Viral fingerprints of the ion channel evolution: compromise of complexity and function.

Evolution from precellular supramolecular assemblies to cellular world originated from the ability to make a barrier between the interior of the cell and the outer environment. This step resulted from the possibility to form a membrane, which preserves the cell like a wall of the castle. However, every castle needs gates for trading, i.

Membrane Activity of Melittin and Magainin-I at Low Peptide-to-Lipid Ratio: Different Types of Pores and Translocation Mechanisms.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are believed to be a prominent alternative to the common antibiotics. However, despite decades of research, there are still no good clinical examples of peptide-based antimicrobial drugs for system application. The main reasons are loss of activity in the human body, cytotoxicity, and low selectivity.

Membrane Activity and Viroporin Assembly for the SARS-CoV-2 E Protein Are Regulated by Cholesterol.

The SARS-CoV-2 E protein is an enigmatic viral structural protein with reported viroporin activity associated with the acute respiratory symptoms of COVID-19, as well as the ability to deform cell membranes for viral budding. Like many viroporins, the E protein is thought to oligomerize with a well-defined stoichiometry. However, attempts to determine the structure of the protein complex have yielded inconclusive results, suggesting several possible oligomers, ranging from dimers to pentamers.

Use of Virtual Reality Techniques to Rehabilitate Military Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Review).

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental and behavioral disorder developing after a traumatic event like participation in combat activities. Objective diagnosis of combat PTSD and effective rehabilitation of war veterans is a current multifaceted problem with particularly high social costs. This review aims to evaluate the potential of virtual reality technique used as exposure therapy tool (VRET) to rehabilitate combat veterans and service members with PTSD.

A technique of hand digit reconstruction using scarred and deformed donor segments.

Background: Hand digit reconstruction with transposition of hand segments in cases of hand injury is not used frequently by surgeons, at least in part because of potential ischemic complications after cicatricial changes in tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate the opportunities for expanding the set of indications for hand digit reconstruction using scarred and deformed donor segments.

Methods: We developed a technique of ischemic preconditioning and preforming the segment before transfer to improve macro-circulation and micro-circulation in scarred donor segments with a view to preventing ischemic complications in reconstructed digits.