Association of gut microbiome and metabolites with onset and treatment response of patients with pemphigus vulgaris.

Background: Gut dysbiosis and gut microbiome-derived metabolites have been implicated in both disease onset and treatment response, but this has been rarely demonstrated in pemphigus vulgaris (PV). Here, we aim to systematically characterize the gut microbiome to assess the specific microbial species and metabolites associated with PV.

Methods: We enrolled 60 PV patients and 19 matched healthy family members, and collected 100 fecal samples (60 treatment-naïve, 21 matched post-treatment, and 19 controls).

Association of anti-TNF-α treatment with gut microbiota of patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: Gut dysbiosis contributes to multiple autoimmune diseases, including ankylosing spondylitis, which is commonly treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors (TNFis). Because host TNF-α levels are considered to interact with gut microbiota, we aimed to systematically investigate the microbiota profile of ankylosing spondylitis patients with anti-TNF-α-based treatment and identify potential key bacteria.

Methods: Fecal samples were collected from 11 healthy controls and 24 ankylosing spondylitis patients before/after anti-TNF-α treatment, the microbiota profiles of which were evaluated by 16S ribosomal DNA amplicon sequencing and subsequent bioinformatic analysis.

Six genes involved in prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma identified by Cox hazard regression.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), derived from hepatocytes, is the main histological subtype of primary liver cancer and poses a serious threat to human health due to the high incidence and poor prognosis. This study aimed to establish a multigene prognostic model to predict the prognosis of patients with HCC.

Results: Gene expression datasets (GSE121248, GSE40873, GSE62232) were used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between tumor and adjacent or normal tissues, and then hub genes were screened by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and Cytoscape software.

An unexpected amide bond cleavage: poly (ethylene glycol) transport forms of vancomycin. 2.

PEG-amide vancomycin derivatives (V(3) position) have been synthesized and found to behave as prodrugs in vivo, demonstrating anti-microbial activity in mice when challenged with Staphylococcus aureus. The corresponding PEG-carbamate derivatives do not manifest this in vivo activity, although both classes of compounds have similar in vitro rat plasma stability. Thus, it appears that extra vascular cleavage of the amide bond can occur if the condition of extended circulation of the conjugate is met, resulting in the release of vancomycin.

Structure of a de novo designed protein model of radical enzymes.

The use of side chains as catalytic cofactors for protein mediated redox chemistry raises significant mechanistic issues as to how these amino acids are activated toward radical chemistry in a controlled manner. De novo protein design has been used to examine the structural basis for the creation and maintenance of a tryptophanyl radical in a three-helix bundle protein maquette. Here we report the detailed structural analysis of the protein by multidimensional NMR methods.

Cooperativity and specificity of association of a designed transmembrane peptide.

Thermodynamics studies aimed at quantitatively characterizing free energy effects of amino acid substitutions are not restricted to two state systems, but do require knowing the number of states involved in the equilibrium under consideration. Using analytical ultracentrifugation and NMR methods, we show here that a membrane-soluble peptide, MS1, designed by modifying the sequence of the water-soluble coiled-coil GCN4-P1, exhibits a reversible monomer-dimer-trimer association in detergent micelles with a greater degree of cooperativity in C14-betaine than in dodecyl phosphocholine detergents.