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Marie Haynes R, Myers J, López CS, Evans J, Davulcu O, Yoshioka C. A strategic approach for efficient cryo-EM grid optimization using design of experiments. J Struct Biol 2024:108068. [PMID: 38364988 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2024.108068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has become a practical and effective method of determining structures at previously unattainable resolutions due to advances in detection, automation, and data processing. However, sample preparation remains a major bottleneck in the cryo-EM workflow. Even after the arduous process of biochemical sample optimization, it often takes several iterations of grid vitrification and screening to determine the optimal grid freezing parameters that yield suitable ice thickness and particle distribution for data collection. Since a high-quality sample is imperative for high-resolution structure determination, grid optimization is a vital step. For researchers who rely on cryo-EM facilities for grid screening, each iteration of this optimization process may delay research progress by a matter of months. Therefore, a more strategic and efficient approach should be taken to ensure that the grid optimization process can be completed in as few iterations as possible. Here, we present an implementation of Design of Experiments (DOE) to expedite and strategize the grid optimization process. A Fractional Factorial Design (FFD) guides the determination of a limited set of experimental conditions which can model the full parameter space of interest. Grids are frozen with these conditions and screened for particle distribution and ice thickness. Quantitative scores are assigned to each of these grid characteristics based on a qualitative rubric. Input conditions and response scores are used to generate a least-squares regression model of the parameter space in JMP, which is used to determine the conditions which should, in theory, yield optimal grids. Upon testing this approach on apoferritin and L-glutamate dehydrogenase on both the Vitrobot Mark IV and the Leica GP2 plunge freezers, the resulting grid conditions reliably yielded grids with high-quality ice and particle distribution that were suitable for collecting large overnight datasets on a Krios. We conclude that a DOE-based approach is a cost-effective and time-saving tool for cryo-EM grid preparation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose Marie Haynes
- Pacific Northwest Center for Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97201, USA; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA.
| | - Janette Myers
- Pacific Northwest Center for Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97201, USA
| | - Claudia S López
- Pacific Northwest Center for Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97201, USA
| | - James Evans
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA
| | - Omar Davulcu
- Pacific Northwest Center for Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97201, USA
| | - Craig Yoshioka
- Pacific Northwest Center for Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97201, USA
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Ambrosone A, Barbulova A, Cappetta E, Cillo F, De Palma M, Ruocco M, Pocsfalvi G. Plant Extracellular Vesicles: Current Landscape and Future Directions. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:4141. [PMID: 38140468 PMCID: PMC10747359 DOI: 10.3390/plants12244141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Plant cells secrete membrane-enclosed micrometer- and nanometer-sized vesicles that, similarly to the extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by mammalian or bacterial cells, carry a complex molecular cargo of proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and primary and secondary metabolites. While it is technically complicated to isolate EVs from whole plants or their tissues, in vitro plant cell cultures provide excellent model systems for their study. Plant EVs have been isolated from the conditioned culture media of plant cell, pollen, hairy root, and protoplast cultures, and recent studies have gathered important structural and biological data that provide a framework to decipher their physiological roles and unveil previously unacknowledged links to their diverse biological functions. The primary function of plant EVs seems to be in the secretion that underlies cell growth and morphogenesis, cell wall composition, and cell-cell communication processes. Besides their physiological functions, plant EVs may participate in defence mechanisms against different plant pathogens, including fungi, viruses, and bacteria. Whereas edible and medicinal-plant-derived nanovesicles isolated from homogenised plant materials ex vivo are widely studied and exploited, today, plant EV research is still in its infancy. This review, for the first time, highlights the different in vitro sources that have been used to isolate plant EVs, together with the structural and biological studies that investigate the molecular cargo, and pinpoints the possible role of plant EVs as mediators in plant-pathogen interactions, which may contribute to opening up new scenarios for agricultural applications, biotechnology, and innovative strategies for plant disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Ambrosone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy; (A.A.); (E.C.)
| | - Ani Barbulova
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR), Research Division (R.D.) Naples, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Elisa Cappetta
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy; (A.A.); (E.C.)
| | - Fabrizio Cillo
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, Research Division (R.D.) Bari, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 70126 Bari, Italy;
| | - Monica De Palma
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR), Research Division (R.D.) Portici, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 80055 Portici, Italy;
| | - Michelina Ruocco
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, Research Division (R.D.) Portici, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 80055 Portici, Italy;
| | - Gabriella Pocsfalvi
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR), Research Division (R.D.) Naples, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 80131 Naples, Italy;
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Xu Z, Xu Y, Zhang K, Liu Y, Liang Q, Thakur A, Liu W, Yan Y. Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs) in nanomedicine for human disease and therapeutic modalities. J Nanobiotechnology 2023; 21:114. [PMID: 36978093 PMCID: PMC10049910 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-023-01858-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The past few years have witnessed a significant increase in research related to plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs) in biological and medical applications. Using biochemical technologies, multiple independent groups have demonstrated the important roles of PDEVs as potential mediators involved in cell-cell communication and the exchange of bio-information between species. Recently, several contents have been well identified in PDEVs, including nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and other active substances. These cargoes carried by PDEVs could be transferred into recipient cells and remarkably influence their biological behaviors associated with human diseases, such as cancers and inflammatory diseases. This review summarizes the latest updates regarding PDEVs and focuses on its important role in nanomedicine applications, as well as the potential of PDEVs as drug delivery strategies to develop diagnostic and therapeutic agents for the clinical management of diseases, especially like cancers. CONCLUSION Considering its unique advantages, especially high stability, intrinsic bioactivity and easy absorption, further elaboration on molecular mechanisms and biological factors driving the function of PDEVs will provide new horizons for the treatment of human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijie Xu
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
| | - Yuzhen Xu
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Taian, Shandong, 271000, China
| | - Kui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Yuanhong Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
| | - Qiuju Liang
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
| | - Abhimanyu Thakur
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, Ben May Department for Cancer Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Hospital University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Yuanliang Yan
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China.
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Protein Biocargo and Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Tomato Fruit-Derived Nanovesicles Separated by Density Gradient Ultracentrifugation and Loaded with Curcumin. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15020333. [PMID: 36839657 PMCID: PMC9961453 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15020333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant-derived nanovesicles (PDNVs) have become attractive alternatives to mammalian cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) both as therapeutic approaches and drug-delivery vehicles. In this study, we isolated tomato fruit-derived NVs and separated them by the iodixanol density gradient ultracentrifugation (DGUC) into twelve fractions. Three visible bands were observed at densities 1.064 ± 0.007 g/mL, 1.103 ± 0.006 g/mL and 1.122 ± 0.012 g/mL. Crude tomato PDNVs and DGUC fractions were characterized by particle size-distribution, concentration, lipid and protein contents as well as protein composition using mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activity of the DGUC fractions associated to these bands were assessed in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human monocytic THP-1 cell culture. The middle and the low-density visible DGUC fractions of tomato PDNVs showed a significant reduction in LPS-induced inflammatory IL-1β cytokine mRNA production. Functional analysis of proteins identified in these fractions reveals the presence of 14-3-3 proteins, endoplasmic reticulum luminal binding proteins and GTP binding proteins associated to gene ontology (GO) term GO:0050794 and the regulation of several cellular processes including inflammation. The most abundant middle-density DGUC fraction was loaded with curcumin using direct loading, sonication and extrusion methods and anti-inflammatory activity was compared. The highest entrapment efficiency and drug loading capacity was obtained by direct loading. Curcumin loaded by sonication increased the basal anti-inflammatory activity of tomato PDNVs.
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Škufca D, Božič D, Hočevar M, Jeran M, Bedina Zavec A, Kisovec M, Podobnik M, Matos T, Tomazin R, Iglič A, Griessler Bulc T, Heath E, Kralj-Iglič V. Interaction between Microalgae P. tricornutum and Bacteria Thalassospira sp. for Removal of Bisphenols from Conditioned Media. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158447. [PMID: 35955586 PMCID: PMC9369128 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
We studied the efficiency of three culture series of the microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum (P. tricornutum) and bacteria Thalassospira sp. (axenic microalgae, bacterial culture and co-culture of the two) in removing bisphenols (BPs) from their growth medium. Bacteria were identified by 16S ribosomal RNA polymerase chain reaction (16S rRNA PCR). The microorganism growth rate was determined by flow cytometry. Cultures and isolates of their small cellular particles (SCPs) were imaged by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (Cryo-TEM). BPs were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Our results indicate that some organisms may have the ability to remove a specific pollutant with high efficiency. P. tricornutum in axenic culture and in mixed culture removed almost all (more than 99%) of BPC2. Notable differences in the removal of 8 out of 18 BPs between the axenic, mixed and bacterial cultures were found. The overall removals of BPs in axenic P. tricornutum, mixed and bacterial cultures were 11%, 18% and 10%, respectively. Finding the respective organisms and creating microbe societies seems to be key for the improvement of wastewater treatment. As a possible mediating factor, numerous small cellular particles from all three cultures were detected by electron microscopy. Further research on the mechanisms of interspecies communication is needed to advance the understanding of microbial communities at the nano-level.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Škufca
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Biomedical Research Group, Zdravstvena 5, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (D.Š.); (D.B.); (M.J.); (T.G.B.)
| | - Darja Božič
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Biomedical Research Group, Zdravstvena 5, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (D.Š.); (D.B.); (M.J.); (T.G.B.)
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Laboratory of Physics, Tržaška 25, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Matej Hočevar
- Department of Physics and Chemistry of Materials, Institute of Metals and Technology, Lepi Pot 11, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Marko Jeran
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Biomedical Research Group, Zdravstvena 5, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (D.Š.); (D.B.); (M.J.); (T.G.B.)
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Laboratory of Physics, Tržaška 25, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Apolonija Bedina Zavec
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (A.B.Z.); (M.K.); (M.P.)
| | - Matic Kisovec
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (A.B.Z.); (M.K.); (M.P.)
| | - Marjetka Podobnik
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (A.B.Z.); (M.K.); (M.P.)
| | - Tadeja Matos
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Zaloška 4, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (T.M.); (R.T.)
| | - Rok Tomazin
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Zaloška 4, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (T.M.); (R.T.)
| | - Aleš Iglič
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Laboratory of Physics, Tržaška 25, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Tjaša Griessler Bulc
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Biomedical Research Group, Zdravstvena 5, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (D.Š.); (D.B.); (M.J.); (T.G.B.)
| | - Ester Heath
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
- Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Jamova 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Veronika Kralj-Iglič
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Biomedical Research Group, Zdravstvena 5, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (D.Š.); (D.B.); (M.J.); (T.G.B.)
- Correspondence:
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Schlemmer T, Lischka R, Wegner L, Ehlers K, Biedenkopf D, Koch A. Extracellular vesicles isolated from dsRNA-sprayed barley plants exhibit no growth inhibition or gene silencing in Fusarium graminearum. Fungal Biol Biotechnol 2022; 9:14. [PMID: 35836276 PMCID: PMC9284790 DOI: 10.1186/s40694-022-00143-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous reports have shown that incorporating a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-expressing transgene into plants or applying dsRNA by spraying it onto their leaves successfully protects them against invading pathogens exploiting the mechanism of RNA interference (RNAi). How dsRNAs or siRNAs are transferred between donor host cells and recipient fungal cells is largely unknown. It is speculated that plant extracellular vesicles (EVs) function as RNA shuttles between plants and their pathogens. Recently, we found that EVs isolated from host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) or spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) plants contained dsRNA-derived siRNAs. In this study, we evaluated whether isolated EVs from dsRNA-sprayed barley (Hordeum vulgare) plants affected the growth of the phytopathogenic ascomycete Fusarium graminearum. Encouraged by our previous finding that dropping barley-derived EVs on F. graminearum cultures caused fungal stress phenotypes, we conducted an in vitro growth experiment in microtiter plates where we co-cultivated F. graminearum with plant EVs isolated from dsRNA-sprayed barley leaves. We observed that co-cultivation of F. graminearum macroconidia with barley EVs did not affect fungal growth. Furthermore, plant EVs containing SIGS-derived siRNA appeared not to affect F. graminearum growth and showed no gene silencing activity on F. graminearum CYP51 genes. Based on our findings, we concluded that either the amount of SIGS-derived siRNA was insufficient to induce target gene silencing in F. graminearum, indicating that the role of EVs in SIGS is minor, or that F. graminearum uptake of plant EVs from liquid cultures was inefficient or impossible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timo Schlemmer
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology, Justus Liebig University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392, Giessen, Germany.,Institute of Phytomedicine, University of Hohenheim, Otto-Sander-Strasse 5, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Richard Lischka
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology, Justus Liebig University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Linus Wegner
- Intitute of Botany, Justus Liebig University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 38, 35292, Giessen, Germany
| | - Katrin Ehlers
- Intitute of Botany, Justus Liebig University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 38, 35292, Giessen, Germany
| | - Dagmar Biedenkopf
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology, Justus Liebig University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Aline Koch
- Institute of Phytomedicine, University of Hohenheim, Otto-Sander-Strasse 5, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany.
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Plant-RNA in Extracellular Vesicles: The Secret of Cross-Kingdom Communication. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:membranes12040352. [PMID: 35448322 PMCID: PMC9028404 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12040352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) is a common language, used by living organisms from different kingdoms as a means of communication between them. Extracellular vesicles are lipoproteic particles that contain many biomolecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. The primary role of EVs is to convey information to the recipient cells, affecting their function. Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs) can be isolated from several plant species, and the study of their biological properties is becoming an essential starting point to study cross-kingdom communication, especially between plants and mammalians. Furthermore, the presence of microRNAs (miRNAs) in PDEVs represents an interesting aspect for understanding how PDEVs can target the mammalian genes involved in pathological conditions such as cancer, inflammation, and oxidative stress. In particular, this review focuses on the history of PDEVs, from their discovery, to purification from various matrices, and on the functional role of PDEV-RNAs in cross-kingdom interactions. It is worth noting that miRNAs packaged in PDEVs can be key modulators of human gene expression, representing potential therapeutic agents.
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Cong M, Tan S, Li S, Gao L, Huang L, Zhang HG, Qiao H. Technology insight: Plant-derived vesicles-How far from the clinical biotherapeutics and therapeutic drug carriers? Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 182:114108. [PMID: 34990792 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.114108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Within the past decades, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as important mediators of intercellular communication in both prokaryotes and higher eukaryotes to regulate a diverse range of biological processes. Besides EVs, exosome-like nanoparticles (ELNs) derived from plants were also emerging. Comparing to EVs, ELNs are source-widespread, cost-effective and easy to obtain. Their definite activities can be utilized for potential prevention/treatment of an abundance of diseases, including metabolic syndrome, cancer, colitis, alcoholic hepatitis and infectious diseases, which highlights ELNs as promising biotherapeutics. In addition, the potential of ELNs as natural or engineered drug carriers is also attractive. In this review, we tease out the timeline of plant EVs and ELNs, introduce the arising separation, purification and characterization techniques, state the stability and transport manner, discuss the therapeutic opportunities as well as the potential as novel drug carriers. Finally, the challenges and the direction of efforts to realize the clinical transformation of ELNs are also discussed.
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