Yeast-derived glycolipids disrupt Candida biofilm and inhibit expression of genes in cell adhesion.

Candida albicans is a leading fungal pathogen in humans, responsible for infections that span from mucosal surfaces to severe systemic diseases. This study aimed to investigate potential ability of yeast-derived glycolipids from Meyerozyma guilliermondii as an antifungal against Candida albicans biofilms. Glycolipid extract (64 µg/mL) reduced metabolic activity by 50% in both immature and mature biofilms, while biofilm mass was reduced at higher concentrations of 128 and 256 µg/mL, respectively.

Development and characterisation of a novel antimicrobial peptide GA-C16G2 targeting Streptococcus mutans.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop a Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans)-targeted peptide for caries management and evaluate its antibacterial efficacy.

Methods: A novel peptide, GA-C16G2, was synthesised by attaching gallic acid (GA) onto an S.

Orthogonal assessment of six extraction methods for GC-MS based short-chain fatty acid quantification in fecal samples.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are prominent regulators of host physiology and are closely related to the pathophysiology of many metabolic diseases. SCFAs are predominately generated by microbial fermentation of dietary fiber in the gut. Therefore, efficient, reproducible, and affordable analytical methods are needed to identify and quantify SCFAs in a complex fecal sample.

Outer membrane vesicles derived from probiotic Nissle 1917 promote metabolic remodeling and M1 polarization of RAW264.7 macrophages.

Introduction: Nissle 1917 (EcN) is one of the most extensively studied nonpathogenic Gram-negative probiotic strains worldwide. Recent research has highlighted the ability of EcN outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) to enhance the phagocytosis and proliferation of RAW264.7 macrophages.

The Role of Gut-Brain Tryptophan Metabolism and Fatty Acid Peroxidation in the Effect of Sleep Deprivation on Anxiety and Depression in PCOS Mice.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most prevalent endocrine disorder in women of childbearing age. Numerous studies have indicated a significantly elevated incidence of depression and anxiety in women affected by PCOS, often attributed to dysbiosis of gut microbiota resulting from poor sleep quality. However, the intricate relationship between sleep disorders, gut microbiota, and depression/anxiety in PCOS remains unclear.

Age-related oral microbiota dysbiosis and systemic diseases.

The oral microbiota is an essential microbial community within the human body, playing a vital role in maintaining health. In older adults, age-related changes in the oral microbiota are linked to both systemic and oral health impairments. The use of various medications for systemic diseases in the elderly can also contribute to the development of oral diseases.

cGAMP-targeting injectable hydrogel system promotes periodontal restoration by alleviating cGAS-STING pathway activation.

The impaired function of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) impedes restoration of periodontal tissues. The cGAS-cGAMP-STING pathway is an innate immune pathway that sensing cytosolic double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), but its role in regulating the function of PDLSCs is still unclear. In this study, we found that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was released into the cytoplasm through the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) in PDLSCs upon inflammation, which binds to cGAS and activated the STING pathway by promoting the production of cGAMP, and ultimately impaired the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs.

Functional analysis of Candida albicans Cdr1 through homologous and heterologous expression studies.

Candida albicans Cdr1 is a plasma membrane ATP-binding cassette transporter encoded by CDR1 that was first cloned 30 years ago in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Increased expression of Cdr1 in C. albicans clinical isolates results in resistance to azole antifungals due to drug efflux from the cells.

Atomic Force Microscopy for Revealing Oncological Nanomechanobiology and Thermodynamics.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is powerful nanobiotechnology for characterizing the nanotopographic and nanobiomechanical properties of live cells. Current limitations in AFM analysis of nanomechanobiology include the unjustified selection of nesting indices and filters, leading to the inaccurate reporting of waviness and roughness parameters, and inadequacies in the selection of the mathematical model for the Young's modulus. Critical biomechanical factors such as total deformation energy, elastic energy, and plastic energy are often overlooked.

A metabolic fingerprint of ovarian cancer: a novel diagnostic strategy employing plasma EV-based metabolomics and machine learning algorithms.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the third most common malignant tumor of women and is accompanied by an alteration of systemic metabolism. A liquid biopsy that captures and detects tumor-related biomarkers in body fluids has great potential for OC diagnosis. EVs, nanosized extracellular vesicles found in the blood, have been proposed as promising biomarkers for liquid biopsies.

Dysbiotic oral microbiota-derived kynurenine, induced by chronic restraint stress, promotes head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by enhancing CD8 T cell exhaustion.

Background: Chronic restraint stress (CRS) is a tumour-promoting factor. However, the underlying mechanism is unknown.

Objective: We aimed to investigate whether CRS promotes head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) by altering the oral microbiota and related metabolites and whether kynurenine (Kyn) promotes HNSCC by modulating CD8 T cells.

Circulating extracellular vesicle-derived miR-1299 disrupts hepatic glucose homeostasis by targeting the STAT3/FAM3A axis in gestational diabetes mellitus.

Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-enclosed structures containing lipids, proteins, and RNAs that play a crucial role in cell-to-cell communication. However, the precise mechanism through which circulating EVs disrupt hepatic glucose homeostasis in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains unclear.

Results: Circulating EVs isolated from human plasma were co-cultured with mammalian liver cells to investigate the potential induction of hepatic insulin resistance by GDM-EVs using glucose output assays, Seahorse assays, metabolomics, fluxomics, qRT-PCR, bioinformatics analyses, and luciferase assays.

Excessive palmitic acid disturbs macrophage α-ketoglutarate/succinate metabolism and causes adipose tissue insulin resistance associated with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Abnormal polarization of adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) results in low-grade systemic inflammation and insulin resistance (IR), potentially contributing to the development of diabetes. However, the underlying mechanisms that regulate the polarization of ATMs associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remain unclear. Thus, we aimed to determine the effects of abnormal fatty acids on macrophage polarization and development of insulin resistance in GDM.

Effects of simulated long-term exposure to bottled, neutral pH electrolyzed oxidizing water on the properties of denture base resins.

Statement Of Problem: Denture stomatitis can pose serious health risks, especially to older people. Chemical denture cleaning agents must be effective, yet not adversely affect the longevity of removable dentures. Ready-to-use (RTU) neutral pH electrolyzed oxidizing water (EOW) is an effective biocide against Candida albicans biofilms on denture resins, but the effects of daily disinfection with EOW on the physical and mechanical properties of resins have not been established.

Adaptive Nanoparticle-Mediated Modulation of Mitochondrial Homeostasis and Inflammation to Enhance Infected Bone Defect Healing.

Infected bone defects (IBDs) exhibit impaired healing due to excessive inflammation triggered by pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) from bacteria. As a vital factor in orchestrating immune responses, mitochondrial homeostasis maintenance is central to inflammation blockade. This research developed a chameleon-like nanoplatform by covering hydroxyapatite nanoparticles with a cerium ion coordinated tannic acid supramolecular network (HA@Ce-TA), which adaptively functions to regulate mitochondrial homeostasis based on intra- and extracellular environments.

The genetic background determines material-induced bone formation through the macrophage-osteoclast axis.

Osteoinductive materials are characterized by their ability to induce bone formation in ectopic sites. Thus, osteoinductive materials hold promising potential for repairing bone defects. However, the mechanism of material-induced bone formation remains unknown, which limits the design of highly potent osteoinductive materials.

Electrolysed oxidising water as a multi-purpose biocide in dental healthcare-A scoping review.

Objectives: The objective of this scoping review was to map evidence of electrolysed oxidising water (EOW) as a biocide for dental applications of relevance to older people and identify research gaps.

Background: EOW is an emerging, "green," and cost-effective biocide. There are no reviews on the landscape of EOW research as either an antiseptic or disinfectant in dental healthcare or its suitability for the oral healthcare of older people.

Probiotic Nissle 1917-derived outer membrane vesicles modulate the intestinal microbiome and host gut-liver metabolome in obese and diabetic mice.

Introduction: Obesity and diabetes are common chronic metabolic disorders which can cause an imbalance of the intestinal flora and gut-liver metabolism. Several studies have shown that probiotics, including Nissle 1917 (EcN), promote microbial balance and metabolic health. However, there are no studies on how EcN outer membrane vesicles (EcN-OMVs) influence the intestinal microflora and affect the metabolic disorders of obesity and diabetes.

Dual Photo-Enhanced Interpenetrating Network Hydrogel with Biophysical and Biochemical Signals for Infected Bone Defect Healing.

The healing of infected bone defects (IBD) is a complex physiological process involving a series of spatially and temporally overlapping events, including pathogen clearance, immunological modulation, vascularization, and osteogenesis. Based on the theory that bone healing is regulated by both biochemical and biophysical signals, in this study, a copper doped bioglass (CuBGs)/methacryloyl-modified gelatin nanoparticle (MA-GNPs)/methacrylated silk fibroin (SilMA) hybrid hydrogel is developed to promote IBD healing. This hybrid hydrogel demonstrates a dual-photocrosslinked interpenetrating network mechanism, wherein the photocrosslinked SilMA as the main network ensures structural integrity, and the photocrosslinked MA-GNPs colloidal network increases strength and dissipates loading forces.

The effect of surface roughening of orthodontic elastomers on hydrophobicity and in vitro adherence of Streptococcus gordonii.

Objectives: Biofilm formation around orthodontic appliances causes gingivitis, enamel decalcification and caries. Bacteria adhere less readily to superhydrophobic surfaces. The aim of this study was to determine whether a superhydrophobic surface could be generated on orthodontic elastomers by surface modification in order to reduce bacterial adhesion.

Focused ultrasound-mediated small-molecule delivery to potentiate immune checkpoint blockade in solid tumors.

In the last decade, immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has revolutionized the standard of treatment for solid tumors. Despite success in several immunogenic tumor types evidenced by improved survival, ICB remains largely unresponsive, especially in "cold tumors" with poor lymphocyte infiltration. In addition, side effects such as immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are also obstacles for the clinical translation of ICB.

The nano-windmill exerts superior anti-inflammatory effects via reducing choline uptake to inhibit macrophage activation.

Macrophages' activation plays a central role during the development and progression of inflammation, while the regulation of metabolic reprogramming of macrophages has been recently identified as a novel strategy for anti-inflammatory therapies. Our previous studies have found that tetrahedral framework nucleic acid (tFNA) plays a mild anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting macrophage activation, but the specific mechanism remains unclear. Here, by metabolomics and RNA sequencing, choline uptake is identified to be significantly repressed by decreased slc44a1 expression in tFNA-treated activated macrophages.

An All-in-One "4A Hydrogel": through First-Aid Hemostatic, Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Angiogenic to Promoting Infected Wound Healing.

Currently used wound dressings are ineffective. Hence, there is a need to develop introduce a high-performance medicament with multiple functions including rapid hemostasis and excellent antibacterial activity to meet the growing worldwide demand for wound healing products. Here, inspired by the strong adhesion of mussels and the enzyme-mimicking activity of nanometallic biomaterials, the authors developed an injectable hydrogel to overcome multiple limitations of current wound dressings.

Effect of the Rho-Kinase/ROCK Signaling Pathway on Cytoskeleton Components.

The mechanical properties of cells are important in tissue homeostasis and enable cell growth, division, migration and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Mechanical properties are determined to a large extent by the cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton is a complex and dynamic network composed of microfilaments, intermediate filaments and microtubules.