Review
Microbiology
Yannik Voss, Severina Klaus, Julien Guizetti, Markus Ganter
Summary: Malaria, caused by Plasmodium parasites, poses a significant threat to global health with increasing morbidity and mortality. The unusual cell cycle of Plasmodium during the blood stage challenges our understanding of cell cycle regulation and provides potential therapeutic targets.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yuchuan Wang, Yang Zhang, Ruochi Zhang, Tom van Schaik, Liguo Zhang, Takayo Sasaki, Daniel Peric-Hupkes, Yu Chen, David M. Gilbert, Bas van Steensel, Andrew S. Belmont, Jian Ma
Summary: SPIN is an integrative computational method that reveals genome-wide intranuclear chromosome positioning and nuclear compartmentalization relative to multiple nuclear structures. By integrating nuclear compartment mapping and chromatin interaction data from K562 cells, SPIN identified 10 spatial compartmentalization states and showed novel patterns of genome spatial organization, as well as their relation to other 3D genome features and genome function. SPIN provides critical insights into nuclear spatial and functional compartmentalization.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Leihao Lu, Quan Wan, Yalan Xu, Honglan Shen, Mingying Yang
Summary: This study contributes a complete proteomic database of black soldier fly (BSF) at all instars, establishes relationships with genetic databases, and identifies three pathways related to major physiological processes. The findings serve as a useful reference for future BSF genetic engineering research.
JOURNAL OF PROTEOME RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Priya Das, Aditi Mukherjee, Subrata Adak
Summary: This study demonstrates the enrichment of Leishmania GAPDH in extracellular vesicles secreted during infection, which inhibits TNF-alpha expression in macrophages and affects disease progression. The findings highlight the crucial role of GAPDH in parasitic infection.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shiori Iida, Soya Shinkai, Yuji Itoh, Sachiko Tamura, Masato T. Kanemaki, Shuichi Onami, Kazuhiro Maeshima
Summary: The study revealed that local chromatin motion remains steady in live human cells throughout the phases of G1, S, and G2, driven mainly by thermal fluctuations, with an increase in motion following a DNA damage response. These findings support the viscoelastic properties of chromatin and suggest that steady-state chromatin motion enables cells to perform housekeeping functions during interphase.
Article
Cell Biology
Kevin S. Cannon, Jose M. Vargas-Muniz, Neil Billington, Ian Seim, Joanne Ekena, James R. Sellers, Amy. S. Gladfelter
Summary: In this study, the researchers investigated the impact of different combinations of septin proteins on biophysical properties and cell morphogenesis. They discovered that a gene duplication event gave rise to two similar but distinct septin proteins, Cdc11a and Cdc11b, which showed differences in cell polarity defects and filament length.
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Chen-Hua Dong, Tao Jiang, Hang Yin, Hu Song, Yi Zhang, Hao Geng, Pei-Cong Shi, Yi-Xin Xu, Hong Gao, Lian-Yu Liu, Lei Zhou, Zhao-Hui Zhang, Jun Song
Summary: LMNB2 is significantly upregulated in colorectal cancer tissues and cell lines, promoting cell proliferation by regulating cell cycle progression. It affects patient survival and may serve as a potential prognostic marker and therapy target by regulating p21-mediated mechanisms.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Marton Gelleri, Shih-Ya Chen, Barbar Huebner, Jan Neumann, Ole Kroeger, Filip Sadlo, Jorg Imhoff, Michael J. Hendzel, Marion Cremer, Thomas Cremer, Hilmar Strickfaden, Christoph Cremer
Summary: Chromatin compaction differences can strongly affect the accessibility of macromolecules and macromolecular assemblies to their DNA target sites. However, fluorescence microscopy estimates suggest only modest differences in compaction between the active and inactive nuclear compartments. This study presents nuclear landscape maps with true-to-scale DNA densities and demonstrates the localization and exclusion of macromolecular assemblies within living cell nuclei.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Alexey Ostapchuk, Kseniya Morozova, Vadim Markov, Dmitry Pavlov, Maxim Popov
Summary: The spectrum of fault slip modes ranges from fast ruptures to slow slip events, with mounting evidence that a single fault can host multiple modes. Laboratory experiments show a high inverse correlation between fault friction and the b-value of AE frequency-amplitude distribution. The self-organization of gouge-filled faults at the micro scale plays a key role in controlling the frictional behavior of faults with multiple slip modes.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Divyaa Srinivasan, Tarak Shisode, Jatin Shrinet, Peter Fraser
Summary: Genome organization and the folding of chromosomes play significant roles in nuclear functions, such as gene regulation, replication, and repair. Chromosomes undergo continuous conformational changes throughout the cell cycle, with differential dynamics in various structures. Understanding these changes is crucial for interpreting genome conformation data and identifying the driving molecules and mechanisms behind chromosomal conformational changes.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Isabelle Loiodice, Mickael Garnier, Ivaylo Nikolov, Angela Taddei
Summary: Silent chromatin in eukaryotic cells is mainly located at the nuclear periphery, and the establishment of silencing is a stepwise process occurring over several cell cycles. Studying a budding yeast model, researchers have identified mechanisms and protein recruitment relationships during the process of establishing silencing at an ectopic locus.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Taher Nemati Haravani, Parviz Parvizi, Seyed Hossein Hejazi, Mohammad Mehdi Sedaghat, Abbasali Eskandarian, Mahmoud Nateghi Rostami
Summary: This study investigated the gene expression variations of gp63, HSP70, histone, arginase, CPB, LACK, and SHERP in metacyclic promastigotes of L. major during infection and culture process. The results showed significant increased expression of gp63, SHERP, and histone genes in metacyclic promastigotes isolated from infected sand flies, as well as changes in the expression of SHERP and gp63, arginase, and LACK genes during culture passages. These findings are essential for designing studies on Leishmania, particularly in terms of host-parasite interaction, immunization, and infectivity studies.
Review
Plant Sciences
Marjorie Chery, Laurence Drouard
Summary: This review article highlights the additional functions of tRNA in plants, apart from its role in protein synthesis, such as priming reverse transcription, mRNA transportation, and small RNA production. Additionally, tRNA has been found to play roles in tetrapyrrole biosynthesis, mRNA stabilization and transport, reverse transcription of viral RNAs, and the formation of tRNA-like structures in RNA viral genomes. The cleavage of tRNA also plays an important role in regulating gene expression and producing small non-coding RNAs known as tRNA-derived RNAs. Here, the biogenesis of tRNA-derived RNAs and their emerging functions in plants are examined in more detail.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Taras Pasternak, Jose Manuel Perez-Perez
Summary: This article discusses the importance of a multiscale description of plant root structure and provides a detailed description of quantitative methods for 3D analysis of root features at single-cell resolution. Different species show divergence in chromatin organization and cell volume distribution within the root apical meristem (RAM), which can be used to study root zonation.
Article
Cell Biology
Xiaoyu Zhu, Chuangye Qi, Ruoyu Wang, Joo-Hyung Lee, Jiaofang Shao, Lanxin Bei, Feng Xiong, Phuoc T. Nguyen, Guojie Li, Joanna Krakowiak, Su -Pin Koh, Lukas M. Simon, Leng Han, Travis I. Moore, Wenbo Li
Summary: The nuclear pore complex (NPC) and its associated proteins (NUPs) play important roles in gene transcription and 3D genome organization. This study demonstrates that core NUPs are associated with active promoters and enhancers in human cells, and NUP93 has a direct and specific role in gene transcriptional activation. NUP93 facilitates the recruitment of BRD4 to active enhancers, leading to increased RNA polymerase II loading and transcriptional elongation. Surprisingly, the depletion of NUP93 has negligible effects on 3D genome organization.
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Marcelo S. da Silva, Richard McCulloch, Maria Isabel N. Cano
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Correction
Cell Biology
Beatriz C. D. de Oliveira, Mark E. Shiburah, Stephany C. Paiva, Marina R. Vieira, Edna Gicela O. Morea, Marcelo Santos da Silva, Cristiane de Santis Alves, Marcela Segatto, Fernanda Gutierrez-Rodrigues, Julio C. Borges, Rodrigo T. Calado, Maria Isabel N. Cano
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Ittipat Meewan, Jacob Kattoula, Julius Y. Kattoula, Danielle Skinner, Pavla Fajtova, Miriam A. Giardini, Brendon Woodworth, James H. McKerrow, Jair Lage de Siqueira-Neto, Anthony J. O'Donoghue, Ruben Abagyan
Summary: Inhibitors containing thiuram disulfide or dithiobis-(thioformate) were found to be potential drugs against SARS-CoV-2. These compounds showed strong inhibitory effects in enzymatic and cell-based assays, suggesting their promise in the treatment of the COVID-19 virus or related variants.
Article
Microbiology
Ramendra P. Pandey, Marilda Savoia Nascimento, Caio Haddad Franco, Karina Bortoluci, Marcelo Nunes Silva, Bianca Zingales, Daniel Gibaldi, Leda Castano Barrios, Joseli Lannes-Vieira, Leonardo Moro Cariste, Jose Ronnie Vasconcelos, Carolina Borsoi Moraes, Lucio H. Freitas-Junior, Jorge Kalil, Laura Alcantara, Edecio Cunha-Neto
Summary: The study investigated the effects of repurposed drugs chloroquine and colchicine on the treatment of Chagas disease, and found that the combination of chloroquine and benznidazole could enhance the trypanocidal activity of benznidazole, reducing the required dosage. In vivo experiments in mice also showed the effectiveness of the combination therapy.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jose Renato Pattaro-Junior, Ingrid Garcia Araujo, Carolina Borsoi Moraes, Cecilia Gomes Barbosa, Gisele Strieder Philippsen, Lucio Holanda Freitas-Junior, Ana Carolina Guidi, Joao Carlos Palazzo de Mello, Rosane Marina Peralta, Maria Aparecida Fernandez, Robson Ricardo Teixeira, Flavio Augusto Vicente Seixas
Summary: This study aimed to find potential compounds inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 from extracts of Brazilian plants. Experimental validation showed that ethyl acetate fraction and F2, F4 sub-fractions of C. pluviosum extract exhibited good antiviral activity in infected cells. These results may be attributed to the synergistic effect of different hydrolyzable tannins present in the extract.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Monica Josiane Rodrigues-Jesus, Marianna Teixeira de Pinho Favaro, Alexia Adrianne Venceslau-Carvalho, Maria Fernanda de Castro-Amarante, Bianca da Silva Almeida, Mariangela de Oliveira Silva, Robert Andreata-Santos, Cecilia Gomes Barbosa, Samantha Carvalho Maia Brito, Lucio H. Freitas-Junior, Silvia Beatriz Boscardin, Luis Carlos de Souza Ferreira
Summary: This study reports a COVID-19 subunit vaccine based on nano-multilamellar vesicles (NMV) and monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) technology. The research shows that the vaccine can improve antibody and T-cell responses without toxic effects. Additionally, the vaccine formulation reduces the number of doses required to achieve enhanced serum virus-neutralizing antibody titers.
NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ingrid Garcia de Araujo, Jose Renato Pattaro-Junior, Cecilia Gomes Barbosa, Gisele Strieder Philippsen, Ana Rita Silva, Rafaella Sayuri Ioshino, Carolina Borsoi Moraes, Lucio Holanda Freitas-Junior, Lillian Barros, Rosane Marina Peralta, Maria Aparecida Fernandez, Flavio Augusto Vicente Seixas
Summary: The deaths caused by covid-19 have decreased due to vaccination efforts, but severe cases still exist. Therefore, the search for antiviral drugs is crucial. Natural products, such as plant extracts, have shown potential in treating viral diseases. This study evaluated the antiviral activity of different plant extracts and found that Cytinus hypocistis extract had a high inhibition capacity against the SARS-CoV-2 main protease and viral infection in a cellular model. These results highlight the potential of C. hypocistis as a source of natural compounds with antiviral activity against covid-19.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Veronica da Silva Oliveira, Claudia Candida Silva, Johny Wysllas de Freitas Oliveira, Marcelo de Sousa da Silva, Patricia Garcia Ferreira, Fernando de Carvalho da Siva, Vitor Francisco Ferreira, Euzebio Guimaraes Barbosa, Cecilia Gomes Barbosa, Carolina Borsoi Moraes, Lucio Holanda Gondim de Freitas-Junior, Attilio Converti, Adley Antonini Neves de Lima
Summary: The compound IVS320 was studied for its antifungal and antichagasic potential, but it has low aqueous solubility. To improve bioavailability, inclusion complexes with I3-cyclodextrin and methyl-I3-cyclodextrin were prepared using different methods. The inclusion complexes showed changes in physicochemical characteristics and decreased crystallinity compared to IVS320 alone. The IVS320 and IVS320-MI3CD/RE system exhibited anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity, and IVS320 showed interactions with the viral protein. The highest antichagasic activity was observed with IVS320-I3CD/KN and IVS320-MI3CD/PM.
JOURNAL OF DRUG DELIVERY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Luiz Henrique de Castro Assis, Stephany Cacete de Paiva, Maria Isabel Nogueira Cano
Summary: Base J is a modified thymidine base found in kinetoplastids and some related organisms. Its distribution in the genome varies depending on the organism and its life stage. Base J is mainly found at telomeric repeats, inactive VSG expression sites, RNA polymerase II termination sites, and sub-telomeric regions. The synthesis of Base J involves two thymidine hydroxylases (JBP1 and JBP2) and a beta-glucosyl transferase, while a third J-binding protein (JBP3) is involved in gene expression regulation. This review explores the role of Base J as a regulator of RNA polymerase II transcription termination and summarizes the characteristics of JBP proteins in pathogenic trypanosomatids.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jair L. Siqueira-Neto, Kathryn J. Wicht, Kelly Chibale, Jeremy N. Burrows, David A. Fidock, Elizabeth A. Winzeler
Summary: Recent efforts in antimalarial drug discovery aim to develop new drugs that can overcome emerging drug resistance, consider safety and improve dosing convenience. These efforts have led to the discovery of a variety of new molecules with novel modes of action, some of which are currently in late-stage clinical development. Prioritizing new drug candidates is crucial due to limited funding, and these candidates should demonstrate high potency, low resistance, infrequent dosing, low cost, safety and tolerability, and preferably the ability to block Plasmodium transmission. This review provides insights into successful approaches, progress in preclinical and clinical development, and challenges in antimalarial drug discovery.
NATURE REVIEWS DRUG DISCOVERY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Victor Bolsanelli Cioffi, Maria Fernanda de Castro-Amarante, Aleksei Lulla, Robert Andreata-Santos, Mario Costa Cruz, Ana Carolina Ramos Moreno, Mariangela de Oliveira Silva, Bianca de Miranda Peres, Lucio Holanda Gondim de Freitas Junior, Carolina Borsoi Moraes, Edison Luiz Durigon, Nicola Coker Gordon, Marko Hyvoenen, Luis Carlos de Souza Ferreira, Andrea Balan
Summary: This study utilized the RAD display system to present peptides derived from the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein, leading to the detection of specific antibodies and the generation of inhibitory antibodies against viral infection. The RAD display system shows promise as a platform for peptide-based vaccine antigen design, epitope-specific antibody mapping, and the development of diagnostic and therapeutic antibodies.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Luana S. Gomes, Jose S. S. Neto, Iris di Leo, Cecilia G. Barbosa, Carolina B. Moraes, Lucio H. Freitas-Junior, Bruno Rizzuti, Claudio Santi, Vanessa Nascimento
Summary: Here, a solvent- and metal-free methodology for the aminochalcogenation of alkenes using molecular iodine as a catalyst, DMSO as a stoichiometric oxidant, and different nucleophiles under microwave irradiation is reported. The eco-friendly approach provided the desired products with good to excellent yields in just 20 minutes. Additionally, the antiviral activity of twenty compounds obtained by this methodology against the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 was evaluated, and two compounds (4d and 5b) showed potent antiviral activity with low cytotoxicity, suggesting promising potential as antiviral agents.
NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Parasitology
Jadel M. Kratz, Karolina R. Goncalves, Lavinia Md Romera, Carolina Borsoi Moraes, Paula Bittencourt-Cunha, Sergio Schenkman, Eric Chatelain, Sergio Sosa-Estani
Summary: This review discusses the challenges faced in drug development for Chagas disease, including the complexity of the disease, knowledge gaps, and lack of coordination in research and development efforts. Additionally, it explores how recent technological advances can address these issues.
MEMORIAS DO INSTITUTO OSWALDO CRUZ
(2022)