Binding Adaptation of GS-441524 Diversifies Macro Domains and Downregulates SARS-CoV-2 de-MARylation Capacity

Viral infection in cells triggers a cascade of molecular defense mechanisms to maintain host-cell homoeostasis. One of these mechanisms is ADP-ribosylation, a fundamental post-translational modification (PTM) characterized by the addition of ADP-ribose (ADPr) on substrates. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) are implicated in this process and they perform ADP-ribosylation on host and pathogen proteins. Some viral families contain structural motifs that can reverse this PTM. These motifs known as macro domains (MDs) are evolutionarily conserved protein domains found in all kingdoms of life. They are divided in different classes with the viral belonging to Macro-D-type class because of their properties to recognize and revert the ADP-ribosylation. Viral MDs are potential pharmaceutical targets, capable to counteract host immune response. Sequence and structural homology between viral and human MDs are an impediment for the development of new active compounds against their function. Remdesivir, is a drug administrated in viral infections inhibiting viral replication through RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Herein, GS-441524, the active metabolite of the remdesivir, is tested as a hydrolase inhibitor for several viral MDs and for its binding to human homologs found in PARPs. This study presents biochemical and biophysical studies, which indicate that GS-441524 selectively modifies SARS-CoV-2 MD de-MARylation activity, while it does not interact with hPARP14 MD2 and hPARP15 MD2. The structural investigation of MD?GS-441524 complexes, using solution NMR and X-ray crystallography, discloses the impact of certain amino acids in ADPr binding cavity suggesting that F360 and its adjacent residues tune the selective binding of the inhibitor to SARS-CoV-2 MD.     

基于MS2噬菌体病毒样颗粒的RT-PCR检测新型冠状病毒(SARS-CoV-2)质控品制备*

目的: 制备热稳定性好、耐RNase攻击及可全程监控操作的核酸检测新型冠状病毒阳性质控品。方法: 分别扩增MS2噬菌体外壳蛋白CP(含PAC位点)基因以及成熟酶蛋白A基因序列(含核糖体结合位点),先后插入质粒pET28a多克隆位点不同位置,构建通用重组载体pET28a/CP-A。合成包含ORF1ab基因、N基因和E基因三个靶标的特定核酸序列,插入到重组载体pET28a/CP-A中PAC位点的下游,构建包含靶序列的重组载体pET28a/CP-A/S。通过原核表达系统表达目的蛋白,采用硫酸铵和凝胶过滤层析进行纯化,利用透射电镜和动态光散射对蛋白质进行物理表征。全能核酸酶消化形成的盔甲RNA,通过RT-PCR检测其残余核酸和热稳定性。结果: 成功构建包含MS2噬菌体外壳蛋白CP基因、成熟酶蛋白A基因和外源靶核酸的重组载体,目的蛋白在25℃、IPTG 0.3mmol /L、诱导14h时以可溶性形式得到高效表达,纯化后,得到了大小均一、直径为23~28nm的病毒样颗粒,经核酸酶消化后RT-PCR检测,颗粒溶液中几乎无核酸残余且形成了包封靶基因的盔甲RNA。加速破坏试验表明该盔甲RNA无菌过滤后可在37℃稳定保持10天。结论: 在体外,利用MS2噬菌体外壳蛋白和成熟酶蛋白自组装包封外源靶序列制备的盔甲RNA,其热稳定性好,可全程监控整个检测过程,可作为核酸检测SARS-CoV-2的定性或定量质控品。     

Screening and identification of the core immune-related genes and immune cell infiltration in severe burns and sepsis

Severe burns often have a high mortality rate due to sepsis, but the genetic and immune crosstalk between them remains unclear. In the present study, the GSE77791 and GSE95233 datasets were analysed to identify immune-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in disease progression in both burns and sepsis. Subsequently, weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA), gene enrichment analysis, protein–protein interaction (PPI) network construction, immune cell infiltration analysis, core gene identification, coexpression network analysis and clinical correlation analysis were performed. A total of 282 common DEGs associated with burns and sepsis were identified. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis identified the following enriched pathways in burns and sepsis: metabolic pathways; complement and coagulation cascades; legionellosis; starch and sucrose metabolism; and ferroptosis. Finally, six core DEGs were identified, namely, IL10, RETN, THBS1, FGF13, LCN2 and MMP9. Correlation analysis showed that some core DEGs were significantly associated with simultaneous dysregulation of immune cells. Of these, RETN upregulation was associated with a worse prognosis. The immune-related genes and dysregulated immune cells in severe burns and sepsis provide potential research directions for diagnosis and treatment.     

Screening of inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and their capability to block the viral entry mechanism: A viroinformatics study

SARS-CoV-2, previously named 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), has been associated with the global pandemic of acute respiratory distress syndrome. First reported in December 2019 in the Wuhan province of China, this new RNA virus has several folds higher transmission among humans than its other family member (SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV). The SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) is the region mediating the binding of the virus to host cells via Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a critical step of viral. Here in this study, we have utilized in silico approach for the virtual screening of antiviral library extracted from the Asinex database against the Receptor binding domain (RBD) of the S1 subunit of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein. Further, the molecules were ranked based on their binding affinity against RBD, and the top 15 molecules were selected. The affinity of these selected molecules to interrupt the ACE2-Spike interaction was also studied. It was found that the chosen molecules were demonstrating excellent binding affinity against spike protein, and these molecules were also very effectively interrupting the ACE2-RBD interaction.Furthermore, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies were utilized to investigate the top 3 selected molecules' stability in the ACE2-RBD complexes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study where molecules' inhibitory potential against the Receptor binding domain (RBD) of the S1 subunit of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein and their inhibitory potential against the ACE2-Spike has been studied. We believe that these compounds can be further tested as a potential therapeutic option against COVID-19.     

Enfermedades invasivas por hongos levaduriformes en pacientes quemados graves

Currently, there are few studies on candidaemia in the severely burned patient. These patients share the same risk factors for invasive fungal infections as other critically ill patients, but have certain characteristics that make them particularly susceptible. These include the loss of skin barrier due to extensive burns, fungal colonisation of the latter, and the use of hydrotherapy or other topical therapies (occasionally with antimicrobials). In addition, the increased survival rate achieved in recent decades in critically burned patients due to the advances in treatment has led to the increase of invasive Candida infections. This explains the growing interest in making an earlier and more accurate diagnosis, as well as more effective treatments to reduce morbidity and mortality of candidaemia in severe burned patients. A review is presented on all aspects of the burned patient, including the predisposition and risk factors for invasive candidiasis, pathogenesis of candidaemia, underlying immunodeficiency, local epidemiology and antifungal susceptibility, evolution and prognostic factors, as well as other non-Candida yeast infections. Finally, we include specific data on our local experience in the management of candidaemia in severe burned patients, which may serve to quantify the problem, place it in context, and offer a realistic perspective.     

Penta-peptide ATN-161 based neutralization mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

SARS-CoV-2 has become a big challenge for the scientific community worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 enters into the host cell by the spike protein binding with an ACE2 receptor present on the host cell. Developing safe and effective inhibitor appears an urgent need to interrupt the binding of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with ACE2 receptor in order to reduce the SARS-CoV-2 infection. We have examined the penta-peptide ATN-161 as potential inhibitor of ACE2 and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding, where ATN-161 has been commercially approved for the safety and possess high affinity and specificity towards the receptor binding domain (RBD) of S1 subunit in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. We carried out experiments and confirmed these phenomena that the virus bindings were indeed minimized. ATN-161 peptide can be used as an inhibitor of protein-protein interaction (PPI) stands as a crucial interaction in biological systems. The molecular docking finding suggests that the binding energy of the ACE2-spike protein complex is reduced in the presence of ATN-161. Protein-protein docking binding energy (-40.50 kcal/mol) of the spike glycoprotein toward the human ACE2 and binding of ATN-161 at their binding interface reduced the biding energy (-26.25 kcal/mol). The finding of this study suggests that ATN-161 peptide can mask the RBD of the spike protein and be considered as a neutralizing candidate by binding with the ACE2 receptor. Peptide-based masking of spike S1 protein (RBD) and its neutralization is a highly promising strategy to prevent virus penetration into the host cell. Thus masking of the RBD leads to the loss of receptor recognition property which can reduce the chance of infection host cells.     

Reference gene selection for normalizing gene expression using quantitative real-time PCR in Haemaphysalis longicornis

The Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, the dominant species of Ixodidae in Korea, has a wide distribution in East Asia, far-East Russia, and Western Pacific countries, and has recently been discovered in the Eastern states of the United States of America. H. longicornis transmits various pathogens, including Babesia ovate, Rickettsia japonica, and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV). Considering its medical importance, in order to understand the physiology of H. longicornis, it is crucial to determine the expression of the genes of interest. Although quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) has been widely used to analyze gene expression, stably-expressed internal reference genes across samples of different conditions should be selected for the accurate normalization of target gene expression levels. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the expression levels of five candidate reference genes, namely ACT, RPP0, RPL23, TUB, and GAPDH, in H. longicornis under different conditions, including different collection months, developmental stages, and SFTSV infection status. Using four software programs, namely, NormFinder, BestKeeper, geNorm, and RefFinder, their expression stabilities were evaluated. Subsequently, a single gene between RPL23 and RPP0 was validated, which was found to be most stable reference gene after comparing the expression levels of HSP70 determined using different normalization methods.     

Mechanism and evolution of human ACE2 binding by SARS-CoV-2 spike

Spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 mediates viral entry into host cells by facilitating virus attachment and membrane fusion. ACE2 is the main receptor of SARS-CoV-2 and its interaction with spike has shaped the virus’ emergence from an animal reservoir and subsequent evolution in the human host. Many structural studies on the spike:ACE2 interaction have provided insights into mechanisms driving viral evolution during the on-going pandemic. This review describes the molecular basis of spike binding to ACE2, outlines mechanisms that have optimised this interaction during viral evolution, and suggests directions for future research.     

The effect of regeneration burns on the growth,nutrient acquisition and mycorrhizae of Eucalyptus regnans F. Muell. (mountain ash) seedlings

This study was conducted to compare the effects on the growth of Eucalyptus regnans seedlings of unheated soil and soil heated to different extents (as indicated by soil colour–bright red or black) in burnt logging coupes, and to separate the effects of heating of the soil on direct nutrient availability and on morphotypes and effectiveness of ectomycorrhizae. Burnt soils were collected from three logging coupes burnt 2, 14 and 25 months previously and unbumt soil from adjacent regrowth forests. Compared to unburnt soil, the early seedling growth was stimulated in black burnt soil from all coupes (burnt 2, 14 and 25 months previously). Seedling growth was generally poor in red burnt soil, especially in soil collected 2 months after burning. However, the concentration of extractable P was extremely high in red burnt soil, especially in soil collected 2 months after burning. In black burnt soil, extractable P was increased in soil 2 months after burning, but not in the soils collected 14 or 25 months after burning. However, both total P content and concentration in seedlings were increased in all collections of black burnt soil. Frequency of ectomycorrhizae was high in seedlings grown in all black burnt soils, but the mycorrhizal mantles were poorly developed in seedlings in black burnt soil collected 2 months after burning. Seedlings were also ectomycorrhizal in red burnt soil, except in soil collected 2 months after burning. Fine root inocula from seedlings grown in black burnt soils collected 14 and 25 months after burning significantly stimulated both seedling growth and P uptake compared with the uninoculated control, whereas the fine root inocula from the seedlings grown in all the other soils did not. These results suggest that, in black burnt soil, both direct nutritional changes and changes in the ectomycorrhizae may contribute to seedling growth promotion after regeneration burns. The generally poor seedling growth in red burnt soils is likely to have been due to N deficiency as the seedlings in these soils were yellow-green and the tissue concentrations of N were significantly lower than in other treatments. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.