Biopreservation and Biobanking最新文献

Cryopreservation of buck semen is essential in animal breeding but often damages sperm viability and integrity. The Honamli breed, a hardy Turkish goat, can benefit from improved freezing techniques using antioxidants such as Trolox (T). This study explores the effects of varying T concentrations on Honamli buck semen, assessing parameters such as motility, viability, and membrane integrity to enhance post-thaw quality. Findings support T's potential to improve semen extender formulations for preserving Honamli genetics.This study aims to freeze Honamli buck semen with T and to evaluate in vitro spermatological parameters. Three Honamli bucks, aged 2-3 years, were used in the study. Semen was collected from the bucks and mixed after removing seminal plasma. The mixed semen was diluted with a tris egg yolk extender containing three different concentrations of T (0.25 mM, 0.5 mM, and 1 mM) and control (0 mM). The diluted semen was equilibrated for 2 hours at +4 degrees and subjected to cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen vapor (-120°C for 12 minutes) and frozen. After thawing (37°C water bath for 30 seconds), the groups were evaluated at flow cytometric analysis for viability (SYBR/propidium iodide [PI]), plasma membrane acrosome integrity (FITC-PNA/PI), and mitochondrial membrane potential (JC-1), plasma membrane integrity (hypo-osmotic swelling test), microscopic evaluations for motility and morphological integrity (abnormal spermatozoa rate). The 0.5 T and 0.25 T groups showed significant improvements in motility compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The control group had the lowest plasma membrane integrity (p < 0.05). The highest morphological integrity was observed in the T groups compared with the control group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, supplementing T in buck semen extenders benefits spermatological parameters; particularly, 0.25 and 0.5 mM T could be used in Tris semen extenders during the cryopreservation process.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the organelle responsible for protein folding in the cell. The damage that may occur during the freezing process of the sperm can exceed the protein loading capacity in the ER. Antioxidants, such as coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀), are added to freezing media to protect sperm cells. In this study, the aim was to investigate the expression levels of ER stress-related genes (protein kinase-like ER kinase [PERK], activating transcription factor 4 [ATF4], CCAAT-enhancer-binding-protein homologous protein [CHOP], and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 [NRF2]) and quality parameters (viability, motility, acrosome status, and plasma membrane integrity) of mice sperm after freezing with an extender containing CoQ₁₀. Male BALB/c mouse spermatozoa were cryopreserved using a combination of 18% raffinose + 3% skimmed milk and 50 µM CoQ₁₀. The combination of 18% raffinose + 3% skimmed milk without CoQ₁₀ was used as the control group. The results showed that post-thaw sperm motility, viability, plasma membrane integrity, and intact acrosome rates were significantly higher in the CoQ₁₀-supplemented group compared with the control (untreated) group (p < 0.05). The expression of ER stress-related genes was then analyzed to investigate whether CoQ₁₀ attenuates ER stress in frozen-thawed sperm. The results significantly revealed that the addition of 50 µM CoQ₁₀ to the extender increased PERK, ATF4, and CHOP mRNA levels compared with the control group (p < 0.001). Next, NRF2 gene expression was analyzed to investigate whether CoQ₁₀ affects the antioxidant mechanism of post-thaw sperm. It was revealed that the expression of the NRF2 gene significantly increased in the CoQ₁₀ group compared with the control group (p < 0.001). Collectively, these results suggest that the freeze-thaw process induces ER stress in mouse sperm, and the supplementation of CoQ₁₀ to the cryoprotectant agent reduces ER stress-related genes, activates the gene related to the antioxidant defense system, and improves post-thaw sperm quality parameters.

Cryopreservation of boar semen is essential for maintaining genetic diversity and improving reproductive efficiency. However, optimizing semen extenders and packaging methods is crucial to enhancing sperm quality and cryotolerance. Equex-STM is commonly used as a surfactant to enhance cryoprotective properties by stabilizing sperm membranes during freezing and thawing. A total of 24 ejaculates (n = 24), six from each of four Hampshire crossbred boars, aged between 18 and 24 months were used in the present study. Semen was collected twice weekly by gloved hand technique. The sperm-rich fraction showing more than 70% initial motility was considered for further processing and freezing. The fresh semen was diluted in Beltsville thawing solution (BTS) at a 1:1 ratio and further processed with the addition of Fraction I and Fraction II extenders supplemented with and without 1.5% Equex-STM paste {Control (C)-no Equex; Treatment (T-1.5% Equex-STM supplementation}. The extended semen was packaged in 0.25 and 0.5 mL straws to check the effect of straw size (T₁-0.25 mL straw and T₂-0.50 mL straw). Straws were cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen (LN₂) for post-thaw sperm quality evaluation. Results showed that the sperm motility, viability, plasma membrane integrity (PMI), DNA integrity, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were significantly (p < 0.001) higher in the T group in comparison with control (C). Sperm motility, PMI, and DNA integrity were highly significant (p < 0.001) and sperm viability and MMP were significant (p < 0.05) in group T₂ in comparison with T₁.

The COVID-19 pandemic, spanning from early 2020 to late 2022, posed unprecedented challenges for global public health. However, it also spurred innovative approaches to pandemic management, notably the development of pathogen detection in wastewater. It was successfully demonstrated that wastewater analysis can not only reflect ongoing COVID-19 infections but also serve as an early indicator of disease prevalence within communities. Recognizing the value of longitudinal analyses of various pathogens, we identified the need for wastewater biobanking. This practice allows for the retrospective analysis of samples, offering critical public health insights at the population level. Moreover, the potential to transport and store biobanked samples at ambient temperature or in a dry state could greatly enhance the utility of this technology, especially in resource-limited settings such as low- and middle-income countries. This article also addresses the ethical considerations and public health implications of wastewater-based epidemiology. While this approach holds significant potential beyond pathogen detection, it is essential to evaluate the benefits and potential risks carefully.

Nearly one-third of flora, fauna, and funga species on Earth are threatened with extinction. In response, the prevalence of repositories-often called "biobanks" or "genome resource banks"-for storing biological materials from threatened species has become more widespread. This research examined trends for the (1) terminology, (2) taxa representation, (3) global distribution, and (4) operational approach of biobanks versus genome resource banks relating to zoos and wildlife. Our literature search results indicate that although genome resource banking literature began earlier in the 1990s, biobanking has seen a surge in publications with over 3.5× more literature for biobanking since 2020. Genome resource bank articles were highly focused on mammals (68%), while biobanking literature focused more on multi-taxonomic overviews and less-studied taxa. Our search parameters found the largest number of wildlife biobanks in Europe (18) and the lowest number in South America (2), though results are likely impacted by the search being completed in English. Additionally, only 28% (7/25) of global biodiversity hotspots contain a wildlife biobank based on our methodology. While not all wildlife biobanking efforts are published or reported, these findings suggest that (1) "biobank" will likely be the more widely used term in the future, (2) more biobanking research is needed for non-mammalian taxa, (3) there are geographical gaps in wildlife biobanks, and (4) conservation biobanking programs should focus on storing biospecimens from a wide set of individuals and develop assisted reproductive technologies concomitantly with the goal of maintaining healthy, sustainable populations in the long term.

This article highlights Peru's experience in establishing a national tumor bank network, serving as a model for low- and middle-income countries. Launched in 2005 at the National Institute of Neoplastic Diseases, efforts accelerated under the 2021 National Cancer Act, which formalized the National Tumor Bank and its integration with the National Oncology Network. This initiative connects tumor banks across regional cancer institutes, enabling systematic biological sample collection, particularly from underrepresented populations, such as those with high Amerindian ancestry. Ethical oversight, technical standards, and specialized management software ensure efficient data sharing and genomic research. The network supports cancer research through integration with the Population Cancer Registry, providing unique insights into cancer incidence and outcomes. To date, 5992 cases have been documented. Through international collaboration with Latin American countries, Peru provides a framework for inclusive cancer research, enriching global genomic datasets and strengthening research capacity in diverse and vulnerable populations.

Background: Cryopreservation causes harmful effects on sperm quality due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and physical-chemical modifications, resulting in reduced sperm fertility potential. Recently, many studies have shown that adding antioxidants to the cryopreservation medium can markedly reduce these damages. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of pre-treatment with curcumin at 0, 20, 50, and 100 μM concentrations on frozen-thawed human sperm parameters. Methods: Semen samples from 25 normozoospermic men were collected. Then, each sample was divided into five equal parts: fresh group and frozen-thawed groups, including 0, 20, 50, and 100 μM of curcumin. Pre-cryopreservation and post-thaw sperm motility, morphology, vitality, DNA fragmentation, and ROS levels were investigated. Results: Cryopreservation significantly reduced sperm quality. A known value of 50 μM curcumin significantly improved sperm progressive motility (18.67 ± 1.12 vs. 11.2 ± 1.24, p < 0.01), vitality (35.50 ± 1.63 vs. 21.83 ± 2.64, p < 0.05), and decreased ROS levels (p < 0.05), 50 μM curcumin also efficiently preserved sperm morphology after thawing (13.55 ± 0.33 vs. 6.56 ± 0.16, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the application of 50 μM curcumin resulted in a reduction in DNA fragmentation, though it did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.08). In contrast, 20 μM curcumin only had a significant impact on progressive motility (15.85 ± 0.7 vs. 11.2 ± 1.24, p < 0.05), whereas, in the 100 μM group, there were no significant differences in any of the measured parameters compared with the control group. Conclusion: It seems that curcumin ameliorates cryopreservation-induced injury to sperm.

Amidst growing international pressure for institutions that collect biological material to comply with the Nagoya Protocol, scientific gatekeepers such as herbaria, funding bodies, and academic journals increasingly request proof of Nagoya Protocol compliance. What happens when research is conducted in a country which does not have a comprehensive regulatory framework implementing the Nagoya Protocol? This article addresses this question through an examination of the difficulties that genetic resource collectors and biobankers may encounter in attempting to voluntarily comply with the Nagoya Protocol in Australia, a country that has not ratified the Nagoya Protocol at a federal level. It summarizes the requirements of the Nagoya Protocol, surveys the legal and regulatory situation that currently exists in Australia, and outlines the difficulties and ambiguities encountered by scientists and biobankers in attempting to navigate this system. In the process, it provides an overview of the conceptual and linguistic ambiguities which exist within the framework of the Nagoya Protocol. It argues that consensus models such as voluntary guidelines may be useful for addressing some of these ambiguities and practical challenges, but more fundamental issues will likely require legislative intervention.

Postmortem brain donation for medical research is a little-known form of organ donation. While most brain research is carried out using animal models, many neurological diseases are uniquely human. Greater availability of human postmortem brain tissue from diseased individuals and controls would therefore improve the development of treatments for neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. Globally, organ donation for medical research is dwarfed by organ donation for transplantation. In 2021, 36% of Australians were registered organ donors for transplantation, with public "in-principle" support even higher, at 76%. In contrast, there are little data on Australian or international brain donation rates for research. A 30-item online survey was conducted to ascertain knowledge of, and attitudes toward, brain donation in Australia. Of the respondents, 12/237 (5%) were current brain donors and excluded from further analysis. Of the remaining 225, 75% were registered organ donors for transplant. The vast majority (n = 189/225, 84%) of respondents supported or strongly supported the principle of brain donation. However, of those registered for transplantation or whole-body donors, 93/170 (55%) were not aware that brain donation was possible, while 50%, alternatively or also, thought that registering as an organ donor for transplantation rendered them a brain donor by default. Only 9/225 (4%) respondents indicated that they would definitely not donate their brain in the future, while 27 remained unsure. There is prominent public support for brain donation in Australia, with 84% of respondents willing to donate their brain. Yet, the extent of public misconceptions on brain donation for research suggests the need for further education on all types of organ donation, so individuals may make informed decisions.