Article
Cell Biology
Yohei Kume, Hayato Go, Ryo Maeda, Kazuhide Suyama, Tsutomu Mori, Yukihiko Kawasaki, Koichi Hashimoto, Mitsuaki Hosoya
Summary: In this study, a mouse model of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) induced by LPS/Stx2 was used. The results showed that LPS/Stx2 administration led to decreased urinary osmolality and urinary potassium, suggesting distal nephron disorders. Microarray analysis identified differentially expressed genes at 6 h and 72 h after LPS/Stx2 administration, with activation of TNFR1/2, iNOS, and IL-6 signaling observed at both time points. Additionally, pathways associated with lipid metabolism were inhibited at 72 h only. The downregulated genes were mainly expressed in the distal nephrons.
PHYSIOLOGICAL GENOMICS
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Lucrezia Rocchetti, Beatrice Munari, Elisa Varrone, Elisa Porcellini, Dorothea Orth-Hoeller, Reinhard Wuerzner, Domenica Carnicelli, Maurizio Brigotti
Summary: The pathogenesis of eHUS is influenced by pathogenic E. coli producing Stx and host factors. Stx2a is considered the main pathogenic factor in eHUS development, with its functional properties changing based on modifications of toxin structure.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Ahmad Mobed, Mohammad Hasanzadeh
Summary: Shiga toxin, produced by E. coli and Shigella dysenteriae, inhibits protein production by binding to the ribosome subunit. Traditional diagnostic methods have limitations, while biosensors are considered a potential modern technology to overcome them. Various strategies using advanced nanomaterials and bioreceptors have been studied, showing promising results in efficient recognition of Stx and Stx-producing bacteria in clinical samples.
MICROCHEMICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David Baglietto-Vargas, Stefania Forner, Lena Cai, Alessandra C. Martini, Laura Trujillo-Estrada, Vivek Swarup, Marie Minh Thu Nguyen, Kelly Do Huynh, Dominic Javonillo, Kristine Minh Tran, Jimmy Phan, Shan Jiang, Eniko A. Kramar, Cristina Nunez-Diaz, Gabriela Balderrama-Gutierrez, Franklin Garcia, Jessica Childs, Carlos J. Rodriguez-Ortiz, Juan Antonio Garcia-Leon, Masashi Kitazawa, Mohammad Shahnawaz, Dina P. Matheos, Xinyi Ma, Celia Da Cunha, Ken C. Walls, Rahasson R. Ager, Claudio Soto, Antonia Gutierrez, Ines Moreno-Gonzalez, Ali Mortazavi, Andrea J. Tenner, Grant R. MacGregor, Marcelo Wood, Kim N. Green, Frank M. LaFerla
Summary: The researchers created a mouse model that expresses wildtype human A β, demonstrating effects on cognition, synaptic plasticity, brain changes, inflammation, PAS granules, and gene expression. Furthermore, excision of exon 14 through Cre-mediated methods reduced A β expression and rescued cognitive impairments.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
David Arenas-Mosquera, Alipio Pinto, Natacha Cerny, Clara Berdasco, Adriana Cangelosi, Patricia Andrea Geoghegan, Emilio Luis Malchiodi, Mauricio De Marzi, Jorge Goldstein
Summary: This study aims to investigate the pathogenesis of encephalopathy associated with hemolytic uremic syndrome. The findings suggest that toxins released by enterohemorrhagic E. coli infection can trigger neuroinflammatory response and alterations in the neurovascular unit, which are associated with neurological compromise and abnormal motor behavior.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Sato Kamiya, Kaori Shimizu, Ayaka Okada, Yasuo Inoshima
Summary: The study demonstrates that the expression of SAA3 in mouse mammary epithelial cells is increased by bacterial antigen stimulation, suggesting that SAA3 plays a crucial role in defending against bacterial infection in mouse mammary epithelium.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Biniam Moges, Degisew Yinur, Aliyi Hassen, Tesfaye Sisay Tessema
Summary: A rapid, effective, sensitive, and specific immunodiagnostic assay for STEC strain detection was developed in this study. The assay showed high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in detecting STEC strains, including those in human feces. However, further studies are needed to improve the sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility.
WORLD JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Silvia Zampar, Oliver Wirths
Summary: The relationship between extracellular amyloid-beta deposits and intracellular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) remains not fully understood. Studies have shown that A beta deposits trigger tau phosphorylation and accumulation, but the impact of different A beta variants on tau pathology is still debated. Crossbreeding studies on transgenic mouse models suggest that A beta(4-42) peptides may have partial negative effects on motor performance and spatial memory in aged mice.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Waka Sato, Miho Watanabe-Takahashi, Takashi Hamabata, Koichi Furukawa, Satoru Funamoto, Kiyotaka Nishikawa
Summary: Accumulation of amyloid-13 peptide in neuronal cells and in the extracellular regions in the brain is a major cause of Alzheimer's disease. Inhibiting A13 accumulation provides a promising therapeutic strategy against AD by modulating the intracellular transport of APP.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mostafa M. Elhady, Sara A. Adly, Husam A. Elshebiny, Said S. Moselhy
Summary: This study evaluated the levels of serum S100B and amyloid beta in patients with organophosphate (OP) intoxication to determine their sensitivity and specificity in assessing the severity of neurological damage. The results showed a positive correlation between S100B and amyloid beta levels, while there was a negative correlation between pseudocholinesterase activity and both markers. The levels of S100B and amyloid beta were significantly elevated in the patient group compared to the control group. The diagnostic accuracy of S100B was found to be higher than that of amyloid beta in distinguishing between moderate and severe OP intoxication. These findings suggest that changes in S100B and amyloid beta levels are directly related to the severity of OP intoxication.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ping K. Yip, Zhou-Hao Liu, Shumaila Hasan, Mark B. Pepys, Christopher E. G. Uff
Summary: The mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are poorly understood. The normal plasma protein, serum amyloid P component (SAP), is found in contused brain tissue and may have a potential contribution to subsequent neurodegeneration.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Oshin D. Warerkar, Niyati H. Mudliar, Tanya Ahuja, Sailee D. Shahane, Prabhat K. Singh
Summary: The development of an accurate and sensitive sensor for detecting amyloid plaques is crucial for early diagnosis of protein disorders like Alzheimer's disease. The use of hemicyanine-based probe LDS730, belonging to the Near-Infrared Fluorescence family, provides higher precision, prevents photo-damage, and minimizes autofluorescence. The sensor exhibits a 110-fold increase in fluorescence turn-on emission when bound to insulin fibrils, making it highly sensitive with great potential for early detection and improving diagnostic accuracy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Jian Yang, Jingjing Zhou, Jia Zhou, Haixia Wang, Zuoli Sun, Xuequan Zhu, Yi He, Albert H. C. Wong, Fang Liu, Gang Wang
Summary: This study found that levels of serum amyloid P component (SAP) were significantly higher in depressed patients and were negatively associated with depression severity after escitalopram treatment. Interestingly, treatment with escitalopram significantly decreased SAP levels in females but not in males.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dongmiao Qin, Shuo Meng, Yusheng Wu, Guichun Mo, Xiaohua Jiang, Biyang Deng
Summary: In this study, a dual-wavelength ratiometric electrochemiluminescence sensor was developed for sensitive detection of Aβ(42), showing satisfactory stability, high sensitivity, good reproducibility, and excellent specificity.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Bahador Hajimohammadi, Gilda Eslami, Elahe Loni, Mohammad Hassan Ehrampoush, Seyed Mohammad Moshtaghioun, Hossein Fallahzadeh, Seyed Ali Yasini Ardakani, Saeedeh Sadat Hosseini, Vahideh Askari
Summary: The study found that GM rice consumption did not have a significant impact on the concentrations of tumor markers in rats, which were within the normal range. However, further research is needed to assess the safety of consuming GM rice.
NUTRITION AND CANCER-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Bing (Catherine) Wu, Travis M. Blimkie, Evan F. Haney, Reza Falsafi, Noushin Akhoundsadegh, Robert E. W. Hancock
Summary: Using a human organoid skin model, the study investigated the transcriptomic changes of thermally-injured epidermis to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilm colonization. It was found that synthetic antibiofilm peptide DJK-5 effectively diminished MRSA biofilm and associated skin inflammation.
Article
Ecology
Christina L. Wiesmann, Yue Zhang, Morgan Alford, Corri D. Hamilton, Manisha Dosanjh, David Thoms, Melanie Dostert, Andrew Wilson, Daniel Pletzer, Robert E. W. Hancock, Cara H. Haney
Summary: Members of the bacterial genus Pseudomonas can form mutualistic, commensal, and pathogenic associations with diverse hosts. The study found that the regulatory gene ColR/S is functionally conserved between Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas fluorescens, but there are differences in the regulon. ColR/S allows Pseudomonas to sense and respond to a host, and the divergence of the ColR regulon may be related to different lifestyles.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Arjun Baghela, Andy An, Peter Zhang, Erica Acton, Jeff Gauthier, Elsa Brunet-Ratnasingham, Travis Blimkie, Gabriela Cohen Freue, Daniel Kaufmann, Amy H. Y. Lee, Roger C. Levesque, Robert E. W. Hancock
Summary: Severely-afflicted COVID-19 patients can exhibit sepsis-like disease manifestations, and the diagnostic tools used in managing sepsis may also be applicable to COVID-19 patients. This study analyzed the blood transcriptome of COVID-19 patients and identified gene expression signatures that are associated with severity and potential therapeutic opportunities. The expression of sepsis gene expression signatures in severely-afflicted COVID-19 patients indicates the importance of considering severe sepsis classification and using these signatures for mechanistic characterization, diagnosis, and guidance of treatment using repurposed drugs.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Corrie R. Belanger, Melanie Dostert, Travis M. Blimkie, Amy Huei-Yi Lee, Bhavjinder Kaur Dhillon, Bing Catherine Wu, Noushin Akhoundsadegh, Negin Rahanjam, Javier Castillo-Arnemann, Reza Falsafi, Daniel Pletzer, Cara H. Haney, Robert E. W. Hancock
Summary: Pseudomonas aeruginosa adapts to the nutritional environment of the host by altering gene expression and utilizing alternative pathways, and studying its survival in a simulated infection environment can provide insights into its infection mechanisms and potential new therapies.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Kristen I. Gibson, Britt Drogemoller, Dirk M. Foell, Susanne Benseler, Jinko Graham, Robert E. W. A. Hancock, Raashid A. Luqmani, David L. Cabral, Kelly J. Brown, Colin Ross
Summary: This study conducted a genome-wide association study of pediatric ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and found a significant genetic association between HLA-DPB1*04:01 allele and pediatric AAV. The study also suggested that childhood- and adult-onset vasculitis may share a common genetic predisposition. These findings contribute to improved classification tools and treatment strategies for AAV.
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shahid Chaudhary, Zahir Ali, Muhammad Tehseen, Evan F. Haney, Aaron Pantoja-Angles, Salwa Alshehri, Tiannyu Wang, Gerard J. Clancy, Maya Ayach, Charlotte Hauser, Pei-Ying Hong, Samir M. Hamdan, Robert E. W. Hancock, Magdy Mahfouz
Summary: This study demonstrates the efficient production of bioactive amidated AMPs through transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana line expressing the mammalian enzyme peptidylglycine alpha-amidating mono-oxygenase. The AMPs purified from plants exhibit robust killing activity against highly virulent and antibiotic-resistant pathogens, and can prevent their biofilm formation when used in combination with antibiotics. The techno-economic analysis also shows the potential economic advantages and scalability for industrial use of this platform.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Arjun S. Baghela, Jasmine Tam, Travis M. Blimkie, Bhavjinder K. Dhillon, Robert E. W. Hancock
Summary: In this study, a compendium of 103 gene sets related to sepsis was built by collecting data from transcriptomic studies. The gene sets comprise 20,899 unique genes, and the study describes the commonly involved molecular mechanisms. A database called SeptiSearch was created to provide bioinformatic tools for the sepsis community to explore and validate these gene sets.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Andy Y. An, Arjun Baghela, Peter Zhang, Reza Falsafi, Amy H. Lee, Uriel Trahtemberg, Andrew J. Baker, Claudia C. dos Santos, Robert E. W. Hancock
Summary: This study compared the gene expression trajectories between severe COVID-19 patients and contemporaneous non-COVID-19 severe sepsis patients during hospitalization. COVID-19 patients had 1,215 differentially expressed genes compared to non-COVID-19 sepsis patients at ICU admission, but the number dropped to 9 genes after one week. The findings highlight the importance of early antiviral treatment for COVID-19 and the potential for heme-related therapeutics.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Hashem Etayash, Fione Yip, Robert E. W. Hancock
Summary: In this study, the impacts of pegylation and glycosylation on the biocompatibility and biological properties of host defense peptides (HDPs) were investigated. It was found that both modifications significantly reduced aggregation, hemolysis, and cytotoxicity, and enhanced immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of the peptides. However, antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity was partially reduced.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez, Angela Cesaro, Robert E. W. Hancock
Summary: Despite advances in antibiotic discovery, millions of people still die from infections every year. Antibiotic failure is not solely due to antibiotic resistance, but also related to biofilm formation, sepsis, and the microbiome. To address the crisis of antibiotic failure, it is necessary to explore treatment strategies beyond antibiotics and develop new anti-infectives or host-directed therapies.
DRUG RESISTANCE UPDATES
(2023)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Jinghao Hu, Jian Yu, He Liu, Zhejun Wang, Markus Haapasalo, Evan F. Haney, Robert E. W. Hancock, Shuli Deng, Ya Shen
Summary: This study evaluated the antimicrobial effects of commercially available mouthrinses and a D-enantiomeric peptide on oral multispecies biofilms. The results showed that DJK-5 demonstrated the highest percentage of dead bacteria and may be a potential candidate for future mouthrinses.
JOURNAL OF DENTISTRY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Andy Y. An, Arjun Baghela, Peter Zhang, Reza Falsafi, Amy H. Lee, Uriel Trahtemberg, Andrew J. Baker, Claudia C. dos Santos, Robert E. W. Hancock
Summary: Transcriptional evidence showed persistent immune dysfunction in both severe COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 septic patients, associated with increased mortality. This highlights the potential for immunomodulatory therapies targeting common mechanisms of immune dysfunction in both diseases.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Dan Wang, Jian Yu, He Liu, Tian Zhang, Evan F. Haney, Robert E. W. Hancock, Lin Peng, Ya Shen
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of DJK-5-D enantiomeric antibiofilm peptide on the corrosion resistance of titanium with different surface roughness. The results showed that DJK-5 effectively enhanced the corrosion resistance of titanium while killing S. mutans biofilms, with smooth surfaces more susceptible to peptide treatment.
JOURNAL OF DENTISTRY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Alberto Baldelli, Hashem Etayash, Hale Oguzlu, Ronit Mandal, Feng Jiang, Robert E. W. Hancock, Anubhav Pratap-Singh
Summary: Spray-dried nanoparticle-in-microsphere formulations composed of aluminum oxide nanoparticles, zinc oxide, zinc oxide nanoparticles, and cellulose nanocrystals are reported to have potent antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against various bacteria. The study emphasizes the importance of matrix compositions in manipulating the antimicrobial properties and toxicity of metal oxide biomaterials. The formulations showed higher antimicrobial activity compared to individual raw materials, and a specific formulation with CNCs, aluminum oxide, and zinc oxide nanoparticles exhibited the highest antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity. Importantly, these formulations also had minimal toxicity when tested against blood cells. Thus, low-toxicity and high antimicrobial nanoparticle-in-microsphere formulations could be used for targeted drug delivery and reducing the use of antibiotics.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL ADVANCES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Heidi Wolfmeier, Samuel J. T. Wardell, Leo T. Liu, Reza Falsafi, Annette Draeger, Eduard B. Babiychuk, Daniel Pletzer, Robert E. W. Hancock
Summary: Engineered liposomes containing sphingomyelin and cholesterol can effectively neutralize toxins secreted by Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, reducing the cytolytic effects and attenuating the infection in vivo. The liposomes sequester and neutralize the virulence-promoting hemolytic phospholipase C (PlcH), offering a potential therapy to treat complex infections caused by P. aeruginosa and other Gram-negative pathogens expressing PlcH.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)