Selection and characterization of human scFvs targeting the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein isolated from antibody libraries of COVID-19 patients.

In 2019, the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus emerged in China, causing the pneumonia named COVID-19. At the beginning, all research efforts were focused on the spike (S) glycoprotein. However, it became evident that the nucleocapsid (N) protein is pivotal in viral replication, genome packaging and evasion of the immune system, is highly immunogenic, which makes it another compelling target for antibody development alongside the spike protein.

proNGF Measurement in Cerebrospinal Fluid Samples of a Large Cohort of Living Patients With Alzheimer's Disease by a New Automated Immunoassay.

The discovery of new biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is essential for an accurate diagnosis, to conceive new strategies of treatments, and for monitoring the efficacy of potential disease-modifying therapies in clinical trials. proNGF levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) represent a promising diagnostic biomarker for AD, but its validation was hampered by the absence of a reliable immunoassay. In the literature, proNGF is currently measured in postmortem brain tissue by semiquantitative immunoblot.

A Quantitative Bioassay to Determine the Inhibitory Potency of NGF-TrkA Antagonists.

In this article, we demonstrate and validate a new bioassay named the NTAB [NGF-TrkA (nerve growth factor-tropomyosin receptor kinase A) antagonist bioassay] for the determination of the inhibitory potency of NGF-TrkA antagonists, based on the inhibition of NGF-dependent proliferation of the human TF1 erythroleukemic cell line.It is well known that NGF holds great therapeutic potential due to its neurotrophic and neuroprotective properties. NGF is also involved in some pathways, however, principally driven by TrkA that, if not correctly regulated, can lead to unwanted pathological outcomes linked to pain, angiogenesis, and cancer.