Persistent SARS-CoV-2 antigen has been proposed as a driver of post-COVID condition (PCC), with targeted mass spectrometry multiple reaction monitorin/selected reaction monitoring (MRM/SRM) increasingly invoked as quantitative evidence. We appraise the targeted-MS literature on SARS-CoV-2 antigen in genuine human clinical specimens and re-analyse a focal study, which reported spike and nucleocapsid “protein” concentrations in ng/µL from two proteotypic peptides per target with 13C/15N internal standards. These values are either physically impossible as intact protein or, more likely, raw peptide concentrations reported without the required ≈122-fold molecular-weight correction. Only 15 of 65 patients (26%) had cellular pellet spike above the authors’ own limit of quantification; nucleocapsid was essentially undetectable; and in those 15, the nucleocapsid: spike molar ratio was strongly inverted relative to intact virions, incompatible with a viral source. Critically, no targeted-MS method has ever quantified spike in human blood—the prior literature is nucleocapsid detection in respiratory specimens and spike quantification in vaccine or recombinant material—so the reported blood-spike values lack any validated precedent and exceed the most sensitive validated platform (single-molecule arrays) by several orders of magnitude, with no enrichment step. Finally, 77% of the cohort was vaccinated, and a measurable spike was concentrated among vaccinated individuals. The source’s own supplement inconsistently reports vaccination status. Their 2024 predecessor publication withheld it entirely. The MRM/SRM data, therefore, do not support persistent viral antigen as a general driver of PCC. Minimum standards are proposed: molar reporting, strict limit-of-quantification (LOQ) compliance, qualifier-ion confirmation, vaccine-discrimination peptides, stoichiometric cross-validation, and vaccination-status disclosure. We suggest that the cellular blood component, routinely discarded, warrants direct investigation in the context of spike persistence and PCC symptoms.
Biotechnological methods, particularly in vitro and tissue culture techniques, represent valuable tools for the large-scale multiplication, genetic improvement, and conservation of numerous plant species. Among these, axillary shoot proliferation based on culture of meristems is the most commonly applied micropropagation strategy, as it generally ensures high genetic stability in the regenerated plants. Here, we review the implementation of this micropropagation technique in two important ornamental species of the genus Camellia: C. japonica cv ‘Alba Plena’ and C. reticulata cv ‘Captain Rawes’, both of notable horticultural interest due to the aesthetic and commercial value of their flowers. Through this micropropagation technique, vigorous and healthy plantlets were obtained, acclimatized, and subsequently transferred to ex vitro conditions, demonstrating the feasibility of this propagation system for the production, maintenance, and potential enhancement of elite Camellia germplasm. In vitro cultures of both species were successfully maintained under cold storage conditions for at least 18 months, preserving their viability and regenerative capacity. Importantly, the protocols described here were established using adult camellia material, a plant material often considered more challenging for in vitro propagation due to reduced morphogenic competence.
The frequent failure of headstarting programs suggests we are overlooking important factors in amphibian reintroduction science. Since many repatriation efforts are in vain, such programs can become difficult to justify from a cost-benefit perspective (chronic failure also takes its toll on staff morale), ultimately working against the goals of conservation programs. The question of how to properly prepare amphibian larvae or juveniles for reintroduction and persistence in the landscape is of utmost importance. Here, we offer a previously unconsidered perspective that is predicated on the idea that amphibians, being vertebrates, have forebrain-based cognitive capabilities aligned along the nucleus accumbens-based reward system and the amygdaloid nuclei-based fear system. Experiences uploaded by the ventromedial pallium as memories are thought to be tagged as accumbens-based ‘good’ or amygdala-based ‘bad’, and stored as (relatively) long-term memories; as such, amphibians are said to be salient creatures. The necessarily nurturing nature of zoo husbandry protocols naturally works against young amphibians acquiring ecologically realistic life lessons, especially when these forebrain reward and fear circuits are developing. For example, in zoos, food provisioning eliminates the reward associated with searching for and then finding food, and the emphasis on survival in captivity means headstarted animals released into the wild have no opportunity to experience fear. Such under-stimulated reward/fear circuits poorly prepare headstarted animals for life in the wild. It follows that kindling this circuitry as it develops with ecologically relevant stimuli will better prepare animals for life following release into the wild. To the extent that realistic headstarting protocols call for sacrificing a few animals to enhance the experiences of the remaining many, they will no doubt be resisted by institutions. But we have two choices here: keep doing things the way we have been doing and expect different outcomes, or experiment with new ideas based on a broader understanding of these animals—ideas such as these we are now proposing—to improve the success of repatriation efforts.
Microalgae serve as a cell factory for sustainable biomass and high-value compound production, yet their industrial-scale cultivation is often constrained by light energy utilization. The continuous illumination often limits photosynthetic efficiency and biomass and high-value compound productivity due to a kinetic mismatch between rapid photochemical reactions (picosecond-to-millisecond scale) and slower downstream biochemical processes (like Calvin-Benson cycle). Flashing/pulsed light strategies mitigate these by delivering intermittent photons, exploiting the biological effects to enhance quantum yield, biomass productivity, and targeted metabolites accumulation. This mini review emphasizes historical development of core concepts, molecular mechanisms, Photosystem II (PSII) dynamics, plastoquinone buffering, temporal decoupling, parameter optimization, the applications in autotrophic and mixotrophic modes, and photobioreactor innovations. An updated timeline to date highlights the emerging AI-driven adaptive lighting systems that promise real-time optimization of flashing regimes. This review summarizes current understanding, critical knowledge gaps and future directions, particularly in intelligent control for scalable, energy-efficient cultivation of microalgae by the rational design of advanced photobioreactors and cultivation strategies.
Research into biodegradable polymers, driven by environmental imperatives, has progressed significantly. The copolymerization of CO2 and epoxides produces poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC), which exhibits favorable biodegradability but suffers from poor thermomechanical properties. To address this, recent studies have incorporated rigid monomers or crystalline segments into such copolymerizations, generating a diverse range of CO2-derived copolymers with enhanced thermal and mechanical performance. However, their degradation profiles remain insufficiently characterized. In this study, we selected several representative CO2-derived copolymers, recently synthesized by our group, to systematically investigate the structure-property relationship. We evaluated their biodegradability through a series of tests, including biodegradation rate analysis, compost disintegration, and seed germination assays. These polymers, developed by our research team, offer advantages such as low cost, tunable properties, broad applicability, and environmental compatibility. They are thus promising candidates for introducing new materials into the biodegradable plastics market.
