Review
Microbiology
Yaru Ning, Yalin Huang, Mingshu Wang, Anchun Cheng, Qiao Yang, Ying Wu, Bin Tian, Xumin Ou, Juan Huang, Sai Mao, Di Sun, Xinxin Zhao, Shaqiu Zhang, Qun Gao, Shun Chen, Mafeng Liu, Dekang Zhu, Renyong Jia
Summary: The viral envelope glycoprotein E (gE) plays crucial roles in the cell-to-cell transmission, neurotransmission, and immune evasion of alphaherpesviruses. It interacts with other viral proteins and performs various functions in the virus life cycle. Moreover, the gE gene is commonly used as a target for constructing gene-deleted attenuated marker vaccines. Recent advancements have been made in the research and application of gE in conjunction with other viral proteins, which provide valuable insights for further studies on gE.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Clare Burn Aschner, Betsy C. Herold
Summary: Vaccines for alphaherpesviruses like VZV and HSV types 1 and 2 have shown varying levels of success, with live viral vaccines for chickenpox and subunit therapeutic vaccines for zoster proving highly successful. However, efforts to develop effective vaccines against HSV-1 and HSV-2 have been met with limited success. Different vaccine modalities elicit different types of immune responses, highlighting the need to reconsider preclinical models and immune correlates of protection against HSV.
CURRENT ISSUES IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lauren E. Stark, Wenyan Guan, Michael E. Colvin, Patricia J. LiWang
Summary: This review focuses on chemokine binding proteins (CBP), with an emphasis on those produced by mammalian viruses. These proteins can be potentially used as anti-inflammatory agents due to their ability to mediate inflammatory responses. Furthermore, the review explores the current and emerging capabilities of computational simulation, structural analysis, and biochemical/biophysical experimentation in understanding protein-protein interactions.
BIOMEDICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Review
Veterinary Sciences
Tong Zhou, Mingshu Wang, Anchun Cheng, Qiao Yang, Bin Tian, Ying Wu, Renyong Jia, Shun Chen, Mafeng Liu, Xin-Xin Zhao, Xuming Ou, Sai Mao, Di Sun, Shaqiu Zhang, Dekang Zhu, Juan Huang, Qun Gao, Yanling Yu, Ling Zhang
Summary: This article mainly describes the viral protein kinases and their mechanisms of regulating viral protein function through phosphorylation. The study of post-translational modification of viral proteins is of great significance for understanding viral infection mechanisms and developing antiviral treatment.
VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Richard Taubert, Bastian Engel, Jana Diestelhorst, Katharina L. Hupa-Breier, Patrick Behrendt, Niklas T. Baerlecken, Kurt-Wolfram Suehs, Maciej K. Janik, Kalliopi Zachou, Marcial Sebode, Christoph Schramm, Maria-Carlota Londono, Sarah Habes, Ye H. Oo, Claudine Lalanne, Simon Pape, Maren Schubert, Michael Hust, Stefan Duebel, Mario Thevis, Danny Jonigk, Julia Beimdiek, Falk F. R. Buettner, Joost P. H. Drenth, Luigi Muratori, David H. Adams, Jessica K. Dyson, Amedee Renand, Isabel Graupera, Ansgar W. Lohse, George N. Dalekos, Piotr Milkiewicz, Martin Stangel, Benjamin Maasoumy, Torsten Witte, Heiner Wedemeyer, Michael P. Manns, Elmar Jaeckel
Summary: This study identified more accurate autoantibodies for diagnosing autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) using a protein macroarray, which showed higher specificity and sensitivity compared to conventional autoantibodies. These antibodies could be used as promising markers to improve the diagnostic workup of liver diseases, particularly in cases of seronegative AIH.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Simona Daniele, Simona Saporiti, Stefano Capaldi, Deborah Pietrobono, Lara Russo, Uliano Guerrini, Tommaso Laurenzi, Elham Ataie Kachoie, Luca Palazzolo, Vincenzo Russo, Maria Pia Abbracchio, Ivano Eberini, Maria Letizia Trincavelli
Summary: GPR17, a key regulator of myelination, is activated by endogenous ligands and pro-inflammatory molecules. This study investigates the structural and functional interactions between GPR17 and chemokine receptors CXCR2 and CXCR4. The results show that these receptors can form heterodimers and modulate intracellular cAMP levels. This cross-talk between receptors could impact the neuroinflammatory environment associated with demyelinating events.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Julia M. Wortman, Emiel Leegwater, Danielle Van Lammeren-Venema, Cees Van Nieuwkoop, Annemieke Sobels, Erik B. Wilms
Summary: This study found a potential interaction between flucloxacillin and posaconazole, resulting in decreased posaconazole serum concentrations. Careful monitoring of posaconazole levels is recommended when concomitant use of flucloxacillin cannot be avoided.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tam Vo, Tayvia Brownmiller, Katherine Hall, Tamara L. Jones, Sulbha Choudhari, Ioannis Grammatikakis, Katelyn R. Ludwig, Natasha J. Caplen
Summary: This study investigates the interaction between the RNA-binding protein HNRNPH1 and G-rich sequences, showing its role in regulating gene exons and its relevance to cancer.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiaojing Cong, Wenwen Ren, Jody Pacalon, Rui Xu, Lun Xu, Xuewen Li, Claire A. de March, Hiroaki Matsunami, Hongmeng Yu, Yiqun Yu, Jerome Golebiowski
Summary: This study investigated how the amino-acid sequences of olfactory receptors (ORs) encode diversified responses to various ligands. Using a proteochemometric model, the researchers were able to predict OR responses to odorants and discover new OR-ligand pairs. This approach will contribute to the mapping of OR-odorant interactions and the identification of orphan receptors.
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Simon J. L. Petitjean, Wenzhang Chen, Melanie Koehler, Ravikumar Jimmidi, Jinsung Yang, Danahe Mohammed, Blinera Juniku, Megan L. Stanifer, Steeve Boulant, Stephane P. Vincent, David Alsteens
Summary: This study reveals that SARS-CoV-2 specifically binds to 9-O-acetylated sialic acid on cell surfaces and proposes novel inhibitors for viral infection. Understanding the molecular details of virus-cell binding and developing anti-viral strategies are urgent tasks in response to the emergence of highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yumiko Yamada, Shih-Te Chuang, Ching-Yu Tseng, Guan-Ru Liao, Shin-Wu Liu, Yeu-Yang Tseng, Fong-Yuan Lin, Wei-Li Hsu
Summary: This study compared Taiwanese ORFV isolates and found that deletion mutants of VEGF and CBP genes both lost virulence in cell and goat models, with the VEGF-deletion mutant showing a greater loss of virulence.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qi Yang, Anju Kelkar, Anirudh Sriram, Ryoma Hombu, Thomas A. Hughes, Sriram Neelamegham
Summary: N-linked glycans on the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein play a critical role in viral function and infectivity, making them potential drug targets for COVID-19.
Article
Biology
Michael A. Skuhersky, Fei Tao, Rui Qing, Eva Smorodina, David Jin, Shuguang Zhang
Summary: The accurate predictions of protein structures by AlphaFold2 have revolutionized biology, particularly structural biology. This study compared native chemokine receptor structures with their water-soluble QTY variants, showing high structural similarity despite significant sequence differences. Insights gained from this study may facilitate the design of water-soluble membrane proteins and other aggregated proteins.
Review
Plant Sciences
Yijie Wang, Jose Ramon Botella
Summary: As sessile organisms, plants have evolved mechanisms to adapt to environmental fluctuations. Heterotrimeric G proteins play essential roles in the response to stress in plants, regulating multiple signaling pathways. Understanding the functions of G proteins in stress reactions can contribute to the development of resilient crops and global food security.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Mengyang Sun, Hao Liu, Bingqing Zhu, Yang Liu, Aijia Li, Limei Wang
Summary: This study compared the clinical, laboratory, and imaging features of GFAP-IgG-associated myelitis and MOG-IgG-associated myelitis. The findings indicate differences in age of onset, gender distribution, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis results between the two groups.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joanne L. Allen, Nicholas P. Doidge, Christina Cheng, Michael Lynch, Helen K. Crabb, Jean-Pierre Scheerlinck, Rhys Bushell, Glenn F. Browning, Marc S. Marenda
Summary: Between 2014 and 2019, unexpected mortalities were observed in an endangered stick-insect colony. The pathogenic bacteria Serratia spp. were identified as the cause of these mortalities. Further analysis revealed that a specific strain of Serratia, S. ureilytica, was responsible for the infections in the insects, and it showed similarity to potentially entomopathogenic strains.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Sathya N. Kulappu Arachchige, Gregory J. Underwood, Daniel M. Andrews, A. M. Hasanthi Abeykoon, Nadeeka K. Wawegama, Glenn F. Browning
Summary: This study reviewed the literature on the evaluation of vaccine efficacy against pathological changes caused by M. gallisepticum in poultry. The study found that assessment of tracheal lesions is a more reliable method for evaluating disease induced by M. gallisepticum compared to assessment of air sac lesions. Furthermore, the study highlighted the importance of using a standardized model for evaluation and reporting of M. gallisepticum vaccines.
Article
Microbiology
Paarthiphan Elankumaran, Max L. Cummins, Glenn F. Browning, Marc S. Marenda, Cameron J. Reid, Steven P. Djordjevic
Summary: Pathogenic E. coli that causes extraintestinal infections (ExPEC) in humans and canines poses a significant burden in hospital and veterinary settings. A study examining the whole-genome sequencing of ExPEC from canines found that the majority of sequence types (STs) causing canine infections are also prominent in human ExPEC, indicating zoonotic transfer. However, the study identified one ST (ST372) as the dominant canine ST and a sporadic cause of infection in humans, suggesting potential zoonotic transmission.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
G. R. Chapman, B. Wells, J. R. Gilkerson, M. L. Flash
Summary: This study examined the breed and condition of horses sold at public auctions in Australia. Results showed that crossbred horses and ponies were the most commonly sold, with ponies being more likely to be sold to private buyers. Contrary to misconceptions, most horses and ponies presented for sale were in good condition.
AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Selvi Jegatheeson, Claire Cannon, Caroline Mansfield, Joanne Devlin, Andrew Roberts
Summary: The study shows that malignant T lymphocytes in dogs are sensitive to venetoclax, but B-cell cancers have low sensitivity. Detection of BCL2 protein alone cannot predict the sensitivity to venetoclax.
JOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Cristina del Alamo, Angela Vazquez-Calvo, Africa Sanchiz, Gil Rodriguez-Caravaca, Rocio Martin, Bruno Hernaez, Pablo Mendez-Vigo-Carranza, Juan Sanchez Garcia-Casarrubios, Antonio Alcami, Jose Luis Perez-Diaz
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought attention to the dangers of airborne transmission of pathogens. This study explores a fast method for capturing bioaerosols in air samples, which allows for quick detection of transient levels of aerosols and has revealed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in hospital rooms. The results show that the distribution of SARS-CoV-2-containing aerosols is not homogeneous, and this technology provides a valuable tool for fast decision-making and better understanding of aerosols dynamics.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
M. L. Flash, K. Shrestha, M. A. Stevenson, J. R. Gilkerson
Summary: This study examines the horse, race and activity records for the 37,704 horses racing and training in Australia during the 2017-2018 season. The results show that the average age of racing horses is 4 years, with geldings being the majority and entire males being the minority. Horses aged 2 years and younger are less likely to participate in races, and horses aged 3 years and younger have fewer starts compared to older horses. The majority of race starts are over distances of 1700 meters or less.
AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Paola K. Vaz, Marzieh Armat, Carol A. Hartley, Joanne M. Devlin
Summary: Infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) is a respiratory pathogen of chickens that causes significant economic losses in the poultry industry and poses health and welfare concerns. This study explored two different codon deoptimization techniques to disrupt and downregulate the expression of essential ILTV genes, ICP8 and UL12. Viruses deoptimized through codon pair bias deoptimization (CPBD) showed decreased protein expression, while viruses deoptimized through codon usage deoptimization (CUD) had inconsistent results. This study demonstrates the potential of CPBD as a tool for studying essential genes in ILTV.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Antonio Alcami
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Virology
Kai A. Kropp, Guorong Sun, Abel Viejo-Borbolla
Summary: Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2) infect neurons in the peripheral nervous system and establish latency, leading to lifelong persistence and recurrent disease. These viruses modulate neurite outgrowth during primary infection and upon reactivation, potentially facilitating infection and survival of neurons. This review focuses on the colonization of peripheral neurons by HSV-1 and HSV-2, with an emphasis on the modulation of neurite outgrowth by these viruses.
CURRENT OPINION IN VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Castor Salgado, Raquel Cue, Vanesa Yuste, Laura Montalvillo-Jimenez, Pilar Prendes, Senen Paz, Angela Vazquez-Calvo, Antonio Alcami, Carolina Garcia, Enrique Martinez-Campos, Paula Bosch
Summary: Commercial polyurethane coatings were modified with 1-(hydroxymethyl)-5,5-dimethylhydantoin to enhance their antiviral activity. The modified coatings showed high inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus and human coronaviruses HCoV-229E and SARS-CoV-2. The coatings were rechargeable and maintained their virucidal activity even after multiple infection cycles.
APPLIED MATERIALS TODAY
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Paarthiphan Elankumuran, Glenn F. Browning, Marc S. Marenda, Amanda Kidsley, Marwan Osman, Marisa Haenni, James R. Johnson, Darren J. Trott, Cameron J. Reid, Steven P. Djordjevic
Summary: ST372 is the major Escherichia coli sequence type in dogs globally and is sporadically responsible for extraintestinal infections in humans. However, it is unclear whether ST372 strains from dogs and humans represent shared or distinct populations. In this study, the authors conducted bioinformatics analyses on 407 ST372 E. coli whole-genome sequences to characterize their epidemiological features, population structure, and associated accessory genomes. The results confirm that dogs are the dominant host of ST372, with distinct clusters within the population structure exhibiting different O:H types. Evidence of transmission between dogs and humans within different clusters was also found.
MICROBIAL GENOMICS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ri O. Scarborough, Anna E. Sri, Glenn F. Browning, Laura Y. Hardefeldt, Kirsten E. Bailey
Summary: Veterinarians sometimes prescribe antimicrobials even when they know or suspect that they are unnecessary. A study conducted in Australia interviewed 22 veterinarians who treated companion animals to understand the drivers behind this behavior. The use of antimicrobials by veterinarians in the absence of a clear indication is often driven by fears of clinical deterioration and failing to meet client expectations.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ratna B. Gurung, Karma P. Zangmo, James R. Gilkerson, Glenn F. Browning, Angeline S. Ferdinand, Mauricio J. C. Coppo
Summary: This study aimed to assess antimicrobial consumption in livestock in Bhutan and identify areas for improvement to reduce the use of antimicrobials. National data on livestock numbers and annual procurement of veterinary antimicrobials were used to calculate rates of antimicrobial consumption and expenditure in Bhutan. The results show that the rate of antimicrobial consumption in Bhutan is lower than in most European countries, comparable to Iceland and Norway, and much lower than in South Asian countries like Nepal and Pakistan.
Article
Microbiology
Piklu Roy Chowdhury, Priyanka Hastak, Matthew Demaere, Ethan Wyrsch, Dmitriy Li, Paarthiphan Elankumaran, Monika Dolejska, Glenn F. Browning, Mark S. Marenda, Thomas Gottlieb, Elaine Cheong, John Merlino, Garry S. A. Myers, Steven P. Djordjevic
Summary: This study performed a comprehensive analysis of 925 genomes of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) ST38, revealing two clades and several clusters associated with specific blaCTX-M alleles. The study also identified various virulence genes carried by poorly characterized plasmids. Multiple potential inter-host and host-environment transmission events were also identified.
