Biological characterization and genomic analysis of a novel methicillin-resistant phage, SauPS-28.

a representative gram-positive bacterium, is a common infectious pathogen widely present in the natural environment. The increasing application of antibiotics is witnessing an increment in the number of clinically resistant strains (such as methicillin-resistant [MRSA]), which has posed a great challenge to antimicrobial therapy. In this study, a novel MRSA phage, SauPS-28, was isolated from the lake water of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Discovery of Novel Retigabine Derivatives as Potent KCNQ4 and KCNQ5 Channel Agonists with Improved Specificity.

Recent research suggests that KCNQ isoforms, particularly the KCNQ4 and KCNQ5 subtypes expressed in smooth muscle cells, are involved in both establishing and maintaining resting membrane potentials and regulating smooth muscle contractility. Retigabine (RTG) is a first-in-class antiepileptic drug that potentiates neuronal KCNQ potassium channels, but poor subtype selectivity limits its further application as a pharmacological tool. In this study, we improved the subtype specificity of retigabine by altering the N-1/3 substituents and discovered several compounds that show better selectivity for KCNQ4 and KCNQ5 channels.

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells are fully permissive for human cytomegalovirus infection.

Congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is a leading infectious cause of birth defects. Previous studies have reported birth defects with multiple organ maldevelopment in congenital HCMV-infected neonates. Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are a group of stem/progenitor cells that are multi-potent and can self-renew, and they play a vital role in multi-organ formation.

Novel KCNQ2 channel activators discovered using fluorescence-based and automated patch-clamp-based high-throughput screening techniques.

Aim: To establish an improved, high-throughput screening techniques for identifying novel KCNQ2 channel activators.

Methods: KCNQ2 channels were stably expressed in CHO cells (KCNQ2 cells). Thallium flux assay was used for primary screening, and 384-well automated patch-clamp IonWorks Barracuda was used for hit validation.

Identification and BAC construction of Han, the first characterized HCMV clinical strain in China.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the leading infectious cause of birth defects, and may lead to severe or lethal diseases in immunocompromised individuals. Several HCMV strains have been identified and widely applied in research, but no isolate from China has been characterized. In the present study, we isolated, characterized and sequenced the first Chinese HCMV clinical strain Han, and constructed the novel and functional HCMV infectious clone Han-BAC-2311.

MicroRNA miR-21 attenuates human cytomegalovirus replication in neural cells by targeting Cdc25a.

Unlabelled: Congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is a leading cause of birth defects, primarily manifesting as neurological disorders. HCMV infection alters expression of cellular microRNAs (miRs) and induces cell cycle arrest, which in turn modifies the cellular environment to favor virus replication. Previous observations found that HCMV infection reduces miR-21 expression in neural progenitor/stem cells (NPCs).

Later passages of neural progenitor cells from neonatal brain are more permissive for human cytomegalovirus infection.

Congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is the most frequent infectious cause of birth defects, primarily neurological disorders. Neural progenitor/stem cells (NPCs) are the major cell type in the subventricular zone and are susceptible to HCMV infection. In culture, the differentiation status of NPCs may change with passage, which in turn may alter susceptibility to virus infection.