Biological Research最新文献

{"title":"Metabolism dynamics in tropical cockroach during a cold-induced recovery period.","authors":"S Chowański, J Lubawy, E Paluch-Lubawa, M Gołębiowski, H Colinet, M Słocińska","doi":"10.1186/s40659-025-00621-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40659-025-00621-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Insects are poikilothermic organisms, meaning their body heat comes entirely from their surroundings. This influences their metabolism, growth, development, and behavior. Cold tolerance is considered an important factor in determining the geographic distribution of insects. The tropical cockroach Gromphadorhina coquereliana is capable of surviving exposure to cold. To determine the dynamics of metabolic adjustments occurring in the insect body under cold stress, we subjected the cockroach to 4°C for 3 h, followed by recovery periods of 3, 8, and 24 h. We then determined the levels of glycogen, proteins, lipids, amino acids, and carbohydrates. We also measured gene expression and the activity of the main enzymes of metabolic cycles responsible for energy conversion, namely, phosphofructokinase (PFK), hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HADH), and lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH). All these analyses were conducted in different tissues: hemolymph, fat body, and muscle.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our results show that in the fat body, protein degradation and an increase in unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) and cholesterol are observed, which likely allows membranes to maintain their functions. The high levels of lactic acid and LDH expression and activity indicate that anaerobic metabolic pathways are triggered. In the hemolymph, cold stress induces an increase in the levels of cryoprotective substances such as amino acids and sugars, which can also be used as a source of energy. On the other hand, muscle metabolism slows down (LDH, HADH), except for an increase in glucose, which may result from the gluconeogenesis process. During the recovery period, increased activity and expression of LDH, PFK, and HADH, as well as increased levels of UFA, lactic acid, glycerol, and TAG, were observed in fat body tissue, while in the hemolymph, increased levels of cryoprotectants still occurred.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>G. coquereliana shows partial freeze tolerance, combining traits of both freeze-intolerant and freeze-tolerant insects. This adaptation helps it survive brief cold periods and suggests an evolutionary move towards complete freeze tolerance. Although cold stress challenges G. coquereliana in maintaining metabolic homeostasis, these insects exhibit deep biochemical adjustments to cope with adverse environmental stressors such as low temperature.</p>","PeriodicalId":9084,"journal":{"name":"Biological Research","volume":"58 1","pages":"40"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12166600/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144293299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synergistic effect of honeybees and wild floral visitors in promoting sweet cherry fruit set in central Chile.","authors":"Camila B García, Pablo Díaz-Siefer, Cecilia Smith-Ramírez, Fernanda Montero-Silva, Jaime Martínez-Harms, Maureen Murúa, Juan L Celis-Diez","doi":"10.1186/s40659-025-00617-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40659-025-00617-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Recent evidence highlights the key role of wild insects as pollinators in agroecosystems, enhancing fruit set in crops such as sweet cherry (Prunus avium). In Chile, the contribution of wild insects to crop yield remains poorly understood, and most farmers rely on managed Apis mellifera or Bombus terrestris for sweet cherry pollination. Here we evaluate the role of wild and managed floral visitors' taxa in fruit sets of sweet cherry cultivated in Mediterranean-type ecosystems of central Chile.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The contribution of (i) Apis mellifera, (ii) wild insects, and (iii) Bombus terrestris floral visitors were analyzed using a Linear Mixed Model with visitation rate of each group as a fixed factor and a fruit set as a response variable. Orchards were included as a random factor.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We recorded 24 species of floral visitors. Apis mellifera was the most frequent visitor, as the orchards supplemented pollination with beehives, followed by visits from wild insects and B. terrestris. Our results revealed that interaction between honeybees and wild insects significantly promoted higher fruit sets, while no effect of B. terrestris or A. mellifera visits alone was observed.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>We argue that wild insects contribute to the sweet cherry fruit set in the Mediterranean-type ecosystems of Chile, complementing the pollination services provided by A. mellifera. Our study reinforces the evidence about the importance of promoting wild floral visitors' presence to enhance pollination and move toward more sustainable agriculture systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":9084,"journal":{"name":"Biological Research","volume":"58 1","pages":"39"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12160378/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144282365","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Plant long noncoding RNAs: why do we not know more?","authors":"Paulina Kościelniak, Łukasz Walas, Agata Konecka, Włodzimierz Buraczyk, Ewelina A Klupczyńska","doi":"10.1186/s40659-025-00610-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40659-025-00610-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Analysis of plant and animal genomes is essential for understanding their biological function, adaptation, and evolution. Human genomic databases are the most advanced due to extensive research on the genetic basis of disease and personalized medicine. Key resources include GenBank, Ensembl, the 1000 Genomes Project, and GTEx, which provide detailed information on genome sequences, genetic variation, and gene expression in different tissues. Similarly, genomic and transcriptome databases for animals are relatively well-developed, particularly for model organisms such as Mus musculus, Drosophila melanogaster, and Danio rerio. In contrast, plant genomic databases are developing rapidly but remain less comprehensive than those for humans and animals. This discrepancy is primarily due to the high species diversity and complexity of plant genomes, which are often characterized by gene duplication and significant structural variability. Databases such as Phytozome, TAIR (The Arabidopsis Information Resource), Gramene, and Planteome focus mainly on model plants and agriculturally important species. Another crucial factor is the lower funding for plant-related projects, despite the substantial investment required due to the large size and complexity of plant genomes. This disparity is also evident in the study of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which play a key role in the growth and development of organisms. In plants, genome complexity-driven by factors such as considerable length, polyploidy, and epigenetic modifications-poses significant challenges for research. Despite these obstacles, understanding lncRNAs in plants, particularly in forest trees, is of paramount importance. lncRNAs hold great potential for applications in agriculture and forestry, especially in the context of climate change. For example, they could enhance our ability to develop resilient tree species capable of withstanding environmental stressors. To achieve this, a comprehensive understanding of lncRNA functions at the molecular and biological levels, as well as the development of robust and complete databases, is urgently needed. In the near future, computational analyses are expected to play a key role in overcoming these challenges. In this article, we review the current state of knowledge about lncRNAs in plants, highlight the obstacles to their study, and explore how advances in this field could revolutionize agriculture and forestry. By focusing on the unique challenges and opportunities presented by forest trees, we emphasize the crucial role of lncRNA research in addressing global environmental challenges.</p>","PeriodicalId":9084,"journal":{"name":"Biological Research","volume":"58 1","pages":"37"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12150486/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144257317","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Immunoinflammatory evidence of rheumatoid arthritis caused by COVID-19.","authors":"Zhiqiang Shao, Dan Xia, Liang Zhou, Zonghan Xu, Jiaqian Wang","doi":"10.1186/s40659-025-00620-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40659-025-00620-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The relationship between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains uncertain. We aimed to assess the association between COVID-19 and RA through immune inflammation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>First, we conducted a meta-analysis on the risk of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization rate, and mortality rate for patients with RA. Then, Mendelian randomization (MR) was used to evaluate the causal relationship between COVID-19 and RA, and further analyzed the cytokines and immune cells in COVID-19 and RA. Finally, we obtained microarray datasets of COVID-19, RA patients, and normal controls from the GEO database. And performed functional, pathway enrichment, and immune cell infiltration analysis on differentially expressed genes between each group.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The meta-analysis results suggested that the hospitalization rate and mortality rate of RA patients infected with COVID-19 were higher than those of the control population. MR analysis showed a positive correlation between COVID-19 infection and RA. We also found that interleukin 13 was associated with RA and COVID-19 infection. CD27 on IgD + CD24 + B cells and CD3 on CD39 + CD8 + T cells are common immune cell phenotypes in two diseases. In addition, COVID-19 function is enriched in immune responses mediated by leukocytes and neutrophils, while RA is significantly enriched in the proliferation of T and B lymphocytes. The results of immune cell infiltration showed that both diseases had more neutrophils and fewer CD8 T cells.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There are many similarities between COVID-19 and RA in immune inflammatory responses such as cytokines and immune cells. COVID-19 may lead to the development of RA through immune inflammation.</p>","PeriodicalId":9084,"journal":{"name":"Biological Research","volume":"58 1","pages":"38"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12150480/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144265243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Alternative strategies based on transgenic Drosophila melanogaster for the functional characterization of insect Ionotropic Receptors.","authors":"Cristina M Crava, William B Walker, Alberto Maria Cattaneo","doi":"10.1186/s40659-025-00619-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40659-025-00619-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Insect Ionotropic Receptors (IRs) are a relatively uncharted territory. Some studies have documented IR activation by recording neuronal activity in situ, others by their heterologous expression in Xenopus oocytes or mis-expressing IRs from Drosophila melanogaster or from the related D. sechellia into the D. melanogaster \"ionotropic receptor decoder\" neuron, which lacks the endogenous tuning receptor subunit but expresses IR-coreceptors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In this study, we first made use of Drosophila olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) different from the \"ionotropic receptor decoder\", demonstrating that by replacing or introducing IRs alongside the native D. melanogaster ones, functional heteromeric complexes can be formed. IR41a1 from the lepidopteran Cydia pomonella exhibits binding to polyamines and the IR75d from the dipteran Drosophila suzukii binds hexanoic acid. Secondly, expressing D. suzukii's putative acid sensor IR64a into the \"ionotropic receptor decoder\" of D. melanogaster inhibits the response to the main activators of neighboring neurons from the same sensillum, despite that IR64a does not respond to acids. In situ hybridization on the antennae of D. suzukii unveils wide expression of IR64a in neurons proximal to the sacculus. Structural modeling analysis does not explain its absence of binding to acids; conversely, this approach identifies key amino acids features explaining the binding of hexanoic acid by IR75d. Finally, we have also explored alternative methods to heterologously express IRs based on Human Embryonic Kidney cells (HEK293). Despite observing correct expression of IRs in transfected cells through immunohistochemistry experiments, this approach did not achieve successful deorphanization of these receptors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings highlight the potential use of Drosophila OSNs as a valuable tool for functional characterization of IRs from different insect species: for the first time, we have provided evidence of IR-functionalities within alternative OSNs from the Drosophila's \"ionotropic receptor decoder\" neuron to functionally characterize and deorphanize IRs from lineages that are evolutionarily distant from the D. melanogaster subgroup, contributing to the understanding of chemosensory modalities in D. suzukii and C. pomonella, two globally significant agricultural pests. Additionally, the unsuccessful deorphanization in HEK cells highlights the complex requirements for IR functionality, supporting the use of Drosophila OSNs as a more suitable expression system.</p>","PeriodicalId":9084,"journal":{"name":"Biological Research","volume":"58 1","pages":"36"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12147327/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144257316","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Detection of KPC-producing Enterobacterales species in wastewater samples from the Gran Concepción Metropolitan area, Chile.","authors":"Franco Ilabaca-Carrasco, Carlos Peña-Raddatz, Claudia Torres-Bustos, Mauricio Hernández-Cea, Guillermo Nourdin-Galindo, Pablo Saldivia-Flandez, Cristian Vargas, Elard Koch, Helia Bello-Toledo, Gerardo González-Rocha, Andrés Opazo-Capurro","doi":"10.1186/s40659-025-00612-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40659-025-00612-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Carbapenemase-mediated resistance to carbapenems is a significant public health concern due to its potential for widespread dissemination. The KPC family of carbapenemases, encoded by the bla_KPC gene and often associated with Tn4401-like transposons, is particularly important for its ability to be transferred through diverse plasmid types. In Chile, KPC-producing Gram-negative bacteria have been detected in clinical settings; however, their occurrence in wastewater (WW) remains unknown. This study addresses this gap by characterizing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales isolates from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in the Gran Concepción Metropolitan Area, Chile.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This study identifies three carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales isolates, namely Klebsiella pasteurii M2/A/C/34, Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae M3/A/M/3, and Citrobacter freundii sensu stricto. M4/A/C/32, all exhibiting multidrug-resistant profiles and carrying the bla_KPC-2 gene encoding KPC-like carbapenemases. These isolates also possessed genes for extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes (AMEs). Sequence typing revealed that M2/A/C/34, M3/A/M/3, and M4/A/C/32 belonged to novel sequence types, specifically ST470, ST273, and ST214, respectively. All isolates carried plasmids belonging to groups commonly associated with ARGs, including IncF, IncP, and IncA. Both Klebsiella isolates (M2/A/C/34 and M3/A/M/3) carried the class 1 integron (intl1) gene. Phylogenomic analysis reveals that M2/A/C/34 is related to strains from China and Pakistan, while M3/A/M/3 shares similarities with a strain from Germany, indicating their potential dissemination.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study represents the first detection of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales carrying bla_KPC-2 in Chilean WW, including the novel identification of K. pasteurii. These findings emphasize the critical role of genomic surveillance in WW under the One Health framework, enabling the monitoring of carbapenemase-producing bacteria and associated ARGs. Sustained surveillance efforts are essential to comprehend the dynamics of antibiotic resistance in environmental reservoirs and to develop strategies for its containment and mitigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":9084,"journal":{"name":"Biological Research","volume":"58 1","pages":"35"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12144836/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144246389","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Knockout of bcas3 gene causes neurodevelopment defects in zebrafish.","authors":"Huihui Liu, Nianyi Sun, Zhenxing Liu, Jinze Li, Xianqin Zhang","doi":"10.1186/s40659-025-00615-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40659-025-00615-4","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9084,"journal":{"name":"Biological Research","volume":"58 1","pages":"34"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12142951/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144246390","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Harnessing genetic diversity in wheat to enhance grain nutrition and yield for biofortification breeding.","authors":"Sadia Hakeem, Zulfiqar Ali, Muhammad Abu Bakar Saddique, Muhammad Habib-Ur-Rahman, Martin Wiehle","doi":"10.1186/s40659-025-00606-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40659-025-00606-5","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) deficiencies affect more than two billion people globally. Moreover, phytic acid (PA), an essential phosphorus storage molecule, acts at the same time as an inhibitor of Fe and Zn, forming insoluble complexes; thus, there is a need for balanced compositions of these three substances. Biofortification breeding in staple food crops to combat malnutrition is a straightforward approach. However, evaluating the genetic diversity of the gene pool and the trade-offs between grain nutrients and morphophysiological and yield traits is important. Grain colour is influenced by nutrient composition, including that of minerals such as iron. Therefore, diverse germplasms of 813 genotypes, including Triticum aestivum, Triticum durum, and Triticosecale, were screened for grain colour. A core collection of 26 genotypes was evaluated for the micronutrient concentration over two growing seasons. Further, five contrasting genotypes were chosen to estimate the bioavailability of Fe and Zn.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;High diversity of grain Fe (31-54 mg kg&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;) and Zn (15-38 mg kg&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;) was found among the genotypes. High heritability estimates (&gt; 80%) and genetic advance as a percentage of the mean (GAM; &gt; 20) for quality traits indicated strong genetic control supported by a strong positive correlation between grain colour and micronutrients. For morphophysiological and yield traits, moderate heritability and GAM indicated that genotypic and environmental factors contributed to the inheritance of these traits. Overall, the Fe and Zn concentrations and their bio-availabilities were highest for bread wheat (34-52 mg kg&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; Fe, 25-37 mg kg&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; Zn, 5 PA:Fe and 7 PA:Zn molar ratios), followed by Triticosecale (44-46 mg kg&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;, 27-30 mg kg&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; Zn, 6 PA:Fe and 9 PA:Zn molar ratios) and durum wheat (36-48 mg kg&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; Fe, 24-31 mg kg&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; Zn, 8 PA:Fe and 13 PA:Zn molar ratios).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;The desirable genotypes (E-1 coded as TA87, for example) with characteristics of amber/yellow grain colour, high grain yield (5020 kg ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;), Fe (51 mg kg&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;), Zn (37 mg kg&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;) and low PA:Fe and Zn ratios (5.3 and 7.4, respectively) should be selected for future breeding programs. The study paves the way to simplify the biofortification breeding efforts by identifying (i) grain colour as a potential morphological marker for Fe, (ii) enhanced bioavailability in bread wheat compared to durum and triticale, (iii) mineral concentration and yield can be improved simultaneously to combat malnutrition without yield penalty. However, the association of grain nutrients and colour should be evaluated in diverse environments to assess stability and heritability of the marker trait as well as nutrients. This information will aid in the selection of suitable breeding approaches for biofortification and yield enhancement fo","PeriodicalId":9084,"journal":{"name":"Biological Research","volume":"58 1","pages":"33"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12135563/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144214902","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Graphene nanoplatelets enhance neuronal differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.","authors":"Gulsah Sevimli, Eda Kus, Gulin Baran, Mahya Marashian, Nasrollah Tabatabaei, Nur Mustafaoglu","doi":"10.1186/s40659-025-00616-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40659-025-00616-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Stem cell technology plays a key role in advancing the understanding of neurological treatments and developing disease models that mimic human conditions. Differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) into neurons shows promise for treating neurodegenerative diseases. However, improving the functionality of these nerve cells remains a challenge. Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), with their excellent conductivity and biocompatibility, can enhance neuronal differentiation. This study examines the effect of GNPs on hBMSC differentiation. Cells cultured with varying GNP concentrations were assessed at 4 and 7 days using RT-qPCR and immunocytochemistry for neuronal markers MAP2, Nestin, and Tuj1. Results show that GNPs enhance marker expression and promote differentiation. Lower GNP concentrations maintained viability, while higher concentrations were detrimental. Morphological changes and increased fluorescence were observed with a 0.4 µg/ml GNP coating. Calcium imaging with Fluo4-AM indicated increased neuronal activity, underscoring GNPs' role in neuronal maturation. These findings suggest GNPs can drive stem cell differentiation toward neurons, offering new therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":9084,"journal":{"name":"Biological Research","volume":"58 1","pages":"32"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12123866/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144186547","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correction: Small extracellular vesicles enhance the survival of Sca-1+ cardiac stem cells against ROS-induced ischemic-reoxygenation injury in vitro.","authors":"Radwa A Mehanna, Hagar Elkafrawy, Marwa M Essawy, Samar S Ibrahim, Ashraf K Awaad, Nehal A Khalil, Marwa A Kholief, Abeer Sallam, Heba A Hamed, Mona A Barkat, Mohamed F ElKady, Eman H Thabet","doi":"10.1186/s40659-025-00611-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40659-025-00611-8","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9084,"journal":{"name":"Biological Research","volume":"58 1","pages":"31"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12121023/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144181140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}