Construct Validity Supports Use of a Novel, Tablet-Based Neurocognitive Assessment for Adolescents and Young Adults Affected by Perinatal HIV from Vulnerable Communities in the United States.

Construct validity of novel tablet-based neurocognitive tests (in the NeuroScreen app) measuring processing speed, working memory, and executive functioning in adolescents and young adults (AYA) living with perinatally-acquired HIV (PHIV) and perinatal HIV-exposure without infection (PHEU) was examined. Sixty-two AYA (33 PHIV, 29 PHEU) were recruited from an ongoing longitudinal study (CASAH) in New York City. Medium to large and statistically significant correlations were found between NeuroScreen and gold standard, paper-and-pencil tests of processing speed, working memory, and executive functioning. Results provide partial support for NeuroScreen as an alternative to cumbersome paper-and-pencil tests for assessing neurocognition among HIV-affected AYA.

Ib-M6 Antimicrobial Peptide: Antibacterial Activity against Clinical Isolates of Escherichia coli and Molecular Docking.

The Ib-M6 peptide has antibacterial activity against non-pathogenic Escherichia coli K-12 strain. The first part of this study determines the antibacterial activity of Ib-M6 against fourteen pathogenic strains of E. coli O157:H7. Susceptibility assay showed that Ib-M6 had values of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) lower than streptomycin, used as a reference antibiotic. Moreover, to predict the possible interaction between Ib-M6 and outer membrane components of E. coli, we used molecular docking simulations where FhuA protein and its complex with Lipopolysaccharide (LPS-FhuA) were used as targets of the peptide. FhuA/Ib-M6 complexes had energy values between -39.5 and -40.5 Rosetta Energy Units (REU) and only one hydrogen bond. In contrast, complexes between LPS-FhuA and Ib-M6 displayed energy values between -25.6 and -40.6 REU, and the presence of five possible hydrogen bonds. Hence, the antimicrobial activity of Ib-M6 peptide shown in the experimental assays could be caused by its interaction with the outer membrane of E. coli.