Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiao Wang, Yiliang Li, Lin Wei, Lehui Xiao
Summary: Aggregation of beta-amyloid peptides is crucial for the development of Alzheimer's disease. However, traditional labeling methods for visualizing these aggregates have limitations. This study introduces a self-powered imaging strategy, using Pt nanoparticles as nanozymes, to generate fluorescent tags for efficient imaging of beta-amyloid aggregates. The nanoscopic imaging technique provides detailed information about the inhibitory effect of photosensitizers on the protein fibrillation process. This catalysis-based approach has promising applications in fibrillation imaging of beta-amyloid.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna L. Gharibyan, Sanduni Wasana Jayaweera, Manuela Lehmann, Intissar Anan, Anders Olofsson
Summary: Examined the anti-amyloid properties of endogenous proteins, which can interfere with amyloid formation and have clinical impact, providing potential therapeutic strategies.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Aikaterini Tsirkou, Flora Kaczorowski, Mathieu Verdurand, Rana Raffoul, Jonathan Pansieri, Isabelle Quadrio, Fabien Chauveau, Rodolphe Antoine
Summary: This work demonstrates the feasibility of nanospray-charge-detection-mass-spectrometry (CDMS) for amplifying alpha-synuclein fibrils from Parkinson's disease or Dementia with Lewy bodies patients, and its synergistic combination with RT-QuIC.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qiantao Song, Yi Li, Zhicheng Jin, Hai Liu, Matthew N. Creyer, Wonjun Yim, Yanping Huang, Xiaobing Hu, Tengyu He, Yajuan Li, Shana O. Kelley, Lingyan Shi, Jiajing Zhou, Jesse V. Jokerst
Summary: This study reports the mild and unique formation of luminescent spherulites at room temperature using benzene-1,4-dithiol. These spherulites not only exhibit robust structure but also show broad clusterization-triggered emission. They also demonstrate biocompatibility and efficient cellular uptake, making them valuable as traceable drug carriers.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fatima Kamal Zaidi, Rajiv Bhat
Summary: This study investigates the influence of curcumin and EGCG on the amyloid fibril formation of human lysozyme (HuL) and explores the mechanisms of their action. Curcumin inhibits HuL fibrillation by interacting with prefibrillar and fibrillar intermediates, while also disaggregating preformed fibrils. On the other hand, EGCG suppresses fibrillation but modulates the pathway towards large, β-sheet rich amyloid fibril-like aggregates and modifies preformed fibrils. Despite forming large agglomerates, both curcumin and EGCG reduce the surface hydrophobicity and cytotoxicity of HuL, possibly due to the dense and highly clustered nature of the aggregates.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Syed Mohammad Zakariya, Mohammad Furkan, Abdullah Arsalan, Faisal Nabi, Nadir Hassan, Hina Younus, Rizwan Hasan Khan
Summary: Mutation in genes and adverse conditions can cause neurodegenerative diseases; transition from helix to 0 sheet is a key feature of aggregate formation; research shows that melamine may cause unfolding of human serum albumin and lead to aggregate formation.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniel Kachkin, Kirill V. Volkov, Julia Sopova, Alexander G. Bobylev, Sergei A. Fedotov, Sergei G. Inge-Vechtomov, Oxana Galzitskaya, Yury O. Chernoff, Aleksandr A. Rubel, Anna Y. Aksenova
Summary: This study assessed the amyloid properties of RAD51 protein in vitro and in a bacterial system. The purified human RAD51 protein formed amyloid-like aggregates with a cross-beta fibrillar structure, and were stained with amyloid-specific dyes. Cytoplasmic aggregates of RAD51 were also observed in cell cultures overexpressing RAD51.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Mao Fukuyama, Suguru Nishinami, Yoko Maruyama, Taiki Ozawa, Shunsuke Tomita, Yumiko Ohhashi, Motohiro Kasuya, Masao Gen, Eri Chatani, Kentaro Shiraki, Akihide Hibara
Summary: This study developed a measurement method for the amyloid droplet nucleation rate based on image analysis, and found that LLPS unexpectedly suppressed amyloid nucleation in the droplets of a prion disease model protein.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Fatemeh Bardineshin, Seifollah Bahramikia, Reza Khodarahmi, Faranak Hadi
Summary: Mesalazine demonstrates inhibitory and destabilizing effects on human insulin fibrillation, suggesting its therapeutic potential in the treatment of insulin amyloidosis.
JOURNAL OF FLUORESCENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ying Liang, Jiayang Song, Jiayi Wang, Hao Liu, Xingquan Wu, Baoshan He, Xia Zhang, Jinshui Wang
Summary: This study investigated the effect of NaCl concentration (0-2.0%) on the formation of amyloid fibrils (AFs) in cooked wheat noodles. The results showed that 0.4% NaCl concentration promoted the production of AFs and increased their hydrophobicity. The molecular weight of AFs was mainly distributed in the range of 5-7.1 KDa. X-ray diffraction and AFM images revealed that 0.4% NaCl concentration promoted the formation and longitudinal growth of AFs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Jane S. Chen, Mitch Matoga, Cecilia Massa, Gerald Tegha, Beatrice Ndalama, Naomi Bonongwe, Esther Mathiya, Edward Jere, Gabriel Banda, Amy J. Loftis, Kathryn E. Lancaster, William C. Miller, Irving F. Hoffman, Myron S. Cohen
Summary: This study conducted in Lilongwe aimed to evaluate HIV shedding in men with urethritis receiving ART. The research found that despite viral suppression in the blood, some episodes of urethritis still showed seminal viral shedding. During non-urethritis follow-up, a small percentage of men had viral shedding in the semen while maintaining viral suppression in the blood.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Paula M. Corsini, Sunjun Wang, Saima Rehman, Katherine Fenn, Amin Sagar, Slobodan Sirovica, Leanne Cleaver, Charlotte J. C. Edwards-Gayle, Giulia Mastroianni, Ben Dorgan, Lee M. Sewell, Steven Lynham, Dinu Iuga, W. Trent Franks, James Jarvis, Guy H. Carpenter, Michael A. Curtis, Pau Bernado, Vidya C. Darbari, James A. Garnett
Summary: This study investigates the role of SslE protein in biofilm formation in Escherichia coli. The findings reveal that SslE has a unique and dynamic structure and can form aggregates with amyloid-like properties under acidic conditions. Additionally, SslE interacts with DNA and co-localizes with extracellular DNA in biofilms, suggesting its importance in biofilm maturation in various E. coli strains.
NPJ BIOFILMS AND MICROBIOMES
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Himanshu Chaudhary, Igor A. Iashchishyn, Nina Romanova, Mark A. Rambaran, Greta Musteikyte, Vytautas Smirnovas, Michael Holmboe, C. Andre Ohlin, Zeljko M. Svedruzic, Ludmilla A. Morozova-Roche
Summary: The study demonstrates that nanosized niobium polyoxometalates Nb-10 and TiNb9 act as potent inhibitors of S100A9 amyloid assembly, reducing the formation rate and quantity. The binding of POMs to S100A9 induces only local conformational changes in the binding sites.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ajit Kumar Bishoyi, Pratiksha H. Roham, Kavitha Rachineni, Shreyada Save, M. Asrafuddoza Hazari, Shilpy Sharma, Ashutosh Kumar
Summary: The overexpression of hIAPP in T2DM is associated with misfolding of the peptide, formation of amyloid deposits, and death and dysfunction of pancreatic beta-islets. Studies have shown that during aggregation, hIAPP undergoes conformational changes from helix to beta-sheet and finally to left-handed helical aggregates, with intermediates causing cellular toxicity.
BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Parveen Salahuddin, Munazza Tamkeen Fatima, Vladimir N. Uversky, Rizwan Hasan Khan, Zeyaul Islam, Mohammad Furkan
Summary: Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the abnormal loss of neurons, with common pathogenic mechanisms involving misfolding and aggregation of proteins. Accumulating evidence suggests that amyloid oligomers, not fibrils, are the most toxic species causing AD and PD.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Article
Virology
Lukas Wettstein, Patrick Immenschuh, Tatjana Weil, Carina Conzelmann, Yasser Almeida-Hernandez, Markus Hoffmann, Amy Kempf, Inga Nehlmeier, Rishikesh Lotke, Moritz Petersen, Steffen Stenger, Frank Kirchhoff, Daniel Sauter, Stefan Poehlmann, Elsa Sanchez-Garcia, Jan Muench
Summary: Host cell protease TMPRSS2 plays a critical role in the tropism and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2, and antithrombin (AT) is identified as a broad-spectrum inhibitor of coronavirus infection by blocking TMPRSS2 activity. AT can inhibit the entry of various coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, hCoV-229E, SARS-CoV-2, and the Omicron variant, as well as suppress lung cell infection with genuine SARS-CoV-2. Activation of AT by anticoagulants enhances its activity against TMPRSS2 and SARS-CoV-2, suggesting the potential of repurposing AT for COVID-19 treatment.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Virology
Felicia Goodrum, Anice Lowen, Seema Lakdawala, James Alwine, Arturo Casadevall, Michael Imperiale, Walter Atwood, Daphne Avgousti, Joel Baines, Bruce Banfield, Lawrence Banks, Sumita Bhaduri-McIntosh, Deepta Bhattacharya, Daniel Blanco-Melo, David Bloom, Adrianus Boon, Steeve Boulant, Curtis Brandt, Andrew Broadbent, Christopher Brooke, Craig Cameron, Samuel Campos, Patrizia Caposio, Gary Chan, Anna Cliffe, John Coffin, Kathleen Collins, Blossom Damania, Michael Daugherty, Kari Debbink, James DeCaprio, Terence Dermody, Jimmy Dikeakos, Daniel DiMaio, Rhoel Dinglasan, W. Paul Duprex, Rebecca Dutch, Nels Elde, Michael Emerman, Lynn Enquist, Bentley Fane, Ana Fernandez-Sesma, Michelle Flenniken, Lori Frappier, Matthew Frieman, Klaus Frueh, Michaela Gack, Marta Gaglia, Tom Gallagher, Denise Galloway, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Adam Geballe, Britt Glaunsinger, Stephen Goff, Alexander Greninger, Meaghan Hancock, Eva Harris, Nicholas Heaton, Mark Heise, Ekaterina Heldwein, Brenda Hogue, Stacy Horner, Edward Hutchinson, Joseph Hyser, William Jackson, Robert Kalejta, Jeremy Kamil, Stephanie Karst, Frank Kirchhoff, David Knipe, Timothy Kowalik, Michael Lagunoff, Laimonis Laimins, Ryan Langlois, Adam Lauring, Benhur Lee, David Leib, Shan-Lu Liu, Richard Longnecker, Carolina Lopez, Micah Luftig, Jennifer Lund, Balaji Manicassamy, Grant McFadden, Michael McIntosh, Andrew Mehle, W. Allen Miller, Ian Mohr, Cary Moody, Nathaniel Moorman, Anne Moscona, Bryan Mounce, Joshua Munger, Karl Muenger, Eain Murphy, Mojgan Naghavi, Jay Nelson, Christopher Neufeldt, Janko Nikolich, Christine O'Connor, Akira Ono, Walter Orenstein, David Ornelles, Jing-hsiung Ou, John Parker, Colin Parrish, Andrew Pekosz, Philip Pellett, Julie Pfeiffer, Richard Plemper, Stephen Polyak, John Purdy, Dohun Pyeon, Miguel Quinones-Mateu, Rolf Renne, Charles Rice, John Schoggins, Richard Roller, Charles Russell, Rozanne Sandri-Goldin, Martin Sapp, Luis Schang, Scott Schmid, Stacey Schultz-Cherry, Bert Semler, Thomas Shenk, Guido Silvestri, Viviana Simon, Gregory Smith, Jason Smith, Katherine Spindler, Megan Stanifer, Kanta Subbarao, Wesley Sundquist, Mehul Suthar, Troy Sutton, Andrew Tai, Vera Tarakanova, Benjamin tenOever, Scott Tibbetts, Stephen Tompkins, Zsolt Toth, Koenraad van Doorslaer, Marco Vignuzzi, Nicholas Wallace, Derek Walsh, Michael Weekes, Jason Weinberg, Matthew Weitzman, Sandra Weller, Sean Whelan, Elizabeth White, Bryan Williams, Christiane Wobus, Scott Wong, Andrew Yurochko
Summary: Viruses have posed various challenges for humanity, but virology research has played a crucial role in reducing disease burden. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented attention to the field, with concerns about conducting research on human pathogens and uncertainties regarding the origin of SARS-CoV-2. This has led to public confusion and misguided criticism of virology. This article aims to promote rational discourse by explaining gain-of-function approaches, discussing the possible origins of SARS-CoV-2, and outlining the regulatory structures in the United States that oversee virological research. The intention is to provide guidance to policymakers and maintain evidence-based discourse to address public concern and support vital virology research.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Annemarie Laumaea, Lorie Marchitto, Shilei Ding, Guillaume Beaudoin-Bussieres, Jeremie Prevost, Romain Gasser, Debashree Chatterjee, Gabrielle Gendron-Lepage, Halima Medjahed, Hung-Ching Chen, Amos B. Smith III, Haitao Ding, John C. Kappes, Beatrice H. Hahn, Frank Kirchhoff, Jonathan Richard, Ralf Duerr, Andres Finzi
Summary: The conformation of HIV-1 envelope (Env) determines the susceptibility of infected CD4(+) T cells to antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). The downregulation of CD4 on infected macrophages by Nef, Vpu, and Env has a lesser impact on Env conformation and ADCC sensitivity compared to CD4(+) T cells. However, treatment of infected macrophages with small CD4 mimetics exposes vulnerable CD4-induced Env epitopes and sensitizes them to ADCC.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Afshan Begum, Jun Zhang, Dean Derbyshire, Xiongyu Wu, Peter Konradsson, Per Hammarstroem, Eleonore von Castelmur
Summary: This study reports two trans-stilbene analog ligands that bind to native tetrameric TTR. Crystal structures revealed that the binding modes of these ligands were opposite to the predictions. One binding mode resulted in pH sensitivity of the fluorescent ligand, while the other mediated a stabilizing conformational change. These structures provide important insights into ligand design and interpretation of trans-stilbene binding modes to the TTR T4 binding site.
ACS CHEMICAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Armando Rodriguez, Ernesto M. Martell-Huguet, Melaine Gonzalez-Garcia, Daniel Alpizar-Pedraza, Annia Alba, Antonio A. Vazquez, Mark Grieshober, Barbara Spellerberg, Steffen Stenger, Jan Muench, Ann-Kathrin Kissmann, Frank Rosenau, Ludger A. Wessjohann, Sebastian Wiese, Ludger Staendker, Anselmo J. Otero-Gonzalez
Summary: In this report, three novel antimicrobial peptides were identified from the marine mollusk Nerita versicolor. These peptides showed activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and exhibited antibiofilm action against Candida albicans. However, they were ineffective against other bacteria and fungi. The results suggest that these N. versicolor-derived peptides could be developed into antibiotic alternatives against bacterial and fungal infections.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Per Hammarstroem, Sofie Nystroem
Summary: The interaction between viral infections, amyloid formation, and neurodegeneration has been a topic of discussion for a long time. Viral proteins can form amyloids, and post-acute sequalae (PAS) after viral infections have been observed. SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 have shown a connection between amyloid formation and severe outcomes in the acute infection, PAS, and neurodegenerative diseases. Various intersecting aspects of viruses and amyloids are highlighted, including evolutionary driving forces, protein endoproteolysis, and co-operativity between amyloids and viruses. The abnormal blood clotting in severe and long COVID, as well as the side effects of some vaccines, is linked to amyloid formation. Antiviral drug development, implementation, and the identification of suitable antigen targets for future vaccines are emphasized.
Article
Immunology
Alina Seidel, Simone Hoffmann, Bernd Jahrsdoerfer, Sixten Koerper, Carolin Ludwig, Christiane Vieweg, Dan Albers, Pascal von Maltitz, Rebecca Mueller, Ramin Lotfi, Patrick Wuchter, Harald Klueter, Frank Kirchhoff, Michael Schmidt, Jan Muench, Hubert Schrezenmeier
Summary: The study assessed the neutralization capacity of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 variants in convalescent individuals with and without vaccination. The results showed that vaccinated convalescents had significantly higher neutralizing titers compared to unvaccinated convalescents, indicating that vaccination can overcome immune evasion by the virus.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Alina Seidel, Eva-Maria Jacobsen, Dorit Fabricius, Magdalena Class, Maria Zernickel, Carmen Blum, Carina Conzelmann, Tatjana Weil, Ruediger Gross, Sebastian F. N. Bode, Hanna Renk, Roland Elling, Maximillian Stich, Frank Kirchhoff, Klaus-Michael Debatin, Jan Muench, Ales Janda
Summary: This study investigated the serum neutralization capacity and T cell memory responses of 36 seropositive adults and 34 children approximately one year after infection with the ancestral Wuhan strain of SARS-CoV-2. The results showed that a high percentage of both adults and children retained neutralizing activity against the SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strain, although the neutralization effect against the Omicron BA.1 variant was lower. Additionally, specific T cell memory responses against the Wuhan strain and the BA.1 variant were detected in both adults and children.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qinya Xie, Caterina Prelli Bozzo, Laura Eiben, Sabrina Noettger, Dorota Kmiec, Rayhane Nchioua, Daniela Niemeyer, Meta Volcic, Jung-Hyu Lee, Fabian Zech, Konstantin M. J. Sparrer, Christian Drosten, Frank Kirchhoff
Summary: Opposing effects of IFITMs on SARS-CoV-2 infection have been reported, but their role in other hCoVs remains unclear. This study finds that IFITM2 and/or IFITM3 are critical for efficient replication of SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2, and hCoV-OC43, but have little effect on MERS, NL63, and 229E-hCoVs. Overexpression of IFITMs inhibits all hCoVs except OC43, and impairs cell surface expression of ACE2, the entry receptor for SARS-CoVs and hCoV-NL63. These results explain the inhibitory effects of artificial IFITM overexpression on ACE2-tropic SARS-CoVs and demonstrate the hijacking of IFITMs by three hCoVs for efficient infection in human cells.
Article
Biology
Rayhane Nchioua, Annika Schundner, Susanne Klute, Lennart Koepke, Maximilian Hirschenberger, Sabrina Noettger, Giorgio Fois, Fabian Zech, Alexander Graf, Stefan Krebs, Peter Braubach, Helmut Blum, Steffen Stenger, Dorota Kmiec, Manfred Frick, Frank Kirchhoff, Konstantin M. J. Sparrer
Summary: The IFN system is a powerful antiviral defense mechanism. Effective IFN responses protect against severe COVID-19 and exogenous IFNs inhibit SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. However, emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) may have evolved reduced IFN sensitivity. This study found that the Omicron variant was least restricted by exogenous IFNs, suggesting that enhanced innate immune evasion contributed to its effective spread.
LIFE SCIENCE ALLIANCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Dominik Schauenburg, Fabian Zech, Astrid Johanna Heck, Pascal von Maltitz, Mirja Harms, Siska Fuehrer, Nico Alleva, Jan Muench, Seah Ling Kuan, Frank Kirchhoff, Tanja Weil
Summary: Viral infections are a major threat to human health and require effective antiviral strategies. Antiviral peptides have emerged as a promising therapeutic approach due to their unique properties and mechanisms of action. In this study, we developed a chemical strategy to assemble a heterodimeric peptide conjugate on a protein-based nanoplatform, combining two optimized peptides that inhibit HIV-1 by distinct mechanisms. The constructed peptide showed increased activity against different variants of HIV-1, demonstrating the potential of assembling peptides with different modes of action on nanoplatforms to enhance antiviral activity.
BIOCONJUGATE CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chiara Pastorio, Sabrina Noettger, Rayhane Nchioua, Fabian Zech, Konstantin M. J. Sparrer, Frank Kirchhoff
Summary: Additional mutations in the Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/5 help them outcompete the parental BA.2 subvariant. These mutations affect the infectivity, fusogenicity, and immune evasion of the virus, explaining the dominance and increased pathogenicity of these Omicron subvariants.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Kuebra Kaygisiz, Arghya Dutta, Lena Rauch-Wirth, Christopher V. Synatschke, Jan Muench, Tristan Bereau, Tanja Weil
Summary: Amyloid-like nanofibers from self-assembling peptides have potential for therapeutic viral gene transfer. A machine learning approach was used to predict de novo sequences for viral infectivity enhancement, leading to the discovery of short but active peptides. This strategy is time- and cost-efficient for expanding the chemical space of self-assembling peptides.
BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE
(2023)
Letter
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fabian Zech, Stefanie Weber, Hanna Dietenberger, Linyun Zhang, Sabrina Noettger, Meta Volcic, Tim Bergner, Clarissa Read, Konstantin M. J. Sparrer, Thomas F. E. Barth, Frank Kirchhoff
SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION AND TARGETED THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christoph Karsten Jung, Jan Muench, Timo Jacob
Summary: This study elucidates the interaction mechanism between EPI-X4 and CXCR4 through a simulation approach. Two pivotal requirements for the interaction were predicted, providing new insights for therapeutic development.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
