado, plum, apple, and blackberry—and used pollen DNA metabarcoding to characterize the community of plant sources in and around low-intensive farmland bordered by protected montane forest in Costa Rica. We found that crops and native plants had distinct communities of flower visitors, suggesting the presence of fine-scale habitat differences. DNA metabarcoding coupled with a custom-built reference database, enabled us to identify plant sources among pollen samples with high taxonomic resolution (species or genus level). We found that insect visitors carried pollen from a large diversity of plant taxa, including species native to the montane forests and highland páramos of Costa Rica. The diversity and composition of plant sources were variable across fruit crops and insect groups. Wildflower visitors such as bumblebees and syrphid flies, use a diverse range of plant taxa at similar levels to managed honeybees. This indicates the potential contribution of a diverse community of insect visitors to the pollination services of fruit crops and native flora. Overall, our study suggests that low-intensive farming practices that promote the presence of common ruderals combined with nearby protected forests contribute to maintaining diverse insect communities that provide crucial pollination services.

Vitamin C, an antioxidant in most fruits and vegetables, is highly sensitive to heat, pH, metals, light, and oxidation, making it a key marker for nutrient degradation in thermal processing. Research aimed at improving processing methods to maximize vitamin C retention is usually limited to expensive laboratory equipment, which does not reflect real-world conditions in the food industry. On the other hand, traditional methods are not suitable for on-line monitoring. This paper proposes bridging the gap in liquid food processing with a voltammetric sensor based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-modified screen-printed carbon electrodes. The sensor showed excellent repeatability, with intra-sensor RSD below 5% and inter-sensor RSD below 10% at 250 mg/L of ascorbic acid. Detection and quantification limits were 0.7 and 2.1 mg/L, respectively. Trueness assessment in commercial orange juice with a declared vitamin C content yielded a recovery rate of 94 ± 1%. Selectivity tests with citric acid at concentrations equal to and 20 times higher than that of ascorbic acid showed no significant interference. Shelf-life studies confirmed the stability of the sensor for at least two months. This nanocomposite-based approach balances performance and cost with simple preparation, affordable materials, and a stable coating that allows long-term storage in uncontrolled environments.