Neutralization Epitopes in Trimer and Pentamer Complexes Recognized by Potent Cytomegalovirus-Neutralizing Human Monoclonal Antibodies.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infects 36% to almost 100% of adults and causes severe complications only in immunocompromised individuals. HCMV viral surface trimeric (gH/gL/gO) and pentameric (gH/gL/UL128/UL130/UL131A) complexes play important roles in HCMV infection and tropism. Here, we isolated and identified a total of four neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) derived from HCMV-seropositive blood donors.

Crizotinib Shows Antibacterial Activity against Gram-Positive Bacteria by Reducing ATP Production and Targeting the CTP Synthase PyrG.

Infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria are a serious threat to public health worldwide, and the discovery of novel antibacterial compounds is urgently needed. Here, we screened an FDA-approved small-molecule library and found that crizotinib possesses good antimicrobial efficacy against Gram-positive bacteria. Crizotinib was found to increase the survival rate of mice infected with bacteria and decrease pulmonary inflammation activity in an animal model.

Identification and Tetramer Structure of Hemin-Binding Protein SPD_0310 Linked to Iron Homeostasis and Virulence of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Iron and iron-containing compounds are essential for bacterial virulence and host infection. Hemin is an important supplement compound for bacterial survival in an iron-deficient environment. Despite strong interest in hemin metabolism, the detailed mechanism of hemin transportation in Gram-positive bacteria is yet to be reported.

Mechanism of Cross-Resistance to Fusion Inhibitors Conferred by the K394R Mutation in Respiratory Syncytial Virus Fusion Protein.

The fusion glycoprotein (F) is essential for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) entry and has become an attractive target for anti-RSV drug development. Despite the promising prospect of RSV F inhibitors, issues of drug resistance remain challenging. In this study, we established a dual-luciferase protocol for RSV fusion inhibitor discovery.