Perspectives on using bacteriophages in biogerontology research and interventions.

With the development of materials engineering, gerontology-related research on new tools for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, including precision and personalised medicine, has expanded significantly. Using nanotechnology, drugs can be precisely delivered to organs, tissues, cells, and cell organelles, thereby enhancing their therapeutic effects. Here, we discuss the possible use of bacteriophages as nanocarriers that can improve the safety, efficiency, and sensitivity of conventional medical therapies. Phages are a new class of targeted-delivery vectors, which can carry high concentrations of cargo and protect other nontargeted cells from the senescent cell killing effects of senolytics. Bacteriophages can also be subjected to chemical and/or genetic modifications that would acquire novel properties and improve their ability to detect senescent cells and deliver senolytics. Phage research in experimental biogerontology will also develop strategies to efficiently deliver senolytics, target senescent cells, activate extrinsic apoptosis pathways in senescent cells, trigger immune cells to recognise senescent cells, induce autophagy, promote cell and tissue regeneration, inhibit senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) by senomorphic activity, stimulate the properties of mild stress-inducing hormetic agents and hormetins, and modulate the gut microbiome.

Imaging Flow Cytometry as a Quick and Effective Identification Technique of Pollen Grains from Betulaceae, Oleaceae, Urticaceae and Asteraceae.

Despite the continuous and intensive development of laboratory techniques, a light microscope is still the most common tool used in pollen grains differentiation. However, microscopy is time-consuming and needs well-educated and experienced researchers. Other currently used techniques can be categorised as images and non-images analysis, but each has certain limitations. We propose a new approach to differentiate pollen grains using the Imaging Flow Cytometry (IFC) technique. It allows for high-throughput fluorescence data recording, which, in contrast to the standard FC, also enables real-time control of the results thanks to the possibility of digital image recording of cells flowing through the measuring capillary. The developed method allows us to determine the characteristics of the pollen grains population based on the obtained fluorescence data, using various combinations of parameters available in the IDEAS software, which can be analysed on different fluorescence channels. On this basis, we distinguished pollen grains both between and within different genera belonging to the Betulaceae, Oleaceae, Urticaceae and Asteraceae families. Thereby, we prove that the proposed methodology is sufficient for accurate, fast, and cost-effective identification and potentially can be used in the routine analysis of allergenic pollen grains.