Incorporation of the Tat cell‐penetrating peptide into nanofibers improves the respective antitumor immune response

A major challenge for the development of anticancer vaccines is the induction of a safe and effective immune response, particularly mediated by CD8+ T lymphocytes, in an adjuvant‐free manner. In this respect, we present a simple strategy to improve the specific CD8+ T cell responses using KFE8 nanofibers bearing a Class I (Kb)‐restricted peptide epitope (called E. nanofibers) without the use of adjuvant. We demonstrate that incorporation of Tat, a cell‐penetrating peptide (CPP) of the HIV transactivator protein, into E. nanofibers remarkably enhanced tumor‐specific CD8+ T cell responses. E. nanofibers containing 12.5% Tat peptide (E.Tat_12.5 nanofiber) increased antigen cross‐presentation by bone marrow‐derived dendritic cells as compared with E. nanofibers, or E. nanofibers containing 25 or 50% the Tat peptide. Uptake of KFE8.Tat_12.5 nanofibers by dendritic cells (DCs) was significantly increased compared with KFE8 nanofiber lacking Tat. Peritoneal and lymph node DCs of mice immunized with E.Tat_12.5 nanofibers exhibited increased presentation of the H2kb‐epitope (reminiscent for cross‐presentation) compared with DCs obtained from E. nanofiber vaccinated mice. Tetrameric and intracellular cytokine staining revealed that vaccination with E.Tat_12.5 triggered a robust and specific CD8+ T lymphocyte response, which was more pronounced than in mice vaccinated with E. nanofibers alone. Furthermore, E.Tat_12.5 nanofibers were more potent than E. nanofiber to induce antitumor immune response and tumor‐infiltrating IFN‐γ CD8 T lymphocyte. In terms of cancer vaccine development, we propose that harnessing the nanofiber‐based vaccine platform with incorporated Tat peptide could present a simple and promising strategy to induce highly effective antitumor immune response.     

Design of Metasurface-Based Multi-layer THz Filters Utilizing Optimization Algorithm with Distinct Fitness Function Definitions

In this paper, an evolutionary optimization procedure is presented to generate band-pass metasurface-based filters in terahertz regime. As a measure of novelty, pass-band, transition, and out-band characteristics are investigated separately, all of which result in different metasurfaces for filtering applications. The presented approach is defined based on random hill climbing algorithm, regarding the established link between Matlab and HFSS software. A metasurface-based filter with specific properties is considered as the main problem to be solved by the optimization method. Moreover, the fuzzy theory, mean square method, and weighting coefficient procedure are considered to define an efficient fitness function evaluation approach. Also, a step-by-step procedure is used to generate desired structures with a great note of efficiency. The final generated structure has magnificent characteristics including sharp transitions together with transmittance around 0.68 and less than 0.04 at pass-band and out-band regions, respectively. Also, the generated metasurface benefits from wide bandwidth (65%) and great compactness compared to other previous works.

     

Prediction of shape and internal structure of the proximal femur using a modified level set method for structural topology optimisation

A computational framework was developed to simulate the bone remodelling process as a structural topology optimisation problem. The mathematical formulation of the Level Set technique was extended and then implemented into a coronal plane model of the proximal femur to simulate the remodelling of internal structure and external geometry of bone into the optimal state. Results indicated that the proposed approach could reasonably mimic the major geometrical and material features of the natural bone. Simulation of the internal bone remodelling on the typical gross shape of the proximal femur, resulted in a density distribution pattern with good consistency with that of the natural bone. When both external and internal bone remodelling were simulated simultaneously, the initial rectangular design domain with a regularly distributed mass reduced gradually to an optimal state with external shape and internal structure similar to those of the natural proximal femur.     

Preconditioning with diosgenin and treadmill exercise preserves the cardiac toxicity of isoproterenol in rats

This study was aimed to evaluate the preventive effect of diosgenin and exercise on tissue antioxidant status in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction (MI) in male Wistar rats. Levels of lipid peroxides, reduced glutathione (GSH), and the activities of glutathione-dependent antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidise and glutathione reductase) and antiperoxidative enzymes (catalase and superoxide dismutase) in the plasma and the heart tissue of experimental groups of rats were determined. Pretreatment with diosgenin and exercise exerted an antioxidant effect against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction by blocking the induction of lipid peroxidation. A tendency to prevent the isoproterenol-induced alterations in the level of GSH, in the activities of glutathione-dependent antioxidant enzymes and antiperoxidative enzymes was also observed. Histopathological findings of the myocardial tissue showed a protective role for combination of diosgenin and exercise in isoproterenol (ISO)-treated rats. Thus, the present study reveals that preconditioning with diosgenin and exercise exerts cardioprotective effect against ISO-induced MI due to its free radical scavenging and antioxidant effects, which maintains the tissue defense system against myocardial damage.     

Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution and Human Health Risks Assessment in Soils Around an Industrial Zone in Neyshabur,Iran

Biological Trace Element Research - Heavy metal pollution of soils in industrial zones continues to attract attention because of its potential human health risks. The present research is an attempt...     

CD133 suppression increases the sensitivity of prostate cancer cells to paclitaxel

Molecular Biology Reports - One of the major barriers in cancer therapy is the resistance to conventional therapies and cancer stem cells (CSCs) are among the main causes of this problem. CD133 as...     

The effect of Candida cell wall beta-glucan on treatment-resistant LL/2 cancer cell line: in vitro evaluation

Candida albicans (C. albicans) cell wall beta-glucan has been considered as a potential agent in the treatment of cancers due to its anti-tumor properties. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the anti-cancer effects of Candida cell wall beta-glucan on Lewis lung carcinoma cell line (LL/2) cells. Beta-glucan of C. albicans cell wall was extracted. LL/2 cell line was cultured, then sphere cells and parental cells were exposed to the different concentrations of beta-glucan extracted from C. albicans (10–6000 μg/ml), for 24, 48 and 72 h. Cytotoxicity of beta-glucan was assayed by MTT test, then RNA extracted from cells population (treated and untreated cells), cDNA synthetized and expression level of Sox2, Oct4, C-myc, Nanog genes were also investigated using Real-time methods. At optimal concentrations of 800 and 1000 μg/ml, the extracted beta-glucan showed a significant cytotoxic effect on both parental and sphere cell populations (p?<?0.05). Real-time PCR analysis revealed a decreased expression of Oct4 and Sox2 genes in treatment of cells with beta-glucan compared with control group. Since the extracted beta-glucan showed an inhibitory effect on the expression of Oct4 and Sox2 genes involved in LL/2 metastasis, therefore, beta-glucan can be considered as an anti-tumor agent because of its anti-metastatic properties, however, more in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to provide further evidence on this topic in the future.

     

Hepatitis C virus genotypes in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection in southern Iran from 2016 to 2019

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The treatment of HCV infection has become more complicated due to various genotypes and subtypes of HCV. The treatment of HCV has made significant advances with direct-acting antivirals. However, for the choice of medicine or the combination of drugs for hepatitis C, it is imperative to detect and discriminate the crucial HCV genotypes. The main objective of this study was to determine the pattern of circulating HCV genotypes in southern Iran, from 2016 until 2019. The other aim of the study was to determine possible associations of patients’ risk factors with HCV genotypes. A total of 803 serum samples were collected in 4 years (2016–2019) from patients with HCV antibody positive results. A total of 728 serum samples were HCV-RNA positive. The prevalence of HCV genotypes was detected using the genotype-specific RT-PCR test for serum samples obtained from 615 patients. The HCV genotype 1 (G1) was the most prevalent (48.8%) genotype in the area, with G1a, G1b, and mixed G1a/b representing 38.4%, 10.1%, and 0.3%, respectively. Genotype 3a was the next most prevalent (47.2%). Mixed genotypes 1a/3a were detected in 22 (3.6%) and finally G4 was found in 3 (0.5%) patients. The other HCV genotypes were not detected in any patient. Genotype 1 (1a and 1b alone, 1a/1b and 1a/3a coinfections) is the most prevalent HCV genotype in southern Iran. HCV G1 shows a significantly higher rate in people under 40 years old.     

Isolation,Characterization, and Expression Profiling of Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase Gene from Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinaceous Schreb.) (FaNDPK) under Salt Stress

Plant Molecular Biology Reporter - Fifty tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) half-sib families were screened under salinity stress during germination stage, and five tolerant and five...     

Correction to: Isolation,Characterization, and Expression Profiling of Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase Gene from Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) (FaNDPK) under Salt Stress

Plant Molecular Biology Reporter - The original version of this article unfortunately contained some mistakes in article Title and Table 1.