Recognising the importance and impact of Imaging Scientists: Global guidelines for establishing career paths within core facilities

In the dynamic landscape of scientific research, imaging core facilities are vital hubs propelling collaboration and innovation at the technology development and dissemination frontier. Here, we present a collaborative effort led by Global BioImaging (GBI), introducing international recommendations geared towards elevating the careers of Imaging Scientists in core facilities. Despite the critical role of Imaging Scientists in modern research ecosystems, challenges persist in recognising their value, aligning performance metrics and providing avenues for career progression and job security. The challenges encompass a mismatch between classic academic career paths and service-oriented roles, resulting in a lack of understanding regarding the value and impact of Imaging Scientists and core facilities and how to evaluate them properly. They further include challenges around sustainability, dedicated training opportunities and the recruitment and retention of talent. Structured across these interrelated sections, the recommendations within this publication aim to propose globally applicable solutions to navigate these challenges. These recommendations apply equally to colleagues working in other core facilities and research institutions through which access to technologies is facilitated and supported. This publication emphasises the pivotal role of Imaging Scientists in advancing research programs and presents a blueprint for fostering their career progression within institutions all around the world.

Adenosine increases PD-L1 expression in mesenchymal stromal cells derived from cervical cancer through its interaction with A2AR/A2BR and the production of TGF-β1

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) together with malignant cells present in the tumor microenvironment (TME), participate in the suppression of the antitumor immune response through the production of immunosuppressive factors, such as transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1). In previous studies, we reported that adenosine (Ado), generated by the adenosinergic activity of cervical cancer (CeCa) cells, induces the production of TGF-β1 by interacting with A2AR/A2BR. In the present study, we provide evidence that Ado induces the production of TGF-β1 in MSCs derived from CeCa tumors (CeCa-MSCs) by interacting with both receptors and that TGF-β1 acts in an autocrine manner to induce the expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in CeCa-MSCs, resulting in an increase in their immunosuppressive capacity on activated CD8+ T lymphocytes. The addition of the antagonists ZM241385 and MRS1754, specific for A2AR and A2BR, respectively, or SB-505124, a selective TGF-β1 receptor inhibitor, in CeCa-MSC cultures significantly inhibited the expression of PD-L1. Compared with CeCa-MSCs, MSCs derived from normal cervical tissue (NCx-MSCs), used as a control and induced with Ado to express PD-L1, showed a lower response to TGF-β1 to increase PD-L1 expression. Those results strongly suggest the presence of a feedback mechanism among the adenosinergic pathway, the production of TGF-β1, and the induction of PD-L1 in CeCa-MSCs to suppress the antitumor response of CD8+ T lymphocytes. The findings of this study suggest that this pathway may have clinical importance as a therapeutic target.

Interactions between the AraC/XylS-like transcriptional activator InvF of Salmonella Typhimurium, the RNA polymerase alpha subunit and the chaperone SicA

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium causes gastroenteritis and systemic infections in humans. For this bacterium the expression of a type III secretion system (T3SS) and effector proteins encoded in the Salmonella pathogenicity island-1 (SPI-1), is keystone for the virulence of this bacterium. Expression of these is controlled by a regulatory cascade starting with the transcriptional regulators HilD, HilC and RtsA that induce the expression of HilA, which then activates expression of the regulator InvF, a transcriptional regulator of the AraC/XylS family. InvF needs to interact with the chaperone SicA to activate transcription of SPI-1 genes including sicA, sopB, sptP, sopE, sopE2, and STM1239. InvF very likely acts as a classical activator; however, whether InvF interacts with the RNA polymerase alpha subunit RpoA has not been determined. Results from this study confirm the interaction between InvF with SicA and reveal that both proteins interact with the RNAP alpha subunit. Thus, our study further supports that the InvF/SicA complex acts as a classical activator. Additionally, we showed for the first time an interaction between a chaperone of T3SS effectors (SicA) and the RNAP.

Antimicrobial activity of silver-copper coating against aerosols containing surrogate respiratory viruses and bacteria

The transmission of bacteria and respiratory viruses through expelled saliva microdroplets and aerosols is a significant concern for healthcare workers, further highlighted during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. To address this issue, the development of nanomaterials with antimicrobial properties for use as nanolayers in respiratory protection equipment, such as facemasks or respirators, has emerged as a potential solution. In this study, a silver and copper nanolayer called SakCu® was deposited on one side of a spun-bond polypropylene fabric using the magnetron sputtering technique. The antibacterial and antiviral activity of the AgCu nanolayer was evaluated against droplets falling on the material and aerosols passing through it. The effectiveness of the nanolayer was assessed by measuring viral loads of the enveloped virus SARS-CoV-2 and viability assays using respiratory surrogate viruses, including PaMx54, PaMx60, PaMx61 (ssRNA, Leviviridae), and PhiX174 (ssDNA, Microviridae) as representatives of non-enveloped viruses. Colony forming unit (CFU) determination was employed to evaluate the survival of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. The results demonstrated a nearly exponential reduction in SARS-CoV-2 viral load, achieving complete viral load reduction after 24 hours of contact incubation with the AgCu nanolayer. Viability assays with the surrogate viruses showed a significant reduction in viral replication between 2-4 hours after contact. The simulated viral filtration system demonstrated inhibition of viral replication ranging from 39% to 64%. The viability assays with PhiX174 exhibited a 2-log reduction in viral replication after 24 hours of contact and a 16.31% inhibition in viral filtration assays. Bacterial growth inhibition varied depending on the species, with reductions ranging from 70% to 92% for aerobic bacteria and over 90% for anaerobic strains. In conclusion, the AgCu nanolayer displayed high bactericidal and antiviral activity in contact and aerosol conditions. Therefore, it holds the potential for incorporation into personal protective equipment to effectively reduce and prevent the transmission of aerosol-borne pathogenic bacteria and respiratory viruses.

Meltwater Pulse 1a drowned fringing reefs around Tahiti 15 000 years ago

Reconstruction of postglacial sea-level rise using reef cores recovered from Tahiti during IODP Expedition 310 showed that the first major acceleration, known as Meltwater Pulse 1a (MWP-1a), was a 12-22 m rise in 340 years starting at 14.65 ka BP. Although it was reported that the pulse did not drown Tahitian reefs, the subsequent discovery of a fringing reef at the base of several cores implies that its timing, magnitude and impact require revision. Here, we report facies and paleodepth data from this reef, revise sea level, and revisit reef response. We find its reef crest is dominated by surf-adapted corals to a depth of 2.5 m and show that it retreated upslope over an approximately 1000-year interval from 16 ka. Reef development then apparently ceased at 15 ka at -106 m and remained absent for approximately 600 years, before resuming at 14.4 ka further upslope at -93 m. This absence is consistent with reef drowning and requires that MWP-1a had a smaller magnitude of 13.8 ± 1.3 m, and may have started 300 years earlier than previously reported. It confirms MWP-1a was a global event, drowning reefs on Tahiti as well as those in other oceans.

Minor Changes in Daily Rhythms Induced by a Skeleton Photoperiod Are Associated with Increased Adiposity and Glucose Intolerance

Eating during the rest phase is associated with metabolic syndrome, proposed to result from a conflict between food consumption and the energy-saving state imposed by the circadian system. However, in nocturnal rodents, eating during the rest phase (day-feeding, DF) also implies food intake during light exposure. To investigate whether light exposure contributes to DF-induced metabolic impairments, animals receive food during the subjective day without light. A skeleton photoperiod (SP) is used to entrain rats to a 12:12 cycle with two short light pulses framing the subjective day. DF-induced adiposity is prevented by SP, suggesting that the conflict between light and feeding stimulates fat accumulation. However, all animals under SP conditions develop glucose intolerance regardless of their feeding schedule. Moreover, animals under SP with ad libitum or night-feeding have increased adiposity. SP animals show a delayed onset of the daily rise in body temperature and energy expenditure and shorter duration of nighttime activity, which may contribute to the metabolic disturbances. These data emphasize that metabolic homeostasis can only be achieved when all daily cycling variables are synchronized. Even small shifts in the alignment of different metabolic rhythms, such as those induced by SP, may predispose individuals to metabolic disease.

Dim Light at Night Promotes Circadian Disruption in Female Rats, at the Metabolic, Reproductive, and Behavioral Level

Inhabitants of urban areas are constantly exposed to light at night, which is an important environmental factor leading to circadian disruption. Streetlights filtering light through the windows and night dim light lamps are common sources of dim light at night (DLAN). The female population is susceptible to circadian disruption. The present study is aimed to determine the impact of DLAN on female Wistar rats circadian rhythms, metabolism, reproductive physiology, and behavior. After 5 weeks of DLAN exposure daily, oscillations in activity and body temperature of female rats are abolished. DLAN also decreases nocturnal food ingestion, which results in a diminishment in total food consumption. These alterations in the temporal organization of the body are associated with a significant decrease in melatonin plasmatic levels, reproductive disruptions, decreased exploration times, and marked anhedonia. This study highlights the importance of avoiding exposure to light at night, even at low intensities, to maintain the circadian organization of physiology, and denotes the great necessity of increasing the studies in females since the sexual dimorphism within the effects of desynchronizing protocols has been poorly studied.

Contribution and functional connectivity between cerebrum and cerebellum on sub-lexical and lexical-semantic processing of verbs

Language comprehension involves both sub-lexical (e.g., phonological) and lexical-semantic processing. We conducted a task using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to compare the processing of verbs in these two domains. Additionally, we examined the representation of concrete-motor and abstract-non-motor concepts by including two semantic categories of verbs: motor and mental. The findings indicate that sub-lexical processing during the reading of pseudo-verbs primarily involves the left dorsal stream of the perisylvian network, while lexical-semantic representation during the reading of verbs predominantly engages the ventral stream. According to the embodied or grounded cognition approach, modality-specific mechanisms (such as sensory-motor systems) and the well-established multimodal left perisylvian network contribute to the semantic representation of both concrete and abstract verbs. Our study identified the visual system as a preferential modality-specific system for abstract-mental verbs, which exhibited functional connectivity with the right crus I/lobule VI of the cerebellum. Taken together, these results confirm the dissociation between sub-lexical and lexical-semantic processing and provide neurobiological evidence of functional coupling between specific visual modality regions and the right cerebellum, forming a network that supports the semantic representation of abstract concepts. Further, the results shed light on the underlying mechanisms of semantic processing and contribute to our understanding of how the brain processes abstract concepts.

Neuroinflammation, Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis, and Depression: The Vicious Circle

Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, contributing to the global disease burden. From above, it is a priority to investigate models that fully explain its physiopathology to develop new treatments. In the last decade, many studies have shown that gut microbiota (GM) dysbiosis influences brain functions and participate, in association with immunity, in the pathogenesis of depression. Thereby, GM modulation could be a novel therapeutic target for depression. This review aims to evidence how the GM and the immune system influence mental illness, particularly depression. Here, we focus on the communication mechanisms between the intestine and the brain and the impact on the development of neuroinflammation contributing to the development of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). However, most of the current findings are in animal models, suggesting the need for studies in humans. In addition, more analysis of metabolites and cytokines are needed to identify new pathophysiological mechanisms improving anti-depression treatments.

Remote Screening for Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement by Sex, Age, Lockdown Condition, and Psychological Care-Seeking in the Primary Care Setting during the COVID-19 Pandemic in México

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a psychoactive substance use crisis in many countries, including México. Remote valid tools to identify high-risk groups in need for treatment are a prerequisite for cost-effective interventions in primary care settings. To determine the validity and correlates of the remote applications of the Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) with sex, age, and psychological care-seeking, offered remotely in primary settings, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico, a total sample of 19,109 Mexicans, with an average age of 34.38 years (SD = 12.28, range = 18-80), 65.8% of whom were women (n = 12,578), 29.6% in lockdown (5,660), 39.8% in partial lockdown (7,611), 30.60% not in lockdown (5,838), and 14.75% of whom were seeking psychological care (n = 2,819), completed ASSIST through a programmed Web application. The dimensionality of the scale to verify construct validity evidence was achieved through a confirmatory factor analysis model (CFA). We represented the distribution of subjects by sex, age, lockdown condition, and psychological care-seeking, based on their lifetime consumption in 2021. We also compared the total distribution by consumption risk level and recommended type of intervention, psychological care-seeking, and age. The tool included ten dimensions (one for each substance, such as tobacco use), confirmed through the CFA. In general, our findings indicated that men reported high lifetime psychoactive substance use and risky drug use levels. A high percentage of 18 to 19-year-old women reported lifetime tobacco and alcohol use. Additionally, a high number of all-age women reported lifetime sedative and opioid use. Also, a high proportion of partially lockdown participants reported lifetime drug use. Moreover, a high percentage of subjects seeking psychological care were at a moderate and high risk of drug use, which required brief or intensive treatment. Our findings indicate that it was possible to validate the factor structure of the programmed ASSIST for remote use. More men than women reported high lifetime psychoactive substance use and risky levels because of their consumption. At the same time, younger women reported similar and even higher lifetime tobacco, alcohol, and cocaine use than same-age men. More all-age women reported lifetime use of sedatives than all-age men. More all-age partially lockdown participants reported lifetime use of drugs. In general, subjects at greater risk and those requiring psychological care are more likely to seek care. Community and primary care screening will make it possible to implement effective early interventions to reduce the substance use risks associated with health emergencies. Future studies are required to determine the diagnosis of substance use disorders to evaluate the cut-off points in the screening test to discriminate between the presence and absence of symptoms and evaluate the effect of remote psychological care.

Komatiites as Complex Adsorption Surfaces for Amino Acids in Prebiotic Environments, a Prebiotic Chemistry Essay

Komatiites represent the oldest known terrestrial rocks, and their composition has been cataloged as the closest to that of the first terrestrial crust after the cooling of the magma ocean. These rocks could have been present in multiple environments on the early Earth and served as concentrators of organic molecules. In this study, the adsorption of five amino acids (glycine, lysine, histidine, arginine, and aspartic acid) on a natural komatiite, a simulated komatiite, and the minerals olivine, pyroxene, and plagioclase were analyzed under three different pH values: acid pH (5.5), natural pH of the aqueous solution of each amino acid and alkaline pH (11). Adsorption experiments were performed in solid-liquid suspensions and organic molecules were analyzed by spectrophotometry. The main objective of this essay was to determine if the complex surfaces could have participated as concentrators of amino acids in scenarios of the primitive Earth and if the adsorption responds to the change of charge of the molecules. The results showed that komatiite is capable of adsorbing amino acids in different amounts depending on the experimental conditions. In total, 75 systems were analyzed that show different adsorptions, which implies that different interactions are involved, particularly in relation to the type of amino acid, the type of solid material and the conditions of the medium.

Diagnostics of COVID-19 Based on CRISPR-Cas Coupled to Isothermal Amplification: A Comparative Analysis and Update

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted fast development of novel diagnostic methods of the etiologic virus SARS-CoV-2. Methods based on CRISPR-Cas systems have been particularly promising because they can achieve a similar sensitivity and specificity to the benchmark RT-qPCR, especially when coupled to an isothermal pre-amplification step. Furthermore, they have also solved inherent limitations of RT-qPCR that impede its decentralized use and deployment in the field, such as the need for expensive equipment, high cost per reaction, and delivery of results in hours, among others. In this review, we evaluate publicly available methods to detect SARS-CoV-2 that are based on CRISPR-Cas and isothermal amplification. We critically analyze the steps required to obtain a successful result from clinical samples and pinpoint key experimental conditions and parameters that could be optimized or modified to improve clinical and analytical outputs. The COVID outbreak has propelled intensive research in a short time, which is paving the way to develop effective and very promising CRISPR-Cas systems for the precise detection of SARS-CoV-2. This review could also serve as an introductory guide to new labs delving into this technology.

New information of dopaminergic agents based on quantum chemistry calculations

Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter that plays a key role in a wide range of both locomotive and cognitive functions in humans. Disturbances on the dopaminergic system cause, among others, psychosis, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. Antipsychotics are drugs that interact primarily with the dopamine receptors and are thus important for the control of psychosis and related disorders. These drugs function as agonists or antagonists and are classified as such in the literature. However, there is still much to learn about the underlying mechanism of action of these drugs. The goal of this investigation is to analyze the intrinsic chemical reactivity, more specifically, the electron donor-acceptor capacity of 217 molecules used as dopaminergic substances, particularly focusing on drugs used to treat psychosis. We analyzed 86 molecules categorized as agonists and 131 molecules classified as antagonists, applying Density Functional Theory calculations. Results show that most of the agonists are electron donors, as is dopamine, whereas most of the antagonists are electron acceptors. Therefore, a new characterization based on the electron transfer capacity is proposed in this study. This new classification can guide the clinical decision-making process based on the physiopathological knowledge of the dopaminergic diseases.

Salinity Effects on the Adsorption of Nucleic Acid Compounds on Na-Montmorillonite: a Prebiotic Chemistry Experiment

Any proposed model of Earth's primitive environments requires a combination of geochemical variables. Many experiments are prepared in aqueous solutions and in the presence of minerals. However, most sorption experiments are performed in distilled water, and just a few in seawater analogues, mostly inconsistent with a representative primitive ocean model. Therefore, it is necessary to perform experiments that consider the composition and concentration of dissolved salts in the early ocean to understand how these variables could have affected the absorption of organic molecules into minerals. In this work, the adsorption of adenine, adenosine, and 5'AMP onto Na+montmorillonite was studied using a primitive ocean analog (4.0 Ga) from experimental and computational approaches. The order of sorption of the molecules was: 5'AMP > adenine > adenosine. Infrared spectra showed that the interaction between these molecules and montmorillonite occurs through the NH2 group. In addition, electrostatic interaction between negatively charged montmorillonite and positively charge N1 of these molecules could occur. Results indicate that dissolved salts affect the sorption in all cases; the size and structure of each organic molecule influence the amount sorbed. Specifically, the X-ray diffraction patterns show that dissolved salts occupy the interlayer space in Na-montmorillonite and compete with organic molecules for available sites. The adsorption capacity is clearly affected by dissolved salts in thermodynamic terms as deduced by isotherm models. Indeed, molecular dynamic models suggest that salts are absorbed in the interlamellar space and can interact with oxygen atoms exposed in the edges of clay or in its surface, reducing the sorption of the organic molecules. This research shows that the sorption process could be affected by high concentration of salts, since ions and organic molecules may compete for available sites on inorganic surfaces. Salt concentration in primitive oceans may have strongly affected the sorption, and hence the concentration processes of organic molecules on minerals.

Multiscale adaptive analysis of circadian rhythms and intradaily variability: Application to actigraphy time series in acute insomnia subjects

Circadian rhythms become less dominant and less regular with chronic-degenerative disease, such that to accurately assess these pathological conditions it is important to quantify not only periodic characteristics but also more irregular aspects of the corresponding time series. Novel data-adaptive techniques, such as singular spectrum analysis (SSA), allow for the decomposition of experimental time series, in a model-free way, into a trend, quasiperiodic components and noise fluctuations. We compared SSA with the traditional techniques of cosinor analysis and intradaily variability using 1-week continuous actigraphy data in young adults with acute insomnia and healthy age-matched controls. The findings suggest a small but significant delay in circadian components in the subjects with acute insomnia, i.e. a larger acrophase, and alterations in the day-to-day variability of acrophase and amplitude. The power of the ultradian components follows a fractal 1/f power law for controls, whereas for those with acute insomnia this power law breaks down because of an increased variability at the 90min time scale, reminiscent of Kleitman’s basic rest-activity (BRAC) cycles. This suggests that for healthy sleepers attention and activity can be sustained at whatever time scale required by circumstances, whereas for those with acute insomnia this capacity may be impaired and these individuals need to rest or switch activities in order to stay focused. Traditional methods of circadian rhythm analysis are unable to detect the more subtle effects of day-to-day variability and ultradian rhythm fragmentation at the specific 90min time scale.