This Crystal Ball speculates on the potential of molecular decoys for prevention and therapy in infectious diseases. It is dedicated to the memory of Singh Chhatwal, who pioneered research on disguises and decoys produced by Streptococcus, and so much more.
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7888466 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.13706 | DOI Listing |
PLoS One
January 2025
Immunology and Immunotherapy Division, Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM), Havana, Cuba.
SARS-CoV-2 has continued spreading around the world in recent years since the initial outbreak in 2019, frequently developing into new variants with greater human infectious capacity. SARS-CoV-2 and its mutants use the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a cellular entry receptor, which has triggered several therapeutic strategies against COVID-19 relying on the use of ACE2 recombinant proteins as decoy receptors. In this work, we propose an ACE2 silent Fc fusion protein (ACE2-hFcLALA) as a candidate therapy against COVID-19.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImmunol Rev
January 2025
W. M. Keck Laboratory for Structural Biology, University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland, USA.
Natural killer (NK) cells are essential elements of the innate immune response against tumors and viral infections. NK cell activation is governed by NK cell receptors that recognize both cellular (self) and viral (non-self) ligands, including MHC, MHC-related, and non-MHC molecules. These diverse receptors belong to two distinct structural families, the C-type lectin superfamily and the immunoglobulin superfamily.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS One
December 2024
Department of Pharmacology, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea.
The increasing utilization of deep learning models in drug repositioning has proven to be highly efficient and effective. In this study, we employed an integrated deep-learning model followed by traditional drug screening approach to screen a library of FDA-approved drugs, aiming to identify novel inhibitors targeting the TNF-α converting enzyme (TACE). TACE, also known as ADAM17, plays a crucial role in the inflammatory response by converting pro-TNF-α to its active soluble form and cleaving other inflammatory mediators, making it a promising target for therapeutic intervention in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPathol Int
December 2024
Department of Molecular Pathology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Toon City, Japan.
Bone is a unique organ crucial for locomotion, mineral metabolism, and hematopoiesis. It maintains homeostasis through a balance between bone formation by osteoblasts and bone resorption by osteoclasts, which is regulated by the basic multicellular unit (BMU). Abnormal bone metabolism arises from an imbalance in the BMU.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur J Clin Invest
December 2024
Institute of Immunology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald, Germany.
Background: CEACAM1 in leukocytes controls cell activation during inflammation. This and its expression in epithelial cells led to frequent independent appropriation of CEACAM1 as receptor by pathogens in humans and other species to gain host access and to downregulate its immune response. As a countermeasure, decoy receptors with CEACAM1-like pathogen-binding domains evolved.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!