scholarly journals Special Issue: Animal Modeling in Cancer

Genes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1009
Author(s):  
Vladimir Korinek

Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing techniques have significantly accelerated the development of personalized diagnostic tools and cancer treatments. However, a comparative analysis of experimental animals that share similar genetic, physiological, and behavioral traits with humans remains the basis for understanding the pathological mechanisms associated with human diseases, including cancer. The generation and characterization of suitable animal models mimicking tumor growth and progression thus represents an important “component” of tumor biology research. The presented Special Issue contains ten review articles, which, based on data obtained from various animal models, summarize a number of aspects of the tumor formation process that include gastrointestinal neoplasia, breast cancer, hematological malignancies, melanoma, and brain tumors. This Special Issue nicely illustrates how the study of suitable living models uncovers not only the fundamental molecular and cellular bases of neoplastic growth, but might also indicate approaches to efficient cancer treatments.

2020 ◽  
Vol 110 (1) ◽  
pp. 106-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avijit Roy ◽  
Andrew L. Stone ◽  
Gabriel Otero-Colina ◽  
Gang Wei ◽  
Ronald H. Brlansky ◽  
...  

The genus Dichorhavirus contains viruses with bipartite, negative-sense, single-stranded RNA genomes that are transmitted by flat mites to hosts that include orchids, coffee, the genus Clerodendrum, and citrus. A dichorhavirus infecting citrus in Mexico is classified as a citrus strain of orchid fleck virus (OFV-Cit). We previously used RNA sequencing technologies on OFV-Cit samples from Mexico to develop an OFV-Cit–specific reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) assay. During assay validation, OFV-Cit–specific RT-PCR failed to produce an amplicon from some samples with clear symptoms of OFV-Cit. Characterization of this virus revealed that dichorhavirus-like particles were found in the nucleus. High-throughput sequencing of small RNAs from these citrus plants revealed a novel citrus strain of OFV, OFV-Cit2. Sequence comparisons with known orchid and citrus strains of OFV showed variation in the protein products encoded by genome segment 1 (RNA1). Strains of OFV clustered together based on host of origin, whether orchid or citrus, and were clearly separated from other dichorhaviruses described from infected citrus in Brazil. The variation in RNA1 between the original (now OFV-Cit1) and the new (OFV-Cit2) strain was not observed with genome segment 2 (RNA2), but instead, a common RNA2 molecule was shared among strains of OFV-Cit1 and -Cit2, a situation strikingly similar to OFV infecting orchids. We also collected mites at the affected groves, identified them as Brevipalpus californicus sensu stricto, and confirmed that they were infected by OFV-Cit1 or with both OFV-Cit1 and -Cit2. OFV-Cit1 and -Cit2 have coexisted at the same site in Toliman, Queretaro, Mexico since 2012. OFV strain-specific diagnostic tests were developed.


mAbs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 1954136
Author(s):  
Sujatha Kumar ◽  
Srimoyee Ghosh ◽  
Geeta Sharma ◽  
Zebin Wang ◽  
Marilyn R. Kehry ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huan Li ◽  
Siruo Zhang ◽  
Ruina Liu ◽  
Lu Yuan ◽  
Di Wu ◽  
...  

AbstractOnce the body dies, the indigenous microbes of the host begin to break down the body from the inside and play a key role thereafter. This study aimed to investigate the probable shift in the composition of the rectal microbiota at different time intervals up to 15 days after death and to explore bacterial taxa important for estimating the time since death. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes showed major shifts when checked at 11 different intervals and emerged at most of the postmortem intervals. At the species level, Enterococcus faecalis and Proteus mirabilis showed a downward and upward trend, respectively, after day 5 postmortem. The phylum-, family-, genus-, and species-taxon richness decreased initially and then increased considerably. The turning point occurred on day 9, when the genus, rather than the phylum, family, or species, provided the most information for estimating the time since death. We constructed a prediction model using genus-level data from high-throughput sequencing, and seven bacterial taxa, namely, Enterococcus, Proteus, Lactobacillus, unidentified Clostridiales, Vagococcus, unidentified Corynebacteriaceae, and unidentified Enterobacteriaceae, were included in this model. The abovementioned bacteria showed potential for estimating the shortest time since death.


Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 237
Author(s):  
Carolina Cardell ◽  
Jose Santiago Pozo-Antonio

The physical–chemical characterization of natural and synthetic historical inorganic and mineral pigments, which may be found embedded in paintings (real or mock-ups), glass, enamel, ceramics, beads, tesserae, etc., as well as their alteration under different decay scenarios, is a demanding line of investigation. This field of research is now both well established and dynamic, as revealed by the numerous publications in high-quality journals of varied scientific disciplines. [...]


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1197
Author(s):  
Klaus Ley

This 11-chapter Special Issue of Cells spans the gamut from basic science in mechanistic animal models to translational science to outcomes of clinical trials, all focused on the role of inflammation in atherosclerosis [...]


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 194
Author(s):  
Carmen Gómez-Lama Cabanás ◽  
Antonio J. Fernández-González ◽  
Martina Cardoni ◽  
Antonio Valverde-Corredor ◽  
Javier López-Cepero ◽  
...  

This study aimed to disentangle the structure, composition, and co-occurrence relationships of the banana (cv. Dwarf Cavendish) root endophytome comparing two phenological plant stages: mother plants and suckers. Moreover, a collection of culturable root endophytes (>1000) was also generated from Canary Islands. In vitro antagonism assays against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense (Foc) races STR4 and TR4 enabled the identification and characterization of potential biocontrol agents (BCA). Eventually, three of them were selected and evaluated against Fusarium wilt of banana (FWB) together with the well-known BCA Pseudomonas simiae PICF7 under controlled conditions. Culturable and non-culturable (high-throughput sequencing) approaches provided concordant information and showed low microbial diversity within the banana root endosphere. Pseudomonas appeared as the dominant genus and seemed to play an important role in the banana root endophytic microbiome according to co-occurrence networks. Fungal communities were dominated by the genera Ophioceras, Cyphellophora, Plecosphaerella, and Fusarium. Overall, significant differences were found between mother plants and suckers, suggesting that the phenological stage determines the recruitment and organization of the endophytic microbiome. While selected native banana endophytes showed clear antagonism against Foc strains, their biocontrol performance against FWB did not improve the outcome observed for a non-indigenous reference BCA (strain PICF7).


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 89
Author(s):  
Valerio De Santis

Recent advances in computational electromagnetics (CEMs) have made the full characterization of complex magnetic materials possible, such as superconducting materials, composite or nanomaterials, rare-earth free permanent magnets, etc [...]


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stetson Thacker ◽  
Charis Eng

AbstractPTEN has a strong Mendelian association with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), representing a special case in autism’s complex genetic architecture. Animal modeling for constitutional Pten mutation creates an opportunity to study how disruption of Pten affects neurobiology and glean potential insight into ASD pathogenesis. Subsequently, we comprehensively characterized the neural (phospho)proteome of Ptenm3m4/m3m4 mice, which exhibits cytoplasmic-predominant Pten expression, by applying mass spectrometry technology to their brains at two-weeks- (P14) and six-weeks-of-age (P40). The differentially expressed/phosphorylated proteins were subjected to gene enrichment, pathway, and network analyses to assess the affected biology. We identified numerous differentially expressed/phosphorylated proteins, finding greater dysregulation at P40 consistent with prior transcriptomic data. The affected pathways were largely related to PTEN function or neurological processes, while scant direct overlap was found across datasets. Network analysis pointed to ASD risk genes like Pten and Psd-95 as major regulatory hubs, suggesting they likely contribute to initiation or maintenance of cellular and perhaps organismal phenotypes related to ASD.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (14) ◽  
pp. 4221
Author(s):  
Aage Kristian Olsen Alstrup ◽  
Svend Borup Jensen ◽  
Ole Lerberg Nielsen ◽  
Lars Jødal ◽  
Pia Afzelius

The development of new and better radioactive tracers capable of detecting and characterizing osteomyelitis is an ongoing process, mainly because available tracers lack selectivity towards osteomyelitis. An integrated part of developing new tracers is the performance of in vivo tests using appropriate animal models. The available animal models for osteomyelitis are also far from ideal. Therefore, developing improved animal osteomyelitis models is as important as developing new radioactive tracers. We recently published a review on radioactive tracers. In this review, we only present and discuss osteomyelitis models. Three ethical aspects (3R) are essential when exposing experimental animals to infections. Thus, we should perform experiments in vitro rather than in vivo (Replacement), use as few animals as possible (Reduction), and impose as little pain on the animal as possible (Refinement). The gain for humans should by far exceed the disadvantages for the individual experimental animal. To this end, the translational value of animal experiments is crucial. We therefore need a robust and well-characterized animal model to evaluate new osteomyelitis tracers to be sure that unpredicted variation in the animal model does not lead to a misinterpretation of the tracer behavior. In this review, we focus on how the development of radioactive tracers relies heavily on the selection of a reliable animal model, and we base the discussions on our own experience with a porcine model.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 659
Author(s):  
Elias Asimakis ◽  
Panagiota Stathopoulou ◽  
Apostolis Sapounas ◽  
Kanjana Khaeso ◽  
Costas Batargias ◽  
...  

Various factors, including the insect host, diet, and surrounding ecosystem can shape the structure of the bacterial communities of insects. We have employed next generation, high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA to characterize the bacteriome of wild Zeugodacus (Bactrocera) cucurbitae (Coquillett) flies from three regions of Bangladesh. The tested populations developed distinct bacterial communities with differences in bacterial composition, suggesting that geography has an impact on the fly bacteriome. The dominant bacteria belonged to the families Enterobacteriaceae, Dysgomonadaceae and Orbaceae, with the genera Dysgonomonas, Orbus and Citrobacter showing the highest relative abundance across populations. Network analysis indicated variable interactions between operational taxonomic units (OTUs), with cases of mutual exclusion and copresence. Certain bacterial genera with high relative abundance were also characterized by a high degree of interactions. Interestingly, genera with a low relative abundance like Shimwellia, Gilliamella, and Chishuiella were among those that showed abundant interactions, suggesting that they are also important components of the bacterial community. Such knowledge could help us identify ideal wild populations for domestication in the context of the sterile insect technique or similar biotechnological methods. Further characterization of this bacterial diversity with transcriptomic and metabolic approaches, could also reveal their specific role in Z. cucurbitae physiology.


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