RESUMEN
Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) are effective in treating COVID-19, but the mechanism of immune protection is not fully understood. Here, we applied live bioluminescence imaging (BLI) to monitor the real-time effects of NAb treatment during prophylaxis and therapy of K18-hACE2 mice intranasally infected with SARS-CoV-2-nanoluciferase. Real-time imaging revealed that the virus spread sequentially from the nasal cavity to the lungs in mice and thereafter systemically to various organs including the brain, culminating in death. Highly potent NAbs from a COVID-19 convalescent subject prevented, and also effectively resolved, established infection when administered within three days. In addition to direct neutralization, depletion studies indicated that Fc effector interactions of NAbs with monocytes, neutrophils, and natural killer cells were required to effectively dampen inflammatory responses and limit immunopathology. Our study highlights that both Fab and Fc effector functions of NAbs are essential for optimal in vivo efficacy against SARS-CoV-2.
Asunto(s)
Anticuerpos Neutralizantes/metabolismo , Anticuerpos Antivirales/metabolismo , Encéfalo/patología , COVID-19/inmunología , Pulmón/patología , SARS-CoV-2/fisiología , Testículo/patología , Enzima Convertidora de Angiotensina 2/genética , Animales , Anticuerpos Neutralizantes/genética , Anticuerpos Antivirales/genética , Encéfalo/virología , COVID-19/terapia , Células Cultivadas , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Humanos , Fragmentos Fc de Inmunoglobulinas/genética , Luciferasas/genética , Mediciones Luminiscentes , Pulmón/virología , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Transgénicos , Testículo/virologíaRESUMEN
Along with rapid development of sulfate radicals-based advanced oxidation process, efficient, alternatively eco-friendly and cost-effective catalyst is of uppermost priority. However, expensive chemicals are used as source of metal in most of these catalysts, and lose sight of the abundant natural mineral resources on immediate surroundings. In this work, montmorillonite and hematite, two of abundantly natural minerals were utilized to prepare a persulfate catalyst (TMH@M) for sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation. The results indicated more than 91% of SMX was removed within 60 min in TMH@M/PS system. The degradation efficiency of SMX of TMH@M/PS combined system was impacted by SMX concentration, PS dosage and natural organic matters, and can remain stable in a certain concentration of HA/chelating agent and a wide pH range (3.01-9.06). Radical scavenging and EPR tests demonstrated 1O2, OH, and SO4- were major reactive oxygen species in the TMH@M/PS system, while the latter seems more important for degradation of SMX. The results of SEM-EDS, XRD and XPS conformed that low valence iron species (Fe0, Fe2+ and Fe3O4) on TMH@M surface are the main driving force behind PS activation to generate reactive species. Furthermore, the iron species on TMH@M surface were transformed during reaction, that in favor of mitigating metal leaching. This work presented a method based on ubiquitous natural minerals to prepare catalyst with excellent PS activate performance for organic wastewater treatment implying a new strategy in minerals utilization deeply and a promisingly alternative process for organic wastewater treatment based on mineral materials.
Asunto(s)
Sulfametoxazol , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua , Bentonita , Compuestos Férricos , Cinética , Oxidación-Reducción , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/análisisRESUMEN
The bacterial enzyme MenD, or 2-succinyl-5-enolpyruvyl-6-hydroxy-3-cyclohexene-1-carboxylate (SEPHCHC) synthase, catalyzes an essential Stetter reaction in menaquinone (vitamin K2) biosynthesis via thiamine diphosphate (ThDP)-bound tetrahedral post-decarboxylation intermediates. The detailed mechanism of this intermediate chemistry, however, is still poorly understood, but of significant interest given that menaquinone is an essential electron transporter in many pathogenic bacteria. Here, we used site-directed mutagenesis, enzyme kinetic assays, and protein crystallography to reveal an active-inactive intermediate equilibrium in MenD catalysis and its modulation by two conserved active site arginine residues. We observed that these conserved residues play a key role in shifting the equilibrium to the active intermediate by orienting the C2-succinyl group of the intermediates through strong ionic hydrogen bonding. We found that when this interaction is moderately weakened by amino acid substitutions, the resulting proteins are catalytically competent with the C2-succinyl group taking either the active or the inactive orientation in the post-decarboxylation intermediate. When this hydrogen-bonding interaction was strongly weakened, the succinyl group was re-oriented by 180° relative to the native intermediate, resulting in the reversal of the stereochemistry at the reaction center that disabled catalysis. Interestingly, this inactive intermediate was formed with a distinct kinetic behavior, likely as a result of a non-native mode of enzyme-substrate interaction. The mechanistic insights gained from these findings improve our understanding of the new ThDP-dependent catalysis. More importantly, the non-native-binding site of the inactive MenD intermediate uncovered here provides a new target for the development of antibiotics.
Asunto(s)
Arginina/genética , Dominio Catalítico , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/genética , Piruvato Oxidasa/genética , Vitamina K 2/metabolismo , Arginina/química , Arginina/metabolismo , Biocatálisis , Cristalografía por Rayos X , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/química , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/metabolismo , Cinética , Simulación del Acoplamiento Molecular , Mutagénesis Sitio-Dirigida , Mutación Missense , Unión Proteica , Conformación Proteica , Piruvato Oxidasa/química , Piruvato Oxidasa/metabolismo , Especificidad por Sustrato , Tiamina/metabolismo , Tiamina Pirofosfato/metabolismoRESUMEN
o-Succinylbenzoyl-CoA (OSB-CoA) synthetase (MenE) is an essential enzyme in bacterial vitamin K biosynthesis and an important target in the development of new antibiotics. It is a member of the adenylating enzymes (ANL) family, which reconfigure their active site in two different active conformations, one for the adenylation half-reaction and the other for a thioesterification half-reaction, in a domain-alternation catalytic mechanism. Although several aspects of the adenylating mechanism in MenE have recently been uncovered, its thioesterification conformation remains elusive. Here, using a catalytically competent Bacillus subtilis mutant protein complexed with an OSB-CoA analogue, we determined MenE high-resolution structures to 1.76 and 1.90 Å resolution in a thioester-forming conformation. By comparison with the adenylation conformation, we found that MenE's C-domain rotates around the Ser-384 hinge by 139.5° during domain-alternation catalysis. The structures also revealed a thioesterification active site specifically conserved among MenE orthologues and a substrate-binding mode distinct from those of many other acyl/aryl-CoA synthetases. Of note, using site-directed mutagenesis, we identified several residues that specifically contribute to the thioesterification half-reaction without affecting the adenylation half-reaction. Moreover, we observed a substantial movement of the activated succinyl group in the thioesterification half-reaction. These findings provide new insights into the domain-alternation catalysis of a bacterial enzyme essential for vitamin K biosynthesis and of its adenylating homologues in the ANL enzyme family.
Asunto(s)
Acilcoenzima A/metabolismo , Adenosina Monofosfato/metabolismo , Bacillus subtilis/enzimología , Proteínas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Modelos Moleculares , Procesamiento Proteico-Postraduccional , Succinato-CoA Ligasas/metabolismo , Acilcoenzima A/química , Adenosina Monofosfato/química , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Sustitución de Aminoácidos , Proteínas Bacterianas/química , Dominio Catalítico , Secuencia Conservada , Cristalografía por Rayos X , Dimerización , Esterificación , Ligandos , Mutagénesis Sitio-Dirigida , Mutación Puntual , Conformación Proteica , Pliegue de Proteína , Proteínas Recombinantes/química , Proteínas Recombinantes/metabolismo , Alineación de Secuencia , Homología Estructural de Proteína , Succinato-CoA Ligasas/química , Succinato-CoA Ligasas/genéticaRESUMEN
o-Succinylbenzoyl-CoA (OSB-CoA) synthetase, or MenE, catalyzes an essential step in vitamin K biosynthesis and is a valuable drug target. Like many other adenylating enzymes, it changes its structure to accommodate substrate binding, catalysis, and product release along the path of a domain alternation catalytic mechanism. We have determined the crystal structure of its complex with the adenylation product, o-succinylbenzoyl-adenosine monophosphate (OSB-AMP), and captured a new postadenylation state. This structure presents unique features such as a strained conformation for the bound adenylate intermediate to indicate that it represents the enzyme state after completion of the adenylation reaction but before release of the C domain in its transition to the thioesterification conformation. By comparison to the ATP-bound preadenylation conformation, structural changes are identified in both the reactants and the active site to allow inference about how these changes accommodate and facilitate the adenylation reaction and to directly support an in-line backside attack nucleophilic substitution mechanism for the first half-reaction. Mutational analysis suggests that the conserved His196 plays an important role in desolvation of the active site rather than stabilizing the transition state of the adenylation reaction. In addition, comparison of the new structure with a previously determined OSB-AMP-bound structure of the same enzyme allows us to propose a release mechanism of the C domain in its alteration to form the thioesterification conformation. These findings allow us to better understand the domain alternation catalytic mechanism of MenE as well as many other adenylating enzymes.
Asunto(s)
Adenosina Monofosfato/metabolismo , Bacillus subtilis/enzimología , Proteínas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Succinato-CoA Ligasas/metabolismo , Adenosina Monofosfato/química , Adenosina Trifosfato/química , Adenosina Trifosfato/metabolismo , Proteínas Bacterianas/química , Proteínas Bacterianas/genética , Biocatálisis , Dominio Catalítico , Cristalografía por Rayos X , Histidina/química , Histidina/genética , Histidina/metabolismo , Cinética , Modelos Químicos , Modelos Moleculares , Estructura Molecular , Mutación , Unión Proteica , Conformación Proteica , Dominios Proteicos , Especificidad por Sustrato , Succinato-CoA Ligasas/química , Succinato-CoA Ligasas/genéticaRESUMEN
Pimeloyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) methyl esterase is an α/ß-hydrolase that catalyzes the last biosynthetic step of pimeloyl-ACP, a key intermediate in biotin biosynthesis. Intriguingly, multiple nonhomologous isofunctional forms of this enzyme that lack significant sequence identity are present in diverse bacteria. One such esterase, Escherichia coli BioH, has been shown to be a typical α/ß-hydrolase fold enzyme. To gain further insights into the role of this step in biotin biosynthesis, we have determined the crystal structure of another widely distributed pimeloyl-ACP methyl esterase, Haemophilus influenzae BioG, at 1.26 Å. The BioG structure is similar to the BioH structure and is composed of an α-helical lid domain and a core domain that contains a central seven-stranded ß-pleated sheet. However, four of the six α-helices that flank both sides of the BioH core ß-sheet are replaced with long loops in BioG, thus forming an unusual α/ß-hydrolase fold. This structural variation results in a significantly decreased thermal stability of the enzyme. Nevertheless, the lid domain and the residues at the lid-core interface are well conserved between BioH and BioG, in which an analogous hydrophobic pocket for pimelate binding as well as similar ionic interactions with the ACP moiety are retained. Biochemical characterization of site-directed mutants of the residues hypothesized to interact with the ACP moiety supports a similar substrate interaction mode for the two enzymes. Consequently, these enzymes package the identical catalytic function under a considerably different protein surface.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Esterasas/metabolismo , Haemophilus influenzae/enzimología , Hidrolasas/metabolismo , Proteína Transportadora de Acilo/química , Proteína Transportadora de Acilo/metabolismo , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Proteínas Bacterianas/química , Proteínas Bacterianas/genética , Vías Biosintéticas/genética , Biotina/biosíntesis , Biotina/química , Dicroismo Circular , Cristalografía por Rayos X , Electroforesis en Gel de Poliacrilamida , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/química , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/genética , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/metabolismo , Esterasas/química , Esterasas/genética , Haemophilus influenzae/genética , Haemophilus influenzae/metabolismo , Hidrolasas/química , Hidrolasas/genética , Modelos Moleculares , Estructura Molecular , Mutación , Ácidos Pimélicos/química , Ácidos Pimélicos/metabolismo , Dominios Proteicos , Pliegue de Proteína , Estructura Secundaria de Proteína , Homología de Secuencia de AminoácidoRESUMEN
o-Succinylbenzoyl-CoA synthetase, or MenE, is an essential adenylate-forming enzyme targeted for development of novel antibiotics in the menaquinone biosynthesis. Using its crystal structures in a ligand-free form or in complex with nucleotides, a conserved pattern is identified in the interaction between ATP and adenylating enzymes, including acyl/aryl-CoA synthetases, adenylation domains of nonribosomal peptide synthetases, and luciferases. It involves tight gripping interactions of the phosphate-binding loop (P-loop) with the ATP triphosphate moiety and an open-closed conformational change to form a compact adenylation active site. In MenE catalysis, this ATP-enzyme interaction creates a new binding site for the carboxylate substrate, allowing revelation of the determinants of substrate specificities and in-line alignment of the two substrates for backside nucleophilic substitution reaction by molecular modeling. In addition, the ATP-enzyme interaction is suggested to play a crucial catalytic role by mutation of the P-loop residues hydrogen-bonded to ATP. Moreover, the ATP-enzyme interaction has also clarified the positioning and catalytic role of a conserved lysine residue in stabilization of the transition state. These findings provide new insights into the adenylation half-reaction in the domain alteration catalytic mechanism of the adenylate-forming enzymes.
Asunto(s)
Adenosina Trifosfato/química , Bacillus subtilis/enzimología , Modelos Moleculares , Succinato-CoA Ligasas/química , Bacillus subtilis/genética , Catálisis , Dominio Catalítico , Estructura Secundaria de Proteína , Especificidad por Sustrato , Succinato-CoA Ligasas/genéticaRESUMEN
Enamine is a well-known reactive intermediate mediating essential thiamine-dependent catalysis in central metabolic pathways. However, this intermediate is not found in the thiamine-dependent catalysis of the vitamin K biosynthetic enzyme MenD. Instead, an active tetrahedral post-decarboxylation intermediate is stably formed in the enzyme and was structurally determined at 1.34 Å resolution in crystal. This intermediate takes a unique conformation that allows only one proton between its tetrahedral reaction center and the exo-ring nitrogen atom of the aminopyrimidine moiety in the cofactor with a short distance of 3.0 Å. It is readily convertible to the final product of the enzymic reaction with a solvent-exchangeable proton at its reaction center. These results show that the thiamine-dependent enzyme utilizes a tetrahedral intermediate in a mechanism distinct from the enamine catalytic chemistry.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas de Escherichia coli/química , Piruvato Oxidasa/química , Tiamina Pirofosfato/química , Tiamina/química , Vitamina K/biosíntesis , Catálisis , Descarboxilación , Modelos Moleculares , Conformación ProteicaRESUMEN
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein binds the receptor angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and drives virus-host membrane fusion through refolding of its S2 domain. Whereas the S1 domain contains high sequence variability, the S2 domain is conserved and is a promising pan-betacoronavirus vaccine target. We applied cryo-electron tomography to capture intermediates of S2 refolding and understand inhibition by antibodies to the S2 stem-helix. Subtomogram averaging revealed ACE2 dimers cross-linking spikes before transitioning into S2 intermediates, which were captured at various stages of refolding. Pan-betacoronavirus neutralizing antibodies targeting the S2 stem-helix bound to and inhibited refolding of spike prehairpin intermediates. Combined with molecular dynamics simulations, these structures elucidate the process of SARS-CoV-2 entry and reveal how pan-betacoronavirus S2-targeting antibodies neutralize infectivity by arresting prehairpin intermediates.
Asunto(s)
Enzima Convertidora de Angiotensina 2 , Anticuerpos Neutralizantes , Anticuerpos Antivirales , Microscopía por Crioelectrón , Simulación de Dinámica Molecular , Dominios Proteicos , SARS-CoV-2 , Glicoproteína de la Espiga del Coronavirus , Glicoproteína de la Espiga del Coronavirus/química , Glicoproteína de la Espiga del Coronavirus/metabolismo , Glicoproteína de la Espiga del Coronavirus/inmunología , Glicoproteína de la Espiga del Coronavirus/genética , SARS-CoV-2/inmunología , SARS-CoV-2/genética , Enzima Convertidora de Angiotensina 2/metabolismo , Enzima Convertidora de Angiotensina 2/química , Humanos , Anticuerpos Neutralizantes/inmunología , Anticuerpos Neutralizantes/química , Anticuerpos Antivirales/inmunología , Anticuerpos Antivirales/química , Internalización del Virus , Replegamiento Proteico , Tomografía con Microscopio Electrónico , Multimerización de Proteína , Betacoronavirus/inmunología , Betacoronavirus/química , Membrana Celular/metabolismo , COVID-19/virología , COVID-19/inmunología , Peptidil-Dipeptidasa A/química , Peptidil-Dipeptidasa A/metabolismoRESUMEN
SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the COVID-19 pandemic, has changed over time to the extent that the current virus is substantially different from what originally led to the pandemic in 2019-2020. Viral variants have modified the severity and transmissibility of the disease and continue do so. How much of this change is due to viral fitness versus a response to immune pressure is hard to define. One class of antibodies that continues to afford some level of protection from emerging variants are those that closely overlap the binding site for angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on the receptor binding domain (RBD). Some members of this class that were identified early in the course of the pandemic arose from the VH 3-53 germline gene (IGHV3-53*01) and had short heavy chain complementarity-determining region 3s (CDR H3s). Here, we describe the molecular basis of the SARS-CoV-2 RBD recognition by the anti-RBD monoclonal antibody CoV11 isolated early in the COVID-19 pandemic and show how its unique mode of binding the RBD determines its neutralization breadth. CoV11 utilizes a heavy chain VH 3-53 and a light chain VK 3-20 germline sequence to bind to the RBD. Two of CoV11's four heavy chain changes from the VH 3-53 germline sequence, ThrFWR H128 to Ile and SerCDR H131 to Arg, and some unique features in its CDR H3 increase its affinity to the RBD, while the four light chain changes from the VK 3-20 germline sequence sit outside of the RBD binding site. Antibodies of this type can retain significant affinity and neutralization potency against variants of concern (VOCs) that have diverged significantly from original virus lineage such as the prevalent omicron variant. We also discuss the mechanism by which VH 3-53 encoded antibodies recognize spike antigen and show how minimal changes to their sequence, their choice of light chain, and their mode of binding influence their affinity and impact their neutralization breadth.
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Antígenos de Grupos Sanguíneos , COVID-19 , Humanos , Pandemias , SARS-CoV-2 , Familia de Multigenes , AnticuerposRESUMEN
The HIV-1 entry inhibitor temsavir prevents the viral receptor CD4 (cluster of differentiation 4) from interacting with the envelope glycoprotein (Env) and blocks its conformational changes. To do this, temsavir relies on the presence of a residue with small side chain at position 375 in Env and is unable to neutralize viral strains like CRF01_AE carrying His375. Here we investigate the mechanism of temsavir resistance and show that residue 375 is not the sole determinant of resistance. At least six additional residues within the gp120 inner domain layers, including five distant from the drug-binding pocket, contribute to resistance. A detailed structure-function analysis using engineered viruses and soluble trimer variants reveals that the molecular basis of resistance is mediated by crosstalk between His375 and the inner domain layers. Furthermore, our data confirm that temsavir can adjust its binding mode to accommodate changes in Env conformation, a property that likely contributes to its broad antiviral activity.
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Fármacos Anti-VIH , Inhibidores de Fusión de VIH , Infecciones por VIH , VIH-1 , Humanos , VIH-1/fisiología , Fármacos Anti-VIH/uso terapéutico , Proteína gp120 de Envoltorio del VIH/genéticaRESUMEN
The HIV-1 entry inhibitor temsavir prevents CD4 from interacting with the envelope glycoprotein (Env) and blocks its conformational changes. To do this temsavir relies on the presence of a residue with small side chain at position 375 in Env and is unable to neutralize viral strains like CRF01_AE carrying His375. Here we investigate the mechanism of temsavir-resistance and show that residue 375 is not the sole determinant of resistance. At least six additional residues within the gp120 inner domain layers, including five distant from the drug-binding pocket, contribute to resistance. A detailed structure-function analysis using engineered viruses and soluble trimer variants reveal that the molecular basis of resistance is mediated by crosstalk between His375 and the inner domain layers. Furthermore, our data confirm that temsavir can adjust its binding mode to accommodate changes in Env conformation, a property that likely contributes to its broad-antiviral activity.
RESUMEN
Bile salt hydrolase (BSH) in Bacteroides is considered a potential drug target for obesity-related metabolic diseases, but its involvement in colon tumorigenesis has not been explored. BSH-expressing Bacteroides is found at high abundance in the stools of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with overweight and in the feces of a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced CRC mouse model. Colonization of B. fragilis 638R, a strain with low BSH activity, overexpressing a recombinant bsh gene from B. fragilis NCTC9343 strain, results in increased unconjugated bile acids in the colon and accelerated progression of CRC under HFD treatment. In the presence of high BSH activity, the resultant elevation of unconjugated deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid activates the G-protein-coupled bile acid receptor, resulting in increased ß-catenin-regulated chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 28 (CCL28) expression in colon tumors. Activation of the ß-catenin/CCL28 axis leads to elevated intra-tumoral immunosuppressive CD25+FOXP3+ Treg cells. Blockade of the ß-catenin/CCL28 axis releases the immunosuppression to enhance the intra-tumoral anti-tumor response, which decreases CRC progression under HFD treatment. Pharmacological inhibition of BSH reduces HFD-accelerated CRC progression, coincident with suppression of the ß-catenin/CCL28 pathway. These findings provide insights into the pro-carcinogenetic role of Bacteroides in obesity-related CRC progression and characterize BSH as a potential target for CRC prevention and treatment.
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Neoplasias del Colon , Neoplasias Colorrectales , Animales , Ratones , Bacteroides/genética , Bacteroides/metabolismo , beta Catenina/metabolismo , Amidohidrolasas/genética , Carcinogénesis , Obesidad/complicaciones , Ácidos y Sales Biliares , Neoplasias Colorrectales/patologíaRESUMEN
Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) hold great promise for clinical interventions against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs). Understanding NAb epitope-dependent antiviral mechanisms is crucial for developing vaccines and therapeutics against VOCs. Here we characterized two potent NAbs, EH3 and EH8, isolated from an unvaccinated pediatric patient with exceptional plasma neutralization activity. EH3 and EH8 cross-neutralize the early VOCs and mediate strong Fc-dependent effector activity in vitro. Structural analyses of EH3 and EH8 in complex with the receptor-binding domain (RBD) revealed the molecular determinants of the epitope-driven protection and VOC evasion. While EH3 represents the prevalent IGHV3-53 NAb whose epitope substantially overlaps with the ACE2 binding site, EH8 recognizes a narrow epitope exposed in both RBD-up and RBD-down conformations. When tested in vivo, a single-dose prophylactic administration of EH3 fully protected stringent K18-hACE2 mice from lethal challenge with Delta VOC. Our study demonstrates that protective NAbs responses converge in pediatric and adult SARS-CoV-2 patients.
RESUMEN
A few studies reported the impact of mineral conductivity properties on contaminant-mineral-microbe interactions and microbial community structure changes in the interaction process. To fill the gap, conductive minerals (magnetite/hematite) and an insulative mineral (quartz) were introduced into Cr(VI) reduction systems to investigate the effect of mineral conductivity properties on Cr(VI) removal. Results showed that conductive minerals enhanced Cr(VI) reduction rate as compared to insulative minerals. Higher reduction percentage (>86%) was observed when both ERB (extracellular respiratory bacteria) and conductive minerals were presence than those with only minerals (<10%) or ERB (<55%), indicating a synergistic effect existed in this bio-remediation system. Moreover, surface elements detection manifested higher Fe-containing groups and Fe(III)-Cr(III) complexes covered on conductive minerals surface when ERB was present. Electrochemical data suggested that ERB facilitated the activity of electron transference on the surface of conductive minerals. Our results indicated that conductive minerals did act as an "electron shuttle" while insulative minerals increased adsorption sites to accelerate Cr(VI) reduction. 16S rRNA sequences results demonstrated that conductive minerals changed the microbial community structure and increased the diversity of the functional microbes including Pseudomonas spp. and Exiguobacterium spp. This work is of deep significance for better understanding the process of elements biogeochemical and elimination of pollutants.
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Cromo , Compuestos Férricos , Anaerobiosis , Oxidación-Reducción , ARN Ribosómico 16S/genéticaRESUMEN
Pyrite was applied to Cr(VI) bioremediation as an inorganic electron donor due to the ability to provide electrons, while the role of pyrite in Cr(VI) bioremediation where organics as electron donors remains unknown. Herein a pyrite-based Cr(VI) bioreduction process in the sediment system containing lactate was demonstrated to be effective to detoxify Cr(VI): over 2200 mg L-1 Cr(VI) was continuously removed within 210 h with high reactivity (10.5 mg/(L·h)) all along. High-throughput 16S rDNA gene sequencing indicated that the pyrite could shape a functioning community that electrochemically active bacteria dominated (such as Fusibacter sp. and Rhodobacteraceae) instead of iron-oxidizing bacteria and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. Mineralogy analysis results indicated that Fe(III), S22- and S0 formed on the pyrite surface after the oxidation of Cr(VI) might serve as the electron acceptor of microflora, then the S2- and Fe(II) with strong Cr(VI) reduction ability were formed by microbial reduction to enhance the removal of Cr(VI). This study provides new insights into thoroughly understanding the role of pyrite in the practical application of Cr(VI) bioreduction.
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Compuestos Férricos , Hierro , Bacterias/genética , Cromo , ADN Ribosómico , Compuestos Ferrosos , Lactatos , Sustancias Reductoras , Sulfuros , AzufreRESUMEN
There remains an unmet need for globally deployable, low-cost therapeutics for the ongoing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. Previously, we reported on the isolation and in vitro characterization of a potent single-domain nanobody, NIH-CoVnb-112, specific for the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2. Here, we report on the molecular basis for the observed broad in vitro neutralization capability of NIH-CoVnb-112 against variant SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses. The structure of NIH-CoVnb-112 bound to SARS-CoV-2 RBD reveals a large contact surface area overlapping the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding site, which is largely unencumbered by the common RBD mutations. In an in vivo pilot study, we demonstrate effective reductions in weight loss, viral burden, and lung pathology in a Syrian hamster model of COVID-19 following nebulized delivery of NIH-CoVnb-112. These findings support the further development of NIH-CoVnb-112 as a potential adjunct preventative therapeutic for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.Abbreviations: ACE2 - angiotensin converting enzyme 2BSA - buried surface areaCDR - complementary determining regionRBD - receptor binding domainRBM - receptor-binding motifSARS-CoV-2 - severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
Asunto(s)
Anticuerpos Antivirales/metabolismo , Anticuerpos ampliamente neutralizantes/metabolismo , COVID-19/inmunología , Pulmón/patología , SARS-CoV-2/fisiología , Anticuerpos de Dominio Único/metabolismo , Enzima Convertidora de Angiotensina 2/genética , Enzima Convertidora de Angiotensina 2/metabolismo , Animales , Anticuerpos Antivirales/inmunología , Sitios de Unión/genética , Anticuerpos ampliamente neutralizantes/inmunología , Cricetinae , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Humanos , Mesocricetus , Nebulizadores y Vaporizadores , Unión Proteica , Anticuerpos de Dominio Único/inmunología , Glicoproteína de la Espiga del Coronavirus/inmunología , Carga ViralRESUMEN
SARS-CoV-2 continues to infect millions of people worldwide. The subvariants arising from the variant-of-concern (VOC) Omicron include BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2, BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5. All possess multiple mutations in their Spike glycoprotein, notably in its immunogenic receptor-binding domain (RBD), and present enhanced viral transmission. The highly mutated Spike glycoproteins from these subvariants present different degrees of resistance to recognition and cross-neutralisation by plasma from previously infected and/or vaccinated individuals. We have recently shown that the temperature affects the interaction between the Spike and its receptor, the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The affinity of RBD for ACE2 is significantly increased at lower temperatures. However, whether this is also observed with the Spike of Omicron and sub-lineages is not known. Here we show that, similar to other variants, Spikes from Omicron sub-lineages bind better the ACE2 receptor at lower temperatures. Whether this translates into enhanced transmission during the fall and winter seasons remains to be determined.
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Enzima Convertidora de Angiotensina 2 , COVID-19 , Humanos , SARS-CoV-2/genética , Temperatura , Glicoproteína de la Espiga del Coronavirus/metabolismo , Peptidil-Dipeptidasa A/metabolismo , MutaciónRESUMEN
SARS-CoV-2 infection of host cells starts by binding of the Spike glycoprotein (S) to the ACE2 receptor. The S-ACE2 interaction is a potential target for therapies against COVID-19 as demonstrated by the development of immunotherapies blocking this interaction. Here, we present the commercially available VE607, comprised of three stereoisomers, that was originally described as an inhibitor of SARS-CoV-1. We show that VE607 specifically inhibits infection of SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 S-expressing pseudoviral particles as well as authentic SARS-CoV-2. VE607 stabilizes the receptor binding domain (RBD) in its "up" conformation. In silico docking and mutational analysis map the VE607 binding site at the RBD-ACE2 interface. The IC 50 values are in the low micromolar range for pseudoparticles derived from SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan/D614G as well as from variants of concern (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omicron), suggesting that VE607 has potential for the development of drugs against SARS-CoV-2 infections.
RESUMEN
Non-neutralizing antibodies (nnAbs) can eliminate HIV-1-infected cells via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and were identified as a correlate of protection in the RV144 vaccine trial. Fc-mediated effector functions of nnAbs were recently shown to alter the course of HIV-1 infection in vivo using a vpu-defective virus. Since Vpu is known to downregulate cell-surface CD4, which triggers conformational changes in the viral envelope glycoprotein (Env), we ask whether the lack of Vpu expression was linked to the observed nnAbs activity. We find that restoring Vpu expression greatly reduces nnAb recognition of infected cells, rendering them resistant to ADCC. Moreover, administration of nnAbs in humanized mice reduces viral loads only in animals infected with a vpu-defective but not with a wild-type virus. CD4-mimetics administration, known to "open" Env and expose nnAb epitopes, renders wild-type viruses sensitive to nnAbs Fc-effector functions. This work highlights the importance of Vpu-mediated evasion of humoral responses.