Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amene Majidipur, Margot Morin-Dewaele, Jeanne Gaspar Lopes, Francois Berry, Julien Fouchet, Sophie Bartier, Anais Dufros Duval, Pascale Soyeux, Eric Huet, Bruno Louis, Andre Coste, Emilie Bequignon, Carolina Saldana, Philippe Le Corvoisier, Damien Destouches, Jean-Michel Pawlotsky, Alexandre de la Taille, Francis Vacherot, Patrice Bruscella, Virginie Firlej
Summary: In early 2020, the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan, China caused a global health emergency. The virus enters cells through the ACE2 protein and TMPRSS2 facilitates membrane fusion. TMPRSS2 is regulated by AR signaling, and inhibiting it with apalutamide reduces SARS-CoV-2 entry and infection in lung and nasal cells. These findings suggest that apalutamide could be a treatment option for PCa patients at risk for severe COVID-19.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Donatella Treppiedi, Giusy Marra, Genesio Di Muro, Rosa Catalano, Federica Mangili, Emanuela Esposito, Anna Maria Barbieri, Maura Arosio, Giovanna Mantovani, Erika Peverelli
Summary: COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2 and although males and females have equal risk of infection, males are more prone to develop severe disease. Sex-related hormones may play a role in regulating the expression and activity of TMPRSS2 and ACE2, which are crucial for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mijia Lu, Michelle Chamblee, Yuexiu Zhang, Chengjin Ye, Piyush Dravid, Jun-Gyu Park, K. C. Mahesh, Sheetal Trivedi, Satyapramod Murthy, Himanshu Sharma, Cole Cassady, Supranee Chaiwatpongsakorn, Xueya Liang, Jacob S. Yount, Prosper N. Boyakaa, Mark E. Peeples, Luis Martinez-Sobrido, Amit Kapoor, Jianrong Li
Summary: This study compared the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of different forms of SARS-CoV-2 S protein in mice and hamsters. The results showed that the preS-HexaPro form, with six proline substitutions, exhibited higher immunogenicity and protective efficacy, with better neutralization against multiple variants and a stronger cellular immune response.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biology
Hye Kyung Lee, Olive Jung, Lothar Hennighausen
Summary: The study reveals that interferon-induced expression of dACE2 and ACE2 genes can be suppressed by JAK inhibitors, providing insights into SARS-CoV-2 infection of airway cells and potential therapeutic strategies.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mijia Lu, Piyush Dravid, Yuexiu Zhang, Sheetal Trivedi, Anzhong Li, Olivia Harder, K. C. Mahesh, Supranee Chaiwatpongsakorn, Ashley Zani, Adam Kenney, Cong Zeng, Chuanxi Cai, Chengjin Ye, Xueya Liang, Masako Shimamura, Shan-Lu Liu, Asuncion Mejias, Octavio Ramilo, Prosper N. Boyaka, Jianming Qiu, Luis Martinez-Sobrido, Jacob S. Yount, Mark E. Peeples, Amit Kapoor, Stefan Niewiesk, Jianrong Li
Summary: Using a measles virus vaccine strain as the backbone, researchers developed a series of recombinant attenuated vaccine candidates expressing various forms of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Among these candidates, rMeV expressing stabilized prefusion S protein showed the highest potency in inducing neutralizing antibodies and provided complete protection against SARS-CoV-2 in animal models. This supports further development of rMeV-preS as a highly effective vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Timothy P. Riley, Hui-Ting Chou, Ruozhen Hu, Krzysztof P. Bzymek, Ana R. Correia, Alexander C. Partin, Danqing Li, Danyang Gong, Zhulun Wang, Xinchao Yu, Paolo Manzanillo, Fernando Garces
Summary: The global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has devastating impacts on public health and the economy, with concerns about the virus mutation and long-term efficacy of therapies like prophylactic antibodies and vaccines. Protein-based immunogens, especially designed Spike constructs with high stability and prefusion state, are of interest for rapid response to viral changes. Emphasis is placed on the relationship between the conserved S2 region and dynamic Receptor Binding Domains (RBD) for vaccine development and antibody generation against viral mutation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Yun-Ju Lai, Chi-Hong Chao, Chun-Che Liao, Te-An Lee, Jung-Mao Hsu, Wen-Cheng Chou, Jyun Wang, Hsiang-Chi Huang, Shing-Jyh Chang, Yi-Ling Lin, Chia-Wei Li
Summary: The engagement of hACE2 and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein promotes virus spread, while inducing EMT phenotypic changes and stemness in breast cancer cells through Snail modulation. The spike protein S of SARS-CoV-2 is crucial in inducing EMT marker changes, and Snail upregulation is essential for the virus-mediated aggressive phenotype in cancer.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CANCER RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giulia Pozzi, Elena Masselli, Giuliana Gobbi, Prisco Mirandola, Luis Taborda-Barata, Luca Ampollini, Paolo Carbognani, Cristina Micheloni, Francesco Corazza, Daniela Galli, Cecilia Carubbi, Marco Vitale
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected nearly 190 million people worldwide with over 4 million confirmed deaths. Finding protective and therapeutic strategies is urgent, and H2S may help reduce the potential for SARS-CoV-2 to enter respiratory epithelial cells.
Article
Virology
Vaughn Craddock, Aatish Mahajan, Leslie Spikes, Balaji Krishnamachary, Anil K. Ram, Ashok Kumar, Ling Chen, Prabhakar Chalise, Navneet K. Dhillon
Summary: SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, is still detectable in recovered patients with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) up to 1 year or longer after infection. Spike protein and viral RNA were found to be more likely present in patients with PASC compared to those without. The levels of Spike and/or viral RNA remained high or increased in PASC+ve patients, while they decreased or were absent in the PASC-ve group. This study also discovered the presence of Spike protein in extracellular vesicles without any viral RNA.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Qinhai Ma, Runfeng Li, Jianmin Guo, Man Li, Lin Ma, Jun Dai, Yongxia Shi, Jinlong Dai, Yuankeng Huang, Cailing Dai, Weiqi Pan, Huiling Zhong, Hong Zhang, Jian Wen, Haoting Zhao, Linping Wu, Wei Yang, Biliang Zhang, Zifeng Yang
Summary: RBMRNA-176 is a broad-spectrum and protective vaccine candidate for COVID-19 that can generate high titer antibodies and neutralize different variants of SARS-CoV-2. It also demonstrates effective control of viral replication and lung injury in animal studies.
Article
Cell Biology
Roberta Verta, Cristina Grange, Renata Skovronova, Adele Tanzi, Licia Peruzzi, Maria Chiara Deregibus, Giovanni Camussi, Benedetta Bussolati
Summary: This study generated extracellular vesicles (EVs) expressing the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and characterized their properties. The internalization of these EVs was assessed using ACE2-positive cells, and the effects of anti-ACE2 antibody and colchicine on EV uptake were evaluated.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiao Ye, Xue Ling, Min Wu, Guijie Bai, Meng Yuan, Lang Rao
Summary: SARS-CoV-2 relies on the spike protein recognition by ACE2 for cellular entry. TMPRSS2 plays a key role in this process by catalyzing spike protein cleavage. However, TMPRSS2 is not solubly expressed in prokaryotic systems. In this study, an artificial protein XXA was found to effectively promote the proper folding of TMPRSS2 and increase its soluble form.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Feng Xie, Peng Su, Ting Pan, Xiaoxue Zhou, Heyu Li, Huizhe Huang, Aijun Wang, Fangwei Wang, Jun Huang, Haiyan Yan, Linghui Zeng, Long Zhang, Fangfang Zhou
Summary: ACE2 plays a key role in the interaction with SARS-CoV-2, and its levels in extracellular vesicles are regulated by protein palmitoylation. Modifying ACE2 with palmitoylation affects its membrane-targeting and secretion in EVs, showing potential for neutralizing SARS-CoV-2.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chia-En Lien, Yi-Jiun Lin, Charles Chen, Wei-Cheng Lian, Tsun-Yung Kuo, John D. Campbell, Paula Traquina, Meei-Yun Lin, Luke Tzu-Chi Liu, Ya-Shan Chuang, Hui-Ying Ko, Chun-Che Liao, Yen-Hui Chen, Jia-Tsrong Jan, Hsiu-Hua Ma, Cheng-Pu Sun, Yin-Shiou Lin, Ping-Yi Wu, Yu-Chiuan Wang, Mi-Hua Tao, Yi-Ling Lin
Summary: This study demonstrated the immunogenicity and protective effects of the MVC-COV1901 vaccine in hamster models, showing high levels of neutralizing antibodies, reduced weight loss, lung pathology, and lung viral load post-infection. Vaccination with either 1 μg or 5 μg of adjuvanted S-2P produced comparable immunogenicity and protection from infection.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Haitao Liu, Chenliang Zhou, Jiao An, Yujiao Song, Pin Yu, Jiadai Li, Chenjian Gu, Dongdong Hu, Yuanxiang Jiang, Lingli Zhang, Chuanqi Huang, Chao Zhang, Yunqi Yang, Qianjun Zhu, Dekui Wang, Yuqiang Liu, Chenyang Miao, Xiayao Cao, Longfei Ding, Yuanfei Zhu, Hua Zhu, Linlin Bao, Lingyun Zhou, Huan Yan, Jiang Fan, Jianqing Xu, Zhongyu Hu, Youhua Xie, Jiangning Liu, Ge Liu
Summary: The researchers have developed a recombinant vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, which showed strong immunogenicity in animal studies, inducing robust antibody responses and T cell responses. The vaccine also demonstrated cross-neutralization activity against various variants, significantly reducing viral loads and lung inflammation.
Article
Pediatrics
Claude Danan, Manon Tauzin, Camille Jung, Xavier Durrmeyer, Laurence Caeymaex, Charles Treussart, Fabrice Decobert, Bruno Louis
Summary: The humidity during HFOV was significantly lower than during IPPV, both in vitro and in vivo. The type of heater-humidifier also influenced humidification. More systematic measurements of humidity of inspired gas, especially during HFOV, should be considered to optimize humidification and consequently lung protection in ELBW infants.
PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Mathieu Delorme, Karl Leroux, Antoine Leotard, Ghilas Boussaid, Helene Prigent, Bruno Louis, Frederic Lofaso
Summary: A study found that current noninvasive ventilation devices have varied responses and scoring of sleep-related respiratory events. Further improvements in algorithms are needed to enable more widespread initiation and follow-up of domiciliary noninvasive ventilation.
Article
Oncology
Charly Blanc, Anissa Moktefi, Ariane Jolly, Pierre de la Grange, Denise Gay, Nathalie Nicolaiew, Fannie Semprez, Pascale Maille, Pascale Soyeux, Virginie Firlej, Francis Vacherot, Damien Destouches, Mohamed Amiche, Stephane Terry, Alexandre de la Taille, Arturo Londono-Vallejo, Yves Allory, Jean Delbe, Yamina Hamma-Kourbali
Summary: This study identifies Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) as a key component of neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) and shows that NRP1 is activated during androgen deprivation therapies (ADT), promoting cell survival through the PKC pathway and leading to the development of castration resistance. Inhibition of NRP1 or PKC can suppress neuroendocrine differentiation, prevent tumor evolution towards castration resistance, and enhance the efficacy of docetaxel-based chemotherapy. These findings suggest that the NRP1/PKC axis could be a promising therapeutic target for preventing NEPC and that NRP1 may serve as an early transitional biomarker.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Martin Cour, Claude Guerin, Florian Degivry, Laurent Argaud, Bruno Louis
Summary: This study compared the work of breathing (WOB) using a tracheal cannula (TC) and a nasal cannula (NC) during high flow oxygen therapy (HFOT), and found that the WOB was lower with the TC than with the NC. However, these differences were very small and may not be clinically relevant.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Florent Carsuzaa, Emilie Bequignon, Sophie Bartier, Andre Coste, Xavier Dufour, Matthieu Bainaud, Jean Claude Lecron, Bruno Louis, Stephane Tringali, Laure Favot, Maxime Fieux
Summary: This study investigated the presence of OSM and IL-6, as well as the expression pattern of tight junctions, in CRSwNP patients and controls. The results showed that OSM and IL-6 were overexpressed, and tight junction (ZO-1 and occludin) expression was decreased in nasal polyps compared to control mucosa. In vitro experiments further demonstrated that OSM could significantly reduce tight junction expression, transepithelial electric resistance, and ciliary beating efficiency, while promoting cell repair mechanisms.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amene Majidipur, Margot Morin-Dewaele, Jeanne Gaspar Lopes, Francois Berry, Julien Fouchet, Sophie Bartier, Anais Dufros Duval, Pascale Soyeux, Eric Huet, Bruno Louis, Andre Coste, Emilie Bequignon, Carolina Saldana, Philippe Le Corvoisier, Damien Destouches, Jean-Michel Pawlotsky, Alexandre de la Taille, Francis Vacherot, Patrice Bruscella, Virginie Firlej
Summary: In early 2020, the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan, China caused a global health emergency. The virus enters cells through the ACE2 protein and TMPRSS2 facilitates membrane fusion. TMPRSS2 is regulated by AR signaling, and inhibiting it with apalutamide reduces SARS-CoV-2 entry and infection in lung and nasal cells. These findings suggest that apalutamide could be a treatment option for PCa patients at risk for severe COVID-19.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Nicolas Terzi, Isabelle Vaugier, Claude Guerin, Helene Prigent, Ghilas Boussaid, Karl Leroux, Mathieu Delorme, Frederic Lofaso, Bruno Louis
Summary: This study compares the measurement of CPF and ECV between 4 MI-E devices under simulated conditions. The results show significant differences in CPF values and ECV values among different devices, suggesting limitations in using only CPF values to determine cough effectiveness.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Philippa L. Jacob, Benedetta Brugnoli, Alessandra Del Giudice, Hien Phan, Veeren M. Chauhan, Laura Beckett, Richard B. Gillis, Cara Moloney, Robert J. Cavanagh, Eduards Krumins, Morgan Reynolds -Green, Joachim C. Lentz, Claudia Conte, Valentina Cuzzucoli Crucitti, Benoit Couturaud, Luciano Galantini, Iolanda Francolini, Steven M. Howdle, Vincenzo Taresco
Summary: Sustainably derived poly(glycerol adipate) (PGA) possesses desirable features for drug delivery, such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, self-assembly into nanoparticles, and functionalizable pendant groups. However, PGA suffers from poor amphiphilic balance, resulting in weak drug-polymer interactions, low drug-loading in nanoparticles, and low stability. To overcome these drawbacks, the polyester backbone was significantly modified while maintaining mild and sustainable polymerization conditions. Novel poly(diglycerol adipate) (PDGA) variants with hydrophilic diglycerol and hydrophobic hexanediol showed improved water solubility, diminished self-assembling ability, and enhanced features as nanocarriers. The PDGAHex nanoparticles exhibited stability in different environments and enhanced drug loading, as well as good biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo experiments.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Hien Phan, Robert Cavanagh, Philippa Jacob, Damien Destouches, Francis Vacherot, Benedetta Brugnoli, Steve Howdle, Vincenzo Taresco, Benoit Couturaud
Summary: Polymersomes with structural similarity to biological cells and the ability to encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs were developed. The polymersomes were prepared by aqueous dispersion RAFT-mediated polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA). Different block lengths of the hydrophilic block resulted in different morphologies of spheres or vesicles. Folic acid (FA) was successfully conjugated to the polymersomes, which were able to encapsulate hydrophobic Nile red (NR) and hydrophilic Cy5 dye. The NR-loaded FA-linked polymersomes exhibited controlled release when exposed to 10 mM H2O2. The polymersomes were stable in human plasma and well-tolerated in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Noemie Bricmont, Romane Bonhiver, Lionel Benchimol, Bruno Louis, Jean-Francois Papon, Justine Monseur, Anne-Francoise Donneau, Catherine Moermans, Florence Schleich, Doriane Calmes, Anne-Lise Poirrier, Renaud Louis, Marie-Christine Seghaye, Celine Kempeneers
Summary: In this study, we evaluated the effects of delay after sampling and the temperature for conservation of respiratory ciliated samples on assessments of ciliary beating. We found that ciliary beating can be evaluated at 37 degrees Celsius up to 9 hours after nasal brushing, but the storage temperature can modify ciliary beating.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kun Li, Zhihao Yu, Iurii Dovgaliuk, Clemence Le Coeur, Viviane Lutz-Bueno, Eric Leroy, Blandine Brissault, Yoann de Rancourt de Mimerand, Mathilde Lepoitevin, Christian Serre, Jacques Penelle, Benoit Couturaud
Summary: A new process, PMOFSA, is introduced for the one-pot manufacture of polymer-MOF nanoparticles in water, providing a straightforward and versatile method. This study not only expands the scope of in situ preparation of polymer-MOF nano-objects but also encourages the development of a new generation of polymer-MOF hybrid materials.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Anne-Fleur Haudebourg, Elsa Moncomble, Arnaud Lesimple, Flora Delamaire, Bruno Louis, Armand Mekontso Dessap, Alain Mercat, Jean-Christophe Richard, Francois Beloncle, Guillaume Carteaux
Summary: This study proposes a novel method for assessing airway opening pressure (AOP) during volume assist control ventilation at a constant-flow rate of 60 L/min. The P-cond method, which compares the airway pressure waveform to detect and measure AOP, was validated and showed good respiratory and hemodynamic tolerance compared to the standard low-flow method.