Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Venkatesh Mayandi, Wen-Tyng Kang, Darren Shu Jeng Ting, Eunice Tze Leng Goh, Myoe Naing Lynn, Thet Tun Aung, Jamuna Vadivelu, Veluchamy Amutha Barathi, Anita Sook Yee Chan, Rajamani Lakshminarayanan
Summary: This study demonstrates that the combination of propranolol and antifungal drugs can enhance antifungal activity, particularly in combination with itraconazole. In vivo studies using a murine systemic candidemia model showed that the combination treatment resulted in decreased weight loss, lower kidney fungal burden, and reduced renal inflammation compared to monotherapy or no treatment. These findings suggest that propranolol can increase the efficacy of azoles against C. albicans, providing a new therapeutic strategy for invasive fungal infections.
Article
Immunology
George Ashton, Fei Sang, Martin Blythe, Daniel Zadik, Nadine Holmes, Sunir Malla, Simone M. T. Camps, Victoria Wright, Willem J. G. E. Melchers, Paul S. Verweij
Summary: This study successfully identified the genetic basis of itraconazole resistance in A. fumigatus through mating experiments and bulk segregant analysis. Strategies such as successive backcrossing and increasing the number of progeny in pools were shown to enhance the efficiency and resolution of BSA.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Hengameh B. Pajer, Anthony M. Asher, Aaron Gelinne, Weston Northam, David van Duin, Carolyn S. Quinsey
Summary: Cerebral aspergillosis has a high mortality rate, but surgical resection and the use of voriconazole or itraconazole have been shown to significantly improve patient survival.
WORLD NEUROSURGERY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiaoxiao Gu, Lixian Xu, Haoyang Yuan, Cailing Li, Juan Zhao, Shuang Li, Dinghua Yu
Summary: The conjugation of sophorolipid and toluidine blue (SL-TB) showed higher bactericidal activity and accumulation of photosensitizers compared to free toluidine blue. This can be attributed to the triple factors of sophorose affinity, hydrophobic association, and electrostatic attraction, which enhances antibacterial photodynamic efficiencies.
Article
Immunology
Aotian Ouyang, Huabing Wang, Jianguo Su, Xiaoling Liu
Summary: COS6 enters blunt snout bream macrophages through MaMR CTLD4-8, suppressing the expression of inflammatory genes while other receptors are involved in immune regulation. MaMR CTLD4-8 cooperates with TLR4 to regulate the pro-inflammatory response caused by COS6 in macrophages of blunt snout bream.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Neeraj Kumar, Shishu Goindi
Summary: The study developed an optimized formulation of itraconazole loaded nanosized liposomes for effective treatment against superficial fungal infections. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated high drug entrapment, micrometer-sized vesicles, high skin retention and drug permeation qualities of the formulation. The optimized hydrogel showed rapid alleviation of infection in animal models compared to commercial antifungal therapies.
JOURNAL OF DRUG DELIVERY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kristina Zlatina, Sebastian P. Galuska
Summary: Most extracellular proteins undergo sugar chain post-translational modification, which not only affects the activity of carrier proteins but also has bioactivity on its own. The diverse glycosylation patterns of lactoferrin from different sources and their impact on functionality are discussed in this review, with a focus on the differences between human and bovine lactoferrin and their potential effects on therapeutic approaches.
BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Weibin Ma, Luling Zhao, Eric T. Johnson, Yanli Xie, Mingming Zhang
Summary: This study found that natural food flavour (E)-2-hexenal exhibits antifungal activity on Aspergillus flavus conidia through a ROS-dependent mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Tsuyoshi Yamada, Mari Maeda, Hiroaki Nagai, Karine Salamin, Yun-Tsan Chang, Emmanuella Guenova, Marc Feuermann, Michel Monod
Summary: Trichophyton indotineae is an emerging dermatophyte that causes severe tinea corporis and tinea cruris. The presence of two types of TinCYP51B amplification, with different sizes of tandem repeats, was found in azole-resistant strains. By using the CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing tool, it was demonstrated that azole resistance in T. indotineae strains is mediated by one of these types of TinCYP51B amplification. A rapid and reliable PCR test identified the prevalence of type II strains among the analyzed resistant strains.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Bo-Young Kim, Ji Hyeon Ryu, Jisu Park, Byeongjun Ji, Hyun Soo Chun, Min Sun Kim, Yong-Il Shin
Summary: Lettuce and its bioactive compounds can enhance the immune system by acting as immune modulators. This study found that fermented lettuce extract (FLE) can activate macrophages and increase their phagocytic ability and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. FLE can also regulate the activation and polarization of tumor-associated macrophages and promote apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Paulo H. F. Carmo, Marliete C. Costa, Victor A. T. Leocadio, Ludmila Gouveia-Eufrasio, Eluzia C. P. Emidio, Samantha P. Pimentel, Tatiane A. Paixao, Nalu T. A. Peres, Daniel A. Santos
Summary: This study found that adaptation of T. interdigitale to itraconazole increases tolerance to antifungals and alters the interaction with macrophages and a mammalian host.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hisanao Kishimoto, Caroline Ridley, David J. Thornton
Summary: This study reveals the interaction between cyclic peptides and mucins in the gastrointestinal tract, suggesting that the mucus barrier plays a crucial role in regulating the intestinal permeation of cyclic peptides.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Andi Dian Permana, Rifka Nurul Utami, Patricia Layadi, Achmad Himawan, Nana Juniarti, Qonita Kurnia Anjani, Emilia Utomo, Sandra Aulia Mardikasari, Andi Arjuna, Ryan F. Donnelly
Summary: This study focused on incorporating itraconazole into nanocrystalline carrier system with Pluronic (R) F127 stabilizer and formulating it into thermosensitive in situ ocular gel, showing improved antifungal activity against Candida albicans. The optimized gel base demonstrated better therapeutic effect on infected porcine eye models, with a 93% decrease in the CA population after 48 hours.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Xingfeng Liu, Kai Wang, Shaocong Hou, Qian Jiang, Chunxiao Ma, Qijin Zhao, Lijuan Kong, Jingwen Chen, Zhenhe Wang, Huabing Zhang, Tao Yuan, Yuxiu Li, Yi Huan, Zhufang Shen, Zhuowei Hu, Zhifeng Huang, Bing Cui, Pingping Li
Summary: The tyrosine kinase receptor EphB4 interacts with the insulin receptor to promote its endocytosis and degradation, leading to decreased insulin signaling and insulin resistance. Inhibition of EphB4 can improve insulin resistance and glucose intolerance.
Article
Virology
George W. Carnell, Katarzyna A. Ciazynska, David A. Wells, Xiaoli Xiong, Ernest T. Aguinam, Stephen H. McLaughlin, Donna Mallery, Soraya Ebrahimi, Lourdes Ceron-Gutierrez, Benedikt Asbach, Sebastian Einhauser, Ralf Wagner, Leo C. James, Rainer Doffinger, Jonathan L. Heeney, John A. G. Briggs
Summary: The study found that immunization with a closed state S protein trimer in mice can induce strong neutralizing antibody responses, despite the receptor binding site being occluded. Closed spikes have different protein binding properties and induce more potent neutralizing responses than expected, recruiting distinct immune responses that include neutralizing antibodies against conformational epitopes present in the closed state. The findings suggest that closed spikes, along with their improved stability and storage properties, may be a valuable component of refined, next-generation vaccines.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)