Wearable 3D-printed solid microneedle voltammetric sensors based on nanostructured gold for uric acid monitoring.

Microneedle-based electrochemical sensors (MES) are developed as interface systems between the sensor and interstitial fluid (ISF), allowing the transdermal monitoring of analytes with clinical value. However, the widespread adoption of MES platforms to enable advances in devices for health monitoring is still a challenge. Herein, we propose an affordable and versatile wearable patch based on 3D-printed microneedle arrays to facilitate the development of electrochemical sensors.

GG in a chewable colonizes the nose and facilitates local immune benefits in allergic rhinoconjunctivitis patients.

Current treatments fall short in managing allergic rhinitis (AR), emphasizing the need for additional strategies. Beneficial bacteria application shows promise in AR; however, most studies focus on oral probiotic administration without monitoring the applied strains in the upper respiratory tract (URT) and their local effects. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, the probiotic GG was administered via chewable tablets in seasonal AR patients, randomized to probiotic ( = 33) or placebo ( = 31) groups.

Immunostimulatory activity of inactivated environmental Bacillus isolates and their endospores.

The spore-forming capacity of Bacillus spp. enables environmental persistence and stable product formulations, yet the interactions of environmental Bacillus spores and vegetative cells with the human immune system are not fully understood. We investigated the immunostimulatory potential of seven environmental Bacillus isolates (B.

Host-independent synergism between Lactobacillus crispatus and other vaginal lactobacilli.

The human vagina is a unique microbiome, typically predominated by Lactobacillus species in healthy women. However, we currently lack an understanding of why lactobacilli predominate in this environment and how these bacteria interact, aspects that are crucial for developing microbiome-based therapeutics. In this study, we used cost-efficient synthetic communities (SynComs) to investigate the stability and dynamics of Lactobacillus-predominated vaginal communities from healthy women independent of host influence.

A comprehensive atlas of the bonobo gut bacteriome and its associated host and exposome factors.

In great apes, the gut bacteriome shapes key physiological functions and is influenced by both the exposome and the host. Yet, isolating these independent contributions remains challenging. We sequenced 644 fecal samples from 212 wild and zoo-housed bonobos (Pan paniscus), matched with detailed data collection on host and exposome factors.

Shallow metagenomic shotgun sequencing improves detection of pathogenic species in cystic fibrosis respiratory samples.

Background: Chronic infection and inflammation of the lungs contribute significantly to disease progression in persons with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). Treatment regimens are largely based on isolating the putative causative pathogen(s) from respiratory samples using basic culturing methods. While this strategy has shown to be highly valuable in the management of CF, the approach is time-consuming and often misses detection of pathogenic microbes that are more difficult to culture, including Mycobacterium spp.

Agricultural practices and pollinators modulate the anthosphere microbiome.

The flower microbiome is pivotal in plant health, influencing reproductive success, fruit quality, and pathogen vulnerability. However, the impact of intensified agricultural practices on these microbial communities remains to be understood. This study examines how specific agricultural practices influence the bacterial composition of the strawberry anthosphere, focusing on cultivation intensification.

Standardizing a microbiome pipeline for body fluid identification from complex crime scene stains.

Recent advances in next-generation sequencing have opened up new possibilities for applying the human microbiome in various fields, including forensics. Researchers have capitalized on the site-specific microbial communities found in different parts of the body to identify body fluids from biological evidence. Despite promising results, microbiome-based methods have not been integrated into forensic practice due to the lack of standardized protocols and systematic testing of methods on forensically relevant samples.

Mutual Interactions Between Microbiota and the Human Immune System During the First 1000 Days of Life.

The development of the human immune system starts during the fetal period in a largely, but probably not completely, sterile environment. During and after birth, the immune system is exposed to an increasingly complex microbiota. The first microbiota encountered during passage through the birth canal colonize the infant gut and induce the tolerance of the immune system.

Diversity in women and their vaginal microbiota.

Women's health is essential to global societal and economic wellbeing, yet health disparities remain prevalent. The vaginal microbiota plays a critical role in health, with research indicating that reduced levels of core bacteria, such as lactobacilli, are associated with conditions like bacterial vaginosis (BV) and increased infection susceptibility. Lower levels of vaginal lactobacilli are reported more frequently in women of African and Latin American descent compared with women of European and Asian descent.

Comparison of In Vitro Biotransformation of Olive Polyphenols Between Healthy Young and Elderly.

Background: Olive leaves are a rich source of polyphenols, predominantly secoiridoids, flavonoids, and simple phenols, which exhibit various biological properties. Extracts prepared from olive leaves are associated with hypoglycemic, hypotensive, diuretic, and antiseptic properties. Upon ingestion, a substantial fraction of these polyphenols reaches the colon where they undergo extensive metabolism by the gut microbiota.

The inner elbow skin microbiome contains among its core taxa and varies with age, season and lifestyle.

The human skin microbiome plays an essential role in protecting against pathogens and other external substances. This open ecosystem is also influenced by personal and environmental factors, but the precise impact of these factors, such as lifestyle and season, is understudied. We focused here on the inner elbow, a skin site prone to inflammatory conditions like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.

The role of the microbiome in allergic dermatitis-related otitis externa: a multi-species comparative review.

The external ear canal, characterized by species-specific structural and physiological differences, maintains a hostile environment that prevents microbial overgrowth and foreign body entry, supported by factors such as temperature, pH, humidity, and cerumen with antimicrobial properties. This review combines several studies on the healthy ear canal's structure and physiology with a critical approach to the potential existence of an ear microbiome. We use a comparative multi-species approach to explore how allergic conditions alter the ear canal microenvironment and cerumen in different mammalian species, promoting pathogen colonization.

SCARAP: scalable cross-species comparative genomics of prokaryotes.

Motivation: Much of prokaryotic comparative genomics currently relies on two critical computational tasks: pangenome inference and core genome inference. Pangenome inference involves clustering genes from a set of genomes into gene families, enabling genome-wide association studies and evolutionary history analysis. The core genome represents gene families present in nearly all genomes and is required to infer a high-quality phylogeny.

MIBiG 4.0: advancing biosynthetic gene cluster curation through global collaboration.

Specialized or secondary metabolites are small molecules of biological origin, often showing potent biological activities with applications in agriculture, engineering and medicine. Usually, the biosynthesis of these natural products is governed by sets of co-regulated and physically clustered genes known as biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). To share information about BGCs in a standardized and machine-readable way, the Minimum Information about a Biosynthetic Gene cluster (MIBiG) data standard and repository was initiated in 2015.

Citizen science as an instrument for women's health research.

Women's health research is receiving increasing attention globally, but considerable knowledge gaps remain. Across many fields of research, active involvement of citizens in science has emerged as a promising strategy to help align scientific research with societal needs. Citizen science offers researchers the opportunity for large-scale sampling and data acquisition while engaging the public in a co-creative approach that solicits their input on study aims, research design, data gathering and analysis.

Riboflavin for women's health and emerging microbiome strategies.

Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is an essential water-soluble vitamin that serves as a precursor of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). FMN and FAD are coenzymes involved in key enzymatic reactions in energy metabolism, biosynthesis, detoxification and electron scavenging pathways. Riboflavin deficiency is prevalent worldwide and impacts women's health due to riboflavin demands linked to urogenital and reproductive health, hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and breastfeeding.

Synbiotics in patients at risk for spontaneous preterm birth: protocol for a multi-centre, double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial (PRIORI).

Background: Prematurity remains one of the main causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Approximately two thirds of preterm births are spontaneous, i.e.

Exploring HLA-C methylation patterns and nutritional status in Kichwa mothers and infants from Tena, Ecuador.

Environment and lifestyle can affect the epigenome passed down from generation to generation. A mother's nutrition can impact the methylation levels of her offspring's epigenome, but it's unclear which genes may be affected by malnutrition during gestation or early development. In this study, we examined the levels of methylated GC in the promoter region of HLA-C in mothers and infants from the Kichwa community in Ecuador.

Enhancing pediatric attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder treatment: exploring the gut microbiota effects of French maritime pine bark extract and methylphenidate intervention.

Introduction: The pathogenesis of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is thought to be multifactorial, with a potential role for the bidirectional communication between the gut microbiome and brain development and function. Since the "golden-standard" medication therapy with methylphenidate (MPH) is linked to multiple adverse effects, there is a need for alternative treatment options such as dietary polyphenols. These secondary plant metabolites exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, but much less is known about their impact on the gut microbiota.

Relationship between classic indicators of health behaviour and contraceptive choices in women in Flanders.

Background: In this study we shed light on ongoing trends in contraceptive use in Flanders (Belgium). Building on the fundamental cause theory and social diffusion of innovation theory, we examine socio-economic gradients in contraceptive use and the relationship to health behaviours.

Methods: Using the unique and recently collected (2020) ISALA data, we used multinomial logistic regression to model the uptake of contraceptives and its association to educational level and health behaviour (N:4316 women).

Multifactorial inhibition of Candida albicans by combinations of lactobacilli and probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3856.

Strategies against the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans based on probiotic microorganisms represent a promising alternative to traditional antifungals. Here, we investigated the effects of Lactobacillaceae isolates from fermented foods or the human vagina, alone or in combination with the probiotic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3856, against C. albicans in vitro.