In vivo hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy ameliorates murine thalassemia intermedia.

Current thalassemia gene therapy protocols require the collection of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs), in vitro culture, lentivirus vector transduction, and retransplantation into myeloablated patients. Because of cost and technical complexity, it is unlikely that such protocols will be applicable in developing countries, where the greatest demand for a β-thalassemia therapy lies. We have developed a simple in vivo HSPC gene therapy approach that involves HSPC mobilization and an intravenous injection of integrating HDAd5/35++ vectors.

Integrating HDAd5/35++ Vectors as a New Platform for HSC Gene Therapy of Hemoglobinopathies.

We generated an integrating, CD46-targeted, helper-dependent adenovirus HDAd5/35++ vector system for hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene therapy. The ∼12-kb transgene cassette included a β-globin locus control region (LCR)/promoter driven human γ-globin gene and an elongation factor alpha-1 (EF1α)-mgmt expression cassette, which allows for drug-controlled increase of γ-globin-expressing erythrocytes. We transduced bone marrow lineage-depleted cells from human CD46-transgenic mice and transplanted them into lethally irradiated recipients.

Molecular modeling, simulation and virtual screening of MurD ligase protein from Salmonella typhimurium LT2.

The Mur enzymes of the peptidoglycan biosynthesis pathway constitute ideal targets for the design of new classes of antimicrobial inhibitors in Gram-negative bacteria. We built a homology model of MurD of Salmonella typhimurium LT2 using MODELLER (9v12) software. 'The homology model was subjected to energy minimization by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation study with GROMACS software for a simulation time of 20 ns in water environment.

Comparative genomics study of Salmonella Typhimurium LT2 for the identification of putative therapeutic candidates.

A computational, comparative genomics workflow was defined for the identification of novel therapeutic candidates against Salmonella Typhimurium LT2, with the aim that the selected targets should be essential to the pathogen, and have no homology with the human host. Bioinformatics analysis identified 43 proteins as non-host essential, which could serve as potential drug and vaccine targets. Additional prioritization parameters characterized 13 proteins as vaccine candidates while druggability of each of the identified proteins was evaluated by the Drug Bank database prioritized same number proteins suitable for drug targets.

Comparative genomics study for the identification of drug and vaccine targets in Staphylococcus aureus: MurA ligase enzyme as a proposed candidate.

Now-a-days increasing emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic microorganisms is one of the biggest challenges for management of disease. In the present study comparative genomics, metabolic pathways analysis and additional parameters were defined for the identification of 94 non-homologous essential proteins in Staphylococcus aureus genome. Further study prioritized 19 proteins as vaccine candidates where as druggability study reports 34 proteins suitable as drug targets.

Comparative genomics study for identification of drug and vaccine targets in Vibrio cholerae: MurA ligase as a case study.

A systematic workflow consisting of comparative genomics, metabolic pathways analysis and additional drug prioritization parameters identified 264 proteins of Vibrio cholerae which were predicted to be absent in Homo sapiens. Among these, 40 proteins were identified as essential proteins that could serve as potential drug and vaccine targets. Additional prioritization parameters characterized 11 proteins as vaccine candidates while druggability of each of the identified proteins as evaluated by the Drug Bank database which prioritized 16 proteins suitable for drug targets.