Design and synthesis of cyclic lipidated peptides derived from the C-terminus of Cx43 for hemichannel inhibition and cardiac endothelium targeting.

A peptide segment that is 10 residues long at the C-terminal (CT) region of Cx43 is known to be involved in interactions, both with the Cx43 protein itself and with other proteins, that result in hemichannel (HC) activity regulation. Previously reported mimetic peptides based on this region (, , ) have been revealed to be promising therapeutic agents in the context of cardiovascular diseases. In this work, novel approaches, such as C- and N-terminal modification and cyclization, to improve the proteolytic stability and bioavailability of the peptide are presented.

Complexes of vertebrate TMC1/2 and CIB2/3 proteins form hair-cell mechanotransduction cation channels.

Calcium and integrin-binding protein 2 (CIB2) and CIB3 bind to transmembrane channel-like 1 (TMC1) and TMC2, the pore-forming subunits of the inner-ear mechano-electrical transduction (MET) apparatus. These interactions have been proposed to be functionally relevant across mechanosensory organs and vertebrate species. Here, we show that both CIB2 and CIB3 can form heteromeric complexes with TMC1 and TMC2 and are integral for MET function in mouse cochlea and vestibular end organs as well as in zebrafish inner ear and lateral line.

Protein and DNA Conformational Changes Contribute to Specificity of Cre Recombinase.

Cre, a conservative site-specific tyrosine recombinase, is a powerful gene editing tool in the laboratory. Expanded applications in human health are hindered by lack of understanding of the mechanism by which Cre selectively binds and recombines its cognate sequences. This knowledge is essential for retargeting the enzyme to new sites and for mitigating effects of off-target recombination.

Sexual wellness clinic collaborative initiative with a large urban emergency department: sexual health outcomes and linkage to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis.

Introduction: Despite escalating rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States (US), there has been progressive divestment of sexual health services leading to the reliance on emergency departments (EDs) for sexual healthcare, particularly among vulnerable populations. The Sexual Wellness Clinic (SWC), a novel care delivery model operating in collaboration with the ED, offers comprehensive sexual health services.

Objectives: This study aims to analyze the demographics, STI positivity, and HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake among patients accessing the SWC.

Bilateral Shoulder Infections and Delayed Recognition of Spinal Discitis in an Adult Male With Mild COVID-19 and Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia: Case Report and Literature Review.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with numerous complications beyond the respiratory tract, including spinal and joint co-infections and secondary infections. However, we could not locate any reported cases of bilateral shoulder infections with additional spinal infections associated with mild (like our patient) COVID-19 or with more severe cases of COVID-19. We report the case of a healthy 62-year-old male who presented with mild COVID-19 and concurrent methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) bacteremia associated with multiple musculoskeletal sites of deep-seated infection.