Publications by authors named "Brianna Hnath"
Optogenetically engineered Septin-7 enhances immune cell infiltration of tumor spheroids.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
October 2024
Chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapies have achieved great success in eradicating some liquid tumors, whereas the preclinical results in treating solid tumors have proven less decisive. One of the principal challenges in solid tumor treatment is the physical barrier composed of a dense extracellular matrix, which prevents immune cells from penetrating the tissue to attack intratumoral cancer cells. Here, we improve immune cell infiltration into solid tumors by manipulating septin-7 functions in cells.
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- * The study revealed the SOD1 trimer interactome, identifying binding partners in the brain, spinal cord, and skeletal muscle that may affect cellular functions such as synaptic function and metabolism.
- * Key findings point to specific genes and proteins related to SOD1 trimers, suggesting potential connections between genetic factors and disease mechanisms in ALS.
Article Synopsis
- Researchers are creating a new version of the ACE2 receptor, called miniature ACE2 (mACE2), which can bind tightly to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2.
- This engineered mACE2 is used in a novel detection method for the virus, utilizing magnetic nanoparticles for sensitivity and specificity.
- The study demonstrates that mACE2 could be a promising tool for not only diagnosing but also neutralizing SARS-CoV-2, paving the way for similar approaches against other viral diseases.
Protein aggregation results in an array of different size soluble oligomers and larger insoluble fibrils. Insoluble fibrils were originally thought to cause neuronal cell deaths in neurodegenerative diseases due to their prevalence in tissue samples and disease models. Despite recent studies demonstrating the toxicity associated with soluble oligomers, many therapeutic strategies still focus on fibrils or consider all types of aggregates as one group.
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- The spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 is essential for the virus to enter human cells by binding to the ACE2 receptor, making it a key target for vaccines and therapies.
- Despite progress with current vaccines that focus on the receptor binding domain (RBD), mutations in this area allow the virus to evade neutralizing antibodies.
- This study presents a new approach using 'epitope grafting' to create stable immunogens that target conserved regions of the spike protein, showing potential for effective vaccine design and diagnostic applications.
Article Synopsis
- The SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein is key for virus entry and a major target for antibodies, but mutations in its receptor binding domain (RBD) allow the virus to evade immune responses.
- To address this, researchers created stable immunogens that mimic conserved regions of the spike protein using a method called 'epitope grafting,' presenting these regions on various scaffolds.
- The engineered designs showed strong immune responses in mice and potential for use in diagnostics, highlighting a promising approach to developing vaccines targeting more stable parts of the spike protein.
Accumulation of insoluble amyloid fibrils is widely studied as a critical factor in the pathology of multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disease. Misfolded Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) was the first protein linked to ALS, and non-native SOD1 trimeric oligomers were recently linked to cytotoxicity, while larger oligomers were protective to cells. The balance between trimers and larger aggregates in the process of SOD1 aggregation is, thus, a critical determinant of potential therapeutic approaches to treat ALS.
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- Protein misfolding and aggregation are key processes in various amyloid-related diseases that affect the brain and other body tissues.
- Understanding the toxic effects of amyloid species is crucial for developing effective treatments, but studying these complex processes is difficult due to the involvement of disordered proteins.
- The review highlights insights from computational, experimental, and pharmacological studies on proteins like Aβ, tau, α-synuclein, IAPP, and superoxide dismutase 1, which are linked to Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, type II diabetes, and ALS.