αB-Crystallin Peptide Fused with Elastin-like Polypeptide: Intracellular Activity in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells Challenged with Oxidative Stress.

Background: Oxidative stress-induced retinal degeneration is among the main contributing factors of serious ocular pathologies that can lead to irreversible blindness. αB-crystallin (cry) is an abundant component of the visual pathway in the vitreous humor, which modulates protein and cellular homeostasis. Within this protein exists a 20 amino acid fragment (mini-cry) with both chaperone and antiapoptotic activity.

Biomimetic SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Nanoparticles.

COVID-19 is an infectious respiratory disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This virus contains a crucial coat protein that engages with target cells a receptor binding domain (RBD) on its spike protein. To better study the RBD and its therapeutic opportunities, we genetically engineered a simple fusion with a thermo-responsive elastin-like polypeptide (ELP).

The Promising Therapeutic Potential of Oligonucleotides for Pulmonary Fibrotic Diseases.

Introduction: Fibrotic lung diseases represent a large subset of diseases with an unmet clinical need. Oligonucleotide therapies (ONT) are a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of pulmonary disease as they can inhibit pathways that are otherwise difficult to target. Additionally, targeting the lung specifically with ONT is advantageous because it reduces the possibilities of systemic side effects and tolerability concerns.

Hydra-Elastin-like Polypeptides Increase Rapamycin Potency When Targeting Cell Surface GRP78.

Rapalogues are powerful therapeutic modalities for breast cancer; however, they suffer from low solubility and dose-limiting side effects. To overcome these challenges, we developed a long-circulating multiheaded drug carrier called 5FA, which contains rapamycin-binding domains linked with elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs). To target these "Hydra-ELPs" toward breast cancer, we here linked 5FA with four distinct peptides which are reported to engage the cell surface form of the 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (csGRP78).

Intracellular Dynamin Elastin-like Polypeptides Assemble into Rodlike, Spherical, and Reticular Dynasomes.

Dynamin (DNM) is a family of large GTPases possessing a unique mechanical ability to "pinch" off vesicles entering cells. DNM2 is the most ubiquitously expressed member of the DNM family. We developed a novel tool based on elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) technology to quickly, precisely, and reversibly modulate the structure of DNM2.

High Genomic Identity between Clinical and Environmental Strains of Suggests Pre-Adaptation to Different Hosts and Intrinsic Resistance to Multiple Drugs.

The genus is widely studied for its ability to associate with grasses and to perform biological nitrogen fixation. However, the bacteria of the genus have frequently been isolated from clinical samples. Understanding the genomic characteristics that allow these bacteria to switch environments and become able to colonize human hosts is essential for monitoring emerging pathogens and predicting outbreaks.

Single-Cell Quantification of the Transition Temperature of Intracellular Elastin-like Polypeptides.

Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are modular, stimuli-responsive materials that self-assemble into protein-rich microdomains in response to heating. By cloning ELPs to effector proteins, expressed intracellular fusions can even modulate cellular pathways. A critical step in engineering these fusions is to determine and control their intracellular phase transition temperature ().

Caveolin elastin-like polypeptide fusions mediate temperature-dependent assembly of caveolar microdomains.

Caveolae are membrane organelles formed by submicron invaginations in the plasma membrane, and are involved in mechanosensing, cell signaling, and endocytosis. Although implicated broadly in physiology and pathophysiology, better tools are required to elucidate the precise role of caveolar processes through selective activation and inactivation of their trafficking. Our group recently reported that thermally-responsive elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) can trigger formation of 'genetically engineered protein microdomains (GEPMs)' functionalized with either Clathrin-light chain or the epidermal growth factor receptor.

Structure-activity relationship of antibacterial chalcones.

The antibacterial activity of 31 chalcones was tested against bacterial strains, Bacillus cereus ATCC 11778, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. Some of the tested chalcones showed fair to significant activity against Gram-positive bacteria. By comparison of the results obtained, the antibacterial activity can be related to features such as the presence of a C-4 hydroxyl group, a C-4' oxygenated substituent or a C-3' isoprenoid side chain, while the C-2' hydroxyl group might have importance for the stability of the molecule.

Efficacy of ofloxacin otic solution once daily for 7 days in the treatment of otitis externa: a multicenter, open-label, phase III trial.

Background: Otitis externa (OE) is an infection of the external auditory canal that is typically treated with topically applied broad-spectrum antibiotics. Twice-daily topical treatment with ofloxacin otic 0.3% solution for 10 days has been reported to be as effective and well tolerated as the standard of care, neomycin sulfate/polymyxin B sulfate/hydrocortisone solution administered 4 times daily for 10 days.