Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Sarah Kymberly Santos de Lima, Jessica Adriana Jesus, Cristiano Raminelli, Marcia Dalastra Laurenti, Luiz Felipe Domingues Passero
Summary: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the leishmanicidal activity of 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that 8-HQ eliminated promastigote and intracellular amastigote forms of all species studied, and it was more selective than miltefosine. Treatment with 8-HQ significantly reduced tissue parasite numbers in infected animals and led to a reduction in inflammatory reaction in the skin. Therefore, 8-HQ is a promising alternative for the treatment of leishmaniasis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shenqing Wang, Xiliang Yan, Gaoxing Su, Bing Yan
Summary: The relationship between nanoparticle redox property and toxicity has not been established when all other nanoparticle properties are identical. By synthesizing a diverse gold nanoparticle (GNP) library with different redox properties, it was found that the oxidative reactivity of GNPs directly caused cytotoxicity via induction of cellular oxidative stress. The redox diversity of nanoparticles is regulated by GNPs modified with redox reactive ligands.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Andrea Magalhaes, Lucas P. Carvalho, Rubia Costa, Monica S. Pita, Thiago Marconi Cardoso, Paulo R. L. Machado, Edgar M. Carvalho, Sergio Arruda, Augusto M. Carvalho
Summary: This study showed that high levels of anti-Leishmania IgG and IgG2 are characteristic of disseminated leishmaniasis (DL), with IgG correlated with pro-inflammatory cytokines and IgG2 directly correlated with the number of lesions in DL.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Lindsay B. Tulloch, Sandra Carvalho, Marta Lima, Richard J. Wall, Michele Tinti, Erika G. Pinto, Lorna MacLean, Susan Wyllie
Summary: A scalable resistance library screen (RES-Seq) has been developed to identify and prioritize anti-leishmanial compounds with novel mechanisms of actions. By screening against a panel of resistant cell lines, cross-resistance and shared mechanisms of action can be determined. Introducing DNA barcodes and using Illumina sequencing enables tracking of growth kinetics and relative fitness of multiple cell lines under compound selection.
Review
Immunology
Katiuska Passelli, Oaklyne Billion, Fabienne Tacchini-Cottier
Summary: Leishmania parasites, transmitted by infected sand flies, cause a range of diseases in mammals. Neutrophils are crucial in the defense against these parasites, although some Leishmania species have developed ways to survive within them. Neutrophils also play a role in shaping the skin microenvironment during infection, influencing the adaptive immune response and disease outcome.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Geovanna Vioti, Mariana Dantas da Silva, Fredy Galvis-Ovallos, Maria Luana Alves, Diogo Tiago da Silva, Joao Augusto Franco Leonel, Nuno Wolfgang Balbini Pereira, Julia Cristina Benassi, Julio Cesar Pereira Spada, Carla Maia, Eunice Aparecida Bianchi Galati, Wilma Aparecida Starke-Buzetti, Tricia Maria Ferreira de Sousa Oliveira
Summary: The study demonstrates that naturally infected cats are capable of transmitting L. infantum to sand flies. Through clinical evaluation and diagnosis of 240 cats, the research examined the role of cats in the transmission of visceral leishmaniasis.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Barrack O. Owino, Jackline Milkah Mwangi, Steve Kiplagat, Hannah Njiriku Mwangi, Johnstone M. Ingonga, Alphine Chebet, Philip M. Ngumbi, Jandouwe Villinger, Daniel K. Masiga, Damaris Matoke-Muhia
Summary: The study investigated transmission, vector abundance, distribution, and reservoir hosts of Leishmania in Merti sub-County, Kenya. Findings suggest potential involvement of Sergentomyia sand flies in Leishmania transmission, questioning the exclusively Phlebotomus sand flies' role in human leishmaniases. The presence of Trypanosoma DNA indicates possible mechanical transmission and the preference for different blood meal hosts was observed.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ilka Grewe, Thomas Theo Brehm, Benno Kreuels, Oliver M. Steinmetz, Bernhard Dumoulin, Anne Marie Asemissen, Dennis Tappe, Michael Ramharter, Stefan Schmiedel
Summary: We report a case of Leishmania infantum reactivation in an immunocompetent patient who developed visceral leishmaniasis with secondary IgA nephropathy nine years after an initial episode of mucosal leishmaniasis, which had been treated with liposomal amphotericin B.
JOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Sara Garcia-Davis, Atteneri Lopez-Arencibia, Carlos J. Bethencourt-Estrella, Desiree San Nicolas-Hernandez, Ezequiel Viveros-Valdez, Ana R. Diaz-Marrero, Jose J. Fernandez, Jacob Lorenzo-Morales, Jose E. Pinero
Summary: In this study, it was found that five compounds isolated from the red alga Laurencia johnstonii exhibited leishmanicidal activity. Among them, laurequinone showed the strongest activity and was capable of inducing programmed cell death or apoptosis in the parasite. These findings highlight the potential of laurequinone as a novel therapeutic agent against kinetoplastid parasites.
Article
Microbiology
Sarah Forrester, Amy Goundry, Bruna Torres Dias, Thyago Leal-Calvo, Milton Ozorio Moraes, Paul M. Kaye, Jeremy C. Mottram, Ana Paula C. A. Lima
Summary: This study used dual RNA-seq to investigate the transcriptional response of host and parasite in a mouse model of visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum and Leishmania donovani. The results showed that the host response was broadly similar in both infections, with around 10% of host differentially expressed genes varying between the two parasite species.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Review
Parasitology
Taylon Felipe Silva, Fernanda Tomiotto-Pellissier, Aline Kuhn Sbruzzi Pasquali, Fernanda Pinto-Ferreira, Wander Rogerio Pavanelli, Ivete Conchon-Costa, Italmar Teodorico Navarro, Eloiza Teles Caldart
Summary: The study revealed that the exact mechanism leading to different clinical manifestations among strains of the same species is still uncertain, and future studies are needed to better elucidate this phenomenon.
Article
Immunology
Alonso da Silva Lira Filho, Emanuella Francisco Fajardo, Kwang Poo Chang, Pauline Clement, Martin Olivier
Summary: This study focuses on the role of GP63 in Leishmania spp.-derived exosomes/extracellular vesicles (EVs/LeishEXO) in modulating immune responses and exacerbating cutaneous leishmaniasis. The researchers confirmed the specificity of a novel model by analyzing the protein composition of the extracted EVs and found that GP63 was the primary virulence factor altered in the composition. They also demonstrated that EVs with different levels of GP63 cargo had distinct immunomodulatory capabilities and impact on the cutaneous pathology of Leishmania spp. infection. These findings provide new insights into the immune response and host-pathogen interaction in cutaneous leishmaniasis and have implications for the development of new treatments and vaccines.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Daniela Coelho, Beatriz Veleirinho, Leticia Mazzarino, Thais Alberti, Elizandra Buzanello, Regina Eva Oliveira, Rosendo Augusto Yunes, Milene Moraes, Mario Steindel, Marcelo Maraschin
Summary: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a global public health issue, and the use of synthetic chalcones shows promise in developing molecules with anti-leishmaniasis activity.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2021)
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)
Review
Immunology
Hanan S. Al-Khalaifah
Summary: Leishmaniasis is a significant global health problem with a high number of new cases and a large population at risk. Understanding the determinants of Leishmania pathogenicity and its survival mechanisms is important for developing effective treatments and vaccines.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vipul Kumar, Jaspreet Kaur Dhanjal, Priyanshu Bhargava, Ashish Kaul, Jia Wang, Huayue Zhang, Sunil C. Kaul, Renu Wadhwa, Durai Sundar
Summary: A study examined the binding potential of natural compounds Withaferin-A, Withanone, and caffeic acid phenethyl ester to the cell surface receptor TMPRSS2 using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. The results showed that Withanone had stronger interactions with TMPRSS2 and was able to induce changes in its allosteric site. Furthermore, Withanone downregulated TMPRSS2 mRNA expression, suggesting its potential dual action in blocking SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vipul Kumar, Jaspreet Kaur Dhanjal, Sunil C. Kaul, Renu Wadhwa, Durai Sundar
Summary: The study showed that Withanone (Wi-N) and Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester (CAPE) can bind to the SARS-CoV-2 M(pro) enzyme with similar efficacy and binding energy to a known protease inhibitor. This suggests that these natural compounds may have the potential to inhibit the functional activity of the virus, offering a possible therapeutic value for managing COVID-19. Further validation in laboratory and clinical tests is warranted.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Anissa Nofita Sari, Ahmed Elwakeel, Jaspreet Kaur Dhanjal, Vipul Kumar, Durai Sundar, Sunil C. Kaul, Renu Wadhwa
Summary: The study introduced a novel multimodal small molecule called Mortaparib(Plus) that abrogates mortalin-p53 interaction, reactivates p53's tumor suppression function, and induces growth arrest or apoptosis of cancer cells. The compound also leads to upregulation of p73, inactivation of PARP1 and CARF proteins, and shows potential as a new anticancer drug candidate.
Correction
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chetna Tyagi, Tamas Marik, Csaba Vagvolgyi, Laszlo Kredics, Ferenc otvos
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rajkumar Singh Kalra, Vipul Kumar, Jaspreet Kaur Dhanjal, Sukant Garg, Xiaoshuai Li, Sunil C. Kaul, Durai Sundar, Renu Wadhwa
Summary: Research shows that withanolides derived from Ashwagandha have potential therapeutic effects against the SARS-CoV-2 virus by inhibiting the ACE2 protein. Among them, stem extracts demonstrate higher inhibitory potency.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jaspreet Kaur Dhanjal, Vipul Kumar, Sukant Garg, Chandru Subramani, Shubhra Agarwal, Jia Wang, Huayue Zhang, Ashish Kaul, Rajkumar Singh Kalra, Sunil C. Kaul, Sudhanshu Vrati, Durai Sundar, Renu Wadhwa
Summary: Research has shown that withanolides from Ashwagandha have the potential to inhibit the activity of the cell surface receptor protein TMPRSS2 and the main viral protein Mpro that are crucial for COVID-19 virus entry into host cells and viral replication. This suggests that Ashwagandha may serve as a promising resource for the treatment of COVID-19.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Review
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Rajkumar Singh Kalra, Jaspreet Kaur Dhanjal, Avtar Singh Meena, Vishal C. Kalel, Surya Dahiya, Birbal Singh, Saikat Dewanjee, Ramesh Kandimalla
Summary: The spectrum of health complications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is diverse and complex, with neurological complications being more common in elderly patients. There is currently a lack of systematic understanding of the neuro-pathophysiology and manifested neurological complications in elderly COVID-19 patients.
FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Rajkumar S. Kalra, Gaurav S. Soman, Pradeep B. Parab, Avinash M. Mali, Sagar S. Varankar, Rutika R. Naik, Swapnil C. Kamble, Jaspreet K. Dhanjal, Sharmila A. Bapat
Summary: The monoclonal antibody mAb150 targets cancer stem cells, promoting their reentry into the cell cycle and disrupting tumor dormancy, leading to effective tumor targeting.
TRANSLATIONAL ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Anissa Nofita Sari, Jaspreet Kaur Dhanjal, Ahmed Elwakeel, Vipul Kumar, Hazna Noor Meidinna, Huayue Zhang, Yoshiyuki Ishida, Keiji Terao, Durai Sundar, Sunil C. Kaul, Renu Wadhwa
Summary: A combination of low doses of Wi-A and CAPE, two natural compounds found in Ashwagandha leaves and propolis, respectively, exhibits potent anti-migratory and anti-angiogenic activities. This combination acts on cell adhesion/tight junction proteins and inhibits Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways, leading to the downregulation of EMT-signaling proteins. These findings suggest that this combination may be a potential therapeutic option for metastatic and aggressive cancers.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jaspreet Kaur Dhanjal, Rajkumar Singh Kalra
Summary: Cancer is a disease caused by perturbed genes, with driver mutations dictating the functional impacts and progression of the disease. Recently, there has been significant attention on identifying driver events from genomic alterations to develop precision cancer therapies. Predicting cancer drivers using genetic signatures and protein structures can provide more clinically relevant evidence than genetic variations alone.
CURRENT PROTEIN & PEPTIDE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Hazna Noor Meidinna, Seyad Shefrin, Anissa Nofita Sari, Huayue Zhang, Jaspreet Kaur Dhanjal, Sunil C. Kaul, Durai Sundar, Renu Wadhwa
Summary: In this study, a novel compound called Mortaparib(Mild) was characterized for its ability to interact with mortalin, p53, and PARP1. The compound was found to downregulate the expression and functions of mortalin and PARP1, impeding cancer cell proliferation and migration. Mortaparib(Mild) shows potential as a candidate anticancer compound.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Genetics & Heredity
Jaspreet Kaur Dhanjal, Rajkumar Singh Kalra, Dhanendra Tomar, Amrendra K. Ajay
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dora Balazs, Tamas Marik, Andras Szekeres, Csaba Vagvolgyi, Laszlo Kredics, Chetna Tyagi
Summary: This study investigated the production of peptaibols by various Trichoderma strains and their correlation with structure-activity relationships. The results showed that T. longibrachiatum f. bissettii SZMC 12546 exerted the lowest minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) against Gram-positive bacteria and also inhibited the plant pathogenic Gram-negative Rhizobium radiobacter. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the folding dynamics of Group A peptaibols were more restricted and had well-folded helical conformations, which may contribute to their bioactivity against bacteria.
COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Navaneethan Radhakrishnan, Jaspreet Kaur Dhanjal, Anissa Nofita Sari, Yoshiyuki Ishida, Keiji Terao, Sunil C. Kaul, Durai Sundar, Renu Wadhwa
Summary: The study investigated the potential interaction of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) with p53(Y220C) and found that it could restore the wild type p53 (p53(wt)) function, suggesting CAPE as a potential natural drug for treating cancers with p53(Y220C) mutations.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Paras Gaur, Gabriel Fenteany, Chetna Tyagi
Summary: The study showed that the green tea polyphenol EGCG and its analogs inhibit the ubiquitin-activating enzyme Uba1 by binding favorably at two hot spots on the enzyme. The energetics of binding mirror the experimental potency of the compounds for inhibiting Uba1, and a conformational change in the enzyme complex upon binding may explain the inhibitory activity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ali Mehri, Karim Mahnam, Hajar Sirous, Mahmoud Aghaei, Leila Rafiei, Mahboubeh Rostami
Summary: One potential approach for tumor therapy is inhibiting the binding between MDM2 and p53 to reactivate p53 in tumor cells. In this study, Monastrol derivatives were designed as MDM2 inhibitors and evaluated for their cytotoxicity on cancer cells. Compound 5d showed the best inhibitory results in silico and in vitro experiments. These findings suggest that Monastrol derivatives have the potential to be candidates for MDM2 inhibition.
CHEMICAL BIOLOGY & DRUG DESIGN
(2024)