Review
Microbiology
Antonia Efstathiou, Despina Smirlis
Summary: Leishmania is a parasite causing a range of diseases, with millions of infected individuals worldwide. Current chemotherapy is limited, and there is a need for new treatments to address this public health issue.
Article
Cell Biology
Julia Steger, Alison G. Cole, Andreas Denner, Tatiana Lebedeva, Grigory Genikhovich, Alexander Ries, Robert Reischl, Elisabeth Taudes, Mark Lassnig, Ulrich Technau
Summary: Using single-cell RNA sequencing in the cnidarian Nematostella vectensis, researchers have discovered that neurons, stinging cells, and gland cells originate from a common multipotent progenitor population. They also identified the conserved transcription factor gene SoxC as a key regulator of all neuroglandular lineages. Unlike vertebrates, the differentiation of neuroglandular cells in the sea anemone is maintained throughout all life stages and follows the same molecular trajectories.
Article
Oncology
Reza Mirzaei, Charlotte D'Mello, Marina Liu, Ana Nikolic, Mehul Kumar, Frank Visser, Pinaki Bose, Marco Gallo, V. Wee Yong
Summary: This study spatially characterized the heterogeneity of glioblastoma microenvironment and identified the potential therapeutic target of the biglycan-LRP6 axis in regulating tumor growth and brain tumor-initiating cells in GBM.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marina Chan, Siddharth Vijay, John McNevin, M. Juliana McElrath, Eric C. Holland, Taranjit S. Gujral
Summary: It has been found that the N-terminal domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein can induce the production of multiple inflammatory molecules, and essential protein kinases have been identified as downstream mediators of NTD-induced cytokine production. Several FDA-approved drugs, including ponatinib, have been shown to be potent inhibitors of NTD-mediated cytokine release. Ponatinib treatment outperforms other drugs, inhibiting cytokines in response to NTD from both SARS-CoV-2 and emerging variants, suggesting a promising therapeutic option for treating moderate to severe COVID-19.
MOLECULAR SYSTEMS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Kai Wang, Man Zhang, Jiao Wang, Pan Sun, Jizhuang Luo, Haizhen Jin, Rong Li, Changqing Pan, Liming Lu
Summary: This study revealed key regulators contributing to cell proliferation in human LUAD and identified four potential therapeutic agents for treatment strategy.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Keiji Kawatani, Toshihiko Nambara, Nobutoshi Nawa, Hidetaka Yoshimatsu, Haruna Kusakabe, Katsuya Hirata, Akira Tanave, Kenta Sumiyama, Kimihiko Banno, Hidetoshi Taniguchi, Hitomi Arahori, Keiichi Ozono, Yasuji Kitabatake
Summary: This study established a panel of isogenic astrocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells specific to Down syndrome (DS), demonstrating the dose-dependent effects of DYRK1A and PIGP on proliferation of DS-derived astrocyte precursors. This collection of isogenic cell lines serves as a valuable resource and cellular model for future DS research.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Davide Sala, Peter W. Hildebrand, Jens Meiler
Summary: Determining the native functional structure of proteins has long been a challenge in structural biology. Integrative structural biology and deep machine-learning algorithms, such as AlphaFold2, have greatly advanced computational predictions of protein structures. In this study, we expanded AlphaFold2 to model user-defined functional or structural features, specifically focusing on G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and kinases for drug discovery. Our approach automatically selects templates that satisfy specified features and incorporates genetic information, providing accurate and biased models. This protocol allows for automatic modeling of user-defined conformational states.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biology
Olga T. Schubert, Joshua S. Bloom, Meru J. Sadhu, Leonid Kruglyak, Kevin J. Verstrepen
Summary: This article describes a genetic screening method for studying the encoding of protein abundance regulation in the genome. The researchers identified numerous regulatory relationships and revealed the different roles of specific regulators and broad regulators in protein translation.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Bin Li, Shurong Liu, Wujian Zheng, Anrui Liu, Peng Yu, Di Wu, Jie Zhou, Ping Zhang, Chang Liu, Qiao Lin, Jiayi Ye, Simeng He, Qiaojuan Huang, Hui Zhou, Jianjun Chen, Lianghu Qu, Jianhua Yang
Summary: A new method called RIP-PEN-seq was developed to identify the full-length sequences of RNAs bound by the K-turn binding protein 15.5K. This study discovered a previously unknown class of RNAs with backward K-turn motifs (bktRNAs) in humans and mice. These bktRNAs share two consensus sequence motifs at their fixed terminal position and have complex folding properties, expression and evolution patterns. The research also revealed that bktRNA1 guides the methyltransferase fibrillarin to install RNA methylation of U12 small nuclear RNA in humans.
NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lai Man Natalie Wu, Feng Zhang, Rohit Rao, Mike Adam, Kai Pollard, Sara Szabo, Xuezhao Liu, Katie A. Belcher, Zaili Luo, Sean Ogurek, Colleen Reilly, Xin Zhou, Li Zhang, Joshua Rubin, Long-Sheng Chang, Mei Xin, Jiyang Yu, Mario Suva, Christine A. Pratilas, Steven Potter, Q. Richard Lu
Summary: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is a highly aggressive soft tissue sarcoma derived from benign neurofibroma (NF). A novel nestin-negative malignant stem-like subpopulation has been identified in MPNST, which is common to both mouse and human MPNSTs and correlates with clinical severity. Unique regulatory networks and druggable targets have been identified in MPNST, and targeting key epithelial-mesenchymal transition and stemness regulators can impede MPNST growth. These studies reveal the underlying principles of tumor cell-state evolution during NF-to-MPNST transformation and highlight a previously unrecognized mesenchymal stem-like subpopulation in MPNST disease progression.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jui-Hung H. Weng, Phillip T. Aoto, Robin Lorenz, Jian Wu, Sven Schmidt, Jascha Manschwetus, Pallavi Kaila-Sharma, Steve W. Silletti, Sebastian S. Mathea, Deep Chatterjee, Stefan Knapp, Friedrich Herberg, Susan Taylor
Summary: This study generated a comprehensive dynamic allosteric portrait of the C-terminal domains of LRRK2 using HDX-MS and MD simulations. It identified two helices that regulate LRRK2 conformation and function, providing potential sites for pharmacological intervention.
Review
Microbiology
Joachim Clos, Janne Gruenebast, Myrine Holm
Summary: This article discusses the conversion of Leishmania parasites from extracellular promastigotes to intracellular amastigotes in mammalian hosts, highlighting the physical and chemical triggers and molecular level changes involved. Emphasis is placed on the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, as well as the roles of protein kinases, chaperone proteins, and proteolytic enzymes in this conversion process. A model is proposed to integrate different stress signals for inducing stage conversion.
Article
Oncology
Congkuan Song, Xinfei Liu, Weichen Lin, Kai Lai, Shize Pan, Zilong Lu, Donghang Li, Ning Li, Qing Geng
Summary: This study comprehensively analyzed the genetic alterations and expression perturbations of histone acetylation regulators in various cancer types. It revealed the clinical relevance and potential prognostic value of these regulators, suggesting their importance in cancer development and treatment strategies.
Article
Biology
David J. Turner, Alexander Saveliev, Fiamma Salerno, Louise S. Matheson, Michael Screen, Hannah Lawson, David Wotherspoon, Kamil R. Kranc, Martin Turner
Summary: In this study, we used a CRISPR/Cas9 knockout screen to identify the roles of RNA binding proteins (RBPs) in the differentiation and survival of antibody secreting plasma cells. Through this screen, we discovered that CSDE1, STRAP, and YTHDF2 promote the accumulation of CD138 + cells, while EIF3K, EIF3L, and components of the CCR4-NOT complex inhibit CD138 + cell accumulation. Additionally, YTHDF2-deficient plasma cells were found to fail in accumulation in chimeric mouse models.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Di Xiao, Hani Jieun Kim, Ignatius Pang, Pengyi Yang
Summary: This study developed a statistical framework to identify stable phosphorylated sites in human phosphoproteomics datasets, which are evolutionarily conserved, functionally important, and enriched in core signaling and gene pathways. Particularly, SPSs in the RNA splicing pathway are frequent targets of cancer mutations, suggesting a potential link between dysregulated RNA splicing and cancer development through mutations on SPSs.
Article
Parasitology
Debora Elienai de Oliveira Miranda, Kamila Gaudencio da Silva Sales, Luciana Aguiar Figueredo, Sheilla Andrade de Oliveira, Amanda Vasconcelos do Nascimento, Diego Jose Lira Torres, Petra Sumova, Petr Volf, Sinval Pinto Brandao-Filho, Suenia da Cunha Goncalves de Albuquerque, Virginia Maria Barros de Lorena, Filipe Dantas-Torres
Summary: Our study found that Migonemyia migonei salivary gland homogenates may modulate the immune response of BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, leading to reduced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and potentially smaller skin lesions. However, further research is needed to confirm this hypothesis.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Maria Ortuno, Clara Munoz, Tatiana Spitzova, Petra Sumova, Maria Asuncion Iborra, Pedro Perez-Cutillas, Nazli Ayhan, Remi N. Charrel, Petr Volf, Eduardo Berriatua
Summary: In a study conducted in Murcia Region, southeast Spain, the prevalence of antibodies against Phlebotomus perniciosus sandfly salivary gland homogenate (SGH) and recombinant protein rSP03B was found to be 69% and 88%, respectively. The prevalence of Toscana virus (TOSV), Sandfly Fever Sicilian virus (SFSV), and Leishmania infections were 26%, 0%, and 1%, respectively. The study also questioned the diagnostic value of rSP03B as a marker for these infections in humans.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Laura Piel, K. Shanmugha Rajan, Giovanni Bussotti, Hugo Varet, Rachel Legendre, Caroline Proux, Thibaut Douche, Quentin Giai-Gianetto, Thibault Chaze, Thomas Cokelaer, Barbora Vojtkova, Nadav Gordon-Bar, Tirza Doniger, Smadar Cohen-Chalamish, Praveenkumar Rengaraj, Celine Besse, Anne Boland, Jovana Sadlova, Jean-Francois Deleuze, Mariette Matondo, Ron Unger, Petr Volf, Shulamit Michaeli, Pascale Pescher, Gerald Spath
Summary: Genome instability plays a crucial role in the adaptation and regulation of the protozoan parasite Leishmania, utilizing post-transcriptional and epitranscriptomic regulation to adapt to its host environment.
Article
Parasitology
Lucie Ticha, Jovana Sadlova, Paul Bates, Petr Volf
Summary: The development of Sauroleishmania parasites in sand flies varies depending on the sand fly species infected. P. orientalis and P. argentipes were found to be highly susceptible to Sauroleishmania, with the parasites developing mature infections including colonization of the sand fly stomodeal valve.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Alexandra Zakharova, Amanda T. S. Albanaz, Fred R. Opperdoes, Ingrid Skodova-Sverakova, Diana Zagirova, Andreu Saura, Lubomira Chmelova, Evgeny S. Gerasimov, Tereza Lestinova, Tomas Becvar, Jovana Sadlova, Petr Volf, Julius Lukes, Anton Horvath, Anzhelika Butenko, Vyacheslav Yurchenko
Summary: Leishmaniasis is a parasitic vector-borne disease caused by Leishmania, and L. guyanensis strains carrying the Leishmania RNA virus 1 (LRV1) cause a more severe form of the disease in a mouse model. This study reports the genome assembly of LRV1-positive L. guyanensis M4147 and shows that the ablation of the gene encoding phosphatidate phosphatase 2-like (PAP2L) protein leads to an increase in cell number, accumulation of phosphatidic acid, and increased virulence.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Emilie Pondeville, Anna-Bella Failloux, Frederic Simard, Petr Volf, Andrea Crisanti, Roya Elaine Haghighat-Khah, Nuria Busquets, Francesc Xavier Abad, Anthony J. Wilson, Romeo Bellini, Sarah Marsh Arnaud, Alain Kohl, Eva Veronesi
Summary: This article provides expert advice on safely handling mosquitoes and the pathogens they transmit, based on the experience of the Infravec2 consortium. It can also be used as a basis for research with other arthropods.
PATHOGENS AND GLOBAL HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Parasitology
Vyacheslav Yurchenko, Daniil S. Chistyakov, Lyudmila Akhmadishina, Alexander N. Lukashev, Jovana Sadlova, Margarita Strelkova
Summary: In this study, we reviewed historical and recent data on Leishmaniaspp. infection in several countries including Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, China, and Mongolia. We focused on a complex of co-existing species and their shared reservoirs and vectors. Additionally, we analyzed the presence of dsRNA viruses in these species and discussed future research directions to understand the susceptibility of different Leishmaniaspp. to viral infection.
Article
Cell Biology
Carrow Wells, Yi Liang, Thomas L. Pulliam, Chenchu Lin, Dominik Awad, Benjamin Eduful, Sean O'Byrne, Mohammad Anwar Hossain, Carolina Moura Costa Catta-Preta, Priscila Zonzini Ramos, Opher Gileadi, Carina Gileadi, Rafael M. Counago, Brittany Stork, Christopher G. Langendorf, Kevin Nay, Jonathan S. Oakhill, Debarati Mukherjee, Luigi Racioppi, Anthony R. Means, Brian York, Donald P. McDonnell, John W. Scott, Daniel E. Frigo, David H. Drewry
Summary: This study presents a selective small molecule probe, SGC-CAMKK2-1, that specifically targets CAMKK2, which can be used to investigate the therapeutic benefits of CAMKK2 inhibition.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Magdalena Jancarova, Nikola Polanska, Petr Volf, Vit Dvorak
Summary: Sand flies are vectors of various pathogens and can transmit parasitic protists and arboviruses, posing a threat to human and animal health. This review summarizes the published information on viruses detected in or isolated from sand flies, excluding Phenuiviridae with the genus Phlebovirus which have been well investigated.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Giovanni Bussotti, Blaise Li, Pascale Pescher, Barbora Vojtkova, Isabelle Louradour, Katerina Pruzinova, Jovana Sadlova, Petr Volf, Gerald F. Spath
Summary: This study investigates the genomic adaptation of the parasitic pathogen Leishmania donovani during sand fly infection. The findings suggest that oxidative DNA damage and DNA repair processes contribute to haplotype and allelic selection in the parasite.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Biology
Ryuji Yanase, Flavia Moreira-Leite, Edward Rea, Lauren Wilburn, Jovana Sadlova, Barbora Vojtkova, Katerina Pruzinova, Atsushi Taniguchi, Shigenori Nonaka, Petr Volf, Jack D. Sunter
Summary: Attachment to a substrate is a common strategy among eukaryotic parasites for maintaining position in a specific ecological niche. In this study, the researchers used advanced electron microscopy techniques to investigate the adhesion of Leishmania parasites to the stomodeal valve in the sand fly vector. They found distinct structural elements in the attachment plaque and identified five stages of haptomonad-like cell differentiation. The study also demonstrated the importance of calcium for Leishmania adhesion in vitro. These findings provide important insights into the structural and regulatory aspects of Leishmania adhesion and contribute to a better understanding of its life cycle.
Article
Parasitology
Donnamae Klocek, Danyil Grybchuk, Lucie Ticha, Jan Votypka, Petr Volf, Alexei Yu. Kostygov, Vyacheslav Yurchenko
Summary: This work analyzed RNA viruses in Sauroleishmania spp. and found RNA viruses in three out of seven isolates, belonging to the families Narnaviridae and Totiviridae. Phylogenetic inferences showed that totiviruses from L. adleri and L. tarentolae clustered with LRV2s, while a narnavirus from L. gymnodactyli was related to narnaviruses of Blechomonas spp. This study expanded the understanding of RNA virus-host interactions in trypanosomatids and provided insights into their evolution and potential routes of viral transmission.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Social Sciences, Mathematical Methods
Ben Powell
Summary: We propose a non-standard generalization of the Elo rating system for competitions involving multiple participants. This new system acts as an online estimation algorithm for the parameters of a Plackett-Luce model, allowing probabilistic forecasts for future competition outcomes. The system differs from traditional models by treating competitions as elimination-type rounds that identify the worst competitors, rather than selection-type rounds that identify the best. The importance of this modeling choice is discussed, and the system's predictive power is demonstrated using Formula One racing data.
JOURNAL OF QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS IN SPORTS
(2023)