| 1. |
- Jena, Prajna, et al.
(author)
-
Azurophil Granule Proteins Constitute the Major Mycobactericidal Proteins in Human Neutrophils and Enhance the Killing of Mycobacteria in Macrophages
- 2012
-
In: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 7:12
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Pathogenic mycobacteria reside in, and are in turn controlled by, macrophages. However, emerging data suggest that neutrophils also play a critical role in innate immunity to tuberculosis, presumably by their different antibacterial granule proteins. In this study, we purified neutrophil azurophil and specific granules and systematically analyzed the antimycobacterial activity of some purified azurophil and specific granule proteins against M. smegmatis, M. bovis-BCG and M. tuberculosis H37Rv. Using gel overlay and colony forming unit assays we showed that the defensin-depleted azurophil granule proteins (AZP) were more active against mycobacteria compared to other granule proteins and cytosolic proteins. The proteins showing antimycobacterial activity were identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Electron microscopic studies demonstrate that the AZP disintegrate bacterial cell membrane resulting in killing of mycobacteria. Exogenous addition of AZP to murine macrophage RAW 264.7, THP-1 and peripheral blood monocyte-derived macrophages significantly reduced the intracellular survival of mycobacteria without exhibiting cytotoxic activity on macrophages. Immunofluorescence studies showed that macrophages actively endocytose neutrophil granular proteins. Treatment with AZP resulted in increase in co-localization of BCG containing phagosomes with lysosomes but not in increase of autophagy. These data demonstrate that neutrophil azurophil proteins may play an important role in controlling intracellular survival of mycobacteria in macrophages. Citation: Jena P, Mohanty S, Mohanty T, Kallert S, Morgelin M, et al. (2012) Azurophil Granule Proteins Constitute the Major Mycobactericidal Proteins in Human Neutrophils and Enhance the Killing of Mycobacteria in Macrophages. PLoS ONE 7(12): e50345. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0050345
|
|
| 2. |
- Weil, Tatjana, et al.
(author)
-
Advanced Molecular Tweezers with Lipid Anchors against SARS-CoV-2 and Other Respiratory Viruses
- 2022
-
In: JACS Au. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 2691-3704. ; 2:9, s. 2187-2202
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 presents a global health emergency. Therapeutic options against SARS-CoV-2 are still very limited but urgently required. Molecular tweezers are supramolecular agents that destabilize the envelope of viruses resulting in a loss of viral infectivity. Here, we show that first-generation tweezers, CLR01 and CLR05, disrupt the SARS-CoV-2 envelope and abrogate viral infectivity. To increase the antiviral activity, a series of 34 advanced molecular tweezers were synthesized by insertion of aliphatic or aromatic ester groups on the phosphate moieties of the parent molecule CLR01. A structure-activity relationship study enabled the identification of tweezers with a markedly enhanced ability to destroy lipid bilayers and to suppress SARS-CoV-2 infection. Selected tweezer derivatives retain activity in airway mucus and inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 wildtype and variants of concern as well as respiratory syncytial, influenza, and measles viruses. Moreover, inhibitory activity of advanced tweezers against respiratory syncytial virus and SARS-CoV-2 was confirmed in mice. Thus, potentiated tweezers are broad-spectrum antiviral agents with great prospects for clinical development to combat highly pathogenic viruses.
|
|
| 3. |
- Zhang, Yan, et al.
(author)
-
Hybrid vesicles as intracellular reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide generators
- 2019
-
In: Nanoscale. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 2040-3372 .- 2040-3364. ; 11:24, s. 11530-11541
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Artificial organelles are envisioned as nanosized assemblies with intracellular biocatalytic activity to provide the host cells with non-native or missing/lost function. Hybrid vesicles loaded with glucose oxidase (NRGOx) or beta-galactosidase (NR beta-Gal) and equipped with lysosomal escape ability are assembled using phospholipids and the block copolymer poly(cholesteryl methacrylate)-block-poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate). The co-localization of the building blocks and the catalytic activity of NRGOx and NR beta-Gal are illustrated. The intracellular activity of the nanoreactors in RAW 264.7 macrophages is confirmed by an enhanced reduction in viability for cells pre-incubated with NRGOx in the presence of glucose due to the generation of cytotoxic hydrogen peroxide compared to the controls. In addition, RAW 264.7 macrophages and primary human macrophages equipped with NR beta-Gal are able to intracellularly convert beta-Gal-NONOate into nitric oxide. The successful use of these hybrid vesicles to equip host macrophages with additional catalytic activity diversifies the available toolbox of nanocarriers with envisioned application in cell mimicry.
|
|
