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Proteinogram is a semiquantitative method specially used in clinic to separate the serum proteins from patients for use in the diagnosis of diseases. However, this methodology has only been applied very recently with this approach in farmed fish. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the changes in the serum proteinogram of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), after triggering an acute or chronic sterile inflammation. For this, two experiments were carried out: i) Acute inflammation experiment: seabream specimens were injected intramuscularly with 50 μL of λ-carrageenan (0.5 mg fish -1 ) or buffer (control) and blood samples were collected at 3, 6 and 24 h post-injection; ii) Chronic inflammation experiment: specimens were injected at 0, 7 and 14 days with 500, 250 and 250 μL of λ-carrageenan, respectively (20 mg fish -1 ) or buffer, and blood samples were collected at 15 days post-injection. In both cases, serum was obtained and processed by electropherograms and HPLC-mass spectrometry. Results of electropherograms of control fish revealed four major proteins of 19.5, 76.3, 104.4, and 156.7 kDa in the serum. These four proteins were correlated with apolipoprotein A-II (II (the counterpart of mammalian albumin, Apo fraction), serotransferrin (β fraction), inter-α-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H3-like (α1 fraction) and α-2-macroglobulin-like (α2 fraction) according to the results obtained with HPLC-mass spectrometry. In a statistical view (p < 0.05), no variations were detected in the four major serum protein bands between the control and the acutely inflamed groups. However, in chronically inflamed fish, the Apo fraction decreased statistically compared to the control group. In contrast, the α1 and α2 fractions were statistically increased in the serum of fish sampled 15 days after λ-carrageenan injection, compared to those found in the control fish. α1 and α2 protein fractions are recognized indicators of inflammation in mammals. Consequently, our study presents a novel method for assessing both acute and chronic λ-carrageenan-induced sterile inflammation in gilthead seabream, which could be applicable to other marine species for diagnostic purposes., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest All authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: On demand, topical PrEP is desired by those preferring episodic, nonsystemic PrEP. PC-1005 gel (MIV-150, zinc, and carrageenan) exhibits in vitro antiviral HIV-1, human papillomavirus (HPV), and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) activity, attractive for a multipurpose prevention technology candidate. We evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and antiviral effect of rectally applied PC-1005., Methods: HIV-uninfected adults received a series of 3 rectal PC-1005 doses-4, 16, and 32 mL separated by 2-week washout periods. Following each dose, plasma, rectal fluid and tissue, and vaginal fluid were collected over 48 hours., Results: Thirteen adults enrolled; 12 completed all 3 doses. All 13 adverse events reported were grade 1 or 2; 5 were judged study drug related. Plasma MIV-150 peaked 1-2 h after dosing with a median peak concentrations range of 0.07-0.23 ng/mL and median half-life range of 4.9-7.4 hours across dose volumes; median concentrations were below assay quantitation limits (BLQ) 24 hours after dosing. Rectal tissue MIV-150 peaked 0.5-1 hours after dosing at 1.4 ng/g (ng/mL) (0.8, 1.9), 46.0 (30.7, 831.0), and 79.7 (11.9, 116.0), respectively, after each dose volume; median tissue concentrations were BLQ beyond 5 hours for all doses. All vaginal fluid samples were BLQ. Ex vivo antiviral assays showed 5 hours of antiviral HPV and HSV effects but no anti-HIV activity., Conclusions: MIV-150 rectal tissue concentrations were below the 100 ng/g target concentration and transient. Ex vivo assays demonstrated antiviral HSV and HPV effects but not against HIV. PC-1005 requires a more potent antiviral and longer-lasting formulation for further consideration as a multipurpose prevention technology candidate., Clinical Trials: NCT03408899., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The potential impact of specific food additives, common in Western diets, on the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is not well understood. This study focuses on carrageenan, a widely used food additive known to induce insulin resistance and gut inflammation in animal models, and its effects on human health., Methods: In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial conducted at a university hospital metabolic study centre, 20 males (age 27.4 ± 4.3 years, BMI 24.5 ± 2.5 kg/m 2 ) participated. The intervention involved oral intake of carrageenan (250 mg) or placebo in the morning and in the evening and each intervention lasted 2 weeks. The primary outcome measured was insulin sensitivity (using oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT] and hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp). Additional end-points included whole body and hepatic insulin sensitivity, MRI-measured brain inflammation and insulin resistance, intestinal permeability (via lactulose-mannitol test and plasma zonulin levels), and gut microbiome composition. Immune-cell activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells were measured., Results: Overall insulin sensitivity did not show significant differences between the treatments. However, interactions between BMI and treatment were observed (OGTT-based insulin sensitivity index: p=0.04, fasting insulin resistance: p=0.01, hepatic insulin sensitivity index: p=0.04). In overweight participants, carrageenan exposure resulted in lower whole body and hepatic insulin sensitivity, a trend towards increased brain inflammation, and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and IL-6 levels compared to placebo. Additionally, carrageenan was associated with increased intestinal permeability. In vitro natural killer (NK-)cell activation and increased pro-inflammatory cytokine release were found after carrageenan exposure in the participant's peripheral blood mononuclear cells., Conclusions: These findings suggest that carrageenan, a common food additive, may contribute to insulin resistance and subclinical inflammation in overweight individuals through pro-inflammatory mechanisms in the gut. Further investigation into the long-term health impacts of carrageenan and other food additives is warranted., Trial Registration: NCT02629705., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Medical Faculty of the University of Tübingen, Germany (project number 359/2012BO1). All participants provided written informed consent. Consent for publication: All authors have reviewed and approved the manuscript for submission. Competing interests: RW reports lecture fees from NovoNordisk, Eli Lilly, Boehringer-Ingelheim and Sanofi, and travel grants from Eli Lilly, Sanofi and NovoNordisk. He served on the advisory board of Akcea Therapeutics, Daiichi Sankyo, Sanofi and NovoNordisk. Outside of the current work, MH reports research grants from Boehringer Ingelheim and Sanofi to the University Hospital of Tübingen, participation in advisory board for Boehringer Ingelheim and Sanofi and lecture fees from Amryt, Bayer, Sanofi, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Boehringer Ingelheim., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: At present, vaccines form the only mode of prophylaxis against COVID-19. The time needed to achieve mass global vaccination and the emergence of new variants warrants continued research into other COVID-19 prevention strategies. The severity of COVID-19 infection is thought to be associated with the initial viral load, and for infection to occur, viruses including SARS-CoV-2 must first penetrate the respiratory mucus and attach to the host cell surface receptors. Carrageenan, a sulphated polysaccharide extracted from red edible seaweed, has shown efficacy against a wide range of viruses in clinical trials through the prevention of viral entry into respiratory host cells. Carrageenan has also demonstrated in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2., Methods and Analysis: A single-centre, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled phase III trial was designed. Participants randomised in a 1:1 allocation to either the treatment arm, verum Coldamaris plus (1.2 mg iota-carrageenan (Carragelose®), 0.4 mg kappa-carrageenan, 0.5% sodium chloride and purified water), or placebo arm, Coldamaris sine (0.5% sodium chloride) spray applied daily to their nose and throat for 8 weeks, while completing a daily symptom tracker questionnaire for a total of 10 weeks., Primary Outcome: Acquisition of COVID-19 infection as confirmed by a positive PCR swab taken at symptom onset or seroconversion during the study. Secondary outcomes include symptom type, severity and duration, subsequent familial/household COVID-19 infection and infection with non-COVID-19 upper respiratory tract infections. A within-trial economic evaluation will be undertaken, with effects expressed as quality-adjusted life years., Discussion: This is a single-centre, phase III, double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial to assess whether carrageenan nasal and throat spray reduces the risk of development and severity of COVID-19. If proven effective, the self-administered prophylactic spray would have wider utility for key workers and the general population., Trial Registration: NCT04590365; ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04590365. Registered on 19 October 2020., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

In this study, a biodegradable photodynamic antibacterial film (Car-Cur) was prepared using casting method with κ-Carrageenan (κ-Car) as film-forming substrate and curcumin-β-cyclodextrin (Cur-β-CD) complex as photosensitizer. The comprehensive performance of this Car-Cur film was investigated. The obtained results showed that the concentration of Cur-β-CD was an important factor determining the properties of film including tensile strength (TS) elongation at break (EB), water vapor permeability (WVP), water content (WC) and thermal stability. When the concentration of Cur-β-CD is 1%, the film demonstrated the maximum TS and EB, increased thermal stability, with desirable WVP and WC. Furthermore, this film also showed good photodynamic antibacterial potential against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli upon irradiation of blue LED light. Moreover, the film can be degraded in the soil in one week. In conclusion, our results suggested Car-Cur photodynamic film could be developed as biodegradable antimicrobial packaging material for food preservation., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The inflammatory effects of carrageenan (CGN), a ubiquitous food additive, remains controversial. Gut microbiota and intestinal homeostasis may be a breakthrough in resolving this controversy. Here we show that, κ-CGN did not cause significant inflammatory symptoms, but it did cause reduced bacteria-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and decreased thickness of the mucus layer by altering microbiota composition. Administration of the pathogenic bacterium Citrobacter rodentium, further aggravated the inflammation and mucosal damage in the presence of κ-CGN. Mucus layer degradation and altered SCFA levels could be reproduced by fecal transplantation from κ-CGN-fed mice, but not from germ-free κ-CGN-fed mice. These symptoms could be partially repaired by administering probiotics. Our results suggest that κ-CGN may not be directly inflammatory, but it creates an environment that favors inflammation by perturbation of gut microbiota composition and then facilitates expansion of pathogens, and this effect may be partially reversed by the introduction of probiotics., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)