Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
A. Stufano, R. Borgia
Summary: In the last two decades, the field of peptidomics has grown in importance as it studies the biological relevance of peptides. Peptides have been used to define disease-associated proteins, specifically target cancer cells and inactivate harmful autoantibodies. In the clinical setting, peptides offer new approaches for fighting infectious pathogens and safe therapies for cancer and autoimmune pathologies.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL REGULATORS AND HOMEOSTATIC AGENTS
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Adam Bess, Frej Berglind, Supratik Mukhopadhyay, Michal Brylinski, Nicholas Griggs, Tiffany Cho, Chris Galliano, Kishor M. Wasan
Summary: Artificial intelligence and other in silico techniques can improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of drug discovery, and it is a crucial field for addressing emerging infectious diseases.
DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY
(2022)
Review
Veterinary Sciences
Ghulam Abbas, Jia Yu, Guangxing Li
Summary: The growth of poultry farming has resulted in increased transmission of infectious diseases among birds, causing significant harm to the poultry industry. Some pathogens may also cause zoonotic diseases. Traditional antiviral treatments have limitations, leading to a focus on herbal drugs and the use of nanotechnology for disease control in poultry.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wenshu Zheng, Julian G. Saliba, Xiaojun Wei, Qingbo Shu, Lane M. Pierson, Liyan Mao, Chang Liu, Christopher J. Lyon, Chen-Zhong Li, William C. Wimley, Tony Ye Hu
Summary: Nanopore sensors have been widely used in nucleic acid detection and sequencing, and recent studies have shown their potential in distinguishing high purity peptide mixtures. However, their application in clinical settings is still limited due to the complexity of clinical specimens. In this study, we propose a method to select peptide biomarkers suitable for immunoprecipitation-coupled nanopore assay, and demonstrate its effectiveness in detecting and quantifying pathogen-derived peptides in human serum samples. This assay approach shows promise for diagnosing infectious and chronic diseases using peptide biomarkers.
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Ana C. Mengarda, Tais C. Silva, Aline S. Silva, Daniel B. Roquini, Joao Paulo S. Fernandes, Josue de Moraes
Summary: Infections caused by parasitic helminths, such as Toxocariasis, are widespread and economically important. The treatment of Toxocariasis relies on a limited set of drugs, prompting the search for novel anthelmintic agents. This paper reviews the progress made in discovering anthelmintic drug candidates and the challenges faced in the field.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jimin Xu, Yu Xue, Andrew A. Bolinger, Jun Li, Mingxiang Zhou, Haiying Chen, Hongmin Li, Jia Zhou
Summary: Since ancient times, human beings have been fighting against viral infections. The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic is one of the most severe public health emergencies in human history, emphasizing the urgent need for broad-spectrum antiviral agents. Salicylamide derivatives, such as niclosamide and nitazoxanide, have shown inhibitory effects against a wide range of RNA and DNA viruses, including flavivirus, influenza A virus, and coronavirus. Clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of nitazoxanide against various viral infections, such as rotavirus and norovirus-induced diarrhea, uncomplicated influenza A and B, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. This review summarizes the broad antiviral activities of salicylamide derivatives, their clinical progress, potential targets or mechanisms against different viral infections, and highlights their therapeutic potential in combating current and emerging viral infections.
MEDICINAL RESEARCH REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Carlos H. S. Pedrotti, Tarso A. D. Accorsi, Karine De Amicis Lima, Ary Serpa Neto, Maria T. S. de S. Lira, Renata A. Morbeck, Eduardo Cordioli
Summary: This study analyzed the antibiotic prescription rate in low-risk patients evaluated at a telemedicine program with antibiotic stewardship protocols. The results showed that using telemedicine consultations with stewardship protocols can achieve a low antibiotic prescription rate and high adherence to international guidelines and institutional protocols.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Huihui Li, Zixi Zhuang, Qian Yu, Shumei Wang
Summary: Herbs continue to be important sources of antiviral drugs, with alkaloids playing a key role in their pharmacological activities. This review summarizes recent research on herb-based antiviral treatments and the inflammatory responses initiated by alkaloids, providing insights into potential therapeutic strategies for viral infections. Further research is needed to develop alkaloidal compounds as effective antiviral agents and regulators of the anti-inflammatory response.
DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Tom M. Quinn, Erin E. Gaughan, Annya Bruce, Jean Antonelli, Richard O'Connor, Feng Li, Sarah McNamara, Oliver Koch, Claire MacKintosh, David Dockrell, Timothy Walsh, Kevin G. Blyth, Colin Church, Juergen Schwarze, Cecilia Boz, Asta Valanciute, Matthew Burgess, Philip Emanuel, Bethany Mills, Giulia Rinaldi, Gareth Hardisty, Ross Mills, Emily Gwyer Findlay, Sunny Jabbal, Andrew Duncan, Sinead Plant, Adam D. L. Marshall, Irene Young, Kay Russell, Emma Scholefield, Alastair F. Nimmo, Islom B. Nazarov, Grant C. Churchill, James S. O. McCullagh, Kourosh H. Ebrahimi, Colin Ferrett, Kate Templeton, Steve Rannard, Andrew Owen, Anne Moore, Keith Finlayson, Manu Shankar-Hari, John Norrie, Richard A. Parker, Ahsan R. Akram, Daniel C. Anthony, James W. Dear, Nik Hirani, Kevin Dhaliwal
Summary: This study presents the findings of a clinical trial on the use of nafamostat mesylate in COVID-19 patients. The results show a higher incidence of adverse events in the nafamostat group, and nafamostat did not demonstrate anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, or antiviral activity. Therefore, nafamostat may not be suitable as a therapeutic drug for COVID-19.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Chloe Wackenheim, Marion Le Marechal, Helene Pluchart, Gaetan Gavazzi, Myriam Blanc, Yvan Caspar, Patricia Pavese
Summary: In this study, we investigated the efficacy and tolerance of dalbavancin among elderly patients in Grenoble-Alpes 32 university hospital. The results showed that dalbavancin had a significant effectiveness and safety profile in the management of deep and complex infections in elderly patients, with a clinical cure rate of 79%.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Roberto Biselli, Roberto Nisini, Florigio Lista, Alberto Autore, Marco Lastilla, Giuseppe De Lorenzo, Mario Stefano Peragallo, Tommaso Stroffolini, Raffaele D'Amelio
Summary: The environmental conditions generated by war favor the spread of infectious diseases. Military medical researchers have made significant contributions to the discovery of disease-causing agents and the development of preventive vaccines. The collaboration between military and civilian medical sectors has become closer, especially in research on infectious disease prevention and disaster management.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Joa Braithe Mangombi-Pambou, Laurent Granjon, Fabien Flirden, Mamadou Kane, Youssoupha Niang, Bernard Davoust, Florence Fenollar, Oleg Mediannikov
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence of infectious agents in outdoor rodents in Senegal and identified a new bacterium species. The study highlights the diversity of infectious agents circulating in rodent populations and the importance of describing potential new species and evaluating their pathogenicity and zoonotic potential.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Liqi Fan, David H. Russell
Summary: Cu, a highly redox active metal, can damage DNA and other cellular components, but its adverse effects can be mitigated by metallothioneins (MT). This study used mass spectrometry techniques to investigate the structure and stability of Cu-MT complexes and compared them with Ag-MT complexes. The results showed that Cu+ ions first bind to the beta-domain and then to the alpha-domain to form different Cu-i-MT complexes.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bin Yu, Junbiao Chang
Summary: Azvudine, a modified nucleoside, has been approved for the treatment of HIV-1 and COVID-19. It acts by inhibiting viral replication and has shown effectiveness in clinical trials. It has received conditional authorization in China and Russia.
CHINESE JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Letter
Engineering, Biomedical
Partha Pratim Ray, Poulami Majumder
Summary: This letter discusses the potential applications of ChatGPT, a cutting-edge language model, in the management and control of infectious diseases. The article highlights ChatGPT's contributions to information dissemination, diagnosis, treatment, and research, emphasizing its revolutionary impact while acknowledging limitations and envisioning future advancements for optimized medical applications.
ANNALS OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Editorial Material
Immunology
Guglielmo Lucchese
CELLULAR & MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
(2020)
Letter
Immunology
Guglielmo Lucchese, Agnes Floeel
AUTOIMMUNITY REVIEWS
(2020)
Article
Psychiatry
Guglielmo Lucchese, Agnes Floeel, Benjamin Stahl
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2020)
Article
Cell Biology
Guglielmo Lucchese, Agnes Floeel
CELL STRESS & CHAPERONES
(2020)
Article
Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology
Felix R. Dreyer, Lea Doppelbauer, Verena Buescher, Verena Arndt, Benjamin Stahl, Guglielmo Lucchese, Olaf Hauk, Bettina Mohr, Friedemann Pulvermueller
Summary: The study revealed that intensive language-action therapy (ILAT) can lead to significant improvements in language scores on clinical aphasia assessments. fMRI results indicated brain regions associated with clinical aphasia test improvement, suggesting a more efficient recruitment of domain-general neural networks in language processing.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY
(2021)
Letter
Clinical Neurology
Guglielmo Lucchese, Agnes Floeel
Correction
Immunology
Guglielmo Lucchese
CELLULAR & MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Angela Stufano, Stefania Lisco, Nicola Bartolomeo, Antonella Marsico, Guglielmo Lucchese, Hamidreza Jahantigh, Leonardo Soleo, Massimo Moretti, Paolo Trerotoli, Giuseppe De Palma, Piero Lovreglio
Summary: The study found no clear relationship between air quality or climate factors and COVID19 incidence. However, PM10, PM2.5, and O3 concentrations in certain lag periods were associated with an increased COVID19 incidence, possibly due to increased host susceptibility. Additionally, low temperature and low wind speed in some lag periods were linked to increased daily COVID19 incidence.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Virology
Guglielmo Lucchese, Hamid Reza Jahantigh, Leonarda de Benedictis, Piero Lovreglio, Angela Stufano
Summary: By comparing the viral polyprotein and human proteome, 15 unique peptide stretches in HTLV-1 were identified as ideal candidates for an anti-viral vaccine. There is a potential for cross-reactivity between the virus and human proteome, but an epitope platform has been described to avoid this and achieve effective, specific, and safe immunization. The potential advantages of mRNA and peptide-based vaccine formulations are also discussed.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eik Schaefer, Christian Scheer, Karen Salje, Anja Fritz, Thomas Kohlmann, Nils-Olaf Huebner, Matthias Napp, Lizon Fiedler-Lacombe, Dana Stahl, Bernhard Rauch, Matthias Nauck, Uwe Voelker, Stephan Felix, Guglielmo Lucchese, Agnes Floeel, Stefan Engeli, Wolfgang Hoffmann, Klaus Hahnenkamp, Mladen Tzvetkov
Summary: In this study, we analyzed the symptoms and comorbidities of COVID-19 patients in North-East Germany and found that ageusia without anosmia was associated with the highest risk of hospitalization. Other symptoms such as dyspnea, vomiting, and fever were also significantly associated with increased hospitalization risk. Age > 60 years and comorbidities such as COPD, prior stroke, diabetes, kidney, and cardiac diseases were further identified as risk factors for hospitalization. These findings highlight the importance of considering both symptoms and comorbidities in identifying patients at high risk of hospitalization.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Angela Stufano, Roberta Iatta, Giovanni Sgroi, Hamid Reza Jahantigh, Francesco Cagnazzo, Agnes Floel, Guglielmo Lucchese, Daniela Loconsole, Francesca Centrone, Jairo Alfonso Mendoza-Roldan, Maria Chironna, Domenico Otranto, Piero Lovreglio
Summary: This study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of selected vector-borne pathogens in different groups of outdoor workers and investigate the occupational risk factors for exposure to arthropod bites. The results showed a high seroprevalence for Coxiella burnetii and Rickettsia conorii, mainly in farmers and forestry workers, while a low prevalence was observed for Bartonella henselae and Borrelia spp. The findings emphasize the need for specific preventive measures to minimize the risk of arthropod vector exposure in high-risk job categories.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Angela Stufano, Guglielmo Lucchese, Benjamin Stahl, Ignazio Grattagliano, Liliana Dassisti, Piero Lovreglio, Agnes Floeel, Ivo Iavicoli
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the psychological well-being of susceptible individuals during the COVID-19 crisis, finding that susceptible individuals had higher psychological well-being scores compared to healthy workers, with age and job social interaction showing correlations with psychological well-being.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Benjamin Stahl, Saskia Millrose, Petra Denzler, Guglielmo Lucchese, Frank Jacobi, Agnes Floeel
Summary: This parallel-group, blinded-assessment, quasi-randomized controlled trial examines the feasibility and potential efficacy of intensive social interaction as a means to alleviate poststroke depression in subacute aphasia. The results demonstrate that intensive language-action therapy can reduce depression severity, confirming its feasibility and potential efficacy in treating poststroke depression in subacute aphasia.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Guglielmo Lucchese, Antje Vogelgesang, Fabian Boesl, Dina Raafat, Silva Holtfreter, Barbara M. Broker, Angela Stufano, Robert Fleischmann, Harald Pruss, Christiana Franke, Agnes Floel
Summary: This study confirmed the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies against hypothesized epitopes in COVID-19 patients, with significantly elevated IgG levels in severely ill patients suggesting a pathogenic role. The newly discovered anti-neuronal antibodies may serve as promising markers of severe disease and potentially be used for immunomodulation.
Meeting Abstract
Mathematical & Computational Biology
Max Garagnani, Guglielmo Lucchese
JOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
