Heterologous protein expression often faces significant challenges, particularly when the target protein has posttranslational modifications, is toxic, or is prone to misfolding. These issues can result in low expression levels, aggregation, or even cell death. Such problems are exemplified by the expression of phospholipase p37, a critical target for chemotherapeutic drugs against pathogenic human orthopoxviruses, including monkeypox and smallpox viruses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntibodies are protein molecules whose primary function is to recognize antigens. However, recent studies have demonstrated their ability to hydrolyze specific substrates, such as proteins, oligopeptides, and nucleic acids. In 2023, two separate teams of researchers demonstrated the proteolytic activity of natural plasma antibodies from COVID-19 convalescents.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn December 2019, a new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, was found to in Wuhan, China. Cases of infection were subsequently detected in other countries in a short period of time, resulting in the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020. Questions about the impact of herd immunity of pre-existing immune reactivity to SARS-CoV-2 on COVID-19 severity, associated with the immunity to seasonal manifestation, are still to be resolved and may be useful for understanding some processes that precede the emergence of a pandemic virus.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDespite the long history of use and the knowledge of the genetics and biochemistry of , problems are still possible in obtaining a soluble form of recombinant proteins in this system. Although, soluble protein can be obtained both in the cytoplasm and in the periplasm of the bacterial cell. The latter is a priority strategy for obtaining soluble proteins.
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