Delivery of endolysin across outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria using translocation domain of botulinum neurotoxin.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens has outpaced the development of new antibiotics, leading to renewed interest in endolysins. Endolysins have been investigated as novel biocontrol agents for Gram-positive bacteria. However, their efficacy against Gram-negative species is limited by the barrier presented by their outer membrane, which prevents endolysin access to the peptidoglycan substrate.

Design of PD-L1-Targeted Lipid Nanoparticles to Turn on PTEN for Efficient Cancer Therapy.

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) exhibit remarkable mRNA delivery efficiency, yet their majority accumulate in the liver or spleen after injection. Tissue-specific mRNA delivery can be achieved through modulating LNP properties, such as tuning PEGylation or varying lipid components systematically. In this paper, a streamlined method is used for incorporating tumor-targeting peptides into the LNPs; the programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) binding peptides are conjugated to PEGylated lipids via a copper-free click reaction, and directly incorporated into the LNP composition (Pep LNPs).

Conversion of Host Cell Receptor into Virus Destructor by Immunodisc to Neutralize Diverse SARS-CoV-2 Variants.

The decreasing efficacy of antiviral drugs due to viral mutations highlights the challenge of developing a single agent targeting multiple strains. Using host cell viral receptors as competitive inhibitors is promising, but their low potency and membrane-bound nature have limited this strategy. In this study, the authors show that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in a planar membrane patch can effectively neutralize all tested severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Development mechanism of resistant population post-exposure to tigecycline in tigecycline-heteroresistant Acinetobacter baumannii strain.

Tigecycline heteroresistance is highly prevalent in Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates, reducing the efficacy of tigecycline treatment. This study investigated the population dynamics of A. baumannii with tigecycline heteroresistance to determine the origin of resistance that occurs over time after antibiotic exposure.

Directed Evolution of Soluble α-1,2-Fucosyltransferase Using Kanamycin Resistance Protein as a Phenotypic Reporter for Efficient Production of 2'-Fucosyllactose.

2'-Fucosyllactose (2'-FL), the most abundant fucosylated oligosaccharide in human milk, has multiple beneficial effects on human health. However, its biosynthesis by metabolically engineered is often hampered owing to the insolubility and instability of α-1,2-fucosyltransferase (the rate-limiting enzyme). In this study, we aimed to enhance 2'-FL production by increasing the expression of soluble α-1,2-fucosyltransferase from (FucT2).

Optimization of protein trans-splicing in an inducible plasmid display system for high-throughput screening and selection of soluble proteins.

Directed evolution is widely used to optimize protein folding and solubility in cells. Although the screening and selection of desired mutants is an essential step in directed evolution, it generally requires laborious optimization and/or specialized equipment. With a view toward designing a more practical procedure, we previously developed an inducible plasmid display system, in which the intein (auto-processing) and Oct-1 DNA-binding (DBD) domains were used as the protein trans-splicing domain and DNA-binding module, respectively.

Association between exercise and fear of falling in community-dwelling elderly Koreans: results of a cross-sectional public opinion survey.

Objective: To investigate the association between habitual exercise and fear of falling in an older Korean population.

Design: Cross-sectional study conducted in a population-based sample of an urban city.

Setting: Urban city in South Korea.

The effect of back school integrated with core strengthening in patients with chronic low-back pain.

Objective: To assess the effect of back school integrated with core-strengthening exercises on back-specific disability and pain-coping strategies and to examine how reactions to pain affect the outcomes of back school in patients with chronic low back pain.

Design: A single-center prospective trial was conducted with 142 participants with chronic low-back pain (38 men and 104 women) who completed a back school program at the spine center of a university hospital. The subjects participated in a 4-wk program integrated with core-strengthening exercises.

Cross-cultural adaptation and clinimetric property of Korean version of the Chronic Pain Coping Inventory-42 in patients with chronic low back pain.

Study Design: Validation of a translated, culturally adapted questionnaire.

Objective: We developed a Korean version of the Chronic Pain Coping Inventory-42 (CPCI-42) by performing a cross-cultural adaptation, and evaluated its reliability and validity.

Summary Of Background Data: The CPCI is widely used and validated instruments for measuring coping strategies in chronic pain.

Longitudinal change of treatment-related upper limb dysfunction and its impact on late dysfunction in breast cancer survivors: a prospective cohort study.

Background And Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of upper limb dysfunction (ULD) and subtypes after breast cancer surgery and to identify factors associated with late ULD.

Methods: Among 191 enrolled patients, 191 were evaluated at 3 months, 187 at 6 months, and 183 at 12 months after surgery. Pain, shoulder range of motion, muscle strength, and arm circumference were assessed.

Discrepancies between balance confidence and physical performance among community-dwelling Korean elders: a population-based study.

Background: This study investigates discrepancies between the confidence expressed by Korean elders in their balance and their actual physical performances according to sex and age. It also attempts to identify the factors responsible for such gaps or discrepancies.

Methods: The Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging (KLoSHA) was designed as a population-based prospective cohort study on the health and aging of Korean adults aged 65 years and over.