Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qingpei Liu, Dan Zhang, Shuaibiao Gao, Xianhua Cai, Ming Yao, Yao Xu, Yifu Gong, Ke Zheng, Yigui Mao, Liyan Yang, Dengfeng Yang, Istvan Molnar, Xiaolong Yang
Summary: It was found that Orsellinic acid (OA) derivatives are synthesized by filamentous fungi using nonreducing polyketide synthases (nrPKSs). The chain-releasing thioesterase (TE) domains of such nrPKSs were proposed to also catalyze dimerization to yield didepsides, such as lecanoric acid. Through combinatorial domain exchanges, domain dissections and reconstitutions, it was revealed that the TE domain of the lecanoric acid synthase Preu6 of Preussia isomera must collaborate with the starter acyl transferase (SAT) domain from the same nrPKS. Artificial SAT-TE fusion proteins were shown to be highly effective catalysts and able to reprogram the ketide homologation chassis to form didepsides. The dissected SAT and TE domains of Preu6 were also demonstrated to physically interact, indicating the potential co-evolution of SAT and TE domains in OA-synthesizing nrPKSs. This study highlights an unexpected domain-domain interaction in nrPKSs and its significance in the biosynthesis of unnatural didepsides, depsidones, and diphenyl ethers.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Ariel Pradipta, Hironori Bando, Ji Su Ma, Shun Tanaka, Miwa Sasai, Masahiro Yamamoto
Summary: The study reveals that Atg9 and Atg14, despite their essential roles in autophagy, are dispensable for restricting the growth of uis3(-) parasites, while cells lacking LC3 proteins can still limit the growth of uis3(-) parasites. Contrary to previous models, GABARAPs are shown to be involved in suppressing the growth of uis3(-) parasites, independent of autophagy.
PARASITOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Josie L. Ferreira, Vojtech Prazak, Daven Vasishtan, Marc Siggel, Franziska Hentzschel, Annika M. Binder, Emma Pietsch, Jan Kosinski, Friedrich Frischknecht, Tim W. Gilberger, Kay Gruenewald
Summary: Microtubules in Plasmodium falciparum exhibit diverse structures coordinated by unique organizing centers at different stages of its life cycle. This unusual microtubule cytoskeleton has not been observed in any other organism to date, highlighting its importance in understanding the pathogenicity of the malaria parasite.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dipti Singh, Smita Patri, Veeda Narahari, Rameswara R. Segireddy, Sandeep Dey, Archi Saurabh, Macha Vijay, N. Prakash Prabhu, Anand Srivastava, Surendra Kumar Kolli, Kota Arun Kumar
Summary: In this study, a gene called SIMP was found to be essential for maintaining the shape and motility of Plasmodium sporozoites. Sporozoites lacking SIMP exhibited irregular shape, membrane blebbing, and detachment. These findings have important implications for the development of a sporozoite-specific vaccine.
MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Cathy J. Spangler, Satya P. Yadav, Dongx Li, Carinne N. Geil, Charlotte B. Smith, Gang Greg Wang, Tae-Hee Lee, Robert K. McGinty
Summary: The activity of DOT1L is regulated by the binding of ubiquitin and cofactors, and its interaction with ubiquitin and the nucleosome acidic patch is crucial for cell proliferation in leukemia.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mengmeng Zhang, Yinxue Yang, Mengqi Zhou, Aiping Dong, Xuemei Yan, Peter Loppnau, Jinrong Min, Yanli Liu
Summary: NSD proteins, including NSD1, NSD2, and NSD3, are lysine methyltransferases that catalyze mono and di-methylation of histone H3K36. The PWWP domains within these proteins weakly bind to trimethylated H3K36, H3K79 peptides, and dsDNA, except for NSD1_PWWP1. Structural analysis reveals that NSD3_PWWP2 and NSD2_PWWP1 domains require conformation adjustments to interact with nucleosomes.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Ana Rafaela Teixeira, Begona Perez-Cabezas, David M. Costa, Monica Sa, Sylvain Golba, Helena Sefiane-Djemaoune, Joana Ribeiro, Izumi Kaneko, Shiroh Iwanaga, Masao Yuda, Moriya Tsuji, Silvia Beatriz Boscardin, Rogerio Amino, Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva, Joana Tavares
Summary: This study demonstrates that using 5'ppp-dsRNA as an adjuvant to CSP vaccines can induce effective anti-Plasmodium humoral immunity. The vaccine generates high levels of functional antibodies, which can target and kill the sporozoites, providing early and long-lasting sterile protection against both stringent sporozoite and mosquito bite challenges. The use of poly(A:U) as an adjuvant, on the other hand, results in high antibody levels but less functional antibodies and therefore less protection.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Artem Bonchuk, Konstantin Boyko, Anna Fedotova, Alena Nikolaeva, Sofya Lushchekina, Anastasia Khrustaleva, Vladimir Popov, Pavel Georgiev
Summary: In arthropods, ZAD-C2H2 proteins form homodimers in Drosophila melanogaster, with only certain ZADs able to heterodimerize. The rapid evolutionary acquisition of interaction specificity in ZAD-C2H2 proteins is mediated by the more energy-favorable formation of homodimers compared to heterodimers. Specific homodimerization is crucial for the architectural role of ZAD-C2H2 proteins in genome organization.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biology
Kaushik Inamdar, Feng-Ching Tsai, Rayane Dibsy, Aurore de Poret, John Manzi, Peggy Merida, Remi Muller, Pekka Lappalainen, Philippe Roingeard, Johnson Mak, Patricia Bassereau, Cyril Favard, Delphine Muriaux
Summary: The cellular I-BAR protein IRSp53 has been identified as a crucial factor in HIV-1 membrane curvature during particle formation, showing a strong interplay with the retroviral Gag protein. IRSp53 is required for the progression of HIV-1 membrane curvature and its presence is observed in purified HIV-1 particles. The preferential localization of IRSp53 around HIV-1 Gag assembly sites highlights its importance in full HIV-1 particle assembly.
Article
Cell Biology
Manuela C. Aguirre-Botero, Lawrence T. Wang, Pauline Formaglio, Eduardo Aliprandini, Jean-Michel Thiberge, Arne Schon, Yevel Flores-Garcia, Shamika Mathis-Torres, Barbara J. Flynn, Lais da Silva Pereira, Yann Le Duff, Mathew Hurley, Adela Nacer, Paul W. Bowyer, Fidel Zavala, Azza H. Idris, Joseph R. Francica, Robert A. Seder, Rogerio Amino
Summary: By using 13 different monoclonal antibodies, researchers have revealed the mechanisms of neutralizing the malaria parasite in host tissues and found that the skin is the most vulnerable site to monoclonal antibody-mediated neutralization.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Soumia Hamada, Cedric Pionneau, Christophe Parizot, Olivier Silvie, Solenne Chardonnet, Carine Marinach
Summary: The study identified the proteome of P. berghei sporozoites using a highly sensitive mass spectrometer, providing a reference proteome for further exploration of malaria biology. This study highlights the unprecedented sensitivity of the timsTOF PRO system for deep proteomic analysis from limited sample amounts.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nina M. van Sorge, Daniel A. Bonsor, Liwen Deng, Erik Lindahl, Verena Schmitt, Mykola Lyndin, Alexej Schmidt, Olof R. Nilsson, Jaime Brizuela, Elena Boero, Eric J. Sundberg, Jos A. G. van Strijp, Kelly S. Doran, Bernhard B. Singer, Gunnar Lindahl, Alex J. McCarthy
Summary: Streptococcus agalactiae, also known as group B Streptococcus (GBS), is a major cause of neonatal sepsis in humans. In a recent study, it was found that the surface-expressed beta protein of GBS binds to human CEACAM1 and CEACAM5 receptors, with the crystal structure revealing a novel IgI3 fold. This discovery suggests a potentially widely applicable mechanism for bacteria to target CEACAMs.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Min Zhang, Fan Zheng, Yujie Xiong, Chen Shao, Chengliang Wang, Minhao Wu, Xiaojia Niu, Fenfen Dong, Xuan Zhang, Chuanhai Fu, Jianye Zang
Summary: Our study demonstrates that the interaction of spMis18 with histone H2A-H2B and DNA is crucial for the recruitment of spMis18 and Cnp1 to the centromere in fission yeast. Mutations in the acidic region and deletion of the extreme C-terminus of spMis18 significantly affect its localization and delay chromosome segregation during mitosis, indicating the importance of these interactions in faithful chromosome segregation.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
David E. Clarke, Guanglu Wu, Ce Wu, Oren A. Scherman
Summary: Control of spatial and temporal behavior of peptide segments is crucial in fabricating functional peptide-based materials and nanostructures. Complex sequence design and inclusion of unnatural amino acids or synthetic modifications are often required to achieve desired structures. In this study, the structural properties of 1:1 inclusion complexes between specific oligopeptides and CB[8] were investigated, showing induction of turns and tunable structural chirality by altering peptide sequences. Extension of peptide sequence binding with CB[8] was also explored as a simple method to construct a peptide hairpin.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Afanasii I. Stepanov, Zlata V. Besedovskaia, Maria A. Moshareva, Konstantin A. Lukyanov, Lidia V. Putlyaeva
Summary: This review focuses on fluorescent probes for histone modification detection, discussing various live-cell imaging epigenetic sensors suitable for different types of fluorescence microscopy. It also highlights the problems and future perspectives in the development of fluorescent probes for epigenetics.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Medicinal
Celia R. S. Garcia, Robson Coutinho
CURRENT TOPICS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maneesh K. Singh, Giulliana Tessarin-Almeida, Barbara K. M. Dias, Pedro Scarpellli Pereira, Fahyme Costa, Jude M. Przyborski, Celia R. S. Garcia
Summary: The study demonstrates the significant role of the nuclear protein PfMORC in regulating the asexual cycle of the malaria parasite, with its expression being influenced by melatonin. PfMORC, in conjunction with melatonin signaling pathways, is essential for parasite synchronization.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Claudio Costantini, Emilia Nunzi, Angelica Spolzino, Melissa Palmieri, Giorgia Renga, Teresa Zelante, Lukas Englmaier, Katerina Coufalikova, Zdenek Spacil, Monica Borghi, Marina M. Bellet, Enzo Acerbi, Matteo Puccetti, Stefano Giovagnoli, Roberta Spaccapelo, Vincenzo N. Talesa, Giuseppe Lomurno, Francesco Merli, Luca Facchini, Antonio Spadea, Lorella Melillo, Katia Codeluppi, Francesco Marchesi, Gessica Marchesini, Daniela Valente, Giulia Dragonetti, Gianpaolo Nadali, Livio Pagano, Franco Aversa, Luigina Romani
Summary: The study found that high-risk patients had lower microbial richness and evenness in the pharyngeal microbiota, which was associated with a distinct taxonomic and metabolic profile.
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Benedito M. Santos, Barbara K. M. Dias, Myna Nakabashi, Celia R. S. Garcia
Summary: The GPCR-like PfSR25 in Plasmodium falciparum may be involved in the mechanism of action of the antimalarials lumefantrine and piperaquine, while showing no effect on the MMV665831 antimalarial compound.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Benedito M. Dos Santos, Pedro H. S. Pereira, Celia R. S. Garcia
Summary: The search for host factors leading to malaria parasite synchronization has been a focus of many laboratories. Melatonin has been identified as a key hormone that synchronizes Plasmodium falciparum in culture by increasing the number of mature parasite stages through PLC-IP3 activation. Melatonin signaling is linked to crosstalk between Ca2+-cAMP that results in PKA activation. Two other kinases and a nuclear protein are also identified as part of the hormone-signal transduction pathways.
CURRENT OPINION IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Kleber Simonio Parreira, Pedro Scarpelli, Wania Rezende Lima, R. S. Garcia
Summary: This review discusses new technologies that have been used to understand how Plasmodium spp escape from the immune system and manipulate host physiology. The manuscript highlights the contributions of microarray approaches, RNA-Seq, and single-cell RNA sequencing in discovering transcripts and changing the concept of gene expression regulation in closely related malaria parasite species. It also emphasizes the role of high-throughput RNA sequencing in advancing our knowledge on malaria parasite biology, physiology, vaccine development, and identifying new players in parasite signaling.
CURRENT TOPICS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jason Somers, Marcos Georgiades, Matthew P. Su, Judit Bagi, Marta Andres, Alexandros Alampounti, Gordon Mills, Watson Ntabaliba, Sarah J. Moore, Roberta Spaccapelo, Joerg T. Albert
Summary: Mating swarms of malaria mosquitoes form at sunset, and the synchronization of male and female activity is crucial. Male mosquitoes increase their flight tones to enhance the audibility of females, particularly during swarm formation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lenna Rosanie Cordero Mallaupoma, Barbara Karina de Menezes Dias, Maneesh Kumar Singh, Rute Isabel Honorio, Myna Nakabashi, Camila de Menezes Kisukuri, Marcio Weber Paixao, Celia R. S. Garcia
Summary: Melatonin can synchronize the intraerythrocytic cycle of the parasite by triggering a specific signaling cascade. Compounds with certain chemical structures have inhibitory effects on the proliferation of malaria parasites, indicating their potential as new antimalarial drugs. The study found that certain synthetic compounds can inhibit different chloroquine-resistant strains of the parasite. In addition, melatonin affects the parasite load and modulates the expression of signaling components, providing a focus for further research.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Antonella Mencacci, Alessio Gili, Barbara Camilloni, Giulia Bicchieraro, Roberta Spaccapelo, Carla Bietta, Fabrizio Stracci
Summary: The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant may cause immediate reinfection in patients who have just recovered from Delta infection, while no immediate reinfection was observed for other variant combinations.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Benedito M. Dos Santos, Jude M. Przyborski, Celia R. S. Garcia
Summary: English Summary: The GPCR-like SR25 in Plasmodium falciparum, a species of apicomplexan parasites, is activated by a shift in potassium concentration, allowing the parasite to take advantage of its development by sensing different ionic concentrations in the external milieu. This pathway involves the activation of phospholipase C and an increase in cytosolic calcium. This report summarizes the role of potassium ions during parasite development based on available literature, contributing to our understanding of the cell cycle of Plasmodium spp.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andrea Cavagna, Irene Giardina, Michela Anna Gucciardino, Gloria Iacomelli, Max Lombardi, Stefania Melillo, Giulia Monacchia, Leonardo Parisi, Matthew J. Peirce, Roberta Spaccapelo
Summary: This study documented the swarm-like behavior of both male and female Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes in a lab-based setting. It also revealed different mating strategies and competition between individuals in different types of swarms.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Virology
Elisabetta Schiaroli, Anna Gidari, Giovanni Brachelente, Giulia Bicchieraro, Roberta Spaccapelo, Sabrina Bastianelli, Sara Pierucci, Chiara Busti, Carlo Pallotto, Lisa Malincarne, Barbara Camilloni, Flavio Falcinelli, Giuseppe Vittorio De Socio, Alfredo Villa, Antonella Mencacci, Daniela Francisci
Summary: The study found that Tixagevimab-cilgavimab cannot be considered a substitute for vaccination, but it may be a useful supporting therapy if the recommended dose for pre-exposure prophylaxis is doubled.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Eduardo Alves, Helder Nakaya, Euzebio Guimares, Celia R. S. Garcia
Summary: In this study, a potential candidate for IP3 receptor in Plasmodium falciparum, a protein associated with multidrug resistance, was identified through a combination of biochemical and bioinformatic analyses.
CURRENT RESEARCH IN MICROBIAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lucia Pazzagli, Antonella Turco, Gloria Iacomelli, Michela Anna Gucciardino, Giulia Monacchia, Max Lombardi, Matthew Peirce, Scott E. Lindner, Roberta Spaccapelo
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Lucas Borges-Pereira, Barbara K. M. Dias, Maneesh Kumar Singh, Celia R. S. Garcia
CURRENT RESEARCH IN MICROBIAL SCIENCES
(2021)
