Search Results (775)

Silicone implants are widely used in medical applications, particularly for breast augmentation and reconstruction. However, ongoing concerns regarding their long-term safety and biocompatibility necessitate comprehensive characterization. This review critically evaluates the chemical, physical, and biological testing approaches currently used to assess silicone implants, and specifically silicone breast implants, biocompatibility, and highlights the limitations of existing ISO 10993-based protocols, which often apply a one-size-fits-all model. We propose an application-specific framework to improve the relevance and precision of biocompatibility assessments. Chemical analyses, including Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, provide essential information on polymer structure, integrity, and composition, thereby supporting quality control and market surveillance. Physical characterization methods, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and contact angle measurements, assess the surface morphology, hydrophobicity, and potential defects that may influence the host response. Mechanical testing, which evaluates properties such as tensile strength and fatigue resistance, simulates in vivo stress conditions to predict the long-term durability. Biological evaluations guided by ISO 10993 use in vitro and in vivo models to assess cytotoxicity, adhesion, inflammation, and tissue integration. However, these are often not tailored to the implant type, surface features, or duration of exposure. Emerging tools, such as organ-on-a-chip platforms and machine learning models, offer new possibilities for predictive and context-specific evaluation. We advocate a standardized, modular strategy that integrates chemical, physical, and biological testing with clinical data to bridge preclinical assessments and real-world outcomes, with a specific focus on silicone breast implants. The aim of this approach is to improve patient safety, regulatory clarity, and device innovation across the global landscape of silicone implant development. Full article

Autonomous driving, a transformative automotive technology, is currently a major research focus. Trajectory planning, one of the three core technologies for realizing autonomous driving, plays a decisive role in the performance of autonomous driving systems. The key challenge lies in planning an optimal trajectory based on real-time environmental information, yet significant research gaps remain, particularly for dynamic driving scenarios. To address this, our study investigates lane-changing trajectory planning in dynamic scenarios based on model predictive control (MPC) theory and proposes a novel dynamic lane-changing trajectory planning method. First, kinematic models for both the host vehicle and surrounding vehicles are established. Then, following the core components of MPC theory, we construct a prediction model, define an objective function, and formulate constraints for the rolling optimization step. Finally, the optimal control sequence derived from the optimization is processed using a least-squares fitting method to generate a lane-changing trajectory that demonstrates real-time adaptability in dynamic environments. The proposed method is validated through simulation studies of three typical driving conditions on a co-simulation platform. The results confirm that the planned trajectory exhibits excellent dynamic real-time adaptability, thereby contributing a foundation for achieving full-scenario autonomous driving. Full article

During a survey of plant litter-associated microfungi in Guangdong and Jiangxi Provinces, China, several specimens that have carbonaceous ascomata were collected. Morphological characteristics combined with multi-gene (LSU, SSU, and tef1-α) phylogeny revealed that they belong to the Aigialaceae, Astrosphaeriellaceae, and Pseudoastrosphaeriellaceae families. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference (BI) approaches. Caryospora pruni and Pseudoastrosphaeriella zingiberacearum are introduced as new species, and Astrosphaeriella bambusae, C. quercus, Fissuroma caryotae, and Neoastrosphaeriella aquatica are introduced as new host records. In addition, Caryospora minima is synonymized under C. aquatica based on close morphological and phylogenetic relationships. All the newly introduced species fit well with their respective generic concepts and can be distinguished from closely related species in their morphology and DNA molecular data. The new host records also provide similar morphological characteristics to their respective type species, and multi-gene phylogeny analyses also offer evidence for their placements. In addition, we compiled the geographical distribution and host associations of species in Aigialaceae, Astrosphaeriellaceae, and Pseudoastrosphaeriellaceae. This provides a database for future studies to understand the ecological interactions and geographical variations. Full article

As promising biological tools, bacteriophages offer broad potential applications in disease diagnosis, treatment, and food safety. This study is the first to isolate a novel bacteriophage, designated vB_YpP_JC53 (abbreviated JC53), from the soil of wild rodent nests in plague-endemic areas of Yunnan Province. This bacteriophage is a T7-like phage that has the broadest host range among all T7-like phages discovered to date and remains stable under varying temperature and pH conditions. Comparative genomic analysis through NCBI revealed that the nucleotide sequence of phage JC53 shares 94.98% homology (95% coverage) with phage PSTCR2, a member of the Solymavirus genus, while exhibiting substantially lower similarity to known Yersinia phages. Further phylogenetic and collinearity analyses demonstrate that JC53 represents an evolutionarily distinct lineage, clearly diverging from Yersinia-infecting, T7-like, and Shigella phages, suggesting the emergence of a novel evolutionary branch. Its low ANI values relative to Yersinia phages and mosaic genome organization indicate a complex evolutionary origin, reflecting the extensive diversity of environmental phage populations. Collectively, these findings support the designation of JC53 as a novel Yersinia phage. Genome sequencing revealed that JC53 has a genome size of 39,415 bp, with a total of 52 predicted open reading frames. The broad bacteriophage spectrum of JC53 challenges the long-standing perception that T4-like bacteriophages primarily depend on a wide host range. These findings suggest that, within plague foci, JC53 may maintain ecological fitness by targeting other bacteria rather than strictly relying on Yersinia pestis. As a result, JC53 holds potential as an ecological control agent with the potential to suppress plague transmission by regulating the microbial community structure within foci. Full article

Bacteriophage receptor-binding proteins are often attached to the tail via a conserved N-terminal adapter/anchor domain, presumed to function independently from the distal receptor-binding/catalytic domain. Using synthetic phage technology, we demonstrated that the N-terminal domain in Przondovirus phages KP192 and KP195 substantially modulates the receptor-binding and hydrolytic activities of their type A tailspikes. A bioinformatics analysis of related proteins revealed a high correlation between the N-terminal domain and the distal receptor-binding region. Furthermore, it was shown that an imperfect structural fit between the N-terminal domain and the adjacent tail proteins (gatekeeper and nozzle proteins) can reduce virion assembly efficiency, thereby impairing phage fitness. These results underscore the importance of selecting an appropriate N-terminal domain of receptor-binding proteins when engineering bacteriophages with altered host specificity. Full article

The interaction between human salivary alpha-amylase (HSAmy) and amylase-binding oral streptococci (ABS) helps determine the bacteria that colonize the oral cavity by establishing dental biofilms. Streptococci are important pioneer species of the oral cavity and influence oral health as well as common diseases such as dental caries. Various oral streptococcal species express distinct amylase-binding proteins, among which amylase-binding protein A (AbpA), encoded by the abpA gene in Streptococcus gordonii and several other species, which is the most extensively studied. Amylase binding facilitates microbial adhesion to host surfaces and biofilm formation and enables bacteria to harness the host’s amylase enzymatic activity at their cell surface, enhancing their capacity to metabolize dietary starch for nutritional gain. Additionally, amylase binding may also influence bacterial cell division and stress tolerance by engaging novel bacterial signaling pathways. From an evolutionary perspective, both Neanderthals and modern humans exhibit functional adaptations in nutrient metabolism, including selection for salivary amylase-binding oral streptococci, highlighting the importance of microbial co-adaptation in response to host diet. Further research is warranted to elucidate the broader roles of amylase binding to bacteria in host-bacterial signaling, bacterial cell division and fitness and the evolutionary trajectory of the oral microbiome. Full article

To evaluate the impact of secondary host selection by the autoparasitoid E. sophia on the fitness and biological control potential of its offspring, we compared the demographic traits, parasitism capacity, and host-feeding rates of populations reared on different secondary hosts: the heterospecific E. formosa and the conspecific E. sophia. Analyses conducted with TWOSEX-MSChart, CONSUME-MSChart, and TIMING-MSChart showed that the population reared on E. formosa and E. sophia as secondary hosts. The E. sophia population reared on E. formosa exhibited significantly shorter developmental times, extended adult longevity, and enhanced female reproductive output, characterized by higher fecundity and longer oviposition periods than the conspecific-reared group. This group also displayed superior host consumption, accelerated population growth, a shorter mean generation time, and improved biocontrol efficacy. These findings underscore the importance of secondary host optimization in mass rearing and offer a theoretical basis for improving the field performance of E. sophia. Full article

Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality rise precipitously during the 6th–9th decades of life, identifying aging as a critical risk factor. Simultaneously, older individuals are susceptible to severe viral infection, raising the question whether shared mechanisms exist that predispose to both cardiovascular disease (CVD) and failing anti-viral immunity. The aging process causes steady decline in immune fitness (immune aging), which undermines the ability to generate protective anti-viral immune responses. Paradoxically, the aging immune system supports unopposed inflammatory pathways (inflammaging), which exacerbates tissue inflammation in CVD, specifically atherosclerosis. Here, we review the current evidence of how innate and adaptive immune aging promotes tissue-destructive inflammation in atherosclerosis while failing to fight viral infections. Further, we consider how these two disease processes mutually influence each other. We propose that mounting an effective anti-viral response induces off-target bystander activation and exhausts immune cells, ultimately exacerbating CVD. Additionally, we explore how atherosclerotic CVD impacts innate immunity through epigenetic modification of hematopoietic precursors and metabolically conditioning immune cells, leading to a dysfunctional immune system that accelerates plaque inflammation while simultaneously impairing host defense. Full article

Epichloë is a genus of endophytic fungi that forms systemic, vertically transmitted, and asymptomatic mutualistic associations with grasses in the subfamily Pooideae. These symbioses are non-pathogenic and are of considerable importance in agronomic and livestock systems due to their roles in enhancing host fitness under biotic and abiotic stress. Several studies have reported associations between Epichloë endophytes and species of the genus Bromus, a taxonomically complex group characterized by varying ploidy levels and frequent hybridization. Among its sections, Bromopsis includes the highest number of species naturally colonized by Epichloë fungi, while sections Bromus and Ceratochloa show lower infection rates. In South America, endophytes such as E. pampeana, E. tembladerae, E. typhina, and morphotypes of Neotyphodium spp. have been documented in species including B. auleticus, B. brachyanthera, and B. setifolius, where they appear to contribute to stress resilience. Although most findings originate from Argentina, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding the diversity and distribution of these endophytes in native Bromus species across the continent. This review synthesizes the current understanding of Epichloë–Bromus interactions, emphasizing their ecological and agronomic relevance, particularly in South America. Key factors influencing the establishment of these symbioses are examined, and future research directions are proposed to advance the study of these associations. Full article

In this study, we review the use of cyclodextrin-based formulations to develop oral tablets of cladribine by enhancing its bioavailability and to improve the solubility and stability of retrometabolic chemical delivery systems (CDSs) in general and estredox, a brain-targeting estradiol-CDS, in particular. Cyclodextrins (CDs), cyclic oligosaccharides that can form host–guest inclusion complexes with a variety of molecules, are widely utilized in pharmaceuticals to increase drug solubility, stability, bioavailability, etc. The stability of the complex depends on how well the guest fits within the cavity of the CD host; a model connecting this to the size of the guest molecules is briefly discussed. Modified CDs, and particularly 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD), provided dramatically increased water solubility and oxidative stability for estredox (estradiol-CDS, E₂-CDS), making its clinical development possible and highlighting the potential of our brain-targeted CDS approach for CNS-targeted delivery with minimal peripheral exposure. A unique HPβCD-based formulation also provided an innovative solution for the development of orally administrable cladribine. The corresponding complex dual CD-complex formed by an amorphous admixture of inclusion- and non-inclusion cladribine–HPβCD complexes led to the development of tablets that provide adequate oral bioavailability for cladribine, as demonstrated in both preclinical and clinical studies. Cladribine–HPβCD tablets (Mavenclad) offer a convenient, effective, and well-tolerated oral therapy for multiple sclerosis, achieving worldwide approval and significant clinical success. Overall, the developments summarized here underscore the importance of tailored cyclodextrin-based approaches for overcoming barriers in drug formulation for compounds with challenging physicochemical properties, and demonstrate the versatility and clinical impact of CD inclusion complexes in modern pharmaceutical development. Full article

This study reports measurements of density, viscosity, and ternary mutual diffusion coefficients (D₁₁, D₁₂, D₂₁, D₂₂) for aqueous solutions containing two antibiotics—sulfamethoxazole (SMX) or trimethoprim (TMP) (component 1)—in the presence of various cyclodextrins (α–CD, β–CD, and γ–CD) (component 2) at 298.15 K. The relative viscosity data were analyzed by fitting to a second-order Jones-Dole equation via a least-squares regression to obtain the viscosity B coefficients. Apparent molar volumes (V_ϕ) were derived from the measured densities (ρ) for SMX and TMP in aqueous media. Furthermore, partial molar volumes of transfer at infinite dilution, ΔV_ϕ⁰, were evaluated to elucidate solute–solvent interactions within the ternary systems investigated. Nonzero ΔV_ϕ⁰ values, positive viscosity B coefficients, and negative cross-diffusion coefficients (D₁₂ and D₂₁), evidencing significant coupled diffusion, collectively indicate strong interactions between the antibiotics and cyclodextrins, consistent with host–guest complex formation. Full article

Background: The origin of natural anti-galactose-α-1,3-galactose (anti-Gal) antibodies in humans is only partially understood. The gut microbiome has been proposed as an important source of galactose-α-1,3-galactose (αGal) epitopes that drive the maturation of anti-Gal–reactive B cells. Certain bacteria expressing αGal epitopes, notably Escherichia coli O86:B7, have been shown to elicit anti-Gal antibody responses in α1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout (α3GalT1 KO) mice. In this study, we investigated the interaction between currently widely used bacteria polysaccharide vaccine, the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23), which contains capsular polysaccharides (CPS) from multiple Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes, and host anti-Gal antibodies. Methods: We conducted a genomic analysis to identify α1,3-galactosyltransferase (α3GalT1) genes in S. pneumoniae strains. Binding of PPV23 to anti-Gal monoclonal antibodies was evaluated by ELISA, and αGal epitope content in PPV23 was estimated using a four-parameter logistic (4PL) model fitted to the ELISA calibration data. To assess in vivo immunogenicity, we immunized α3GalT1 KO mice with PPV23 and measured serum anti-Gal IgG and IgM titers before and after vaccination. Results: Genomic analysis revealed the presence of α3GalT1 genes in S. pneumoniae strains. PPV23 showed specific binding to anti-Gal monoclonal antibodies as detected by ELISA. Quantitative modeling indicated that αGal epitopes are present at low abundance within PPV23, consistent with limited expression of αGal among a minority of included serotypes. Immunization of α3GalT1 KO mice with PPV23 induced a significant rise in anti-Gal IgG titers (mean value from 124 to 384), whereas anti-Gal IgM titers remained relatively unchanged (mean value at the range of 6500–7500). High baseline anti-Gal IgM levels observed in α3GalT1 KO mice are consistent with age-dependent induction by the gut microbiota. Conclusions: These results provide genetic and immunological evidence that αGal epitopes derived from S. pneumoniae are present in PPV23 and can engage pre-existing anti-Gal antibodies. Our findings underscore a complex interplay among bacterial glycosyltransferase genes, vaccine polysaccharide composition, and host anti-Gal antibody repertoires, which may influence vaccine immunogenicity. Consideration of host natural antibody profiles may therefore be important for interpreting responses to carbohydrate-based vaccines and for guiding vaccine design. Full article

The phylum Nematoda is host to a vast and diverse virosphere, yet severe viral diseases are rarely observed. This paradox between pervasive infection and limited pathology suggests the existence of a highly effective host–virus “truce”. In this review, we argue that this truce is not a result of viral attenuation but is actively arbitrated by a multi-tiered host immune network, whose primary characteristic is not destructive power but exquisite cost–benefit management. We deconstruct this network into two functional tiers. The first, the “effector layer”, comprises a diverse arsenal of antiviral pathways, including RNA interference (RNAi), the Intracellular Pathogen Response (IPR), and other direct-acting mechanisms. The second, the “regulatory layer”, acts as a command hub, integrating internal physiological states—such as metabolism and aging—with external threat signals to orchestrate a proportional defense, thereby mitigating the high fitness costs of immunity. Understanding this intricate network is critical, as it not only explains the dynamics of infection within nematodes but also has profound implications for a broader medical landscape, particularly through the “Trojan Horse” effect, where nematode-borne viruses might elicit immune responses in their final vertebrate hosts. Together, these insights provide a unified framework for studying nematode–virus interactions and for comparing antiviral strategies across metazoans. Full article

Semiaphis heraclei Takahashi (Hemiptera: Aphididae) serves as a vital resource for natural enemies from functional plant Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson (Apiaceae), playing a crucial role in ecological dynamics. Endosymbionts influence the performance of their hosts. Here, we determined the communities of facultative endosymbionts in aphids from Lonicera japonica Thunb. (Caprifoliaceae), Apium graveolens L. (Apiaceae), and C. monnieri and assessed the performance of four aphid clones. The infection rates of Serratia symbiotica Moran (Gammaproteobacteria: Enterobacteriaceae) and Regiella insecticola Moran (Enterobacteriales: Enterobacteriaceae) reached 100%. Notably, the infection rates of Spiroplasma and Rickettsia varied across host plants. Fitness assessment revealed that aphids performed better on their natal hosts, exhibiting shorter nymphal development times and higher fecundity. S. symbiotica had contrasting effects on aphids based on their origin. It prolonged the development duration and decreased the intrinsic rate of increase (r_m), net reproductive rate (R₀), and finite rate of increase (λ) in aphids collected from plant A. graveolens. However, for aphids collected from plant C. monnieri, it shortened the doubling time (DT) and improved r_m, R₀, and λ, while prolonging the mean generation time. Our studies are the first to investigate the infection status and role of facultative endosymbionts in aphid S. heraclei, extending the documented effects of plant diversity to fluctuations in the infection rate, with potentially far-reaching consequences for related endosymbionts’ ecosystem processes. Full article

The rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria requires solutions that extend beyond conventional antibiotics. Bacteriophages (phages) provide targeted antibacterial action but face two key limitations: (1) their narrow natural host ranges and (2) the rapid emergence of evolved bacterial resistance. This review focuses specifically on evolved resistance and highlights two complementary strategies to overcome it by using phage-adaptive evolution and manipulating bacterial fitness trade-offs. Adaptive evolution accelerates phage/bacteria coevolution under host-mediated and environmental selective pressures such as receptor variability, bacterial resistance mutations, and nutrient limitations, resulting in phages with broader host targeting within resistant populations and enhanced lytic activity. Simultaneously, bacterial resistance to phages often leads to fitness costs, including restored antibiotic susceptibility or reduced virulence. These strategies support the rational design of phage/antibiotic combinations that suppress resistance and enhance therapeutic efficacy. In this review, we clarify the distinction between intrinsic host range limitations and evolved resistance, focusing on how adaptive strategies can specifically counter the latter. We discuss the underlying mechanisms, practical applications, and significance of this approach in clinical, agricultural, and environmental areas. Full article