Experimental Biology, Life Science and One Health: From Basic to Translational Research

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 3217

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neuroscience, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Interests: anatomy; histology; embryology; organogenesis; cell differentiation; tissue homeostasis; organ remodelling; molecular chaperones; cell stress; nanovesicles; exosomes; microbiota; airways; gastrointestinal tract; carcinogenesis; neuroscience; sport medicine; nutrition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue draws its origins from the celebration of the centenary of the Italian Society of Experimental Biology, founded in Pavia at Camillo Golgi’s Institute in 1925 by whom—we can say without fear of contradiction—we can define as the "Gotha" of Italian Medicine and Biology of that time. Scientists who were well aware of the fact that the evolution of research in medicine would pass through the hands and minds of researchers in the biomedical field.

The concept of “Experimental Biology” has expanded over the last century, becoming in some ways synonymous with "Life Science" and, in this century, becoming a cornerstone of the modern concept of “One Health”, i.e., the way of considering human health closely related to the health of the environment and the animals living in this planet.

Many research groups around the world deal with these topics and in this Special Issue, we would like to include the best possible contributions to add an important piece to the panorama of updated knowledge on these themes.

Prof. Dr. Francesco Cappello
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • anatomy, histology, embryology
  • aquatic environment and ecosystem
  • biotechnology and bioengineering
  • cell stress
  • environment and health
  • extracellular vesicles
  • fight against cancer
  • movement and nutrition science
  • neuroscience
  • plant ecology and ecosystem
  • regenerative biomedicine

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

22 pages, 4749 KB  
Article
From Nucleus to No Nucleus: A Multimodal Study of the Toxicity of ZnO Nanoparticles: A Focus on Membrane Integrity, DNA Damage, and Molecular Docking
by Erion Sukaj, Eldores Sula, Ledia Vasjari, Ariol Rama, Erman S. Istifli, Federica Impellitteri, Valbona Aliko and Caterina Faggio
Biology 2026, 15(1), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15010023 - 22 Dec 2025
Viewed by 512
Abstract
Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are increasingly applied in medicine, cosmetics, and environmental technologies, yet their interactions with blood cells remain poorly understood, raising cross-species safety concerns. Using frog (nucleated) and human (anucleate) erythrocytes as comparative models, we show that cellular architecture fundamentally [...] Read more.
Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are increasingly applied in medicine, cosmetics, and environmental technologies, yet their interactions with blood cells remain poorly understood, raising cross-species safety concerns. Using frog (nucleated) and human (anucleate) erythrocytes as comparative models, we show that cellular architecture fundamentally shapes responses to ZnO NPs exposure. Human erythrocytes exhibited a dose-dependent progression from membrane deformation to eryptosis and hemolysis, reflecting the pronounced vulnerability of anucleate cells. In contrast, frog erythrocytes sustained nuclear DNA damage while largely preserving membrane integrity, highlighting the protective or reparative role of the nucleus. Molecular docking revealed energetically favorable interactions of ZnO NPs with ERα-LBD and DNA (ΔG = −4.28 and −5.68 kcal/mol, respectively), while quantum chemical analyses indicated electron-accepting properties and a narrow HOMO–LUMO gap, suggesting efficient macromolecular interactions and intracellular ROS generation. Together, these findings demonstrate that the presence of a nucleus shifts the primary target of nanoparticle toxicity from membrane to genome, providing novel mechanistic insights. This comparative study offers a robust framework for understanding nanomaterial reactivity across taxa and informs One Health-oriented risk assessments. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

25 pages, 4345 KB  
Review
ERK1/2 Signaling in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: From Preclinical Advances to Therapeutic Strategies
by Veronica Porreca, Luca Sallustio, Ludovica Giancola, Pietro Angelone, Giuseppina Mignogna, Bruno Maras and Carmine Mancone
Biology 2025, 14(7), 776; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14070776 - 27 Jun 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1751
Abstract
Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) is involved in the regulation of the key cellular processes that are essential for the proper functioning of the cell under physiological conditions. Notably, the hyperactivation of ERK1/2 is implicated in oncogenesis and metastatic dissemination across various tumor [...] Read more.
Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) is involved in the regulation of the key cellular processes that are essential for the proper functioning of the cell under physiological conditions. Notably, the hyperactivation of ERK1/2 is implicated in oncogenesis and metastatic dissemination across various tumor types, making it an attractive candidate for targeted therapy (TT) through functional inhibition. In intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), sustained ERK1/2 activation represents one of the major events within the complex signaling network that drives tumor development and progression. In this review, we dissect the biological role of ERK1/2 signaling in iCCA and highlight recent preclinical advances involving selective small-molecule ERK1/2 inhibitors. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated how these inhibitors present effective anti-tumorigenic properties. In particular, PD901 and U0126 effectively reduce iCCA cell proliferation and invasion. Furthermore, Ulixertinib has shown a favorable therapeutic index and encouraging activity in clinical trials involving advanced solid tumors, including iCCA, paving the way for a new therapeutic approach targeting ERK1/2. Nevertheless, the heterogeneous and dynamic molecular landscape of iCCA, often accompanied by drug resistance, presents significant therapeutic challenges. We underscore how targeting the ERK1/2 pathway could represent a cornerstone within a multifaceted therapeutic strategy, fostering the development of personalized treatment approaches and improving clinical outcomes in iCCA patients. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop