Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification as a Promising Method for Mass COVID-19 Diagnostics.

Real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is currently the most popular method for early COVID-19 diagnostics. However, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is superior to real-time RT-PCR in rapidity and simplicity, since it does not require expensive laboratory equipment and trained personnel. LAMP-based diagnostic kits for COVID-19 testing already exist, but corresponding tests are not yet widely available. The method has great potential for mass application. Here, we discuss the technical and methodological aspects of its widespread adoption.

[Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition Marker in 2D and 3D Colon Cancer Cell Cultures in the Presence of Laminin 332 and 411].

Received August 28, 2018; revised October 10, 2018; accepted November 6, 2018 The loss of apical-basal cell polarity is a necessary stage of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Polarized epithelial cells interact with the basement membrane (BM) and, in particular, with laminins, the major components of BM. Here, we examined the effect of the transition of colon cancer cells from 2D polarized state to non-polarized 3D state on the expression of EMT associated genes, as well as the role of laminins 332 and 411 (LM-332 and LM-411) in this process. The three studied cell lines, HT-29, HCT-116 and RKO, were found to have different sensitivity to cultivation conditions (2D to 3D changes) and to addition of laminins. One of the possible reasons for this maybe a difference in the initial 2D state of the cells. In particular, it was shown that the cell lines were at different EMT stages. HT-29 exhibited more epithelial expression profile, RKO was more mesenchymal, and HCT-116 was in an intermediate state. The most laminin-sensitive cell line was HCT-116. The magnitude and the specificity of cell response to LM-332 and LM-411 depended on the expression pattern of laminins' receptors. EMT gene expression profile was not substantially changed neither during the transition from 2D to 3D state, nor the presence of laminins' isoforms. However, we detected changes in expression of SNAI1 and ZEB1 genes encoding transcription factors that control the EMT process. Notably, in all three studied cell lines, the expression of SNAI1 was enhanced in response to laminin treatment.

Circulating microRNAs.

The detection of miRNAs in plasma and other body fluids opened up a fascinating possibility that animal noncoding RNAs can act as extracellular signaling molecules. In this review, we discuss recent progress in the field including the ability of miRNAs to participate in intercellular communication in vitro and in vivo, and the application of circulating miRNAs as diagnostic markers of a wide range of diseases. Special attention is paid to the relevance of the development and unification of current techniques for isolation of circulating miRNAs.

New functions of small nucleolar RNAs.

Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are one of the most abundant and well-studied groups of non-coding RNAs. snoRNAs are mostly engaged in processing of rRNA. However, recent data indicate that snoRNAs are also involved in other processes including regulation of alternative splicing, translation and oxidative stress. snoRNAs are also involved in pathogenesis of some hereditary diseases and cancer. Therefore, the range of snoRNAs' functions is significantly wider than it has been assumed earlier.

Noncoding RNAs.

There has been substantial progress in studies on non-protein-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) during the last decade. Due to the development of new experimental approaches, a wide variety of such molecules have been found. This review considers the major groups of eukaryotic ncRNAs successfully studied in recent years. In particular, snoRNAs and scaRNAs involved in RNA modification and also miRNAs, siRNAs, tasiRNAs, and piRNAs responsible for RNA silencing are discussed. The transcripts of SINEs and SINE-like genes are considered separately.