Chemical tools to define and manipulate interferon-inducible Ubl protease USP18.

Ubiquitin-specific protease 18 (USP18) is a multifunctional cysteine protease primarily responsible for deconjugating the interferon-inducible ubiquitin-like modifier ISG15 from protein substrates. Here, we report the design and synthesis of activity-based probes (ABPs) that incorporate unnatural amino acids into the C-terminal tail of ISG15, enabling the selective detection of USP18 activity over other ISG15 cross-reactive deubiquitinases (DUBs) such as USP5 and USP14. Combined with a ubiquitin-based DUB ABP, the USP18 ABP is employed in a chemoproteomics screening platform to identify and assess inhibitors of DUBs including USP18.

Association of the skin microbiome with the biomechanical scar properties in patients with burns.

Background And Objectives: Skin microbiome dysbiosis can cause skin barrier dysfunction and stimulate scar property change. Skin barrier disruption post-burn injury leads to an imbalance in skin microbe diversity and distribution. We aimed to examine the changes in the skin microbiome of re-epithelialized burn scars.

Differential pathological changes in colon microenvironments in acute and chronic mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic condition characterized by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, resulting from an abnormal immune response to normal stimuli, such as food and intestinal flora. Since the etiology of this disease remains largely unknown, murine models induced by the consumption of dextran-sodium sulfate serve as a pivotal tool for studying colon inflammation. In this study, we employed both acute and chronic colitis mouse models induced by varying durations of dextran-sodium sulfate consumption to investigate the pathological and immunologic characteristics throughout the disease course.

Engineering Spin Interaction Channels of FePc on Au(111).

We demonstrate the reversible control of interactions between a local molecular spin, hosted within an iron phthalocyanine (FePc) molecule, and the conduction electrons of a supporting Au(111) surface. Using the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope, we deliberately and reversibly manipulate the adsorption configuration of the molecule relative to the underlying substrate lattice. Different rotation configurations lead to noticeable changes in the differential conductance measured on the FePc molecules.

Evolving trends in the prevalence and treatment of ankylosing spondylitis in Korea from 2010 to 2023: a population-based study.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the axial skeleton, resulting in severe pain, decreased mobility, and irreversible structural damage. This study explores the evolving prevalence, patient demographics, and treatment trends for AS in the Korean population from 2010 to 2023, alongside advancements in targeted therapies. This population-based study utilized data from the National Health Insurance Database covering 2010 to 2023.