Procter & Gamble (United Kingdom)
Digital Repository of Archived Publications - Institute for Biological Research Sinisa Stankovic (RADaR)Not a member yet
7316 research outputs found
Sort by
Milestone for the ENLIGHT project: Dataset on metabolic activity in larvae and juveniles
No full textThis data set is a milestone of the WP2 work package of the Development under artificial light at night. Biological impact of light pollution on amphibians (ENLIGHT) project number #11120 financed by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia. Data set contains measurements of metabolic rates in larvae and juveniles of Triturus ivanbureschi exposed to artificial light at night
Anticancer activity promoted by ligand diversity in diiron thiocarbyne complexes
No full textMononuclear iron (II) complexes have been intensively investigated with the aim of developing efficacious
anticancer drugs that can overcome the serious limitations associated with the platinum complexes currently
employed in chemotherapy. Combining a promising antitumor potential with appropriate physicochemical
properties, such as aqueous stability and a balanced hydrophilic/lipophilic character, is essential for clinical
progression. We prepared six highly functionalized diiron(I) complexes from the μ-thiocarbyne precursor
[Fe2Cp2(CO)2(μ-CO)(μ-CSMe)]CF3SO3, 1 (Cp = η5-C5H5), through the substitution of one carbonyl ligand with
isocyanides (2–4) and the subsequent substitution of a second CO with N- or P-ligands (5–7). All products 2–7
were structurally characterized using IR and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. One compound from series (7) was
also characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 2–7 exhibit outstanding stability in
physiological-like solutions, with 92–97 % of the compounds unchanged after storing in DMEM at 37 ◦C for 24 h,
and substantial amphiphilicity, with most of Log Pow values falling in the range -1 to +1. Complexes 3, 4, 5 and
7 exhibited cytotoxic activity against human (HCT 116, MCF-7, A2780) and murine (CT26, 4T1, B16–F1,
B16–F10) cancer cell lines with IC50 values up to the nanomolar range, along with moderate selectivity toward
the malignant phenotype. The induction of cell differentiation, senescence, and apoptotic cell death with cellspecific
redox response were in the background of cytotoxic activity. However, limited tumor volume reduction
and observed systemic toxicity in vivo indicated the need for additional structure-activity relationship studies
to optimize the compounds anticancer profile
Examining Nrf2-driven metabolic crosstalk between cancer cells and associated adipose tissue in orthotopic breast cancer model
No full textMetabolic symbiosis between cancer cells and cancer-associated adipose tissue (CAAT) as a principal component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in breast cancer plays a key role in shaping a tumor-promoting microenvironment. Recent studies have demonstrated the role of lactate as an important mediator in this crosstalk. Dysregulation of pH due to lactate overproduction and tumor hypoxia leads to TME acidification, a hallmark feature of cancer progression. Extracellular acidosis promotes tumor migration, invasion, metastasis, and protumoral cell reprogramming within the TME. Still, the role of Nrf2 in this process as one of the critical regulators of their metabolic coupling has not been elucidated yet. To this end, we employed an orthotopic breast cancer model using WT and Nrf2KO mice to asses how the lack of functional Nrf2 in the TME influences tumor-induced acidification in breast cancer. We analyzed the protein levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoforms A and B, monocarboxylate transporter MCT4, and carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA9) in breast cancer tissue and CAAT. In CAAT, LDHB protein levels decreased with tumor growth, with earlier reductions observed in WT mice, while LDHA protein levels only decreased in WT mice. What is more, Nrf2KO mice displayed significantly higher LDHA and lower LDHB protein levels in CAAT compared to their WT counterparts. In cancer tissue, LDHA and LDHB protein levels were initially elevated in Nrf2KO mice compared to WT mice. While LDHA protein levels stabilized with tumor growth, LDHB protein levels declined in both mice but remained significantly higher in Nrf2KO mice. Moreover, MCT4 protein levels increased with tumor growth only in CAAT of Nrf2KO mice, while cancer tissue showed an increase in both WT and Nrf2KO mice, with earlier upregulation in Nrf2KO mice. Additionally, CA9 protein levels significantly increased with tumor growth in cancer tissue of both mice. These findings suggest that targeting pH regulatory pathways, particularly through Nrf2 modulation in CAAT, orers a promising therapeutic strategy for breast cancer.Conference proceedings: EMBO Workshop on Energy Balance in Metabolic Diseases; 2025 Feb 10-13; Torremolinos, Spain. Heidelberg, Germany: EMBO; 2025. p. 84-5
Amelioration of Central Nervous System Autoimmunity Through FFAR2 Agonism Is Associated With Changes in Gut Microbiota
No full textPurpose: The intestinal immune compartment is increasingly recognized as an important player in central nervous system (CNS)
autoimmunity. We have recently reported that oral administration of the free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFAR2) agonist Cpd1 in
the inductive phase of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in rats ameliorates the disease by stimulating the
regulatory immune response in the intestine.
Method: Here, the effects of Cpd1 on the gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) composition were investigated in the
same experimental system.
Finding: Increased levels of the phylum Proteobacteria, the class Gammaproteobacteria, the orders Burkholderiales and
Erysipelotrichales, the families Sutterellaceae and Erysipelotrichaceae, and the genera Parasutterella and Faecalibaculum were
observed in agonist-treated rats. The genera Allobaculum and Ileibacterium were only detected in the agonist-treated group. The
treatment led to changes in the functional profile of the gut microbiota both in the KEGG orthologous pathways and in the clusters
of orthologous genes. In addition, an altered profile of intestinal SCFA content was observed in the agonist-treated group.
Conclusion: The effects of Cpd1 on the gut microbiota and SCFA composition are relevant to the observed treatment benefit of
FFAR2 agonism in the EAE model during the inductive phase of the disease
Male Rat Model of Chemical Androgen Deprivation and Estrogenization from the Perspective of Anthropometric, Histological, and Biochemical Parameters
No full textBackground and Objectives: Chemical androgen deprivation and estrogenization are essential components of clinical treatment for advanced prostate cancer and male-to-female sex transition. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of these therapies on anthropometric parameters, liver histology, and biochemical parameters, with the goal of establishing experimental models that accurately represent current clinical practice. Materials and Methods: Young adult Wistar rats were divided into nine groups: intact control (IC), control vehicle (CV), cyproterone acetate-treated (CA), flutamide-treated (F), control sesame oil (CO), estradiol valerate-treated (E), combined control (CC), flutamide + estradiol valerate (F + E), and cyproterone acetate + estradiol valerate (CA + E)-treated groups. Treatments were administered by subcutaneous injection for four weeks. Results: The administration of estradiol valerate, alone or combined with antiandrogens, reduced final body mass and white adipose tissue mass. Notable changes were observed in absolute and relative pituitary, liver, prostate, and testis mass in the E, F + E and CA + E groups. There were no significant changes in liver histology or glycogen deposition; however, the combined treatment groups showed an increased volume density of binucleated hepatocytes and fibrotic tissue. Regarding biochemical parameters, androgen deprivation and/or estrogenization caused marked changes in serum triglyceride, LDL (low-density lipoproteins), ALP (alkaline phosphatase), AST (aspartate aminotransferase), ALT (alanine aminotransferase), Bil-T (bilirubin), creatinine, and urea levels. Conclusions: Given the importance of these therapies in clinical practice, providing a model based on the evaluated parameters offers a solid platform for future research
The Protective Effect of a Novel H2 s Donor Cys-S3 Against Liver Injury in Diabetic Mice Includes an Antiferroptotic Effect
No full textFerroptosis, a form of regulated cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, is
involved in the development/progression of liver disease associated with diabetes. Although studies
suggest that H2S protects cells from ferroptosis, it is unclear whether targeting ferroptosis through H2S
signaling pathways could ameliorate diabetic liver injury. Therefore, T1D was induced with streptozotocin,
and mice were treated with: GYY4137, the most studied slow-release H2S donor, the polysulfide donor
Na2S4, and the in situ persulfide donor Cys-S3, or with liproxstatin-1 (Lip-1), an established ferroptosis
inhibitor, for four weeks two months after the onset of T1D. H2S/RSS donors were found to improve
biochemical parameters of glucose homeostasis, liver injury (ALT, AST) and histological indices (liver
f
ibrosis, hepatocyte size, binucleation). The increased lipid peroxidation caused by diabetes (indicated
by the increased 4-HNE positivity and iron accumulation) was reduced by treatment with H2S/RSS
donors. Decreased activation of Nrf2, GSH-related antioxidant defence parameters (GPX4, GCLC, GSS)
and expression of iron sequestering proteins (ferritin, ferroportin) were improved/increased by H2S/
RSS donors. In parallel, Lip-1 significantly attenuated the liver injury caused by diabetes. Overall, H2S/
RSS donors, especially Cys-S3, exert a beneficial effect in the treatment of liver pathology caused by
diabetes and have both antidiabetic and antiferroptotic effects.Proceedings of International Conference 2025 : Hybrid event; 2025 Sep 17-18; Vienna, Austria. International Society for applied research (ISAR); 2025. p. 28-9
The role of fermented foods in managing food allergies in children and adults: a systematic review
No full textIntroduction: Fermented foods are among the oldest foods produced, and
several different health benefits are attributed to their consumption even in the
absence of concrete clinical evidence. To address this gap, this systematic review
focuses on the effects of the consumption of fermented foods on food allergies. Methods: This systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and the relevant European Food Safety Authority guidelines. A systematic search strategy was established and registered in a study protocol in Open Science Framework. Scopus, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library were searched with specific strings targeting human studies focusing on Fermented food and food allergies. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were defined based on the People Intervention Comparison Outcome elements. The Cadima tool was used to perform screening and selection of articles. A standard template was used for data extraction. Risk of bias assessment was performed using the Risk of Bias 2.0 Tool, Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies - of Interventions, or Newcastle–Ottawa Scale protocols. Additionally, a narrative section was written based on the European Food Safety Authority guidelines for the mechanism of action and product characteristics for evidence support.Results: From a total of 558 initial records, 10 studies were finally selected. Fermented foods evaluated were fermented soy products, baked goods, fruit-based beverages, vinegar-treated foods, oat-based drinks, and dairy products (yogurt, cheese). In several studies, a reduced allergenicity was reported that was related to fermentation-mediated hydrolysis of allergenic proteins of gluten or soy. Additional mechanisms were related to anti-allergic immunomodulatory effects or favorable shifts in gut microbiota composition. In one case, fermented food consumption led to aggravation of the allergic response, presumably due to the compounds generated during soy fermentation. Risk of bias assessment revealed that most studies were performed with important methodological limitations. Conclusion: While fermented foods hold promise in reducing food allergenicity and promoting tolerance, current evidence is limited to draw solid conclusions. Rigorous, well-designed human clinical trials, complemented by mechanistic studies in vitro and in vivo, are needed to clarify the role of fermented foods as dietary or even clinical tools to combat food allergies
Influence of Plasma Activated Water (PAW) chemistry on physiology of plant calli and on bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics
No full textWe present the effects of Plasma Activated Water (PAW) on plant cells and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
PAW induced significant physiological and metabolic changes in Daucus carrota calli, stimulating
growth, metabolic activity and enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity. For antibiotic-resistant bacteria,
PAW increased susceptibility to antibiotics through its bactericidal effects and amplification of antibiotic
efficacy.
1 Introduction
By adjusting plasma parameters, the properties of cold atmospheric plasmas (CAPs) and types of produced reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) can be controlled. Plasma generated RONS
can be introduced in the cells during the direct treatments or by applying the Plasma Activated Water (PAW) [1]. Here we will present the results of the application of PAW on plant cells and on antibiotic resistant bacteria strains. The influence of PAW on plant calli cells was studied through changes in morphology and physiology of two different varieties of Daucus carrota calli. In case of bacteria strains we have used the antibioticresistant strains and investigated if pretreatment with PAW can increase the susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics.
2 Experimental setups
Treatments of deionized water samples were performed by using pin atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ). A detailed description of the pin APPJ has been provided in a previous study [2]. As feeding gas we used Argon and the ground electrode was 15 mL of deionized water (Milli-Q, pH 7.3) sample, placed in a plastic Petri dish. For Calli samples we have used PAW samples obtained with 5 min and 20 min plasma treatments and for bacteria - 10 min plasma treatment. Morphological changes and metabolic status of PAW treated carrot calli was determined together with profile of specific metabolites and activity of antioxidant enzymes. As a second case study we have investigated the potential of PAW to affect susceptibility of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens (K. pneumoniae and E. faecalis) to conventional antibiotics.
4 Results and conclusion
We have shown that PAW treatment induced significant physiological and metabolic changes in calli of carrot varieties. The growth of the black calli can be stimulated by using the PAW rich in RONS and oxidative stress was generally more pronounced after the PAW treatment with an increase in the
activity of antioxidant enzymes and changes in metabolites. The antibacterial efficacy of the PAW was demonstrated through a) its bactericidal effects; and b) its potential to enhance the effects of certain antibiotics against multidrug-resistant bacteria. These aspects of the antibacterial efficacy of the PAW were further examined by detecting intracellular concentrations of RONS in bacteria exposed to the PAW treatment.
References
[1] Puač, N. and Škoro, N. Plasma–Liquid Interaction for Agriculture—A Focused Review, Plasma Processes and Polymers, (2024)
[2] Kumar, A., Škoro, N., Gernjak, W., Povrenović, D. and Puač, N. Direct and Indirect Treatment of
Organic Dye (Acid Blue 25) Solutions by Using Cold Atmospheric Plasma Jet, Front Phys 10, 1–14, (2022).Detailled Program - Book of abstracts: The International Conference on Phenomena in Ionized Gases 36th Edition (ICPIG 2025); 2025 Jul 20-25; Aix en Provence, France. International Conference on Phenomena in Ionized Gases (ICPIG); 2025. p. 77
Aeroponics: novel technology for the production of pre-basic seed potato
No full textCommercial production of potato is based on vegetative propagation by seed tubers. High-quality seed material is obtained from potato plants grown from minitubers (pre-basic seed potatoes). Aeroponics is a novel, soilless technology for minituber production where the underground stems and roots of potato plants are located and grow in a dark chamber (module) suspended in a mist of nutrient solution. Aeroponics has significant advantages over other minituber growing technologies such as higher productivity, successive harvests that allow minitubers to reach the desired size, efficient usage of space and water, and minimal environmental pollution. This study aimed to evaluate aeroponics for fall-winter minituber production in our plastic greenhouse with aeroponic system in Belgrade, Serbia. Four potato cultivars, Agria, Désirée, Dragačevski Mesečar, and Festival, were grown using two harvest intervals, 10 and 20 days. The facility was slightly heated during the growing period from September 2024 to January 2025. The planting material were acclimated microplants, with a planting density of 24 plants per m2. A shorter harvest interval positively affected the productivity of all cultivars, except Agria which produced a similar number of tubers at both intervals. The greatest number of minitubers was produced by Festival (199 per m2) at a 10-day harvest interval, while the heaviest minitubers were formed by Désirée (10.1 g) at a 20-day harvest interval. Our results indicate that additional season can be introduced for aeroponic minituber production (potato growing) in a moderate continental climate.Bilali HE; editor. Book of Abstracts : XVI International Scientific Agriculture Symposium : Agrosym 2025; 2025 Oct 2-5; Jahorina, Bonisa and Herzegovina. East Sarajevo : Faculty of Agriculture; 2025. p. 89
Undersampled hotspots: Advancing knowledge on bat diversity and distribution in Uganda
No full textUganda, one of Africa’s most biodiverse countries, remains critically undersampled for many
taxa, including bats, leaving major gaps in our understanding of their distribution and
ecology. To strengthen the existing baseline for bat diversity nationwide, we conducted two
extensive surveys in 2023 and 2025, explicitly assessing sampling completeness and
species diversity while comparing the efficacy of three complementary trapping methods
(ground‐level mist-nets, triple‐high mist‐net system and harp traps). Across 70 sites in 11
localities - spanning montane forests, savannas, wetlands, tropical lowlands and a variety of
land‐use types - we captured 1,043 individuals representing at least 56 species from 10
families. In addition to standard morphometric measurements, we collected tissue for genetic
analyses and recorded hand‐release echolocation calls to contribute to a regional acoustic
library. Our surveys yielded several noteworthy outcomes, including new national records for
multiple species (i.e. the second Ugandan record of Laephotis wintoni), genetic confirmation
of previously uncertain occurrences (e.g., Rhinolophus hildebrandtii) and rediscoveries of
taxa unrecorded for over fifty years (e.g., Triaenops afer). We use these datasets to highlight
gaps in our understanding of African bat taxonomy and systematics, finding important
differences in their genetic sequences, calls and morphology that merit targeted taxonomic
and phylogenetic review. Our analyses demonstrate that integrating diverse capture
techniques markedly improves inventory coverage, with each method contributing unique
captures. These results underscore the value of multifaceted survey protocols, highlight
urgent research priorities in undersampled ecoregions and provide a robust baseline to
inform taxonomic assessments, conservation planning and long‐term monitoring in East
Africa.Event Descriptions and Abstracts: 20th International Bat Research Conference; 2025 Aug 3-8; Cairns, Australia. Australasian Bat Society; 2025. p. 76