Space biofilms - An overview of the morphology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms grown on silicone and cellulose membranes on board the international space station

Microorganisms' natural ability to live as organized multicellular communities - also known as biofilms - provides them with unique survival advantages. For instance, bacterial biofilms are protected against environmental stresses thanks to their extracellular matrix, which could contribute to persistent infections after treatment with antibiotics. Bacterial biofilms are also capable of strongly attaching to surfaces, where their metabolic by-products could lead to surface material degradation. Furthermore, microgravity can alter biofilm behavior in unexpected ways, making the presence of biofilms in space a risk for both astronauts and spaceflight hardware. Despite the efforts to eliminate microorganism contamination from spacecraft surfaces, it is impossible to prevent human-associated bacteria from eventually establishing biofilm surface colonization. Nevertheless, by understanding the changes that bacterial biofilms undergo in microgravity, it is possible to identify key differences and pathways that could be targeted to significantly reduce biofilm formation. The bacterial component of Space Biofilms project, performed on the International Space Station in early 2020, contributes to such understanding by characterizing the morphology and gene expression of bacterial biofilms formed in microgravity with respect to ground controls. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was used as model organism due to its relevance in biofilm studies and its ability to cause urinary tract infections as an opportunistic pathogen. Biofilm formation was characterized at one, two, and three days of incubation (37 °C) over six different materials. Materials reported in this manuscript include catheter grade silicone, selected due to its medical relevance in hospital acquired infections, catheter grade silicone with ultrashort pulsed direct laser interference patterning, included to test microtopographies as a potential biofilm control strategy, and cellulose membrane to replicate the column and canopy structure previously reported from a microgravity study. We here present an overview of the biofilm morphology, including 3D images of the biofilms to represent the distinctive morphology observed in each material tested, and some of the key differences in biofilm thickness, mass, and surface area coverage. We also present the impact of the surface microtopography in biofilm formation across materials, incubation time, and gravitational conditions. The Space Biofilms project (bacterial side) is supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Grant No. 80NSSC17K0036 and 80NSSC21K1950.

A soluble LAG-3 protein (eftilagimod alpha) and an anti-PD-L1 antibody (avelumab) tested in a phase I trial: a new combination in immuno-oncology

BACKGROUND

Eftilagimod alpha (efti) is a major histocompatibility complex class II agonist activating antigen-presenting cells which leads to greater systemic type 1 T helper response and more cytotoxic CD8+ T-cell activation. This phase I trial evaluated the administration of efti, a soluble lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) protein, combined with the anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody avelumab in advanced solid tumors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with heavily pretreated metastatic solid tumors received intravenous avelumab (800 mg) combined with subcutaneously administered efti (6 or 30 mg) for up to 12 cycles, followed by avelumab monotherapy. The primary endpoint was the assessment of the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of efti in combination with avelumab.

RESULTS

Twelve patients with different tumor entities were enrolled (six patients in each cohort). During treatment, no dose-limiting toxicities occurred, and the severity of most adverse events was grade 1 or 2. In total, nine serious adverse events were documented, resulting in a fatal outcome in two cases, but none of them were assessed to be treatment related. Five patients (42%) achieved partial response. The median progression-free survival was 1.96 months and the median overall survival was not reached, with a 12-month survival rate of 75%.

CONCLUSION

Subcutaneously administered efti plus avelumab was well tolerated, and efti of 30 mg was determined to be RP2D. The activity is promising and warrants further investigation in future phase II trials.

Fully differential molecular-frame measurements for the electron-impact dissociative ionization of H2

We present fully differential state-resolved experimental data for the dissociative ionization of molecular hydrogen induced through electron impact. Molecular-frame ionization cross sections are derived for transitions from the X{1}Sigma{g}{+} molecular ground state to the 1ssigma{g}, 2psigma{u}, 2ssigma{g}, and 2ppi{u} states of H2+. For transitions to the 2ssigma{g} and 2ppi{u} states, a strong orientation dependence in the cross sections is revealed, with "side-on" preferred to "end-on" collisions and a propensity for the fragment proton to emerge along the normal to the scattering plane.

Treatment of painful skin ulcers with topical opioids

Recent research suggests that opioid receptors on peripheral nerve terminals may play an important role in the modulation of pain. Clinical applications of this knowledge have been rather slow to evolve. We describe a consecutive series of nine patients with painful skin ulcers due to a variety of medical conditions. All patients were treated with a topical morphine-infused gel dressing. Seven of the nine patients experienced substantial and another experienced a lesser (but still significant) degree of analgesia. The ninth reported no relief, but his wound was not an open ulcer. Discussion centers on the practical application of this development in the large number of patients with painful skin lesions.

Dual-phase helical CT of the liver: effects of bolus tracking and different volumes of contrast material

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effects of tracking and volume of contrast material on dual-phase helical computed tomography (CT) of the liver.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CT was performed in 120 consecutive patients. Either 100 mL (groups 1 and 2) or 120 mL (groups 3 and 4) of contrast material was injected at a rate of 4 mL/sec. In groups 1 and 3, the scanning delay was fixed, whereas in groups 2 and 4, scanning delays were determined individually by means of a semiautomatic bolus tracking device. The arterial phase began when splenic enhancement was greater than 10 HU and ended when hepatic enhancement was greater than 20 HU, which characterized the start of the portal venous phase.

RESULTS

The mean duration of the arterial phase was 11.6 (100 mL) and 12.2 seconds (120 mL). The arterial phase of the liver within the defined limits was sufficiently timed in only 16 (54%) patients in group 1, 25 (83%) in group 2, and 20 (67%) in groups 3, whereas it was significantly (P < .05) better in 28 (93%) patients in group 4. A significantly (P < .05) higher mean parenchymal enhancement in the portal venous phase (63.6 HU +/- 8.5) was obtained in group 4.

CONCLUSION

Bolus tracking of a volume of 120 mL provided the most accurate results in dual-phase liver CT.