Mostly Microbes and Infection

Depuis 2 ans le programme ANR-SAPS EQUIPACT (Equiper les acteurs pour plus d’impacts dans les transitions) réunit un consortium de 12 structures aux thématiques et aux degrés d’implication divers dans les questions de médiation et d’intermédiation dans la recherche participative (RP) à visée transformative. Comment émergent et perdurent de tels projets sur nos territoires ? Quelles sont les compétences et les outils à mobiliser pour les acteurs impliqués ? Quels enseignements tirer des pratiques, des dispositifs et des méthodes existantes ? Voici quelques-unes des questions que le collectif s’est posées. Les enseignements et modalités d’expérience du projet seront restitués et mis en débat lors de cette journée de travail afin que les contributions des personnes participantes soient intégrées aux conclusions de la recherche.  

Garlic is rich in organosulfur compounds with high antioxidant capacity and is known to have various health benefits. Aged garlic is a particularly effective source of these active compounds because it contains fewer toxic components. This study evaluated the effects of S-allyl cysteine (SAC), a major functional organosulfur compound in garlic, and aged garlic extract (AGE) on the suppression of progressive hearing loss. SAC and AGE were dissolved in drinking water at 1% (w/w) and administered to DBA/2J mice, a model of early progressive hearing loss, for 12 weeks, starting at 4 weeks of age. While the results revealed a trend toward weight loss in the SAC group, the weight of the AGE group was comparable to that of the control group, and no adverse events were observed in either group. The hearing ability of the mice was measured using auditory brainstem responses at 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age. Hearing loss at 8 and 16 kHz progressed over the 12-week period, with neither sample inh...

Our modern lifestyle involves irregular eating habits and extended periods spent indoors under artificial lighting. This lifestyle contrasts with the body’s circadian rhythms and likely contributes to an increase of chronic diseases worldwide. This special issue on the circadian rhythm contains articles that deepen our understanding of the biological rhythmicity associated with health and disease. Research articles include studies on the effects of light therapy in patients with myocardial infarction and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in Japanese women and in patients receiving one of five anti-hypertensive drugs. Review articles cover the roles of micro-RNAs in colorectal cancer, the influence of light, electromagnetic fields and water on biological rhythms, and the effects of eating patterns on metabolic diseases. These studies and review articles highlight the importance of maintaining circadian rhythms and provide practical tips to improve human health.

Oral infections like periodontitis (a chronic inflammatory disease and a significant risk factor for tooth loss) and abscesses are some of the most common infections in the world. But they also contribute to chronic disease.

This issue of the   Biomedical Journal   features a special section on epigenetics in infection, exploring epitranscriptomic modifications in the malaria parasite   Plasmodium   and the African sleeping sickness parasite   Trypanosoma , with a focus on how these modifications influence parasite development and survival strategies. Additionally, this issue reviews regulatory mechanisms in asymmetric cell division, assessment needs for children with developmental coordination disorder along with recommendations, and advancements in 3D chondrocyte culturing for tissue engineering. Also examined are three key pathways exacerbating long COVID, the increasing impact of electromagnetic exposure in built environments on human health, and recent updates in liver transplantation criteria for hepatocellular carcinoma complicated by portal vein tumor thrombosis. Research in bladder cancer investigates the role of activating transcription factor 3, known for its anti-tumor p...

Hightlights • The context summarizes the latest effects of rhizosphere microorganisms on plants. • The context summarizes the mechanisms by which plant hosts shape their own rhizosphere microbial communities. • Further explore its impact and utilization potential on microbial communities from the aspects of genotype, functional genes. • Provide new ideas for the development of green fertilizer, green agriculture and environmental restoration.