Compromising the immunogenicity of diphtheria toxin-based immunotoxins through epitope engineering: An in silico approach.

Immunotoxins are genetically engineered recombinant proteins consisting of a targeting moiety, such as an antibody, and a cytotoxic toxin moiety of microbial origin. Pseudomonas exotoxin A and diphtheria toxin (DT) have been abundantly used in immunotoxins, with the latter applied as the toxin moiety of the FDA-approved drug Denileukin diftitox (ONTAK®). However, the use of immunotoxins provokes an adverse immune response in the host body against the toxin moiety, limiting their efficacy.

First conjugation directed traverse of gene cassettes harboring α1,3GT from fast-growing Mycobacterium smegmatis mc 155 to slow-growing pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, presumably opening up new scopes in tuberculosis treatment.

Mycobacterium smegmatis strain mc 155 is a fast-growing and non-pathogenic mycobacteria and widely used in genetic studies of mycobacteria. It has been shown that this species of mycobacterium can transfer its genomic DNA fragments to other species of mycobacteria during the conjugation process. Galα1-3Galβ1-4GlcNAc-R (α-gal) glycan epitope is a highly immunogenic epitope exerted by the enzyme α1-3-galactosyltransferase (α1,3GT) in mammalian cells on the glycan skeleton.

Endogenous stimuli-responsive linkers in nanoliposomal systems for cancer drug targeting.

There are various drug delivery systems (DDSs) among which nanoliposomal formulations are among the most prominent. Despite the superiority of nanoliposomal DDSs compared to conventional drug delivery methods, recent reports have claimed that they can deliver small amounts of the injected dose to target site by passive targeting. However, our understanding of tumor microenvironment features, including dysregulation of pH, the high intracellular concentration of glutathione, change in the amount and expression of some enzymes, reactive oxygen species, hypoxia, and ATP concentrations, has driven the scope of research into the use of these endogenous stimuli for a design of smart linkers.

Electroanalysis of isoniazid and rifampicin: Role of nanomaterial electrode modifiers.

Thanks to operational simplicity, speediness, possibility of miniaturization and real-time nature, electrochemical sensing is a supreme alternative for non-electrochemical methodologies in drug quantification. This review, highlights different nanotech-based sensory designs for electroanalysis of isoniazid and rifampicin, the most important medicines for patients with tuberculosis. We first, concisely mention analyses with bare electrodes, associated impediments and inspected possible strategies and then critically review the last two decades works with focus on different nano-scaled electrode modifiers.

Electrochemical-based biosensors for detection of and tuberculosis biomarkers.

Early detection of tuberculosis (TB) reduces the interval between infection and the beginning of treatment. However, commercially available tests cannot discriminate between BCG-vaccinated healthy persons and patients. Also, they are not suitable to be used for immunocompromised persons.

Shedding light on the EpCAM: An overview.

The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a Type I transmembrane superficial glycoprotein antigen that is expressed on the surface of basolateral membrane of multiple epithelial cells with some exceptions such as epidermal keratinocytes, hepatocytes, thymic cortical epithelial cells, squamous stratified epithelial cells, and myoepithelial cells that do not express the molecule. The molecule plays a pivotal role in the structural integrity, adhesion of the epithelial tissues and their interaction with the underlying layers. EpCAM prevents claudin-7 and claudin-1 molecules from degradation, thereby, decreasing the number of tight junctions and cellular interconnections, and promoting the cells toward carcinogenic transformation.

Nano-biosensing approaches on tuberculosis: Defy of aptamers.

Tuberculosis is a major global health problem caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) complex. According to WHO reports, 53 million TB patients died from 2000 to 2016. Therefore, early diagnosis of the disease is of great importance for global health care programs.

Label-free nano-biosensing on the road to tuberculosis detection.

Tuberculosis, an ailment caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) complex, is one of the catastrophic transmittable diseases that affect human. Reports published by WHO indicate that in 2017 about 6.3 million people progressed to TB and 53 million TB patients died from 2000 to 2016.

Recombinant Protein Expression in Escherichia coli (E.coli): What We Need to Know.

Background: Host, vector, and culture conditions (including cultivation media) are considered among the three main elements contributing to a successful production of recombinant proteins. Accordingly, one of the most common hosts to produce recombinant therapeutic proteins is Escherichia coli.

Methodology: A comprehensive literature review was performed to identify important factors affecting production of recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli.