Breast cancer is now the most common type of cancer worldwide, surpassing lung cancer. This issue is further worsened by the lack of effective therapies for the disease. Recent reports indicate that the inhibition of ubiquitin-like modifier-activating enzyme 5 (UBA5) can impede tumor development. However, there have been few reports regarding UBA5-inhibiting compounds. This work studied usenamine A, a natural product from the lichen Usnea longissimi that exhibits UBA5-inhibitory effects. Bioinformatics analysis was performed using public databases, and the anti-proliferative ability of usenamine A in breast cancer cells was examined through MTS and colony formation assays. Flow cytometry and western blot analysis were also conducted to examine and analyze cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In addition, LC3B-RFP and UBA5 expression plasmids were used for the analysis of usenamine A-induced autophagy. According to the bioinformatics analysis results, UBA5 was upregulated in breast cancer. According to in vitro studies, usenamine A displayed prominent anti-proliferative activity and resulted in G2/M phase arrest in MDA-MB-231 cells. Moreover, usenamine A induced autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum stress in MDA-MB-231 cells. In conclusion, the findings support the potential of usenamine A as an agent that can attenuate the development and progression of breast cancer.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) initiates secondary injury cascades, including ferroptosis and neuroinflammation, which contribute to progressive neuronal and mye

Recent global viral outbreaks have highlighted the urgent need for protective face masks that combine high filtration performance with environmental sustainability. Herein, we developed a biodegradable, breathable, and antiviral nanofiber (NF) filter composed of quercetin (QU) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) via a solution‐blowing (SB) technique. The resulting QU/PEO NF filter exhibited a non‐woven morphology with high porosity and excellent mechanical durability, showing a high yield strength of 30 MPa. It also demonstrated rapid biodegradation in soil, confirming its eco‐friendly nature. Filtration tests showed a high particulate matter (PM _0.5 ) removal efficiency of up to 96.2% at an airflow rate of 20 L/min, with a low pressure drop, outperforming commercial mask filters. Antiviral evaluation showed significant suppression of SARS‐CoV‐2 pseudo‐virus (PV) infectivity with reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in skin cells. Sustained QU release at biologically relevant concentrations established a direct link between intrinsic bioactivity and filter‐level functional performance. In particular, the QU/PEO NF filter demonstrated significant antiviral activity against the live SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron variant. Molecular docking analyses revealed that QU may engage both 3CLpro and the ACE2 interface, suggesting a potential dual‐target antiviral mechanism. These results demonstrate the strong potential of the QU/PEO NF filter as a next‐generation non‐woven material for personal protective equipment, requiring effective viral protection, excellent breathability, skin compatibility, and environmental sustainability. image