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Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen implicated in various diseases, including staphylococcal food poisoning. Bacteriocins are considered safe and effective antimicrobial substances for the prevention of the growth of pathogenic bacteria. In this article, we describe the purification and characterization of pasteuricin, a novel bacteriocin produced by Staphylococcus pasteuri RSP-1. A cell-free supernatant of S. pasteuri RSP-1 exerted strong antimicrobial activity against staphylococci, including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and gram-positive bacteria. The loss of antimicrobial activity upon treatment with proteolytic enzymes confirmed the proteinaceous nature of pasteuricin. A rapid and pronounced bactericidal effect of pasteuricin was confirmed by a live-dead bacterial viability assay. To our knowledge, pasteuricin is the first reported S. pasteuri bacteriocin that inhibits S. aureus. Because pasteuricin is characterized by strong antimicrobial activity and high stability, it has potential as an alternative antimicrobial agent to antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) are opportunistic pathogens that are currently emerging as causative agents of human disease. Though CNS are widespread in the clinic and food, their precise identification at species level is important. Here, using 16S rRNA sequencing, 55 staphylococcal isolates were identified as S. capitis, S. caprae, S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, S. pasteuri, S. saprophyticus, S. warneri, and S. xylosus. Although 16S rRNA sequencing is universally accepted as a standard for bacterial identification, the method did not effectively discriminate closely related species, and additional DNA sequencing was required. The divergence of the sodA gene sequence is higher than that of 16S rRNA. To devise a rapid and accurate identification method, sodA-specific primers were designed to demonstrate that species-specific multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used for the identification of CNS species. The accuracy of this method was higher than that of phenotypic identification; the method is simple and less time-consuming than 16S rRNA sequencing. Of the 55 CNS isolates, 92.72% were resistant to at least one antibiotic, and 60% were resistant to three or more antibiotics. CNS isolates produced diverse virulence-associated enzymes, including hemolysin (produced by 69.09% of the isolates), protease (65.45%), lipase (54.54%), lecithinase (36.36%), and DNase (29.09%); all isolates could form a biofilm. Because of the increasing pathogenic significance of CNS, the efficient multiplex PCR detection method developed in this study may contribute to studies for human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pointwise intensity-based algorithms are the most popular algorithms in dynamic laser speckle measurement of physical or biological activity. The output of this measurement is a two-dimensional map which qualitatively separates regions of higher or lower activity. In the paper, we have proposed filtering of activity maps to enhance visualization and to enable quantitative determination of activity time scales. As a first step, we have proved that the severe spatial fluctuations within the map resemble a signal-dependent noise. As a second step, we have illustrated implementation of the proposed idea by applying filters to non-normalized and normalized activity estimates derived from synthetic and experimental data. Statistical behavior of the estimates has been analyzed to choose the filter parameters, and substantial narrowing of the probability density functions of the estimates has been achieved after the filtering. The filtered maps exhibit an improved contrast and allowed for quantitative description of activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro-/nanofabrication-based lab-on-a-chip (LOC) technologies have recently been substantially advanced and have become widely used in various inter-/multidisciplinary research fields, including biological, (bio-)chemical, and biomedical fields. However, such hybrid-scale LOC devices are typically fabricated using microfabrication and nanofabrication processes in series, resulting in increased cost and time and low throughput issues. In this review, after briefly introducing the conventional micro-/nanofabrication technologies, we focus on unconventional micro-/nanofabrication technologies that allow us to produce either in situ micro-/nanoscale structures or master molds for additional replication processes to easily and conveniently create novel LOC devices with micro- or nanofluidic channel networks. In particular, microfabrication methods based on crack-assisted photolithography and carbon-microelectromechanical systems (C-MEMS) are described in detail because of their superior features from the viewpoint of the throughput, batch fabrication process, and mixed-scale channels/structures. In parallel with previously reported articles on conventional micro-/nanofabrication technologies, our review of unconventional micro-/nanofabrication technologies will provide a useful and practical fabrication guideline for future hybrid-scale LOC devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus is an important foodborne pathogen on global basis. The current study investigated the genetic patterns in S. aureus isolates from leaf vegetables ( n = 53). Additional isolates from livestock ( n = 31) and humans ( n = 27) were compared with the leaf vegetable isolates. Genes associated with toxins, antibiotic resistance, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns were analyzed. At least 1 enterotoxin-encoding gene ( sea, seb, sec, sed, and see) was detected in 11 of 53 (20.75%) leaf vegetable isolates. When the agr (accessory gene regulator) grouping was analyzed, agr II was the major group, whereas agr IV was not present in leaf vegetable isolates. All S. aureus isolates from leaf vegetables were resistant to more than one of the antibiotics tested. Nineteen of 53 (35.85%) isolates from leaf vegetables exhibited multidrug-resistance, and 11 of these were MRSA (methicillin-resistant S. aureus). A dendrogram displaying the composite types of S. aureus isolates from 3 origins was generated based on the combination of the toxin genes, agr genes, antibiotic resistance, and PFGE patterns. The isolates could be clustered into 8 major composite types. The genetic patterns of S. aureus isolates from leaf vegetables and humans were similar, whereas those from livestock had unique patterns. This suggests some S. aureus isolates from leaf vegetables to be of human origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we have examined the anticancer effects of SH005S7 on MET-amplified and (HCC827GR) NSCLC cells and their primary HCC827 cells. In vitro, first of all, cell viability and colony formation assay confirmed the growth inhibitory effects of SH005S7 on both cells. Second, SH005S7 inactivated EGFR-related multiple cell signaling, which was associated with a marked decrease in the constitutive phosphorylation of EGFR, HER3, MET, AKT, and ERK. Third, SH005S7 attenuated the anchorage-independent cell growth. Fourth, SH005S7 blocked invasive and metastatic capability by downregulation of mesenchymal markers—vimentin, snail, and MMP-9. Fifth, BrdU assay confirmed the cell cycle arrest of SH005S7 on these cells. When administered orally to nude mice xenografically transplanted human NSCLC, SH005S7 inhibited the growth of tumor and did not cause hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in animals. Immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses of tissue showed that the suppression of growth correlated with inhibition of proliferation (Ki-67, PCNA), invasiveness (vimentin, snail), and angiogenesis (CD31) marker and decrement in the constitutive and phosphorylation of EGFR, HER3, MET, AKT, and ERK. Additionally, SH005S7 had immune stimulatory effects by TNF-α cytokine release on macrophage, without cell cytotoxicity. Overall, our results suggest that SH005S7 can inhibit the growth of MET-amplified and gefitinib-resistant NSCLC cells through the suppression of EGFR-related multiple targets linked to overcome gefitinib resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective inhibition of microbial growth is essential to increase the yield and shelf life of food. In this study, non-thermal N 2 plasma-treated buffer (NPB) was tested for its ability to inactivate plant pathogenic bacteria. Our results showed that NPB strongly inhibited bacterial growth, and 100% inhibitory activity was maintained when up to 10-fold diluted NPB was tested. Scavenger assay using various antioxidants against specific reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) showed that certain ROS and RNS in NPB were responsible for its strong antimicrobial activity. NPB inhibited the growth of plant pathogens on raw produce and was non-toxic to animal cells at all the concentrations tested. In conclusion, our study showed that NPB is a safe and effective antimicrobial agent against plant pathogenic bacteria, and may have wider applications to enhance crop production and the shelf life of stored food. • N 2 plasma treated buffer (NPB) shows strong inhibition of pathogenic bacteria. • Specific ROS in NPB are responsible for the pathogen-inhibition activity. • NPB has no significant cytotoxic effect on animal cell lines. • NPB holds potential for enhancing the shelf-life of stored food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling of biofilms formation in numerous pathogenic bacteria is one of the most difficult tasks in the control of bacterial diseases. Plasma has attracted extensive attention due to their potential applications for effective inhibiting of biofilm. Recently, plasma-activated water (PAW) has developed as an alternative method for bacterial inactivation and disinfection of foods owing to advantages of more convenient and efficient storage and transportation than direct plasma application. However, most previous studies about PAW have only focused on the improvement of its antibacterial effect instead of antibiofilm activity. Therefore, we report the development of N2 plasma treated buffer (NPB) and the super-antibiofilm effect of NPB against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pst DC3000) as a plant pathogenic bacterium. Scavenger assays using various antioxidants revealed that reactive oxygen species were involved in the inhibitory cellular actions of NPB, with H2O2 and singlet oxygen proving essential for bacterial death. Intensive analysis of NPB, stored at different periods and temperatures, showed that the antimicrobial efficacy was well maintained for 3 months at − 80 °C. Importantly, further studies showed that NPB effectively inhibited not only the growth of planktonic Pst DC3000 but also biofilm formation. The remarkable inhibition on the biofilm was analyzed and visualized using LIVE/DEAD viability assays and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) imaging. The 3D CLSM imaging data revealed that the bactericidal activity of NPB was permeable enough to affect the cells embedded inside the biofilm. This prominent permeability could be a crucial feature of NPB contributing to effective super-antibiofilm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and lethal primary brain tumor in adults, with limited treatment modalities and poor prognosis. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of considering sex differences in cancer incidence, prognosis, molecular disparities, and treatment outcomes across various tumor types, including colorectal adenocarcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, and GBM. Methods: We performed comprehensive analyses of large-scale multi-omics data (genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data) from TCGA, GLASS, and CPTAC to investigate the genetic and molecular determinants that contribute to the unique clinical properties of male and female GBM patients. Results: Our results revealed several key differences, including enrichments of MGMT promoter methylation, which correlated with increased overall and post-recurrence survival and improved response to chemotherapy in female patients. Moreover, female GBM exhibited a higher degree of genomic instability, including aneuploidy and tumor mutational burden. Integrative proteomic and phosphor-proteomic characterization uncovered sex-specific protein abundance and phosphorylation activities, including EGFR activation in males and SPP1 hyperphosphorylation in female patients. Lastly, the identified sex-specific biomarkers demonstrated prognostic significance, suggesting their potential as therapeutic targets. Conclusions: Collectively, our study provides unprecedented insights into the fundamental modulators of tumor progression and clinical outcomes between male and female GBM patients and facilitates sex-specific treatment interventions. Highlights Female GBM patients were characterized by increased MGMT promoter methylation and favorable clinical outcomes compared to male patients. Female GBMs exhibited higher levels of genomic instability, including aneuploidy and TMB. Each sex-specific GBM is characterized by unique pathway dysregulations and molecular subtypes. EGFR activation is prevalent in male patients, while female patients are marked by SPP1 hyperphosphorylation. Plain language summary: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and lethal primary brain tumor in adults with limited treatment modalities and dismal prognosis. A thorough understanding of sex differences could facilitate personalized therapeutic strategies in GBM. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive multi-omics analysis from TCGA, CPTAC, and GLASS studies, revealing distinct molecular and clinical disparities between male and female GBM patients. We discovered that female GBM patients exhibited enrichments of MGMT promoter methylation and high genomic instability, including aneuploidy and TMB. While male GBMs were characterized by activation of EGFR protein and phosphorylation activities, female GBM patients demonstrated hyperphosphorylation of SPP1. Notably, these proteins demonstrated prognostic significance, highlighting their potential as therapeutic targets. Our findings provide unprecedented insights into the fundamental modulators of tumor progression and clinical outcomes in male and female GBM patients, offering valuable opportunities for sex-specific treatment interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolutionary trajectory of glioblastoma (GBM) is a multifaceted biological process that extends beyond genetic alterations alone. Here, we perform an integrative proteogenomic analysis of 123 longitudinal glioblastoma pairs and identify a highly proliferative cellular state at diagnosis and replacement by activation of neuronal transition and synaptogenic pathways in recurrent tumors. Proteomic and phosphoproteomic analyses reveal that the molecular transition to neuronal state at recurrence is marked by post-translational activation of the wingless-related integration site (WNT)/ planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling pathway and BRAF protein kinase. Consistently, multi-omic analysis of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models mirror similar patterns of evolutionary trajectory. Inhibition of B-raf proto-oncogene (BRAF) kinase impairs both neuronal transition and migration capability of recurrent tumor cells, phenotypic hallmarks of post-therapy progression. Combinatorial treatment of temozolomide (TMZ) with BRAF inhibitor, vemurafenib, significantly extends the survival of PDX models. This study provides comprehensive insights into the biological mechanisms of glioblastoma evolution and treatment resistance, highlighting promising therapeutic strategies for clinical intervention. [Display omitted] • Longitudinal proteogenomic analysis reveals increased neuronal state at recurrence • Neuronal transition associates with activation of WNT/PCP pathway and BRAF kinase • Resistance to therapy via neuronal transition is recapitulated in GBM PDX models • BRAF kinase inhibition impairs the neuronal transition of GBM at recurrence Kim et al. reveal that glioblastoma develops therapeutic resistance through a neuronal transition caused by changes in the WNT/PCP pathway and BRAF kinase, as shown by extensive proteogenomic analysis. Notably, inhibiting BRAF kinase disrupts this lethal transformation, offering potential therapeutic avenues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents design and implementation of a color wavefront holographic printer which prints white light viewable holograms of three-dimensional (3D) objects from digital contents. Similarly to other holographic printers, the printed hologram is composed as a two-dimensional array of elemental volume holograms. In the proposed wavefront printer, the 3D information was encoded in computer generated holograms displayed in succession on an amplitude spatial light modulator. The light beam diffracted from the modulator was filtered to extract the beam coming from the object and demagnified to be recorded onto the holographic emulsion as a small size elemental hologram that made possible application of mosaic delivery of exposures at primary colors. As a result, each elemental hologram corresponded to a single color channel. A modified phase-added stereogram approach based on a hologram partitioning method was proposed to accelerate computer generation of digital contents. We achieved bright 3D reconstruction with a motion parallax at saturated colors from holograms of test objects that were printed on a silver-halide emulsion. Thus we proved experimentally feasibility of recording analog color volume holograms from digital contents by applying spatially separated exposures at primary colors to the elemental holograms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]