- Home
- A-Z Publications
- Current Protein and Peptide Science
- Previous Issues
- Volume 23, Issue 5, 2022
Current Protein and Peptide Science - Volume 23, Issue 5, 2022
Volume 23, Issue 5, 2022
-
-
Use of CRISPR in Infection Control
Authors: Isna S. Khan, Zainab Faiyaz and Asad U. KhanOne of the greatest threats to the global world is infectious diseases. The morbidity and fatality of infectious diseases cause 17 million deaths annually. The recent COVID-19 pandemic describes the uncertain potential of these diseases. Understanding the pathogenesis of infectious agents, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc. and the evolution of rapid diagnostic techniques and treatments has become a pressing priority to improve infectious disease outcomes worldwide. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) constitute the adaptive immune system of archaea and bacteria along with CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins that recognize and destroy foreign DNA acting as molecular scissors. Since their discovery, CRISPR systems are classified into 6 types and 22 subtypes. Type II, V, and VI are used for diagnostic purposes. Utilizing the CRISPR-Cas system's capabilities will aid promote the development of novel and improved diagnostics as well as innovative delivery systems and the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.
-
-
-
Calprotectin: The Link Between Acute Lung Injury and Gastrointestinal Injury in Covid-19: Ban or Boon
The pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection is related to the direct cytopathic effect and associated hyper-inflammation due to exaggerated immune response. Different experimental and clinical studies revealed that many biomarkers could be used to determine the Covid-19 severity, such as Ddimer, procalcitonin, C-reaction protein (CRP), IL-6, and ferritin. Calprotectin (CP) is associated with intestinal inflammation, intestinal injury, and different respiratory diseases such as cystic fibrosis. Thus, CP might be a possible biomarker linking intestinal injury and acute lung injury (ALI) in Covid-19. Therefore, this study aimed to find a potential role of CP regarding GITI and ALI in Covid-19. CP is a complex protein consisting of S100A8 and S100A9, belonging to the Ca+2-binding proteins S100 family abundant in the cytosol of neutrophils and expressed on the monocyte membranes, macrophages, and intestinal epithelial cells. CP is a proinflammatory protein that acts through activation of the receptor for the advanced glycation end product (RAGE) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). CP is a biomarker of neutrophil activation and is released following the turnover of neutrophils. CP could be controversial; it increases airway inflammation or protects lung and airway epithelium from an exaggerated immune response. Therefore, a high level of CP in different respiratory disorders might be protective and compensate against abnormal immune responses. CP level is high in Covid-19 and correlated with Covid-19 severity and oxygen demand due to activation of proinflammatory cytokines and inflammatory signaling pathways. Therefore, CP level is elevated in both ALI and intestinal inflammation so that it could be a potential biomarker that links the respiratory and intestinal injury in Covid-19.
-
-
-
Targeting and Modulation of the Natriuretic Peptide System in Covid-19: A Single or Double-Edged Effect?
More LessNatriuretic peptide system (NPS) is a group of peptide hormones or paracrine factors, including atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and natriuretic peptide precursor C (NPC), that are structurally related. The physiological effects of NPS include natriuresis, increased glomerular filtration rate, inhibition release of renin, vasopressin, and aldosterone, sympathetic inhibition, vasodilatations, and prevents cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling. ANP has immunological effects, as it is produced locally from immune cells; it regulates innate and adaptive immune responses. Metabolism and degradation of ANP are achieved by neutral endopeptidase (NEP), also known as neprilysin. Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic may lead to acute lung injury (ALI) and/or respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The underlying causes of inflammatory and immunological disorders in patients with severe Covid-19 are connected to the immune over-stimulation with the subsequent release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Covid-19 severity is linked with high ANP serum levels regardless of acute cardiac injury. Inflammatory stimuli appear to be linked with the release of NPs, which anti-inflammatory effects prevent the development of ALI/ARDS in Covid-19. Therefore, neprilysin inhibitors like sacubitril increase endogenous NPs and may reduce the risk of ALI in Covid-19 due to the potentiation of endogenous anti-inflammatory effects of NPs. However, sacubitril increases gastrin-releasing peptide, cathepsin G and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines that are inactivated by neprilysin. In conclusion, NPs and neprilysin have cardio-pulmonary protective effects against Covid-19-induced ALI/ARDS. Neprilysin inhibitor sacubitril has dual protective and harmful effects regarding metabolizing vasoactive peptides by neprilysin. These findings require potential reevaluation of the effect of neprilysin inhibitors in managing Covid-19.
-
-
-
Cell Surface Markers and their Targeted Drugs in Breast Cancer
Authors: Yufei Ma, Weidong Li, Kai Ma, Tianyun Wang and Huigen FengBreast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women's health, and its incidence rate is continuously increasing. With the development of immunohistochemistry and gene expression microarray technology, the study on breast cancer has gradually advanced, contributing to the development of targeted therapy for breast cancer. At present, the popular breast cancer cell surface markers includeG protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER-1), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), c-mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (CMet), folate receptor-α (FRα), integrin, programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (Trop-2), etc. Targeted drugs for breast cancer cell surface markers mainly include antibody drugs and small molecule inhibitor drugs, which exert anti-tumor activity by targeting receptors or ligands. This review summarizes the surface markers of breast cancer cells and their targeted drugs, hoping to provide new ideas for breast cancer targeted therapy.
-
-
-
Addition of Mercury Causes Quenching of NIR Fluorescence Emission Spectra of a Photoactivatable PAiRFP1 Protein
Authors: Fakhrul Hassan, Faez I. Khan, Feng Juan, Abbas Khan and Dakun LaiBackground: Biliverdin (BV) containing far-red light photoactivatable near-infrared fluorescent protein (NIR-FP) named PAiRFP1 has been developed by directed molecular evolution from one bathy bacteriophytochrome of Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58 called Agp2 or AtBphP2. Usually, the fluorescence intensity of the NIR emission spectra of PAiRFP1 tends to increase upon repeated excitation by far-red light. Objective: This study aimed at exploring the role of PAiRFP1 and its mutants, such as V386A, V480A, and Y498H, as NIR biosensors for the detection of Hg2+ ions in the buffer solutions. Methods: In this study, we used PCR-based site-directed reverse mutagenesis, fluorescence spectroscopy, and molecular modeling approaches on PAiRFP1 and its mutants. Results: It was found that PAiRFP1 and its mutants experienced strong quenching of NIR fluorescence emission spectra upon the addition of different concentrations (0-3μM) of mercuric chloride (HgCl2). Conclusion: We hypothesized that PAiRFP1 and its variants have some potential to be used as NIR biosensors for the in vitro detection of Hg2+ ions in biological media. Moreover, we also hypothesized that PAiRFP1 would be the best tool to use as a NIR biosensor to detect Hg2+ ions in living organisms because of its higher signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio than other infra-red fluorescent proteins.
-
-
-
Overexpression of Efflux Pumps AcrAB and OqxAB Contributes to Ciprofloxacin Resistance in Clinical Isolates of K. pneumonia
Authors: Osman Albarri, Manaf AlMatar, Melda M. Öcal and Fatih KöksalBackground: Infection caused by multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae is regarded as a severe public health concern worldwide, with most countries reporting an increase in fatality rates over time. Efflux pumps are significant determinants of acquired and/or intrinsic resistance in K. pneumoniae. Objectives: Our aim is to explore efflux-mediated resistance mechanisms in K. pneumoniae by using quantitative real-time PCR in order to evaluate the expression of efflux pump genes (acrA, acrB, oqxA, and oqxB) and pump regulators (marA, soxS, and rarA). Methods: Efflux pump inhibitor CCCP reduced MIC values of ciprofloxacin by 2 to 64-fold in 43/46 (93%) of MDR-K. pneumoniae isolates. Results: Compared to the control strain (untreated one), our results demonstrated that acrA, acrB, oqxA, oqxB, marA, soxS, and rarA were overexpressed in 29 (63%), 24 (52%), 29 (63%), 24 (52%), 17 (37%), 16 (35%), and 16 (35%) of K. pneumoniae isolates, respectively. Additionally, a positive correlation was established between the expressions of acrAB and marA (r = 0.50, r = 0.45, respectively) and oqxAB and rarA (r = 0.462912, r = 0.519354, respectively). Conclusion: Ciprofloxacin resistance was caused by overexpression of the efflux pump genes acrAB and oqxAB, as well as the transcriptional regulators marA, soxS, and rarA in clinical isolates of K. pneumonia.
-
Volumes & issues
-
Volume 25 (2024)
-
Volume 24 (2023)
-
Volume 23 (2022)
-
Volume 22 (2021)
-
Volume 21 (2020)
-
Volume 20 (2019)
-
Volume 19 (2018)
-
Volume 18 (2017)
-
Volume 17 (2016)
-
Volume 16 (2015)
-
Volume 15 (2014)
-
Volume 14 (2013)
-
Volume 13 (2012)
-
Volume 12 (2011)
-
Volume 11 (2010)
-
Volume 10 (2009)
-
Volume 9 (2008)
-
Volume 8 (2007)
-
Volume 7 (2006)
-
Volume 6 (2005)
-
Volume 5 (2004)
-
Volume 4 (2003)
-
Volume 3 (2002)
-
Volume 2 (2001)
-
Volume 1 (2000)