Receptor binding and immunogenic properties of the receptor binding domain of influenza D virus hemagglutinin-esterase-fusion protein expressed from Escherichia coli.

The hemagglutinin-esterase-fusion (HEF) protein binds 9-O-acetylated sialic acids-containing glycans on the cell surface and drives influenza D virus (IDV) entry. The HEF is a primary determinant of the exceptional thermal and acid stability observed in IDV infection biology. Here, we expressed and purified the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the IDV HEF protein in Escherichia coli and characterized its receptor binding and antigenic properties. The data from these experiments indicate that (i) the RBD can bind with specificity to turkey red blood cells (RBC), and its binding can be specifically inhibited by IDV antibody; (ii) the RBD efficiently binds to the cell surface of MDCK cells expressing the receptor of IDV; and (iii) anti-RBD antibodies are capable of blocking RBD attachment to MDCK cells as well as of inhibiting the virus from agglutinating RBCs. These observations support the utility of this RBD in future receptor and entry studies of IDV.

Statistical considerations and database limitations in NMR-based metabolic profiling studies.

INTRODUCTION: Interpretation and analysis of NMR-based metabolic profiling studies is limited by substantially incomplete commercial and academic databases. Statistical significance tests, including p-values, VIP scores, AUC values and FC values, can be largely inconsistent. Data normalization prior to statistical analysis can cause erroneous outcomes. OBJECTIVES: The objectives were (1) to quantitatively assess consistency among p-values, VIP scores, AUC values and FC values in representative NMR-based metabolic profiling datasets, (2) to assess how data normalization can impact statistical significance outcomes, (3) to determine resonance peak assignment completion potential using commonly used databases and (4) to analyze intersection and uniqueness of metabolite space in these databases. METHODS: P-values, VIP scores, AUC values and FC values, and their dependence on data normalization, were determined in orthotopic mouse model of pancreatic cancer and two human pancreatic cancer cell lines. Completeness of resonance assignments were evaluated using Chenomx, the human metabolite database (HMDB) and the COLMAR database. The intersection and uniqueness of the databases was quantified. RESULTS: P-values and AUC values were strongly correlated compared to VIP or FC values. Distributions of statistically significant bins depended strongly on whether or not datasets were normalized. 40-45% of peaks had either no or ambiguous database matches. 9-22% of metabolites were unique to each database. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of consistency in statistical analyses of metabolomics data can lead to misleading or inconsistent interpretation. Data normalization can have large effects on statistical analysis and should be justified. About 40% of peak assignments remain ambiguous or impossible with current databases. 1D and 2D databases should be made consistent to maximize metabolite assignment confidence and validation.

Blind assessment of monomeric AlphaFold2 protein structure models with experimental NMR data.

Recent advances in molecular modeling of protein structures are changing the field of structural biology. AlphaFold-2 (AF2), an AI system developed by DeepMind, Inc., utilizes attention-based deep learning to predict models of protein structures with high accuracy relative to structures determined by X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM). Comparing AF2 models to structures determined using solution NMR data, both high similarities and distinct differences have been observed. Since AF2 was trained on X-ray crystal and cryoEM structures, we assessed how accurately AF2 can model small, monomeric, solution protein NMR structures which (i) were not used in the AF2 training data set, and (ii) did not have homologous structures in the Protein Data Bank at the time of AF2 training. We identified nine open-source protein NMR data sets for such "blind" targets, including chemical shift, raw NMR FID data, NOESY peak lists, and (for 1 case) 15N-1H residual dipolar coupling data. For these nine small (70-108 residues) monomeric proteins, we generated AF2 prediction models and assessed how well these models fit to these experimental NMR data, using several well-established NMR structure validation tools. In most of these cases, the AF2 models fit the NMR data nearly as well, or sometimes better than, the corresponding NMR structure models previously deposited in the Protein Data Bank. These results provide benchmark NMR data for assessing new NMR data analysis and protein structure prediction methods. They also document the potential for using AF2 as a guiding tool in protein NMR data analysis, and more generally for hypothesis generation in structural biology research.

Safety and efficacy of autologous cell vaccines in solid tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials.

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials to formally assess the safety and efficacy of autologous whole cell vaccines as immunotherapies for solid tumors. Our primary safety outcome was number, and grade of adverse events. Our primary efficacy outcome was clinical responses. Secondary outcomes included survival metrics and correlative immune assays. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for studies published between 1946 and August 2020 using any autologous whole cell product in the treatment of any solid tumor. The Cochrane Randomized Controlled Trial risk of bias tool was used to assess risk of bias. Eighteen manuscripts were identified with a total of 714 patients enrolled in control and 808 in vaccine arms. In 698 patients receiving at least one dose of vaccine, treatment was well tolerated with a total of 5 grade III or higher adverse events. Clinical response was reported in a minority (n = 2, 14%) of studies. Autologous cell vaccines were associated with improved overall (HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.01-1.63) and disease-free survival (HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.05-1.67) over thirteen and ten trials respectively. Where reported, immune assays correlated well with clinical outcomes. Our results suggest that autologous whole cell vaccination is safe and efficacious in increasing survival in patients undergoing treatment for solid tumors.Registration: PROSPERO CRD42019140187.

Blind Assessment of Monomeric AlphaFold2 Protein Structure Models with Experimental NMR Data.

Recent advances in molecular modeling of protein structures are changing the field of structural biology. AlphaFold-2 (AF2), an AI system developed by DeepMind, Inc., utilizes attention-based deep learning to predict models of protein structures with high accuracy relative to structures determined by X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM). Comparing AF2 models to structures determined using solution NMR data, both high similarities and distinct differences have been observed. Since AF2 was trained on X-ray crystal and cryoEM structures, we assessed how accurately AF2 can model small, monomeric, solution protein NMR structures which (i) were not used in the AF2 training data set, and (ii) did not have homologous structures in the Protein Data Bank at the time of AF2 training. We identified nine open source protein NMR data sets for such "blind" targets, including chemical shift, raw NMR FID data, NOESY peak lists, and (for 1 case) 15 N- 1 H residual dipolar coupling data. For these nine small (70 - 108 residues) monomeric proteins, we generated AF2 prediction models and assessed how well these models fit to these experimental NMR data, using several well-established NMR structure validation tools. In most of these cases, the AF2 models fit the NMR data nearly as well, or sometimes better than, the corresponding NMR structure models previously deposited in the Protein Data Bank. These results provide benchmark NMR data for assessing new NMR data analysis and protein structure prediction methods. They also document the potential for using AF2 as a guiding tool in protein NMR data analysis, and more generally for hypothesis generation in structural biology research. Highlights: AF2 models assessed against NMR data for 9 monomeric proteins not used in training.AF2 models fit NMR data almost as well as the experimentally-determined structures. RPF-DP, PSVS , and PDBStat software provide structure quality and RDC assessment. RPF-DP analysis using AF2 models suggests multiple conformational states.

Preventing Surgery-Induced NK Cell Dysfunction Using Anti-TGF-ß Immunotherapeutics.

Natural Killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity and interferon-gamma (IFNγ) production are profoundly suppressed postoperatively. This dysfunction is associated with increased morbidity and cancer recurrence. NK activity depends on the integration of activating and inhibitory signals, which may be modulated by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß). We hypothesized that impaired postoperative NK cell IFNγ production is due to altered signaling pathways caused by postoperative TGF-ß. NK cell receptor expression, downstream phosphorylated targets, and IFNγ production were assessed using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients undergoing cancer surgery. Healthy NK cells were incubated in the presence of healthy/baseline/postoperative day (POD) 1 plasma and in the presence/absence of a TGF-ß-blocking monoclonal antibody (mAb) or the small molecule inhibitor (smi) SB525334. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed on PBMCs from six patients with colorectal cancer having surgery at baseline/on POD1. Intracellular IFNγ, activating receptors (CD132, CD212, NKG2D, DNAM-1), and downstream target (STAT5, STAT4, p38 MAPK, S6) phosphorylation were significantly reduced on POD1. Furthermore, this dysfunction was phenocopied in healthy NK cells through incubation with rTGF-ß1 or POD1 plasma and was prevented by the addition of anti-TGF-ß immunotherapeutics (anti-TGF-ß mAb or TGF-ßR smi). Targeted gene analysis revealed significant decreases in S6 and FKBP12, an increase in Shp-2, and a reduction in NK metabolism-associated transcripts on POD1. pSmad2/3 was increased and pS6 was reduced in response to rTGF-ß1 on POD1, changes that were prevented by anti-TGF-ß immunotherapeutics. Together, these results suggest that both canonical and mTOR pathways downstream of TGF-ß mediate phenotypic changes that result in postoperative NK cell dysfunction.

A Translational Randomized Trial of Perioperative Arginine Immunonutrition on Natural Killer Cell Function in Colorectal Cancer Surgery Patients.

BACKGROUND: Surgery results in severe impairment of natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity (NKC) and activity (NKA, cytokine secretion), and a dramatic drop in arginine levels. Postoperative immunosuppression is associated with increased complications and recurrence. Perioperative arginine is reported to reduce postoperative complications. Because arginine modulates NK cell function, this study aimed to determine whether perioperative consumption of arginine-enriched supplements (AES) can improve NK cell function in colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery patients. METHODS: This study randomized 24 CRC patients to receive the AES or isocaloric/isonitrogenous control supplement three times a day for five days before and after surgery. The AES contained 4.2 g of arginine per dose (12.6 g/day). The primary objective was to determine whether AES improved NKC by 50 % compared with the control group after surgery. RESULTS: On surgery day (SD) 1, NKC was significantly reduced postoperatively in the control group by 50 % (interquartile range [IQR], 36-55 %; p = 0.02) but not in the AES group (25 % reduction; IQR, 28-75 %; p = 0.3). Furthermore, AES had no benefit in terms of NKA or NK cell number. Compliance was much greater preoperatively (>91 %) than postoperatively (<46 %). However, despite excellent preoperative compliance, arginine was rapidly cleared from the blood within 4 h after consumption and therefore, did not prevent the postoperative drop in arginine. CONCLUSIONS: Oral consumption of arginine immunonutrition resulted in a modest improvement in NKC after surgery but was unable to prevent postoperative arginine depletion or the suppression of NKA (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02987296).

Perioperative arginine prevents metastases by accelerating natural killer cell recovery after surgery.

Profound natural killer (NK) cell suppression after cancer surgery is a main driver of metastases and recurrence, for which there is no clinically approved intervention available. Surgical stress is known to cause systemic postoperative changes that negatively modulate NK cell function including the expansion of surgery-induced myeloid-derived suppressor cells (Sx-MDSCs) and a marked reduction in arginine bioavailability. In this study, we determine that Sx-MDSCs regulate systemic arginine levels in the postoperative period and that restoring arginine imbalance after surgery by dietary intake alone was sufficient to significantly reduce surgery-induced metastases in our preclinical murine models. Importantly, the effects of perioperative arginine were dependent upon NK cells. Although perioperative arginine did not prevent immediate NK cell immunoparalysis after surgery, it did accelerate their return to preoperative cytotoxicity, interferon gamma secretion, and activating receptor expression. Finally, in a cohort of patients with colorectal cancer, postoperative arginine levels were shown to correlate with their Sx-MDSC levels. Therefore, this study lends further support for the use of perioperative arginine supplementation by improving NK cell recovery after surgery.

Current challenges in the manufacture of clinical-grade autologous whole cell vaccines for hematological malignancies.

Autologous whole cell vaccines use a patient's own tumor cells as a source of antigen to elicit an anti-tumor immune response in vivo. Recently, the authors conducted a systematic review of clinical trials employing these products in hematological cancers that showed a favorable safety profile and trend toward efficacy. However, it was noted that manufacturing challenges limit both the efficacy and clinical implementation of these vaccine products. In the current literature review, the authors sought to define the issues surrounding the manufacture of autologous whole cell products for hematological cancers. The authors describe key factors, including the acquisition, culture, cryopreservation and transduction of malignant cells, that require optimization for further advancement of the field. Furthermore, the authors provide a summary of pre-clinical work that informs how the identified challenges may be overcome. The authors also highlight areas in which future basic research would be of benefit to the field. The goal of this review is to provide a roadmap for investigators seeking to advance the field of autologous cell vaccines as it applies to hematological malignancies.

Introduction of a new scheme for classifying ß-turns in protein structures.

Protein ß-turn classification remains an area of ongoing development in structural biology research. While the commonly used nomenclature defining type I, type II and type IV ß-turns was introduced in the 1970s and 1980s, refinements of ß-turn type definitions have been introduced as recently as 2019 by Dunbrack, Jr and co-workers who expanded the number of ß-turn types to 18 (Shapovalov et al, PLOS Computat. Biol., 15, e1006844, 2019). Based on their analysis of 13 030 turns from 1074 ultrahigh resolution (≤1.2 Å) protein structures, they used a new clustering algorithm to expand the definitions used to classify protein ß-turns and introduced a new nomenclature system. We recently encountered a specific problem when classifying ß-turns in crystal structures of pentapeptide repeat proteins (PRPs) determined in our lab that are largely composed of ß-turns that often lie close to, but just outside of, canonical ß-turn regions. To address this problem, we devised a new scheme that merges the Klyne-Prelog stereochemistry nomenclature and definitions with the Ramachandran plot. The resulting Klyne-Prelog-modified Ramachandran plot scheme defines 1296 distinct potential ß-turn classifications that cover all possible protein ß-turn space with a nomenclature that indicates the stereochemistry of i + 1 and i + 2 backbone dihedral angles. The utility of the new classification scheme was illustrated by re-classification of the ß-turns in all known protein structures in the PRP superfamily and further assessed using a database of 16 657 high-resolution protein structures (≤1.5 Å) from which 522 776 ß-turns were identified and classified.

Structural basis of P[II] rotavirus evolution and host ranges under selection of histo-blood group antigens.

Group A rotaviruses cause severe gastroenteritis in infants and young children worldwide, with P[II] genogroup rotaviruses (RVs) responsible for >90% of global cases. RVs have diverse host ranges in different human and animal populations determined by host histo-blood group antigen (HBGA) receptor polymorphism, but details governing diversity, host ranges, and species barriers remain elusive. In this study, crystal structures of complexes of the major P[II] genogroup P[4] and P[8] genotype RV VP8* receptor-binding domains together with Lewis epitope-containing LNDFH I glycans in combination with VP8* receptor-glycan ligand affinity measurements based on NMR titration experiments revealed the structural basis for RV genotype-specific switching between ßß and ßα HBGA receptor-binding sites that determine RV host ranges. The data support the hypothesis that P[II] RV evolution progressed from animals to humans under the selection of type 1 HBGAs guided by stepwise host synthesis of type 1 ABH and Lewis HBGAs. The results help explain disease burden, species barriers, epidemiology, and limited efficacy of current RV vaccines in developing countries. The structural data has the potential to impact the design of future vaccine strategies against RV gastroenteritis.

Intra-species sialic acid polymorphism in humans: a common niche for influenza and coronavirus pandemics?

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to more than 159 million confirmed cases with over 3.3 million deaths worldwide, but it remains mystery why most infected individuals (∼98%) were asymptomatic or only experienced mild illness. The same mystery applies to the deadly 1918 H1N1 influenza pandemic, which has puzzled the field for a century. Here we discuss dual potential properties of the 1918 H1N1 pandemic viruses that led to the high fatality rate in the small portion of severe cases, while about 98% infected persons in the United States were self-limited with mild symptoms, or even asymptomatic. These variations now have been postulated to be impacted by polymorphisms of the sialic acid receptors in the general population. Since coronaviruses (CoVs) also recognize sialic acid receptors and cause severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemics and pandemics, similar principles of influenza virus evolution and pandemicity may also apply to CoVs. A potential common principle of pathogen/host co-evolution of influenza and CoVs under selection of host sialic acids in parallel with different epidemic and pandemic influenza and coronaviruses is discussed.

Safety and efficacy of autologous whole cell vaccines in hematologic malignancies: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Autologous cell vaccines use a patient's tumor cells to stimulate a broad antitumor response in vivo. This approach shows promise for treating hematologic cancers in early phase clinical trials, but overall safety and efficacy remain poorly described. We conducted a systematic review assessing the use of autologous cell vaccination in treating hematologic cancers. Primary outcomes of interest were safety and clinical response, with secondary outcomes including survival, relapse rate, correlative immune assays and health-quality related metrics. We performed a search of MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials including any interventional trial employing an autologous, whole cell product in any hematologic malignancy. Risk of bias was assessed using a modified Institute of Health Economics tool. Across 20 single arm studies, only 341 of 592 enrolled participants received one or more vaccinations. Primary reasons for not receiving vaccination included rapid disease progression/death and manufacturing challenges. Overall, few high-grade adverse events were observed. One death was reported and attributed to a GM-CSF producing allogeneic cell line co-administered with the autologous vaccine. Of 58 evaluable patients, the complete response rate was 21.0% [95% CI, 10.4%-37.8%)] and overall response rate was 35.8% (95% CI, 24.4%-49.0%). Of 97 evaluable patients for survival, the 5-years overall survival rate was 64.9% (95% CI, 52.6%-77.2%) and disease-free survival was 59.7% (95% CI, 47.7%-71.7%). We conclude that, in hematologic malignancies, based on limited available data, autologous cell vaccines are safe and display a trend towards efficacy but that challenges exist in vaccine manufacture and administration.

NMR-based serum and urine metabolomic profile reveals suppression of mitochondrial pathways in experimental sepsis-associated acute kidney injury.

Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI) is a significant problem in the critically ill that causes increased death. Emerging understanding of this disease implicates metabolic dysfunction in its pathophysiology. This study sought to identify specific metabolic pathways amenable to potential therapeutic intervention. Using a murine model of sepsis, blood and tissue samples were collected for assessment of systemic inflammation, kidney function, and renal injury. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics quantified dozens of metabolites in serum and urine that were subsequently submitted to pathway analysis. Kidney tissue gene expression analysis confirmed the implicated pathways. Septic mice had elevated circulating levels of inflammatory cytokines and increased levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, indicating both systemic inflammation and poor kidney function. Renal tissue showed only mild histological evidence of injury in sepsis. NMR metabolomic analysis identified the involvement of mitochondrial pathways associated with branched-chain amino acid metabolism, fatty acid oxidation, and de novo NAD+ biosynthesis in SA-AKI. Renal cortical gene expression of enzymes associated with those pathways was predominantly suppressed. Renal cortical fatty acid oxidation rates were lower in septic mice with high inflammation, and this correlated with higher serum creatinine levels. Similar to humans, septic mice demonstrated renal dysfunction without significant tissue disruption, pointing to metabolic derangement as an important contributor to SA-AKI pathophysiology. Metabolism of branched-chain amino acid and fatty acids and NAD+ synthesis, which all center on mitochondrial function, appeared to be suppressed. Developing interventions to activate these pathways may provide new therapeutic opportunities for SA-AKI.NEW & NOTEWORTHY NMR-based metabolomics revealed disruptions in branched-chain amino acid metabolism, fatty acid oxidation, and NAD+ synthesis in sepsis-associated acute kidney injury. These pathways represent essential processes for energy provision in renal tubular epithelial cells and may represent targetable mechanisms for therapeutic intervention.

Current Understanding of the Structure and Function of Pentapeptide Repeat Proteins.

The pentapeptide repeat protein (PRP) superfamily, identified in 1998, has grown to nearly 39,000 sequences from over 3300 species. PRPs, recognized as having at least eight contiguous pentapeptide repeats (PRs) of a consensus pentapeptide sequence, adopt a remarkable structure, namely, a right-handed quadrilateral ß-helix with four consecutive PRs forming a single ß-helix coil. Adjacent coils join together to form a ß-helix "tower" stabilized by ß-ladders on the tower faces and type I, type II, or type IV ß-turns facilitating an approximately -90° redirection of the polypeptide chain joining one coil face to the next. PRPs have been found in all branches of life, but they are predominantly found in cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria have existed on earth for more than two billion years and are thought to be responsible for oxygenation of the earth's atmosphere. Filamentous cyanobacteria such as Nostoc sp. strain PCC 7120 may also represent the oldest and simplest multicellular organisms known to undergo cell differentiation on earth. Knowledge of the biochemical function of these PRPs is essential to understanding how ancient cyanobacteria achieved functions critical to early development of life on earth. PRPs are predicted to exist in all cyanobacteria compartments including thylakoid and cell-wall membranes, cytoplasm, and thylakoid periplasmic space. Despite their intriguing structure and importance to understanding ancient cyanobacteria, the biochemical functions of PRPs in cyanobacteria remain almost completely unknown. The precise biochemical function of only a handful of PRPs is currently known from any organisms, and three-dimensional structures of only sixteen PRPs or PRP-containing multidomain proteins from any organism have been reported. In this review, the current knowledge of the structures and functions of PRPs is presented and discussed.

Adjuvant melatonin for the prevention of recurrence and mortality following lung cancer resection (AMPLCaRe): A randomized placebo controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Despite curative intent resection in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), recurrence leading to mortality remains too common. Melatonin has shown promise for the treatment of patients with lung cancer; however, its effect following cancer resection has not been studied. We evaluated if melatonin taken after complete resection reduces lung cancer recurrence and mortality, or impacts quality of life (QOL), symptomatology or immune function. METHODS: Participants received melatonin (20 mg) or placebo nightly for one year following surgical resection of primary NSCLC. The primary outcome was two-year disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary outcomes included five-year DFS, adverse events, QOL, fatigue, sleep, depression, anxiety, pain, and biomarkers assessing for immune function/inflammation. This study is registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov NCT00668707. FINDINGS: 709 patients across eight centres were randomized to melatonin (n = 356) versus placebo (n = 353). At two years, melatonin showed a relative risk of 1·01 (95% CI 0·83-1·22), p = 0·94 for DFS. At five years, melatonin showed a hazard ratio of 0·97 (95% CI 0·86-1·09), p = 0·84 for DFS. When stratified by cancer stage (I/II and III/IV), a hazard reduction of 25% (HR 0·75, 95% CI 0·61-0·92, p = 0·005) in five-year DFS was seen for participants in the treatment arm with advanced cancer (stage III/IV). No meaningful differences were seen in any other outcomes. INTERPRETATION: Adjuvant melatonin following resection of NSCLC does not affect DFS for patients with resected early stage NSCLC, yet may increase DFS in patients with late stage disease. Further study is needed to confirm this positive result. No beneficial effects were seen in QOL, symptoms, or immune function. FUNDING: This study was funded by the Lotte and John Hecht Memorial Foundation and the Gateway for Cancer Research Foundation.

A Method of Assessment of Human Natural Killer Cell Phenotype and Function in Whole Blood.

The majority of data on human Natural Killer (NK) cell phenotype and function has been generated using cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). However, cryopreservation can have adverse effects on PBMCs. In contrast, investigating immune cells in whole blood can reduce the time, volume of blood required, and potential artefacts associated with manipulation of the cells. Whole blood collected from healthy donors and cancer patients was processed by three separate protocols that can be used independently or in parallel to assess extracellular receptors, intracellular signaling protein phosphorylation, and intracellular and extracellular cytokine production in human NK cells. To assess extracellular receptor expression, 200 µL of whole blood was incubated with an extracellular staining (ECS) mix and cells were subsequently fixed and RBCs lysed prior to analysis. The phosphorylation status of signaling proteins was assessed in 500 µL of whole blood following co-incubation with interleukin (IL)-2/12 and an ECS mix for 20 min prior to cell fixation, RBC lysis, and subsequent permeabilization for staining with an intracellular staining (ICS) mix. Cytokine production (IFNγ) was similarly assessed by incubating 1 mL of whole blood with PMA-ionomycin or IL-2/12 prior to incubation with ECS and subsequent ICS antibodies. In addition, plasma was collected from stimulated samples prior to ECS for quantification of secreted IFNγ by ELISA. Results were consistent, despite inherent inter-patient variability. Although we did not investigate an exhaustive list of targets, this approach enabled quantification of representative ECS surface markers including activating (NKG2D and DNAM-1) and inhibitory (NKG2A, PD-1, TIGIT, and TIM-3) receptors, cytokine receptors (CD25, CD122, CD132, and CD212) and ICS markers associated with NK cell activation following stimulation, including signaling protein phosphorylation (p-STAT4, p-STAT5, p-p38 MAPK, p-S6) and IFNγ in both healthy donors and cancer patients. In addition, we compared extracellular receptor expression using whole blood vs. cryopreserved PBMCs and observed a significant difference in the expression of almost all receptors. The methods presented permit a relatively rapid parallel assessment of immune cell receptor expression, signaling protein activity, and cytokine production in a minimal volume of whole blood from both healthy donors and cancer patients.

Safety and efficacy of autologous tumour cell vaccines as a cancer therapeutic to treat solid tumours and haematological malignancies: a meta-analysis protocol for two systematic reviews.

INTRODUCTION: Autologous cancer cell vaccines are promising personalised immunotherapeutic options for solid and haematological malignancies that uses the patient's own cells to arm an immune response. Evidence suggests that among patients receiving these vaccines, those who mount an immune response against their own tumour cells have better prognosis, and a myriad of preclinical studies have demonstrated the same. Recently, two autologous cell vaccines Vigil and OncoVAX have made it to phase III clinical trials. Here, we outline a protocol to be used for two separate systematic reviews using a parallel approach for inclusion criteria, data extraction and analysis for autologous cell vaccines in (1) solid and (2) haematological malignancies. We aim to review evidence from controlled and uncontrolled interventional studies of autologous cell vaccines administered to patients with cancer to determine their historical efficacy (with or without associated adjuvants or modifications) with clinical response rates and safety outcomes being of particular importance. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will search MEDLINE (OVID interface, including In-Process and Epub Ahead of Print), Embase (OVID interface) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Wiley interface) for articles published from 1947 until 30 July 2018 (date search was performed). Studies will be screened first by title and abstract, then by full-text in duplicate. Interventional trials that report the use of an autologous cell vaccine to patients with cancer of any age will be included. The primary outcomes of interest in this review are clinical response (complete or overall/objective response) and safety outcomes (adverse events). Secondary outcomes include immune response, disease-free survival and overall survival. The risk of bias within studies will be assessed using the appropriate Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. If appropriate, a random effects meta-analysis will be performed to synthesise the data and report summary estimates of effect. Statistical heterogeneity will be assessed using the I2 statistic. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval is not required for this systematic review protocol as the review will solely use published literature. Results will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals for publication and presented to relevant stakeholders and scientific meetings. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42019140187.

Structural dynamics of pentapeptide repeat proteins.

Pentapeptide repeat proteins (PRPs) represent a large superfamily with more than 38 000 sequences in nearly 3500 species, the majority belonging to cyanobacteria but represented among all branches of life. PRPs contain at least eight consecutive pentapeptide repeats with the consensus (A/C/S/V/T/L/I)(D/N/S/K/E/I/R)(L/F)(S/T/R/E/Q/K/V/D)(G/D/E/N/R/Q/K). PRPs fold into right-handed quadrilateral ß helices, also known as repeat-five-residue (Rfr)-folds, with four consecutive pentapeptide repeats comprising a single coil, the ~90° change in polypeptide direction in square-shaped coils achieved by type I, II and IV ß turns, and hydrogen bonds between coils establishing ß ladders on each Rfr-fold face. PRPs are broadly categorized into group 1 and 2 involved in antibiotic resistance and group 3 currently having unknown functions. Motivated by their intriguing structures, we are investigating PRP biophysical characteristics, including Rfr-fold thermal stability, ß turn and ß ladder hydrogen bond amide exchange rates and backbone dynamics. Here, we present analysis of 20 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and all atom normal mode analysis (aaNMA) calculations for four group 1 and group 2 and four group 3 PRPs whose structures have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The MD cross-correlation matrices and aaNMA indicated strong correlated motion between adjacent coils and weak coupled motion between coils separated by one or more intervening coils. Slow anticorrelated motions were detected between adjacent coils in aaNMA modes that we hypothesize are requisite to access exchange-competent states necessary to permit solvent exchange of amide hydrogens involved in ß-ladder and ß-turns hydrogen bonds, which can have lifetimes on the order of months.