Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Weber Beringui Feitosa, Patricia L. Morris
Summary: Mammalian oocytes undergo morphological, structural, and molecular changes during a process called oocyte aging. The SUMO pathway, specifically SUMO-2/3 and the SUMO-specific protease SENP-2, are involved in spindle morphology changes and chromosome movements during oocyte aging. Decreased UBC9 and differential ubiquitination patterns also correlate with in vitro oocyte aging. These findings suggest that age-related changes in SUMOylation and the deSUMOylation of key target proteins may contribute to spindle and chromosome alignment defects during mammalian oocyte postovulatory aging, with implications for ART-related human oocyte aging and fertilization success.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lu Lu, Shan Su, Haitao Yang, Shibo Jiang
Summary: Throughout history, emerging viruses have constantly appeared and have resulted in millions of human deaths. Climate change and globalization have now created favorable conditions for viral transmission. Thus, the development of effective antivirals, particularly those targeting conserved proteins in multiple unrelated viruses, is urgently needed to combat future emerging and re-emerging viruses.
Article
Immunology
Wenying Gao, Yajuan Rui, Guangquan Li, Chenyang Zhai, Jiaming Su, Han Liu, Wenwen Zheng, Baisong Zheng, Wenyan Zhang, Yongjun Yang, Shucheng Hua, Xiaofang Yu
Summary: The study demonstrates that specific deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) can inhibit viral proteins from HIVs/SIVs, highlighting a previously unrecognized interplay between DUBs and viral replication. This suggests that enhancing the antiviral activity of DUBs represents a promising strategy against HIVs/SIVs.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicholas W. Ashton, Gabrielle J. Valles, Nancy Jaiswal, Irina Bezsonova, Roger Woodgate
Summary: USP7 is a critical deubiquitinating enzyme with important roles in multiple signaling pathways. The study reveals that DNA polymerase iota is a novel substrate of USP7, which requires binding to both TRAF and UBL1-2 domains for efficient deubiquitination. This discovery establishes a new bipartite mode of substrate binding for USP7.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Julius T. Dongdem, Simon P. Dawson, Robert Layfield
Summary: The study revealed a previously unappreciated complexity in ubiquitin modification, involving SUMO2 modification and phosphorylation of unanchored polyubiquitin chains.
Review
Immunology
Chaoyu Zou, Yige Zhang, Huan Liu, Yu Wu, Xikun Zhou
Summary: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanosized lipid particles released by living cells, which carry bioactive molecules and regulate cell growth and metabolism. They play significant roles in the interaction between host and bacteria, and have great application potential in various fields.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Justin D. Shepard, Brendan T. Freitas, Sergio E. Rodriguez, Florine E. M. Scholte, Kailee Baker, Madelyn R. Hutchison, Jaron E. Longo, Holden C. Miller, Brady M. O'Boyle, Aarushi Tandon, Peng Zhao, Neil J. Grimsey, Lance Wells, Eric Bergeron, Scott D. Pegan
Summary: Post-translational modification of host and viral proteins by ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins is important for the host's immune response. Avian species lack an ubiquitin-like protein (ISG15) found in mammals and other reptiles, raising interest in studying the structure and function of avian OASL.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Serap Sezen, Atefeh Zarepour, Ali Zarrabi, Siavash Iravani
Summary: The design of MXene-based biosensors with high sensitivity and selectivity has the potential to revolutionize the manufacturing industry of biosensors. MXenes, with their unique properties such as biocompatibility and stability, have been developed for the detection of pathogenic viruses and bacteria. Ongoing research aims to optimize the performance of MXene-based biosensors and explore their applications in other areas of biosensing.
MICROCHEMICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Siavash Iravani
Summary: With the increasing abuse of antibiotics and self-medication, researchers should consider the use of novel systems for targeted drug delivery against antibiotic-resistant bacteria and infections. Silica-based nanosystems with unique physicochemical properties have shown potential in combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria and pathogenic viruses. Smart nanosystems can be developed through surface functionalization, offering opportunities for controlling and treating various infections.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Stefan Otte, Emiliano Perez Ipina, Rodolphe Pontier-Bres, Dorota Czerucka, Fernando Peruani
Summary: The research findings indicate that the process of Salmonella Typhimurium searching for host cells is a random process that does not involve chemotaxis, but strongly depends on the motility parameters of the bacteria.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marion Dejosez, Arturo Marin, Graham M. Hughes, Ariadna E. Morales, Carlos Godoy-Parejo, Jonathan L. Gray, Yiren Qin, Arun A. Singh, Hui Xu, Javier Juste, Carlos Ibanez, Kris M. White, Romel Rosales, Nancy J. Francoeur, Robert P. Sebra, Dominic Alcock, Thomas L. Volkert, Sebastien J. Puechmaille, Andrzej Pastusiak, Simon D. W. Frost, Michael Hiller, Richard A. Young, Emma C. Teeling, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Thomas P. Zwaka
Summary: By creating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from bats, researchers have discovered that bats can tolerate a large load of viral sequences and may have a more intertwined relationship with viruses. Further study of bat iPSCs and their differentiated progeny will provide insights into bat biology, virus host relationships, and the molecular basis of bats' special traits.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jianlong Wang, Shizong Wang, Chuanhong Chen, Jun Hu, Shijun He, Yuedong Zhou, Huanzheng Zhu, Xipo Wang, Dongming Hu, Jian Lin
Summary: This study established a demonstration project of hospital sewage using electron beam technology during the COVID-19 pandemic and demonstrated that electron beam radiation can effectively remove COD, pathogenic bacteria, and viruses in sewage.
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Erhan Zor, Fariba Mollarasouli, Leyla Karadurmus, Goksu Ozcelikay, Sibel A. Ozkan
Summary: Bacterial and viral pathogens pose a significant threat to human safety and health. Fluorescent nanoparticles, such as carbon dots and quantum dots, are highly useful for imaging and detecting pathogenic microorganisms due to their outstanding features. However, accurately diagnosing and identifying multiple harmful bacteria simultaneously still face challenges. With the development of biosensors, nanoproduct-based bio-sensing has emerged as a promising method for accurately identifying and quantifying various pathogens at a low cost, with high sensitivity and selectivity, and time savings. This review discusses the recent applications of carbon dots in optical and electrochemical-based sensors, as well as examples of pathogen sensors.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Huizhen Li, Yunhui Li, Cenlin Gui, Daqi Chen, Lanfang Chen, Le Luo, Guobao Huang, Yang Yuan, Rong He, Fan Xia, Jiahai Wang
Summary: In this study, it has been confirmed that bare glass nanopores can accurately measure various lengths of DNA duplexes without adding organic solvent and embedding polymer hydrogel. The measurement has a resolution of 200 base pairs and shows well-separated peak amplitudes of blockage currents. By utilizing this capability, amplicons from PCR amplification can be discriminated without fluorescent labeling. This method can also discriminate various pathogenic bacteria and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 and its mutants, in clinical samples with high resolution. Furthermore, the bare glass nanopore can quantitatively measure PCR amplicons without the need for extra labeling, with a detection range from 0.75 aM to 7.5 pM and a detection limit of 7.5 aM.
Article
Zoology
Charles J. Mason, Michelle Peiffer, Gary W. Felton, Kelli Hoover
Summary: Insect guts can harbor bacteria that can transform from commensal to pathogenic, and dietary nutrition and host species can influence these interactions.
JOURNAL OF INVERTEBRATE PATHOLOGY
(2022)