Apicomplexa micropore: history, function, and formation (2024)
Journal Article
Yang, J., Long, S., Hide, G., Lun, Z.-R., & Lai, D.-H. (2024). Apicomplexa micropore: history, function, and formation. Trends in Parasitology, 40(5), S1471-4922(24)00079-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2024.03.008

The micropore, a mysterious structure found in apicomplexan species, was recently shown to be essential for nutrient acquisition in Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii. However, the differences between the micropores of these two parasites qu... Read More about Apicomplexa micropore: history, function, and formation.

Synthesis and Characterisation of Metal Organic Frameworks for Use as Drug Delivery Systems in Neuroblastoma Therapy (2024)
Thesis
Nduka, I. O. (2024). Synthesis and Characterisation of Metal Organic Frameworks for Use as Drug Delivery Systems in Neuroblastoma Therapy. (Thesis). University of Salford

Gliotoxin, a secondary metabolite isolated from the fungi, Aspergillus fumigatus has
shown cytotoxic activity against neuroblastoma, a type of cancer accounting for 15%
of all childhood cancer-related deaths. But as with all other chemotherapeutic... Read More about Synthesis and Characterisation of Metal Organic Frameworks for Use as Drug Delivery Systems in Neuroblastoma Therapy.

The Toxoplasma monocarboxylate transporters are involved in the metabolism within the apicoplast and are linked to parasite survival (2024)
Journal Article
Dong, H., He, K., Yang, J., Zheng, W., Lai, D., Liu, J., …Long, S. (2024). The Toxoplasma monocarboxylate transporters are involved in the metabolism within the apicoplast and are linked to parasite survival. eLife, 12, RP88866. https://doi.org/10.7554/elife.88866.3

The apicoplast is a four-membrane plastid found in the apicomplexans, which harbors biosynthesis and organelle housekeeping activities in the matrix. However, the mechanism driving the flux of metabolites, in and out, remains unknown. Here, we used T... Read More about The Toxoplasma monocarboxylate transporters are involved in the metabolism within the apicoplast and are linked to parasite survival.

Calcium signaling in endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells: sex differences and the influence of estrogens and androgens (2024)
Journal Article
Asunción-Alvarez, D., Palacios, J., Ybañez-Julca, R. O., Rodriguez-Silva, C. N., Nwokocha, C., Cifuentes, F., & Greensmith, D. J. (2024). Calcium signaling in endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells: sex differences and the influence of estrogens and androgens. American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology, 326(4), H950-H970. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00600.2023

Calcium signaling in vascular endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is essential for the regulation of vascular tone. However, the changes to intracellular Ca2+ concentrations are often influenced by sex differences. Furthermore, a... Read More about Calcium signaling in endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells: sex differences and the influence of estrogens and androgens.

Self-assembling ferritin nanoplatform for the development of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus vaccine (2024)
Journal Article
Ahmadivand, S., Krpetic, Z., Martínez, M. M., Ordoñez, M. G., Roher, N., & Palić, D. (2024). Self-assembling ferritin nanoplatform for the development of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus vaccine. Frontiers in Immunology, 15, 1346512. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1346512

Self-assembling protein nanoparticles are used as a novel vaccine design platform to improve the stability and immunogenicity of safe subunit vaccines, while providing broader protection against viral infections. Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis vir... Read More about Self-assembling ferritin nanoplatform for the development of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus vaccine.

The transplant rejection response involves neutrophil and macrophage adhesion-mediated trogocytosis and is regulated by NFATc3 (2024)
Journal Article
Zhao, S., Hu, Y., Yang, B., Zhang, L., Xu, M., Jiang, K., …Shen, J. (in press). The transplant rejection response involves neutrophil and macrophage adhesion-mediated trogocytosis and is regulated by NFATc3. Cell Death and Disease, 15(1), 75. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-024-06457-4

The anti-foreign tissue (transplant rejection) response, mediated by the immune system, has been the biggest obstacle to successful organ transplantation. There are still many enigmas regarding this process and some aspects of the underlying mechanis... Read More about The transplant rejection response involves neutrophil and macrophage adhesion-mediated trogocytosis and is regulated by NFATc3.

Prevalence of Eimeria Species, Detected by ITS1-PCR Immobilized on FTA Cards, in Future Laying Hens and Breeding Hens in Six Provinces in Northeastern Algeria (2024)
Journal Article
Ayadi, O., Djemai, S., & Hide, G. (2024). Prevalence of Eimeria Species, Detected by ITS1-PCR Immobilized on FTA Cards, in Future Laying Hens and Breeding Hens in Six Provinces in Northeastern Algeria. Acta parasitologica / Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-023-00773-z

Purpose
Avian coccidiosis is an important and widely distributed disease that affects global agricultural economies through losses. In Algeria, there is limited epidemiological and ecological knowledge about this disease and this hinders implementat... Read More about Prevalence of Eimeria Species, Detected by ITS1-PCR Immobilized on FTA Cards, in Future Laying Hens and Breeding Hens in Six Provinces in Northeastern Algeria.

Boswellia carterii oleoresin extracts induce caspase-mediated apoptosis and G 1 cell cycle arrest in human leukaemia subtypes (2023)
Journal Article
Jones, M. A., Borun, A., & Greensmith, D. J. (2023). Boswellia carterii oleoresin extracts induce caspase-mediated apoptosis and G 1 cell cycle arrest in human leukaemia subtypes. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 14, 1282239. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1282239

Background: Leukemias are a common cancer in adults and children. While existing treatments are effective, they are associated with severe side-effects compounded by the emergence of drug resistance. This necessitates the need to develop new drugs an... Read More about Boswellia carterii oleoresin extracts induce caspase-mediated apoptosis and G 1 cell cycle arrest in human leukaemia subtypes.

Plasma interleukin responses as predictors of outcome stratification in patients after major trauma: a prospective observational two centre study (2023)
Journal Article
Jones, M. A., Hanison, J., Apreutesei, R., Allarakia, B., Namvar, S., Ramaswamy, D. S., …Nirmalan, N. (2023). Plasma interleukin responses as predictors of outcome stratification in patients after major trauma: a prospective observational two centre study. Frontiers in Immunology, 14, 1276171. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1276171

Background and objectives: There is a need to develop objective risk stratification tools to define efficient care pathways for trauma patients. Biomarker-based point of care testing may strengthen existing clinical tools currently available for this... Read More about Plasma interleukin responses as predictors of outcome stratification in patients after major trauma: a prospective observational two centre study.

Macrophage-mediated trogocytosis contributes to destroying human schistosomes in a non-susceptible rodent host, Microtus fortis (2023)
Journal Article
Shen, J., Zhao, S., Peng, M., Li, Y., Zhang, L., Li, X., …Wu, Z. (in press). Macrophage-mediated trogocytosis contributes to destroying human schistosomes in a non-susceptible rodent host, Microtus fortis. Cell Discovery, 9(1), 101. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41421-023-00603-6

Schistosoma parasites, causing schistosomiasis, exhibit typical host specificity in host preference. Many mammals, including humans, are susceptible to infection, while the widely distributed rodent, Microtus fortis, exhibits natural anti-schistosome... Read More about Macrophage-mediated trogocytosis contributes to destroying human schistosomes in a non-susceptible rodent host, Microtus fortis.

Functional screening reveals Toxoplasma prenylated proteins required for endocytic trafficking and rhoptry protein sorting (2023)
Journal Article
Wang, Q., Sun, M., Tang, T., Lai, D., Liu, J., Maity, S., …Long, S. (2023). Functional screening reveals Toxoplasma prenylated proteins required for endocytic trafficking and rhoptry protein sorting. mBio, https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.01309-23

In the apicomplexans, endocytosed cargos (e.g., hemoglobin) are trafficked to a specialized organelle for digestion. This follows a unique endocytotic process at the micropore/cytostome in these parasites. However, the mechanism underlying endocytic... Read More about Functional screening reveals Toxoplasma prenylated proteins required for endocytic trafficking and rhoptry protein sorting.

Investigating small extracellular vesicle miRNA as biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease (2023)
Thesis
Aarons, T. (2023). Investigating small extracellular vesicle miRNA as biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease. (Thesis). University of Salford

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia, a syndrome impacting over 900,000 people in the UK alone. There are currently no disease modifying treatments for AD, which is largely attributable to the heterogenous basis of the disease wh... Read More about Investigating small extracellular vesicle miRNA as biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease.

Intratumor microbiota as a novel potential prognostic indicator in mesothelioma (2023)
Journal Article
Pentimalli, F., Krstic- Demonacos, M., Costa, C., Mutti, L., & Bakker, E. (2023). Intratumor microbiota as a novel potential prognostic indicator in mesothelioma. Frontiers in Immunology, 14, https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1129513

Introduction: Despite increased attention on immunotherapy, primarily immune checkpoint blockade, as a therapeutic approach for mesothelioma (MMe), its efficacy and tolerability remain questioned. One potential explanation for different responses to... Read More about Intratumor microbiota as a novel potential prognostic indicator in mesothelioma.

The Toxoplasma micropore mediates endocytosis for selective nutrient salvage from host cell compartments (2023)
Journal Article
Wan, W., Dong, H., Lai, D., Yang, J., He, K., Tang, X., …Long, S. (in press). The Toxoplasma micropore mediates endocytosis for selective nutrient salvage from host cell compartments. Nature communications, 14(1), 997. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-36571-4

Apicomplexan parasite growth and replication relies on nutrient acquisition from host cells, in which intracellular multiplication occurs, yet the mechanisms that underlie the nutrient salvage remain elusive. Numerous ultrastructural studies have doc... Read More about The Toxoplasma micropore mediates endocytosis for selective nutrient salvage from host cell compartments.

Electrochemical detection of asparaginase antibodies using bifunctionalized carbon interfaces (2023)
Journal Article
Marshall, D., & Lehr, J. (in press). Electrochemical detection of asparaginase antibodies using bifunctionalized carbon interfaces. Electroanalysis, https://doi.org/10.1002/elan.202200456

The early detection of anti-asparaginase biomarker can facilitate timely modification of asparaginase chemotherapy, thereby avoiding serious complications. Herein we describe the preparation of a novel electrochemical biosensing interface for rapid d... Read More about Electrochemical detection of asparaginase antibodies using bifunctionalized carbon interfaces.

Investigation into the potential of using UV-treated sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella as a local solution to immunization of chickens against caecal coccidiosis (2023)
Journal Article
Djemai, S., Mekroud, A., Hide, G., Khelifi, D., & Bellil, I. (in press). Investigation into the potential of using UV-treated sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella as a local solution to immunization of chickens against caecal coccidiosis. Journal of Parasitic Diseases, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-022-01562-7

In this study, we aim to evaluate the immune response of chickens to UV-treated sporulated oocysts as a means of protection against caecal coccidiosis caused by field strains of Eimeria tenella. Two groups of chicks were immunized using prepared UV-t... Read More about Investigation into the potential of using UV-treated sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella as a local solution to immunization of chickens against caecal coccidiosis.

Characterisation of inflammatory mediators in ischaemic heart disease (2022)
Thesis
Borun, A. Characterisation of inflammatory mediators in ischaemic heart disease. (Dissertation). University of Salford

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the most common causes of death in general population. In the UK it accounts for 64000 deaths annually and there are currently 2.3 million people living with CAD. Persistent inflammation of myocardium is believ... Read More about Characterisation of inflammatory mediators in ischaemic heart disease.

A hydroalcoholic extract of Senecio nutans SCh. Bip (Asteraceae); its effects on cardiac function and chemical characterization (2022)
Journal Article
Palacios, J., Paredes, A., Cifuentes, F., Catalan, M., Garcia-Villalon, A., Borquez, J., …Greensmith, D. (2023). A hydroalcoholic extract of Senecio nutans SCh. Bip (Asteraceae); its effects on cardiac function and chemical characterization. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 300, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2022.115747

Ethnopharmacology relevance
The plant Senecio nutans SCh. Bip. is used by Andean communities to treat altitude sickness. Recent evidence suggests it may produce vasodilation and negative cardiac inotropy, though the cellular mechanisms have not been... Read More about A hydroalcoholic extract of Senecio nutans SCh. Bip (Asteraceae); its effects on cardiac function and chemical characterization.

Prevalence of Eimeria species, detected by ITS1-PCR, in broiler poultry farms located in seven provinces of northeastern Algeria. (2022)
Journal Article
Djemai, S., Ayadi, O., Khelifi, D., Bellil, I., & Hide, G. (2022). Prevalence of Eimeria species, detected by ITS1-PCR, in broiler poultry farms located in seven provinces of northeastern Algeria. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 54(5), 250. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-022-03252-1

Coccidiosis is an important global chickens' disease which can cause serious economic losses in the poultry industry worldwide. Little is known about the extent of infection or diversity, of the causative agent Eimeria spp., in Algeria. A priority, t... Read More about Prevalence of Eimeria species, detected by ITS1-PCR, in broiler poultry farms located in seven provinces of northeastern Algeria..

Investigating senescence and senescence-escape in cancer cells (2022)
Thesis
Toth, F. (2022). Investigating senescence and senescence-escape in cancer cells. (Thesis). University of Salford

Despite the general concept that therapy-induced senescence (TIS) has a tumour-suppressive role, the presence of senescent tumour cells and the ability of cancer cells to escape from senescence could potentially lead to therapy resistance and tumour... Read More about Investigating senescence and senescence-escape in cancer cells.