At the end of 2020, population-based vaccination programs with new generation mRNA-based vaccines began almost all over the world. The aim of the study was to evaluate the titer of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies against the S1 subunit of the virus’s spike protein as a marker of the humoral response in 477 patients and the concentration of interferon-gamma as an indicator of cellular response in 28 individuals. In our studies, we used serological enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. IgG was measured in weeks 2 and 3 after the first dose and 1–5 weeks after the second dose of an mRNA vaccine in seropositive and seronegative individuals as well as in symptomatic and asymptomatic convalescents. High levels of antibodies were observed in 98% of our vaccinated cohort, and the presence of protective T cells was confirmed in the blood samples of all participants. The humoral immune response is diversified and is visible as early as 2–3 weeks after the first dose of the mRNA vaccine. The level of protection increased significantly after the second dose, with the increase being much greater in pre-vaccine healthy subjects and less in convalescents. In the second and third weeks after the second dose, the concentration of IgG antibodies was the highest, and in the following weeks, it decreased gradually. Regular serological measurements on eight subjects show that antibody titers are lower four months after vaccination than before the second dose.

BackgroundSugar beet is a highly salt-tolerant crop. However, its ability to withstand high salinity is reduced compared to sea beet, a wild ancestor of all beet crops. The aim of this study was to investigate transcriptional patterns associated with physiological, cytological and biochemical mechanisms involved in salt response in these closely related subspecies. Salt acclimation strategies were assessed in plants subjected to either gradually increasing salt levels (salt-stress) or in excised leaves, exposed instantly to salinity (salt-shock).ResultThe majority of DEGs was down-regulated under stress, which may lead to certain aspects of metabolism being reduced in this treatment, as exemplified by lowered transpiration and photosynthesis. This effect was more pronounced in sugar beet. Additionally, sugar beet, but not sea beet, growth was restricted. Silencing of genes encoding numerous transcription factors and signaling proteins was observed, concomitantly with the up-regulation of lipid transfer protein-encoding genes and those coding for NRTs. Bark storage protein genes were up-regulated in sugar beet to the level observed in unstressed sea beet. Osmotic adjustment, manifested by increased water and proline content, occurred in salt-shocked leaves of both genotypes, due to the concerted activation of genes encoding aquaporins, ion channels and osmoprotectants synthesizing enzymes. bHLH137 was the only TF-encoding gene induced by salt in a dose-dependent manner irrespective of the mode of salt treatment. Moreover, the incidence of bHLH-binding motives in promoter regions of salinity-regulated genes was significantly greater than in non-regulated ones.ConclusionsMaintaining homeostasis under salt stress requires deeper transcriptomic changes in the sugar beet than in the sea beet. In both genotypes salt shock elicits greater transcriptomic changes than stress and it results in greater number of up-regulated genes compared to the latter. NRTs and bark storage protein may play a yet undefined role in salt stress-acclimation in beet. bHLH is a putative regulator of salt response in beet leaves and a promising candidate for further studies.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12870-019-1661-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

We examined Salicornia europaea, a nonmycorrhizal halophyte associated with specific and unique endophytic bacteria and fungi. The microbial community structure was analyzed at two sites differing in salinization history (anthropogenic and naturally saline site), in contrasting seasons (spring and fall) and in two plant organs (shoots and roots) via 16S rRNA and internal transcribed spacer amplicon sequencing. We observed distinct communities at the two sites, and in shoots and roots, while the season was of no importance. The bacterial community was less diverse in shoot libraries than in roots, regardless of the site and season, whereas no significant differences were observed for the fungal community. Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes dominated bacterial assemblages, and Ascomycetes were the most frequent fungi. A root core microbiome operational taxonomic unit belonging to the genus Marinimicrobium was identified. We detected a significant influence of the Salicornia bacterial community on the fungal one by means of cocorrespondence analysis. In addition, pathways and potential functions of the bacterial community in Salicornia europaea were inferred and discussed. We can conclude that bacterial and fungal microbiomes of S. europaea are determined by the origin of salinity at the sites. Bacterial communities seemed to influence fungal ones, but not the other way around, which takes us closer to understanding of interactions between the two microbial groups. In addition, the plant organs of the halophyte filter the microbial community composition. IMPORTANCE Endophytes are particularly fascinating because of their multifaceted lifestyle, i.e., they may exist as either free-living soil microbes or saprobic ones or pathogens. Endophytic communities of halophytes may be different than those in other plants because salinity acts as an environmental filter. At the same time, they may contribute to the host’s adaptation to adverse environmental conditions, which may be of importance in agriculture.

Small noncoding RNAs, as post-translational regulators of many target genes, are not only markers of neoplastic disease initiation and progression, but also markers of response to anticancer therapy. Hundreds of miRNAs have been identified as biomarkers of drug resistance, and many have demonstrated the potential to sensitize cancer cells to therapy. Their properties of modulating the response of cells to therapy have made them a promising target for overcoming drug resistance. Several methods have been developed for the delivery of miRNAs to cancer cells, including introducing synthetic miRNA mimics, DNA plasmids containing miRNAs, and small molecules that epigenetically alter endogenous miRNA expression. The results of studies in animal models and preclinical studies for solid cancers and hematological malignancies have confirmed the effectiveness of treatment protocols using microRNA. Nevertheless, the use of miRNAs in anticancer therapy is not without limitations, including the development of a stable nanoconstruct, delivery method choices, and biodistribution. The aim of this review was to summarize the role of miRNAs in cancer treatment and to present new therapeutic concepts for these molecules. Supporting anticancer therapy with microRNA molecules has been verified in numerous clinical trials, which shows great potential in the treatment of cancer.

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