Human papillomavirus (HPV), which is transmitted through sexual activity, is the primary cause of cervical cancer and the fourth most common type of cancer in women. In this study, an immunoinformatics approach was employed to predict immunodominant epitopes from a diverse array of antigens with the ultimate objective of designing a potent multiepitope vaccine against multiple HPV types. Immunodominant B cell, cytotoxic T cell (CTL), and helper T cell (HTL) epitopes were predicted using bioinformatics tools These epitopes were subsequently analyzed using various immunoinformatics tools, and those that exhibited high antigenicity, immunogenicity, non-allergenicity, non-toxicity, and excellent conservation were selected.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRedesigning the N- and C-capping repeats of the native DARPin G3 significantly improved its stability, and may facilitate its purification from the total soluble proteins of high-temperature dried leaf materials of transplastomic plants. Designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins) constitute a promising class of binding molecules that can overcome the limitations of monoclonal antibodies and enable the development of novel therapeutic approaches. Despite their inherent stability, detailed studies have revealed that the original capping repeats derived from natural ankyrin repeat proteins impair the stability of the initial DARPin design.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe ideal vaccines for combating diseases that may emerge in the future require more than simply inactivating a few pathogenic strains. This study aims to provide a peptide-based multi-epitope vaccine effective against various severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 strains. To design the vaccine, a library of peptides from the spike, nucleocapsid, membrane, and envelope structural proteins of various strains was prepared.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGlucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are increasingly used in clinical practice for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the extremely short half-life of GLP-1 and the need for subcutaneous administration limit its clinical application. Thus, half-life extension and alternative delivery methods are highly desired.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGlucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an intestinally derived incretin that plays a vital role in engineering the biological circuit involved in treating type 2 diabetes. Exceedingly short half-life (1-2 min) of GLP-1 limits its therapeutic applicability, and the implication of its new variants is under question. Since albumin-binding DARPin as a mimetic molecule has been reported to increase the serum half-life of therapeutic compounds, the interaction of new variants of GLP-1 in fusion with DARPin needs to be examined against the GLP-1 receptor.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The high cost of fermentation, purification, cold storage and transportation, short shelf life, and sterile delivery methods of biopharmaceuticals, is a matter for producers and consumers as well. Since the FDA has now approved plant cells for large-scale, cost-effective biopharmaceutical production, the isolation and lyophilization of transplastomic chloroplasts can cover concerns about limitations. DARPins are engineered small single-domain proteins that have been selected to bind to HER2 with high affinity and specificity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Designed mimetic molecules are attractive tools in biopharmaceuticals and synthetic biology. They require mass and functional production for the assessment of upcoming challenges in the near future. The DARPin family is considered a mimetic pharmaceutical peptide group with high affinity binding to specific targets.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCellulose is the most abundant unique biopolymer in nature with widespread applications in bioenergy and high-value bioproducts. The large transmembrane-localized cellulose synthase (CESA) complexes (CSCs) play a pivotal role in the biosynthesis and orientation of the para-crystalline cellulose microfibrils during secondary cell wall (SCW) deposition. However, the hub CESA subunit with high potential homo/heterodimerization capacity and its functional effects on cell wall architecture, cellulose crystallinity, and saccharification efficiency remains unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to better understand the response of acclimatized plants grown to a set of mineral nutrient combinations based on Hoagland solution. To reach that, two computer-based tools were used: the design of experiments (DOE) and a hybrid artificial intelligence technology that combines artificial neural networks with fuzzy logic. DOE was employed to create a five-dimensional IV-design space by categorizing all macroelements and one microelement (copper) of Hoagland mineral solution, reducing the experimental design space from 243 (3) to 19 treatments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Avimers are originally types of artificial proteins with multiple binding sites for specific binding to certain antigens. Various radioisotopes and nanoparticles link these molecules, which are widely used in early detection in tissue imaging, treatment and study on carcinogenesis. Among these, c-Met antagonist avimer (C426 avimer), with ability to bind the c-Met receptor of tyrosine kinase (RTK) is an attractive candidate for targeted cancer therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFmicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a newly discovered class of non-coding small RNAs roughly 22 nucleotides long. Increasing evidence has shown that miRNAs play multiple roles in biological processes, including development, cell proliferation, apoptosis and stress responses. The identification of miRNAs and their targets is an important need to understand their roles in the development and physiology of sweet onion (Allium cepa).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMultiple gene silencing is being required to target and tangle metabolic pathways in eukaryotes and researchers have to develop a subtle method for construction of RNA interference (RNAi) cassettes. Although, several vectors have been developed due to different screening and cloning strategies but still some potential limitations remain to be dissolved. Here, we worked out a simple cloning strategy to develop multisite small interfering RNA (siRNA) cassette from different genes by two cloning steps.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiotechnol Appl Biochem
December 2005
Cystatins (cysteine proteinase inhibitors) have been recently used in plants as antiviral strategy against those viruses whose replication involves cysteine proteinase activity. We proposed an idea that cystatins may confer resistance by inhibition of a virus-induced cell-death phenomenon in which cysteine proteinases are active. To test this idea, a full-length cDNA library was constructed from the preflowering stage of Celosia cristata (crested cock's comb) leaves, and a cDNA clone with cystatin domain was isolated using an oligonucleotide probe designed on the basis of the conserved peptide of plant cystatins.
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