Advances in protein structure prediction highlight unexpected commonalities between Gram-positive and Gram-negative conjugative T4SSs.

Despite recent advances in our understanding of the structure and function of conjugative Type 4 Secretion Systems (T4SSs), there is still only very scarce data available for the ones from Gram-positive (G) bacteria. This is a problem, as conjugative T4SSs are main drivers for the spread of antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors. Here, we aim to increase our understanding of G systems, by using bioinformatic approaches to identify proteins that are conserved in all conjugative T4SS machineries and reviewing the current knowledge available for these components.

Longitudinal trajectories of digital upper limb biomarkers for multiple sclerosis.

Background: Upper limb dysfunction is a common debilitating feature of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). We aimed to examine the longitudinal trajectory of the iPad®-based Manual Dexterity Test (MDT) and predictors of change over time.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled RRMS patients (limited to Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) < 4).

Autoimmune-Like Mechanism in Heart Failure Enables Preventive Vaccine Therapy.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is strongly associated with inflammation. In pressure overload (PO)-induced HF, cardiac stress triggers adaptive immunity, ablation or inhibition of which blocks disease progression. We hypothesized that PO-HF might fulfill the often-used criteria of autoimmunity: if so, the associated adaptive immune response would be not only necessary but also sufficient to induce HF; it should also be possible to identify self-antigens driving the autoimmune response.

Early immune profiling reveals distinct inflammatory responses between children and adults few days after primary SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background: To date, it is still not clear why during the COVID-19 pandemic children generally developed no or milder symptoms compared to adults. As innate immune responses are crucial in the early defense against pathogens, we aimed at profiling these responses from both adults and children with a primary SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods: In the first months of the pandemic, PBMCs and serum were collected from peripheral blood of adults and children at different time points after testing SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive (PCR+).

A digital version of the nine-hole peg test: Speed may be a more reliable measure of upper-limb disability than completion time in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Background: A digital adaptation of the nine-hole peg test (9HPT) was developed with the potential to provide novel disability features for patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS).

Objectives: The objectives were to evaluate the 9HPT features based on reliability, prognosis, and discrimination between treatment groups.

Methods: The MS partners Advancing Technology and Health Solutions (MS PATHS) cohort data were used to derive new features including completion time and speed.