Article
Plant Sciences
Becky Westerdahl, Lee Riddle, Deborah Giraud, Kathryn Kamo
Summary: Easter lilies, grown mainly in Oregon and California, are vulnerable to the root lesion nematode, which makes them expensive to produce due to the cost of controlling the pest. A previous study found that genetically modified Easter lilies with a rice cystatin gene exhibited resistance to the nematode in laboratory conditions. This study evaluated the growth characteristics of five genetically modified lines of lilies compared to non-modified lilies in the field, and found that the modified lines showed resistance to the nematode and had similar growth and quality characteristics to non-modified lilies.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Seong Hee Mun, Joon Yeong Kwon
Summary: Cysteine proteinase inhibitors (CPIs) have been widely studied for their protective effects against cysteine proteinases in animal blood. In this study, the researchers screened for CPI activity in Nile tilapia and identified fetuin B and kininogen as the major proteins responsible for this activity in the blood.
Article
Microbiology
Amornrat Geadkaew-Krenc, Rudi Grams, Sinee Siricoon, Nanthawat Kosa, Dawid Krenc, Wansika Phadungsil, Pongsakorn Martviset
Summary: A high incidence of cholangiocarcinoma in Thailand is linked to the infection of the human liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini. This study analyzes the cysteine proteinase inhibitors (cystatins) of Opisthorchis viverrini and finds that they are not major antigenic components in the excretory-secretory (ES) product of this parasite. However, the cystatins show inhibitory activity against mammalian cathepsin L and have a wide pH range for their full activity. Further investigation should be conducted to explore other effects of the Opisthorchis viverrini cystatins.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anastasiia I. Petushkova, Lyudmila V. Savvateeva, Andrey A. Zamyatnin
Summary: Papain-like cysteine proteases are widely expressed enzymes that regulate protein turnover in lysosomes. Recent discoveries have shown that these proteases also have specific functions in different organelles and extracellular environments. Human cysteine cathepsins are the most studied proteases in this family and are involved in both physiological and pathological processes. The specificity of each protease to its substrates is determined by the structure of the binding cleft and the amino acid motifs in this region.
COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Virology
Karin M. Deutschmann-Olek, Wyatt W. Yue, Gustavo A. Bezerra, Tim Skern
Summary: Members of the Picornavirus family can cause diseases in humans, with human rhinoviruses being the main causative agents of the common cold. Effective agents against rhinoviruses are necessary due to their role in increasing the severity of asthma and COPD. The 2A proteinase (2Apro) found in all enteroviruses is a potential target for drug development, with inactivating mutations resulting in a prevention of infectious virion assembly. Variations in sequence and substrate specificity between genetic groups A and B of RV 2Apro hinder their potential as drug targets.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michal Busa, Zuzana Matouskova, Pavla Bartosova-Sojkova, Petr Pachl, Pavlina Rezacova, Ramon Marc Eichenberger, Peter Deplazes, Martin Horn, Sasa Stefanic, Michael Mares
Summary: Fasciolosis is a parasitic disease caused by the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica and has become an emerging human disease. The protein FhCyLS-2 from F. hepatica is a member of the cystatin superfamily and has characteristics of both intracellular stefins and secreted true cystatins. It acts as a broad specificity inhibitor of cysteine cathepsins, playing a dual role in the regulation of exogenous and endogenous proteolysis.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Natalia N. S. Nunes, Rodrigo S. Ferreira, Leonardo F. R. de Sa, Antonia Elenir A. de Oliveira, Maria Luiza Oliva
Summary: The study found that a proteinase inhibitor from Enterolobium contortisiliquum seeds can effectively inhibit the development of Callosobruchus maculatus larvae by altering the inhibitory activity in their midguts, thereby affecting their growth, and this inhibitor can be applied in artificial seeds.
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Rheumatology
Hiroshi Kasamatsu, Takenao Chino, Takumi Hasegawa, Natsuko Utsunomiya, Akira Utsunomiya, Masami Yamada, Noritaka Oyama, Minoru Hasegawa
Summary: This study aimed to explore the anti-fibrotic properties of the calpain inhibitor N-acetyl-Leu-Leu-norleucinal (ALLN) in systemic sclerosis (SSc). The results showed that ALLN effectively inhibited the synthesis of fibrogenic molecules and reduced cell transformation induced by TGF-beta 1. In addition, treatment with ALLN significantly suppressed the development of skin and lung fibrosis in a SSc mouse model induced by bleomycin injection.
ARTHRITIS RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Maciej Siewinski, Ewa Kilar, Lidia Hirnle, Teresa Skiba, Jakub Gburek, Krzysztof Golab, Marek Murawski, Anna Janocha
Summary: The study evaluated the effects of specific inhibitors on autogenic cysteine peptidases in the sera of breast cancer patients, finding inhibitory effects in some samples but no correlation with the health indicators of the patients.
ADVANCES IN CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Danila Cabral, Mohamed Youssef Banora, Jose Dijair Antonino, Natalia Rodiuc, Paulo Vieira, Roberta R. Coelho, Christian Chevalier, Thomas Eekhout, Gilbert Engler, Lieven De Veylder, Maria Fatima Grossi-de-Sa, Janice de Almeida Engler
Article
Plant Sciences
Paulo Vieira, Lev G. Nemchinov
Article
Forestry
Monica Mitrea-Calin, Maria L. Inacio, Mirela Cean, Claudia Costache, Leidy Rusinque, Marius Paraschiv, Maria J. Camacho, Paulo Vieira, Stelica Cristea, Filomena Nobrega
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Paulo Vieira, Jonathan Shao, Paramasivan Vijayapalani, Thomas R. Maier, Clement Pellegrin, Sebastian Eves-van den Akker, Thomas J. Baum, Lev G. Nemchinov
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paulo Vieira, Claudia S. L. Vicente, Jordana Branco, Gary Buchan, Manuel Mota, Lev G. Nemchinov
Summary: The root lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans is a migratory species that attacks a broad range of crops by utilizing secreted protein effectors. In this study, a candidate effector designated as Ppen10370 displayed pleiotropic phenotypes substantially different from wild type infection. Cross-species comparative analysis of Ppen10370 identified homolog gene sequences in five other Pratylenchus species, and silencing this effector resulted in a significant reduction of nematode reproduction, highlighting its important role for parasitism.
MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Paulo Vieira, Roxana Y. Myers, Clement Pellegrin, Catherine Wram, Cedar Hesse, Thomas R. Maier, Jonathan Shao, Georgios D. Koutsovoulos, Inga Zasada, Tracie Matsumoto, Etienne G. J. Danchin, Thomas J. Baum, Sebastian Eves-van den Akker, Lev G. Nemchinov
Summary: The economically important plant-parasitic nematode Radopholus similis has a diverse repertoire of effectors, with many pioneer genes being especially abundant during host interaction. The analysis also identified a potential gland promoter motif associated with spatial regulation of these effectors. Additionally, a GH62 gene, potentially acquired through lateral gene transfer, was discovered for the first time in any metazoan, suggesting evolutionary events have shaped the nematode's effector genes.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jorge M. S. Faria, Pedro Barbosa, Paulo Vieira, Claudia S. L. Vicente, Ana Cristina Figueiredo, Manuel Mota
Summary: Research has shown that essential oils have good direct activity against the pinewood nematode, making them a safer and more environmentally friendly alternative. By analyzing parameters and chemical compositions, more effective essential oil biopesticides can be developed to contribute to improved forest health.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lev G. Nemchinov, Brian M. Irish, Samuel Grinstead, Jonathan Shao, Paulo Vieira
Summary: Alfalfa, one of the most extensively cultivated forage legumes in the world, is highly susceptible to infectious diseases. This study characterized the diversity of viral populations in commercial alfalfa production fields in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and identified 45 distinct viruses. Further research is needed to determine the impact of these newly identified viruses on alfalfa and whether they should be considered pathogens of this crop.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Paulo Vieira, Mihail R. Kantor, Carmen M. Medina-Mora, Monique L. Sakalidis, Zafar A. Handoo
Article
Virology
Paulo Vieira, Sergei A. Subbotin, Nadim Alkharouf, Jonathan Eisenback, Lev G. Nemchinov
Summary: In recent years, newly discovered viruses infecting nematodes have been described. However, comprehensive research on the virome of soil nematode communities has not been carried out. This study reveals a diverse range of RNA viruses in the soil environment, including potentially new virus species. These findings enrich our understanding of this complex part of the natural ecosystem.
Article
Horticulture
Joana Figueiredo, Paulo Vieira, Isabel Abrantes, Ivania Esteves
Summary: This study assessed the susceptibility of commercial potato cultivars to the root lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans. The results showed that the cultivar Laura had a lower susceptibility index, indicating stronger resistance to the nematode, while cultivars Camel and Picasso had higher susceptibility indices. There were variations in the susceptibility of potato cultivars to the nematode, but there were no significant differences in the number or weight of tubers produced by infected and non-infected plants.
Article
Zoology
Andrea M. Skantar, Zafar A. Handoo, Sergei A. Subbotin, Mihail R. Kantor, Paulo Vieira, Paula Agudelo, Maria N. Hult, Stephen Rogers
Summary: A high number of second stage juveniles of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne hispanica were found in soil samples from a corn field in Pickens County, South Carolina, USA in 2019. Morphological and molecular examination confirmed the identification of the nematodes. This discovery represents the first report of Meloidogyne hispanica in the USA and North America.
JOURNAL OF NEMATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Zoology
J. D. Eisenback, P. Vieira
JOURNAL OF NEMATOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Zoology
Paulo Vieira, Amy Peetz, Benjamin Mimee, Kanan Saikai, Dimitre Mollov, Ann MacGuidwin, Inga Zasada, Lev G. Nemchinov
JOURNAL OF NEMATOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Zoology
Qing Xue, Ofer Slonim, Patricia Bucki, Zvi Mendel, Alex Protasov, Omer Golan, Paulo Vieira, Sigal Braun Miyara