Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Kai Ma, Chun-Liu Mi, Xiang-Xiang Cao, Tian-Yun Wang
Summary: Gene delivery systems are crucial for gene therapy and recombinant protein production, with non-viral vector gene delivery reagents offering advantages such as large packaging load capacity and low immunogenicity. Liposomes and non-liposome cationic polymers are commonly used as gene delivery reagents, with different head structures including quaternary ammonium salt, amine, amino acid, polypeptide, guanidine salt, and a heterocyclic ring.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jeongsoo Hur, Hyelee Kim, Uijin Kim, Gi-Beom Kim, Jinho Kim, Byeongju Joo, Duck Cho, Dong-Sung Lee, Aram J. Chung
Summary: In this study, a nonviral T cell nanoengineering system was developed for highly efficient delivery of functional nanomaterials into primary human T cells. The system utilizes cell deformation and restoration induced by inertial flow in a microchannel, creating nanopores in the cellular membrane for effective transfection. This approach shows potential as an alternative technique for improving CAR-T cell manufacturing.
Article
Microbiology
Ana Alonso, Jaime Larraga, Francisco Javier Loayza, Enrique Martinez, Basilio Valladares, Vicente Larraga, Pedro Jose Alcolea
Summary: The compartmentalization of untranslated mRNA molecules in granules involves the formation of complexes between mRNA and RNA-binding proteins. This study found that in a stable episomal transfectant L. infantum promastigote line overexpressing DEVH1, important parasite survival and virulence factors are downregulated.
Article
Parasitology
Jinming Wang, Xiaoxing Wang, Guiquan Guan, Jifei Yang, Junlong Liu, Aihong Liu, Youquan Li, Jianxun Luo, Hong Yin
Summary: A stable transfection system for Babesia sp. Xinjiang (Bxj) was successfully established, which is expected to greatly facilitate basic research on Bxj.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yizong Hu, Yining Zhu, Nolan D. Sutherland, David R. Wilson, Marion Pang, Ester Liu, Jacob R. Staub, Cynthia A. Berlinicke, Donald J. Zack, Jordan J. Green, Sashank K. Reddy, Hai-Quan Mao
Summary: A kinetics-based approach has been developed for assembling size-controlled polyelectrolyte complex particles from plasmid DNA and poly(ethylenimine), improving the production quality and consistency of lentiviral vectors for gene therapy. This new method not only streamlines the viral manufacturing process but also enhances production scalability and particle stability.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Hyo Won Lee, Vinayak Juvekar, Dong Joon Lee, Sun Mi Kim, Hwan Myung Kim
Summary: Researchers have developed a highly stable red-emissive ratiometric fluorescent probe (CCGal1) for quantitatively monitoring beta-gal enzyme activity in live cells and tissues, showing fast emission color change and high enzyme reaction efficacy with minimized cytotoxicity.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ganeshan Sivanandhan, Solhee Bae, Chaemin Sung, Su-Ryun Choi, Geung-Joo Lee, Yong-Pyo Lim
Summary: Chinese cabbage is a significant dietary source of phytochemicals, but breeding elite cultivars is challenging due to a long cycle and complex genome. A protoplast transfection method was established for cell-based breeding and functional studies.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Adam Penn-Nicholson, Sophia B. Georghiou, Nelly Ciobanu, Mubin Kazi, Manpreet Bhalla, Anura David, Francesca Conradie, Morten Ruhwald, Valeriu Crudu, Camilla Rodrigues, Vithal Prasad Myneedu, Lesley Scott, Claudia M. Denkinger, Samuel G. Schumacher
Summary: The Xpert MTB/XDR assay demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy in detecting drug-resistant tuberculosis and has the potential to rapidly and accurately diagnose the disease, enabling proper treatment.
LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Onat Kadioglu, Mohamed Elbadawi, Edmond Fleischer, Thomas Efferth
Summary: Novel mechanisms of drug resistance independent of ABC transporters have been identified, contributing to anthracycline resistance in multidrug-resistant cells.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Joachim Justad Roise, Hesong Han, Jie Li, D. Lucas Kerr, Chung Taing, Kamyar Behrouzi, Maomao He, Emily Ruan, Lienna Y. Chan, Eli M. Espinoza, Soren Reinhard, Kanav Thakker, Justin Kwon, Mohammad R. K. Mofrad, Niren Murthy
Summary: The development of endosomal disruptive agents is challenging, with current agents having limited clinical impact. The caged surfactants are a new class of low molecular weight agents that selectively disrupt endosomes via reversible PEGylation under acidic conditions, addressing limitations hindering current agents. These surfactants have demonstrated the ability to enhance mRNA delivery and deliver siRNA into cells, showing promise for various applications in pharmaceutical chemistry and drug delivery.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ly Porosk, Jekaterina Nebogatova, Heleri Heike Hark, Birgit Vunk, Piret Arukuusk, Urve Toots, Mart Ustav, Ulo Langel, Kaido Kurrikoff
Summary: Therapeutic proteins are at the forefront of innovation in pharmaceutical medicine, but their industrial production poses technical challenges. This study aimed to find a fast, microliter-scale transfection assay for predicting protein expression in transient production settings. The results showed that commonly used microliter-scale transfection efficacy assays fail to predict performance in large-scale protein production. Additionally, cell-penetrating peptide-based transfection achieved significantly higher protein yields compared to other methods.
Article
Immunology
Sen Wang, Dongfang Li, Fangwei Chen, Weijun Jiang, Wanxin Luo, Guan Zhu, Junlong Zhao, Lan He
Summary: This study successfully developed a genetic modification method for Babesia duncani and validated its feasibility by knocking out a gene. This method will facilitate gene function research and vaccine development of B. duncani.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Lin Wang, Huanchun Xing, Shuai Guo, Wenbin Cao, Zinan Zhang, Lijuan Huang, Sui Xin, Yuan Luo, Yongan Wang, Jun Yang
Summary: Messenger RNA (mRNA) has great potential as a drug, but efficient and safe delivery remains a challenge. This study developed a new mRNA delivery system using negatively charged phospholipids to neutralize the positive charge and increase safety. Factors affecting mRNA transfection were investigated, and an optimal lipid composition, proportions, structure, and transfection time were determined. Adding an appropriate amount of anionic lipid to liposomes increased safety without compromising transfection efficiency. Further considerations are needed to optimize the design and preparation of the delivery system for mRNA encapsulation and releasing rate during in vivo transportation.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Benjamin C. Campbell, Maria G. Paez-Segala, Loren L. Looger, Gregory A. Petsko, Ce Feng Liu
Summary: This study reports a remarkably stable yellow fluorescent protein named hfYFP and its variants, which exhibit outstanding chemical and thermal stability for various challenging applications. By analyzing the crystal structure of hfYFP, highly stable 405nm-excitable green fluorescent proteins were developed. Furthermore, a fluorescence-assisted protein purification strategy was devised, allowing visualization of all steps of denaturing affinity chromatography using ultraviolet or blue light.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
A. Ramos-Valle, L. Marin-Caba, L. Garcia Hevia, M. A. Correa-Duarte, M. L. Fanarraga
Summary: Repairing genetic defects using exogenous DNA is a major challenge, and the design of effective vectors for encapsulating and delivering DNA to specific cells is crucial. The silica-based particles developed in this study provide stable encapsulation and protection of DNA, even under various stress conditions. The versatility of the design allows for the sequential expression of multiple genes, mimicking viral gene expression cascades, and the method is scalable, reproducible, and cost-effective, making it valuable for the personalized therapeutics industry.
MATERIALS TODAY ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Matthew A. Hulverson, Ryan Choi, Samuel L. M. Arnold, Deborah A. Schaefer, Andrew Hemphill, Molly C. McCloskey, Dana P. Betzer, Joachim Mueller, Rama S. R. Vidadala, Grant R. Whitman, Kasey L. Rivas, Lynn K. Barrett, Robert C. Hackman, Melissa S. Love, Case W. McNamara, Thomas K. Shaughnessy, Alison. Kondratiuk, Matthew Kurnick, Patricia N. Banfor, James J. Lynch, Gail M. Freiberg, Dale J. Kempf, Dustin J. Maly, Michael W. Riggs, Kayode K. Ojo, Wesley C. Van Voorhis
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY
(2017)
Article
Parasitology
Joachim Mueller, Adriana Aguado, Benoit Laleu, Vreni Balmer, Dominic Ritler, Andrew Hemphill
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY
(2017)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Joachim Mueller, Adriana Aguado-Martinez, Luis-Miguel Ortega-Mora, Javier Moreno-Gonzalo, Ignacio Ferre, Matthew A. Hulverson, Ryan Choi, Molly C. McCloskey, Lynn K. Barrett, Dustin J. Maly, Kayode K. Ojo, Wes Van Voorhis, Andrew Hemphill
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2017)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joachim Mueller, Martina Vermathen, David Leitsch, Peter Vermathen, Norbert Mueller
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joachim Mueller, Pablo A. Winzer, Kirandeep Samby, Andrew Hemphill
Article
Parasitology
Joachim Mueller, Sophie Braga, Anne-Christine Uldry, Manfred Heller, Norbert Mueller
Article
Microbiology
Pablo Winzer, Joachim Mueller, Dennis Imhof, Dominic Ritler, Anne-Christine Uldry, Sophie Braga-Lagache, Manfred Heller, Kayode K. Ojo, Wesley C. Van Voorhis, Luis-Miguel Ortega-Mora, Andrew Hemphill
Article
Microbiology
Pablo Winzer, Nicoleta Anghel, Dennis Imhof, Vreni Balmer, Luis-Miguel Ortega-Mora, Kayode K. Ojo, Wesley C. Van Voorhis, Joachim Mueller, Andrew Hemphill
Article
Microbiology
Joachim Muller, Manfred Heller, Anne-Christine Uldry, Sophie Braga, Norbert Muller
Summary: A novel enzyme with nitroreductase activity, encoded by ORF 17150, was identified in Giardia lamblia, providing insights into the resistance mechanisms of the parasite.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joachim Muller, Nicoleta Anghel, Dennis Imhof, Kai Hanggeli, Anne-Christine Uldry, Sophie Braga-Lagache, Manfred Heller, Kayode K. Ojo, Luis-Miguel Ortega-Mora, Wesley C. Van Voorhis, Andrew Hemphill
Summary: Neospora caninum, closely related to Toxoplasma gondii, is a parasite that can cause fetal malformations in livestock. The development of calcium-dependent protein kinase 1 inhibitors has shown promise in treating neosporosis. However, some of these inhibitors have adverse effects on fertility in pregnant mouse models and cause embryonic malformations in zebrafish models. Through affinity chromatography and mass spectrometry, it has been found that BKI-1748 interacts not only with specific targets in apicomplexans but also with targets in other eukaryotes, indicating involvement in common essential pathways.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicoleta Anghel, Joachim Mueller, Mauro Serricchio, Jennifer Jelk, Peter Buetikofer, Ghalia Boubaker, Dennis Imhof, Jessica Ramseier, Oksana Desiatkina, Emilia Paunescu, Sophie Braga-Lagache, Manfred Heller, Julien Furrer, Andrew Hemphill
Summary: The study investigated a novel ruthenium complex conjugated to 9-(2-hydroxyethyl)-adenine as a potential treatment against Toxoplasma gondii and Trypanosoma brucei. Proteins binding to the complex were identified using differential affinity chromatography followed by shotgun-mass spectrometry. The complex induced distinct ultrastructural modifications in the mitochondrion of the parasites, showing promising potential as a new treatment option.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biology
Ines L. S. Delgado, Alexandra Tavares, Samuel Francisco, Dulce Santos, Joao Coelho, Afonso P. Basto, Sara Zuquete, Joachim Mueller, Andrew Hemphill, Markus Meissner, Helena Soares, Alexandre Leitao, Sofia Nolasco
Summary: The study reveals that TgMOB1 is not essential for the growth of Toxoplasma gondii, but plays a crucial role in cell division. TgMOB1 mediates the replication speed of T. gondii parasites at a fine level. The research uncovers new features of MOB1 and its potential implications for disease processes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joachim Mueller, Ghalia Boubaker, Dennis Imhof, Kai Haenggeli, Noe Haudenschild, Anne-Christine Uldry, Sophie Braga-Lagache, Manfred Heller, Luis-Miguel Ortega-Mora, Andrew Hemphill
Summary: Leucinostatins are antimicrobial peptides that have a broad range of activities. In this study, a derivative peptide called 6027 was tested for its activity against Toxoplasma gondii, a parasitic organism. While effective in vitro, the application of peptide 6027 in mice infected with T. gondii worsened the infection. Peptide 6027 also affected the viability of mouse splenocytes. Through differential affinity chromatography and mass spectrometry, common targets for peptide 6027 were identified in both T. gondii and mouse spleen extracts. This method can be a useful way to identify drug targets in pathogens and hosts.
Article
Microbiology
Afonso P. Basto, Joachim Mueller, Riccardo Rubbiani, David Stibal, Federico Giannini, Georg Suss-Fink, Vreni Balmer, Andrew Hemphill, Gilles Gasser, Julien Furrer
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2017)
Article
Neurosciences
Fabienne Serra, Joachim Mueller, John Gray, Ramona Luethi, Sandor Dudas, Stefanie Czub, Torsten Seuberlich