Exploring Inflammatory Asthma Phenotypes: Proteomic Signatures in Serum and Induced Sputum.

Asthma drug responses may differ due to inflammatory mechanisms triggered by the immune cells in the pulmonary microenvironment. Thus, asthma phenotyping based on the local inflammatory profile may aid in treatment definition and the identification of new therapeutic targets. Here, we investigated protein profiles of induced sputum and serum from asthma patients classified into eosinophilic, neutrophilic, mixed granulocytic, and paucigranulocytic asthma, according to inflammatory phenotypes.

Ola1p trafficking indicates an interaction network between mitochondria, lipid droplets, and stress granules in times of stress.

Protein aggregates arise naturally under normal physiological conditions, but their formation is accelerated by age or stress-induced protein misfolding. When the stressful event dissolves, these aggregates are removed by mechanisms, such as aggrephagy, chaperone-mediated autophagy, refolding attempts, or the proteasome. It was recently shown that mitochondria in yeast cells may support these primarily cytosolic processes.

Phytocystatin 6 is a context-dependent, tight-binding inhibitor of Arabidopsis thaliana legumain isoform β.

Plant legumains are crucial for processing seed storage proteins and are critical regulators of plant programmed cell death. Although research on legumains boosted recently, little is known about their activity regulation. In our study, we used pull-down experiments to identify AtCYT6 as a natural inhibitor of legumain isoform β (AtLEGβ) in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Structural and functional studies of legumain-mycocypin complexes revealed a competitive, exosite-regulated mode of interaction.

Under pathophysiologic conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and cancer, the endolysosomal cysteine protease legumain was found to translocate to the cytosol, the nucleus, and the extracellular space. These noncanonical localizations demand for a tight regulation of legumain activity, which is in part conferred by protein inhibitors. While there is a significant body of knowledge on the interaction of human legumain with endogenous cystatins, only little is known on its regulation by fungal mycocypins.

Eosinophilic esophagitis auxiliary diagnosis based on a peptide ligand to eosinophil cationic protein in esophageal mucus of pediatric patients.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the esophagus characterized by increased number of eosinophils. Currently, EoE diagnosis is based on endoscopic procedures for histopathological examination, eosinophils' counting and, often, in clinical practice, the challenge is the differentiation between EoE and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Our aim was to develop novel peptide ligand to Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) present in EoE biopsies of patients with potential to be used for detection.

Proteomics and immunoblotting analyses reveal antigens that optimize the immunodiagnosis of the infection by Toxocara spp.

Toxocariasis is an infection caused by the round worms Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati. It occurs worldwide though it is more prevalent in developing countries. For the diagnosis of toxocariasis, the most used method is the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (indirect ELISA), based on the detection of specific antibodies using the excreted/secreted products from T.

Structural Alterations of Antigens at the Material Interface: An Early Decision Toolbox Facilitating Safe-by-Design Nanovaccine Development.

Nanomaterials have found extensive interest in the development of novel vaccines, as adjuvants and/or carriers in vaccination platforms. Conjugation of protein antigens at the particle surface by non-covalent adsorption is the most widely used approach in licensed particulate vaccines. Hence, it is essential to understand proteins' structural integrity at the material interface in order to develop safe-by-design nanovaccines.

The Peptide Ligase Activity of Human Legumain Depends on Fold Stabilization and Balanced Substrate Affinities.

Protein modification by enzymatic breaking and forming of peptide bonds significantly expands the repertoire of genetically encoded protein sequences. The dual protease-ligase legumain exerts the two opposing activities within a single protein scaffold. Primarily localized to the endolysosomal system, legumain represents a key enzyme in the generation of antigenic peptides for subsequent presentation on the MHCII complex.

Proteomic profiling of commercial dust mite skin prick test solutions and allergy vaccines from India.

Background: Skin prick test (SPT) solutions and allergy vaccines (AVs) are crucial tools for diagnosis and therapy of allergies. It was the aim of this study to corroborate the content of products for diagnosis and treatment of dust mite allergies that are produced and sold in India.

Methods: SDS-PAGE, immunoblots and high-resolution mass spectrometric analysis was performed with 16 house dust mite (HDM) SPT solutions and AVs from 3 Indian manufacturers.

Identification and Physicochemical Characterization of a New Allergen from .

To analyze the impact of infection on the pathogenesis and diagnosis of allergic diseases, new allergens should be identified. We report the identification of a new allergen, Asc l 5. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical and immunological features of the Asc l 5 allergen.

Biochemical and functional characterization of a new recombinant phospholipase A inhibitor from Crotalus durissus collilineatus snake serum.

Phospholipase A plays an important role in many diseases. Thus, the production of bioactive molecules, which can modulate PLA activity, became an important target for the pharmaceutical industry. Previously, we demonstrated the inhibitory and anti-angiogenic effect of γCdcPLI, the natural PLAinhibitor from Crotalus durissus collilineatus.

Peptidase PepP is a novel virulence factor of contributing to murine campylobacteriosis.

Mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions resulting in immunopathological responses upon human infection are not completely understood, but the recent availability of murine infection models mimicking key features of campylobacteriosis helps solving this dilemma. During a screen for proteases expressed by , we identified a peptidase of the M24 family as a potential novel virulence factor, which was named PepP. The gene is strongly conserved in various species.

Effect of structural stability on endolysosomal degradation and T-cell reactivity of major shrimp allergen tropomyosin.

Background: Tropomyosins are highly conserved proteins, an attribute that forms the molecular basis for their IgE antibody cross-reactivity. Despite sequence similarities, their allergenicity varies greatly between ingested and inhaled invertebrate sources. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the structural stability of different tropomyosins, their endolysosomal degradation patterns, and T-cell reactivity.

A hybrid of two major Blomia tropicalis allergens as an allergy vaccine candidate.

Introduction: Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) represents a curative approach for treating allergies. In the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, Blomia tropicalis (Blo t 5 and Blo t 21) is the likely dominant source of indoor allergens.

Aim: To generate a hypoallergenic Blo t 5/Blo t 21 hybrid molecule that can treat allergies caused by B tropicalis.

Identification of the amino-terminal fragment of Ara h 1 as a major target of the IgE-binding activity in the basic peanut protein fraction.

Background: Small, basic peanut proteins are often poorly extracted in pH-neutral buffers that are optimal for the extraction of peanut storage proteins such as Ara h 1. As a result, such proteins are easily missed as potential allergens.

Objective: To analyse the allergenic composition of the basic peanut protein (BPP) fraction.

The transfer of specific mitochondrial lipids and proteins to lipid droplets contributes to proteostasis upon stress and aging in the eukaryotic model system Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Originally Lipid droplets (LDs) were considered as being droplets for lipid storage only. Increasing evidence, however, demonstrates that LDs fulfill a pleiotropy of additional functions. Among them is the modulation of protein as well as lipid homeostasis.

Proteomic Analysis Reveals Allergen Variability among Breeds of the Dust Mite Blomia tropicalis.

Background: The dawn of the "omics" technologies has changed allergy research, increasing the knowledge and identification of new allergens. However, these studies have been almost restricted to Dermatophagoides spp. Although Blomia tropicalis has long been established as a clinically important source of allergens, a thorough proteomic characterization is still lacking for this dust mite.

Similar Allergenicity to Different Species Is a Consequence of Highly Cross-Reactive Art v 1-Like Molecules.

Pollens of weeds are relevant elicitors of type I allergies. While many species occur worldwide, allergy research so far has only focused on . We aimed to characterize other prevalent species regarding their allergen profiles.

Multiple roles of Bet v 1 ligands in allergen stabilization and modulation of endosomal protease activity.

Background: Over 100 million people worldwide suffer from birch pollen allergy. Bet v 1 has been identified as the major birch pollen allergen. However, the molecular mechanisms of birch allergic sensitization, including the roles of Bet v 1 and other components of the birch pollen extract, remain incompletely understood.

Rational Design, Structure-Activity Relationship, and Immunogenicity of Hypoallergenic Pru p 3 Variants.

Scope: Allergies to lipid transfer proteins involve severe adverse reactions; thus, effective and sustainable therapies are desired. Previous attempts disrupting disulfide bonds failed to maintain immunogenicity; thus, the aim is to design novel hypoallergenic Pru p 3 variants and evaluate the applicability for treatment of peach allergy.

Methods And Results: Pru p 3 proline variant (PV) designed using in silico mutagenesis, cysteine variant (CV), and wild-type Pru p 3 (WT) are purified from Escherichia coli.