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Guo L, Wang S, Jiao X, Ye X, Deng D, Liu H, Li Y, Van de Peer Y, Wu W. Convergent and/or parallel evolution of RNA-binding proteins in angiosperms after polyploidization. New Phytol 2024; 242:1377-1393. [PMID: 38436132 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Increasing studies suggest that the biased retention of stress-related transcription factors (TFs) after whole-genome duplications (WGDs) could rewire gene transcriptional networks, facilitating plant adaptation to challenging environments. However, the role of posttranscriptional factors (e.g. RNA-binding proteins, RBPs) following WGDs has been largely ignored. Uncovering thousands of RBPs in 21 representative angiosperm species, we integrate genomic, transcriptomic, regulatomic, and paleotemperature datasets to unravel their evolutionary trajectories and roles in adapting to challenging environments. We reveal functional enrichments of RBP genes in stress responses and identify their convergent retention across diverse angiosperms from independent WGDs, coinciding with global cooling periods. Numerous RBP duplicates derived from WGDs are then identified as cold-induced. A significant overlap of 29 orthogroups between WGD-derived and cold-induced RBP genes across diverse angiosperms highlights a correlation between WGD and cold stress. Notably, we unveil an orthogroup (Glycine-rich RNA-binding Proteins 7/8, GRP7/8) and relevant TF duplicates (CCA1/LHY, RVE4/8, CBF2/4, etc.), co-retained in different angiosperms post-WGDs. Finally, we illustrate their roles in rewiring circadian and cold-regulatory networks at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels during global cooling. Altogether, we underline the adaptive evolution of RBPs in angiosperms after WGDs during global cooling, improving our understanding of plants surviving periods of environmental turmoil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangyu Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, School of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Shuo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, School of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Xi Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, School of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Xiaoxue Ye
- Institute of Tropical Biosciences and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, 571101, China
| | - Deyin Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, School of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Hua Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, School of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Yan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, School of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Yves Van de Peer
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, VIB - UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent University, B-9052, Ghent, Belgium
- College of Horticulture, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
| | - Wenwu Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, School of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, 311300, China
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Guden RM, Haegeman A, Ruttink T, Moens T, Derycke S. Nematodes alter the taxonomic and functional profiles of benthic bacterial communities: A metatranscriptomic approach. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17331. [PMID: 38533629 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Marine sediments cover 70% of the Earth's surface, and harbour diverse bacterial communities critical for marine biogeochemical processes, which affect climate change, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Nematodes, the most abundant and species-rich metazoan organisms in marine sediments, in turn, affect benthic bacterial communities and bacterial-mediated ecological processes, but the underlying mechanisms by which they affect biogeochemical cycles remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate using a metatranscriptomic approach that nematodes alter the taxonomic and functional profiles of benthic bacterial communities. We found particularly strong stimulation of nitrogen-fixing and methane-oxidizing bacteria in the presence of nematodes, as well as increased functional activity associated with methane metabolism and degradation of various carbon compounds. This study provides empirical evidence that the presence of nematodes results in taxonomic and functional shifts in active bacterial communities, indicating that nematodes may play an important role in benthic ecosystem processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodgee Mae Guden
- Marine Biology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Annelies Haegeman
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Melle, Belgium
| | - Tom Ruttink
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Melle, Belgium
| | - Tom Moens
- Marine Biology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sofie Derycke
- Marine Biology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Aquatic Environment and Quality, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Oostende, Belgium
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Debrabander J. On subjective measures of decision quality. Bioethics 2024. [PMID: 38655819 DOI: 10.1111/bioe.13291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
In times of person-centered care, it is all the more important to support patients in making good decisions about their care. One way to offer such support to patients is by way of Patient Decision Aids (PDAs). Ranging from patient brochures to web-based tools, PDAs explicitly state the decisions patients face, inform them about their medical options, help them to clarify and discuss their values, and ultimately make a decision. However, lingering discussions surround effectiveness research on PDAs. In this article, I focus on two subjective measures of decision quality that are widely used as outcome measures in effectiveness research on PDAs (i.e., the Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) and measures of regret). Although these measurement instruments have attracted critical attention in the scientific literature, bioethicists have hardly engaged with them. Therefore, I set myself to analyze the relationship between (the different subscales of) the DCS and measures of regret, on the one hand, and ethical principles such as beneficence and autonomy, on the other hand. In light of that analysis, I will clarify some discussions regarding the use of these measures of decision quality in effectiveness research on PDAs. This should help us to align the way we evaluate PDAs with ethical principles and avoid that our attempts to support patients in making good decisions about their care that is so central to person-centered care point in unethical directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper Debrabander
- Department of Philosophy and Moral Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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De Meyer F, Zerrouk A, De Ruysscher C, Vanderplasschen W. Exploring indicators of natural recovery from alcohol and drug use problems: findings from the life in recovery survey in Flanders. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 2024; 19:22. [PMID: 38610049 PMCID: PMC11015601 DOI: 10.1186/s13011-024-00604-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Research has established natural recovery (NR) as an important pathway to substance use recovery. Studies investigating correlates of NR have mainly focused on demographic and substance use variables rather than life circumstances. This study seeks to better understand the phenomenon of natural recovery by (i) validating the international scientific literature concerning demographic and substance use indicators of NR in Flanders and (ii) assessing the additional explanatory power of recovery strengths and barriers during active addiction, controlling for demographic and substance use covariates. METHODS A total of 343 persons in recovery from alcohol or drug use problems (≥ 3 months) completed an online cross-sectional survey in Flanders. Participants in NR and in recovery after following treatment were compared using multivariate linear regression models. Reasons for not following treatment were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS Higher education level, lower severity of dependence, and cannabis use as the main problem substance (vs. alcohol) were statistically significant (p < 0.05) correlates of NR. When scores for the number of barriers and strengths associated with active addiction were added, barriers (but not strengths) were significantly associated with NR. When barrier items were individually tested, having untreated emotional or mental health problems, having a driver's license revoked and damaging property were statistically significant correlates. The most reported reason for not entering treatment was not experiencing any need to do so. CONCLUSION The results highlight the importance of a holistic approach to recovery support across multiple life domains. Limitations and opportunities for further research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian De Meyer
- Department of Special Needs Education, Ghent University, Henri-Dunantlaan 1, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.
| | - Amine Zerrouk
- Department of Special Needs Education, Ghent University, Henri-Dunantlaan 1, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Clara De Ruysscher
- Department of Special Needs Education, Ghent University, Henri-Dunantlaan 1, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Wouter Vanderplasschen
- Department of Special Needs Education, Ghent University, Henri-Dunantlaan 1, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
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Di Giacomo A, Myslovska A, De Roo V, Goeman J, Martins JC, Moreels I. Selenium reduction pathways in the colloidal synthesis of CdSe nanoplatelets. Nanoscale 2024; 16:6268-6277. [PMID: 38450545 PMCID: PMC10956962 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr05157a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Several established procedures are now available to prepare zinc blende CdSe nanoplatelets. While these protocols allow for detailed control over both thickness and lateral dimensions, the chemistry behind their formation is yet to be unraveled. In this work, we discuss the influence of the solvent on the synthesis of nanoplatelets. We confirmed that the presence of double bonds, as is the case for 1-octadecene, plays a key role in the evolution of nanoplatelets, through the isomerization of the alkene, as confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Consequently, 1-octadecene can be replaced as a solvent (or solvent mixture), however, only by one that also contains α protons to CC double bonds. We confirm this via synthesis of nanoplatelets in hexadecane spiked with a small amount of 1-octadecene, and in the aromatic solvent 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (tetralin). At the same time, the chemical reaction leading to the formation of nanoplatelets occurs to some extent in saturated solvents. A closer examination revealed that an alternative formation pathway is possible, through interaction of carboxylic acids, such as octanoic acid, with selenium. Next to shedding more light on the synthesis of CdSe nanoplatelets, fundamental understanding of the precursor chemistry paves the way to use optimized solvent admixtures as an additional handle to control the nanoplatelet synthesis, as well as to reduce potential self-polymerization hurdles observed with 1-octadecene.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alina Myslovska
- Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, 9000-Gent, Belgium.
| | - Vic De Roo
- Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, 9000-Gent, Belgium
| | - Jan Goeman
- Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, 9000-Gent, Belgium
| | - José C Martins
- Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, 9000-Gent, Belgium
| | - Iwan Moreels
- Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, 9000-Gent, Belgium.
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Gerrits R. Variability in Hemispheric Functional Segregation Phenotypes: A Review and General Mechanistic Model. Neuropsychol Rev 2024; 34:27-40. [PMID: 36576683 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-022-09575-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Many functions of the human brain are organized asymmetrically and are subject to strong population biases. Some tasks, like speaking and making complex hand movements, exhibit left hemispheric dominance, whereas others, such as spatial processing and recognizing faces, favor the right hemisphere. While pattern of preference implies the existence of a stereotypical way of distributing functions between the hemispheres, an ever-increasing body of evidence indicates that not everyone follows this pattern of hemispheric functional segregation. On the contrary, the review conducted in this article shows that departures from the standard hemispheric division of labor are routinely observed and assume many distinct forms, each having a different prevalence rate. One of the key challenges in human neuroscience is to model this variability. By integrating well-established and recently emerged ideas about the mechanisms that underlie functional lateralization, the current article proposes a general mechanistic model that explains the observed distribution of segregation phenotypes and generates new testable hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Gerrits
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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Cordero-Lanzac T, Capel Berdiell I, Airi A, Chung SH, Mancuso JL, Redekop EA, Fabris C, Figueroa-Quintero L, Navarro de Miguel JC, Narciso J, Ramos-Fernandez EV, Svelle S, Van Speybroeck V, Ruiz-Martínez J, Bordiga S, Olsbye U. Transitioning from Methanol to Olefins (MTO) toward a Tandem CO 2 Hydrogenation Process: On the Role and Fate of Heteroatoms (Mg, Si) in MAPO-18 Zeotypes. JACS Au 2024; 4:744-759. [PMID: 38425934 PMCID: PMC10900493 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.3c00768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
The tandem CO2 hydrogenation to hydrocarbons over mixed metal oxide/zeolite catalysts (OXZEO) is an efficient way of producing value-added hydrocarbons (platform chemicals and fuels) directly from CO2via methanol intermediate in a single reactor. In this contribution, two MAPO-18 zeotypes (M = Mg, Si) were tested and their performance was compared under methanol-to-olefins (MTO) conditions (350 °C, PCH3OH = 0.04 bar, 6.5 gCH3OH h-1 g-1), methanol/CO/H2 cofeed conditions (350 °C, PCH3OH/PCO/PH2 = 1:7.3:21.7 bar, 2.5 gCH3OH h-1 g-1), and tandem CO2 hydrogenation-to-olefin conditions (350 °C, PCO2/PH2 = 7.5:22.5 bar, 1.4-12.0 gMAPO-18 h molCO2-1). In the latter case, the zeotypes were mixed with a fixed amount of ZnO:ZrO2 catalyst, well-known for the conversion of CO2/H2 to methanol. Focus was set on the methanol conversion activity, product selectivity, and performance stability with time-on-stream. In situ and ex situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), sorption experiments, and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) calculations were performed to correlate material performance with material characteristics. The catalytic tests demonstrated the better performance of MgAPO-18 versus SAPO-18 at MTO conditions, the much superior performance of MgAPO-18 under methanol/CO/H2 cofeeds, and yet the increasingly similar performance of the two materials under tandem conditions upon increasing the zeotype-to-oxide ratio in the tandem catalyst bed. In situ FT-IR measurements coupled with AIMD calculations revealed differences in the MTO initiation mechanism between the two materials. SAPO-18 promoted initial CO2 formation, indicative of a formaldehyde-based decarboxylation mechanism, while CO and ketene were the main constituents of the initiation pool in MgAPO-18, suggesting a decarbonylation mechanism. Under tandem CO2 hydrogenation conditions, the presence of high water concentrations and low methanol partial pressure in the reaction medium led to lower, and increasingly similar, methanol turnover frequencies for the zeotypes. Despite both MAPO-18 zeotypes showing signs of activity loss upon storage due to the interaction of the sites with ambient humidity, they presented a remarkable stability after reaching steady state under tandem reaction conditions and after steaming and regeneration cycles at high temperatures. Water adsorption experiments at room temperature confirmed this observation. The faster activity loss observed in the Mg version is assigned to its harder Mg2+-ion character and the higher concentration of CHA defects in the AEI structure, identified by solid-state NMR and XRD. The low stability of a MgAPO-34 zeotype (CHA structure) upon storage corroborated the relationship between CHA defects and instability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomás Cordero-Lanzac
- Department
of Chemistry, SMN Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology, University of Oslo, 0371 Oslo, Norway
| | - Izar Capel Berdiell
- Department
of Chemistry, SMN Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology, University of Oslo, 0371 Oslo, Norway
| | - Alessia Airi
- Department
of Chemistry, NIS Center and INSTM Reference Center, University of Turin, Turin 10125, Italy
| | - Sang-Ho Chung
- KAUST
Catalysis Center (KCC), King Abdullah University
of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jenna L. Mancuso
- Center
for Molecular Modeling, Ghent University, Technologiepark 46, B-9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
| | - Evgeniy A. Redekop
- Department
of Chemistry, SMN Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology, University of Oslo, 0371 Oslo, Norway
| | - Claudia Fabris
- Department
of Chemistry, SMN Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology, University of Oslo, 0371 Oslo, Norway
| | - Leidy Figueroa-Quintero
- Inorganic
Chemistry Department, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, University Materials Institute of Alicante, University
of Alicante, Apartado 99, Alicante 03080, Spain
| | - Juan C. Navarro de Miguel
- KAUST
Catalysis Center (KCC), King Abdullah University
of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Javier Narciso
- Inorganic
Chemistry Department, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, University Materials Institute of Alicante, University
of Alicante, Apartado 99, Alicante 03080, Spain
| | - Enrique V. Ramos-Fernandez
- Inorganic
Chemistry Department, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, University Materials Institute of Alicante, University
of Alicante, Apartado 99, Alicante 03080, Spain
| | - Stian Svelle
- Department
of Chemistry, SMN Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology, University of Oslo, 0371 Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Javier Ruiz-Martínez
- KAUST
Catalysis Center (KCC), King Abdullah University
of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Silvia Bordiga
- Department
of Chemistry, NIS Center and INSTM Reference Center, University of Turin, Turin 10125, Italy
| | - Unni Olsbye
- Department
of Chemistry, SMN Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology, University of Oslo, 0371 Oslo, Norway
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Vandeputte M, Coppens S, Bossier P, Vereecke N, Vanrompay D. Genomic mining of Vibrio parahaemolyticus highlights prevalence of antimicrobial resistance genes and new genetic markers associated with AHPND and tdh + /trh + genotypes. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:178. [PMID: 38355437 PMCID: PMC10868097 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10093-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND) causes significant mortality in shrimp aquaculture. The infection is primarily instigated by Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) strains carrying a plasmid encoding the binary toxin PirAB. Yet, comprehension of supplementary virulence factors associated with this relatively recent disease remains limited. Furthermore, the same holds for gastroenteritis in humans caused by other Vp genotypes. Additionally, given the prevalent use of antibiotics to combat bacterial infections, it becomes imperative to illuminate the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes within these bacteria. RESULTS A subsampled number of 1,036 Vp genomes was screened for the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes, revealing an average prevalence of 5 ± 2 (SD) genes. Additional phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing of three Vp strains (M0904, TW01, and PV1) sequenced in this study demonstrated resistance to ampicillin by all tested strains. Additionally, Vp M0904 showed multidrug resistance (against ampicillin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole). With a focus on AHPND, a screening of all Vibrio spp. for the presence of pirA and/or pirB indicates an estimated prevalence of 0.6%, including four V. campbellii, four V. owensii, and a Vibrio sp. next to Vp. Their pirAB-encoding plasmids exhibited a highly conserved backbone, with variations primarily in the region of the Tn3 family transposase. Furthermore, an assessment of the subsampled Vp genomes for the presence of known virulence factors showed a correlation between the presence of the Type 3 Secretion System 2 and tdh, while the presence of the Type 6 Secretion System 1 was clade dependent. Furthermore, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) unveiled (new) genes associated with pirA, pirB, tdh, and trh genotypes. Notable associations with the pirAB genotype included outer membrane proteins, immunoglobulin-like domain containing proteins, and toxin-antitoxin systems. For the tdh + /trh + genotypes (containing tdh, trh, or both genes), associations were found with T3SS2 genes, urease-related genes and nickel-transport system genes, and genes involved in a 'minimal' type I-F CRISPR mechanism. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes in Vp, identifying novel genetic markers associated with AHPND and tdh + /trh + genotypes. These findings contribute valuable insights into the genomic basis of these genotypes, with implications for shrimp aquaculture and food safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marieke Vandeputte
- Laboratory of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Production and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- Laboratory of Aquaculture & Artemia Reference Center, Department of Animal Production and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | | | - Peter Bossier
- Laboratory of Aquaculture & Artemia Reference Center, Department of Animal Production and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Daisy Vanrompay
- Laboratory of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Production and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Schneider M, Van Bel M, Inzé D, Baekelandt A. Leaf growth - complex regulation of a seemingly simple process. Plant J 2024; 117:1018-1051. [PMID: 38012838 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the underlying mechanisms of plant development is crucial to successfully steer or manipulate plant growth in a targeted manner. Leaves, the primary sites of photosynthesis, are vital organs for many plant species, and leaf growth is controlled by a tight temporal and spatial regulatory network. In this review, we focus on the genetic networks governing leaf cell proliferation, one major contributor to final leaf size. First, we provide an overview of six regulator families of leaf growth in Arabidopsis: DA1, PEAPODs, KLU, GRFs, the SWI/SNF complexes, and DELLAs, together with their surrounding genetic networks. Next, we discuss their evolutionary conservation to highlight similarities and differences among species, because knowledge transfer between species remains a big challenge. Finally, we focus on the increase in knowledge of the interconnectedness between these genetic pathways, the function of the cell cycle machinery as their central convergence point, and other internal and environmental cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Schneider
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Michiel Van Bel
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dirk Inzé
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Alexandra Baekelandt
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
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Muller FM, Vervenne B, Maebe J, Blankemeyer E, Sellmyer MA, Zhou R, Karp JS, Vanhove C, Vandenberghe S. Image Denoising of Low-Dose PET Mouse Scans with Deep Learning: Validation Study for Preclinical Imaging Applicability. Mol Imaging Biol 2024; 26:101-113. [PMID: 37875748 DOI: 10.1007/s11307-023-01866-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Positron emission tomography (PET) image quality can be improved by higher injected activity and/or longer acquisition time, but both may often not be practical in preclinical imaging. Common preclinical radioactive doses (10 MBq) have been shown to cause deterministic changes in biological pathways. Reducing the injected tracer activity and/or shortening the scan time inevitably results in low-count acquisitions which poses a challenge because of the inherent noise introduction. We present an image-based deep learning (DL) framework for denoising lower count micro-PET images. PROCEDURES For 36 mice, a 15-min [18F]FDG (8.15 ± 1.34 MBq) PET scan was acquired at 40 min post-injection on the Molecubes β-CUBE (in list mode). The 15-min acquisition (high-count) was parsed into smaller time fractions of 7.50, 3.75, 1.50, and 0.75 min to emulate images reconstructed at 50, 25, 10, and 5% of the full counts, respectively. A 2D U-Net was trained with mean-squared-error loss on 28 high-low count image pairs. RESULTS The DL algorithms were visually and quantitatively compared to spatial and edge-preserving denoising filters; the DL-based methods effectively removed image noise and recovered image details much better while keeping quantitative (SUV) accuracy. The largest improvement in image quality was seen in the images reconstructed with 10 and 5% of the counts (equivalent to sub-1 MBq or sub-1 min mouse imaging). The DL-based denoising framework was also successfully applied on the NEMA-NU4 phantom and different tracer studies ([18F]PSMA, [18F]FAPI, and [68 Ga]FAPI). CONCLUSION Visual and quantitative results support the superior performance and robustness in image denoising of the implemented DL models for low statistics micro-PET. This offers much more flexibility in optimizing preclinical, longitudinal imaging protocols with reduced tracer doses or shorter durations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence M Muller
- Medical Image and Signal Processing (MEDISIP), Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104, USA.
| | - Boris Vervenne
- Medical Image and Signal Processing (MEDISIP), Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jens Maebe
- Medical Image and Signal Processing (MEDISIP), Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Eric Blankemeyer
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104, USA
| | - Mark A Sellmyer
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104, USA
| | - Rong Zhou
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104, USA
| | - Joel S Karp
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104, USA
| | - Christian Vanhove
- Medical Image and Signal Processing (MEDISIP), Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Stefaan Vandenberghe
- Medical Image and Signal Processing (MEDISIP), Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
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11
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Dixit B, Vranken W, Ghysels A. Conformational dynamics of α-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) in cancer: A comparative study of glycosylated and unglycosylated AGP. Proteins 2024; 92:246-264. [PMID: 37837263 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
α-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) is one of the most abundant plasma proteins. It fulfills two important functions: immunomodulation, and binding to various drugs and receptors. These different functions are closely associated and modulated via changes in glycosylation and cancer missense mutations. From a structural point of view, glycans alter the local biophysical properties of the protein leading to a diverse ligand-binding spectrum. However, glycans can typically not be observed in the resolved X-ray crystallography structure of AGP due to their high flexibility and microheterogeneity, so limiting our understanding of AGP's conformational dynamics 70 years after its discovery. We here investigate how mutations and glycosylation interfere with AGP's conformational dynamics changing its biophysical behavior, by using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and sequence-based dynamics predictions. The MD trajectories show that glycosylation decreases the local backbone flexibility of AGP and increases the flexibility of distant regions through allosteric effects. We observe that mutations near the glycosylation site affect glycan's conformational preferences. Thus, we conclude that mutations control glycan dynamics which modulates the protein's backbone flexibility directly affecting its accessibility. These findings may assist in the drug design targeting AGP's glycosylation and mutations in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhawna Dixit
- IBiTech-BioMMeda Group, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Interuniversity Institute of Bioinformatics in Brussels, ULB-VUB, Brussels, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Wim Vranken
- Interuniversity Institute of Bioinformatics in Brussels, ULB-VUB, Brussels, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - An Ghysels
- IBiTech-BioMMeda Group, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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12
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De Coster T, Zhao Y, Tšuiko O, Demyda-Peyrás S, Van Soom A, Vermeesch JR, Smits K. Genome-wide equine preimplantation genetic testing enabled by simultaneous haplotyping and copy number detection. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2003. [PMID: 38263320 PMCID: PMC10805710 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48103-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
In different species, embryonic aneuploidies and genome-wide errors are a major cause of developmental failure. The increasing number of equine embryos being produced worldwide provides the opportunity to characterize and rank or select embryos based on their genetic profile prior to transfer. Here, we explored the possibility of generic, genome-wide preimplantation genetic testing concurrently for aneuploidies (PGT-A) and monogenic (PGT-M) traits and diseases in the horse, meanwhile assessing the incidence and spectrum of chromosomal and genome-wide errors in in vitro-produced equine embryos. To this end, over 70,000 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) positions were genotyped in 14 trophectoderm biopsies and corresponding biopsied blastocysts, and in 26 individual blastomeres from six arrested cleavage-stage embryos. Subsequently, concurrent genome-wide copy number detection and haplotyping by haplarithmisis was performed and the presence of aneuploidies and genome-wide errors and the inherited parental haplotypes for four common disease-associated genes with high carrier frequency in different horse breeds (GBE1, PLOD1, B3GALNT2, MUTYH), and for one color coat-associated gene (STX17) were compared in biopsy-blastocyst combinations. The euploid (n = 12) or fully aneuploid (n = 2) state and the inherited parental haplotypes for 42/45 loci of interest of the biopsied blastocysts were predicted by the biopsy samples in all successfully analyzed biopsy-blastocyst combinations (n = 9). Two biopsies showed a loss of maternal chromosome 28 and 31, respectively, which were confirmed in the corresponding blastocysts. In one of those biopsies, additional complex aneuploidies not present in the blastocyst were found. Five out of six arrested embryos contained chromosomal and/or genome-wide errors in most of their blastomeres, demonstrating their contribution to equine embryonic arrest in vitro. The application of the described PGT strategy would allow to select equine embryos devoid of genetic errors and pathogenetic variants, and with the variants of interest, which will improve foaling rate and horse quality. We believe this approach will be a gamechanger in horse breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- T De Coster
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Y Zhao
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - O Tšuiko
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - S Demyda-Peyrás
- Department of Genetics, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Animal Production, Veterinary School, National University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - A Van Soom
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - J R Vermeesch
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - K Smits
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
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13
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Llusar J, du Fossé I, Hens Z, Houtepen A, Infante I. Surface Reconstructions in II-VI Quantum Dots. ACS Nano 2024; 18:1563-1572. [PMID: 38169474 PMCID: PMC10795476 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c09265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Although density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been crucial in our understanding of colloidal quantum dots (QDs), simulations are commonly carried out on QD models that are significantly smaller than those generally found experimentally. While smaller models allow for efficient study of local surface configurations, increasing the size of the QD model will increase the size or number of facets, which can in turn influence the energetics and characteristics of trap formation. Moreover, core-shell structures can only be studied with QD models that are large enough to accommodate the different layers with the correct thickness. Here, we use DFT calculations to study the electronic properties of QDs as a function of size, up to a diameter of ∼4.5 nm. We show that increasing the size of QD models traditionally used in DFT studies leads to a disappearance of the band gap and localization of the HOMO and LUMO levels on facet-specific regions of the QD surface. We attribute this to the lateral coupling of surface orbitals and the formation of surface bands. The introduction of surface vacancies and their a posteriori refilling with Z-type ligands leads to surface reconstructions that widen the band gap and delocalize both the HOMO and LUMO. These results show that the surface geometry of the facets plays a pivotal role in defining the electronic properties of the QD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Llusar
- BCMaterials,
Basque Center for Materials, Applications, and Nanostructures, UPV/EHU Science Park, Leioa 48940, Spain
| | - Indy du Fossé
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Optoelectronic Materials, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The
Netherlands
| | - Zeger Hens
- Physics
and Chemistry of Nanostructures, Department of Chemistry, and Center
of Nano and Biophotonics, Ghent University, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Arjan Houtepen
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Optoelectronic Materials, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The
Netherlands
| | - Ivan Infante
- BCMaterials,
Basque Center for Materials, Applications, and Nanostructures, UPV/EHU Science Park, Leioa 48940, Spain
- Ikerbasque
Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao 48009, Spain
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14
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De Houwer J, Finn M, Boddez Y, Hughes S, Cummins J. Relating different perspectives on how outcomes of behavior influence behavior. J Exp Anal Behav 2024; 121:123-133. [PMID: 37877755 DOI: 10.1002/jeab.887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Many researchers have tackled the question of how behavior is influenced by its outcomes. Some have adopted a nonmechanistic (functional) perspective that attempts to describe the influence of outcomes on behavior. Others have adopted a mechanistic (cognitive) perspective that attempts to explain the influence of outcomes on behavior. Orthogonal to this distinction, some have focused on the influence of outcomes that a behavior had in the past, whereas others also consider the influence of outcomes that a behavior might have in the future. In this article, we relate these different perspectives with the goal of reducing misunderstandings and fostering collaborations between researchers who adopt different perspectives on the common question of how behavior is influenced by its outcomes.
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15
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Bos S, Lobatón T, De Vos M, Van Welden S, Plekhova V, De Paepe E, Vanhaecke L, Laukens D. A comprehensive metabolite fingerprint of fibrostenosis in patients with Crohn's disease. Sci Rep 2023; 13:23036. [PMID: 38155265 PMCID: PMC10754816 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50461-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Intestinal fibrostenosis in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) is a common and untreatable comorbidity that is notoriously difficult to monitor. We aimed to find metabolites associated with the presence of fibrostenosis in patients with CD using targeted and untargeted metabolomics analyses of serum and primary cell cultures using hyphenated ultra-high performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry. Targeted metabolomics revealed 11 discriminating metabolites in serum, which were enriched within the arginine and proline metabolism pathway. Based on untargeted metabolomics and discriminant analysis, 166 components showed a high predictive value. In addition, human intestinal fibroblasts isolated from stenotic tissue were characterized by differential levels of medium-chain dicarboxylic acids, which are proposed as an energy source through beta-oxidation, when oxidative phosphorylation is insufficient. Another energy providing pathway in such situations is anaerobic glycolysis, a theory supported by increased expression of hexokinase 2 and solute carrier family 16 member 1 in stenotic fibroblasts. Of interest, four (unannotated) metabolic components showed a negative correlation with hexokinase 2 gene expression. Together, this study provides a discriminative metabolic fingerprint in the serum and in intestinal fibroblasts of stenotic and non-stenotic patients with CD suggestive for increased production of building blocks for collagen synthesis and increased glycolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Bos
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, C. Heymanslaan 10, 0MRB2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Triana Lobatón
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, C. Heymanslaan 10, 0MRB2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Martine De Vos
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, C. Heymanslaan 10, 0MRB2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sophie Van Welden
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, C. Heymanslaan 10, 0MRB2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Vera Plekhova
- Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ellen De Paepe
- Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lynn Vanhaecke
- Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Debby Laukens
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, C. Heymanslaan 10, 0MRB2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
- VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium.
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16
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Olea AR, Jurado A, Slor G, Tevet S, Pujals S, De La Rosa VR, Hoogenboom R, Amir RJ, Albertazzi L. Reaching the Tumor: Mobility of Polymeric Micelles Inside an In Vitro Tumor-on-a-Chip Model with Dual ECM. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2023; 15:59134-59144. [PMID: 38102079 PMCID: PMC10755695 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c12798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Degradable polymeric micelles are promising drug delivery systems due to their hydrophobic core and responsive design. When applying micellar nanocarriers for tumor delivery, one of the bottlenecks encountered in vivo is the tumor tissue barrier: crossing the dense mesh of cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM). Sometimes overlooked, the extracellular matrix can trap nanoformulations based on charge, size, and hydrophobicity. Here, we used a simple design of a microfluidic chip with two types of ECM and MCF7 spheroids to allow "high-throughput" screening of the interactions between biological interfaces and polymeric micelles. To demonstrate the applicability of the chip, a small library of fluorescently labeled polymeric micelles varying in their hydrophilic shell and hydrophobic core forming blocks was studied. Three widely used hydrophilic shells were tested and compared, namely, poly(ethylene glycol), poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline), and poly(acrylic acid), along with two enzymatically degradable dendritic hydrophobic cores (based on hexyl or nonyl end groups). Using ratiometric imaging of unimer:micelle fluorescence and FRAP inside the chip model, we obtained the local assembly state and dynamics inside the chip. Notably, we observed different micelle behaviors in the basal lamina ECM, from avoidance of the ECM structure to binding of the poly(acrylic acid) formulations. Binding to the basal lamina correlated with higher uptake into MCF7 spheroids. Overall, we proposed a simple microfluidic chip containing dual ECM and spheroids for the assessment of the interactions of polymeric nanocarriers with biological interfaces and evaluating nanoformulations' capacity to cross the tumor tissue barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alis R. Olea
- Institute
for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of
Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alicia Jurado
- Institute
for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of
Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gadi Slor
- Department
of Organic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Shahar Tevet
- Department
of Organic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Silvia Pujals
- Department
of Biological Chemistry, Institute for Advanced
Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC−CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Victor R. De La Rosa
- Supramolecular
Chemistry Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC), Department
of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Richard Hoogenboom
- Supramolecular
Chemistry Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC), Department
of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Roey J. Amir
- Department
of Organic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- The
Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- The
ADAMA
Center for Novel Delivery Systems in Crop Protection, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Lorenzo Albertazzi
- Institute
for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of
Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Complex Molecular Systems
(ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology
(TUE), Eindhoven 5612 AZ, The Netherlands
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17
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Sakarika M, Kerckhof FM, Van Peteghem L, Pereira A, Van Den Bossche T, Bouwmeester R, Gabriels R, Van Haver D, Ulčar B, Martens L, Impens F, Boon N, Ganigué R, Rabaey K. The nutritional composition and cell size of microbial biomass for food applications are defined by the growth conditions. Microb Cell Fact 2023; 22:254. [PMID: 38072930 PMCID: PMC10712164 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-023-02265-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is increasingly recognized that conventional food production systems are not able to meet the globally increasing protein needs, resulting in overexploitation and depletion of resources, and environmental degradation. In this context, microbial biomass has emerged as a promising sustainable protein alternative. Nevertheless, often no consideration is given on the fact that the cultivation conditions affect the composition of microbial cells, and hence their quality and nutritional value. Apart from the properties and nutritional quality of the produced microbial food (ingredient), this can also impact its sustainability. To qualitatively assess these aspects, here, we investigated the link between substrate availability, growth rate, cell composition and size of Cupriavidus necator and Komagataella phaffii. RESULTS Biomass with decreased nucleic acid and increased protein content was produced at low growth rates. Conversely, high rates resulted in larger cells, which could enable more efficient biomass harvesting. The proteome allocation varied across the different growth rates, with more ribosomal proteins at higher rates, which could potentially affect the techno-functional properties of the biomass. Considering the distinct amino acid profiles established for the different cellular components, variations in their abundance impacts the product quality leading to higher cysteine and phenylalanine content at low growth rates. Therefore, we hint that costly external amino acid supplementations that are often required to meet the nutritional needs could be avoided by carefully applying conditions that enable targeted growth rates. CONCLUSION In summary, we demonstrate tradeoffs between nutritional quality and production rate, and we discuss the microbial biomass properties that vary according to the growth conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myrsini Sakarika
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, B-9000, Belgium.
- Center for Advanced Process Technology for Urban Resource recovery (CAPTURE), Frieda Saeysstraat 1, Ghent, 9052, Belgium.
| | - Frederiek-Maarten Kerckhof
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, B-9000, Belgium
- Center for Advanced Process Technology for Urban Resource recovery (CAPTURE), Frieda Saeysstraat 1, Ghent, 9052, Belgium
- Kytos BV, IIC UGent, Frieda Saeysstraat 1/B, Ghent, 9052, Belgium
| | - Lotte Van Peteghem
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, B-9000, Belgium
- Center for Advanced Process Technology for Urban Resource recovery (CAPTURE), Frieda Saeysstraat 1, Ghent, 9052, Belgium
| | - Alexandra Pereira
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, B-9000, Belgium
- Center for Advanced Process Technology for Urban Resource recovery (CAPTURE), Frieda Saeysstraat 1, Ghent, 9052, Belgium
| | - Tim Van Den Bossche
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Robbin Bouwmeester
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ralf Gabriels
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Delphi Van Haver
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Proteomics Core, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Barbara Ulčar
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, B-9000, Belgium
- Center for Advanced Process Technology for Urban Resource recovery (CAPTURE), Frieda Saeysstraat 1, Ghent, 9052, Belgium
| | - Lennart Martens
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Francis Impens
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Proteomics Core, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nico Boon
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, B-9000, Belgium
- Center for Advanced Process Technology for Urban Resource recovery (CAPTURE), Frieda Saeysstraat 1, Ghent, 9052, Belgium
| | - Ramon Ganigué
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, B-9000, Belgium
- Center for Advanced Process Technology for Urban Resource recovery (CAPTURE), Frieda Saeysstraat 1, Ghent, 9052, Belgium
| | - Korneel Rabaey
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, B-9000, Belgium
- Center for Advanced Process Technology for Urban Resource recovery (CAPTURE), Frieda Saeysstraat 1, Ghent, 9052, Belgium
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18
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Zeng Y, Verstraeten I, Trinh HK, Lardon R, Schotte S, Olatunji D, Heugebaert T, Stevens C, Quareshy M, Napier R, Nastasi SP, Costa A, De Rybel B, Bellini C, Beeckman T, Vanneste S, Geelen D. Chemical induction of hypocotyl rooting reveals extensive conservation of auxin signalling controlling lateral and adventitious root formation. New Phytol 2023; 240:1883-1899. [PMID: 37787103 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Upon exposure to light, etiolated Arabidopsis seedlings form adventitious roots (AR) along the hypocotyl. While processes underlying lateral root formation are studied intensively, comparatively little is known about the molecular processes involved in the initiation of hypocotyl AR. AR and LR formation were studied using a small molecule named Hypocotyl Specific Adventitious Root INducer (HYSPARIN) that strongly induces AR but not LR formation. HYSPARIN does not trigger rapid DR5-reporter activation, DII-Venus degradation or Ca2+ signalling. Transcriptome analysis, auxin signalling reporter lines and mutants show that HYSPARIN AR induction involves nuclear TIR1/AFB and plasma membrane TMK auxin signalling, as well as multiple downstream LR development genes (SHY2/IAA3, PUCHI, MAKR4 and GATA23). Comparison of the AR and LR induction transcriptome identified SAURs, AGC kinases and OFP transcription factors as specifically upregulated by HYSPARIN. Members of the SAUR19 subfamily, OFP4 and AGC2 suppress HYS-induced AR formation. While SAUR19 and OFP subfamily members also mildly modulate LR formation, AGC2 regulates only AR induction. Analysis of HYSPARIN-induced AR formation uncovers an evolutionary conservation of auxin signalling controlling LR and AR induction in Arabidopsis seedlings and identifies SAUR19, OFP4 and AGC2 kinase as novel regulators of AR formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinwei Zeng
- Horticell, Department Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Inge Verstraeten
- Horticell, Department Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hoang Khai Trinh
- Horticell, Department Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
- Institute of Food and Biotechnology, Can Tho University, 900000, Can Tho City, Vietnam
| | - Robin Lardon
- Horticell, Department Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sebastien Schotte
- Horticell, Department Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Damilola Olatunji
- Horticell, Department Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thomas Heugebaert
- Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Christian Stevens
- Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mussa Quareshy
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Richard Napier
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Sara Paola Nastasi
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Alex Costa
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Bert De Rybel
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Centre for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Catherine Bellini
- Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science Centre, Umeå University, SE-90736, Umeå, Sweden
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), 78000, Versailles, France
| | - Tom Beeckman
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Centre for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Steffen Vanneste
- Horticell, Department Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Danny Geelen
- Horticell, Department Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
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19
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Mertens S, Verbraeken L, Sprenger H, De Meyer S, Demuynck K, Cannoot B, Merchie J, De Block J, Vogel JT, Bruce W, Nelissen H, Maere S, Inzé D, Wuyts N. Monitoring of drought stress and transpiration rate using proximal thermal and hyperspectral imaging in an indoor automated plant phenotyping platform. Plant Methods 2023; 19:132. [PMID: 37996870 PMCID: PMC10668392 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-023-01102-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thermography is a popular tool to assess plant water-use behavior, as plant temperature is influenced by transpiration rate, and is commonly used in field experiments to detect plant water deficit. Its application in indoor automated phenotyping platforms is still limited and mainly focuses on differences in plant temperature between genotypes or treatments, instead of estimating stomatal conductance or transpiration rate. In this study, the transferability of commonly used thermography analysis protocols from the field to greenhouse phenotyping platforms was evaluated. In addition, the added value of combining thermal infrared (TIR) with hyperspectral imaging to monitor drought effects on plant transpiration rate (E) was evaluated. RESULTS The sensitivity of commonly used TIR indices to detect drought-induced and genotypic differences in water status was investigated in eight maize inbred lines in the automated phenotyping platform PHENOVISION. Indices that normalized plant temperature for vapor pressure deficit and/or air temperature at the time of imaging were most sensitive to drought and could detect genotypic differences in the plants' water-use behavior. However, these indices were not strongly correlated to stomatal conductance and E. The canopy temperature depression index, the crop water stress index and the simplified stomatal conductance index were more suitable to monitor these traits, and were consequently used to develop empirical E prediction models by combining them with hyperspectral indices and/or environmental variables. Different modeling strategies were evaluated, including single index-based, machine learning and mechanistic models. Model comparison showed that combining multiple TIR indices in a random forest model can improve E prediction accuracy, and that the contribution of the hyperspectral data is limited when multiple indices are used. However, the empirical models trained on one genotype were not transferable to all eight inbred lines. CONCLUSION Overall, this study demonstrates that existing TIR indices can be used to monitor drought stress and develop E prediction models in an indoor setup, as long as the indices normalize plant temperature for ambient air temperature or relative humidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stien Mertens
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
| | - Lennart Verbraeken
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
| | - Heike Sprenger
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
- Food Safety Department , German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sam De Meyer
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
- Robovision, Technologiepark 80, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
| | - Kirin Demuynck
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
| | - Bernard Cannoot
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
| | - Julie Merchie
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
- Eenheid Plant, Instituut voor Landbouw, Visserij-en Voedingsonderzoek (ILVO), Caritasstraat 39, 9090, Melle, Belgium
| | - Jolien De Block
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
| | | | - Wesley Bruce
- BASF Corporation, 2 TW Alexander Drive, Durham, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Hilde Nelissen
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
| | - Steven Maere
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
| | - Dirk Inzé
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium.
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium.
| | - Nathalie Wuyts
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
- Plant Production Systems, Cultivation Techniques and Varieties in Arable Farming, Agroscope, Route de Duillier 50, 1260, Nyon, Switzerland
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20
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Minnebo Y, Delbaere K, Goethals V, Raes J, Van de Wiele T, De Paepe K. Gut microbiota response to in vitro transit time variation is mediated by microbial growth rates, nutrient use efficiency and adaptation to in vivo transit time. Microbiome 2023; 11:240. [PMID: 37926855 PMCID: PMC10626715 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01691-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transit time is an important modulator of the human gut microbiome. The inability to modify transit time as the sole variable hampers mechanistic in vivo microbiome research. We singled out gut transit time in an unprecedented in vitro approach by subjecting faecal microbial communities from six individuals with either short, medium or long in vivo transit times, to three different colonic transit times of 21, 32 and 63 h in the validated human gut in vitro model, SHIME. RESULTS Transit time was identified as the single most important driver of microbial cell concentrations (52%), metabolic activity (45%) and quantitative (24%) and proportional (22%) community composition. Deceleration of transit was characterised by a significant decrease of specific Bifidobacterium and Veillonella spp. and increase of specific fibre degrading bacteria and nutrient specialists, such as Bacteroides, Prevotella, Ruminococcus, Bilophila and Akkermansia spp. These microbial communities reached a higher population density and net carbohydrate fermentation, leading to an increased SCFA production at longer transit times. In contrast, the carbohydrate-to-biomass production efficiency was increased at shorter transits, particularly in well-adapted faecal microbiomes from donors with short in vivo transit. Said adaptation was also reflected in the carbohydrate-to-SCFA conversion efficiency which varied with donor, but also colon region and SCFA chain length. A long transit time promoted propionate production, whereas butyrate production and butyrate producers were selectively enriched in the proximal colon at medium transit time. CONCLUSION Microbial growth rates and nutrient utilisation efficiency mediate the species-specific gut microbiota response to in vitro transit time variation, which is the main driver of in vitro microbial load, metabolism and community composition. Given the in vivo transit time variation within and between individuals, the personalisation of in vitro transit time based on in vivo data is required to accurately study intra- and inter-individual differences in gut microbiome structure, functionality and interactions with host and environmental modulators. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yorick Minnebo
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Karen Delbaere
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Valerie Goethals
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Raes
- Laboratory of Molecular Bacteriology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Center for Microbiology, VIB, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tom Van de Wiele
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Kim De Paepe
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
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21
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Guillemyn B, De Saffel H, Bek JW, Tapaneeyaphan P, De Clercq A, Jarayseh T, Debaenst S, Willaert A, De Rycke R, Byers PH, Rosseel T, Coucke P, Blaumeiser B, Syx D, Malfait F, Symoens S. Syntaxin 18 Defects in Human and Zebrafish Unravel Key Roles in Early Cartilage and Bone Development. J Bone Miner Res 2023; 38:1718-1730. [PMID: 37718532 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.4914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
SNARE proteins comprise a conserved protein family responsible for catalyzing membrane fusion during vesicle traffic. Syntaxin18 (STX18) is a poorly characterized endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident t-SNARE. Recently, together with TANGO1 and SLY1, its involvement was shown in ER to Golgi transport of collagen II during chondrogenesis. We report a fetus with a severe osteochondrodysplasia in whom we identified a homozygous substitution of the highly conserved p.Arg10 to Pro of STX18. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Stx18 deficiency in zebrafish reveals a crucial role for Stx18 in cartilage and bone development. Furthermore, increased expression of multiple components of the Stx18 SNARE complex and of COPI and COPII proteins suggests that Stx18 deficiency impairs antero- and retrograde vesicular transport in the crispant stx18 zebrafish. Taken together, our studies highlight a new candidate gene for a recessive form of osteochondrodysplasia, thereby possibly broadening the SNAREopathy phenotypic spectrum and opening new doors toward future research avenues. © 2023 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
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Affiliation(s)
- Brecht Guillemyn
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hanna De Saffel
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jan Willem Bek
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Piyanoot Tapaneeyaphan
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Adelbert De Clercq
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tamara Jarayseh
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sophie Debaenst
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Andy Willaert
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Riet De Rycke
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Inflammation Research and Bioimaging Core, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peter H Byers
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Medicine (Medical Genetics), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Toon Rosseel
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Paul Coucke
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bettina Blaumeiser
- Department of Medical Genetics, University and University Hospital of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Delfien Syx
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Fransiska Malfait
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sofie Symoens
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
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22
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Tehrani A, Anderson JSM, Chakraborty D, Rodriguez-Hernandez JI, Thompson DC, Verstraelen T, Ayers PW, Heidar-Zadeh F. An information-theoretic approach to basis-set fitting of electron densities and other non-negative functions. J Comput Chem 2023; 44:1998-2015. [PMID: 37526138 DOI: 10.1002/jcc.27170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
The numerical ill-conditioning associated with approximating an electron density with a convex sum of Gaussian or Slater-type functions is overcome by using the (extended) Kullback-Leibler divergence to measure the deviation between the target and approximate density. The optimized densities are non-negative and normalized, and they are accurate enough to be used in applications related to molecular similarity, the topology of the electron density, and numerical molecular integration. This robust, efficient, and general approach can be used to fit any non-negative normalized functions (e.g., the kinetic energy density and molecular electron density) to a convex sum of non-negative basis functions. We present a fixed-point iteration method for optimizing the Kullback-Leibler divergence and compare it to conventional gradient-based optimization methods. These algorithms are released through the free and open-source BFit package, which also includes a L2-norm squared optimization routine applicable to any square-integrable scalar function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Tehrani
- Department of Chemistry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - James S M Anderson
- Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Debajit Chakraborty
- Department of Physics, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
- Center for Functional Materials, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | | | | | - Toon Verstraelen
- Center for Molecular Modeling (CMM), Ghent University, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
| | - Paul W Ayers
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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23
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Manicardi A, Theppawong A, Van Troys M, Madder A. Proximity-Induced Ligation and One-Pot Macrocyclization of 1,4-Diketone-Tagged Peptides Derived from 2,5-Disubstituted Furans upon Release from the Solid Support. Org Lett 2023; 25:6618-6622. [PMID: 37656900 PMCID: PMC10510716 DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.3c02289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
1,4-Dione-containing peptides are generated during the cleavage of 2,5-disubstituted furan-containing systems. The generated electrophilic systems then react with α-effect nucleophiles, following a Paal-Knorr-like mechanism, for the generation of macrocyclic peptides, occurring after simple resuspension of the crude peptide in water. Conveniently, the in situ generation of the electrophile from a stable furan ring avoids the complications associated with the synthesis of carbonyl-containing peptides. Detailed investigation of the reaction characteristics was first performed on supramolecular coiled-coil systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Manicardi
- Department
of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 17/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
- Organic
and Biomimetic Chemistry Research Group, Department of Organic and
Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281-S4, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Atiruj Theppawong
- Organic
and Biomimetic Chemistry Research Group, Department of Organic and
Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281-S4, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marleen Van Troys
- Department
of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Annemieke Madder
- Organic
and Biomimetic Chemistry Research Group, Department of Organic and
Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281-S4, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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24
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Maes B, Fayazpour F, Catrysse L, Lornet G, Van De Velde E, De Wolf C, De Prijck S, Van Moorleghem J, Vanheerswynghels M, Deswarte K, Descamps B, Vanhove C, Van der Schueren B, Vangoitsenhoven R, Hammad H, Janssens S, Lambrecht BN. STE20 kinase TAOK3 regulates type 2 immunity and metabolism in obesity. J Exp Med 2023; 220:e20210788. [PMID: 37347461 PMCID: PMC10287548 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20210788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Healthy adipose tissue (AT) contains ST2+ Tregs, ILC2s, and alternatively activated macrophages that are lost in mice or humans on high caloric diet. Understanding how this form of type 2 immunity is regulated could improve treatment of obesity. The STE20 kinase Thousand And One amino acid Kinase-3 (TAOK3) has been linked to obesity in mice and humans, but its precise function is unknown. We found that ST2+ Tregs are upregulated in visceral epididymal white AT (eWAT) of Taok3-/- mice, dependent on IL-33 and the kinase activity of TAOK3. Upon high fat diet feeding, metabolic dysfunction was attenuated in Taok3-/- mice. ST2+ Tregs disappeared from eWAT in obese wild-type mice, but this was not the case in Taok3-/- mice. Mechanistically, AT Taok3-/- Tregs were intrinsically more responsive to IL-33, through higher expression of ST2, and expressed more PPARγ and type 2 cytokines. Thus, TAOK3 inhibits adipose tissue Tregs and regulates immunometabolism under excessive caloric intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bastiaan Maes
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Mucosal Immunology, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Laboratory for Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Inflammation, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Farzaneh Fayazpour
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Laboratory for Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Inflammation, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Leen Catrysse
- Cellular and Molecular (Patho)Physiology, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Guillaume Lornet
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Mucosal Immunology, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Evelien Van De Velde
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Laboratory for Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Inflammation, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Caroline De Wolf
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Mucosal Immunology, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sofie De Prijck
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Mucosal Immunology, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Justine Van Moorleghem
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Mucosal Immunology, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Manon Vanheerswynghels
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Mucosal Immunology, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kim Deswarte
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Mucosal Immunology, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Benedicte Descamps
- Department of Electronics and Information Systems, IBiTech-MEDISIP-Infinity Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Christian Vanhove
- Department of Electronics and Information Systems, IBiTech-MEDISIP-Infinity Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bart Van der Schueren
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Endocrinology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Roman Vangoitsenhoven
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Endocrinology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hamida Hammad
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Mucosal Immunology, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sophie Janssens
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Laboratory for Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Inflammation, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bart N. Lambrecht
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Mucosal Immunology, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam Netherlands
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25
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Loayza E, Muñoz-Saravia A, De Troch M, Hendriks WH, Janssens GPJ. Detailed whole-body nutrient analysis identifies differences in feeding ecology between related fish species: The case of Orestias native Andean killifish in Lake Titicaca. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2023; 107:1302-1310. [PMID: 37203287 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Body nutrient profiles in ecological studies allow for relating the nutritional status of consumers and their effects on the movement and retention of elements in ecosystems, as well as reflecting feeding conditions and habitat quality. This study compared the detailed whole-body nutrient composition (macronutrients, minerals, fatty acids and amino acids) of two omnivorous natives Orestias killifish from Lake Titicaca (Orestias agassizii and Orestias luteus, Valenciennes), the largest lake in the Andes, as an indirect tool to understand differences in their feeding ecology. Although both species are usually described as omnivorous fish, both have amphipods (Hyalella spp) as their main food source. Our results showed that both killifish had a comparable macronutrient composition, and the mineral concentrations of Mg, P and Ca (reflecting bony structures) differed between them. Many of the saturated fatty acids were significantly lower in O. luteus, and O. agassizii had higher concentrations of cis-vaccenic acid (18:1n11 (cis)), supporting the idea of a higher algal contribution to the diet of this fish. The lower histidine and higher taurine concentrations in O. agassizii compared with O. luteus (independent of body size) may reflect its ubiquitous behaviour and plasticity. This study shows how whole-body nutrient analysis can identify differences in feeding ecology and feeding behaviour between related species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick Loayza
- Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
- Unidad de Ecología Acuática, Instituto de Ecología, Carrera de Biología-Facultad de Ciencias Puras y Naturales, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, Bolivia
| | | | - Marleen De Troch
- Biology Department, Marine Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wouter H Hendriks
- Animal Nutrition Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Geert P J Janssens
- Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
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26
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Van Speybroeck V, Bocus M, Cnudde P, Vanduyfhuys L. Operando Modeling of Zeolite-Catalyzed Reactions Using First-Principles Molecular Dynamics Simulations. ACS Catal 2023; 13:11455-11493. [PMID: 37671178 PMCID: PMC10476167 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.3c01945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
Within this Perspective, we critically reflect on the role of first-principles molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in unraveling the catalytic function within zeolites under operating conditions. First-principles MD simulations refer to methods where the dynamics of the nuclei is followed in time by integrating the Newtonian equations of motion on a potential energy surface that is determined by solving the quantum-mechanical many-body problem for the electrons. Catalytic solids used in industrial applications show an intriguing high degree of complexity, with phenomena taking place at a broad range of length and time scales. Additionally, the state and function of a catalyst critically depend on the operating conditions, such as temperature, moisture, presence of water, etc. Herein we show by means of a series of exemplary cases how first-principles MD simulations are instrumental to unravel the catalyst complexity at the molecular scale. Examples show how the nature of reactive species at higher catalytic temperatures may drastically change compared to species at lower temperatures and how the nature of active sites may dynamically change upon exposure to water. To simulate rare events, first-principles MD simulations need to be used in combination with enhanced sampling techniques to efficiently sample low-probability regions of phase space. Using these techniques, it is shown how competitive pathways at operating conditions can be discovered and how broad transition state regions can be explored. Interestingly, such simulations can also be used to study hindered diffusion under operating conditions. The cases shown clearly illustrate how first-principles MD simulations reveal insights into the catalytic function at operating conditions, which could not be discovered using static or local approaches where only a few points are considered on the potential energy surface (PES). Despite these advantages, some major hurdles still exist to fully integrate first-principles MD methods in a standard computational catalytic workflow or to use the output of MD simulations as input for multiple length/time scale methods that aim to bridge to the reactor scale. First of all, methods are needed that allow us to evaluate the interatomic forces with quantum-mechanical accuracy, albeit at a much lower computational cost compared to currently used density functional theory (DFT) methods. The use of DFT limits the currently attainable length/time scales to hundreds of picoseconds and a few nanometers, which are much smaller than realistic catalyst particle dimensions and time scales encountered in the catalysis process. One solution could be to construct machine learning potentials (MLPs), where a numerical potential is derived from underlying quantum-mechanical data, which could be used in subsequent MD simulations. As such, much longer length and time scales could be reached; however, quite some research is still necessary to construct MLPs for the complex systems encountered in industrially used catalysts. Second, most currently used enhanced sampling techniques in catalysis make use of collective variables (CVs), which are mostly determined based on chemical intuition. To explore complex reactive networks with MD simulations, methods are needed that allow the automatic discovery of CVs or methods that do not rely on a priori definition of CVs. Recently, various data-driven methods have been proposed, which could be explored for complex catalytic systems. Lastly, first-principles MD methods are currently mostly used to investigate local reactive events. We hope that with the rise of data-driven methods and more efficient methods to describe the PES, first-principles MD methods will in the future also be able to describe longer length/time scale processes in catalysis. This might lead to a consistent dynamic description of all steps-diffusion, adsorption, and reaction-as they take place at the catalyst particle level.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Massimo Bocus
- Center for Molecular Modeling, Ghent University, Technologiepark 46, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
| | - Pieter Cnudde
- Center for Molecular Modeling, Ghent University, Technologiepark 46, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
| | - Louis Vanduyfhuys
- Center for Molecular Modeling, Ghent University, Technologiepark 46, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
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Clarisse D, Prekovic S, Vlummens P, Staessens E, Van Wesemael K, Thommis J, Fijalkowska D, Acke G, Zwart W, Beck IM, Offner F, De Bosscher K. Crosstalk between glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors boosts glucocorticoid-induced killing of multiple myeloma cells. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:249. [PMID: 37578563 PMCID: PMC10425521 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04900-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a crucial drug target in multiple myeloma as its activation with glucocorticoids effectively triggers myeloma cell death. However, as high-dose glucocorticoids are also associated with deleterious side effects, novel approaches are urgently needed to improve GR action in myeloma. Here, we reveal a functional crosstalk between GR and the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) that plays a role in improved myeloma cell killing. We show that the GR agonist dexamethasone (Dex) downregulates MR levels in a GR-dependent way in myeloma cells. Co-treatment of Dex with the MR antagonist spironolactone (Spi) enhances Dex-induced cell killing in primary, newly diagnosed GC-sensitive myeloma cells. In a relapsed GC-resistant setting, Spi alone induces distinct myeloma cell killing. On a mechanistic level, we find that a GR-MR crosstalk likely arises from an endogenous interaction between GR and MR in myeloma cells. Quantitative dimerization assays show that Spi reduces Dex-induced GR-MR heterodimerization and completely abolishes Dex-induced MR-MR homodimerization, while leaving GR-GR homodimerization intact. Unbiased transcriptomics analyses reveal that c-myc and many of its target genes are downregulated most by combined Dex-Spi treatment. Proteomics analyses further identify that several metabolic hallmarks are modulated most by this combination treatment. Finally, we identified a subset of Dex-Spi downregulated genes and proteins that may predict prognosis in the CoMMpass myeloma patient cohort. Our study demonstrates that GR-MR crosstalk is therapeutically relevant in myeloma as it provides novel strategies for glucocorticoid-based dose-reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorien Clarisse
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Stefan Prekovic
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Philip Vlummens
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Eleni Staessens
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Karlien Van Wesemael
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jonathan Thommis
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Daria Fijalkowska
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Guillaume Acke
- Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wilbert Zwart
- Division of Oncogenomics, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ilse M Beck
- Department of Health Sciences, Odisee University of Applied Sciences, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Fritz Offner
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Karolien De Bosscher
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium.
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28
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Godara M, Everaert J, Sanchez-Lopez A, Joormann J, De Raedt R. Interplay between uncertainty intolerance, emotion regulation, cognitive flexibility, and psychopathology during the COVID-19 pandemic: a multi-wave study. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9854. [PMID: 37330557 PMCID: PMC10276821 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36211-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a significant mental health burden on the global population. Studies during the pandemic have shown that risk factors such as intolerance of uncertainty and maladaptive emotion regulation are associated with increased psychopathology. Meanwhile, protective factors such as cognitive control and cognitive flexibility have been shown to protect mental health during the pandemic. However, the potential pathways through which these risk and protective factors function to impact mental health during the pandemic remain unclear. In the present multi-wave study, 304 individuals (18 years or older, 191 Males), residing in the USA during data collection, completed weekly online assessments of validated questionnaires across a period of five weeks (27th March 2020-1st May 2020). Mediation analyses revealed that longitudinal changes in emotion regulation difficulties mediated the effect of increases in intolerance of uncertainty on increases in stress, depression, and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, individual differences in cognitive control and flexibility moderated the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and emotion regulation difficulties. While intolerance of uncertainty and emotion regulation difficulties emerged as risk factors for mental health, cognitive control and flexibility seems to protect against the negative effects of the pandemic and promote stress resilience. Interventions aimed at enhancing cognitive control and flexibility might promote the protection of mental health in similar global crises in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malvika Godara
- Department of Experimental, Clinical & Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
- Social Neuroscience Lab, Max Planck Society, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Jonas Everaert
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
- Research Group of Quantitative Psychology and Individual Differences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Alvaro Sanchez-Lopez
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jutta Joormann
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - Rudi De Raedt
- Department of Experimental, Clinical & Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
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Blomme J, Wichard T, Jacobs TB, De Clerck O. Ulva: An emerging green seaweed model for systems biology. J Phycol 2023. [PMID: 37256696 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Green seaweeds exhibit a wide range of morphologies and occupy various ecological niches, spanning from freshwater to marine and terrestrial habitats. These organisms, which predominantly belong to the class Ulvophyceae, showcase a remarkable instance of parallel evolution toward complex multicellularity and macroscopic thalli in the Viridiplantae lineage. Within the green seaweeds, several Ulva species ("sea lettuce") are model organisms for studying carbon assimilation, interactions with bacteria, life cycle progression, and morphogenesis. Ulva species are also notorious for their fast growth and capacity to dominate nutrient-rich, anthropogenically disturbed coastal ecosystems during "green tide" blooms. From an economic perspective, Ulva has garnered increasing attention as a promising feedstock for the production of food, feed, and biobased products, also as a means of removing excess nutrients from the environment. We propose that Ulva is poised to further develop as a model in green seaweed research. In this perspective, we focus explicitly on Ulva mutabilis/compressa as a model species and highlight the molecular data and tools that are currently available or in development. We discuss several areas that will benefit from future research or where exciting new developments have been reported in other Ulva species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Blomme
- Department of Biology, Phycology Research Group, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thomas Wichard
- Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Jena School for Microbial Communication, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Thomas B Jacobs
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Olivier De Clerck
- Department of Biology, Phycology Research Group, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Dhondt B, Pinheiro C, Geeurickx E, Tulkens J, Vergauwen G, Van Der Pol E, Nieuwland R, Decock A, Miinalainen I, Rappu P, Schroth G, Kuersten S, Vandesompele J, Mestdagh P, Lumen N, De Wever O, Hendrix A. Benchmarking blood collection tubes and processing intervals for extracellular vesicle performance metrics. J Extracell Vesicles 2023; 12:e12315. [PMID: 37202906 DOI: 10.1002/jev2.12315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The analysis of extracellular vesicles (EV) in blood samples is under intense investigation and holds the potential to deliver clinically meaningful biomarkers for health and disease. Technical variation must be minimized to confidently assess EV-associated biomarkers, but the impact of pre-analytics on EV characteristics in blood samples remains minimally explored. We present the results from the first large-scale EV Blood Benchmarking (EVBB) study in which we systematically compared 11 blood collection tubes (BCT; six preservation and five non-preservation) and three blood processing intervals (BPI; 1, 8 and 72 h) on defined performance metrics (n = 9). The EVBB study identifies a significant impact of multiple BCT and BPI on a diverse set of metrics reflecting blood sample quality, ex-vivo generation of blood-cell derived EV, EV recovery and EV-associated molecular signatures. The results assist the informed selection of the optimal BCT and BPI for EV analysis. The proposed metrics serve as a framework to guide future research on pre-analytics and further support methodological standardization of EV studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bert Dhondt
- Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Urology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Cláudio Pinheiro
- Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Edward Geeurickx
- Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Joeri Tulkens
- Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Glenn Vergauwen
- Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Edwin Van Der Pol
- Laboratory of Experimental Clinical Chemistry, Amsterdam UCM, location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Vesicle Observation Centre, Amsterdam UCM, location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rienk Nieuwland
- Laboratory of Experimental Clinical Chemistry, Amsterdam UCM, location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anneleen Decock
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
- OncoRNALab, Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ilkka Miinalainen
- Biocenter Oulu, Department of Pathology, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Pekka Rappu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | | | | | - Jo Vandesompele
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
- OncoRNALab, Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pieter Mestdagh
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
- OncoRNALab, Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nicolaas Lumen
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Urology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Olivier De Wever
- Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - An Hendrix
- Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
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31
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Taheri F, D’Haese M, Fiems D, Azadi H. Facts and fears that limit digital transformation in farming: Exploring barriers to the outreach of wireless sensor networks in Southwest Iran. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0279009. [PMID: 36525439 PMCID: PMC9757575 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are considered part of an environmentally friendly technology leading to more timely and cost-effective production and management of farms. Despite the potential of WSNs to agricultural development in the global South, outreach is still very limited, also in Iran. Therefore, in order to facilitate the adoption of WSNs, it is necessary to identify the factors influencing and challenging the adoption of this technology. This exploratory study uses a qualitative approach to identify the main barriers WSN outreach is facing. In the results, we distinguish facts that we define as issues or barriers that were identified by others from fears that are not supported by evidence so far, at the level of the farmers, the government actors as well as the technology itself. Facts include communication barriers such as internet access, farmers' knowledge levels and rigidity to change as well as the government's top-down organisation of the extension programme and support levels. Fears are mainly expressed on the technology itself and relate to costs, a lack of access, the complexity of use and reliability of the data. We provide a nuanced view of how fears need to be acknowledged and facts are to be tackled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Taheri
- Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- * E-mail:
| | - Marijke D’Haese
- Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dieter Fiems
- Department of Telecommunications and Information Processing, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hossein Azadi
- Department of Economics and Rural Development, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Van Lijsebetten F, De Bruycker K, Van Ruymbeke E, Winne JM, Du Prez FE. Characterising different molecular landscapes in dynamic covalent networks. Chem Sci 2022; 13:12865-12875. [PMID: 36519055 PMCID: PMC9645389 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc05528g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Dynamic covalent networks present a unique opportunity to exert molecular-level control on macroscopic material properties, by linking their thermal behaviour to the thermodynamics and kinetics of the underlying chemistry. Yet, existing methods do not allow for the extraction and analysis of the influence of local differences in chemical reactivity caused by available reactants, catalysts, or additives. In this context, we present a rheological paradigm that allows us to correlate the composition of a reactive polymer segment to a faster or slower rate of network rearrangement. We discovered that a generalised Maxwell model could separate and quantify the dynamic behaviour of each type of reactive segment individually, which was crucial to fully comprehend the mechanics of the final material. More specifically, Eyring and Van 't Hoff analysis were used to relate possible bond catalysis and dissociation to structural changes by combining statistical modelling with rheology measurements. As a result, precise viscosity changes could be measured, allowing for accurate comparison of various dynamic covalent network materials, including vitrimers and dissociative networks. The herein reported method therefore facilitated the successful analysis of virtually any type of rate-enhancing effect and will allow for the design of functional and fast (re)processable materials, as well as improve our ability to predict and engineer their properties for future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filip Van Lijsebetten
- Polymer Chemistry Research Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC) and Laboratory of Organic Synthesis, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University Krijgslaan 281-S4 Ghent 9000 Belgium
| | - Kevin De Bruycker
- Polymer Chemistry Research Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC) and Laboratory of Organic Synthesis, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University Krijgslaan 281-S4 Ghent 9000 Belgium
| | - Evelyne Van Ruymbeke
- Bio and Soft Matter, Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, Université Catholique de Louvain Croix du Sud 1 Louvain-la-Neuve 1348 Belgium
| | - Johan M Winne
- Polymer Chemistry Research Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC) and Laboratory of Organic Synthesis, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University Krijgslaan 281-S4 Ghent 9000 Belgium
| | - Filip E Du Prez
- Polymer Chemistry Research Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC) and Laboratory of Organic Synthesis, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University Krijgslaan 281-S4 Ghent 9000 Belgium
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Álvarez-Rodríguez A, Jin BK, Radwanska M, Magez S. Recent progress in diagnosis and treatment of Human African Trypanosomiasis has made the elimination of this disease a realistic target by 2030. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:1037094. [PMID: 36405602 PMCID: PMC9669443 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1037094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) is caused by unicellular flagellated protozoan parasites of the genus Trypanosoma brucei. The subspecies T. b. gambiense is mainly responsible for mostly chronic anthroponotic infections in West- and Central Africa, accounting for roughly 95% of all HAT cases. Trypanosoma b. rhodesiense results in more acute zoonotic infections in East-Africa. Because HAT has a two-stage pathogenesis, treatment depends on clinical assessment of patients and the determination whether or not parasites have crossed the blood brain barrier. Today, ultimate confirmation of parasitemia is still done by microscopy analysis. However, the introduction of diagnostic lateral flow devices has been a major contributor to the recent dramatic drop in T. b. gambiense HAT. Other techniques such as loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and recombinant polymerase amplification (RPA)-based tests have been published but are still not widely used in the field. Most recently, CRISPR-Cas technology has been proposed to improve the intrinsic diagnostic characteristics of molecular approaches. This will become crucial in the near future, as preventing the resurgence of HAT will be a priority and will require tools with extreme high positive and negative predicted values, as well as excellent sensitivity and specificity. As for treatment, pentamidine and suramin have historically been the drugs of choice for the treatment of blood-stage gambiense-HAT and rhodesiense-HAT, respectively. For treatment of second-stage infections, drugs that pass the blood brain barrier are needed, and melarsoprol has been effectively used for both forms of HAT in the past. However, due to the high occurrence of post-treatment encephalopathy, the drug is not recommended for use in T. b. gambiense HAT. Here, a combination therapy of eflornithine and nifurtimox (NECT) has been the choice of treatment since 2009. As this treatment requires IV perfusion of eflornithine, efforts were launched in 2003 by the drugs for neglected disease initiative (DNDi) to find an oral-only therapy solution, suitable for rural sub-Saharan Africa treatment conditions. In 2019 this resulted in the introduction of fexinidazole, with a treatment regimen suitable for both the blood-stage and non-severe second-stage T. b. gambiense infections. Experimental treatment of T. b. rhodesiense HAT has now been initiated as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Álvarez-Rodríguez
- Laboratory for Biomedical Research, Ghent University Global Campus, Incheon, South Korea
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bo-Kyung Jin
- Laboratory for Biomedical Research, Ghent University Global Campus, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Magdalena Radwanska
- Laboratory for Biomedical Research, Ghent University Global Campus, Incheon, South Korea
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Stefan Magez
- Laboratory for Biomedical Research, Ghent University Global Campus, Incheon, South Korea
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Stefan Magez,
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Braeuer S, Van Helden T, Van Acker T, Leroux O, Van Der Straeten D, Verbeken A, Borovička J, Vanhaecke F. Quantitative mapping of mercury and selenium in mushroom fruit bodies with laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem 2022; 414:7517-7530. [PMID: 35927365 PMCID: PMC9482896 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-022-04240-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
This work describes the development of a novel method for quantitative mapping of Hg and Se in mushroom fruit body tissues with laser ablation coupled to inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Different parameters of the protocol for preparation of the standards used for quantification via external calibration were assessed, e.g., the dissolution temperature of gelatin standards and the addition of chitosan and L-cysteine as additives to the gelatin-based calibration droplets to better match the sample matrix. While chitosan was not suited for this purpose, the presence of L-cysteine considerably improved the figures of merit of the calibration, leading to limits of detection of 0.006 and 0.3 µg g-1 for Hg and Se, respectively, at a pixel size of 20 × 20 µm. Further, an in-house reference material, ideally suited for the validation of the method for application to mushroom samples, was successfully prepared from a paste of Boletus edulis. The newly developed method was used to investigate the distribution of Hg and Se in tissue sections of five porcini mushroom individuals of three different species (Boletus edulis, Boletus aereus, and Boletus pinophilus) and one sample of a parasol mushroom (Macrolepiota procera). For one sample, additional areas were ablated at higher spatial resolution, with a laser spot size down to 5 µm, which allows a detailed investigation of the spatial distribution of Hg and Se in mushrooms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Braeuer
- Atomic & Mass Spectrometry - A&MS research unit, Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, Campus Sterre, Krijgslaan 281 - S12, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Universitaetsplatz 1, 8010, Graz, Austria.
| | - Tom Van Helden
- Atomic & Mass Spectrometry - A&MS research unit, Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, Campus Sterre, Krijgslaan 281 - S12, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thibaut Van Acker
- Atomic & Mass Spectrometry - A&MS research unit, Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, Campus Sterre, Krijgslaan 281 - S12, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Olivier Leroux
- Laboratory of Functional Plant Biology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dominique Van Der Straeten
- Laboratory of Functional Plant Biology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Annemieke Verbeken
- Research Group Mycology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jan Borovička
- Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Hlavní 130, 25068, Husinec-Řež, Czech Republic
- Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 269, 16500, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Frank Vanhaecke
- Atomic & Mass Spectrometry - A&MS research unit, Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, Campus Sterre, Krijgslaan 281 - S12, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
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Wouters M, Corneillie S, Dewitte A, Van Doorsselaere J, Van den Bulcke J, Van Acker J, Vanholme B, Boerjan W. Whole genome duplication of wild-type and CINNAMYL ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE1-downregulated hybrid poplar reduces biomass yield and causes a brittle apex phenotype in field-grown wild types. Front Plant Sci 2022; 13:995402. [PMID: 36160989 PMCID: PMC9504066 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.995402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The potential of whole genome duplication to increase plant biomass yield is well-known. In Arabidopsis tetraploids, an increase in biomass yield was accompanied by a reduction in lignin content and, as a result, a higher saccharification efficiency was achieved compared with diploid controls. Here, we evaluated whether the results obtained in Arabidopsis could be translated into poplar and whether the enhanced saccharification yield upon alkaline pretreatment of hairpin-downregulated CINNAMYL ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE1 (hpCAD) transgenic poplar could be further improved upon a whole genome duplication. Using a colchicine treatment, wild-type (WT) Populus tremula x P. alba cv. INRA 717-1B4, a commonly used model clone in tree biotechnology research, and hpCAD tetraploids were generated and grown in the greenhouse. In parallel, WT tetraploid poplars were grown in the field. In contrast to Arabidopsis, a whole genome duplication of poplar had a negative impact on the biomass yield of both greenhouse- and field-grown trees. Strikingly, field-grown WT tetraploids developed a brittle apex phenotype, i.e., their tip broke off just below the apex. In addition, the chromosome doubling altered the biomass composition of field-grown, but not of greenhouse-grown tetraploid poplars. More specifically, the lignin content of field-grown tetraploid poplars was increased at the expense of matrix polysaccharides. This increase in lignin deposition in biomass is likely the cause of the observed brittle apex phenotype, though no major differences in stem anatomy or in mechanical properties could be found between di- and tetraploid WT poplars grown in the field. Finally, without biomass pretreatment, the saccharification efficiency of greenhouse- and field-grown WT diploids was not different from that of tetraploids, whereas that of greenhouse-grown hpCAD tetraploids was higher than that of greenhouse-grown diploids. Upon alkaline pretreatment, the saccharification yield of diploids was similar to that of tetraploids for all genotypes and growth conditions tested. This study showed that a whole genome duplication in hybrid WT and hpCAD poplar did neither result in further improvements in biomass yield, nor in improved biomass composition and, hence, saccharification performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlies Wouters
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sander Corneillie
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Angelo Dewitte
- Expertisecentrum Agro- en Biotechnologie, VIVES, Roeselare, Belgium
| | | | - Jan Van den Bulcke
- Laboratory of Wood Technology, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Joris Van Acker
- Laboratory of Wood Technology, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bartel Vanholme
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wout Boerjan
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
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Nunes C, Depestel L, Mus L, Keller KM, Delhaye L, Louwagie A, Rishfi M, Whale A, Kara N, Andrews SR, Dela Cruz F, You D, Siddiquee A, Cologna CT, De Craemer S, Dolman E, Bartenhagen C, De Vloed F, Sanders E, Eggermont A, Bekaert SL, Van Loocke W, Bek JW, Dewyn G, Loontiens S, Van Isterdael G, Decaesteker B, Tilleman L, Van Nieuwerburgh F, Vermeirssen V, Van Neste C, Ghesquiere B, Goossens S, Eyckerman S, De Preter K, Fischer M, Houseley J, Molenaar J, De Wilde B, Roberts SS, Durinck K, Speleman F. RRM2 enhances MYCN-driven neuroblastoma formation and acts as a synergistic target with CHK1 inhibition. Sci Adv 2022; 8:eabn1382. [PMID: 35857500 PMCID: PMC9278860 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn1382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
High-risk neuroblastoma, a pediatric tumor originating from the sympathetic nervous system, has a low mutation load but highly recurrent somatic DNA copy number variants. Previously, segmental gains and/or amplifications allowed identification of drivers for neuroblastoma development. Using this approach, combined with gene dosage impact on expression and survival, we identified ribonucleotide reductase subunit M2 (RRM2) as a candidate dependency factor further supported by growth inhibition upon in vitro knockdown and accelerated tumor formation in a neuroblastoma zebrafish model coexpressing human RRM2 with MYCN. Forced RRM2 induction alleviates excessive replicative stress induced by CHK1 inhibition, while high RRM2 expression in human neuroblastomas correlates with high CHK1 activity. MYCN-driven zebrafish tumors with RRM2 co-overexpression exhibit differentially expressed DNA repair genes in keeping with enhanced ATR-CHK1 signaling activity. In vitro, RRM2 inhibition enhances intrinsic replication stress checkpoint addiction. Last, combinatorial RRM2-CHK1 inhibition acts synergistic in high-risk neuroblastoma cell lines and patient-derived xenograft models, illustrating the therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Nunes
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lisa Depestel
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Liselot Mus
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Louis Delhaye
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Amber Louwagie
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Muhammad Rishfi
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Alex Whale
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Neesha Kara
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Filemon Dela Cruz
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daoqi You
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Armaan Siddiquee
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Camila Takeno Cologna
- Metabolomics Expertise Center, Center for Cancer Biology (CCB), VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Metabolomics Expertise Center, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sam De Craemer
- Metabolomics Expertise Center, Center for Cancer Biology (CCB), VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Metabolomics Expertise Center, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Emmy Dolman
- Princess Maxima Center, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Christoph Bartenhagen
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne (CMMC), Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Department of Experimental Pediatric Oncology, University Children’s Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Fanny De Vloed
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ellen Sanders
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Aline Eggermont
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sarah-Lee Bekaert
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wouter Van Loocke
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jan Willem Bek
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Givani Dewyn
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Siebe Loontiens
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Bieke Decaesteker
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Laurentijn Tilleman
- NXTGNT, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Vanessa Vermeirssen
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Christophe Van Neste
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bart Ghesquiere
- Metabolomics Expertise Center, Center for Cancer Biology (CCB), VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Metabolomics Expertise Center, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Steven Goossens
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sven Eyckerman
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Katleen De Preter
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Matthias Fischer
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne (CMMC), Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Department of Experimental Pediatric Oncology, University Children’s Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jon Houseley
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Bram De Wilde
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Stephen S. Roberts
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kaat Durinck
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Frank Speleman
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
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Van den Eynde S, Audenaert P, Colle D, Pickavet M. A construction heuristic for the capacitated Steiner tree problem. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0270147. [PMID: 35709229 PMCID: PMC9202893 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Many real-life problems boil down to a variant of the Minimum Steiner Tree Problem (STP). In telecommunications, Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) houses are clustered so they can be connected with fiber as cost-efficiently as possible. The cost calculation of a fiber installment can be formulated as a capacitated STP. Often, STP variants are solved with integer linear programs, which provide excellent solutions, though the running time costs increase quickly with graph size. Some geographical areas require graphs of over 20000 nodes—typically unattainable for integer linear programs. This paper presents an alternative approach. It extends the shortest path heuristic for the STP to a new heuristic that can construct solutions for the capacitated STP: the Capacitated Shortest Path Heuristic (CSPH). It is straightforward to implement, allowing many extensions. In experiments on realistic telecommunications datasets, CSPH finds solutions on average in time O(|V|2), quadratic in the number of nodes, making it possible to solve 50000 node graphs in under a minute.
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Heuss C, Rothhaar P, Burm R, Lee JY, Ralfs P, Haselmann U, Ströh LJ, Colasanti O, Tran CS, Schäfer N, Schnitzler P, Merle U, Bartenschlager R, Patel AH, Graw F, Krey T, Laketa V, Meuleman P, Lohmann V. A Hepatitis C virus genotype 1b post-transplant isolate with high replication efficiency in cell culture and its adaptation to infectious virus production in vitro and in vivo. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010472. [PMID: 35763545 PMCID: PMC9273080 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is highly diverse and grouped into eight genotypes (gts). Infectious cell culture models are limited to a few subtypes and isolates, hampering the development of prophylactic vaccines. A consensus gt1b genome (termed GLT1) was generated from an HCV infected liver-transplanted patient. GLT1 replicated to an outstanding efficiency in Huh7 cells upon SEC14L2 expression, by use of replication enhancing mutations or with a previously developed inhibitor-based regimen. RNA replication levels almost reached JFH-1, but full-length genomes failed to produce detectable amounts of infectious virus. Long-term passaging led to the adaptation of a genome carrying 21 mutations and concomitant production of high levels of transmissible infectivity (GLT1cc). During the adaptation, GLT1 spread in the culture even in absence of detectable amounts of free virus, likely due to cell-to-cell transmission, which appeared to substantially contribute to spreading of other isolates as well. Mechanistically, genome replication and particle production efficiency were enhanced by adaptation, while cell entry competence of HCV pseudoparticles was not affected. Furthermore, GLT1cc retained the ability to replicate in human liver chimeric mice, which was critically dependent on a mutation in domain 3 of nonstructural protein NS5A. Over the course of infection, only one mutation in the surface glycoprotein E2 consistently reverted to wildtype, facilitating assembly in cell culture but potentially affecting CD81 interaction in vivo. Overall, GLT1cc is an efficient gt1b infectious cell culture model, paving the road to a rationale-based establishment of new infectious HCV isolates and represents an important novel tool for the development of prophylactic HCV vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Heuss
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Section virus-host interactions, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Paul Rothhaar
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Section virus-host interactions, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rani Burm
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Ji-Young Lee
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Philipp Ralfs
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Section virus-host interactions, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Uta Haselmann
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Luisa J. Ströh
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ombretta Colasanti
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Section virus-host interactions, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Cong Si Tran
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Section virus-host interactions, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Noemi Schäfer
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Section virus-host interactions, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Paul Schnitzler
- Department of Infectious Diseases Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Uta Merle
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ralf Bartenschlager
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, partner site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division Virus-Associated Carcinogenesis, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Arvind H. Patel
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Frederik Graw
- BioQuant – Center for Quantitative Biology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Krey
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Center of Structural and Cell Biology in Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Lübeck, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence RESIST (EXC 2155), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Vibor Laketa
- Department of Infectious Diseases Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, partner site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Philip Meuleman
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Volker Lohmann
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Section virus-host interactions, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, partner site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Poulain M. Ocean-Liner Ceramics: A Red Star Line Assemblage in Antwerp, Belgium. Hist Archaeol 2022; 56:274-300. [PMID: 35431418 PMCID: PMC8998165 DOI: 10.1007/s41636-021-00315-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In contrast to what films such as Titanic would have people believe, scientific knowledge about ocean liners is fairly limited. These boats and their material culture, however, functioned as symbols of modernity par excellence and thus allow a better understanding of the advent of a new world at the turn of the 20th century. The focus of this article is a ceramic assemblage from the Red Star Line, the shipping company that transported some two million migrants from Antwerp (Belgium) to the United States between 1873 and 1934. The analysis of this material provides new insights into the furnishings and daily life aboard these ships. Moreover, the possible reuse of these maritime objects ashore forms a basis for a discussion of the ways in which ordinary people entered into the modern world using material culture and to what extent they might have embraced the values associated with these mass-produced goods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Poulain
- Historical Archaeology Research Group, Department of Archaeology, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Kazienga A, Coffeng LE, de Vlas SJ, Levecke B. Two-stage lot quality assurance sampling framework for monitoring and evaluation of neglected tropical diseases, allowing for imperfect diagnostics and spatial heterogeneity. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010353. [PMID: 35394996 PMCID: PMC9020685 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) is a key component of large-scale neglected tropical diseases (NTD) control programs. Diagnostic tests deployed in these M&E surveys are often imperfect, and it remains unclear how this affects the population-based program decision-making.
Methodology
We developed a 2-stage lot quality assurance sampling (LQAS) framework for decision-making that allows for both imperfect diagnostics and spatial heterogeneity of infections. We applied the framework to M&E of soil-transmitted helminth control programs as a case study. For this, we explored the impact of the diagnostic performance (sensitivity and specificity), spatial heterogeneity (intra-cluster correlation), and survey design on program decision-making around the prevalence decisions thresholds recommended by WHO (2%, 10%, 20% and 50%) and the associated total survey costs.
Principal findings
The survey design currently recommended by WHO (5 clusters and 50 subjects per cluster) may lead to incorrect program decisions around the 2% and 10% prevalence thresholds, even when perfect diagnostic tests are deployed. To reduce the risk of incorrect decisions around the 2% prevalence threshold, including more clusters (≥10) and deploying highly specific diagnostic methods (≥98%) are the most-cost saving strategies when spatial heterogeneity is moderate-to-high (intra-cluster correlation >0.017). The higher cost and lower throughput of improved diagnostic tests are compensated by lower required sample sizes, though only when the cost per test is <6.50 US$ and sample throughput is ≥3 per hour.
Conclusion/Significance
Our framework provides a means to assess and update M&E guidelines and guide product development choices for NTD. Using soil-transmitted helminths as a case study, we show that current M&E guidelines may severely fall short, particularly in low-endemic and post-control settings. Furthermore, specificity rather than sensitivity is a critical parameter to consider. When the geographical distribution of an NTD within a district is highly heterogeneous, sampling more clusters (≥10) may be required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adama Kazienga
- Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
- * E-mail: (KA); (BL)
| | - Luc E. Coffeng
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sake J. de Vlas
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bruno Levecke
- Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
- * E-mail: (KA); (BL)
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Goossens E, Boonyarittichaikij R, Dekeukeleire D, Hertzog L, Van Praet S, Pasmans F, Bonte D, Verheyen K, Lens L, Martel A, Verbrugghe E. Tree Species Diversity and Forest Edge Density Jointly Shape the Gut Microbiota Composition in Juvenile Great Tits (Parus major). Front Microbiol 2022; 13:790189. [PMID: 35356520 PMCID: PMC8959704 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.790189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the microbiome’s key role in health and fitness, little is known about the environmental factors shaping the gut microbiome of wild birds. With habitat fragmentation being recognised as a major threat to biological diversity, we here determined how forest structure influences the bacterial species richness and diversity of wild great tit nestlings (Parus major). Using an Illumina metabarcoding approach which amplifies the 16S bacterial ribosomal RNA gene, we measured gut microbiota diversity and composition from 49 great tit nestlings, originating from 23 different nests that were located in 22 different study plots across a gradient of forest fragmentation and tree species diversity. Per nest, an average microbiome was determined on which the influence of tree species (composition and richness) and forest fragmentation (fragment area and edge density) was examined and whether this was linked to host characteristics (body condition and fledging success). We found an interaction effect of edge density with tree species richness or composition on both the microbial richness (alpha diversity: Chao1 and Shannon) and community structure (beta diversity: weighted and unweighted UniFrac). No significant short-term impact was observed of the overall faecal microbiome on host characteristics, but rather an adverse effect of specific bacterial genera on fledging success. These results highlight the influence of environmental factors on the microbial richness as well as the phylogenetic diversity during a life stage where the birds’ microbiota is shaped, which could lead to long-term consequences for host fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evy Goossens
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Roschong Boonyarittichaikij
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Daan Dekeukeleire
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lionel Hertzog
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sarah Van Praet
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Frank Pasmans
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Dries Bonte
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kris Verheyen
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Luc Lens
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - An Martel
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Elin Verbrugghe
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Elin Verbrugghe,
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Bocus M, Vanduyfhuys L, De Proft F, Weckhuysen BM, Van Speybroeck V. Mechanistic Characterization of Zeolite-Catalyzed Aromatic Electrophilic Substitution at Realistic Operating Conditions. JACS Au 2022; 2:502-514. [PMID: 35252999 PMCID: PMC8889610 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.1c00544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Zeolite-catalyzed benzene ethylation is an important industrial reaction, as it is the first step in the production of styrene for polymer manufacturing. Furthermore, it is a prototypical example of aromatic electrophilic substitution, a key reaction in the synthesis of many bulk and fine chemicals. Despite extensive research, the reaction mechanism and the nature of elusive intermediates at realistic operating conditions is not properly understood. More in detail, the existence of the elusive arenium ion (better known as Wheland complex) formed upon electrophilic attack on the aromatic ring is still a matter of debate. Temperature effects and the presence of protic guest molecules such as water are expected to impact the reaction mechanism and lifetime of the reaction intermediates. Herein, we used enhanced sampling ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the complete mechanism of benzene ethylation with ethene and ethanol in the H-ZSM-5 zeolite. We show that both the stepwise and concerted mechanisms are active at reaction conditions and that the Wheland intermediate spontaneously appears as a shallow minimum in the free energy surface after the electrophilic attack on the benzene ring. Addition of water enhances the protonation kinetics by about 1 order of magnitude at coverages of one water molecule per Brønsted acidic site. In the fully solvated regime, an overstabilization of the BAS as hydronium ion occurs and the rate enhancement disappears. The obtained results give critical atomistic insights in the role of water to selectively tune the kinetics of protonation reactions in zeolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Bocus
- Center
for Molecular Modeling, Ghent University, Technologiepark 46, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
| | - Louis Vanduyfhuys
- Center
for Molecular Modeling, Ghent University, Technologiepark 46, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
| | - Frank De Proft
- Eenheid
Algemene Chemie (ALGC), Vrije Universiteit
Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bert M. Weckhuysen
- Inorganic
Chemistry and Catalysis Group, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Mercken E, Van Damme I, Šoba B, Vangeenberghe S, Serradell A, De Sterck T, Lumain JPL, Gabriël S. Sensitivity of candling as routine method for the detection and recovery of ascaridoids in commercial fish fillets. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1358. [PMID: 35079033 PMCID: PMC8789850 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05235-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Ascaridoids are one of the main parasitic hazards in commercial fish. Candling is the current industrial screening method whereby visible ascaridoid larvae are detected on a light table and manually removed. The aim of this study was to assess the sensitivity (Se) and negative predictive value (NPV) of this method. To make targeted recommendations to the fish industry, the Se was calculated per fish part, larval genus, and fish species. All fish parts (n = 615) were first candled, and larvae were collected, followed by enzymatic digestion to recover the remaining larvae. A fish part was considered positive if at least one larva was detected using candling and/or enzymatic digestion, with both methods combined as reference standard. The overall Se of candling was 31% (95% CI 23-41%) and NPV was 87% (95% CI 85-90%). The Se increased with higher numbers of larvae/100 g infected muscle. A low NPV was found for the belly flaps, therefore we either advise the removal or proper freezing of this part. Lastly, the Se and larval recovery was the highest for the darker and larger Pseudoterranova spp. larvae. Due to the low overall efficacy of candling, further assessment of its cost-benefit and impact on consumers' health risk should be conducted.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Mercken
- Laboratory of Foodborne Parasitic Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - I Van Damme
- Laboratory of Foodborne Parasitic Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - B Šoba
- Laboratory of Foodborne Parasitic Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke, Belgium
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - S Vangeenberghe
- Laboratory of Foodborne Parasitic Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - A Serradell
- Laboratory of Foodborne Parasitic Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - T De Sterck
- Laboratory of Foodborne Parasitic Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - J P L Lumain
- Laboratory of Foodborne Parasitic Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - S Gabriël
- Laboratory of Foodborne Parasitic Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke, Belgium.
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44
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Vermote B, Waterschoot J, Morbée S, Van der Kaap-Deeder J, Schrooyen C, Soenens B, Ryan R, Vansteenkiste M. Do Psychological Needs Play a Role in Times of Uncertainty? Associations with Well-Being During the COVID-19 Crisis. J Happiness Stud 2022; 23:257-283. [PMID: 33942013 PMCID: PMC8081282 DOI: 10.1007/s10902-021-00398-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Across the world, measures were taken to contain the spreading of the COVID-19 virus. Many of these measures caused a sudden rupture in people's daily routines, thereby eliciting considerable uncertainty and potentially also hampering the satisfaction of individuals' psychological needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence. Drawing upon Maslow's Hierarchical Need Theory and Self-Determination Theory, this study examined the unique role of felt insecurity and the psychological needs, as well as their dynamic interplay, in the prediction of mental health. A large and heterogeneous sample of adults (N = 5118; Mage = 43.45 years) was collected during the first ten days of the lockdown period in Flanders, Belgium. A subsample (N = 835, Mage = 41.39) participated during a second wave one week later. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that felt insecurity, need satisfaction and need frustration all independently predicted various positive (life satisfaction, sleep quality) and negative indicators depressive symptoms, anxiety) of mental health, with little systematic evidence for interactions between the predictors. The pattern of findings obtained concurrently largely held in the longitudinal analyses. Finally, results showed that associations between felt insecurity and lower concurrent and prospective mental health were partially mediated by need satisfaction and frustration, with especially psychological need frustration predicting changes in mental health over time. Overall, the findings suggest that satisfaction of the psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness is not just a 'luxury good'. Satisfaction of these needs is important also in times of insecurity, while need frustration represents a risk factor for maladjustment during such times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Branko Vermote
- Department of Developmental, Personality, and Social Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Joachim Waterschoot
- Department of Developmental, Personality, and Social Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sofie Morbée
- Department of Developmental, Personality, and Social Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Charlotte Schrooyen
- Department of Developmental, Personality, and Social Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bart Soenens
- Department of Developmental, Personality, and Social Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Richard Ryan
- Institute of Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University, North Sydney, NSW Australia
| | - Maarten Vansteenkiste
- Department of Developmental, Personality, and Social Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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45
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Naaf T, Feigs JT, Huang S, Brunet J, Cousins SAO, Decocq G, De Frenne P, Diekmann M, Govaert S, Hedwall PO, Lenoir J, Liira J, Meeussen C, Plue J, Vangansbeke P, Vanneste T, Verheyen K, Holzhauer SIJ, Kramp K. Context matters: the landscape matrix determines the population genetic structure of temperate forest herbs across Europe. Landsc Ecol 2021; 37:1365-1384. [PMID: 35571363 PMCID: PMC9085688 DOI: 10.1007/s10980-021-01376-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Plant populations in agricultural landscapes are mostly fragmented and their functional connectivity often depends on seed and pollen dispersal by animals. However, little is known about how the interactions of seed and pollen dispersers with the agricultural matrix translate into gene flow among plant populations. OBJECTIVES We aimed to identify effects of the landscape structure on the genetic diversity within, and the genetic differentiation among, spatially isolated populations of three temperate forest herbs. We asked, whether different arable crops have different effects, and whether the orientation of linear landscape elements relative to the gene dispersal direction matters. METHODS We analysed the species' population genetic structures in seven agricultural landscapes across temperate Europe using microsatellite markers. These were modelled as a function of landscape composition and configuration, which we quantified in buffer zones around, and in rectangular landscape strips between, plant populations. RESULTS Landscape effects were diverse and often contrasting between species, reflecting their association with different pollen- or seed dispersal vectors. Differentiating crop types rather than lumping them together yielded higher proportions of explained variation. Some linear landscape elements had both a channelling and hampering effect on gene flow, depending on their orientation. CONCLUSIONS Landscape structure is a more important determinant of the species' population genetic structure than habitat loss and fragmentation per se. Landscape planning with the aim to enhance the functional connectivity among spatially isolated plant populations should consider that even species of the same ecological guild might show distinct responses to the landscape structure. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10980-021-01376-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Naaf
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Strasse 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany
| | - Jannis Till Feigs
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Strasse 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany
| | - Siyu Huang
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Strasse 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany
| | - Jörg Brunet
- Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 190, 234 22 Lomma, Sweden
| | - Sara A. O. Cousins
- Landscapes, Environment and Geomatics, Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Guillaume Decocq
- Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés (EDYSAN, UMR 7058 CNRS), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 1 Rue des Louvels, 80037 Amiens, France
| | - Pieter De Frenne
- Forest and Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, 9090 Gontrode-Melle, Belgium
| | - Martin Diekmann
- Vegetation Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology, FB2, University of Bremen, Leobener Str., 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Sanne Govaert
- Forest and Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, 9090 Gontrode-Melle, Belgium
| | - Per-Ola Hedwall
- Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 190, 234 22 Lomma, Sweden
| | - Jonathan Lenoir
- Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés (EDYSAN, UMR 7058 CNRS), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 1 Rue des Louvels, 80037 Amiens, France
| | - Jaan Liira
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Lai 40, 51005 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Camille Meeussen
- Forest and Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, 9090 Gontrode-Melle, Belgium
| | - Jan Plue
- IVL Swedish Environmental Institute, Valhallavägen 81, 10031 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pieter Vangansbeke
- Forest and Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, 9090 Gontrode-Melle, Belgium
| | - Thomas Vanneste
- Forest and Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, 9090 Gontrode-Melle, Belgium
| | - Kris Verheyen
- Forest and Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, 9090 Gontrode-Melle, Belgium
| | - Stephanie I. J. Holzhauer
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Strasse 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany
| | - Katja Kramp
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Strasse 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany
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46
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Prins PT, Alimoradi Jazi M, Killilea NA, Evers WH, Geiregat P, Heiss W, Houtepen AJ, Delerue C, Hens Z, Vanmaekelbergh D. The Fine-Structure Constant as a Ruler for the Band-Edge Light Absorption Strength of Bulk and Quantum-Confined Semiconductors. Nano Lett 2021; 21:9426-9432. [PMID: 34780185 PMCID: PMC8631736 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c02682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Low-dimensional semiconductors have found numerous applications in optoelectronics. However, a quantitative comparison of the absorption strength of low-dimensional versus bulk semiconductors has remained elusive. Here, we report generality in the band-edge light absorptance of semiconductors, independent of their dimensions. First, we provide atomistic tight-binding calculations that show that the absorptance of semiconductor quantum wells equals mπα (m = 1 or 2 with α as the fine-structure constant), in agreement with reported experimental results. Then, we show experimentally that a monolayer (superlattice) of quantum dots has similar absorptance, suggesting an absorptance quantum of mπα per (confined) exciton diameter. Extending this idea to bulk semiconductors, we experimentally demonstrate that an absorptance quantum equal to mπα per exciton Bohr diameter explains their widely varying absorption coefficients. We thus provided compelling evidence that the absorptance quantum πα per exciton diameter rules the band-edge absorption of all direct semiconductors, regardless of their dimension.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Tim Prins
- Debye
Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht
University, Princetonplein 1, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Maryam Alimoradi Jazi
- Debye
Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht
University, Princetonplein 1, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Niall A. Killilea
- Institute
- Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology, Materials Science
Department, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität
Erlangen-Nürnberg, Fürther Straße 250, Nürnberg 90429, Germany
| | - Wiel H. Evers
- Optoelectronic
Materials Section, Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Pieter Geiregat
- Physics
and Chemistry of Nanostructures, Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wolfgang Heiss
- Institute
- Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology, Materials Science
Department, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität
Erlangen-Nürnberg, Fürther Straße 250, Nürnberg 90429, Germany
| | - Arjan J. Houtepen
- Optoelectronic
Materials Section, Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Christophe Delerue
- University
of Lille, CNRS, Centrale Lille, University Polytechnique Hauts-de-France, Junia, UMR 8520 - IEMN, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Zeger Hens
- Physics
and Chemistry of Nanostructures, Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Daniel Vanmaekelbergh
- Debye
Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht
University, Princetonplein 1, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands
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47
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Locardi F, Samoli M, Martinelli A, Erdem O, Magalhaes DV, Bals S, Hens Z. Cyan Emission in Two-Dimensional Colloidal Cs 2CdCl 4:Sb 3+ Ruddlesden-Popper Phase Nanoplatelets. ACS Nano 2021; 15:17729-17737. [PMID: 34668701 PMCID: PMC8613908 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c05684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Metal halide perovskites are one of the most investigated materials in optoelectronics, with their lead-based counterparts being renowned for their enhanced optoelectronic performance. The 3D CsPbX3 structure has set the standard with many studies currently attempting to substitute lead with other metals while retaining the properties of this material. This effort has led to the fabrication of metal halides with lower dimensionality, wherein particular 2D layered perovskite structures have captured attention as inspiration for the next generation of colloidal semiconductors. Here we report the synthesis of the Ruddlesden-Popper Cs2CdCl4:Sb3+ phase as colloidal nanoplatelets (NPs) using a facile hot injection approach under atmospheric conditions. Through strict adjustment of the synthesis parameters with emphasis on the ligand ratio, we obtained NPs with a relatively uniform size and good morphological control. The particles were characterized through transmission electron microscopy, synchrotron X-ray diffraction, and pair distribution function analysis. The spectroscopic characterization revealed most strikingly an intense cyan emission under UV excitation with a measured PLQY of ∼20%. The emission was attributed to the Sb3+-doping within the structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Locardi
- Department
of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, Università
degli Studi di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 31, 16146 Genova, Italy
- Physics
and Chemistry of Nanostructures group (PCN), Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, Gent 9000, Belgium
| | - Margarita Samoli
- Physics
and Chemistry of Nanostructures group (PCN), Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, Gent 9000, Belgium
| | | | - Onur Erdem
- Physics
and Chemistry of Nanostructures group (PCN), Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, Gent 9000, Belgium
| | - Debora Vale Magalhaes
- EMAT
and NANOlab Center of Excellence, University
of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sara Bals
- EMAT
and NANOlab Center of Excellence, University
of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Zeger Hens
- Physics
and Chemistry of Nanostructures group (PCN), Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, Gent 9000, Belgium
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48
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Dewinter M, Vandeviver C, Dau PM, Vander Beken T, Witlox F. The impact of strict measures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic on the spatial pattern of the demand for police: case study Antwerp (Belgium). Crime Sci 2021; 10:20. [PMID: 34603933 PMCID: PMC8476117 DOI: 10.1186/s40163-021-00156-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 impacts the daily lives of millions of people. This radical change in our daily activities affected many aspects of life, but acted as well as a natural experiment for research into the spatial distribution of 911 calls. We analyse the impact of the COVID-19 measures on the spatial pattern of police interventions. Crime is not uniformly distributed across street segments, but how does COVID-19 affect these spatial patterns? To this end, Gini coefficients are calculated and a proportion differences spatial point pattern test is applied to compare the similarity of the patterns of incidents before, during, and after the first lockdown in Antwerp, Belgium. With only essential mobility being allowed, the emergency call pattern has not significantly changed before, during or after this lockdown, however, a qualitative shift in police officer's daily work may have had an effect on the daily operation of the Antwerp police force.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maite Dewinter
- Department of Geography, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Christophe Vandeviver
- Department of Criminology, Criminal Law and Social Law, Ghent University, Universiteitstraat 4, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO), Egmontstraat 5, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Philipp M. Dau
- Department of Criminology, Criminal Law and Social Law, Ghent University, Universiteitstraat 4, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tom Vander Beken
- Department of Criminology, Criminal Law and Social Law, Ghent University, Universiteitstraat 4, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Frank Witlox
- Department of Geography, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Geography, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
- College of Civil Aviation, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 210016 China
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49
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Jedrzejczyk M, Engelhardt J, Djokic MR, Bliznuk V, Van Geem KM, Verberckmoes A, De Clercq J, Bernaerts KV. Development of Lignin-Based Mesoporous Carbons for the Adsorption of Humic Acid. ACS Omega 2021; 6:15222-15235. [PMID: 34151101 PMCID: PMC8210454 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c01475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
There is an increasing urge to make the transition toward biobased materials. Lignin, originating from lignocellulosic biomass, can be potentially valorized as humic acid (HA) adsorbents via lignin-based mesoporous carbon (MC). In this work, these materials were synthesized for the first time starting from modified lignin as the carbon precursor, using the soft-template methodology. The use of a novel synthetic approach, Claisen rearrangement of propargylated lignin, and a variety of surfactant templates (Pluronic, Kraton, and Solsperse) have been demonstrated to tune the properties of the resulting MCs. The obtained materials showed tunable properties (BET surface area: 95-367 m2/g, pore size: 3.3-36.6 nm, V BJH pore volume: 0.05-0.33 m3/g, and carbon and oxygen content: 55.5-91.1 and 3.0-12.2%, respectively) and good performance in terms of one of the highest HA adsorption capacities reported for carbon adsorbents (up to 175 mg/g).
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika
A. Jedrzejczyk
- Faculty
of Science and Engineering, Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased
Materials (AMIBM), Maastricht University, Brightlands Chemelot Campus, Urmonderbaan
22, Geleen 6167 RD, The Netherland
| | - Julian Engelhardt
- Faculty
of Science and Engineering, Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased
Materials (AMIBM), Maastricht University, Brightlands Chemelot Campus, Urmonderbaan
22, Geleen 6167 RD, The Netherland
| | - Marko R. Djokic
- Faculty
of Engineering and Architecture, Department of Materials, Textiles
and Chemical Engineering, Laboratorium for Chemical Technology (LCT), Ghent University, Technologiepark 125, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Vitaliy Bliznuk
- Faculty
of Engineering and Architecture, Department of Electrical Energy,
Metals, Mechanical Constructions and Systems, Ghent University, Technologiepark
46, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kevin M. Van Geem
- Faculty
of Engineering and Architecture, Department of Materials, Textiles
and Chemical Engineering, Laboratorium for Chemical Technology (LCT), Ghent University, Technologiepark 125, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - An Verberckmoes
- Faculty
of Engineering and Architecture, Department of Materials, Textiles
and Chemical Engineering, Industrial Catalysis and Adsorption Technology
(INCAT), Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jeriffa De Clercq
- Faculty
of Engineering and Architecture, Department of Materials, Textiles
and Chemical Engineering, Industrial Catalysis and Adsorption Technology
(INCAT), Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Katrien V. Bernaerts
- Faculty
of Science and Engineering, Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased
Materials (AMIBM), Maastricht University, Brightlands Chemelot Campus, Urmonderbaan
22, Geleen 6167 RD, The Netherland
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50
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Abstract
A major focus of current biological studies is to fill the knowledge gaps between cell, tissue and organism scales. To this end, a wide array of contemporary optical analytical tools enable multiparameter quantitative imaging of live and fixed cells, three-dimensional (3D) systems, tissues, organs and organisms in the context of their complex spatiotemporal biological and molecular features. In particular, the modalities of luminescence lifetime imaging, comprising fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLI) and phosphorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (PLIM), in synergy with Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) assays, provide a wealth of information. On the application side, the luminescence lifetime of endogenous molecules inside cells and tissues, overexpressed fluorescent protein fusion biosensor constructs or probes delivered externally provide molecular insights at multiple scales into protein-protein interaction networks, cellular metabolism, dynamics of molecular oxygen and hypoxia, physiologically important ions, and other physical and physiological parameters. Luminescence lifetime imaging offers a unique window into the physiological and structural environment of cells and tissues, enabling a new level of functional and molecular analysis in addition to providing 3D spatially resolved and longitudinal measurements that can range from microscopic to macroscopic scale. We provide an overview of luminescence lifetime imaging and summarize key biological applications from cells and tissues to organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruslan I. Dmitriev
- Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials Group, Department of
Human Structure and Repair, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,
Ghent University, Ghent 9000,
Belgium
| | - Xavier Intes
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for
Modeling, Simulation and Imaging for Medicine (CeMSIM),
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
12180-3590, USA
| | - Margarida M. Barroso
- Department of Molecular and Cellular
Physiology, Albany Medical College,
Albany, NY 12208, USA
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