Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tin Marsic, Sivakrishna Rao Gundra, Qiaochu Wang, Rashid Aman, Ahmed Mahas, Magdy M. Mahfouz
Summary: Programmable site-specific nucleases have a wide range of applications in basic biology research, biotechnology, and gene therapy. Using peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), we have developed a technology called PNA-assisted pAgo editing (PNP editing) that enables prokaryotic Argonaute proteins to introduce site-specific double-strand breaks (DSBs) independent of the target sequence. This technology has the potential for in vitro and in vivo applications, including genome editing.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Xing Jin, Sungjun An, Weston Kightlinger, Jiacheng Zhou, Seok Hoon Hong
Summary: The study investigated the anti-biofilm activities of colicins E1, E2, and E3 using cell-free protein synthesis, identifying E2 with DNase activity as the most effective at killing target biofilm cells while leaving non-targeted biofilms unharmed. Engineered probiotic Escherichia coli organisms were able to synthesize and secrete colicin E2, inhibiting biofilms and killing preformed indicator biofilms. These findings suggest the potential of using engineered microorganisms to produce antimicrobial colicin proteins as a therapeutic strategy for biofilm-associated infections.
Article
Fisheries
Fengli Zhang, Yinyin Luan, Qiang Hao, Qingshuang Zhang, Yalin Yang, Chao Ran, Zhen Zhang, Zhigang Zhou
Summary: This study found that Bacillus velezensis T23 and nuclease-treated T23 can enhance nonspecific immunity, alleviate lipid metabolism disorders and inflammation caused by high-fat diet, reduce intestinal injury and inflammation, and improve gut microbiota structure of zebrafish. Nuclease-treated T23 is able to enhance the ability of T23 to alleviate high-fat diet-induced lipid metabolism disorders and inflammation.
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Theoharis C. Theoharides, Irene Tsilioni
Summary: The article points out that mast cells, as a unique tissue immune cell, can orchestrate the immune response by secreting proinflammatory molecules. It highlights the degranulation of mast cells in the lungs of deceased patients with severe Covid-19, as well as the elevated levels of mast cell-derived proteolytic enzymes in patients' serum.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
P. Malaka De Silva, Rebecca J. Bennett, Lauriane Kuhn, Patryk Ngondo, Lorine Debande, Elisabeth Njamkepo, Brian Ho, Francois-Xavier Weill, Benoit S. Marteyn, Claire Jenkins, Kate S. Baker
Summary: Colicins are responsible for E. coli killing by S. sonnei, not a T6SS. This phenotype contributes to shaping the observed epidemiology of S. sonnei and may contribute to its increasing prevalence globally. BPER is an epidemiologically relevant approach to phenotypic testing that enables the rapid identification of genetic drivers of phenotypic changes, and assessment of their relevance to epidemiology in natural settings.
Review
Plant Sciences
Claudia-Nicole Meisrimler, Claudia Allan, Sophie Eccersall, Richard J. Morris
Summary: Pathogens use effectors to disrupt plant defense mechanisms and target pathways for nonbiological stress adaptation, promoting infection. Research in this area is still in its early stages, but helps to establish connections between effector targets and pathogenic lifestyles.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicholas A. Wong, Milton H. Saier
Summary: This review focuses on the Coronavirus proteins, particularly membrane proteins, and their functions in pathogenesis within the Coronaviridae family. Despite variations in structure and function, shared proteins among different coronaviruses are found to be multifunctional. The roles of these transmembrane proteins in the infection cycle, host membrane arrangements, cellular growth, cell death, and immune responses are discussed.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Mingxu Xie, Qiang Hao, Rui Xia, Rolf Erik Olsen, Einar Ringo, Yalin Yang, Zhen Zhang, Chao Ran, Zhigang Zhou
Summary: The present study evaluated the effects of nuclease-treated Cetobacterium somerae XMX-1 (N) on zebrafish. The results showed that supplementation of XMX-1 (N) can promote zebrafish growth, enhance immune response, and improve liver health.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Diego Esposito, Jane Dudley-Fraser, Acely Garza-Garcia, Katrin Rittinger
Summary: This study presents a detailed structure-function analysis of TRIM2 and TRIM3, two paralogous class VII TRIM proteins that play different roles in neuronal functions. The research highlights the importance of amino acid changes in influencing the activity of TRIM proteins and demonstrates the interaction between TRIM2 and TRIM3 in a cellular context.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Diego Esposito, Jane Dudley-Fraser, Acely Garza-Garcia, Katrin Rittinger
Summary: Despite high sequence identity, TRIM2 and TRIM3 exhibit markedly different self-association and activity profiles, but interact in cells to modulate their respective activities.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Dimitri Cherier, Delphine Patin, Didier Blanot, Thierry Touze, Helene Barreteau
Summary: Misuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of multidrug resistant bacteria. Discovery of new antibacterials, such as colicins produced by E. coli, is crucial. ColM is a type of colicin that interferes with peptidoglycan biosynthesis, leading to cell lysis.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tabea M. Eser, Olga Baranov, Manuel Huth, Mohammed I. M. Ahmed, Flora Deak, Kathrin Held, Luming Lin, Kami Pekayvaz, Alexander Leunig, Leo Nicolai, Georgios Pollakis, Marcus Buggert, David A. Price, Raquel Rubio-Acero, Jakob Reich, Philine Falk, Alissa Markgraf, Kerstin Puchinger, Noemi Castelletti, Laura Olbrich, Kanika Vanshylla, Florian Klein, Andreas Wieser, Jan Hasenauer, Inge Kroidl, Michael Hoelscher, Christof Geldmacher
Summary: The study shows that systemic inflammation markers are directly correlated with upper airways viral loads, while the frequencies of nucleocapsid-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells are inversely correlated with inflammatory markers and viral loads. The presence of activated T cells expressing cytotoxic proteins and IFN-gamma in infected epithelium is linked with better control of SARS-CoV-2. These findings provide insights for the development of vaccines against COVID-19.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carla Cacciotto, Alberto Alberti
Summary: Neutrophils play a crucial role in the immune response against infection, but some microorganisms can evade their attacks. Mycoplasma, a reduced genome bacteria, induces the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), but can digest the DNA scaffold of NETs to escape entrapment and promote infection. This persistence of mycoplasma infection and prolonged NET release are associated with the onset of chronic inflammatory diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
J. Marquez, N. Dinguirard, A. Gonzalez, A. E. Kane, N. R. Joffe, T. P. Yoshino, M. G. Castillo
Summary: This study identified and characterized TEP transcripts in the snail Biomphalaria glabrata, an intermediate host of the Schistosoma parasite. The expression and response of TEPs to S. mansoni exposure were compared between resistant and susceptible snail strains. Differences in constitutive expression levels and differential responses were observed, suggesting the potential role of TEPs in schistosomiasis transmission control.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Dengpeng Jin, Huan Liu, Lingling Bu, Qianhua Ke, Zhongyi Li, Wenna Han, Siyu Zhu, Chunhong Liu
Summary: This study evaluated the effect of lactation period on human milk whey proteins using a data-independent acquisition approach, identifying differential protein expression and nutritional differences during different lactation periods.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Justyna A. Wojdyla, Erin Cutts, Renata Kaminska, Grigorios Papadakos, Jonathan T. S. Hopper, Phillip J. Stansfeld, David Staunton, Carol V. Robinson, Colin Kleanthous
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2015)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Grigorios Papadakos, Amit Sharma, Lorna E. Lancaster, Rebecca Bowen, Renata Kaminska, Andrew P. Leech, Daniel Walker, Christina Redfield, Colin Kleanthous
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2015)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Renee B. Y. Lee, Despoina A. I. Mavridou, Grigorios Papadakos, Harry L. O. McClelland, Rosalind E. M. Rickaby
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2016)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Patrice Rassam, Kathleen R. Long, Renata Kaminska, David J. Williams, Grigorios Papadakos, Christoph G. Baumann, Colin Kleanthous
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2018)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fuqian Xie, Shabir H. Qureshi, Grigorios A. Papadakos, Cynthia M. Dupureur
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Grigorios A. Papadakos, Cynthia M. Dupureur
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2011)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anne Marie Krachler, Amit Sharma, Anna Cauldwell, Grigorios Papadakos, Colin Kleanthous
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2010)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Grigorios Papadakos, Nicholas G. Housden, Katie J. Lilly, Renata Kaminska, Colin Kleanthous
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2012)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Lissa R. Herron, Clare Pridans, Matthew L. Turnbull, Nikki Smith, Simon Lillico, Adrian Sherman, Hazel J. Gilhooley, Martin Wear, Dominic Kurian, Grigorios Papadakos, Paul Digard, David A. Hume, Andrew C. Gill, Helen M. Sang
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Grigorios A. Papadakos, Horacio Nastri, Paul Riggs, Cynthia M. Dupureur
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2007)