Search

Mast cells are essential immune cells involved in the host’s defence against gastrointestinal nematodes. To evade the immune response, parasitic nematodes produce a variety of molecules. Galectin 1, produced by Teladorsagia circumcincta (Tci-gal-1), reduces mast cell degranulation and selectively regulates mediator production and release in an IgE-dependent manner. To uncover the activity of Tci-gal-1, we have examined the effect of the protein on gene expression, protein production, and apoptosis in activated basophilic leukaemia RBL-2H3 cells. Rat RBL-2H3 cells were activated with anti-DNP IgE and DNP-HSA, and then treated with Tci-gal-1. Microarray analysis was used to examine gene expression. The levels of several apoptosis-related molecules and cytokines were determined using antibody arrays and ELISA. Early and late apoptosis was evaluated cytometrically. Degranulation of cells was determined by a β-hexosaminidase release assay. Treatment of activated RBL-2H3 cells with Tci-gal-1 resulted in inhibited apoptosis and decreased degranulation, although we did not detect significant changes in gene expression. The production of pro-apoptotic molecules, receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and Fas ligand (FasL), and the cytokines IL-9, IL-10, IL-13, TNF-α, and IL-2 was strongly inhibited. Tci-gal-1 modulates apoptosis, degranulation, and production of cytokines by activated RBL-2H3 cells without detectable influence on gene transcription. This parasite protein is crucial for modulation of the protective immune response and the inhibition of chronic inflammation driven by mast cell activity.

Tryptophan metabolites, such as 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), serotonin, and melatonin, hold significant promise as supplements for managing various mood-related disorders, including depression and insomnia. However, their chemical production via chemical synthesis and phytochemical extraction presents drawbacks, such as the generation of toxic byproducts and low yields. In this study, we explore an alternative approach utilizing S. cerevisiae STG S101 for biosynthesis. Through a series of eleven experiments employing different combinations of tryptophan supplementation, Tween 20, and HEPES buffer, we investigated the production of these indolamines. The tryptophan metabolites were analyzed using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Notably, setups replacing peptone in the YPD media with tryptophan (Run 3) and incorporating tryptophan along with 25 mM HEPES buffer (Run 4) demonstrated successful biosynthesis of 5-HTP and serotonin. The highest 5-HTP and serotonin concentrations were 58.9 ± 16.0 mg L−1 and 0.0650 ± 0.00211 mg L−1, respectively. Melatonin concentrations were undetected in all the setups. These findings underscore the potential of using probiotic yeast strains as a safer and conceivably more cost-effective alternative for indolamine synthesis. The utilization of probiotic strains presents a promising avenue, potentially offering scalability, sustainability, reduced environmental impact, and feasibility for large-scale production.

Parasitic nematodes and their products are promising candidates for therapeutics against inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Two species of nematodes, the hookworm Necator americanus and the whipworm Trichuis suis, are being used in clinical treatment trials of IBD referred to as “helminth therapy”. Heligmosomoides polygyrus is a well-known model for human hookworm infections. Excretory–secretory (ES) products of H. polygyrus L4 stage that developed during colitis show a different immunomodulatory effect compared to the ES of H. polgyrus from healthy mice. The aim of the study was to evaluate excretory–secretory proteins produced by H. polygyrus L4 stage males and females that developed in the colitic milieu. Mass spectrometry was used to identify proteins. Blast2GO was used to investigate the functions of the discovered proteins. A total of 387 proteins were identified in the ES of H. polygyrus L4 males (HpC males), and 330 proteins were identified in the ES of L4 females that developed in the colitic milieu (HpC females). In contrast, only 200 proteins were identified in the ES of L4 males (Hp males) and 218 in the ES of L4 females (Hp females) that developed in control conditions. Most of the proteins (123) were detected in all groups. Unique proteins identified in the ES of HpC females included annexin, lysozyme-2, apyrase, and galectin. Venom allergen/Ancylostoma-secreted protein-like, transthyretin-like family proteins, and galectins were found in the secretome of HpC males but not in the secretome of control males. These molecules may be responsible for the therapeutic effects of nematodes in DSS-induced colitis.

This study developed and examined the application of bismuth sulfide doped on graphitic carbon nitride (Bi2S3@g-C3N4) in the degradation of NO under solar irradiation. Bi2S3@g-C3N4 was prepared through the calcination method. The morphological structure and chemical properties of the synthesized photocatalyst were analyzed before the degradation tests. After doping with Bi2S3@g-C3N4, the bandgap was reduced to 2.76 eV, which increased the absorption of solar light. As a result, the Bi2S3@g-C3N4 achieved higher NO degradation (55%) compared to pure Bi2S3 (35%) and g-C3N4 (45%). The trapping test revealed that the electrons were the primary species responsible for most of the NO degradation. The photocatalyst was stable under repeated solar irradiation, maintaining degradation efficiencies of 50% after five consecutive recycling tests. The present work offers strong evidence that Bi2S3@g-C3N4 is a stable and efficient catalyst for the photocatalytic oxidation of NO over solar irradiation.

Altered regulatory T cell (Treg) function could contribute to MS. The expression of activating and inhibitory receptors influences the activity of Tregs. Our aim was to investigate T cell phenotypes in relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS) patients at an early phase of the disease. We examined the influence of demographic parameters on the distribution of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subclasses by generalized linear modeling. We also studied the expression of the following markers—CTLA-4, GITR, PD-1, FoxP3, Helios, CD28, CD62L, CD103—on T cell subsets from peripheral blood with a 14-color flow cytometry panel. We used an antibody array to define the profiles of 34 Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines in the serum. Expression of PD-1 and GITR on CD4+ and CD8+ Tregs was decreased in RRMS patients. The proinflammatory factors IFN-γ, IL-17, IL-17F, TGFβ-1, TGFβ-3, IL-1SRII, IL-12 p40, sgp130, IL-6sR were significantly increased in RRMS patients. Therefore, a deficiency of PD-1 and GITR immune checkpoints on CD4+ and CD8+ Tregs is a feature of RRMS and might underlie impaired T cell control.

Infectious diarrhea affects over four billion individuals annually and causes over a million deaths each year. Though not typically prescribed for treatment of uncomplicated diarrheal disease, antimicrobials serve as a critical part of the armamentarium used to treat severe or persistent cases. Due to widespread over- and misuse of antimicrobials, there has been an alarming increase in global resistance, for which a standardized methodology for geographic surveillance would be highly beneficial. To demonstrate that a standardized methodology could be used to provide molecular surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, we initiated a pilot study to test 130 diarrheal pathogens (Campylobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Shigella spp.) from the USA, Peru, Egypt, Cambodia, and Kenya for the presence/absence of over 200 AMR determinants. We detected a total of 55 different determinants conferring resistance to ten different categories of antimicrobials: genes detected in ≥ 25 samples included blaTEM, tet(A), tet(B), mac(A), mac(B), aadA1/A2, strA, strB, sul1, sul2, qacEΔ1, cmr, and dfrA1. The number of determinants per strain ranged from none (several Campylobacter spp. strains) to sixteen, with isolates from Egypt harboring a wider variety and greater number of genes per isolate than other sites. Two samples harbored carbapenemase genes, blaOXA-48 or blaNDM. Genes conferring resistance to azithromycin (ere(A), mph(A)/mph(K), erm(B)), a first-line therapeutic for severe diarrhea, were detected in over 10% of all Enterobacteriaceae tested: these included >25% of the Enterobacteriaceae from Egypt and Kenya. Forty-six percent of the Egyptian Enterobacteriaceae harbored genes encoding CTX-M-1 or CTX-M-9 families of extended-spectrum β-lactamases. Overall, the data provide cross-comparable resistome information to establish regional trends in support of international surveillance activities and potentially guide geospatially informed medical care.

The optimal initial moisture content and seeding proportion with mature compost (microbial inoculant) during food waste composting were investigated. This involved six different moisture contents (42%, 55%, 61%, 66%, 70%, and 78%) and four different mature compost seeding amounts (0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% w/w). The temperature variation of these different setups during the first four days of composting was used to determine the most effective one. Our findings showed that the initial moisture contents of 55–70% and the 20% w/w of mature compost were optimal for effective food waste composting. A 400 kg compost pile with the optimal compost mixture ratio was then used to study the evolution and spatial distribution of the temperature during a 30-day composting period. Finally, the heat produced during the 30-day composting process was estimated to be 2.99 MJ/kg. Further investigations, including a cost–benefit analysis from a pilot facility, would be required to comprehensively conclude the feasibility of food waste composting as a bioenergy source.

The synthesis and characterization of zinc(II) and copper(II) complexes of embelin (1), C17H26O4, are described. Zinc(II) and copper(II) ions reacted with (1) (an orange compound) in a 1:2 ratio to yield purple and green complexes, respectively. IR analysis of the two complexes showed that the metal ions were co-ordinated through the carbonyl and the hydroxyl oxygen atoms. Elemental analyses (AAS and C, H, N) of the complexes gave values that are consistent with six co-ordinate octahedral geometry about the metal ions. Molecular formulae, ZnC34H50N2O14 and CuC34H54O10 for the zinc(II) and copper(II) complexes are proposed.