Deuterium Labeling of Isoaspartic and Isoglutamic Acids for Mass Spectrometry Analysis.

Isoaspartic acid (isoAsp) is a common protein modification that spontaneously arises from asparagine or aspartic acid and has been linked to various diseases and health conditions. However, current methods for identifying isoAsp sites in proteins often suffer from ambiguity and have not gained widespread adoption. We developed a novel method that exclusively labels isoAsp with deuterium. This method capitalizes on the unique structural characteristics of isoAsp residues, which possess a free α-carboxyl group and can form an oxazolone ring. Once the oxazolone ring forms, it facilitates racemization at the Cα-position, incorporating a deuteron from a D2O solvent. The sites of deuterium-incorporated isoAsp in proteins can be unequivocally determined by comparing the precursor and product ion masses of the peptides from proteins reacted in H2O and D2O. The effectiveness of this method has been demonstrated through its application to model proteins lysozyme and rituximab. Furthermore, we have confirmed that the isoAsp deuterium-labeling reaction efficiently labels both l- and d-isoAsp without distinction, as well as isoglutamic acid (isoGlu), for which no effective detection methods currently exist.

Addressing COVID-19 inequities using bidirectional crisis and emergency risk communication and vaccine clinic interventions: a descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: Im/migrants (immigrants and migrants, including refugees, asylum seekers, and individuals without legal documentation) experience unique assets and needs in relation to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is one way to engage im/migrant communities. Rochester Healthy Community Partnership (RHCP) is a CBPR partnership in Rochester, Minnesota. RHCP partners noted that credible COVID-19 information was not available to their communities. In response, RHCP formed a COVID-19 Task Force and adapted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) framework to create an intervention that prioritized im/migrant groups experiencing health disparities. In the CERC intervention, communication leaders delivered COVID-19 health messages to their social networks and documented related concerns. RHCP relayed these concerns to regional leaders to ensure that im/migrant experiences were included in decision making. Once vaccines were available, RHCP continued to deploy the CERC intervention to promote vaccination equity. The aims of this paper are to (1) describe the implementation of a bidirectional CERC intervention for vaccination equity, and (2) describe a community-engaged and community-based vaccine clinic intervention. METHODS: First, we surveyed participants (n = 37) to assess COVID-19 experiences, acceptability of the CERC intervention, and motivation to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Second, we collaborated with community partners to hold vaccine clinics. We report descriptive statistics from each intervention. RESULTS: When asked about the acceptability of the CERC intervention for vaccine equity, most participants either reported that they 'really liked it' or 'thought it was just ok'. Most participants stated that they would recommend the program to family or friends who have not yet received the COVID-19 vaccine. Almost all participants reported that they felt 'much more' or 'somewhat more' motivated to receive a COVID-19 vaccine after the intervention. We administered 1158 vaccines at the vaccination clinics. CONCLUSIONS: We found that participants viewed the CERC intervention for vaccination equity as an acceptable way to disseminate COVID-19-related information. Nearly all participants reported that the intervention convinced them to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. In our experience, community-engaged and community-based clinics are a successful way to administer vaccines to im/migrant communities during a pandemic.