Publications by authors named "N C Brackett"
Article Synopsis
- - Approximately 15% of the US population suffers from cat allergies, primarily caused by the allergen Fel d 1, which triggers IgE antibody responses and can lead to severe symptoms like asthma.
- - A comparative analysis of Fel d 1 genes across various domestic and exotic cat species revealed over 100 distinct protein sequence variations and indicated that Fel d 1 has undergone positive selection, indicating greater variability over time.
- - The significant variability in Fel d 1 genes (41-58% of amino acid differences) suggests that its biological function might differ among cat species or may not be essential, potentially offering evolutionary advantages by enabling the allergen to interact with various physiological ligands.
The allergen-IgE interaction is essential for the genesis of allergic responses, yet investigation of the molecular basis of these interactions is in its infancy. Precision engineering has unveiled the molecular features of allergen-antibody interactions at the atomic level. High-resolution technologies, including x-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and cryo-electron microscopy, determine allergen-antibody structures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFT cell immunity to natural SARS-CoV-2 infection may be more robust and longer lived than Ab responses. Accurate assessment of T cell responses is critical for understanding the magnitude and longevity of immunity across patient cohorts, and against emerging variants. By establishing a simple, accurate, and rapid whole blood test, natural and vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 immunity was determined.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF