Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fernanda D. Botelho, Marcelo C. Santos, Arlan S. Goncalves, Tanos C. C. Franca, Steven R. LaPlante, Joyce S. F. D. de Almeida
Summary: This study identified three potential ricin inhibitors among approved drugs using computational techniques. These compounds were found to form hydrogen bonds with different sites of RTA, qualifying as potential antidotes against ricin intoxication.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Miroslav Pohanka
Summary: An immunosensor is a biosensor used for detecting hazardous substances like aflatoxin, botulinum toxin, ricin, and Shiga toxin. It has various applications including outdoor assays, point-of-care tests, and laboratory use. Some immunosensors have been successfully commercialized as tools for toxin assays, and new devices and advanced materials and techniques are being developed to enhance their competitiveness in this field. This review summarizes current applications and new trends of immunosensors based on recent papers in this area.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Libo Gao, Zhigang Xie, Min Zheng
Summary: In this study, carbon dots were used as carriers to construct nanocomposites with proteins for intracellular delivery, maintaining the biological activity of the proteins.
Article
Biology
Miho Watanabe-Takahashi, Masakazu Tamada, Miki Senda, Masahiro Hibino, Eiko Shimizu, Akiko Okuta, Atsuo Miyazawa, Toshiya Senda, Kiyotaka Nishikawa
Summary: The study identified a tetravalent peptide and a monomeric peptide that can inhibit Shiga toxin (Stx) by targeting its receptor-binding and inhibiting catalytic activity, respectively. These peptides demonstrate potent inhibition of two functionally distinct subunits of Stx, providing a potential intervention for the pathogenic mechanism of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yu Wu, Clemence Taisne, Nassim Mahtal, Alison Forrester, Marion Lussignol, Jean-Christophe Cintrat, Audrey Esclatine, Daniel Gillet, Julien Barbier
Summary: This study demonstrates that ricin intoxication induces autophagic degradation in mammalian cells, and autophagy deficiency exacerbates ricin-induced cytotoxicity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Masaru Goto, Natsumi Sakamoto, Shoko Higashi, Rena Kawata, Kazuki Nagatsu, Ryota Saito
Summary: In this study, the X-ray crystal structure of the 7PCGY/RTA complexes was successfully resolved. It was found that the interaction between the phenolic hydroxy group in 7PCGY and Asn78 of RTA through hydrogen bonding, as well as the conformational change of Tyr80 and Asn122, are responsible for the high RTA inhibitory activity of 7PCGY.
JOURNAL OF ENZYME INHIBITION AND MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Silje N. Ramstad, Arne M. Taxt, Umaer Naseer, Yngvild Wasteson, Jorgen V. Bjornholt, Lin T. Brandal
Summary: The study found that some antibiotics can increase the production of Shiga toxin, while others do not. STEC O104:H4 was the serotype that exhibited the strongest response to antimicrobial exposure with an increase in stx2a transcription and Stx production.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Wouter J. C. Feitz, Romy Bouwmeester, Thea J. A. M. van der Velden, Susan Goorden, Christoph Licht, Lambert P. J. W. van den Heuvel, Nicole C. A. J. van de Kar
Summary: This study suggests that inhibiting the synthesis of Gb3 could be a potential therapeutic target for protecting against (further) endothelial damage caused by Stx in the future.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Beatriz Suay-Garcia, Jose I. Bueso-Bordils, Antonio Falco, Gerardo M. Anton-Fos, Pedro A. Aleman-Lopez
Summary: Traditionally, drug development involved time-consuming and costly processes, but the application of virtual combinatorial chemistry and virtual screening can greatly accelerate the search and development of drugs, while saving costs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Toxicology
Zhongliang Liu, Xiaohao Zhang, Meng Xu, Mingxin Dong, Ziwei Liu, Yan Wang, Haotian Yu, Kaikai Yu, Na Xu, Wensen Liu, Hui Song
Summary: The study revealed significant differential expression of 323 mRNAs and 19 miRNAs after RT treatment, with 713 miRNA-mRNA interaction pairs identified mainly involving JAK-STAT, T cell receptor, and MAPK signaling pathways. miR-155-3p was found to regulate TNF-alpha secretion in RT-induced inflammatory injury.
TOXICOLOGY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mingxin Dong, Xiaohao Zhang, Haotian Yu, Yan Wang, Ying Chang, Chengbiao Sun, Jianxu Zhang, Na Zhao, Kaikai Yu, Guangchao Sun, Guiru Zhao, Na Xu, Wensen Liu
Summary: This study identified circEpc1 as a promoter in RT-induced inflammation, functioning as a miR-5114 sponge to activate NF-kappa B and MAPK signaling pathways. The results provide new insights into the functions of circRNA in innate immunity and suggest potential immunotherapy targets for controlling RT-induced inflammation.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Wilhermine Jean Baptiste, Michelucia Casseus, Alka Dev, Patrice Joseph, Peter F. Wright
Summary: A total of eight cases of a unique illness were identified among 1,424 neonates admitted to a newly established neonatal care unit in southern Haiti over a 2-year period. The newborns presented with symptoms of sepsis with shock, vomiting, hypotonia, lethargy, and abdominal distention. The illness was found to be associated with the ingestion of teas containing castor oil, known as lok in Haitian Creole. The use of traditional medicines, such as castor oil, should be highlighted as a globally widespread practice and efforts should be made to ban their use in neonates due to potential toxicity.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Haotian Yu, Songyan Li, Na Xu, Wensen Liu
Summary: This review summarizes the mechanism of action of ricin toxin (RT), research results and design strategies of RT neutralizing antibodies, and discusses key issues in the development of RT neutralizing antibody research.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mohammed Khaldoon Altalib, Naomie Salim
Summary: Information technology has become an integral part of drug development, and virtual screening is a computational technique used to screen chemical compounds efficiently. The similarity search is a key task in virtual screening, aiming to estimate the similarity between molecules. However, the current methods still fall short when dealing with structurally heterogeneous compounds.
Review
Immunology
Izabella de Macedo Henrique, Flavia Sacerdoti, Raissa Lozzardo Ferreira, Camila Henrique, Maria Marta Amaral, Roxane Maria Fontes Piazza, Daniela Luz
Summary: This article introduces the structure of Shiga toxins (Stx) and the bacteria that produce them, as well as different types of antibody molecules for Stx neutralization and their potential applications.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Timothy F. Czajka, David J. Vance, Simon Davis, Michael J. Rudolph, Nicholas J. Mantis
Summary: This study reveals the importance of ribosomal P-stalk proteins in recruiting ricin's RTA subunit to the sarcin-ricin loop (SRL) for ribosome inactivation. By characterizing a collection of single-domain antibodies that block RTA-P-stalk peptide interactions, the researchers show that these antibodies protect ribosomes from depurination and render cells resistant to ricin intoxication. Furthermore, the crystal structures of these antibodies indicate structural mimicry of C-terminal domain peptides, providing valuable insights into the mechanism of ricin intoxication.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Cait M. Costello, Graham G. Willsey, Angelene F. Richards, Jaeyoon Kim, Matteo S. Pizzuto, Stefano Jaconi, Fabio Benigni, Davide Corti, Nicholas J. Mantis, John C. March
Summary: Secretory IgA (SIgA) is the most abundant antibody type in intestinal secretions, playing a key role in protecting the epithelium from invasive pathogens like STm. Experiments in human Enteroids and HIOs have shown that Sal4 IgA can effectively reduce invasion by STm.
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Immunology
Pamela A. Kozlowski, Nicholas J. Mantis, Andreas Frey
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Jane C. Figueiredo, Fred R. Hirsch, Lawrence H. Kushi, Wendy N. Nembhard, James M. Crawford, Nicholas Mantis, Laurel Finster, Noah M. Merin, Akil Merchant, Karen L. Reckamp, Gil Y. Melmed, Jonathan Braun, Dermot McGovern, Samir Parekh, Douglas A. Corley, Namvar Zohoori, Benjamin C. Amick, Ruofei Du, Peter K. Gregersen, Betty Diamond, Emanuela Taioli, Carlos Sariol, Ana Espino, Daniela Weiskopf, Alba Gifoni, James Brien, William Hanege, Marc Lipsitch, David A. Zidar, Ann Scheck McAlearney, Ania Wajnberg, Joshua LaBaer, E. Yvonne Lewis, Raquel A. Binder, Ann M. Moormann, Catherine Forconi, Sarah Forrester, Jennifer Batista, John Schieffelin, Dongjoo Kim, Giulia Biancon, Jennifer VanOudenhove, Stephanie Halene, Rong Fan, Dan H. Barouch, Galit Alter, Swetha Pinninti, Suresh B. Boppana, Sunil K. Pati, Misty Latting, Andrew H. Karaba, John Roback, Rafick Sekaly, Andrew Neish, Ahnalee M. Brincks, Douglas A. Granger, Amy B. Karger, Bharat Thyagarajan, Stefani N. Thomas, Sabra L. Klein, Andrea L. Cox, Todd Lucas, Debra Furr-Holden, Kent Key, Nicole Jones, Jens Wrammerr, Mehul Suthar, Serre Yu Wong, Natalie M. Bowman, Viviana Simon, Lynne D. Richardson, Russell McBride, Florian Krammer, Meenakshi Rana, Joshua Kennedy, Karl Boehme, Craig Forrest, Steve W. Granger, Christopher D. Heaney, Maria Knight Lapinski, Shannon Wallet, Ralph S. Baric, Luca Schifanella, Marcos Lopez, Soledad Fernandez, Eben Kenah, Ashish R. Panchal, William J. Britt, Inaki Sanz, Madhav Dhodapkar, Rafi Ahmed, Luther A. Bartelt, Alena J. Markmann, Jessica T. Lin, Robert S. Hagan, Matthew C. Wolfgang, Jacek Skarbinski
Summary: SeroNet is a large US multi-institutional coordinated initiative that researches immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination. The research program and infrastructure development can assist in preparedness and response for other emerging diseases worldwide.
OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sakshi Bajoria, Kawaljit Kaur, Ozan S. Kumru, Greta Van Slyke, Jennifer Doering, Hayley Novak, Sergio A. Rodriguez Aponte, Neil C. Dalvie, Christopher A. Naranjo, Ryan S. Johnston, Judith Maxwell Silverman, Harry Kleanthous, J. Christopher Love, Nicholas J. Mantis, Sangeeta B. Joshi, David B. Volkin
Summary: Low-cost, refrigerator-stable COVID-19 vaccines are important for global accessibility and vaccine coverage. This study found that aluminum-salt and CpG adjuvants decrease the stability of the RBD-J antigen, but enhance the immune response in mice, with the AH+CpG formulation being the most effective at inducing SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus neutralizing antibodies.
HUMAN VACCINES & IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Elaheh Movahed, David J. Vance, Dylan Ehrbar, Greta Van Slyke, Jennifer Yates, Karen Kullas, Michael Rudolph, Nicholas J. Mantis
Summary: This study investigates the antibody reactivity and potential limitations of B. burgdorferi colonization by analyzing human serum samples from individuals with B. burgdorferi infection. The study identifies specific regions on DbpA that elicit strong antibody responses, suggesting that these antibodies may play a role in limiting the attachment and colonization of B. burgdorferi in distal tissues during the early stages of infection.
Article
Immunology
Amber M. Frye, Monir Ejemel, Lisa Cavacini, Yang Wang, Michael J. Rudolph, Renjie Song, Nicholas J. Mantis
Summary: Lyme disease vaccines based on recombinant OspA can generate protective antibodies that interfere with the transmission of disease-causing spirochetes by ticks. These antibodies can also induce agglutination of B. burgdorferi, suggesting a potential biological activity in vivo.
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2022)
Review
Allergy
Erin C. Davis, Vanessa P. Castagna, David A. Sela, Margaret A. Hillard, Samantha Lindberg, Nicholas J. Mantis, Antti E. Seppo, Kirsi M. Jarvinen
Summary: Establishing the gut microbiome in early life is important for long-term health, and breast-feeding plays a significant role in shaping the composition and function of the microbiome. This review aims to summarize the evidence on the effects of breast-feeding on the gut microbiome and discuss the mechanisms behind these effects.
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
H. M. Emranul Haque, Nicholas J. Mantis, David D. Weis
Summary: This paper presents a screening protocol for epitope mapping using HX-MS that offers higher throughput compared to traditional methods. The results obtained from the screening protocol are consistent with those from the complete HX-MS, but with a higher throughput.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Michael J. Rudolph, Simon A. Davis, H. M. Emranul Haque, David D. Weis, David J. Vance, Carol Lyn Piazza, Monir Ejemel, Lisa Cavacini, Yang Wang, M. Lamine Mbow, Robert D. Gilmore, Nicholas J. Mantis
Summary: The study focuses on the structure of OspC and its interaction with a specific antibody B5, which has implications for the development of Lyme disease vaccines and therapeutics.
Article
Immunology
Samantha K. Lindberg, Graham G. Willsey, Nicholas J. Mantis
Summary: Secretory IgA (SIgA) protects the intestinal epithelium from enteric pathogens such as Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (STm) through immune exclusion, but the underlying mechanism of how SIgA mediates the transition from motile and invasive state to an avirulent sessile state in STm is unknown. In this report, the snow globe assay was developed to visualize and quantify STm agglutination by the mouse monoclonal IgA Sal4. The results showed that agglutination was influenced by bacterial motility and cell-cell collisions.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
David J. Vance, Michael J. Rudolph, Simon A. Davis, Nicholas J. Mantis
Summary: The monoclonal antibodies JB4 and SylH3 neutralize ricin toxin by recognizing an ancillary carbohydrate recognition pocket located in subdomain 1 beta of the toxin's B subunit. This recognition is mediated by the Phe side chain from the heavy chain's complementarity determining region (CDR3). The study suggests that subdomain 1 beta functions as a coreceptor required for stabilizing glycan interactions mediated by subdomains 1 alpha and 2 gamma.
Review
Immunology
Kimia Sobhani, Susan Cheng, Raquel A. Binder, Nicholas J. Mantis, James M. Crawford, Nkemakonam Okoye, Jonathan G. Braun, Sandy Joung, Minhao Wang, Gerard Lozanski, Christopher L. King, John D. Roback, Douglas A. Granger, Suresh B. Boppana, Amy B. Karger, Ralph A. Tripp
Summary: In this article, the established clinical use cases for SARS-CoV-2 antibody measures are reviewed, and the definition of an antibody correlate of protection (CoP) for SARS-CoV-2 is examined. The use of binding antibody tests and neutralization tests, as well as the considerations of antibody responses in different populations, vaccine types, and variants, are discussed. The importance of cellular immunity in the nature and durability of protection is also addressed.
Article
Cell Biology
Cody G. Kempen, Matthew A. Deragon, Alexa L. Hodges, Michael Hamersky, Melanie Vugelman, Jack Qu, Nicholas J. Mantis, Timothy J. LaRocca
Summary: This study found that airway macrophages may be a major source of cytokines that induce lung epithelial cell death. After ricin-induced apoptosis of U937 cells, released RT and FasL contributed to the death of A549 cells. In addition, the release of HMGB1 also triggered cell death in A549 cells. The bystander necroptosis of lung epithelial cells during RT toxicosis may perpetuate or increase the proinflammatory response.
CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Medical Laboratory Technology
Christopher D. Heaney, Heidi Hempel, Kate L. Derosa, Ligia A. Pinto, Nicholas J. Mantis
Summary: The measurement of SARS-CoV-2 serum and mucosal antibodies in oral fluids, with the establishment of best practices and clinical laboratory standards, is essential for understanding the immune-related factors that influence COVID-19 transmission and persistence within populations.
CLINICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mohammadhossein Movassaghghazani, Nazanin Shabansalmani
Summary: The study revealed high levels of AFM1 in both breast milk and powdered milk samples in Tehran, with some samples exceeding the established limits. Therefore, monitoring and regulating toxin levels in these products is crucial for maternal and infant health.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Defeng Wen, Wantong Han, Quan Chen, Guanhui Qi, Mengling Gao, Pu Guo, Yu Liu, Zhongyuan Wu, Shulin Fu, Qirong Lu, Yinsheng Qiu
Summary: Luteolin can inhibit FB1-induced intestinal inflammatory injury by inhibiting the activation of NF-kappa B and ERK signaling pathways, according to network pharmacology and in vitro experiments.