Anti-SARS-Cov-2 IgA Response in Tears of COVID-19 Patients.

The pandemic virus SARS-CoV-2 has been reported to be able to enter the body via the eye conjunctiva, but the presence of antiviral response in the eye remains poorly known. Our study was thus aimed to analyze the presence of secretory mucosal anti-SARS-CoV-2 type A immunoglobulins (IgA) in the conjunctival fluid of COVID-19 patients. The tears of 28 COVID-19 patients and 20 uninfected controls were collected by the Schirmer test and analyzed by a specific ELISA assay detecting anti-spike (S1) virus protein IgA.

Enhypyrazinones A and B, Pyrazinone Natural Products from a Marine-Derived Myxobacterium sp.

To date, studies describing myxobacterial secondary metabolites have been relatively scarce in comparison to those addressing actinobacterial secondary metabolites. This realization suggests the immense potential of myxobacteria as an intriguing source of secondary metabolites with unusual structural features and a wide array of biological activities. Marine-derived myxobacteria are especially attractive due to their unique biosynthetic gene clusters, although they are more difficult to handle than terrestrial myxobacteria.

A case of familial calcific aortic and mitral stenosis in association with hereditary sclerosing poikiloderma.

Hereditary sclerosing poikiloderma is a rare, familial disease with the primary clinical features being dermatologic. Widespread poikiloderma, as well as linear hyperkeratotic and sclerotic bands, tends to be the most common sign of this disease. It has been suggested that cardiac involvement may represent an important element of this disorder; however, this has not been well studied.