Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Weishu Wu, Xiaotian Tan, Jennifer Zupancic, John S. Schardt, Alec A. Desai, Matthew D. Smith, Jie Zhang, Liangzhi Xie, Maung Khaing Oo, Peter M. Tessier, Xudong Fan
Summary: In this study, a rapid and quantitative assay was developed to evaluate the neutralizing efficacy of antibodies and nanobodies against COVID-19. The assay showed comparable results to traditional virus neutralization tests and demonstrated its ability to assess the efficacy against different SARS-CoV-2 variants.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ortensia Ilaria Parisi, Marco Dattilo, Francesco Patitucci, Rocco Malivindi, Serena Delbue, Pasquale Ferrante, Silvia Parapini, Roberta Galeazzi, Mariangela Cavarelli, Francesco Cilurzo, Silvia Franze, Ida Perrotta, Vincenzo Pezzi, Francesca Selmin, Mariarosa Ruffo, Francesco Puoci
Summary: This research developed plastic antibodies based on MIPs technology to selectively bind a portion of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, showing significant potential for inhibiting virus replication and potential applications in the treatment, prevention, and diagnosis of COVID-19 infection.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Massab Umair, Aamer Ikram, Muhammad Salman, Adnan Khurshid, Masroor Alam, Nazish Badar, Rana Suleman, Faheem Tahir, Salmaan Sharif, Joel Montgomery, Shannon Whitmer, John Klena
Summary: This study reports the sequencing, genomic characterization, and phylogenetic analysis of five SARS-CoV-2 strains isolated from patients in Pakistan, revealing the presence of GH and S clade strains and the G614 variant. There were 29 amino acid mutations detected, including 15 missense and 4 novel mutations, with the D614G mutation in spike protein identified as a key mutation affecting virus infectivity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhenlin Yang, Yulu Wang, Yujia Jin, Yuanfei Zhu, Yanling Wu, Cheng Li, Yu Kong, Wenping Song, Xiaolong Tian, Wuqiang Zhan, Ailing Huang, Shanshan Zhou, Shuai Xia, Xiaoxu Tian, Chao Peng, Cuicui Chen, Yibing Shi, Gaowei Hu, Shujuan Du, Yuyan Wang, Youhua Xie, Shibo Jiang, Lu Lu, Lei Sun, Yuanlin Song, Tianlei Ying
Summary: This study demonstrates that a fully human single-domain antibody exhibits potent neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 variants and provides effective prophylactic and therapeutic protection against the virus. The antibody binds to a novel epitope on the virus spike protein and shows no evasion of prevalent SARS-CoV-2 lineages, making it a promising candidate for clinical development to treat COVID-19.
SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION AND TARGETED THERAPY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yu Fu, Yangyue Fang, Shuai Gong, Tao Xue, Peng Wang, Li She, Jianping Huang
Summary: This study used a deep learning-based network pharmacology approach to identify potential active compounds and targets of licorice for the treatment of COVID-19. Four compounds and two targets were predicted and confirmed to be associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The study also discovered two new compounds and two new targets, which showed promising binding to COVID-19 related targets.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rafael Bayarri-Olmos, Anne Rosbjerg, Laust Bruun Johnsen, Charlotte Helgstrand, Theresa Bak-Thomsen, Peter Garred, Mikkel-Ole Skjoedt
Summary: A new variant discovered in minks has shown enhanced transmission capacity but does not affect immunity in previously infected individuals or vaccine models. The rise in frequency of this variant in mink farms may be due to a fitness advantage conferred by receptor adaptation rather than evading immune responses.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan, Xiner Huang, Bingjie Hu, Yue Chai, Hongyu Shi, Tianrenzheng Zhu, Terrence Tsz-Tai Yuen, Yuanchen Liu, Huan Liu, Jialu Shi, Lei Wen, Huiping Shuai, Yuxin Hou, Chaemin Yoon, Jian-Piao Cai, Anna Jinxia Zhang, Jie Zhou, Feifei Yin, Shuofeng Yuan, Bao-Zhong Zhang, Melinda A. Brindley, Zheng-Li Shi, Kwok-Yung Yuen, Hin Chu
Summary: It has been discovered that several members of the membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase families can mediate SARS-CoV-2 entry, and inhibition of these proteases significantly reduces viral replication. Additionally, the Omicron BA.1 variant has an increased efficiency in utilizing matrix metalloproteinases, while exhibiting altered efficiency in utilizing transmembrane serine proteases compared to the ancestral SARS-CoV-2.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jiaan Yang, Peng Zhang, Wen Xiang Cheng, Youyong Lu, Wu Gang, Gang Ren
Summary: The mutation of SARS-CoV-2 affects viral function and folding conformations, impacting the affinity between spike protein and ACE2. These structural variations not only impact vaccine effectiveness and drug function, but also reveal how the virus has evolved in both structure and function, leading to more severe acute diseases worldwide.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Francesco Messina, Emanuela Giombini, Chiara Montaldo, Ashish Arunkumar Sharma, Antonio Zoccoli, Rafick-Pierre Sekaly, Franco Locatelli, Alimuddin Zumla, Markus Maeurer, Maria R. Capobianchi, Francesco Nicola Lauria, Giuseppe Ippolito
Summary: Recent studies have described mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but the interactions between host and virus determining COVID-19 severity remain unknown. A network analysis identified how specific viral proteins induce host responses, highlighting the role of ORF8 and ORF3a in modulating cardiovascular diseases and pro-inflammatory pathways. The network-based approach suggested a direct action of ORF3a and NS7b in enhancing Bradykinin Storm.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Monique Bennett, Sandra Yoder, Eric Brady, Jill M. Pulley, Jillian P. Rhoads, Thomas G. Stewart, Gordon R. Bernard, C. Buddy Creech, Allison P. Wheeler, Isaac Thomsen
Summary: The severity of COVID-19 symptoms was found to be strongly correlated with the level of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies, which has important implications for public policy and the selection of donors for therapeutic convalescent plasma.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna Sulatskaya, Anastasiia O. Kosolapova, Alexander G. Bobylev, Mikhail Belousov, Kirill S. Antonets, Maksim Sulatsky, Irina M. Kuznetsova, Konstantin K. Turoverov, Olesya Stepanenko, Anton A. Nizhnikov
Summary: Both amyloids and beta-barrel proteins have beta-sheet-rich structures, with the latter being able to form functional amyloids in vivo. These beta-barrel amyloid proteins can interact with each other and form toxic oligomers, potentially contributing to the development of amyloidoses. Rapidly growing discoveries suggest that the number and diversity of functions of amyloid-forming beta-barrel proteins are significantly greater than currently understood.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Virology
Jennifer D. Petersen, Jianming Lu, Wendy Fitzgerald, Fei Zhou, Paul S. Blank, Doreen Matthies, Joshua Zimmerberg
Summary: Individuals infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant show faster initial infection and higher viral load compared to previous variants. Pseudotyped viral particles bearing the Spike protein of the Delta variant form unique aggregates, unlike particles with other Spike protein variants. The contribution of Spike-dependent aggregation to infection kinetics and its implications for collective infection requires further investigation.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Michael C. Wilson, Qin Lu, Kaitlin R. Nachtrieb, Jackson S. Fuller, Chloe M. Skogg, Elizabeth A. Yates, Matthew D. Thum, Christopher R. So
Summary: This study demonstrates the chemical aggregation of common hydrophilic proteins into an aqueous adhesive similar to natural adhesives. By using multiple chemical denaturants, rapid gelation and further curing in artificial seawater can be achieved. The adhesive strengths of this waterborne adhesive are comparable to bioinspired adhesives that use organic solvents and hydrophobic components. This approach enables the deployment of a bioinspired adhesive at practical scales in marine environments, with sustainable production and low-cost materials.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jan Richter, Pavlos Fanis, Christina Tryfonos, Dana Koptides, George Krashias, Stavros Bashiardes, Andreas Hadjisavvas, Maria Loizidou, Anastasis Oulas, Denise Alexandrou, Olga Kalakouta, Mihalis Panayiotidis, George M. Spyrou, Christina Christodoulou
Summary: This study conducted whole genome sequencing of 133 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples in Cyprus from March 2020 to January 2021, identifying 15 different lineages with the B.1.258 lineage dominating the autumn/winter wave and the B.1.1.7 UK variant rapidly spreading during the same period.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Christoph Gstottner, Tao Zhang, Anja Resemann, Sophia Ruben, Stuart Pengelley, Detlev Suckau, Tim Welsink, Manfred Wuhrer, Elena Dominguez-Vega
Summary: The study provides insights into the structural and functional characteristics of recombinant RBDs expressed in CHO and HEK293 cells, revealing differences in glycosylation patterns. By employing a multilevel mass spectrometric approach, the researchers comprehensively annotated the proteoforms of RBDs, allowing for a detailed analysis of their post-translational modifications. The work not only addressed the binding properties of RBDs to SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and ACE2 receptor, but also established an analytical workflow for characterization and batch-to-batch comparison of new RBDs.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elisabetta Rosa, Lucas de Mello, Valeria Castelletto, Mark L. Dallas, Antonella Accardo, Jani Seitsonen, Ian W. Hamley
Summary: This study investigates the conformation and self-assembly behavior of four lipopeptides, and examines their potential applications in tissue engineering based on cytocompatibility assessments. The results show that all four lipopeptides can self-assemble into nanostructures at specific concentrations. Furthermore, these lipopeptides demonstrate promising prospects in tissue engineering.
Review
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Ian W. Hamley
Summary: This review focuses on the self-assembly, structural and functional properties of peptide conjugates containing bulky terminal aromatic substituents, with a particular emphasis on bioactivity. The driving force for self-assembly comes from pi-stacking and hydrophobic interactions, as well as hydrogen bonding, electrostatics, and other forces between short peptides. The balance of these interactions leads to a propensity for self-assembly, even for single amino acid conjugates. The resulting molecules often form hydrogels built from beta-sheet fibrils, with applications in biomaterials, drug delivery, catalysis, and optoelectronics.
ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Valeria Castelletto, Jani Seitsonen, Ian W. W. Hamley
Summary: This study investigates the self-assembly behavior of two monodisperse lipid A derivatives based on bacterial LPS structures in water and compares them to native Escherichia coli LPS using small-angle X-ray scattering and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. The critical aggregation concentration and conformation are characterized using fluorescence probe experiments and circular dichroism spectroscopy, respectively. The E. coli LPS forms wormlike micelles, while the synthetic analogues self-assemble into nanosheets or vesicles depending on the number of lipid chains and saccharide head groups. These findings can be rationalized based on the surfactant packing parameter.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Biswanath Hansda, Jhilam Majumder, Biplab Mondal, Akash Chatterjee, Subhadeep Das, Sourav Kumar, Ratan Gachhui, Valeria Castelletto, Ian W. Hamley, Prosenjit Sen, Arindam Banerjee
Summary: A histidine-based amphiphilic peptide (P) was discovered to form an injectable transparent hydrogel with inherent antibacterial property in phosphate buffer solution. The peptide self-assembles into a nanofibrillar network structure and exhibits efficient antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The hydrogel can also encapsulate and selectively release drugs, making it a potential antibacterial and drug delivering agent.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valeria Castelletto, Lucas de Mello, Emerson Rodrigo da Silva, Jani Seitsonen, Ian W. Hamley
Summary: Considerable interest has been shown in peptides with the Fmoc protecting group, as it can promote self-assembly and has applications in cell culture biomaterials. New amino acid analogues with the Smoc protecting group have been developed for water-based peptide synthesis. Self-assembly of Smoc-Ala, Smoc-Phe, and Smoc-Arg occurs above the critical aggregation concentration (CAC) and forms nanosheet, nanoribbon, or nanotube structures. Smoc-amino acids show excellent biocompatibility and are taken up by fibroblast cells without cytotoxicity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valeria Castelletto, Radoslaw M. Kowalczyk, Jani Seitsonen, Ian W. Hamley
Summary: Cyclodextrins can modify the self-assembly behavior of peptide-polymer conjugates. In this study, α-cyclodextrin complexation with a specific conjugate resulted in the formation of free-floating nanosheets instead of β-sheet fibrils. The transition from fibrils to nanosheets was driven by an increase in the number of α-cyclodextrin molecules threaded onto the polymer chains.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Thiago C. Lourenco, Lucas R. de Mello, Marcelo Y. Icimoto, Renata N. Bicev, Ian W. Hamley, Valeria Castelletto, Clovis R. Nakaie, Emerson R. da Silva
Summary: This study presents a strategy for fabricating highly ordered 1D nanostructures of Bradykinin (BK) using DNA fragments as a template for self-assembly. The nanoscale structure of BK-DNA complexes was revealed, showing the formation of ordered nanofibrils. The complexes retained the native bioactivity of BK and could induce a limited uptake of nucleotides by HEK-293t cells, which has not been previously reported.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Elisabetta Rosa, Carlo Diaferia, Lucas De Mello, Jani Seitsonen, Ian W. Hamley, Antonella Accardo
Summary: Short and ultra-short peptides are now being used as building blocks for self-assembled materials, with peptide aggregation being influenced by the amino acids in the sequence as well as their ability to interact with each other. By modifying peptides with polymeric moieties, alkyl chains, or other organic molecules, further structural and functional properties can be achieved. In this study, we synthesized and investigated the aggregation behavior of peptide amphiphiles (PAs) containing cationic tetra- or hexa-peptides derivatized with an alkyl chain. These PAs were able to form highly ordered nanostructures and biocompatible hydrogels, showing potential for tissue engineering and diagnostic applications.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jinghua Liu, Jingqing Li, Binyuan Liu, Ian W. Hamley, Shichun Jiang
Summary: The Mpemba effect and its inverse can be explained by nonequilibrium thermodynamics. While changes of state in polymers are generally non-equilibrium processes, the Mpemba effect is rarely seen in their crystallization. Polybutene-1 (PB-1) has the lowest critical cooling rate among polyolefins and tends to maintain its original structure and properties in the melt. Experimental observations confirm the presence of the Mpemba effect in both the crystallization of PB-1 in form II and form I obtained at low melting temperatures.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Biswanath Hansda, Biplab Mondal, Soumyajit Hazra, Krishna Sundar Das, Valeria Castelletto, Ian W. Hamley, Arindam Banerjee
Summary: Peptide-based multicomponent hydrogels offer tunable mechanical properties and physical characteristics, demonstrating good cell compatibility and sustained drug release capabilities, and have the potential to serve as scaffold materials for tissue engineering.