Search Results (4)

Since the successful introduction of checkpoint inhibitors targeting the adaptive immune system, monoclonal antibodies inhibiting CD47-SIRPα interaction have shown promise in enhancing anti-tumor treatment efficacy. Apart from SIRPα, neutrophils express a broad repertoire of inhibitory receptors, including several members of the sialic acid-binding receptor (SIGLEC) family. Here, we demonstrate that interaction between tumor cell-expressed sialic acids and SIGLEC-5/14 on neutrophils inhibits antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). We observed that conjugate formation and trogocytosis, both essential processes for neutrophil ADCC, were limited by the sialic acid-SIGLEC-5/14 interaction. During neutrophil-tumor cell conjugate formation, we found that inhibition of the interaction between tumor-expressed sialic acids and SIGLEC-5/14 on neutrophils increased the CD11b/CD18 high affinity conformation. By dynamic acoustic force measurement, the binding between tumor cells and neutrophils was assessed. The interaction between SIGLEC-5/14 and the sialic acids was shown to inhibit the CD11b/CD18-regulated binding between neutrophils and antibody-opsonized tumor cells. Moreover, the interaction between sialic acids and SIGLEC-5/14-consequently hindered trogocytosis and tumor cell killing. In summary, our results provide evidence that the sialic acid-SIGLEC-5/14 interaction is an additional target for innate checkpoint blockade in the tumor microenvironment. Full article

The European Union has recommended that about 10–50% of the global energy requirement should be supplemented by waste biomass resources by 2050 in order to achieve the objective of having net-zero-emission economies. This has led to intensive research being conducted on developing appropriate biofuel production technologies using advanced or integrated systems to tackle local, national, and global energy challenges using waste feedstock. Researchers have realized the potential of microbes (e.g., yeast strains) for bioenergy production. For this paper, both non-oleaginous and oleaginous yeasts were reviewed, with a specific focus being placed on their diversity in metabolism and tolerance to the various challenges that arise from the use of waste feedstock and influence bioprocessing. Gathering in-depth knowledge and information on yeast metabolism has paved the way for newer and better technologies to employ them for consolidated biorefineries to not only produce biofuels but also to cut down process expenses and decrease the risks of net carbon emissions. The rationale for using yeast strains improved by metabolic engineering and genetic manipulation that can substantially meet the challenges of alternate fuel resources is also described in this paper. This literature review presents the advantages and disadvantages of yeast-based biofuel production and highlights the advancements in technologies and how they contrast to conventional methods. Over the last decade, scientific publications have endorsed the idea of biorefineries for environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable biofuel production. Full article

Carotenoid production from oleaginous red yeast has been considered as a safe alternative to chemically synthesized carotenoids commonly used in the food industry, since plant-based carotenoids are expensive and an irregular source for obtaining pigments. This is a summative review on the factors affecting carotenoid production, cost-effective production strategies using various inexpensive feedstock, metabolic engineering, and strain improvisation. The review specially highlights the various potential applications of carotenoids as anti-microbial, anti-viral, antioxidant, anti-cancerous, anti-malarial agents, etc. The importance of such natural and easily available resources for prevention, evasion, or cure of emerging diseases and their plausible nutraceutical effect demands exhaustive research in this area. Full article