Back to basics in COVID-19: Antigens and antibodies—Completing the puzzle

The outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has gathered 1 year of scientific/clinical information. This informational asset should be thoroughly and wisely used in the coming year colliding in a global task force to control this infection. Epidemiology of this infection shows that the available estimates of SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence largely depended on the availability of molecular testing and the extent of tested population. Within molecular diagnosis, the viability and infectiousness of the virus in the tested samples should be further investigated. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 has a genetic normal evolution that is a dynamic process. The immune system participates to the counterattack of the viral infection by pathogen elimination, cellular homoeostasis, tissue repair and generation of memory cells that would be reactivated upon a second encounter with the same virus. In all these stages, we still have knowledge to be gathered regarding antibody persistence, protective effects and immunological memory. Moreover, information regarding the intense pro-inflammatory action in severe cases still lacks and this is important in stratifying patients for difficult to treat cases. Without being exhaustive, the review will cover these important issues to be acknowledged to further advance in the battle against the current pandemia.     

Correlation of ovary and leaf spermidine and spermine content with the alternate bearing habit of olive

In order to investigate the possible role of the polyamines spermidine and spermine, in the alternate bearing habit of the olive, a comparative analysis of their content in vegetative and reproductive organs during the flowering period of the 'on' and 'off' years, was conducted. Samples of flowers, ovaries and leaves from two cultivars, the biennial bearer 'Chondrolia Chalkidikis' and the regular cropping 'Koroneiki' were used and the free and conjugated forms of polyamines were detected. In addition, the concentrations of K(+) and Ca(2+) were determined in all samples. Spermidine conjugates were predominant in all samples, while free spermine was not detectable. Conjugated forms of both spermidine and spermine were accumulated in ovaries, rather than in other floral tissues (corolla and stamens). They also, accumulated in significantly higher concentrations in ovaries and leaves of both cultivars, during the 'on' compared with the 'off' year, and in much higher concentrations, during the 'on' year, in ovaries of the strong alternate bearer 'Chondrolia Chalkidikis' than in 'Koroneiki'. Free spermidine was detected in ovaries and leaves of both cultivars, showing a decline during ovule fertilization in both years. Such a decline was not always recorded for the conjugated forms, depending on the organ studied and the flower load. A relation between endogenous spermidine and spermine with the K(+) or Ca(2+) composition was not established.     

Polyamines in the photosynthetic apparatus

The three main polyamines putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm) were characterized by HPLC in intact spinach leaf cells, intact chloroplasts, thylakoid membranes, Photosystem II membranes, the light-harvesting complex and the PS II complex. All contain the three polyamines in various ratios; the HPLC polyamine profiles of highly resolved PS II species (a Photosystem II core and the rection center) suggest an enrichment in the polyamine Spm.Abbreviations Chl chlorophyll - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - LHC light-harvesting complex - PS II Photosystem II - PS II-RC Photosystem II reaction center - Put putrescine - Spd spermidine - Spm spermine - 10%S-core D₁-D₂-Cyt b559-47 kD-43 kD complex     

Patterns of protein synthesis in the chick blastula: A comparison of the component areas of the epiblast and the primary hypoblast

The patterns of protein synthesis are examined in the hypoblast and in the areas that comprise the epiblast, that is, the area opaca, the marginal zone, and the central area, during the blastula stage which marks the beginning of the interaction between the epiblast and hypoblast for induction of the primitive streak. The results demonstrate that there are distinct qualitative and quantitative differences in protein patterns in individual areas of blastoderm, the differences being most distinct between the hypoblast and any of the component areas of the epiblast. These differences in patterns of proteins suggest that the component areas of the chick blastula have already diverged to different developmental fates before any apparent morphogenetic differentiation, that is, the appearance of the primitive streak.     

Production of Epoxides from α,β-Halohydrins by Flavobacterium sp

The relative activity of Flavobacterium whole cells on the enzymatic synthesis of epoxides from α,β-chlorohydrins, -bromohydrins, and -iodohydrins is described.     

Ionic interaction of the HIV-1 V3 domain with CCR5 and deregulation of T lymphocyte function

We have reported that the principal neutralizing domain of V3 of the HIV-1 gp120 induces an antigen-specific activation apoptosis of responding effector CD4+ T lymphocytes, a phenomenon inhibited by RANTES, an agonist of CCR5. Here, addressing the question of how a hypervariable region could induce such a selective reaction, we demonstrated that the magnitude of the activation phase was dependent on the number of basic amino acids present in the V3 peptide, an observation confirmed by using V3 peptides with appropriate basic amino acid substitutions. The relative position of the amino acids in the V3 peptide did not affect the biological phenomenon. Using surface plasmon resonance biosensor analysis, we also provided direct evidence of the influence of basic amino acids in the interaction between V3 and the amino terminal domain of CCR5. Sulphation of tyrosines in the CCR5 peptide was essential. Our results confirm gp120 modelling predictions and demonstrate simple molecular ionic interactions as capable of affecting key cell events, the wider biological implications of which need to be further explored.     

Let-7, Mir-98 and Mir-181 as Biomarkers for Cancer and Schizophrenia

Recent evidence supports a role of microRNAs in cancer and psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, through their regulatory role on the expression of multiple genes. The rather rare co-morbidity of cancer and schizophrenia is an old hypothesis which needs further research on microRNAs as molecules that might exert their oncosuppressive or oncogenic activity in the context of their role in psychiatric disorders. The expression pattern of a variety of different microRNAs was investigated in patients (N = 6) suffering from schizophrenia termed control, patients with a solid tumor (N = 10) and patients with both schizophrenia and tumor (N = 8). miRNA profiling was performed on whole blood samples using the miRCURY LNA microRNA Array technology (6th & 7th generation). A subset of 3 microRNAs showed a statistically significant differential expression between the control and the study groups. Specifically, significant down-regulation of the let-7p-5p, miR-98-5p and of miR-183-5p in the study groups (tumor alone and tumorand schizophrenia) was observed (p<0.05). The results of the present study showed that let-7, miR-98 and miR-183 may play an important oncosuppressive role through their regulatory impact in gene expression irrespective of the presence of schizophrenia, although a larger sample size is required to validate these results. Nevertheless, further studies are warranted in order to highlight a possible role of these and other micro-RNAs in the molecular pathways of schizophrenia.