S6P mutation in Delta and Omicron variant spike protein significantly enhances the efficacy of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

Background: The unrelenting emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants has significantly challenged the efficacy of existing COVID-19 vaccines. Enhancing the stability and immunogenicity of the spike protein is critical for improving vaccine performance and addressing variant-driven immune evasion.

Methods: We developed an mRNA-based vaccine, RV-1730, encoding the Delta variant spike protein with the S6P mutation to enhance stability and immunogenicity.

Substrate-dependent modulation of the leukotriene A hydrolase aminopeptidase activity and effect in a murine model of acute lung inflammation.

The aminopeptidase activity (AP) of the leukotriene A hydrolase (LTAH) enzyme has emerged as a therapeutic target to modulate host immunity. Initial reports focused on the benefits of augmenting the LTAH AP activity and clearing its putative pro-inflammatory substrate Pro-Gly-Pro (PGP). However, recent reports have introduced substantial complexity disconnecting the LTAH modulator 4-methoxydiphenylmethane (4MDM) from PGP as follows: (1) 4MDM inhibits PGP hydrolysis and subsequently inhibition of LTAH AP activity, and (2) 4MDM activates the same enzyme target in the presence of alternative substrates.

Targeting Glycosylated PD-1 Induces Potent Antitumor Immunity.

Immunotherapies targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) immune checkpoints represent a major breakthrough in cancer treatment. PD-1 is an inhibitory receptor expressed on the surface of activated T cells that dampens T-cell receptor (TCR)/CD28 signaling by engaging with its ligand PD-L1 expressed on cancer cells. Despite the clinical success of PD-1 blockade using mAbs, most patients do not respond to the treatment, and the underlying regulatory mechanisms of PD-1 remain incompletely defined.

Eradication of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells by Targeting Glycosylated PD-L1.

Protein glycosylation provides proteomic diversity in regulating protein localization, stability, and activity; it remains largely unknown whether the sugar moiety contributes to immunosuppression. In the study of immune receptor glycosylation, we showed that EGF induces programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and receptor programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) interaction, requiring β-1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyl transferase (B3GNT3) expression in triple-negative breast cancer. Downregulation of B3GNT3 enhances cytotoxic T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity.

Komodo dragon-inspired synthetic peptide DRGN-1 promotes wound-healing of a mixed-biofilm infected wound.

Cationic antimicrobial peptides are multifunctional molecules that have a high potential as therapeutic agents. We have identified a histone H1-derived peptide from the Komodo dragon (, called VK25. Using this peptide as inspiration, we designed a synthetic peptide called DRGN-1.

Peptides from American alligator plasma are antimicrobial against multi-drug resistant bacterial pathogens including Acinetobacter baumannii.

Background: Our group has developed a new process for isolating and identifying novel cationic antimicrobial peptides from small amounts of biological samples. Previously, we identified several active antimicrobial peptides from 100 μl of plasma from Alligator mississippiensis. These peptides were found to have in vitro antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.