Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2022-09-20"
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- Transcriptome analysis of Immune Response against Streptococcus agalactiae infection in the Nile Tilapia GIFT StrainPublication . Zhou, Tao; Fang, Zhihua; Duarte, Daniel F. C.; Fernandes, Stefan A.; Lu, Ying; Guo, Jing; Gui, Lang; Chen, LiangbiaoStreptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus, GBS), a broad-spectrum pathogen, causes great economic losses in fish aquaculture, especially the industry of tilapia. Until now, the knowledge of the immune response mechanism against S. agalactiae infection in tilapia has been limited. In the present study, the gill transcriptome of the tilapia from the GBS and the phosphate buffered saline (PBS) groups were sequenced. The transcriptomic analysis results presented the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at different time points (DEGs number, 6 h: 2122, 9 h: 1851, 15 h: 1791, and 18 h: 2395) after GBS injection, and significantly enriched immune-related gene ontology (GO) terms such as the innate immune response. The significantly enriched immune pathways included the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, the nucleotide oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor signaling pathway, the cytosolic-DNA sensing pathway, and the intestinal immune network for Immunoglobulin A (IgA) production. Most of the DEGs in Toll-like receptor signaling, NOD-like receptor signaling, and cytosolic-DNA sensing pathways presented upregulations at 18 h, which indicated that the innate immune pathways were activated. Two immune-related pathways (phagosome and cell adhesion molecules) were significantly enriched at all time points, suggesting that these two pathways might also play important roles in the immune response against the GBS infection. The results of HE staining showed that the gills of tilapia were damaged seriously at 9 h post-infection, which might be due to the possibility of pyroptosis resulting from the changes of DEGs in the NODlike receptor signaling pathway. This study provided new insight into the mechanisms of gill damage in fish infected with S. agalactiae.
- A new conceptual framework and approach to decision making in Public PolicyPublication . Banha, Francisco; Flores, Adão; Coelho, LuísIn this conceptual paper, we bring forward a new theoretical proposition in the form of an Integrated Policy-Making Process Framework. This tool arose from the discussion and hypothesis that the main models used to analyse public policies have practical and theoretical limitations and/or are due for an update, especially when it comes to the study of phenomena with many actors involved, vast legislation, large timeframes, and high degrees of complexity. Our original model encompasses the three fundamental stages of the public policy cycle (agenda; decision making; implementation). Our approach can have a wide spectrum of applications and contribute to the field of knowledge of political sciences. Our proposal of using three frameworks in an integrated way enables researchers and users to gain a holistic vision concerning policy processes, and it offers the possibility to compare and rank categories. The Integrated Policy-Making Process Framework is thus proposed as a new tool to tackle research and studies on decision making in public policies and the policy-making cycle.
- Chitosan nanoparticles: a versatile platform for biomedical applicationsPublication . Bashir, Showkeen Muzamil; Ahmed Rather, Gulzar; Patrício, Ana; Haq, Zulfiqar; Sheikh, Amir Amin; Shah, Mohd Zahoor ul Haq; Singh, Hemant; Khan, Azmat Alam; Imtiyaz, Sofi; Ahmad, Sheikh Bilal; Nabi, Showket; Rakhshan, Rabia; Hassan, Saqib; Fonte, PedroChitosan is a biodegradable and biocompatible natural polymer that has been extensively explored in recent decades. The Food and Drug Administration has approved chitosan for wound treatment and nutritional use. Furthermore, chitosan has paved the way for advancements in different biomedical applications including as a nanocarrier and tissue-engineering scaffold. Its antibacterial, antioxidant, and haemostatic properties make it an excellent option for wound dressings. Because of its hydrophilic nature, chitosan is an ideal starting material for biocompatible and biodegradable hydrogels. To suit specific application demands, chitosan can be combined with fillers, such as hydroxyapatite, to modify the mechanical characteristics of pH-sensitive hydrogels. Furthermore, the cationic characteristics of chitosan have made it a popular choice for gene delivery and cancer therapy. Thus, the use of chitosan nanoparticles in developing novel drug delivery systems has received special attention. This review aims to provide an overview of chitosan-based nanoparticles, focusing on their versatile properties and different applications in biomedical sciences and engineering.