Extracellular Vimentin as a Target Against SARS-CoV-2 Host Cell Invasion

Infection of human cells by pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, typically proceeds by cell surface binding to a crucial receptor. The primary receptor for SARS-CoV-2 is the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), yet new studies reveal the importance of additional extracellular co-receptors that mediate binding and host cell invasion by SARS-CoV-2. Vimentin is an intermediate filament protein that is increasingly recognized as being present on the extracellular surface of a subset of cell types, where it can bind to and facilitate pathogens’ cellular uptake. Biophysical and cell infection studies are done to determine whether vimentin might bind SARS-CoV-2 and facilitate its uptake. Dynamic light scattering shows that vimentin binds to pseudovirus coated with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and antibodies against vimentin block in vitro SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus infection of ACE2-expressing cells. The results are consistent with a model in which extracellular vimentin acts as a co-receptor for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with a binding affinity less than that of the spike protein with ACE2. Extracellular vimentin may thus serve as a critical component of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-ACE2 complex in mediating SARS-CoV-2 cell entry, and vimentin-targeting agents may yield new therapeutic strategies for preventing and slowing SARS-CoV-2 infection

Beech understoreys in pine forests as places that partly favour the functioning of forest assemblages of ground beetles (Col. Carabidae) in coniferous forest habitats

This study investigates the effect of the enrichment of Scots pine stands with a common beech understorey on changes in the species composition and selected life traits of an important zooindicator group, such as the ground beetles (Col. Carabidae). The field investigations were carried out in a fresh coniferous forest in the Myszyniec Forest District (N Poland) in stands with (P+) and without (P) beech in the understorey. Each treatment was repeated four times. In each repetition, six pitfalls were installed. The traps were replaced 13 times, every two weeks, from April to October. In total, 4412 specimens classified into 25 species of ground beetles were captured. The tree stands with the beech understorey were observed to contain a significantly higher number of species than the ones with the beech undergrowth. Also, the value of the Shannon index of species diversity (H’) and mean individual biomass (MIB) were significantly higher in the treatment with the beech understorey. Principal Component Analysis showed variations in Carabidae assemblages within the analysed types of forest. Pterostichus oblongopunctatus, Pterostichus aethiops and Pterostichus vernalis were more strongly correlated with the stands without beech understorey. The stands enriched with the beech understorey correlated with the occurrence of large zoophages: Carabus arvensis and Cychrus caraboides, and hemizoophages of the genus Amara. An in−depth ecological characterisation of the captured Carabidae showed that the dominant ground beetles in the investigated forest habitats, in terms of the number of caught individuals and species, belonged to forest zoophagous carabids characterised by moderate requirements for moisture in a habitat, and having the spring type of development. Representatives of large zoophages and species with the autumn type of development, i.e. species associated with later ecological succession stages, were more numerously caught in the pine stands without the beech understorey The study provides evidence that justifies the planting of deciduous undergowth in monoculture coniferous pine tree forests. The presence of an understorey contributes to higher: richness of Carabidae species, values of the MIB and abundance of large forest species presenting the autumn type of development, that is the species, which are characteristic for forest areas representing a highly advanced succession stage

Innovative solution of KSW-800NE longwall shearer as the effect of collaboration between KOMAG and KOPEX

Konsorcjum złożone z Instytutu Techniki Górniczej KOMAG (koordynator projektu), KOPEX Machinery S.A. oraz KOPEX Electric Systems S.A. zrealizowało, w ramach inicjatywy Narodowego Centrum Badań i Rozwoju pod nazwą IniTech, projekt pt.: „Innowacyjne rozwiązania maszyn wydobywczych podnoszące bezpieczeństwo energetyczne kraju” (akronim INERG), w ramach którego opracowano kombajn ścianowy KSW-800NE. W artykule przedstawiono najważniejsze cechy i funkcje kombajnu oraz omówiono wyniki badań stanowiskowych i eksploatacyjnych.Consortium consisting of KOMAG Institute of mining Technology (Coordinator of the project), KOPEX Machinery S.A. and KOPEX Electric Systems S.A. has completed the project entitled "Innovative solutions of mining machines increasing the energy security" (acronym INERG), within IniTech initiatives of the National Centre for Research and Development. KSW-800NE longwall shearer was developed within this project. The most important features and functions of the longwall shearer are presented and the results of stand tests and operational tests are discussed

Peanut-shaped gold nanoparticles with shells of ceragenin csa-131 display the ability to inhibit ovarian cancer growth in vitro and in a tumor xenograft model

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Despite a spectrum of therapeutics available for the treatment of ovarian tumors, there is a constant need to develop novel treatment options, particularly due to a high incidence of drug resistant tumors and low 5-year survival of patients diagnosed with ovarian carcinomas. In this study, we employed a nanotechnology-based approach to present a novel nanosystem based on ceragenin CSA-131 attached to the surface of a peanut-shaped gold nanoparticle. We demonstrate that such a prepared nanoformulation was highly effective against ovarian cancer cells in in vitro settings and, with limited toxicity, was able to prevent the growth of ovarian tumors in treated animals. Based on obtained data we suggest that ceragenin-containing nanosystems should be considered and further tested as potential therapeutics for ovarian malignancy. ABSTRACT: Gold nanoparticles-assisted delivery of antineoplastics into cancerous cells is presented as an effective approach for overcoming the limitations of systemic chemotherapy. Although ceragenins show great potential as anti-cancer agents, in some tumors, effective inhibition of cancer cells proliferation requires application of ceragenins at doses within their hemolytic range. For the purpose of toxicity/efficiency ratio control, peanut-shaped gold nanoparticles (AuP NPs) were functionalized with a shell of ceragenin CSA-131 and the cytotoxicity of AuP@CSA-131 against ovarian cancer SKOV-3 cells and were then analyzed. In vivo efficiency of intravenously and intratumorally administered CSA-131 and AuP@CSA-131 was examined using a xenograft ovarian cancer model. Serum parameters were estimated using ELISA methods. Comparative analysis revealed that AuP@CSA-131 exerted stronger anti-cancer effects than free ceragenin, which was determined by enhanced ability to induce caspase-dependent apoptosis and autophagy processes via reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated pathways. In an animal study, AuP@CSA-131 was characterized by delayed clearance and prolonged blood circulation when compared with free ceragenin, as well as enhanced anti-tumor efficiency, particularly when applied intratumorally. Administration of CSA-131 and AuP@CSA-131 prevented the inflammatory response associated with cancer development. These results present the possibility of employing non-spherical gold nanoparticles as an effective nanoplatform for the delivery of antineoplastics for the treatment of ovarian malignancy