Identification and Experimental Characterization of an Extremophilic Brine Pool Alcohol Dehydrogenase from Single Amplified Genomes.

Because only 0.01% of prokaryotic genospecies can be cultured and in situ observations are often impracticable, culture-independent methods are required to understand microbial life and harness potential applications of microbes. Here, we report a methodology for the production of proteins with desired functions based on single amplified genomes (SAGs) from unculturable species.

Advancing targeted co-stimulation with antibody-fusion proteins by introducing TNF superfamily members in a single-chain format.

Co-stimulation via receptors of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily (TNFSF) emerges as promising strategy to support antitumor immune responses. Targeted strategies with antibody-fusion proteins composed of a tumor-directed antibody part and the extracellular domain of a co-stimulatory ligand of the TNFSF constitute an attractive option to focus the co-stimulatory activity to the tumor site. Since TNFSF members intrinsically form functional units of non-covalently linked homotrimers, the protein engineering of suitable antibody-fusion proteins is challenging.

Inhaled hydrogen sulfide induces suspended animation, but does not alter the inflammatory response after blunt chest trauma.

The treatment of acute lung injury and septic complications after blunt chest trauma remains a challenge. Inhaled hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) may cause a hibernation-like metabolic state, which refers to an attenuated systemic inflammatory response. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that inhaled H₂S-induced suspended animation may attenuate the inflammation after pulmonary contusion.

Xenon-induced changes in CNS sensitization to pain.

Electrophysiological investigations of the spinal cord in animals have shown that pain sensitizes the central nervous system via glutamate receptor dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) related to an enhancement of pain perception. To expand these findings, we used functional magnetic resonance (fMRI), blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) and perfusion imaging in combination with repeated electrical stimulation in humans. Specifically we monitored modulation of somatosensory processing during inhibition of excitatory transmission by ocular application of the glutamate receptor antagonist xenon.