Publications by authors named "M Faller"

Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 and TLR8 are endosomal sensors of the innate immune system that are activated by GU-rich single stranded RNA (ssRNA). Multiple genetic and functional lines of evidence link chronic activation of TLR7/8 to the pathogenesis of systemic autoimmune diseases (sAID) such as Sjögren's syndrome (SjS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This makes targeting TLR7/8-induced inflammation with small-molecule inhibitors an attractive approach for the treatment of patients suffering from systemic autoimmune diseases.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Bromodomain-containing protein 9 (BRD9), an essential component of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex termed ncBAF, has been established as a therapeutic target in a subset of sarcomas and leukemias. Here, we used novel small molecule inhibitors and degraders along with RNA interference to assess the dependency on BRD9 in the context of diverse hematological malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and multiple myeloma (MM) model systems. Following depletion of BRD9 protein, AML cells undergo terminal differentiation, whereas apoptosis was more prominent in ALL and MM.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Inappropriate activation of TLR7 and TLR8 is linked to several autoimmune diseases, such as lupus erythematosus. Here we report on the efficient structure-based optimization of the inhibition of TLR8, starting from a co-crystal structure of a small screening hit. Further optimization of the physicochemical properties for cellular potency and expansion of the structure-activity relationship for dual potency finally resulted in a highly potent TLR7/8 antagonist with demonstrated efficacy after oral dosing.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Bees face stress from pesticides and lack of flowers, but the effects of these stressors are often assumed to be uniform, overlooking the importance of different flowering resources.
  • This study tested the impact of the fungicide Amistar® on bumblebee colonies while varying flowering resources, finding that exposure to Amistar in Phacelia monocultures harmed bee health and colony growth, while other flowers had no negative effects.
  • Results indicate that diverse flowering plants are crucial for bumblebee fitness and pesticide resilience, highlighting the need for more research and better pesticide guidelines to protect pollinators.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: In the United States, approximately 12 million individuals seek medical care for pharyngitis each year, accounting for about 2% of ambulatory care visits. Although the gold standard for diagnosing group A streptococcus (GAS) is culture, it is time intensive. Rapid antigen detection tests (RADT) with or without culture confirmation are commonly used instead.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF