Prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection alters postpartum human milk-derived extracellular vesicles.

Human milk-derived extracellular vesicles (HMEVs) are crucial functional components in breast milk, contributing to infant health and development. Maternal conditions could affect HMEV cargos; however, the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on HMEVs remains unknown. This study evaluated the influence of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy on postpartum HMEV molecules. Milk samples (9 prenatal SARS-CoV-2 vs. 9 controls) were retrieved from the IMPRINT birth cohort. After defatting and casein micelle disaggregation, 1 mL milk was subjected to a sequential process of centrifugation, ultrafiltration, and qEV-size exclusion chromatography. Particle and protein characterizations were performed following the MISEV2018 guidelines. EV lysates were analyzed through proteomics and miRNA sequencing, while the intact EVs were biotinylated for surfaceomic analysis. Multi-Omics was employed to predict HMEV functions associated with prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection. Demographic data between the prenatal SARS-CoV-2 and control groups were similar. The median duration from maternal SARS-CoV-2 test positivity to milk collection was 3 months (range: 1-6 months). Transmission electron microscopy showed the cup-shaped nanoparticles. Nanoparticle tracking analysis demonstrated particle diameters of <200 nm and yields of >1e11 particles from 1 mL milk. Western immunoblots detected ALIX, CD9 and HSP70, supporting the presence of HMEVs in the isolates. Thousands of HMEV cargos and hundreds of surface proteins were identified and compared. Multi-Omics predicted that mothers with prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection produced HMEVs with enhanced functionalities involving metabolic reprogramming and mucosal tissue development, while mitigating inflammation and lower EV transmigration potential. Our findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy boosts mucosal site-specific functions of HMEVs, potentially protecting infants against viral infections. Further prospective studies should be pursued to reevaluate the short- and long-term benefits of breastfeeding in the post-COVID era.

Cryo-electron tomography reveals novel features of a viral RNA replication compartment.

Positive-strand RNA viruses, the largest genetic class of viruses, include numerous important pathogens such as Zika virus. These viruses replicate their RNA genomes in novel, membrane-bounded mini-organelles, but the organization of viral proteins and RNAs in these compartments has been largely unknown. We used cryo-electron tomography to reveal many previously unrecognized features of Flock house nodavirus (FHV) RNA replication compartments. These spherular invaginations of outer mitochondrial membranes are packed with electron-dense RNA fibrils and their volumes are closely correlated with RNA replication template length. Each spherule's necked aperture is crowned by a striking cupped ring structure containing multifunctional FHV RNA replication protein A. Subtomogram averaging of these crowns revealed twelve-fold symmetry, concentric flanking protrusions, and a central electron density. Many crowns were associated with long cytoplasmic fibrils, likely to be exported progeny RNA. These results provide new mechanistic insights into positive-strand RNA virus replication compartment structure, assembly, function and control.

Molecular assembly of botulinum neurotoxin progenitor complexes.

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is produced by Clostridium botulinum and associates with nontoxic neurotoxin-associated proteins to form high-molecular weight progenitor complexes (PCs). The PCs are required for the oral toxicity of BoNT in the context of food-borne botulism and are thought to protect BoNT from destruction in the gastrointestinal tract and aid in absorption from the gut lumen. The PC can differ in size and protein content depending on the C. botulinum strain. The oral toxicity of the BoNT PC increases as the size of the PC increases, but the molecular architecture of these large complexes and how they contribute to BoNT toxicity have not been elucidated. We have generated 2D images of PCs from strains producing BoNT serotypes A1, B, and E using negative stain electron microscopy and single-particle averaging. The BoNT/A1 and BoNT/B PCs were observed as ovoid-shaped bodies with three appendages, whereas the BoNT/E PC was observed as an ovoid body. Both the BoNT/A1 and BoNT/B PCs showed significant flexibility, and the BoNT/B PC was documented as a heterogeneous population of assembly/disassembly intermediates. We have also determined 3D structures for each serotype using the random conical tilt approach. Crystal structures of the individual proteins were placed into the BoNT/A1 and BoNT/B PC electron density maps to generate unique detailed models of the BoNT PCs. The structures highlight an effective platform that can be engineered for the development of mucosal vaccines and the intestinal absorption of oral biologics.

Structural analysis of botulinum neurotoxin type G receptor binding .

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) binds peripheral neurons at the neuromuscular junction through a dual-receptor mechanism that includes interactions with ganglioside and protein receptors. The receptor identities vary depending on BoNT serotype (A-G). BoNT/B and BoNT/G bind the luminal domains of synaptotagmin I and II, homologous synaptic vesicle proteins. We observe conditions under which BoNT/B binds both Syt isoforms, but BoNT/G binds only SytI. Both serotypes bind ganglioside G(T1b). The BoNT/G receptor-binding domain crystal structure provides a context for examining these binding interactions and a platform for understanding the physiological relevance of different Syt receptor isoforms in vivo.

Thiacrown Pt(II) complexes with group 15 donor ligands: pentacoordination in Pt(II) complexes.

We report the synthesis and full characterization for a series of thiacrown complexes of Pt(II) incorporating the fluxional trithiacrown ligand 1,4,7-trithiacyclononane ([9]aneS3) and several group 15 donors ligands. Reaction of [Pt([9]aneS3)Cl2] with a full stoichiometric equivalent of the group 15 donor (L = 2 x AsPh3, SbPh3 or 1,2-bis(diphenylarsenio) ethane (dpae) followed by metathesis with NH4PF6 yields [Pt([9]aneS3)L](PF6)2. We also report the analogous Pd(II) complex with dpae. Similar reactions of the starting Pt complex with one equivalent of XPh3 (X = As or Sb) result in complexes of the formula [Pt([9]aneS3)(XPh3)(Cl)](PF6). All six new complexes have been fully characterized by multinuclear NMR, IR, and UV-Vis spectroscopies in addition to elemental analysis and single crystal structural determinations. The X-ray structures of each complex indicate an axial M-S interaction formed by the endodentate conformation of the [9]aneS3 ligand. The axial M-S distance is highly dependent upon the ancillary donor set. The axial M-S distance shortens with the identity of the group 15 donor ligand according to the trend, Sb < As < P, due to their increasingly poorer donor qualities. The two bis pnictogen complexes, [Pt([9]aneS3)(AsPh3)2](PF6)2 and [Pt([9]aneS3)(SbPh3)2](PF6)2 form unusual five-coordinate distorted trigonal bipyramids in contrast to the pseudo-five coordinate, elongated square pyramidal structures typically observed in Pt(II) complexes of [9]aneS3. The distortion arises from intramolecular pi-pi interactions between the phenyl rings on the two different triphenyl ligands. Chemical shifts in the 195Pt NMR also show similar periodic relationships which trend progressively upfield as the donor atom becomes larger. As expected, the coordinated [9]aneS3 ligand shows fluxional behavior in its NMR spectra, resulting in a single 13C NMR resonance, despite the asymmetric coordination environment found in both chloro complexes. The line width for the carbon NMR resonance as well as for the 195Pt NMR peak is highly sensitive to the nature of the group 15 donor, with poorer donors such as SbPh3 showing significant line broadening. Measurements from the electronic spectra support that the ligand field strength of the pnictogen donor decreases with its increasing size.