Search Results (5,746)

Carnobacterium maltaromaticum is a lactic acid bacterium with growing applications in food biopreservation, probiotics, and microbial time-temperature integrators for tracking food quality throughout the cold chain. To develop efficient, ready-to-use dried concentrates for these applications, this study evaluated the impact of different protective formulations on the freeze-drying and storage stability of C. maltaromaticum CNCM I-3298 and explored the underlying molecular mechanisms. The formulations included sucrose, trehalose, and trehalose combined with maltodextrins. Sodium ascorbate was added to the most promising formulations for its potential antioxidant effect. Specific acidifying activity measurements before and after freezing, after freeze-drying and during storage at 25 °C revealed a gradual loss of bacterial activity following freeze-drying and storage. Sucrose, and trehalose with sodium ascorbate provided the best and outstanding protection. Increasing the glass transition temperature using trehalose or trehalose–maltodextrin matrices did not improve stability at 25 °C. Based on prior studies of proteins, we hypothesized that fast relaxation dynamics contribute to the degradation of cells in the glassy state. Fourier transform infrared micro-spectroscopy revealed that freeze-drying primarily affected nucleic acids, proteins (amide I and II), and cell wall components. Storage caused minor additional changes. First results relating to sodium ascorbate’s positive effect when added to trehalose and some spectral features in the fingerprint region need further investigation. Full article

Two chikungunya (CHIKV) vaccines have now been licensed, but the human clinical evidence base remains fragmented across vaccine platforms, populations, follow-up periods, and safety settings, complicating product-specific interpretation of durability and benefit–risk. We conducted a PRISMA-ScR–guided scoping review of human CHIKV vaccine evidence indexed in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from January 2000 to June 2026. After screening 890 records, we included 77 sources of evidence and mapped them at both the record level and the candidate/product level. The included evidence clustered around a limited number of vaccine programs, including TSI-GSD-218, VRC-CHKVLP059-00-VP/PXVX0317/Vimkunya, MV-CHIK/V184, VLA1553/IXCHIQ, ChAdOx1 Chik, and mRNA-1388/VAL-181388. Late-stage and post-authorization evidence was concentrated mainly in VLA1553/IXCHIQ and PXVX0317/Vimkunya, whereas viral-vector and mRNA candidates remained largely restricted to early-phase adult studies. Evidence has expanded to adolescents and adults aged ≥65 years for selected products but remains limited or product-specific for children, pregnant individuals, immunocompromised populations, and medically complex older adults. Short-term trial safety data were characterized primarily by mild or moderate local and systemic reactogenicity, while post-authorization safety evidence remains recent and concentrated in licensed products. This scoping review provides a structured evidence map for CHIKV vaccine development and highlights priorities for standardized immunogenicity assessment, longer-term durability data, broader population representation, endemic-region effectiveness studies, and continued post-marketing surveillance. Full article

Penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) is a rare malignancy with limited therapeutic options in advanced and recurrent diseases. Advanced PSCC is typically managed with multimodal therapy, including neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiation followed by surgery; however, durable responses remain uncommon, and outcomes after recurrence are poor. Cancer vaccines represent a promising immunotherapeutic strategy, as these treatments induce tumor-specific immunity and heightened immune surveillance against penile cancer cells. While therapeutic cancer vaccines have not yet demonstrated consistent clinical efficacy as monotherapy in PSCC, their integration with complementary immune-modulating approaches, particularly immune checkpoint blockade, represents a rational strategy to enhance antitumor immunity. This review summarizes the rationale for vaccine development in PSCC, with emphasis on HPV-derived antigens, neoantigens, and emerging tumor-associated targets. We examine major vaccine platforms, including viral-vector, peptide-based, nucleic acid, and dendritic cell-based approaches. We also discuss how spatial transcriptomics, single-cell RNA sequencing, artificial intelligence-assisted antigen prediction, and nanotechnology-enhanced delivery systems may support future personalized vaccine development. Overall, therapeutic vaccines remain investigational in PSCC but may become relevant within biomarker-driven, combination-based immunotherapy strategies. Full article

Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders—osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, intervertebral disc degeneration, tendinopathy, and skeletal muscle injury—contribute the largest share of years lived with disability worldwide. Conventional therapy relies on systemic dosing or repeated intra-articular and peri-tissue injections, which suffer from off-target toxicity, poor lesional bioavailability, and low adherence. Polymer microneedles (MNs)—micron-scale projections of biodegradable, dissolving, hydrogel-forming, or composite polymers—have rapidly matured into a versatile platform for minimally invasive, spatially localized, and temporally programmable delivery of small molecules, biologics, nucleic acids, extracellular vesicles, and cells to MSK tissues. This review synthesizes 2018–2026 advances in polymer MN systems engineered specifically for MSK regeneration. We classify dominant polymer chemistries and MN architectures; map fit-for-purpose across bone, cartilage, joint, intervertebral disc, tendon, and skeletal muscle; and survey “smart” MN designs that exploit reactive oxygen species, pH, mechanical, triboelectric, optogenetic, and ultrasonic triggers. We close with a concise conclusion and forward perspective that identifies the key design levers—hybrid MN–scaffold combination products, stimuli-responsive platforms tuned to the MSK micro-environment, and cell- and EV-loaded formats—most likely to have clinical impact. Full article

Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are central to modern virology diagnostics. However, evidence supporting alternative specimen types remains uneven across viral families, especially for emerging viruses. This limits diagnostic flexibility in outbreak and clinically complex settings. We conducted a scoping review of NAAT detectability across key body sites for human RNA viruses. PubMed and Embase were systematically searched for studies reporting NAAT results from urine, blood, fecal, cerebrospinal fluid, or respiratory specimens. Data were independently screened and synthesized to summarize specimen-specific detectability for each virus. From 8676 screened records, 321 studies were included, covering 39 viruses across 25 RNA virus families. Detectability across specimen types varied substantially between viruses. Consistent detection across multiple specimens was observed for few viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, Zika virus, and HIV, whereas many emerging viruses were evaluated in a single body compartment with limited comparative data. NAAT performance across specimen types is highly virus-specific and unevenly studied, with reliance on blood or respiratory specimens, potentially overlooking viable, less invasive alternatives. Evidence gaps are particularly pronounced for urine and cerebrospinal fluid, and heterogeneous reporting limits cross-study comparability. Standardized, cross-specimen and longitudinal studies are needed to improve diagnostic strategies, outbreak preparedness, and future assay development. Full article

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a chronic neuroinflammatory disorder often leading to demyelination of the spinal cord. Progression to HAM/TSP is closely associated with the high proviral load and the presence of virally infected CD4+ T cells that release extracellular vesicles (EVs). Exosomes, an EV subtype released by many cell types, transport proteins and nucleic acids that regulate intercellular communication and have been implicated in the progression of cancer and neuroinflammatory diseases. Herein, we have studied the effect of exosomes from HTLV-1 infected cells on the Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) of HAM/TSP patients by single-cell sequencing utilizing innovative Honeycomb technology. We observed a distinct transcriptional response in monocyte populations compared with other immune cell types. Given that monocytes remain understudied in HTLV-1 pathogenesis, these findings highlight a potential role for infection-derived exosomes in shaping monocyte-driven immune dysregulation in HAM/TSP. A total of 41 genes were identified to be differentially expressed in HAM/TSP monocytes treated with exosomes; 28 were upregulated and 13 were downregulated. The most significantly altered genes are involved in chemokine activity and signaling, macrophage differentiation, lipid metabolism, and lysosomal function. Overall, our data suggests that exosome-treated HAM/TSP monocytes undergo immune remodeling that favors cell recruitment, activation, and a shift toward a mixed M1/M2-like phenotype. Such a shift may support viral persistence and chronic inflammation. These findings highlight a potential therapeutic pathway for addressing HTLV-1-induced neuroinflammation by modulating exosome-mediated signaling. Full article

Accurately detecting viable foodborne pathogenic bacteria is essential for food safety risk assessments and public health interventions. Traditional plate counting is time-consuming and operationally cumbersome. Immunological assays are unable to distinguish viable from dead cells, whereas conventional nucleic acid amplification is often affected by residual DNA originating from dead bacteria. These limitations render conventional approaches inadequate for rapid and precise field detection. Functional nucleic acids (FNAs) offer a promising alternative for viability detection because of their high sensitivity, specificity, target diversity, and programmable integrability. This review provides a systematic overview of molecular recognition strategies and FNA-based detection technologies for identifying viable foodborne microorganisms. We categorize the biomarkers targeted by FNAs into nucleic acids, surface structures, and metabolic activities. Building on this categorization, we examine the core principles and technological evolution of primers, aptamers, DNAzymes, guide nucleic acids, and oligonucleotide probes in viability discrimination. We then outline the practical applications of these technologies across the food supply chain and discuss the remaining challenges and future directions in the field. Ultimately, this work provides a theoretical reference and practical guidance for ensuring food safety and advancing precise microbial risk management. Full article

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-enclosed nanoparticles that mediate intercellular communication in the immune system by transferring proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. Their biocompatibility, nanoscale size, and capacity for cell-type-selective delivery have stimulated growing interest in engineering EVs as therapeutic platforms. In this review, we discuss recent advances in EV engineering for immune regulation, focusing on surface display, cellular targeting, and cargo loading strategies. A central concept is that engineered EVs should not be viewed simply as delivery vehicles, but as programmable immune interfaces. EVs can integrate antigen specificity, target-cell recognition, therapeutic cargo delivery, and defined immunostimulatory or tolerogenic signals within a single nanoscale particle. By combining these modular elements, engineered EVs can be designed to direct immune responses in a context-dependent manner. We examine how this principle is being applied to cancer immunotherapy, immune suppression, and antigen-specific tolerance induction, including antigen-presenting EVs, cytotoxic and RNA-loaded EVs, checkpoint-modulatory EVs, MSC-derived EVs, and engineered platforms for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. We also discuss the clinical translation of engineered EV therapeutics, with emphasis on manufacturing, characterization, potency assays, biodistribution, safety, and regulatory challenges. Together, current advances suggest that programmable EV immune interfaces may provide a versatile foundation for next-generation cancer immunotherapy and antigen-specific immune regulation. Full article

The accurate and sensitive detection of toxin contamination remains a pressing challenge for food safety, environmental integrity, and public health, because conventional analytical methods suffer from high costs, poor field stability, and inadequate sensitivity for trace-level emerging contaminants. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of biosensor technologies for toxin detection, with a dedicated focus on nucleic acid aptamers and SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) technology. We systematically categorize nine SELEX variants developed for toxin detection, covering target-immobilized, library-immobilized, non-immobilized, cell-based, and high-throughput platforms, with an emphasis on their selection principles, applicability, and limitations. This review discusses computationally assisted aptamer discovery (e.g., AI-based sequence generation and molecular docking) as well as experimental post-SELEX optimization strategies such as cyclization, multivalent assembly, and structure-switching design. We then discuss key challenges and future perspectives, highlighting the shift from method-oriented to demand-oriented aptamer development through integrated SELEX strategies and AI-assisted design. Overall, this review covers mainstream SELEX technologies, aptamer selection, computational design, experimental optimization, and sensor integration to serve as a reference for next-generation toxin detection applications. Full article

Nucleic acids exhibit structured electromagnetic features shaped by classical electronegativity (EN) patterns. Mapping Pauling EN values across DNA and RNA reveals a largely invariant, high-EN phosphodiester backbone that provides a consistent electrostatic scaffold, while nucleobases introduce sequence-specific electron density shifts that generate tunable recognition fields. Together, these features create a dual-system framework in which a stable electrostatic background supports sequence-dependent informational cues. Within this environment, short-timescale vibronic interactions may arise from patterned vibrational and electronic behavior, producing modest “quantum overlay” effects compatible with known decoherence constraints. These structured, anisotropic electrostatic features may help explain differences in stability between DNA and RNA, the functional outcomes of nucleoside modifications such as N¹-methylpseudouridine (m¹Ψ), and the sensitivity of translational fidelity to small architectural perturbations. The framework yields experimentally testable predictions involving vibrational relaxation, dipole reorientation, and charge-transfer behavior, offering a classical-to-quantum interpretive bridge that may inform the design of next-generation therapeutic mRNAs. Full article

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive and heterogeneous subtype of breast cancer characterized by the absence of the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), resulting in limited options for targeted therapy and high rates of metastasis, recurrence and death. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as central mediators of TNBC pathophysiology, functioning as key intercellular communication vehicles transporting oncogenic proteins, nucleic acids; lipids, and metabolites. These EV-mediated interactions promote tumor microenvironment (TME) remodeling, immune evasion, metastatic niche formation, and therapeutic resistance. Given their stability, accessibility, and molecular complexity, EVs also represent promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for TNBC. Advances in isolation and molecular profiling technologies have enabled the identification of EV-associated signatures that predict therapeutic response and stratify patient risk. Beyond their utility as biomarkers, EVs are rapidly emerging as therapeutic targets and delivery platforms, demonstrating efficacy in transporting chemotherapeutics, RNA-based therapeutics, immune modulators, and photosensitizers with enhanced targeting specificity and therapeutic efficiency. Collectively, EVs play a multifaceted role in TNBC biology, serving simultaneously as drivers of disease progression, minimally invasive biomarkers, and versatile therapeutic vehicles. The integration of EV-centered diagnostics, multi-omic profiling, and engineered therapeutics holds significant potential to transform TNBC management and advance precision oncology for this challenging breast cancer subtype. Full article

Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is characterized by focal and quantitatively limited spermatogenesis, making preoperative prediction of sperm retrieval difficult. Seminal plasma is a biologically plausible liquid-biopsy compartment because it contains testicular, epididymal and accessory-gland secretions enriched with extracellular vesicles, cell-free nucleic acids, proteins and metabolites. This narrative molecular review examines the mechanisms by which germ-cell-derived molecular cargo reaches the ejaculate and organizes seminal-plasma biomarkers by cargo class and spermatogenic stage. Particular attention is given to extracellular-vesicle non-coding RNAs, cell-free seminal mRNAs, germ-cell-enriched proteins including TEX101 and ECM1, and metabolomic and lipidomic signatures. Although several markers show promising discrimination, most remain discovery-stage, single-center and insufficiently validated. The central argument is that the field should move from isolated biomarker nomination toward locked, stage-mapped multi-analyte panels integrated with clinical and genetic predictors under modern prediction-model standards. Seminal plasma is best viewed not as a ready clinical test, but as a biologically coherent platform for future calibrated, externally validated and artificial-intelligence (AI)-ready sperm-retrieval decision support. Full article

Calcium alginate is an anionic polysaccharide that forms an ionically crosslinked hydrogel network with encapsulation properties to nucleic acids and nutrients for the amelioration of osmotic stress, ion toxicity and nutrient imbalance in saline–alkali soils. Traditional soil reclamation methods, including salt leaching, incorporation of organic matter, and gypsum application, are water-intensive under a changing climate, ultimately necessitating transformative bio-based solutions for food security. Calcium alginate-based biohydrogel represents a versatile platform with a tunable macromolecular architecture, ionic crosslinking via an “egg box” mechanism and potentially promising to deliver engineered co-encapsulated nutrients and genetically modified cargoes. The mannuronic (M) and guluronic (G) acid (M/G) ratios govern ion exchange capacity, rheological behavior and release kinetics in saline- and alkali-stressed environments. Recent studies on alginate-based nutrient encapsulation showed reduced oxidative damage and a 15–50% increase in plant-available water. The irrigation intervals extended from 7 to 14 days and yield gains by 24% in wheat, with comparable improvements in maize, tomato, rice and cotton. Calcium alginate hydrogels encapsulated salt tolerance genes (HKT1, SOS1, AVP1) encoding proteins mainly involved in Na⁺ retrieval from xylem, Na⁺ extrusion from root cells and vacuolar Na⁺ sequestration, which have achieved yield gains of 40 to 75% across wheat, rice and maize. Future research should focus on optimizing mechanical strength, crosslinking chemistry and smart bioencapsulation strategies for sustainable development so that crops are capable of withstanding variable climate stresses. Full article

Human norovirus (HuNoV) is the leading cause of foodborne viral gastroenteritis worldwide, yet its persistence in foods is still commonly interpreted through a simplified framework of contamination and residual survival. Accumulating evidence indicates that HuNoV persistence in food systems may be shaped by dynamic, genotype-dependent interactions with multiple classes of candidate ligands and retention mechanisms associated with hosts, food matrices, and microbiota. This review synthesizes current advances in the molecular basis and ecological consequences of these interactions, with emphasis on canonical and non-canonical glycans, HBGA-like substances, proteinaceous ligands, and bacterial surface or matrix-associated components. Structural, biophysical, and food-model studies collectively suggest that such factors may modulate capsid engagement, tissue retention, bioaccumulation, environmental stability, and, in some experimental systems, infectivity-related outcomes in representative matrices including leafy vegetables, bivalve mollusks, and bacteria-rich food environments. This multi-ligand perspective helps explain the matrix-dependent limitations of conventional washing, depuration, disinfection, and nucleic acid-based detection, as well as the frequent disconnect between measured viral signals and actual transmission risk. By linking molecular recognition to real food scenarios, this review highlights a shift from single-receptor and single-treatment perspectives toward mechanism-informed detection, risk assessment, and intervention strategies. A more integrated understanding of virus-ligand-matrix-microbiota interactions will be essential for improving the prediction and control of HuNoV foodborne transmission. Full article

Cancer remains one of the most complex diseases to study and treat, with tumour microenvironment heterogeneity and therapeutic resistance continuing to limit clinical progress. Biomaterials-based nanoparticles have emerged as versatile platforms that not only advance understanding of cancer biology but also enable innovative therapeutic strategies. As mechanistic tools, nanoparticles can be used to investigate extracellular matrix interactions, mechanotransduction pathways, drug resistance, and tumour–immune crosstalk, providing insights into how physical and biochemical cues influence disease progression. Therapeutically, engineered nanoparticle systems have been developed for the targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics, nucleic acids, and immunomodulatory agents, incorporating features such as stimuli-responsive release, multifunctionality, and theranostic capabilities. Recent advances in patient-derived tumour models, high-throughput screening platforms, and artificial intelligence-assisted design are further driving the development of precision nanomedicine. Despite ongoing challenges related to biodistribution, safety, manufacturing scalability, and regulatory approval, nanoparticle-based biomaterials offer significant opportunities to bridge fundamental cancer research and clinical translation. This review highlights recent mechanistic and therapeutic advances, discusses key translational barriers, and outlines future directions at the interface of biomaterials, nanotechnology, and oncology. Full article