1. Nanoscale transformations of amphiboles within human alveolar epithelial cellsRuggero Vigliaturo, Maja Jamnik, Goran Dražić, Marjetka Podobnik, Magda Tušek-Žnidarič, Giancarlo Della Ventura, Günther Redhammer, Nada Žnidaršič, Simon Caserman, Reto Gieré, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Amphibole asbestos is related to lung fibrosis and several types of lung tumors. The disease-triggering mechanisms still challenge our diagnostic capabilities and are still far from being fully understood. The literature focuses primarily on the role and formation of asbestos bodies in lung tissues, but there is a distinct lack of studies on amphibole particles that have been internalized by alveolar epithelial cells (AECs). These internalized particles may directly interact with the cell nucleus and the organelles, exerting a synergistic action with asbestos bodies (AB) from a different location. Here we document the near-atomic- to nano-scale transformations induced by, and taking place within, AECs of three distinct amphiboles (anthophyllite, grunerite, “amosite”) with different Fe-content and morphologic features. We show that: (i) an Fe-rich layer is formed on the internalized particles, (ii) particle grain boundaries are transformed abiotically by the internal chemical environment of AECs and/or by a biologically induced mineralization mechanism, (iii) the Fe-rich material produced on the particle surface does not contain large amounts of P, in stark contrast to extracellular ABs, and (iv) the iron in the Fe-rich layer is derived from the particle itself. Internalized particles and ABs follow two distinct formation mechanisms reaching different physicochemical end-states.
Keywords: amphiboles, human alveolar epithelial cells, asbestos, lung cancer, nanoscale investigation, acS/TEM-EDXS, dual-EELS, asbestos-related tumors
Published in DiRROS: 16.07.2024; Views: 11; Downloads: 4
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2. Leafhopper males compensate for unclear directional cues in vibration-mediated mate localizationJernej Polajnar, Ana Kuhelj, Rok Janža, Nada Žnidaršič, Tatjana Simčič, Meta Virant-Doberlet, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Ambient noise and transmission properties of the substrate pose challenges in vibrational signal-mediated mating behavior of arthropods, because vibrational signal production is energetically demanding. We explored implications of these challenges in the leafhopper Aphrodes makarovi (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) by exposing males to various kinds of vibrational noise on a natural substrate and challenging them to find the source of the female playback. Contrary to expectations, males exposed to noise were at least as efficient as control males on account of similar searching success with less signaling effort, while playing back male–female duets allowed the males to switch to satellite behavior and locate the target without signaling, as expected. We found altered mitochondrial structure in males with high signaling effort that likely indicate early damaging processes at the cellular level in tymbal muscle, but no relation between biochemical markers of oxidative stress and signaling effort. Analysis of signal transmission revealed ambiguous amplitude gradients, which might explain relatively low searching success, but it also indicates the existence of behavioral adaptations to complex vibrational environments. We conclude that the observed searching tactic, emphasizing speed rather than thorough evaluation of directional cues, may compensate for unclear stimuli when the target is near.
Keywords: biotremology, vibrational communication, sexual behavior of insects, impact of noise on behavior, metabolism of vibrational production
Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Views: 33; Downloads: 15
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3. Pore-forming moss protein bryoporin is structurally and mechanistically related to actinoporins from evolutionarily distant cnidariansGašper Šolinc, Tomaž Švigelj, Neža Omersa, Tina Snoj, Katja Pirc, Nada Žnidaršič, Akiko Yamaji-Hasegawa, Toshihide Kobayashi, Gregor Anderluh, Marjetka Podobnik, 2022, original scientific article Published in DiRROS: 11.10.2022; Views: 578; Downloads: 392
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4. Ectomycorrhiza between Scleroderma Areolatum Ehrenb. and Fagus sylvatica L.Tanja Mrak, Katja Kühdorf, Tine Grebenc, Ines Štraus, Marko Bajc, Nada Žnidaršič, Babette Münzenberger, Hojka Kraigher, 2015, published scientific conference contribution abstract Published in DiRROS: 03.11.2021; Views: 979; Downloads: 314
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