Impact of Exercise on Atrial Functional Mitral Regurgitation and its Ddeterminants. An Exercise Echocardiographic Study.

Atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR) is a distinct form of MR in patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Its pathophysiology remains elusive, and data on exercise-related AFMR are scarce. We sought to investigate the impact of acute exercise on AFMR severity and to identify its determinants.

Lectin-carbohydrate analysis by molecular dynamics: Parkia lectins case study.

Understanding lectin-carbohydrate interactions at the structural and molecular levels is crucial to the field of lectins, as the diverse roles and biological activities exhibited by these proteins are fundamentally linked to their specific binding to target glycoconjugates. This study aimed to apply molecular dynamics to analyze the structure and binding properties of Parkia lectins. 3D structures of Parkia platycephala and P.

Defining the optimal setting for transcriptomic analyses on blood samples for response prediction in immunotherapy-treated NSCLC patients.

Transcriptomic profiling of blood immune cells offers a promising alternative to invasive, sampling bias-prone tissue-based biomarker assays for predicting immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy response in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, the optimal analytical approach to identify systemic correlates of response still needs to be explored. We collected peripheral blood mononuclear cells and whole blood (WB) samples from 33 ICI-treated NSCLC patients before ICI treatment and at the first response evaluation.

The crystal structure of Nictaba reveals its carbohydrate-binding properties and a new lectin dimerization mode.

Nictaba is a (GlcNAc)n-binding, stress-inducible lectin from Nicotiana tabacum that serves as a representative for the Nictaba-related lectins, a group of proteins that play pivotal roles in plant defense mechanisms and stress response pathways. Despite extensive research into biological activities and physiological role(s) of the lectin, the three-dimensional structure of Nictaba remained largely unknown. Here, we report crystal structures for Nictaba in the apo form and bound to chitotriose.

Overexpression of the ribosome-inactivating protein modulates the jasmonate signaling pathway in rice.

Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are plant enzymes that target the rRNA. The cytoplasmic RIP, called OsRIP1, plays a crucial role in regulating jasmonate, a key plant hormone. Understanding the role of OsRIP1 can provide insights into enhancing stress tolerance and optimizing growth of rice.

Carbohydrate-active enzymes involved in rice cell wall metabolism.

Plant cell walls are complex, multifunctional structures, built up of polysaccharides and proteins. The configuration and abundance of cell wall constituents determine cellular elongation and plant growth. The emphasis of this review is on rice, a staple crop with economic importance, serving as model for grasses/cereals.

Investigating diversity and similarity between CBM13 modules and ricin-B lectin domains using sequence similarity networks.

Background: The CBM13 family comprises carbohydrate-binding modules that occur mainly in enzymes and in several ricin-B lectins. The ricin-B lectin domain resembles the CBM13 module to a large extent. Historically, ricin-B lectins and CBM13 proteins were considered completely distinct, despite their structural and functional similarities.

SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children Less Than Forty Days Hospitalized in Belgium Between 2020 and 2022.

Our study aimed to assess the severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection in hospitalized infants under 40 days old, across 21 Belgian hospitals between 2020 and 2022. Of the 365 infants studied, 14.2% needed respiratory support.

Computational insights into the circular permutation roles on ConA binding and structural stability.

The mechanisms behind Concanavalin A (ConA) circular permutation have been under investigation since 1985. Although a vast amount of information is available about this lectin and its applications, the exact purpose of its processing remains unclear. To shed light on this, this study employed computer simulations to compare the unprocessed ProConA with the mature ConA.

A flexible, image-based, high-throughput platform encompassing in-depth cell profiling to identify broad-spectrum coronavirus antivirals with limited off-target effects.

The recent pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) posed a major threat to global health. Although the World Health Organization ended the public health emergency status, antiviral drugs are needed to address new variants of SARS-CoV-2 and future pandemics. To identify novel broad-spectrum coronavirus drugs, we developed a high-content imaging platform compatible with high-throughput screening.

Jacalin-Curcumin Complex Sensitizes the Breast Cancer MDA-MB-231 Cell Line.

Protein-drug interactions are crucial for understanding drug delivery and cell functions. Jacalin is a suitable molecule for such targeting, as it specifically recognizes the tumor-associated Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF) antigen that is expressed on the glycosylated proteins in cancer cells. The present paper describes the interaction of curcumin and jacalin, a possible carrier molecule for the delivery of antitumor drugs due to its ability to recognize tumor cells.

Structural Analysis and Characterization of an Antiproliferative Lectin from Seeds.

Cells use glycans to encode information that modulates processes ranging from cell-cell recognition to programmed cell death. This information is encoded within a glycocode, and its decoding is performed by carbohydrate-binding proteins. Among these, lectins stand out due to their specific and reversible interaction with carbohydrates.

Characteristics of Adolescents Admitted with Acute Alcohol Intoxication: A Retrospective Multicentre Study in Antwerp, Belgium, in the Period 2015-2021.

Binge drinking among adolescents is common in Belgium, posing a risk of serious health consequences. Until today, only estimations of the prevalence of acute alcohol intoxication (AAI) in adolescents have been made. Research into potential risk factors has not yet been conducted in Belgium.

Circulating immune cell dynamics as outcome predictors for immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer.

The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) continues to transform the therapeutic landscape of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with these drugs now being evaluated at every stage of the disease. In contrast to these advances, little progress has been made with respect to reliable predictive biomarkers that can inform clinicians on therapeutic efficacy. All current biomarkers for outcome prediction, including PD-L1, tumor mutational burden or complex immune gene expression signatures, require access to tumor tissue.

Agglutinin Prevents Rabies Virus Infection in a Muscle Explant Model.

Infection with the rabies virus (RABV) results in a 100% lethal neurological disease once symptoms develop. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) consists of a combination of vaccination and anti-rabies immunoglobulins (RIGs); it is 100% effective if administered early after exposure. Because of its limited availability, alternatives for RIGs are needed.

Identification of Z-Tyr-Ala-CHN, a Cathepsin L Inhibitor with Broad-Spectrum Cell-Specific Activity against Coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is partly under control by vaccination. However, highly potent and safe antiviral drugs for SARS-CoV-2 are still needed to avoid development of severe COVID-19. We report the discovery of a small molecule, Z-Tyr-Ala-CHN, which was identified in a cell-based antiviral screen.

Protein interactions during dry and wet heat pre-treatment of skim milk powder (dispersions) and their effect on the heat stability of recombined filled evaporated milk.

Skim milk powder (SMP) as well as aqueous dispersions were subjected to dry and wet heat pre-treatment, respectively, to improve the heat stability of recombined filled evaporated milk (RFEM) derived therefrom. However, microrheological analysis revealed that prolonged incubation caused detrimental effects on the heat stability of RFEM, which were thought to be due to protein interactions. SDS-PAGE results indicated that protein aggregation via non-disulfide covalent bonds occurred upon long-time dry or wet heat incubation.

Plant lectins: Handymen at the cell surface.

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins and are involved in a multitude of biological functions. Lectins at the surface of plant cells often occur as lectin receptor-like kinases (LecRLK) anchored to the plasma membrane. These LecRLKs are part of the plant's pattern-recognition receptor (PRR) system enabling the plant to perceive threats and respond adequately.

Plant lectins as versatile tools to fight coronavirus outbreaks.

The S protein forming the homotrimeric spikes of pathogenic beta-coronaviruses, such as MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, is a highly glycosylated protein containing mainly N-glycans of the complex and high-mannose type, as well as O-glycans. Similarly, the host cell receptors DPP4 for MERS-CoV and ACE2 for SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, also represent N- and O-glycosylated proteins. All these glycoproteins share common glycosylation patterns, suggesting that plant lectins with different carbohydrate-binding specificities could be used as carbohydrate-binding agents for the spikes and their receptors, to combat COVID19 pandemics.

A galactoside-specific Dalbergieae legume lectin from seeds of Vataireopsis araroba (Aguiar) Ducke.

The Dalbergieae lectin group encompasses several lectins with significant differences in their carbohydrate specificities and biological properties. The current work reports on the purification and characterization of a GalNAc/Gal-specific lectin from Vataireopsis araroba (Aguiar) Ducke, designated as VaL. The lectin was purified from the seeds in a single step using guar gum affinity chromatography.

Pseudomonas syringae DC3000 infection increases glucosylated N-glycans in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Studying the interaction between the hemibiotrophic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 and Arabidopsis thaliana has shed light onto the various forms of mechanisms plants use to defend themselves against pathogen attack. While a lot of emphasis has been put on investigating changes in protein expression in infected plants, only little information is available on the effect infection plays on the plants N-glycan composition.

Differential effects of the recombinant type 1 ribosome-inactivating protein, OsRIP1, on growth of PSB-D and BY-2 cells.

Plant suspension cells were treated with recombinant OsRIP1, a type 1 ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) from rice ( L.). OsRIP1 triggered cell death in tobacco BY-2 cells but not in PSB-D cells.