Article
Plant Sciences
Max M. Combest, Natalia Moroz, Kiwamu Tanaka, Conner J. Rogan, Jeffrey C. Anderson, Lin Thura, Aurelie M. Rakotondrafara, Aymeric Goyer
Summary: This study demonstrates the important role of StPIP1 in potato defense responses to Potato virus Y infection, triggering early defense responses, enhancing plant immunity, and increasing resistance to viral infection. Transgenic potato plants overexpressing StPIP1 show higher levels of leaf callose deposition and demonstrate induced marker genes associated with pattern-triggered immunity and effector-triggered immunity.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yang Mu, Xiao Guo, Jian Yu, Ruxun Wang, Zeng Liu, Kefan Hu, Jingyi Song, Lin Chen, Botao Song, Juan Du
Summary: Potato, the most important non-grain food in the world, is seriously threatened by late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans. This study investigated the proteome profile changes in potato upon P. infestans PAMP induction, revealing several PTI-related proteins.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Melissa Stunnenberg, John L. van Hamme, Esther M. Zijlstra-Willems, Sonja Gringhuis, Teunis B. H. Geijtenbeek
Summary: Pathogens trigger multiple pattern recognition receptors, which are important for enhancing vaccine efficacy. In the case of HIV-1 infection, the abortive HIV-1 RNA transcripts can interact with the signaling induced by TLR7/8 agonists, leading to enhanced antiviral immune responses.
JOURNAL OF LEUKOCYTE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Michal Shahar, Auryan Szalat, Haim Rosen
Summary: Actin-based tunneling nanotubes are a form of intercellular communication linked to responses to environmental changes. While widely described in various cell types, their expression in vivo or in primary cells is limited, and their significance for health and disease remains largely unknown. This study on primary human peripheral monocytes reveals that certain stimuli induce a transient expression of actin-based tunneling nanotubes, suggesting a potential role in monocyte pathogen response and inflammation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Bharat Bhusan Majhi, Guy Sobol, Sarah Gachie, Shivakumar Sreeramulu, Guido Sessa
Summary: BSK7 and BSK8 play a crucial role in pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) by interacting with the FLS2 immune receptor to recognize flg22 and regulate immune responses.
MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Qian Tan, Ran Li, Lei Liu, Dan Wang, Xiao-Feng Dai, Li-Min Song, Dan-Dan Zhang, Zhi-Qiang Kong, Steve J. Klosterman, Toshiyuki Usami, Krishna V. Subbarao, Wen-Xing Liang, Jie-Yin Chen
Summary: This study characterized the avr gene VdR3e from race 3 isolates of V. dahliae. It was found to be a cysteine-rich secreted protein likely obtained from the fungal genus Bipolaris through horizontal gene transfer. VdR3e triggers multiple defense responses and induces cell death, acting as a virulence factor and interacting with BAK1 as a PAMP to activate immune responses.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Karolina Sidor, Tomasz Skirecki
Summary: The understanding of the pathogenesis of infections caused by drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria is urgently needed due to the global crisis caused by the rise in drug resistance. Therapies targeting host-pathogen interactions are emerging as potential treatments in the absence of new antibiotics. ADP-heptose, an intermediate carbohydrate metabolite of the LPS biosynthesis pathway, has recently been discovered as a novel PAMP of Gram-negative bacteria that activates the host's innate immunity. This molecule plays an intriguing role in host-pathogen interactions and its recognition and immune activation mechanisms are outlined in this article.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kou-Cheng Peng, Chao-Chi Lin, Chong-Fu Liao, Hsin-Chiao Yu, Chaur-Tsuen Lo, Hsueh-Hui Yang, Kuo-Chih Lin
Summary: The study demonstrates that ThLAAO can activate defense mechanisms in transgenic tobacco, enhancing resistance against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea, and function through H2O2 signaling in chloroplasts.
Article
Oncology
Wenyong Huang, Dongmei Ye, Wenjing He, Xiaoshun He, Xiaomin Shi, Yifang Gao
Summary: The study found that MAIT cells in patients with HCC had lower levels in both peripheral blood and liver compared to healthy controls, with reduced IFN-γ production. While peripheral MAIT cells showed upregulation of HLA-DR and PD-1, intrasinusoidal MAIT cells did not exhibit significant differences. Additionally, MAIT cells were significantly enriched in the livers of HCC patients, showing high levels of activation and exhaustion markers.
JOURNAL FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER
(2021)
Review
Virology
Sun Min Lee, Paul Kim, Jinsuh You, Eui Ho Kim
Summary: DAMPs and cell death pathways play crucial roles in vaccine-induced immunity, activating the immune system to combat pathogenic infection and cell death. New strategies are actively being explored to enhance immunogenicity through targeting these pathways.
Review
Immunology
Kai Pohl, Ian A. Cockburn
Summary: Malaria causes hundreds of thousands of deaths annually, but these deaths represent only a small fraction of total malaria cases. Immunity to the causative agent, Plasmodium, is incomplete, but immunization with attenuated parasites can provide complete immunity. The innate immune response plays a crucial role in different stages of the parasite lifecycle, balancing strong proinflammatory responses with regulatory mechanisms to protect the host from life-threatening cytokine storms.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Lin Zhao, Jinlan Niu, Disong Feng, Xialu Wang, Rong Zhang
Summary: Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) in the immune response are crucial for recognizing pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and initiating defense response in Lepidoptera. Damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) play a physiological role in cells and can also function as immune signals when exposed extracellularly. This article reviews typical PRRs in Lepidoptera and their correlation with immune escape, suggesting that PRRs may have a broader recognition ability in insect innate immunity.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lirong Han, Yubo Sun, Xin Zhou, Xinchang Hao, Meng Wu, Xing Zhang, Juntao Feng
Summary: The novel glycoprotein GP-1 from Streptomyces sp. ZX01 induces plant immunity and enhances viral resistance in Nicotiana benthamiana by rapidly inducing Ca2+ influx, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO). Transcriptome analysis revealed upregulated defense-related pathways and gene expression in GP-1-treated plants. Furthermore, GP-1 promotes salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) contents, strengthening plant secondary metabolites activities and systemic accumulation of pathogenesis-related proteins for antiviral activity against TMV.
PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuanpeng Fang, Bingqian Zhou, Yushan Guo, Junmei Jiang, Xiangyang Li, Xin Xie
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the key factors influencing plant disease resistance and identify the core molecular network in Sorghum bicolor. The type of PAMP was found to have a stronger influence on the PTI network than the sorghum cultivar. PAMP treatment altered the expression of genes related to resistance, signaling, salt sensitivity, heavy metal response, and transportation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Zhiyuan Yin, Nan Wang, Weiwei Duan, Lei Pi, Danyu Shen, Daolong Dou
Summary: The CBM1 family is predominantly found in fungi and oomycetes, playing crucial roles in plant-microbe interactions. PcCBP3, identified in Phytophthora capsici, is an apoplastic effector that induces cell death in plants, suggesting its importance in the virulence of the pathogen.
MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Sport Sciences
Jens Rithamer Jakobsen, Abigail Louise Mackey, Manuel Koch, Thomas Imhof, Jens Hannibal, Michael Kjaer, Michael Rindom Krogsgaard
Summary: The myotendinous junction (MTJ) is structurally specialized to transmit force. Muscles with a high content of type II muscle fibers are more prone to strain injury compared to those with type I muscle fibers. Confocal microscopy analysis revealed that the surface area of the MTJ is smaller in type II muscle fibers compared to type I fibers. This suggests that type II muscle fibers have lower resistance to strain and are therefore more susceptible to injury.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chara E. S. Spanou, Alexander P. Wohl, Sandra Doherr, Annkatrin Correns, Niklas Sonntag, Steffen Luetke, Matthias Morgelin, Thomas Imhof, Jan M. Gebauer, Ulrich Baumann, Kay Grobe, Manuel Koch, Gerhard Sengle
Summary: Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play important roles in regulating cellular processes. The molecular requirements for the bioavailability of BMPs in the extracellular matrix (ECM) are not fully understood. This study shows that specific interactions of the BMPs with glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) allow for their spatial concentration in a biologically active conformation. The findings also suggest that the interaction between BMPs and GAGs is specific to certain BMPs and can protect BMPs from inactivation.
Article
Biophysics
Haben Gabir, Monika Gupta, Markus Meier, Fabian Heide, Manuel Koch, Joerg Stetefeld, Borries Demeler
Summary: NET-1 is a chemotropic ligand that plays a crucial role in signaling commissural axon migration and change in direction. It interacts with its receptor UNC-5B to switch axon growth cones from attraction to repulsion. The biophysical properties of the NET-1 + UNC-5B complex have been poorly characterized. In this study, we used multi-wavelength-AUC to separate UNC-5B from NET-1 and investigated the hydrodynamic parameters and complex formation of NET-1 and UNC-5B using both multi-wavelength and single-wavelength AUC. Our results suggest that NET-1 exists in a monomer-dimer equilibrium and forms a pH-sensitive dimer that interacts with UNC-5B in an anti-parallel orientation. UNC-5B can form heterocomplexes with both monomeric and dimeric NET-1.
EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL WITH BIOPHYSICS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Ophthalmology
Christopher Donovan, Devon Cogswell, Mei Sun, Sheila Adams, Marcel Y. Avila, Curtis E. Margo, Manuel Koch, Edgar M. Espana
Summary: The role of collagen XII in corneal injury repair and function restoration is investigated in this study. Incisional and debridement injuries were created in adult mice model to study the effects of collagen XII on wound closure and scar formation. The results showed that collagen XII is a regulator of wound closure, and its absence delays the wound healing process. Collagen XII regulates fibrillogenesis, CD68 cell lineage infiltration, and myofibroblast survival following injury. In vitro studies suggest that collagen XII interacts with fibronectin and LTBP1 to regulate early matrix deposition. Overall, understanding the function of collagen XII in wound healing has significant translational value in clinical applications.
EXPERIMENTAL EYE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Martha Gschwandtner, Anis N. Gammage, Claire Deligne, Linda F. M. Mies, Alissa Domaingo, Devardarssen Murdamoothoo, Thomas Loustau, Anja Schwenzer, Rupert Derler, Raphael Carapito, Manuel Koch, Matthias Moergelin, Gertraud Orend, Andreas J. Kungl, Kim S. Midwood
Summary: Bidirectional dialogue between cellular and non-cellular components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) drives cancer survival. The interplay between the matrix molecule tenascin-C (TNC) and chemokine CCL2 in HER2+ breast cancer was studied, revealing their distinct roles in subverting anti-tumoral immunity. TNC supported sustained CCL2 synthesis and facilitated an immune suppressive macrophage phenotype, while CCL2 did not impact macrophage survival/activation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Anders Karlsen, Ching-Yan Chloe Yeung, Peter Schjerling, Linda Denz, Christian Hoegsbjerg, Jens R. Jakobsen, Michael R. Krogsgaard, Manuel Koch, Stefano Schiaffino, Michael Kjaer, Abigail L. Mackey
Summary: Through single-nucleus RNA sequencing, we identified distinct clusters of myonuclei in the myotendinous junction (MTJ) of humans, characterized by different gene expression profiles and fiber types, which has important implications for understanding the specialization of the MTJ.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Markus Meier, Monika Gupta, Serife Akguel, Matthew McDougall, Thomas Imhof, Denise Nikodemus, Raphael Reuten, Aniel Moya-Torres, Vu To, Fraser Ferens, Fabian Heide, Gay Pauline Padilla-Meier, Philipp Kukura, Wenming Huang, Birgit Gerisch, Matthias Moergelin, Kate Poole, Adam Antebi, Manuel Koch, Joerg Stetefeld
Summary: In this study, the authors provide a molecular understanding of the interactions between netrin-1 and glycosaminoglycan chains of diverse heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) and short heparin oligosaccharides. They demonstrate that heparin oligosaccharides significantly impact the dynamic behavior of netrin-1, inducing the formation of unknown netrin-1 filaments. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the functions of netrin-1.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Melina Hussmann, Dorte Schulte, Sarah Weischer, Claudia Carlantoni, Hiroyuki Nakajima, Naoki Mochizuki, Didier Y. R. Stainier, Thomas Zobel, Manuel Koch, Stefan Schulte-Merker, Victoria L. Bautch
Summary: This study reveals the critical roles of Svep1 and Tie1 in the development of specific subpopulations of the zebrafish facial lymphatic network. It also shows that this aspect of the network is formed independently of Vegfc signaling. The findings demonstrate the importance of Tie1 signaling in lymphangiogenesis and blood vessel development in zebrafish.
Article
Cell Biology
Ines Klein, Jorg Isensee, Martin H. J. Wiesen, Thomas Imhof, Meike K. Wassermann, Carsten Mueller, Tim Hucho, Manuel Koch, Helmar C. Lehmann
Summary: Peripheral neuropathy is a common side effect of cancer treatment with paclitaxel, but the mechanisms of paclitaxel transport into neurons are not well understood. This study identified OATP1A1 and OATP1B2 as the primary neuronal transporters for paclitaxel and suggested that inhibiting these transporters may prevent paclitaxel-induced neuropathy.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Fabian Heide, Manuel Koch, Jorg Stetefeld
Summary: Heparan sulfate is an important component in the extracellular matrix that regulates structural and functional protein processes. Drugs that mimic heparin can disrupt protein assemblies and reduce regulatory capacities by competing with naturally occurring heparan sulfate and heparin chains. The presence of numerous heparan-sulfate-binding proteins in the extracellular matrix can have unknown pathological effects, which should be further investigated when developing clinical mimetics. This article aims to explore recent studies on heparan-sulfate-mediated protein assemblies and the effects of heparin mimetics on these complexes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexander Simonis, Christoph Kreer, Alexandra Albus, Katharina Rox, Biao Yuan, Dmitriy Holzmann, Joana A. Wilms, Sylvia Zuber, Lisa Kottege, Sandra Winter, Meike Meyer, Kristin Schmitt, Henning Gruell, Sebastian J. Theobald, Anna-Maria Hellmann, Christina Meyer, Meryem Seda Ercanoglu, Nina Cramer, Antje Munder, Michael Hallek, Gerd Faetkenheuer, Manuel Koch, Harald Seifert, Ernst Rietschel, Thomas C. Marlovits, Silke van Koningsbruggen-Rietschel, Florian Klein, Jan Rybniker
Summary: Drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) infection poses a serious threat to human health. This study reveals that antibodies produced by chronically infected patients can neutralize PA, providing a new approach for developing anti-PA therapeutics.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alissa Domaingo, Philipp Jokesch, Alexandra Schweiger, Martha Gschwandtner, Tanja Gerlza, Manuel Koch, Kim S. Midwood, Andreas J. Kungl
Summary: Tenascin-C (TNC) is a complex glycoprotein involved in various physiological processes such as oncogenesis and inflammation. This study investigated the binding of TNC to key chemokines and found a differential chemokine-TNC binding pattern. It was observed that TNC acts as an attenuator in monocyte mobilization and an amplifier in eosinophil mobilization. These effects may be due to TNC impeding the binding of CCL2 to heparan sulfate while reinforcing the binding of CCL26.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Maria Rafaeva, Adina R. D. Jensen, Edward R. Horton, Kamilla W. Zornhagen, Jan E. Strobech, Lutz Fleischhauer, Alejandro E. Mayorca-Guiliani, Sebastian R. Nielsen, Dina S. Gronseth, Filip Kus, Erwin M. Schoof, Luis Arnes, Manuel Koch, Hauke Clausen-Schaumann, Valerio Izzi, Raphael Reuten, Janine T. Erler
Summary: The desmoplastic reaction observed in many cancers, particularly in breast and pancreatic cancer, is a significant indicator of disease progression and prognosis. Alterations in stromal-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) within desmoplasia play a crucial role in driving cancer progression. Using fibroblast-derived matrices (FDMs), it was found that cancer cells have increased growth on cancer associated FDMs compared to FDMs derived from non-malignant tissue fibroblasts. Compositional, structural, and mechanical analyses revealed significant differences in ECM characteristics between normal and cancer-associated stroma at the primary tumor site.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mengjie Zhu, Fabian Metzen, Mark Hopkinson, Janina Betz, Juliane Heilig, Jassi Sodhi, Thomas Imhof, Anja Niehoff, David E. Birk, Yayoi Izu, Marcus Krueger, Andrew A. Pitsillides, Janine Altmueller, Gerjo J. V. M. van Osch, Volker Straub, Gudrun Schreiber, Mats Paulsson, Manuel Koch, Bent Brachvogel
Summary: This study investigated the role of collagen XII in joint pathophysiology by analyzing collagen XII deficient mice and human patients. Collagen XII was found to be widely expressed in developing joints. Lack of collagen XII in mice destabilized tendons and femoral trochlear groove, leading to patellar subluxation. This clinical feature was also identified in human patients with collagen XII deficiency, providing an explanation for joint hyperlaxity.
Article
Immunology
Matthias Zehner, Mira Alt, Artem Ashurov, Jory A. Goldsmith, Rebecca Spies, Nina Weiler, Justin Lerma, Lutz Gieselmann, Dagmar Stoehr, Henning Gruell, Eric P. Schultz, Christoph Kreer, Linda Schlachter, Hanna Janicki, Kerstin Laib Sampaio, Cora Stegmann, Michelle D. Nemetchek, Sabrina Daehling, Leon Ullrich, Ulf Dittmer, Oliver Witzke, Manuel Koch, Brent J. Ryckman, Ramin Lotfi, Jason S. McLellan, Adalbert Krawczyk, Christian Sinzger, Florian Klein
Summary: This study analyzed the human B cell response to HCMV and identified the structural basis and mechanisms of neutralizing antibodies. Highly potent antibodies were also discovered, which outperformed known antibodies in clinical trials.