Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jing Pu, Yu Dai, Qian Wang, Lu Lu, Junqi Zhang, Wei Xu, Lan Xie, Shengqi Wang, Fei Yu, Xiaoyang He, Shibo Jiang
Summary: Virus inactivator FD028, a new small-molecule HIV-1 inactivator, shows promising activity in inactivating cell-free virions at moderate nanomolar concentrations by targeting both gp120 and gp41 regions of HIV-1. With broad-spectrum inhibition and minimal cytotoxicity, FD028 has potential for further development as an HIV-1 inactivator-based therapeutic.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Luiza Mendonca, Dapeng Sun, Jiying Ning, Jiwei Liu, Abhay Kotecha, Mateusz Olek, Thomas Frosio, Xiaofeng Fu, Benjamin A. Himes, Alex B. Kleinpeter, Eric O. Freed, Jing Zhou, Christopher Aiken, Peijun Zhang
Summary: In this study, the structures of both in vitro assemblies of the HIV structural precursor protein Gag and Gag viral-like particles (VLPs) were determined to resolutions of 4.2 angstrom and 4.5 angstrom, providing insights for the future development of small molecule inhibitors for HIV-1 infection. Additionally, a single amino acid mutation (T8I) in SP1 was shown to stabilize the six-helix bundle, potentially aiding in the design of inhibitors to block HIV maturation and infection.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mohammed A. Abosheasha, Toru Itagaki, Yoshihiro Ito, Motoki Ueda
Summary: The LxxxLxxxL sequence is crucial for nanotube self-assembly, as evidenced by the formation of nanotubes with different diameters and the fabrication of double-layer nanotubes by combining two types of nanotubes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Igor de la Arada, Johana Torralba, Igor Tascon, Adai Colom, Iban Ubarretxena-Belandia, Jose L. R. Arrondo, Beatriz Apellaniz, Jose L. Nieva
Summary: Envelope glycoproteins from genetically-divergent virus families contain fusion peptides that can insert into and disrupt target cell membranes during virus-cell fusion. Membrane-proximal external regions (MPERs) have been implicated in promoting the viral membrane restructuring event required for fusion, but it is unclear whether the structure-function relationships governing canonical fusion peptides also apply to MPER sequences.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ya Jie Chen, Qi Wen Deng, Li Wang, Xiao Chun Guo, Jian Yuan Yang, Ting Li, Zhengshuang Xu, Hon Cheung Lee, Yong Juan Zhao
Summary: This study constructed a novel nanobody-drug conjugate (NDC) by incorporating the amphipathic peptide GALA, which effectively improved cytotoxicity by one to two orders of magnitude. Mechanistic studies revealed that tethering to lipids induced GALA to form a helix, significantly enhancing endocytosis. This approach provides a general strategy for enhancing the anti-cancer efficacy of protein-drug conjugates and increasing the efficiency of endocytosis-dependent cell delivery of other types.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Caralyn E. Flack, John S. Parkinson
Summary: Our study provides important insights into the molecular signaling mechanisms of transmembrane chemoreceptors in Escherichia coli, offering valuable clues for further research in this area.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jean-Francois Gaucher, Marie Reille-Seroussi, Sylvain Broussy
Summary: This study investigates the effects of macrocyclization constraints on peptide ligands, showing that differences in thermodynamics come mainly from the folding energy of the peptide upon binding. The reduction in conformational entropy penalty due to helix pre-organization can be counterbalanced by an unfavorable vibrational entropy change if the constraints are too rigid. The gain in configurational entropy partially escapes the enthalpy/entropy compensation and leads to an improvement in affinity.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Luqi Wang, Bin Chen, Hui Zhou, Barun Mathema, Liang Chen, Xiangchen Li, Yewei Lu, Zhengwei Liu, Xiaomeng Wang, Weibing Wang
Summary: Understanding the emergence and evolution of drug resistance in tuberculosis (TB) is important for public health intervention. This study in eastern China collected genomic and epidemiological data on TB patients from 2015 to 2021. The study found the sequence and timing of introduction of anti-TB drugs were linked to the emergence and expansion of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis populations. Geospatial analysis revealed the migration of drug-resistant isolates within the region. Continuous evolution and transmission of drug-resistant strains were observed. To control the epidemic of drug-resistant TB, careful drug usage and timely identification of resistant patients are necessary.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Chenyu Zhang, Honglan Zhong, Xiang Li, Zhenjian Xing, Jiaqi Liu, Rui Yu, Xin Deng
Summary: In this study, a series of peptide-CPT conjugates were synthesized, and Kb-CC07 exhibited high selective activity and improved water solubility. Kb-CC07 could effectively penetrate across plasma membranes and enhance the delivery of CPT into cancer cells, overcoming multidrug resistance. In vivo experiments demonstrated that Kb-CC07 had excellent antiproliferative activity against drug-resistant tumors and reduced toxicities in normal organs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yongxiu Huang, Hongyao Peng, Anqi Zeng, Linjiang Song
Summary: Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor in women, and its incidence is increasing. Chemotherapy is widely used as a treatment for breast cancer, but drug resistance poses a challenge. Peptides have shown promise in overcoming drug resistance in breast cancer cells through various mechanisms such as promoting apoptosis, inhibiting DNA repair, and improving the tumor microenvironment. Understanding the mechanisms of peptides in reversing drug resistance could lead to breakthroughs in breast cancer treatment.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Andrea Mosseri, Maria Sancho-Albero, Marilisa Leone, Donatella Nava, Francesco Secundo, Daniela Maggioni, Luisa De Cola, Alessandra Romanelli
Summary: This study reports the formation of homogeneous chiral fibers through self-assembly of peptide nucleic acids. Nucleobases play a key role in determining the morphology and chirality of the fibers. By spectroscopic characterization and microscopy studies, a structural model consistent with the experimental evidence was obtained.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Seong-Cheol Park, Jong-Kook Lee, Young-Min Kim, Jung Ro Lee
Summary: Due to the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens, scientists have discovered antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with high antibacterial activity and cell selectivity. By modifying the amino acids in the peptide chain, they have enhanced the antimicrobial effects and salt tolerance, while reducing cytotoxicity.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhongqian Qiao, Wenjing Zhang, Yueming Wu, Weinan Jiang, Ning Shao, Jiayang Xie, Guixue Xia, Qimeng Chen, Zhefeng Liu, Jingcheng Zou, Jiawei Gu, Shifang Luan, Haodong Lin, Runhui Liu
Summary: Wound infections are a significant health issue caused by the invasion and spread of pathogens in wound sites. However, antibiotic resistance, particularly in MRSA, has made it challenging to treat these infections. To address MRSA-infected wounds, an antibacterial peptide polymer-loaded hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel (Gel-HA@P) has been developed. This design mimics host defense peptides, exhibiting potent antibacterial activity, low susceptibility to drug resistance, and good stability. Gel-HA@P demonstrates effective activity against MRSA, low toxicity, and promotes wound healing. This strategy provides an antibiotic-free approach for the healing of MRSA-infected wounds.
SCIENCE CHINA-CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rokam Jeong, Jae-Hoon Eom, Jintaek Gong, Minsang Kang, Jaewook Kim, Hee-Seung Lee
Summary: This study reports the first example of programmed radial assembly of anisotropic microparticles derived from a helical foldamer with a C-terminal cysteine residue. Surface-exposed thiols play a crucial role in facilitating interparticle hydrogen bonding to form higher-order structures in an aqueous solution.
Article
Microbiology
Charles Gotuaco Ang, Erik Carter, Ann Haftl, Shiyu Zhang, Adel A. Rashad, Michele Kutzler, Cameron F. Abrams, Irwin M. Chaiken
Summary: The peptide triazole thiol KR13 induces dose-dependent transformations of Env and membrane, including transient poration, MPER exposure, and 6-helix-bundle formation, while reducing immunodominant loop and fusion peptide exposure. Simultaneous treatment with fusion inhibitor T20 alongside KR13 prevents membrane poration and MPER exposure.
Letter
Immunology
Xinling Wang, Wei Xu, Gaowei Hu, Shuai Xia, Zhiping Sun, Zezhong Liu, Youhua Xie, Rong Zhang, Shibo Jiang, Lu Lu
CELLULAR & MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Jia-Jun Ma, Zhen-Yu Wang, Shui-Gang Xu, Yu-Xiang Gao, Yu-Yang Zhang, Qing Dai, Xiao Lin, Shi-Xuan Du, Jindong Ren, Hong-Jun Gao
Summary: In this study, strain-modulated electronic structures of marginally twisted bilayer graphene were realized through experimental and theoretical calculations. Experimental data showed four peaks near the AA regions, while theoretical calculations suggested that two of these peaks may originate from intrinsic heterostrain. Additionally, Moire patterns with different strain strengths exhibited distinct features of helical edge states.
CHINESE PHYSICS LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Bei Yang, Deng Pan, Xiangdong Guo, Hai Hu, Qing Dai
Summary: This study reexamines the near-field radiative heat transfer between biplanar graphene/hBN heterostructures and investigates the influence of different substrates on this transfer process. The results show that substrates significantly impact the heat transfer, depending on the competition between polaritonic couplings and dielectric losses. Additionally, the substrate effects are dependent on the thickness of hBN.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THERMAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yifei Li, Xiaowei Zhang, Jinhuan Wang, Xiaoli Ma, Jin-An Shi, Xiangdong Guo, Yonggang Zuo, Ruijie Li, Hao Hong, Ning Li, Kai Xu, Xinyu Huang, Huifeng Tian, Ying Yang, Zhixin Yao, PeiChi Liao, Xiao Li, Junjie Guo, Yuang Huang, Peng Gao, Lifen Wang, Xiaoxia Yang, Qing Dai, EnGe Wang, Kaihui Liu, Wu Zhou, Xiaohui Yu, Liangbo Liang, Ying Jiang, Xin-Zheng Li, Lei Liu
Summary: In WS2/BN heterostructures, the interlayer electron-phonon coupling has been efficiently engineered through various methods such as isotope enrichments, temperature, and high-pressure tuning. The findings provide new opportunities for controlling interlayer coupling in van der Waals heterostructures.
Article
Virology
Naru Zhang, Qianting Ji, Zezhong Liu, Kaiming Tang, Yubin Xie, Kangchen Li, Jie Zhou, Sisi Li, Haotian Shang, Zecan Shi, Tianyu Zheng, Jiawei Yao, Lu Lu, Shuofeng Yuan, Shibo Jiang
Summary: The nanoparticle manganese adjuvant enhances the immunogenicity of protein-based COVID-19 subunit vaccines, inducing high levels of antibodies and effectively reducing viral load.
Article
Virology
Lixiao Xing, Xinfeng Xu, Wei Xu, Zezhong Liu, Xin Shen, Jie Zhou, Ling Xu, Jing Pu, Chan Yang, Yuan Huang, Lu Lu, Shibo Jiang, Shuwen Liu
Summary: The study developed a novel fusion inhibitor-based recombinant protein that showed potent inhibition against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, including Omicron and Delta.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiangdong Guo, Wei Lyu, Tinghan Chen, Yang Luo, Chenchen Wu, Bei Yang, Zhipei Sun, F. Javier Garcia de Abajo, Xiaoxia Yang, Qing Dai
Summary: 2D monolayers can be vertically stacked in van der Waals heterostructures to support a wide range of confined polaritons. This offers advantages in terms of controlling the constituent layers, stacking sequence, and twist angles. These heterostructures have extended the performance and functions of polaritons, and potential applications include nanophotonic integrated circuits.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Aiwei Wang, Jiuzhou Zhao, Ke Chen, Zhenjun Li, Chi Li, Qing Dai
Summary: A single-electron emitter is developed based on a quantized energy level, which offers high temporal and spatial coherence, as well as a large emission current, ideal for atomic-resolution electron probes. By utilizing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as the emitter, a current of up to 1.5 nA is achieved, thanks to the double barrier structure with a smaller barrier width. The emitter demonstrates high temporal coherence (energy dispersion around 10 meV) and spatial coherence (effective source radius approximately 0.85 nm), providing a highly coherent electron source for simplifying electron optics systems in atomic-resolution electron microscopy and sub-10 nm electron beam lithography.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Virology
Chao Wang, Qing Li, Lujia Sun, Xinling Wang, Huan Wang, Wenpeng Zhang, Jiahui Li, Yang Liu, Lu Lu, Shibo Jiang
Summary: Researchers developed a novel dual-target inhibitor by integrating a small-molecule HIV-1 inhibitor with an artificial peptide. This inhibitor showed improved activity against multiple drug-resistant HIV-1 strains.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chunying Chen, Huige Zhou, Yanhong Ma, Qing Dai, Zhiyong Tang
Summary: Established in 2003, the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST) is China's leading institution in nanoscience and technology. With state-of-the-art equipment and a strong research team, NCNST conducts cutting-edge research and innovation in various areas, including nanosystems and hierarchical fabrication, biological effects and safety of nanomaterials, standardization and measurements for nanotechnology, and theoretical simulations. NCNST aims to foster international cooperation, cultivate young talents, and drive inspiring innovation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ling Xu, Chao Wang, Wei Xu, Lixiao Xing, Jie Zhou, Jing Pu, Mingming Fu, Lu Lu, Shibo Jiang, Qian Wang
Summary: By replacing the PEG linker in EK1C4 with a short peptide, we designed and synthesized a dePEGylated lipopeptide, EKL1C, which showed potent inhibitory activity against coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, and HIV-1. This indicates that HR1 may serve as a common target for the development of broad-spectrum viral fusion inhibitors, and EKL1C has potential clinical application as a therapeutic or preventive agent against coronavirus, HIV-1, and other class I enveloped viruses.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Bei Yang, Deng Pan, Qing Dai
Summary: This study introduces a novel approach using materials that support phonon polaritons (PhPs) as light-controllable heat sources for photothermal applications. Theoretical demonstration shows that hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) nanorods can generate up to 46 times more heat compared to plasmonic gold counterparts under resonant monochromatic light. This superior heating capability is attributed to the unique properties of PhPs, which enable stronger field confinement and deeper penetration within the nanostructure, leading to higher efficiency by circumventing the electrostatic shielding effect associated with plasmonic heating.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiaojie Su, Ziqi Huang, Wei Xu, Qian Wang, Lixiao Xing, Lu Lu, Shibo Jiang, Shuai Xia
Summary: The peptide-based pan-coronavirus fusion inhibitor EK1 is showing promising clinical application prospects against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. By conjugating EK1 with the human immunoglobulin G Fc-binding peptide (IBP), the engineered peptide IBP-EK1 demonstrates broad-spectrum inhibitory activity against various coronaviruses with improved in vivo half-life. It also shows synergistic effects when combined with monoclonal neutralizing antibodies, suggesting its potential as a long-acting, broad-spectrum antiviral agent against COVID-19 and future highly pathogenic coronaviruses.
Article
Biology
Shan Su, Wei Xu, Shibo Jiang
Summary: The approval of enfuvirtide represents a significant advancement in the development of virus entry inhibitor-based antiviral therapeutics. Peptide-, small-molecule-, and protein-based entry inhibitors have since been identified and approved for viral diseases. This review highlights the future trend of these antivirals and discusses the advantages and disadvantages associated with each type.
VIRUS ENTRY INHIBITORS: Stopping the Enemy at the Gate
(2022)
Letter
Cell Biology
Zezhong Liu, Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan, Jie Zhou, Meiyu Wang, Qian Wang, Guangxu Zhang, Wei Xu, Kenn Ka-Heng Chik, Yilong Zhang, Youchun Wang, Kwok-Yung Yuen, Lu Lu, Shibo Jiang
