The Establishment of the ϕ6 Genome Packaging Assay.

This editorial describes the efforts to establish a genome packaging assay for the ϕ6 bacteriophage, which were performed in the laboratory of Leonard Mindich, Ph [...

Noncoupled Mitochondrial Respiration as Therapeutic Approach for the Treatment of Metabolic Diseases: Focus on Transgenic Animal Models.

Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to numerous chronic diseases, and mitochondria are targets for various toxins and xenobiotics. Therefore, the development of drugs or therapeutic strategies targeting mitochondria is an important task in modern medicine. It is well known that the primary, although not the sole, function of mitochondria is ATP generation, which is achieved by coupled respiration.

A recombinant virus-like particle vaccine against adenovirus-7 induces a potent humoral response.

Adenoviruses (AdVs) cause infections in humans that range from mild to severe, and can cause outbreaks particularly in close contact settings. Several human AdV types have been identified, which can cause a wide array of clinical manifestations. AdV types 4 and 7 (AdV-4 and AdV-7), which are among the most commonly circulating types in the United States, are known to cause acute respiratory disease that can result in hospitalization and rarely, death.

Discovery and Classification of the φ6 Bacteriophage: An Historical Review.

The year 2023 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the discovery of the bacteriophage φ6. The review provides a look back on the initial discovery and classification of the lipid-containing and segmented double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) genome-containing bacteriophage-the first identified cystovirus. The historical discussion describes, for the most part, the first 10 years of the research employing contemporary mutation techniques, biochemical, and structural analysis to describe the basic outline of the virus replication mechanisms and structure.

Kinesins Modify ERR1-Dependent Transcription Using a Conserved Nuclear Receptor Box Motif.

Kinesin family motors are microtubule (MT)-stimulated ATPases known best as transporters of cellular cargoes through the cytoplasm, regulators of MT dynamics, organizers of the mitotic spindle, and for insuring equal division of DNA during mitosis. Several kinesins have also been shown to regulate transcription by interacting with transcriptional cofactors and regulators, nuclear receptors, or with specific promotor elements on DNA. We previously showed that an LxxLL nuclear receptor box motif in the kinesin-2 family motor KIF17 mediates binding to the orphan nuclear receptor estrogen related receptor alpha (ERR1) and is responsible for the suppression of ERR1-dependent transcription by KIF17.

Immunogenicity and Efficacy of Monovalent and Bivalent Formulations of a Virus-Like Particle Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2.

Virus-like particles (VLPs) offer great potential as a safe and effective vaccine platform against SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. Here, we show that SARS-CoV-2 VLPs can be generated by expression of the four viral structural proteins in a mammalian expression system. Immunization of mice with a monovalent VLP vaccine elicited a potent humoral response, showing neutralizing activity against multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2.

Heterologous RNA Recombination in the Cystoviruses φ6 and φ8: A Mechanism of Viral Variation and Genome Repair.

Recombination and mutation of viral genomes represent major mechanisms for viral evolution and, in many cases, moderate pathogenicity. Segmented genome viruses frequently undergo reassortment of the genome via multiple infection of host organisms, with influenza and reoviruses being well-known examples. Specifically, major genomic shifts mediated by reassortment are responsible for radical changes in the influenza antigenic determinants that can result in pandemics requiring rapid preventative responses by vaccine modifications.

DISEASES OF THE ORAL MUCOSA IN PATIENTS IN THE POST-COVID PERIOD.

The impact of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus-2) on the entire human body causes irreversible changes in all organs and systems. Complications in the form of chronic diseases require the treatment of clinicians in various fields of medicine. Dentists are faced with diseases of the oral mucosa in apparently healthy patients who are not predisposed to them but have undergone COVID-19.

EVALUATION OF CHANGES IN THE PROFILE OF THE FACE DURING ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT OF DISTAL OCCLUSION CAUSED BY ANTEPOSITION OF THE UPPER JAW.

Distal occlusion of the dentition is one of the most common anomalies in the Eastern European population. The widespread use of conservative treatment methods creates the need to predict the results of tooth movement. The problem of the influence of orthodontic treatment on the configuration of the soft tissues of the face is of paramount importance for the orthodontist.

High Doses of Pesticides Induce mtDNA Damage in Intact Mitochondria of Potato In Vitro and Do Not Impact on mtDNA Integrity of Mitochondria of Shoots and Tubers under In Vivo Exposure.

It is well known that pesticides are toxic for mitochondria of animals. The effect of pesticides on plant mitochondria has not been widely studied. The goal of this research is to study the impact of metribuzin and imidacloprid on the amount of damage in the mtDNA of potato ( L.

RNA Packaging in the Bacteriophages: Dynamic Interactions during Capsid Maturation.

The bacteriophage family consists of a single genus, , that is lipid-containing with three double-stranded RNA (ds-RNA) genome segments. With regard to the segmented dsRNA genome, they resemble the family . Therefore, the have long served as a simple model for reovirus assembly.

CLINICAL AND RADIOGRAPHIC CHANGES FOLLOWING ORTHODONTIC INTRUSION OF OVERERUPTED MAXILLARY MOLARS WITH TWO MINI-IMPLANTS.

Objective - to evaluate clinical and radiographic changes of orthodontic intrusion of upper first molars with two mini-implants, using light intrusion forces, to create the space for prosthetic rehabilitation on the lower jaw. In 20 patients (aged between 26.8 and 45) with secondary deformities in the lateral region in the vertical direction, associated with partial absence of teeth in the lower jaw, and orthodontic preparation for subsequent prosthetics was performed.

BIOMECHANICS OF CHANGING THE POSITION OF PERMANENT TEETH WITH EARLY LOSS OF THE FIRST TEMPORARY MOLARS.

Premature removal of baby teeth is one of the main causes of deformation of the dentition. The loss of the first temporal molars is most often reported (39.9±4.

The Oral Mucosa Status and the Correlation between the Functional Parameters and the Level of Nitric Oxide Metabolites in Saliva among Patients with GERD.

The study involved 91 patients (48 women and 43 men), aged from 18 to 70 years with GERD. All patients underwent the clinical dental examination according to a single scheme including general clinical manifestations (nausea, single vomiting, belching, heartburn, pain in the epigastrium and around the navel, and poor appetite) and dental manifestations of GERD. The objective assessment of the dental status of the examined patients included the measurement of the functional parameters of the mixed saliva, buffer capacity (BC) of saliva, and the detection of the nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) content in saliva from the right parotid salivary gland ("SRPSG") and in blood serum using the indirect method based on the determination of the stable metabolites: nitrates and nitrites using the Griess reaction.

Structural characterization of the PCV2d virus-like particle at 3.3 Å resolution reveals differences to PCV2a and PCV2b capsids, a tetranucleotide, and an N-terminus near the icosahedral 3-fold axes.

Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) has a major impact on the swine industry. Eight PCV2 genotypes (a-h) have been identified using capsid sequence analysis. PCV2d has been designated as the emerging genotype.

Heteroaggregation of an enveloped bacteriophage with colloidal sediments and effect on virus viability.

Four sediments in the colloidal size range: goethite, montmorillonite, illite, and kaolinite, were suspended with the bacteriophage φ6, a model enveloped virus, to determine relative rates of heteroaggregation and the effect of aggregation on virus viability. Turbidity was measured on combinations of virus and each sediment type at low concentration to determine aggregation rates. Aggregation of sediment with virus occurred regardless of mineral type, and larger fraction of virus is expected to aggregate with increasing sediment concentration leading to higher deposition rates.

Component tree analysis of cystovirus φ6 nucleocapsid Cryo-EM single particle reconstructions.

The 3-dimensional structure of the nucleocapsid (NC) of bacteriophage φ6 is described utilizing component tree analysis, a topological and geometric image descriptor. The component trees are derived from density maps of cryo-electron microscopy single particle reconstructions. Analysis determines position and occupancy of structure elements responsible for RNA packaging and transcription.

Zika virus-like particle (VLP) based vaccine.

The newly emerged mosquito-borne Zika virus poses a major public challenge due to its ability to cause significant birth defects and neurological disorders. The impact of sexual transmission is unclear but raises further concerns about virus dissemination. No specific treatment or vaccine is currently available, thus the development of a safe and effective vaccine is paramount.

Novel Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Like Particle Vaccine Composed of the Postfusion and Prefusion Conformations of the F Glycoprotein.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of severe respiratory disease in infants and children and represents an important global health burden for the elderly and the immunocompromised. Despite decades of research efforts, no licensed vaccine for RSV is available. We have developed virus-like particle (VLP)-based RSV vaccines assembled with the human metapneumovirus (hMPV) matrix protein (M) as the structural scaffold and the RSV fusion glycoprotein (F) in either the postfusion or prefusion conformation as its prime surface immunogen.

Exfoliation and intercalation of montmorillonite by small peptides.

Understanding structural changes in clay minerals induced by complexation with organic matter is relevant to soil science and agricultural applications. In this study, the effect of peptide storage in montmorillonite and the thermal stability of peptide-clay complexes was examined through characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microscopy, UV absorption, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). XRD analysis of small peptide-montmorillonite clay complexes produced profiles consisting of reflections associated with the smectite 001 reflection and related peaks similar to that produced by a mixed layer clay mineral structure.

The ϕ6 cystovirus protein P7 becomes accessible to antibodies in the transcribing nucleocapsid: a probe for viral structural elements.

Protein P7 is a component of the cystovirus viral polymerase complex. In the unpackaged procapsid, the protein is situated in close proximity to the viral directed RNA polymerase, P2. Cryo-electron microscopy difference maps from the species ϕ6 procapsid have demonstrated that P7 and P2 likely interact prior to viral RNA packaging.

Morphology of influenza B/Lee/40 determined by cryo-electron microscopy.

Cryo-electron microscopy projection image analysis and tomography is used to describe the overall architecture of influenza B/Lee/40. Algebraic reconstruction techniques with utilization of volume elements (blobs) are employed to reconstruct tomograms of this pleomorphic virus and distinguish viral surface spikes. The purpose of this research is to examine the architecture of influenza type B virions by cryo-electron tomography and projection image analysis.

Disassembly of the cystovirus ϕ6 envelope by montmorillonite clay.

Prior studies of clay-virus interactions have focused on the stability and infectivity of nonenveloped viruses, yielding contradictory results. We hypothesize that the surface charge distribution of the clay and virus envelope dictates how the components react and affect aggregation, viral stability, and infectivity. The bacteriophage Cystoviridae species φ6 used in this study is a good model for enveloped pathogens.

Protein P7 of the cystovirus φ6 is located at the three-fold axis of the unexpanded procapsid.

The objective of this study was to determine the location of protein P7, the RNA packaging factor, in the procapsid of the φ6 cystovirus. A comparison of cryo-electron microscopy high-resolution single particle reconstructions of the φ6 complete unexpanded procapsid, the protein P2-minus procapsid (P2 is the RNA directed RNA-polymerase), and the P7-minus procapsid, show that prior to RNA packaging the P7 protein is located near the three-fold axis of symmetry. Difference maps highlight the precise position of P7 and demonstrate that in P7-minus particles the P2 proteins are less localized with reduced densities at the three-fold axes.

Bacteriophage φ6--structure investigated by fluorescence Stokes shift spectroscopy.

The Stokes shift of tryptophan (Trp) fluorescence from layers of the lipid-containing bacteriophage φ6 is compared to determine the relative effect of the layers on virus hydrophobicity. In the inner most layer, the empty procapsid (PC) which contains 80-90% of the virion Trp residues, λ(max) = 339.8 nm.