Publications by authors named "V BUFFA"

Article Synopsis
  • Macrocycles are natural and synthetic compounds that can enhance the ability of bioactive molecules to penetrate cells, with emerging guidelines for their design.
  • Even medium-sized macrocycles exhibit significant flexibility in shape, even while attached to target proteins, which allows for diverse conformations.
  • Minor linker modifications in these macrocycles can lead to new ligand formations with improved binding properties for important therapeutic targets, highlighting the unique benefits of macrocyclic structures in drug development.
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Objectives: Since December 2019, worldwide public health has been exposed to a severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by Coronavirus-2. Serological testing is necessary for retrospective assessment of seroprevalence rates, and the determination of vaccine response and duration of immunity. For this reason, it was necessary to introduce a panel of tests able to identify and quantify Covid-19 antibodies.

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The FK506 binding protein 51 (FKBP51) is an appealing drug target due to its role in several diseases such as depression, anxiety, chronic pain and obesity. Towards this, selectivity versus the close homolog FKBP52 is essential. However, currently available FKBP51-selective ligands such as SAFit2 are too large and lack drug-like properties.

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The agamid lizards of the genusare undoubtedly the most renown reptilian gliders, using their rib-supported patagial wings as lifting surfaces while airborne. Recent investigations into these reptiles highlighted the role of body posture during gliding, however, the aerodynamics of postural changes inremain unclear. Here, we examine the aerodynamics and gliding performances ofusing a numerical approach focusing on three postural changes: wing expansion, body camber, and limb positioning.

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was initially described as a member of the Weigeltisauridae, a clade of Late Permian gliding reptiles from Eurasia and Madagascar. However, the poor preservation of the holotype and only known specimen, from the lower Sulphur Mountain Formation at Ganoid Ridge (British Columbia, Canada), raised doubts about this assignment. Here, we redescribe and reassess its systematic position among diapsid reptiles.

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