Multiplexed Immunoassay Using Quantum Dots to Monitor Proteins Secreted from Single Cells at Near-Single Molecule Resolution.

Single-cell secretion studies find important applications in molecular diagnostics, therapeutic target identification, and basic biology research. One increasingly important area of research is non-genetic cellular heterogeneity, a phenomenon that can be studied by assessing secretion of soluble effector proteins from single cells. This is particularly impactful for immune cells, as secreted proteins such as cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors are the gold standard for identifying phenotype.

Multiplexed Detection of Secreted Cytokines at near-Molecular Resolution Elucidates Macrophage Polarization Heterogeneity.

Monitoring the secretion of proteins from single cells can provide important insights into how cells respond to their microenvironment. This is particularly true for immune cells, which can exhibit a large degree of response heterogeneity. Microfabricated well arrays provide a powerful and versatile method to assess the secretion of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors from single cells, but detection sensitivity has been limited to high levels on the order of 10,000 per cell.

A variant in is associated with decreased disease severity in COVID-19.

Background: Mortality due to COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection varies among populations. Functional relevance of genetic variations in Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 () and Transmembrane serine protease 2 (), two crucial host factors for viral entry, might explain some of this variation.

Methods: In this comparative study in Indian subjects, we recruited 510 COVID-19 patients and retrieved DNA from 520 controls from a repository.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in scrub typhus fever.

The clinical course of a 40-year-old female patient, who presented with acute febrile illness due to scrub typhus fever became complicated by seizures and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), leading to a fatal outcome. She had normal blood pressure at admission; however, she later developed hypotension and shock. PRES is a syndrome of vasogenic cerebral oedema and accompanying neurological deficits resulting from the breakdown of blood-brain barrier due to high blood pressure or radical blood pressure changes.

Self-healing microcapsules encapsulated with carbon nanotubes for improved thermal and electrical properties.

Microcapsules are widely used by researchers in self-healing composites. In this study, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) were incorporated into the core of the microcapsules, along with the self-healing agent. Dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) and urea-formaldehyde (UF) were chosen as the core and shell materials respectively, and DCPD-CNT-UF based dual core microcapsules were synthesized.

Structural analyses of the bacterial primosomal protein DnaB reveal that it is a tetramer and forms a complex with a primosomal re-initiation protein.

The DnaB primosomal protein from Gram-positive bacteria plays a key role in DNA replication and restart as a loader protein for the recruitment of replisome cascade proteins. Previous investigations have established that DnaB is composed of an N-terminal domain, a middle domain, and a C-terminal domain. However, structural evidence for how DnaB functions at the atomic level is lacking.

NrdR Transcription Regulation: Global Proteome Analysis and Its Role in Escherichia coli Viability and Virulence.

Bacterial ribonucleotide reductases (RNRs) play an important role in the synthesis of dNTPs and their expression is regulated by the transcription factors, NrdR and Fur. Recent transcriptomic studies using deletion mutants have indicated a role for NrdR in bacterial chemotaxis and in the maintenance of topoisomerase levels. However, NrdR deletion alone has no effect on bacterial growth or virulence in infected flies or in human blood cells.

EM structure of a helicase-loader complex depicting a 6:2 binding sub-stoichiometry from Geobacillus kaustophilus HTA426.

During DNA replication, bacterial helicase is recruited as a complex in association with loader proteins to unwind the parental duplex. Previous structural studies have reported saturated 6:6 helicase-loader complexes with different conformations. However, structural information on the sub-stoichiometric conformations of these previously-documented helicase-loader complexes remains elusive.

Bacillus licheniformis trehalose-6-phosphate hydrolase structures suggest keys to substrate specificity.

Trehalose-6-phosphate hydrolase (TreA) belongs to glycoside hydrolase family 13 (GH13) and catalyzes the hydrolysis of trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P) to yield glucose and glucose 6-phosphate. The products of this reaction can be further metabolized by the energy-generating glycolytic pathway. Here, crystal structures of Bacillus licheniformis TreA (BlTreA) and its R201Q mutant complexed with p-nitrophenyl-α-D-glucopyranoside (R201Q-pPNG) are presented at 2.

Helicobacter pylori cell binding factor 2: Insights into domain motion.

Helicobacter pylori cell binding factor 2 (HpCBF2) is an antigenic virulence factor belonging to the SurA-like peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase family with implications for pathogenicity in the human gastrointestinal tract. HpCBF2 possesses PPIase activity and could act as a periplasmic chaperone to regulate outer membrane protein assembly. Here, we measured the isomerization and chaperone activity of HpCBF2, and determined the crystal structure of HpCBF2 in complex with an inhibitor, indole-2-carboxylic acid (I2CA), at 2.

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels and short term prognosis in acute ischemic stroke.

Background: Sparse published data are available regarding the prognostic importance of plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Materials And Methods: We prospectively studied 74 consecutive patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke within 24 hours of onset. All of them underwent laboratory and imaging evaluation and were treated as per guidelines.

Additions to the Encyrtidae and Mymaridae (Chalcidoidea) of India with new distribution and host records for some species.

Background: Encyrtidae and Mymaridae of India have not been surveyed in depth and hosts are not known for most of the species as the methods of collections used are passive and do not yield firsthand information on the hosts. Based on our ongoing surveys on the Encyrtidae and Mymaridae of India, we report here new distribution and host records for some species.

New Information: Acmopolynemacampylurum Xu and Lin, Lituscynipseus Haliday, Omyomymarglabrum Lin and Chiappini and Platystethynium Ogloblin (Mymaridae), and Rhytidothoraxpurpureiscutellum (Girault) (Encyrtidae) are reported for the first time from India.

Treatment of ectopic mandibular second permanent molar with elastic separators.

Ectopic eruption is a developmental disturbance in which the tooth fails to follow its normal eruption pathway. Ectopic eruption of the second molar is relatively rare. This paper presents the case of thirteen-year-old male with an ectopic mandibular second permanent molar.

Lead encephalopathy in adults.

Lead poisoning is a common occupational health hazard in developing countries. We report the varied clinical presentation, diagnostic and management issues in two adult patients with lead encephalopathy. Both patients worked in a battery manufacturing unit.

A novel technique in restoring fractured anterior teeth.

Trauma to the anterior teeth is a common phenomenon in young children and in adolescents. Uncomplicated crown fracture to the permanent teeth has an intense effect not only on the patient's appearance, but also on function and speech. This case report describes a novel technique in restoring an uncomplicated fractured maxillary anterior tooth in a young patient with direct composite, which is economical and requires less chair side time.

Crystal structure of DnaK protein complexed with nucleotide exchange factor GrpE in DnaK chaperone system: insight into intermolecular communication.

The conserved, ATP-dependent bacterial DnaK chaperones process client substrates with the aid of the co-chaperones DnaJ and GrpE. However, in the absence of structural information, how these proteins communicate with each other cannot be fully delineated. For the study reported here, we solved the crystal structure of a full-length Geobacillus kaustophilus HTA426 GrpE homodimer in complex with a nearly full-length G.

Short term health impact of a yoga and diet change program on obesity.

Background: Obese persons often find physical activity difficult. The effects of a yoga and diet change program, emphasizing breathing techniques practiced while seated, was assessed in obese persons.

Material/methods: A single group of 47 persons were assessed on the first and last day of a yoga and diet change program, with 6 days of the intervention between assessments.