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This review strives to assemble a set of molecular design principles that enables the delivery of antibiotic warheads to Gram-negative bacterial targets (ESKAPE pathogens) using iron-chelating siderophores, known as the Trojan Horse strategy for antibiotic development. Principles are derived along two main lines. First, archetypical siderophores and their conjugates are used as case studies for native iron transport. They enable the consideration of the correspondence of iron transport and antibacterial target location. The second line of study charts the rationale behind the clinical antibiotic cefiderocol. It illustrates the potential versatility for the design of new Trojan Horse-based antibiotics. Themes such as matching the warhead to a location where the siderophore delivers its cargo (i.e., periplasm vs. cytoplasm), whether or not a cleavable linker is required, and the relevance of cheaters to the effectiveness and selectivity of new conjugates will be explored. The effort to articulate rules has identified gaps in the current understanding of iron transport pathways and suggests directions for new investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptococcosis is a prevalent fungal infection of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, a yeast with a polysaccharide capsule in the basidiomycete group. Normally, C. neoformans infects the respiratory tract and then breaches the blood–brain barrier (BBB), leading to meningitis or meningoencephalitis, which leads to hundreds of thousands of deaths each year. Although the mechanism by which C. neoformans infiltrates the BBB to invade the brain has yet to be fully understood, research has revealed that C. neoformans can cross the BBB using transcellular penetration, paracellular traversal, and infected phagocytes (the "Trojan horse" mechanism). The secretion of multiple virulence factors by C. neoformans is crucial in facilitating the spread of infection after breaching the BBB and causing brain infections. Extensive research has shown that various virulence factors play a significant role in the dissemination of infection beyond the lungs. This review explores the mechanisms of C. neoformans entering the CNS and explains how it bypasses the BBB. Additionally, it aims to understand the interplay between the regulatory mechanisms and virulence factors of C. neoformans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For conventional anticancer drug delivery systems (DDSs), it is difficult to endow them with both long circulation in vivo and easy cellular endocytosis by cancer cells as well as the ability to accumulate in tumors through the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect and deep intratumoral penetration. Therefore, their in vivo treatment effects are inadequate. Previous studies have shown that "dynamic protection" strategies can effectively address the difficulty of DDS entry into cancer cells as a result of modifying "stealthy" molecules such as poly-(ethylene glycol) (PEG). In this work, a "Trojan horse"-like DDS was fabricated by employing the "dynamic protection" strategy. The DDS was developed using ultrasmall, degradable mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DS-MSN) that were bridged by a degradable peptide and cross-linked with 4-arm PEG-N3 through click chemistry. This resulted in DOX-DS-MSN-CD-peptide-PEG with a size of ∼300 nm, which could accumulate in the tumor, following adequate blood circulation. The peptide could be degraded by matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), an overexpressed enzyme in tumors, leading to the release of small-sized, tumor-permeable DS-MSN-based carriers. The remaining Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide on the surface provides the carriers with a "tumor-triggered targeting" capability. DS-MSN, which includes disulfide bonds in its backbone, could be degraded due to glutathione (GSH) in cancer cells and release of the loaded doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX). In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that DOX-DS-MSN-CD-peptide-PEG had a prolonged circulation time and tumor accumulation ability, excellent tumor penetration ability, and controlled drug release ability. It operated like a "Trojan horse", overcoming obstacles to deliver the "Greek soldier" DOX to the interior of cancer cells, resulting in effective tumor suppression. This study offers interesting concepts for designing effective and safe drug delivery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trojan Horse is a major threat that has grown with the spread of the digital world. Data gathered through the study of memory can provide valuable insights into the Trojan Horse's behavior patterns. Because of this, memory analysis techniques are one of the topics that should be investigated in Trojan Horse detection. This study proposes the use of memory data in Trojan Horse detection. Trojan Horse detection used a decision tree (DT) classifier with memory data. Experiments were performed on the Trojan Horse samples from the CIC-MalMem-2022 dataset. The binary classification was made using DT, gradient boosted tree, Naive Bayes (NB), linear vector support machine, K-nearest neighbors (KNN), and machine learning (ML) classifiers. The comparison of the various classification methods was performed utilizing the accuracy, recall, precision, and F1-score metrics. As a result, the most successful Trojan Horse detection was gained with the DT classifier, which achieved accuracy of 99.96% using memory data. The NB classifier showed the lowest achievement in Trojan Horse detection using memory data, which achieved accuracy of 98.41%. In addition, numerous of the classifiers utilized have attained very high results. Based on the achieved results, the data from memory analysis is very valuable in detecting Trojan Horse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extended reality (XR) devices, including virtual and augmented reality head-mounted displays (HMDs), are increasingly utilised within healthcare to provide clinical interventions and education. Currently, XR devices are utilised to assist in reducing pain and improving psychological outcomes for immunocompromised patients in intensive care units, palliative care environments and surgical theatres. However, there is a paucity of research on the risks of infection from such devices in healthcare settings. Identify existing literature providing insights into the infection control risk XR HMDs pose within healthcare facilities and the efficacy of current infection control and cleaning procedures. Three databases (PubMed, Embase and CINAHL) in addition to Google Scholar were systematically searched. A total of seven studies were identified for this review. Microorganisms, including pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), were found to be present on XR HMDs. Published cleaning and infection control protocols designed to disinfect XR HMDs and protect users were heterogeneous in nature. Current cleaning protocols displayed varying levels of efficacy with microbial load affected by multiple factors, including time in use, number of users and XR HMD design features. In healthcare settings, fitting XR HMDs harbouring microorganisms near biological and mucosal entry points presents an infection control risk. An urgent revision of the Spaulding classification is required to ensure flexibility that allows for these devices to be reclassified from 'Non-critical' to 'Semi-Critical' depending on the healthcare setting and patient population (surgery, immunocompromised, burns, etc.). This review identified evidence supporting the presence of microorganisms on XR HMDs. Due to the potential for HMDs to contact mucosal entry points, devices must be re-considered within the Spaulding classification as 'Semi-critical'. The existence of microbial contaminated XR HMDs in high-risk medical settings such as operating wards, intensive care units, emergency departments, labour and delivery wards and clinical areas with immunosuppressed patients requires urgent attention. Public health authorities have a duty of care to develop revised guidelines or new recommendations to ensure efficient sanitation of such devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) cryogels can be functionalized with n -Halamines to confer biocidal features useful for their application as wound-dressing tools. Their efficacy can be boosted by stably embedding a polymeric bacterial food source (e.g., starch) in the gel matrix. The bioavailability of the food source lures bacteria inside the gel network via chemotactic mechanisms, promoting their contact with the biocidal functionalities and their consequent inactivation. The synthesis of a novel hydantoin-functionalized PVA (H-PVA-hyd) is proposed. The newly synthesized H-PVA-hyd polymer was introduced in the formulation of H-PVA-based cryogels. To promote the cryogelation of the systems we exploited phase-separation mechanisms employing either a PVA carrying residual acetate groups (L-PVA) or starch as phase-segregating components. The permanence of the biocidal functionality after swelling was investigated via proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) microscopy. The activated H-PVA-hyd cryogels have been tested against bacteria with amylolytic activity (Bacillus subtilis) and the outcomes were analyzed by direct observation via confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The cryogels containing starch resulted in being the most effective (up to 90% bacterial killing), despite carrying a lower amount of hydantoin groups than their starch-free counterparts, suggesting that their improved efficacy relies on a "Trojan Horse" type of mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptococcosis is a prevalent fungal infection of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, a yeast with a polysaccharide capsule in the basidiomycete group. Normally, C. neoformans infects the respiratory tract and then breaches the blood–brain barrier (BBB), leading to meningitis or meningoencephalitis, which leads to hundreds of thousands of deaths each year. Although the mechanism by which C. neoformans infiltrates the BBB to invade the brain has yet to be fully understood, research has revealed that C. neoformans can cross the BBB using transcellular penetration, paracellular traversal, and infected phagocytes (the “Trojan horse” mechanism). The secretion of multiple virulence factors by C. neoformans is crucial in facilitating the spread of infection after breaching the BBB and causing brain infections. Extensive research has shown that various virulence factors play a significant role in the dissemination of infection beyond the lungs. This review explores the mechanisms of C. neoformans entering the CNS and explains how it bypasses the BBB. Additionally, it aims to understand the interplay between the regulatory mechanisms and virulence factors of C. neoformans.

This review strives to assemble a set of molecular design principles that enables the delivery of antibiotic warheads to Gram-negative bacterial targets (ESKAPE pathogens) using iron-chelating siderophores, known as the Trojan Horse strategy for antibiotic development. Principles are derived along two main lines. First, archetypical siderophores and their conjugates are used as case studies for native iron transport. They enable the consideration of the correspondence of iron transport and antibacterial target location. The second line of study charts the rationale behind the clinical antibiotic cefiderocol. It illustrates the potential versatility for the design of new Trojan Horse-based antibiotics. Themes such as matching the warhead to a location where the siderophore delivers its cargo (i.e., periplasm vs. cytoplasm), whether or not a cleavable linker is required, and the relevance of cheaters to the effectiveness and selectivity of new conjugates will be explored. The effort to articulate rules has identified gaps in the current understanding of iron transport pathways and suggests directions for new investigations.

The main aim of the following research paper is to conduct a study on the use of idioms with elements of mythology in contemporary language. Because of the fact, that part of the analysed mythologisms were one-word phrasemes, their properties have been characterized in detail. Subsequently, on the one hand, the influence of the mythology on the language is discussed, and on the other hand, the connection between mythology and phraseology. Furthermore, the paper additionally shows an overview of the state of the research on mythologisms. The closing part presents the results of the empirical study. The study was centred on a corpus-based analysis that has shown, that the mythologically originated phrasemes (such as Achilles heel and Trojan horse) occur in many different areas of life and they are often enhanced by various lexical elements. The analysis revealed that the phrasemes of mythological origin have expanded their meaning, which is why their semantics do not correspond in most cases to the mythological one.

Antimicrobial resistance, caused by persistent adaptation and growing resistance of pathogenic bacteria to overprescribed antibiotics, poses one of the most serious and urgent threats to global public health. The limited pipeline of experimental antibiotics in development further exacerbates this looming crisis and new drugs with alternative modes of action are needed to tackle evolving pathogenic adaptation. Transition metal complexes can replenish this diminishing stockpile of drug candidates by providing compounds with unique properties that are not easily accessible using pure organic scaffolds. We spotlight four emerging strategies to harness these unique properties to develop new targeted antibacterial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality ionization injection methods for wakefield acceleration driven by lasers or charged beams (LWFA/PWFA) can be optimized so as to generate high-brightness electron beams with tuneable duration in the attosecond range. We present a model of the minimum bunch duration obtainable with low-emittance ionization injection schemes by spotting the roles of the ionization pulse duration, of the wakefield longitudinal shape and of the delay of the ionization pulse position with respect to the node of the accelerating field. The model is tested for the resonant multi-pulse ionization injection (ReMPI) scheme, showing that bunches having a length of about 300 as can be obtained with an ionization pulse having a duration of 30 fs FWHM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile phones, used in billions throughout the world, are high-touch devices subject to a dynamic contamination of microorganisms and rarely considered as an important fomite to sanitise systematically. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 resulted in the COVID-19 pandemic, arguably the most impactful pandemic of the 21st century with millions of deaths and disruption of all facets of modern life globally. To perform a systematic review of the literature exploring SARS-CoV-2 presence as a contaminant on mobile phones. A systematic search (PubMed and Google Scholar) of literature was undertaken from December 2019 to March 2023 identifying English language studies. Studies included in this review specifically identified or tested for the contamination of the SARS-CoV-2 virus or genome on mobile phones while studies testing for SARS-COV-2 in environments and/or other fomites samples than but not mobile phones were excluded. A total of 15 studies with reports of SARS-CoV-2 contamination on mobile phones between 2020 and 2023 were included. Amongst all studies, which encompassed ten countries, 511 mobile phones were evaluated for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 contamination and 45% (231/511) were positive for SARS-CoV-2. All studies were conducted in the hospital setting and two studies performed additional testing in residential isolation rooms and a patient's house. Four studies (3 in 2020 and one in 2021) reported 0% contamination while two other studies (in 2020 and 2022) reported 100% of mobile phone contamination with SARS-COV-2. All other studies report mobile phones positive for the virus within a range of 4–77%. A total of 45% of mobile phones are contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 virus. These devices might be an important fomite vector for viral dissemination worldwide. Competent health authorities are advised/recommended to start a global implementation of mobile phone decontamination by introducing regulations and protocols in public health and health care settings such as the 6th moment of hand washing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extended reality (XR) devices, including virtual and augmented reality head-mounted displays (HMDs), are increasingly utilised within healthcare to provide clinical interventions and education. Currently, XR devices are utilised to assist in reducing pain and improving psychological outcomes for immunocompromised patients in intensive care units, palliative care environments and surgical theatres. However, there is a paucity of research on the risks of infection from such devices in healthcare settings. Identify existing literature providing insights into the infection control risk XR HMDs pose within healthcare facilities and the efficacy of current infection control and cleaning procedures. Three databases (PubMed, Embase and CINAHL) in addition to Google Scholar were systematically searched. A total of seven studies were identified for this review. Microorganisms, including pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), were found to be present on XR HMDs. Published cleaning and infection control protocols designed to disinfect XR HMDs and protect users were heterogeneous in nature. Current cleaning protocols displayed varying levels of efficacy with microbial load affected by multiple factors, including time in use, number of users and XR HMD design features. In healthcare settings, fitting XR HMDs harbouring microorganisms near biological and mucosal entry points presents an infection control risk. An urgent revision of the Spaulding classification is required to ensure flexibility that allows for these devices to be reclassified from ‘Non-critical’ to ‘Semi-Critical’ depending on the healthcare setting and patient population (surgery, immunocompromised, burns, etc.). This review identified evidence supporting the presence of microorganisms on XR HMDs. Due to the potential for HMDs to contact mucosal entry points, devices must be re-considered within the Spaulding classification as ‘Semi-critical’. The existence of microbial contaminated XR HMDs in high-risk medical settings such as operating wards, intensive care units, emergency departments, labour and delivery wards and clinical areas with immunosuppressed patients requires urgent attention. Public health authorities have a duty of care to develop revised guidelines or new recommendations to ensure efficient sanitation of such devices.

ABSTRACTThe blood-brain barrier (BBB) largely excludes antibodies from entering the central nervous system, thus limiting the potential of therapeutic antibodies to treat conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases and neuro-psychiatric disorders. Here, we demonstrate that the transport of human antibodies across the BBB in mice can be enhanced by modulating their interactions with the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn). When M252Y/S254T/T246E substitutions are introduced on the antibody Fc domain, immunohistochemical assays reveal widespread distribution of the engineered antibodies throughout the mouse brain. These engineered antibodies remain specific for their antigens and retain pharmacological activity. We propose that novel brain-targeted therapeutic antibodies can be engineered to differentially engage FcRn for receptor-mediated transcytosis across the BBB in order to improve neurological disease therapeutics in the future.

ABSTRACTRecent studies uncovered that Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), a common, opportunistic bacterium in the oral cavity, is associated with a growing number of systemic diseases, ranging from colon cancer to Alzheimer’s disease. However, the pathological mechanisms responsible for this association are still poorly understood. Here, we leverage recent technological advances to study the interactions between Fn and neutrophils. We show that Fn survives within human neutrophils after phagocytosis. Using in vitro microfluidic devices, we determine that human neutrophils can protect and transport Fn over large distances. Moreover, we validate these observations in vivo by showing that neutrophils disseminate Fn using a zebrafish model. Our data support the emerging hypothesis that bacterial dissemination by neutrophils is a mechanistic link between oral and systemic diseases. Furthermore, our results may ultimately lead to therapeutic approaches that target specific host-bacteria interactions, including the dissemination process.

The large-scale production of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines has demonstrated the feasibility of the scalable manufacture of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) encapsulated with mRNA using an ethanol dilution technology. LNPs can also be produced for the delivery of plasmid DNA and nanomedicine-based gene therapy. The delivery of LNPs to the brain, across the blood–brain barrier (BBB), requires the incorporation of a receptor-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) on the surface of the LNP. The receptor-specific MAb acts as a molecular Trojan horse and triggers receptor-mediated transcytosis of the LNP across the BBB and receptor-mediated endocytosis of the LNP into the intracellular compartment of brain cells. A MAb targeting the insulin receptor (INSR) is a preferred Trojan horse for plasmid DNA gene therapy since the INSR is normally translocated to the nuclear compartment of the cell. The COVID-19 mRNA vaccine was developed by the scalable manufacture of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) that encapsulate mRNA within the lipid. There are many potential applications for this large nucleic acid delivery technology, including the delivery of plasmid DNA for gene therapy. However, gene therapy for the brain requires LNP delivery across the blood–brain barrier (BBB). It is proposed that LNPs could be reformulated for brain delivery by conjugation of receptor-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to the LNP surface. The MAb acts as a molecular Trojan horse to trigger receptor-mediated transcytosis (RMT) of the LNP across the BBB and subsequent localization to the nucleus for transcription of the therapeutic gene. Trojan horse LNPs could enable new approaches to gene therapy of the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, solar photovoltaic plays as a major alternative non-conventional energy source to meet the increasing load demand. However, for the implementation of these solar plants in the field, the requirement of the land area is very large which reflects in the installation cost. In addition, the effective performance of SPV depends on atmospheric conditions such as temperature and wind speed. Thus, in recent literature, floating-based SPV plants are in the limelight where these plants are mounted on water bodies like reservoirs and irrigation channels instead of land. In this system, the generated power at the SPV plant is transferred to the offshore bank via direct current cable and finally connected to the grid. Moreover, the unavoidable low value of DC leakage current flow through the conductive buried infrastructure/metallic pipeline system can be negligible under normal condition. Nevertheless, under transient conditions, the flow of DC leakage current will be enhanced and it causes the corrosion of surrounding metallic structures such as pipelines. Further, it leads to serious problems on a long-term basis. Therefore, in this work, a fuzzy-based relaying technique is proposed to detect and classify the faults occurring at the grid side by estimating the DC leakage current at cables. To evaluate the performance of the proposed technique, the simulation tests are performed on a 25 kV grid-connected floating SPV system (100 kW and 300 V). The simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed technique under various symmetrical and asymmetrical faults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acanthamoeba is well known to host a variety of microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and yeast. Given the recent number of cases of monkeypox infection, we speculate that amoebae may be aiding viral transmission to the susceptible hosts. Although there is no confirmatory evidence to suggest that Acanthamoeba is a host to monkeypox (a double-stranded DNA virus), the recent discovery of mimivirus (another double-stranded DNA virus) from Acanthamoeba, suggests that amoebae may shelter monkeypox virus. Furthermore, given the possible spread of monkeypox virus from animals to humans during an earlier outbreak, which came about after patients came in contact with prairie dogs, it is likely that animals may also act as mixing vessel between ubiquitously distributed Acanthamoeba and monkeypox virus, in addition to the environmental habitat that acts as an interface in complex interactions between diverse microorganisms and the host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bacterial infections involving multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria have become critically involved in the current antibiotic crisis. This, together with the bacterial evolution ability, prioritizes the discovery of new antibiotics. Research on microbial iron acquisition pathways and metabolites, particularly siderophores, has highlighted hopeful aspects for the design of advanced antimicrobial approaches. Moreover, exploiting siderophores machinery to treat diseases associated with iron overload and cancer is of additional interest for the therapeutic arena. Aim of Review: This review highlights and provides a renewed perspective on the evolutionary path of siderophores, from primordial siderophores to new iron chelating agents, stimulating the field to build on the past and shape the future. Key Scientific Concepts of Review: The effectiveness of siderophore-mimicking antibiotics appears to be high and selective for Gram-negative pathogens, rendering multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria susceptible to killing. Herein, cefiderocol, a new siderophore antibiotic, is well positioned in the clinic to treat MDR infections instigated by Gram-negative bacteria, particularly urinary tract infections and pneumonia. This siderophore has a mode of action based on a “Trojan horse” strategy, using the iron uptake systems for efficient bacterial penetration and killing. Recent progress has also been achieved concerning new iron chelating compounds to treat diseases associated with iron overload and cancer. Though these compounds still face great challenges for a clinical application, their promising results open up new doors for the design and development of innovative iron chelating compounds, taking benefit from the structurally diverse nature of siderophores.

Recent studies uncovered that Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), a common, opportunistic bacterium in the oral cavity, is associated with a growing number of systemic diseases, ranging from colon cancer to Alzheimer’s disease. However, the pathological mechanisms responsible for this association are still poorly understood. Here, we leverage recent technological advances to study the interactions between Fn and neutrophils. We show that Fn survives within human neutrophils after phagocytosis. Using in vitro microfluidic devices, we determine that human neutrophils can protect and transport Fn over large distances. Moreover, we validate these observations in vivo by showing that neutrophils disseminate Fn using a zebrafish model. Our data support the emerging hypothesis that bacterial dissemination by neutrophils is a mechanistic link between oral and systemic diseases. Furthermore, our results may ultimately lead to therapeutic approaches that target specific host-bacteria interactions, including the dissemination process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Early-stage brain metastasis of breast cancer (BMBC), due to the existence of an intact blood–brain barrier (BBB), is one of the deadliest neurologic complications. To improve the efficacy of chemotherapy for BMBC, a Trojan horse strategy-based nanocarrier has been developed by integrating the cell membrane of a brain-homing cancer cell and a polymeric drug depot. With the camouflage of a MDA-MB-231/Br cell membrane, doxorubicin-loaded poly (D, L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticle (DOX-PLGA@CM) shows enhanced cellular uptake and boosted killing potency for MDA-MB-231/Br cells. Furthermore, DOX-PLGA@CM is equipped with naturally selected molecules for BBB penetration, as evidenced by its boosted capacity in entering the brain of both healthy and early-stage BMBC mouse models. Consequently, DOX-PLGA@CM effectively reaches the metastatic tumor lesions in the brain, slows down cancer progression, reduces tumor burden, and extends the survival time for the BMBC animal. Furthermore, the simplicity and easy scale-up of the design opens a new window for the treatment of BMBC and other brain metastatic cancers.

This study investigates whether nanoplastics are significant contributor of rare earth elements (Gd) transportation under environmental conditions. Important effects of nanoplastic concentration, Gd concentration, complexation with organic ligands, pH, ionic strength and occurrence of natural colloids competitor were studied thanks to an experimental design combining incubation follow by ultrafiltration and ICPMS analyses. In particular, we observed that even in sea water, about half of the gadolinium can be adsorbed on nanoplastics. Surprisingly, the adsorption is more pronounced at low concentration of nanoplastic (10 μg L−1) probably because it prevents homoaggregation of nanoparticles. These are the first experimental clues that adsorption on nanoplastics is governed by fundamentally different processes than adsorption on microplastics. [Display omitted] • Nanoplastics are potential carriers of gadolinium-based contrast agents. • Nanoplastics are competitors of colloids for the adsorption of gadolinium complexes. • Homo-aggregation phenomenon at high concentrations hinders gadolinium adsorption. • Lower ionic strengths media favors gadolinium adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality ionization injection methods for wakefield acceleration driven by lasers or charged beams (LWFA/PWFA) can be optimized so as to generate high-brightness electron beams with tuneable duration in the attosecond range. We present a model of the minimum bunch duration obtainable with low-emittance ionization injection schemes by spotting the roles of the ionization pulse duration, of the wakefield longitudinal shape and of the delay of the ionization pulse position with respect to the node of the accelerating field. The model is tested for the resonant multi-pulse ionization injection (ReMPI) scheme, showing that bunches having a length of about 300 as can be obtained with an ionization pulse having a duration of 30 fs FWHM.

Highlights: DOX-PLGA@CM employs the whole set of membrane molecules of a brain-homing metastatic breast cancer cell optimized through a natural selection process. Thus, the hetero and multivalent effects of these molecules greatly facilitate the nanoparticle crossing the blood-brain barrier. Attributed to the homotypic effect of the nanocarrier, DOX-PLGA@CM shows stronger anticancer efficacy than free DOX for its parenteral cells. DOX-PLGA@CM effectively reaches the metastatic tumor lesions in the brain, and slows down the progression of brain metastatic breast cancer.Early-stage brain metastasis of breast cancer (BMBC), due to the existence of an intact blood–brain barrier (BBB), is one of the deadliest neurologic complications. To improve the efficacy of chemotherapy for BMBC, a Trojan horse strategy-based nanocarrier has been developed by integrating the cell membrane of a brain-homing cancer cell and a polymeric drug depot. With the camouflage of a MDA-MB-231/Br cell membrane, doxorubicin-loaded poly (D, L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticle (DOX-PLGA@CM) shows enhanced cellular uptake and boosted killing potency for MDA-MB-231/Br cells. Furthermore, DOX-PLGA@CM is equipped with naturally selected molecules for BBB penetration, as evidenced by its boosted capacity in entering the brain of both healthy and early-stage BMBC mouse models. Consequently, DOX-PLGA@CM effectively reaches the metastatic tumor lesions in the brain, slows down cancer progression, reduces tumor burden, and extends the survival time for the BMBC animal. Furthermore, the simplicity and easy scale-up of the design opens a new window for the treatment of BMBC and other brain metastatic cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay studies the persistence of the theme of the Trojan horse from Virgil's Aeneid in Silvestre de Balboa's Espejo de paciencia. First, some examples of the theme of the Trojan horse in classical Greco-Latin literature are presented, then its transmission in Spanish literature from medieval times to the Golden Age. Finally, its recreation in Balboa's text, in which it serves as programmatic metaphor of the poem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptococcus neoformans (C. neoformans) is a pathogenic fungus with a global distribution. Humans become infected by inhaling the fungus from the environment, and the fungus initially colonizes the lungs. If the immune system fails to contain C. neoformans in the lungs, the fungus can disseminate to the blood and invade the central nervous system, resulting in fatal meningoencephalitis particularly in immunocompromised individuals including HIV/AIDS patients. Following brain invasion, C. neoformans will encounter host defenses involving resident as well as recruited immune cells in the brain. To overcome host defenses, C. neoformans possesses multiple virulence factors capable of modulating immune responses. The outcome of the interactions between the host and C. neoformans will determine the disease progression. In this review, we describe the current understanding of how C. neoformans migrates to the brain across the blood–brain barrier, and how the host immune system responds to the invading organism in the brain. We will also discuss the virulence factors that C. neoformans uses to modulate host immune responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Microbial iron chelators as a new route to develop inspiring antimicrobials. • Siderophore-mimicking antibiotics as a pathogen-targeted strategy. • Effectiveness of iron chelators on antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. • Iron chelators and the treatment of iron overload diseases. • Iron chelators as powerful tools for cancer therapy. Bacterial infections involving multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria have become critically involved in the current antibiotic crisis. This, together with the bacterial evolution ability, prioritizes the discovery of new antibiotics. Research on microbial iron acquisition pathways and metabolites, particularly siderophores, has highlighted hopeful aspects for the design of advanced antimicrobial approaches. Moreover, exploiting siderophores machinery to treat diseases associated with iron overload and cancer is of additional interest for the therapeutic arena. This review highlights and provides a renewed perspective on the evolutionary path of siderophores, from primordial siderophores to new iron chelating agents, stimulating the field to build on the past and shape the future. The effectiveness of siderophore-mimicking antibiotics appears to be high and selective for Gram-negative pathogens, rendering multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria susceptible to killing. Herein, cefiderocol, a new siderophore antibiotic, is well positioned in the clinic to treat MDR infections instigated by Gram-negative bacteria, particularly urinary tract infections and pneumonia. This siderophore has a mode of action based on a "Trojan horse" strategy, using the iron uptake systems for efficient bacterial penetration and killing. Recent progress has also been achieved concerning new iron chelating compounds to treat diseases associated with iron overload and cancer. Though these compounds still face great challenges for a clinical application, their promising results open up new doors for the design and development of innovative iron chelating compounds, taking benefit from the structurally diverse nature of siderophores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cells of the immune system were proposed for use as Trojan horse for tumour-specific drug delivery. The efficacy of such cell-based drug delivery depends on the site-specific cell homing. This present study was aimed to investigate the potential of leucocytes for intratumoural site-specific enrichment using a locoregional application route in experimental liver tumours. Human neutrophils were isolated from peripheral blood and directly labelled with calcein AM or loaded with doxorubicin. The neutrophil loading and release of doxorubicin and the migration and adhesion to ICAM-1 were analysed in vitro. Macrophages were isolated and activated in vitro. Leucocyte plugging and the distribution pattern in the liver microvasculature were studied ex vivo, and the efficacy of leucocyte plugging in tumour blood vessels was analysed in vivo after superselective intra-arterial injection in mouse liver tumour models. Neutrophils were characterised by the high dose-dependent uptake and rapid release of doxorubicin. Doxorubicin loading did not affect neutrophil migration function. Neutrophil plugging in liver microvasculature was very high (> 90%), both after ex vivo perfusion and after injection in vivo. However, neutrophils as well as activated macrophages plugged insufficiently in tumour blood vessels and passed through the tumour microvasculture with a very low sequestration rate in vivo. Neutrophils possess several properties to function as potentially effective drug carriers; however, the tumour site-specific drug delivery after selective locoregional injection was observed to be insufficient owing to low intratumoural microvascular plugging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I originally translated Book II of Vergil’s Aeneid for my advanced placement Latin course in high school; two years later, I returned to the translation of the Aeneid for Professor Carrie Mowbray’s Latin course, which focused on an in-depth, thorough examination of the Aeneid (more specifically, Books I-VI) in both Latin and English. This excerpt taken from Book II has remained a favorite of mine for years, as the vivid imagery and language utilized allow readers to envision the most detailed of scenes. Vergil’s personification of the Trojan Horse is the prime reason this excerpt has always appealed to me. Of course, Laocoon’s famous line, “quidquid id est, timeo Danaos dona ferentis,” is oft-cited throughout ancient literature, on account of its structure and importance to the Aeneid’s plot. My translation aims to highlight the vivacity of Vergil’s poetry, in order to allow the readers to conjure up uniquely graphic and evocative scenes.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne, single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the genus Flavivirus. Although ZIKV infection is usually known to exhibit mild clinical symptoms, intrauterine ZIKV infections have been associated with severe neurological manifestations, including microcephaly and Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS). Therefore, it is imperative to understand the mechanisms of ZIKV entry into the central nervous system (CNS) and its effect on brain cells. Several routes of neuro-invasion have been identified, among which blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption is the commonest mode of access. The molecular receptors involved in viral entry remain unknown; with various proposed molecular ZIKV-host interactions including potential non-receptor mediated cellular entry. As ZIKV invade neuronal cells, they trigger neurotoxic mechanisms via cell-autonomous and non-cell autonomous pathways, resulting in neurogenesis dysfunction, viral replication, and cell death, all of which eventually lead to microcephaly. Together, our understanding of the biological mechanisms of ZIKV exposure would aid in the development of anti-ZIKV therapies targeting host cellular and/or viral components to combat ZIKV infection and its neurological manifestations. In this present work, we review the current understanding of ZIKV entry mechanisms into the CNS and its implications on the brain. We also highlight the status of the drug repurposing approach for the development of potential antiviral drugs against ZIKV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

These days, computer Trojans had become in the top of the most dangerous types of malwares threats. There is a lot of remote access tools that have ability to manage and apply many features remotely. Quasar Trojan is one of the most uses for Remote Access Trojan (RAT). The researchers apply Quasar on real environment in lab (ethically and for education purposes) and this paper presents the capabilities of Trojans. This paper will present some of Quasar features by extract most important features also presents how to access remotely by using no-IP address (DUC) with other tools of applying access of internal network ethically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the fact that leukocytes have innate phagocytic functions and oriented migration capabilities in response to chemoattractants, we have unveiled that endogenous neutrophils as “Trojan horses”, participate in the delivery of nanoparticles in an “in vivo self-armed assembly” manner. Neutrophils were the main population to preferentially sequester the intravenous administrated nanoparticles with an average size of 260 nm. The pre-implantation of CXCL1-laden hydrogels could trigger and induce a targeted signal to attract an influx of neutrophils carrying the therapeutic goods to the desired position. In mouse models of melanoma, the combinatorial regimen of using the PLGA nanoparticles with the CXCL1 hydrogels exhibited superior tumor inhibition capability. This work leveraged the natural phagocytosis of neutrophile and the chemotactic effect of chemokines for targeted delivery. We believe this strategy will improve the therapeutic efficiency of nanoparticle-based delivery systems, especially when the chemokines are implanted at sites of surgical tumor removal, during cancer treatment at the clinic.

Trojan horse technology institutes a potentially promising strategy to bring together a diagnostic or cell-based drug design and a delivery platform. It provides the opportunity to re-engineer a novel multimodal, neurovascular detection probe, or medicine to fuse with blood-brain barrier (BBB) molecular Trojan horse. In Alzheimer’s disease (AD) this could allow the targeted delivery of detection or therapeutic probes across the BBB to the sites of plaques and tangles development to image or decrease amyloid load, enhance perivascular Aβ clearance, and improve cerebral blood flow, owing principally to the significantly improved cerebral permeation. A Trojan horse can also be equipped with photosensitizers, nanoparticles, quantum dots, or fluorescent molecules to function as multiple targeting theranostic compounds that could be activated following changes in disease-specific processes of the diseased tissue such as pH and protease activity, or exogenous stimuli such as, light. This concept review theorizes the use of receptor-mediated transport-based platforms to transform such novel ideas to engineer systemic and smart Trojan detection or therapeutic probes to advance the neurodegenerative field.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne, single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the genus Flavivirus. Although ZIKV infection is usually known to exhibit mild clinical symptoms, intrauterine ZIKV infections have been associated with severe neurological manifestations, including microcephaly and Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS). Therefore, it is imperative to understand the mechanisms of ZIKV entry into the central nervous system (CNS) and its effect on brain cells. Several routes of neuro-invasion have been identified, among which blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption is the commonest mode of access. The molecular receptors involved in viral entry remain unknown; with various proposed molecular ZIKV-host interactions including potential non-receptor mediated cellular entry. As ZIKV invade neuronal cells, they trigger neurotoxic mechanisms via cell-autonomous and non-cell autonomous pathways, resulting in neurogenesis dysfunction, viral replication, and cell death, all of which eventually lead to microcephaly. Together, our understanding of the biological mechanisms of ZIKV exposure would aid in the development of anti-ZIKV therapies targeting host cellular and/or viral components to combat ZIKV infection and its neurological manifestations. In this present work, we review the current understanding of ZIKV entry mechanisms into the CNS and its implications on the brain. We also highlight the status of the drug repurposing approach for the development of potential antiviral drugs against ZIKV.

Acanthamoeba is well known to host a variety of microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and yeast. Given the recent number of cases of monkeypox infection, we speculate that amoebae may be aiding viral transmission to the susceptible hosts. Although there is no confirmatory evidence to suggest that Acanthamoeba is a host to monkeypox (a double-stranded DNA virus), the recent discovery of mimivirus (another double-stranded DNA virus) from Acanthamoeba, suggests that amoebae may shelter monkeypox virus. Furthermore, given the possible spread of monkeypox virus from animals to humans during an earlier outbreak, which came about after patients came in contact with prairie dogs, it is likely that animals may also act as mixing vessel between ubiquitously distributed Acanthamoeba and monkeypox virus, in addition to the environmental habitat that acts as an interface in complex interactions between diverse microorganisms and the host.