Biophotonics computer app: fostering multidisciplinary distance self-paced learning with a user-friendly interface

The biophotonics app enables multidisciplinary and self-paced learning in both in-person or virtual environments. The app can work offline and has a user-friendly interface well accepted by students. App instructions are publicly available

Biophotonics box: educational kit for multidisciplinary outreach activities in optics and photonics

The biophotonics box enables multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary and self-paced learning with at-home experiments using low-resource components. Experiments can increase the interest of students in STEM subjects by emphasizing the real-life applications in biology and medicine

Online learning combining virtual lectures, at-home experiments and computer simulations: a multidisciplinary teaching and learning approach

We developed a fully-remote biophotonics workshop integrating webinars, computer simulations and at-home experiments to meet the needs of undergraduate students with diverse backgrounds and learning styles. Similar strategies/resources could be used in multidisciplinary programs

Epigenetic mechanisms of breast cancer prevention by the Type II diabetes mellitus agent metformin

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK. Long-term use of metformin, a drug used to treat Type II Diabetes Mellitus, has been linked to a reduced risk of breast cancer in diabetic patients. This study aims to elucidate the mechanisms by which metformin acts as a potential breast cancer preventative agent in non-cancerous breast epithelial cells. Two models of normal breast epithelial cells were used; MCF12A and MCF10A non-cancerous breast epithelial cells lines, treated with 0mM, 2.5mM and 5mM metformin for 3-days in a range of metabolite levels (glucose, acetate, insulin and L-glutamine). Results were validated by primary normal matched breast epithelial and myoepithelial cells obtained from Breast Cancer Now Tissue Bank, treated with 1.5mM and 1mM metformin, respectively, for 7-days. RNA-sequencing and RT-qPCR, Illumina MethylationEPIC array and pyrosequencing, crystal violet, western blot and HILIC-MS were used to assess the mechanisms of metformin response in normal breast epithelial and myoepithelial cells. This study demonstrates sensitivity of normal breast epithelial cells to metformin (IC50 3mM-4mM), and low glucose (5mM) significantly modifies sensitivity to metformin (IC50 1mM-2mM). Gene expression is significantly altered in response to metformin, where 367 genes in MCF12A and 3 genes in MCF10A showed FDR<0.05. Overall, 7/8 selected gens were validated by RT-qPCR. Metformin subtly altered DNA methylation levels in a dose dependent manner. In addition, metformin appears to alter the expression of key methionine pathway genes. Metformin increases p-AMPK levels and decreases H3K27ac histone modification (0.5-fold, p=0.035). This is modified by glucose or acetate levels. However, effects of metformin appear to return to baseline following 24-hours. It is estimated that 23% of breast cancer cases could be prevented. This study highlights potential pathways metformin interacts with in normal breast epithelial cells.Open Acces