Nanoparticles - plant interaction : what we know, where we are? Author:

In recent years; the interaction of nanoparticles (NPs) with plants has been intensively studied. Therefore, more and more aspects related to both the positive and negative impact of NP on plants are well described. This article focuses on two aspects of NP interaction with plants. The first is a summary of the current knowledge on NP migration through the roots into the plant body, in particular, the role of the cell wall. The second aspect summarizes the current knowledge of the participation of the symplast, including the plasmodesmata (PD), in the movement of NP within the plant body. We highlight the gaps in our knowledge of the plant–NP interactions; paying attention to the need for future studies to explain the mechanisms that regulate the composition of the cell wall and the functioning of the PD under the influence of NP

Two in one: use of divalent manganese ions as both cross-linking and MRI contrast agent for intrathecal injection of hydrogel-embedded stem cells

Cell therapy is a promising tool for treating central nervous system (CNS) disorders; though, the translational efforts are plagued by ineffective delivery methods. Due to the large contact surface with CNS and relatively easy access, the intrathecal route of administration is attractive in extensive or global diseases such as stroke or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, the precision and efficacy of this approach are still a challenge. Hydrogels were introduced to minimize cell sedimentation and improve cell viability. At the same time, contrast agents were integrated to allow image-guided injection. Here, we report using manganese ions (Mn2+) as a dual agent for cross-linking alginate-based hydrogels and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We performed in vitro studies to test the Mn2+ alginate hydrogel formulations for biocompatibility, injectability, MRI signal retention time, and effect on cell viability. The selected formulation was injected intrathecally into pigs under MRI control. The biocompatibility test showed a lack of immune response, and cells suspended in the hydrogel showed greater viability than monolayer culture. Moreover, Mn2+-labeled hydrogel produced a strong T1 MRI signal, which enabled MRI-guided procedure. We confirmed the utility of Mn2+ alginate hydrogel as a carrier for cells in large animals and a contrast agent at the same time.This research was funded by The National Centre for Research and Development, grant number 12/EuroNanoMed/2016

Inhibition of carotenoid biosynthesis by CRISPR/Cas9triggers cell wall remodelling in carrot

Recent data indicate that modifications to carotenoid biosynthesis pathway in plants alter the expression of genes affecting chemical composition of the cell wall. Phytoene synthase (PSY) is a rate limiting factor of carotenoid biosynthesis and it may exhibit species-specific and organ-specific roles determined by the presence of psy paralogous genes, the importance of which often remains unrevealed. Thus, the aim of this work was to elaborate the roles of two psy paralogs in a model system and to reveal biochemical changes in the cell wall of psy knockout mutants. For this purpose, Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR associated (Cas9) proteins (CRISPR/Cas9) vectors were introduced to carotenoid-rich carrot (Daucus carota) callus cells in order to induce mutations in the psy1 and psy2 genes. Gene sequencing, expression analysis, and carotenoid content analysis revealed that the psy2 gene is critical for carotenoid biosynthesis in this model and its knockout blocks carotenogenesis. The psy2 knockout also decreased the expression of the psy1 paralog. Immunohistochemical staining of the psy2 mutant cells showed altered composition of arabinogalactan proteins, pectins, and extensins in the mutant cell walls. In particular, low-methylesterified pectins were abundantly present in the cell walls of carotenoidrich callus in contrast to the carotenoid-free psy2 mutant. Transmission electron microscopy revealed altered plastid transition to amyloplasts instead of chromoplasts. The results demonstrate for the first time that the inhibited biosynthesis of carotenoids triggers the cell wall remodelling

The Impact of Gold Nanoparticles on Somatic Embryogenesis Using the Example of <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>

Although the influence of nanoparticles (NPs) on developmental processes is better understood, little is known about their impact on somatic embryogenesis (SE). This process involves changes in the direction of cell differentiation. Thus, studying the effect of NPs on SE is essential to reveal their impact on cell fate. This study aimed to examine the influence of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) with different surface charges on the SE of 35S:BBM Arabidopsis thaliana, with particular emphasis on the spatiotemporal localization of pectic arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) and extensin epitopes in cells changing the direction of their differentiation. The results show that under the influence of nanoparticles, the explant cells of 35S:BBM Arabidopsis thaliana seedling origin did not enter the path of SE. Bulges and the formation of organ-like structures were observed in these explants, in contrast to the control, where somatic embryos developed. Additionally, spatiotemporal changes in the chemical composition of the cell walls during the culture were observed. Under the influence of Au NPs, the following effects were observed: (1) explant cells did not enter the SE pathway, (2) the impacts of Au NPs with different surface charges on the explants were variable, and (3) the compositions of the analyzed pectic AGPs and extensin epitopes were diverse in the cells with different developmental programs: SE (control) and non-SE (treated with Au NPs)

MRI-guided intracerebral convection-enhanced injection of gliotoxins to induce focal demyelination in swine.

Demyelinating disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or transverse myelitis are devastating neurological conditions with no effective cure. Prevention of myelin loss or restoration of myelin are key for successful therapy. To investigate the disease and develop cures animal models with good clinical relevance are essential. The goal of the current study was to establish a model of focal demyelination in the brain of domestic pig using MRI-guided gliotoxin delivery. The rationale for developing a new myelin disease model in the domestic pig was based on the fact that the brain in pigs is anatomically and histologically much more similar to that of humans compared to the rodent brain. For MRI-assisted gliotoxin injection, eight 30 kg pigs were subjected to treatment with lysolecithin (20, 30 mg/ml); or with ethidium bromide (0.0125, 0.05, 0.2 mg/ml). Animals were placed in an MRI scanner for intraparenchymal targeting of gliotoxin into the corona radiata (250 μl over 1h), with real-time monitoring of toxin distribution on T1 scans and monitoring of lesion evolution over seven days using both T1 and T2 scans. After the last MRI, animals were transcardially perfused and brains were processed for histological and immunofluorescent analysis. Gadolinium-enhanced T1 MRI during injection demonstrated biodistribution of the contrast (as a surrogate marker for toxin distribution) and its diffusion through the brain parenchyma. Lesion induction was confirmed on T2-weighted MRI and histopathology, thus enabling the establishment of optimal doses of gliotoxins. To conclude, MRI-guided focal demyelination in swine is accurate and provides real-time confirmation of gliotoxin, thus facilitating placement of focal lesions with high precision. This new model of focal demyelination can be used for further investigation and development of novel therapeutic approaches

Otwieranie Nauki: Praktyka i Perspektywy - Wartość Open Science, Łódź, 10-11 października 2023. Materiały z Seminarium

Materiały z Seminarium „Otwieranie Nauki: Praktyka i Perspektywy”: prezentacje prelegentów oraz fotorelacje. Udostępniono te materiały, których autorzy nie wyrazili sprzeciwu.VII Seminarium z cyklu „Otwieranie Nauki: Praktyka i Perspektywy” odbyło się w tym roku pod hasłem „Wartość Open Science”. Wydarzenie współorganizowały z firmą Elsevier trzy łódzkie biblioteki akademickie: Centrum Informacyjno-Biblioteczne Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Łodzi, Biblioteka Politechniki Łódzkiej i Biblioteka Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego, co zapewniło uczestnikom nie tylko różnorodność przestrzeni, ale przede wszystkim wielość perspektyw. Tegoroczny program dostarczył jak zwykle praktycznych wskazówek i materiałów edukacyjnych dla środowiska naukowego i wszystkich zainteresowanych Otwartą Nauką w wielu jej wymiarach, a także pozwolił spojrzeć na istotne kwestie związane z publikowaniem, zarządzaniem danymi badawczymi i współpracą ze środowiskami pozanaukowymi z punktu widzenia uczelni o profilu ogólnym, technicznym i medycznym. Obradom i dyskusjom towarzyszyły warsztaty prowadzone przez liderów i praktyków Open Science. Partnerzy wydarzenia: EC1 Łódź - Miasto Kultury, FUMED, PCG Academia, Fundacja Rozwoju Systemu Edukacji. Program wydarzenia: https://onpp.p.lodz.pl/PREZENTACJE: Agnieszka Adamiec — Instytucjonalne polityki otwartości i ich wpływ; Agnieszka Wasilewska — Czy sztuczna inteligencja zastąpi Data Stewardów?; Barbara Grzelczak — Jak otwieramy naukę na UEW?; Charlotte Wien — Re-Connecting the dots; Dominika Czyżak — Ambasadorzy otwartej nauki w Uniwersytecie Mikołaja Kopernika: realizacja pilotażowego programu projektu YUFERING; Ewa Gruszewska — Otwartość nauki z perspektywy badacza; Grzegorz Szczypa — Gdzie kończą się działania pozorowane a zaczyna prawdziwa polityka otwartego dostępu; Joanna Błasiok — Otwarte czy zamknięte? Przypadek polskich czasopism z bibliotekoznawstwa i informacji naukowej; Joanna Brońka — Skuteczne praktyki pracy z autorem; Justyna Zawada — Zarządzanie danymi na Polskiej Platformie Medycznej; Kamila Perlik — Biblioteka Uniwersytecka w Toruniu uczestnikiem projektu EODOPEN: doświadczenia upowszechniania otwartego dostępu do zbiorów; Katarzyna Patyrak, Bartłomiej Więckowski — Potencjał otwartych danych badawczych; Kinga Kamińska — Czy nauka może być otwarta dla wszystkich; Maciej Bisaga — Zmieniając krajobraz nauki: implementacja polityki otwartego dostępu na Uniwersytecie Śląskim; Maciej Maryl — OPERAS-PL innowacja, dostęp i współpraca dla otwartych nauk społecznych i humanistycznych; Małgorzata Bańkowska — Bariery w rejestracji dorobku naukowego; Marek Niezgódka — Infrastruktury Otwartej Nauki czasu transformacji systemu akademickiego; Maria Kuczkowska — Oddajcie mi moje dane: Czyli między teorią a praktyką otwierania danych; Paulina Milewska, Tomasz Psonka — Teraźniejszość i przyszłość Open Access w Polsce; Renata Frączek — Open Access w Bibliotece Politechniki Śląskiej; Zbigniew Ruszczyk — README or not README: that is the question