The expression of adhesion molecules by stem cells within their niches is well described, but what is their function? A conventional view is that these adhesion molecules simply retain stem cells in the niche and thereby maintain its architecture and shape. Here, we review recent literature showing that this is but one of their roles, and that they have essential functions in all aspects of the...

Textiles are frequently colonized by microorganisms leading to undesired consequences like hygienic problems. Biocidal coatings often raise environmental and health concerns, thus sustainable, biocide-free coatings are of interest. To develop novel anti-adhesive textile coatings, a rapid, reliable, and quantitative high-throughput method to study microbial attachment to fabrics is required, how...

FLRTs are broadly expressed proteins with the unique property of acting as homophilic cell adhesion molecules and as heterophilic repulsive ligands of Unc5/Netrin receptors. How these functions direct cell behavior and the molecular mechanisms involved remain largely unclear. Here we use X-ray crystallography to reveal the distinct structural bases for FLRT-mediated cell adhesion and repulsion ...

The unambiguous and quantitative modulus and adhesion data provided by PeakForce QNM® can help to answer the critical question of what materials are abundant on a topographic area and how they are distributed. QNM makes possible to study the variation and position of mechanical properties across a surface at speed and resolutions not attainable by other methods. This imaging technology is a spe...

Adhesion phenomena are essential to many biological processes and to synthetic adhesives and manufactured coatings and composites. Supramolecular interactions are often implicated in various adhesion mechanisms. Recently, supramolecular building blocks, such as synthetic DNA base-pair mimics, have drawn attention in the context of molecular recognition, self-assembly, and supramolecular polymer...

Adhesion of probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) has been reported to be host species specific. Host specificity is regarded as a desirable property for probiotic bacteria and therefore recommended as one of the selection criteria. However, previous studies have indicated that LAB originating from one host adhere well also to the mucus of other species. The aim of the study was to investigate t...

Propionibacterium freudenreichii is a beneficial bacterium traditionally used as a cheese ripening starter and more recently for its probiotic abilities based on the release of beneficial metabolites. In addition to these metabolites (short-chain fatty acids, vitamins, and bifidogenic factor), P. freudenreichii revealed an immunomodulatory effect confirmed in vivo by the ability to protect mice...

Mononuclear cells and platelets are intimately involved in the pathogenesis and complications of cardiovascular disease. Platelet activation has been reported in hypertension, though the activation-state of monocytes has received less attention. In this study the adhesiveness of monocytes and platelets was assessed and any relationship between the adhesive properties of these cellular elements ...

Application of nickel?titanium (NiTi) alloys to medical implant devices is increasing due their unique characteristics. However, many reports show adverse effects corrosion the implantation in human body. To ensure good biocompatibility body, fluorine-doped amorphous carbon (a-C:H:F) coating a promising candidate. Generally, a-C:H:F shows poor adhesion on metallic alloys, so that silicon-incorp...