Protein News and Research

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Proteins are complex molecules that are made up of amino acids. They can be found in every cell in the body, and carry out vital processes that keep human beings alive. Mutations in proteins can lead to a multitude of diseases, the most common being cancer.

Cancer cell vulnerability could be a potential target for interrupting tumor growth

Unraveling the unique characteristics of cancer cells and finding less-harmful ways to stop their growth have long been a focus for cancer researchers worldwide.

22 Feb 2021

Disinfectants could be helping bacteria to become resistant

News-Medical speaks to Professor Robert Bragg about disinfectants and how they could be helping bacteria to become resistant.

22 Feb 2021

New rodent model helps identify pregnant women whose prior kidney injury also affects babies

Young pregnant women, who appear to have fully recovered from an acute injury that reduced their kidney function, have higher rates of significant problems like preeclampsia and low birthweight babies, problems which indicate their kidneys have not actually fully recovered.

22 Feb 2021

Polyphenols may provide protective effect against COVID-19 disease

In the study published in the journal Integrative Physiology, the researchers found that a high intake of polyphenols may have a protective effect on patients with COVID-19 and prevent disease progression.

22 Feb 2021

Mucosal delivery of IFNs a good strategy for COVID-19 prophylaxis post-exposure

Researchers from the UK and Germany recently reported a comprehensive characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 response of human nasal epithelial cells, revealing a response dominated by IFN-I/IIIs. Also, recombinant IFN-I/III treatment was found to efficiently block the replication of SARS-CoV-2, which suggests that mucosal delivery of IFNs may be a good strategy for prophylaxis post-exposure.

22 Feb 2021

Gold nanoparticles investigated as part of in vitro tool for SARS-CoV-2 drug screening

Scientists have measured the interaction of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike (S) protein with nano-gold colloids. These nanoparticles functionalized with the S protein have different spectroscopic signals allowing for new information about the protein to be extracted.

21 Feb 2021

Novel SARS-CoV-2 vaccine utilizes recombinant spike protein with PIKA adjuvant

The primary aim of any vaccine is to stimulate immune functions and confer long-lasting protection. A paper recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv by Tong et al. (17th Feb 2021) describes a novel vaccine utilizing PIKA adjuvant and recombinant spike proteins against COVID-19 disease that promises the generation of potent neutralization antibodies, which potentially support immune responses for years.

21 Feb 2021

Proteases modulate SARS-CoV-2 spike protein activation and deactivation

A research paper recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv by Platt et al. (17th Feb 2021) aimed to identify these enzymes by computational screening and molecular docking simulations, with cathepsins B, K, L, S, and V being highlighted as probable leads.

21 Feb 2021

Cissampelos pareira L. extracts demonstrate anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in vitro

A team of scientists from India has recently investigated the antiviral potency of a traditional medicinal plant Cissampelos pareira L. in preventing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The findings reveal that both whole-plant extracts and bioactive compounds can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication by modulating estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) activity.

21 Feb 2021

Evolution of the spike gene of SARS-CoV-2 for human adaptation

Researchers have found a 96% similarity in nucleotide sequence between bat coronavirus (RaTG13), isolated from Rhinolophus affinis bats in China in 2013, and SARS-CoV-2 and ~97% amino acid similarity with the Spike (S) protein. This S protein performs two essential roles, i.e., mediates receptor-binding and membrane fusion. Hence, spike protein is regarded as a key coronavirus determinant of host tropism.

21 Feb 2021

Researchers study how the methylation of proteins affects different mitochondrial processes

Disorders of the cells' energy supply can cause a number of serious diseases, but also seem to be connected to aging.

20 Feb 2021

Scientists describe genetic mechanisms behind mating process of ciliates

Conjugation (or mating) of ciliates is a unique phenomenon among living beings. They have sex not for reproduction or pleasure — they seek to increase genetic variation.

20 Feb 2021

Study provides new information about the structure of prion proteins

Prion diseases are a group of rapidly progressive, fatal and infectious neurodegenerative disorders affecting both humans and animals: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or 'mad cow' disease is one of the most famous since in 1996 scientists found that the agent responsible for the disease in cows, is the same agent responsible for the so-called variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), a disease affecting humans.

20 Feb 2021

Interval between doses of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine can be safely extended to 3 months, suggests study

A 3-month interval between doses of the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine results in higher vaccine efficacy than a 6-week interval, with the first dose offering 76% protection in the 3 months between doses.

20 Feb 2021

Antimicrobial resistance to critical drugs spirals in low- and middle-income countries

As antibiotic use grows in lower-income countries so does antibiotic resistance, says report.

20 Feb 2021

Whole-genome study of IBD in African Americans reveals a different genetic risk landscape

In African Americans, the genetic risk landscape for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is very different from that of people with European ancestry, according to results of the first whole-genome study of IBD in African Americans.

20 Feb 2021

Study: Longevity gene protects brain stem cells from the harmful effects of stress

A gene linked to unusually long lifespans in humans protects brain stem cells from the harmful effects of stress, according to a new study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.

20 Feb 2021

Researchers discover first evidence of protein folding driven by liquid-liquid phase separation

Scientists have discovered the first evidence of protein folding driven by liquid-liquid phase separation, a phenomenon in which fluids form into microscopic droplets and separate inside cells -- like drops of oil in water.

20 Feb 2021

Llama-derived nanobodies show neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in vitro

A new study reports the development of nanoantibodies (nAbs) – also called or nanobodiesTM or single-domain antibodies – that effectively bind the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein from the ancestral Wuhan variant as well as the recently detected UK and South African variants.

19 Feb 2021

Chicken-derived antibody shows potent neutralizing capacity against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

Researchers report on a Chicken-derived antibody against SARS-CoV-2, offering preliminary data on a potential therapeutic for COVID-19 warranting further research.

19 Feb 2021

Protein News and Research

Further Reading

Cancer cell vulnerability could be a potential target for interrupting tumor growth

Disinfectants could be helping bacteria to become resistant

New rodent model helps identify pregnant women whose prior kidney injury also affects babies

Polyphenols may provide protective effect against COVID-19 disease

Mucosal delivery of IFNs a good strategy for COVID-19 prophylaxis post-exposure

Gold nanoparticles investigated as part of in vitro tool for SARS-CoV-2 drug screening

Novel SARS-CoV-2 vaccine utilizes recombinant spike protein with PIKA adjuvant

Proteases modulate SARS-CoV-2 spike protein activation and deactivation

Cissampelos pareira L. extracts demonstrate anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in vitro

Evolution of the spike gene of SARS-CoV-2 for human adaptation

Researchers study how the methylation of proteins affects different mitochondrial processes

Scientists describe genetic mechanisms behind mating process of ciliates

Study provides new information about the structure of prion proteins

Interval between doses of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine can be safely extended to 3 months, suggests study

Antimicrobial resistance to critical drugs spirals in low- and middle-income countries

Whole-genome study of IBD in African Americans reveals a different genetic risk landscape

Study: Longevity gene protects brain stem cells from the harmful effects of stress

Researchers discover first evidence of protein folding driven by liquid-liquid phase separation

Llama-derived nanobodies show neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in vitro

Chicken-derived antibody shows potent neutralizing capacity against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

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