Retroposable elements such as retroviral and lentiviral vectors have been employed for many gene therapy applications. Unfortunately, such gene transfer vectors integrate genes into many different DNA sequences and unintended integration of the vector near a growth-promoting gene can engender pathological consequences. For example, retroviral vector-mediated gene transfer induced leukemia in 2 of 11 children treated for severe combined immunodeficiency, raising significant safety issues for gene transfer strategies that cannot be targeted to specific sequences. Here, we examine the use of a mobile retroposable genetic element that can be targeted to introduce therapeutic sequences site specifically into mutant genes. The data demonstrate that the mobile group II intron from Lactococcus lactis can be targeted to insert into and repair mutant lacZ (approved gene symbol GLB1) and beta-globin (approved gene symbol HBB) genes with high efficiency and fidelity in model systems in bacteria. These results suggest that these mobile genetic elements represent a novel class of agents for performing targeted genetic repair.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ymthe.2005.01.014 | DOI Listing |
J Neuroinflammation
January 2025
Department of Neurology, Division of Neuroimmunology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
Chronic innate immune activation in the central nervous system (CNS) significantly contributes to neurodegeneration in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Using multiple experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) models, we discovered that NLRX1 protects neurons in the anterior visual pathway from inflammatory neurodegeneration. We quantified retinal ganglion cell (RGC) density and optic nerve axonal degeneration, gliosis, and T-cell infiltration in Nlrx1 and wild-type (WT) EAE mice and found increased RGC loss and axonal injury in Nlrx1 mice compared to WT mice in both active immunization EAE and spontaneous opticospinal encephalomyelitis (OSE) models.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCell Commun Signal
January 2025
Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
Background: Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) is a transmembrane protein involved in surface receptor complexes for a variety of extracellular signals. NRP1 expression in human cancers is associated with prominent angiogenesis and advanced progression stage. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying NRP1 activity in the tumor microenvironment remain unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Microbiol
January 2025
Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
Staphylococcaceae are a diverse bacterial family with important implications for human and animal health. This study highlights the One Health relevance of their environmental dispersal, particularly, by identifying closely related or genetically identical strains circulating between farm and community environments. Environmental Staphylococcaceae strains were isolated from animal farms and interconnected areas within a university setting, both influenced by anthropogenic activities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPoult Sci
January 2025
College of Biology and Agriculture, Shaoguan University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation of Food and Medicinal Resources in Northern Region, Shaoguan, 512005, Guangdong, PR China. Electronic address:
Antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) pollution in poultry farming environments has become increasingly critical, primarily driven by the widespread use of antibiotics in animal husbandry. Prolonged antibiotic use has led to the emergence of ARGs and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, spreading via horizontal and vertical gene transfer. The complexity of ARG pollution in poultry farming arises from the unique farming practices, physiological characteristics of poultry, and manure management methods, with manure, wastewater, and air serving as significant vectors for ARG dissemination.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Hazard Mater
January 2025
Engineering Research Center of Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation (Ministry of Education), College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, No 19, Xinjiekouwai Street, Beijing 100875, China. Electronic address:
Electronic mediators are an effective means of enhancing the efficiency of microbial electrochemical electron transfer; however, there are still gaps in understanding the strengthening mechanisms and the efficiency of removing antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB). This study systematically elucidates the effects of various electron mediators on bioelectrochemical processes, electron transfer efficiency, and the underlying mechanisms that inhibit ARG propagation within sediment microbial fuel cell systems (SMFCs). The results indicate that the addition of electron mediators significantly increased the output voltage (33.
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