Central position of histidine in the sequence of designed alternating polarity peptides enhances pH-responsive assembly with DNA.

Background: Self-assembling peptides hold great promise for medical applications, particularly as carriers for gene delivery, but their potential remains unrealized due to a limited understanding of how amino acid sequence positioning affects their properties. In this study, we designed and evaluated two alternating polarity peptides, RFH (RFRHRHRFR) and RHF (RHRFRFRHR), differing only in the position of their histidine and phenylalanine residues, to investigate the impact of sequence variation on pH-responsive DNA co-assembly and transfection efficiency.

Results: Both peptides formed stable co-assemblies with DNA at neutral pH.

Detection and isolation of viable cancer cells mediated by spytag and spycatcher using conditionally replicative adenovirus and magnetic microbeads.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are critical biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy monitoring, but their rarity and reliance on surface markers limit detection and isolation. While conditionally replicative adenoviruses (crADs) enable tumor-selective targeting, their use has been limited to fluorescence-based detection without robust isolation of viable cells. To overcome this, we developed a crAD-based platform integrating SpyTag/SpyCatcher technology with SpyCatcher-decorated magnetic microbeads for marker-independent CTC detection and isolation.

HeterologousPrime-Boost immunizationwithAdenoviral vector and recombinant subunit vaccines strategies against dengue virus type2.

Dengue virus (DENV) remains a significant public health threat in tropical and subtropical regions, with effective antiviral treatments and vaccines still not fully established despite extensive research. A critical aspect of vaccine development for DENV involves selecting proteins from both structural and non-structural regions of the virus to activate humoral and cellular immune responses effectively. In this study, we developed a novel vaccine for dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV2) using a heterologous Prime-Boost strategy that combines an adenoviral vector (Ad) with subunit vaccines.

Optimized production of a truncated form of the recombinant neuraminidase of influenza virus in Escherichia coli as host with suitable functional activity.

Background: To discover effective drugs for treating Influenza (a disease with high annual mortality), large amounts of recombinant neuraminidase (NA) with suitable catalytic activity are needed. However, the functional activity of the full-length form of this enzyme in the bacterial host (as producing cells with a low cost) in a soluble form is limited. Thus, in the present study, a truncated form of the neuraminidase (derived from California H1N1 influenza strain) was designed, then biosynthesized in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3), Shuffle T7, and SILEX systems.

Full genome sequence analysis of the predominant and uncommon G9P[4] rotavirus strains circulating in Tehran, Iran, 2021-2022: Evidence for inter and intra-genotype recombination.

Group A rotaviruses (RVAs) are a major cause of acute gastroenteritis in children under 5 years of age worldwide. Herein, the genetic sequences of 11 RNA segments from three uncommon G9P[4] RVA strains found in the stool samples of children under 5 years of age in Iran were analyzed using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology. The genomic constellations of these three uncommon G9P[4] strains indicated the presence of the double and quadruple reassortants of two G9P[4] strains, containing the VP7/NSP2 and VP7/VP2/NSP2/NSP4 genes on a DS-1-like genetic background, respectively.

Exploiting non-permissive CHO cells as a rapid and efficient method for recombinant HSV-1 isolation.

Using herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) as a therapeutic tool has recently emerged as a promising strategy for enhancing the treatment of various cancers, particularly those associated with the nervous system, which is the virus's natural site of infection. These viruses are specifically engineered to infect and eradicate tumor cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. To introduce targeted mutations in specific viral genes, gene-modification techniques such as shuttle vector homologous recombination are commonly employed.

Investigating the Effects of Overexpression on Colorectal Cancer Cell Migration Oncolytic Virus Type 1 (oHSV-1).

Background: Colorectal Cancer (CRC) represents a significant global health challenge, and its progression, resistance to therapy, and metastasis are strongly influenced by the tumor microenvironment, including factors like hypoxia. This study explores the impact of High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) overexpression on CRC cell migration, while identifying potential genes associated with this process.

Methods: To explore this, we developed oncolytic virotherapy, resulting in HSVHMGB1, an oncolytic virus that expresses HMGB1.

Structure-based evaluation of the envelope domain III-nonstructural protein 1 (EDIII-NS1) fusion as a dengue virus vaccine candidate.

The lack of effective medicines or vaccines, combined with climate change and other environmental factors, annually subjects a significant proportion of the world's inhabitants to the risk of dengue virus (DENV) infection. These conditions increase the likelihood of exposure to mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever. Hence, many research approaches tend to develop efficient vaccine candidates against the dengue virus.

The chicken chorioallantoic membrane model for isolation of CRISPR/cas9-based HSV-1 mutant expressing tumor suppressor p53.

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) have emerged as a novel cancer treatment modality, which selectively target and kill cancer cells while sparing normal ones. Among them, engineered Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) has been proposed as a potential treatment for cancer and was moved to phase III clinical trials. Previous studies showed that design of OV therapy combined with p53 gene therapy increases the anti-cancer activities of OVs.

Looking for biomarkers in interferon response pathway to predict response to oncolytic HSV-1 in breast cancer: An ex vivo study.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide. Administration of oncolytic viruses is one of the novel promising cancer therapy approaches. Replication of these viruses is usually limited to cancer cells that have interferon (IFN) signaling defects.

In silico Identification of Hypoxic Signature followed by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR Validation in Cancer Cell Lines.

Background: Hypoxic tumor microenvironment is one of the important impediments for conventional cancer therapy. This study aimed to computationally identify hypoxia-related messenger RNA (mRNA) signatures in nine hypoxic-conditioned cancer cell lines and investigate their role during hypoxia.

Methods: Nine RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) expression data sets were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus database.

Fiber manipulation and post-assembly nanobody conjugation for adenoviral vector retargeting through SpyTag-SpyCatcher protein ligation.

For adenoviruses (Ads) to be optimally effective in cancer theranostics, they need to be retargeted toward target cells and lose their natural tropism. Typically, this is accomplished by either engineering fiber proteins and/or employing bispecific adapters, capable of bonding Ad fibers and tumor antigen receptors. This study aimed to present a simple and versatile method for generating Ad-based bionanoparticles specific to target cells, using the SpyTag-SpyCatcher system.

Bacterial production and biophysical characterization of a hard-to-fold scFv against myeloid leukemia cell surface marker, IL-1RAP.

Background: Interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein (IL-1RAP) is one of the most promising therapeutic targets proposed for myeloid leukemia. Antibodies (Abs) specific to IL-1RAP could be valuable tools for targeted therapy of this lethal malignancy. This study is about the preparation of a difficult-to-produce single-chain variable fragment (scFv) construct against the membrane-bound isoform of human IL-1RAP using Escherichia coli (E.

Modifying oncolytic virotherapy to overcome the barrier of the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. Where do we stand?

Viruses are completely dependent on host cell machinery for their reproduction. As a result, factors that influence the state of cells, such as signaling pathways and gene expression, could determine the outcome of viral pathogenicity. One of the important factors influencing cells or the outcome of viral infection is the level of oxygen.

Adenovirus vector-based vaccines as forefront approaches in fighting the battle against flaviviruses.

Flaviviruses are arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) that have been recently considered among the significant public health problems in defined geographical regions. In this line, there have been vaccines approved for some flaviviruses including dengue virus (DENV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), yellow fever virus (YFV), and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), although the efficiency of such vaccines thought to be questionable. Surprisingly, there are no effective vaccine for many other hazardous flaviviruses, including West Nile and Zika viruses.

Screening of candidate genes associated with high titer production of oncolytic measles virus based on systems biology approach.

The number of viral particles required for oncolytic activity of measles virus (MV) can be more than a million times greater than the reported amount for vaccination. The aim of the current study is to find potential genes and signaling pathways that may be involved in the high-titer production of MV. In this study, a systems biology approach was considered including collection of gene expression profiles from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, obtaining differentially expressed genes (DEGs), performing gene ontology, functional enrichment analyses, and topological analyses on the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network.

Cell type-specific response of colon cancer tumor cell lines to oncolytic HSV-1 virotherapy in hypoxia.

Background: Novel strategies are required since the hypoxic tumor microenvironment is one of the important impediments for conventional cancer therapy. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein can block aerobic respiration in cancer cells. We hypothesized that HMGB1could also kill the colorectal cancer cells during hypoxia.

Designing vaccine candidates against dengue virus by in silico studies on structural and nonstructural domains.

One-third of the world's population is at risk of Dengue infection. Envelope domain 3 (EDIII) and nonstructural protein1 (NS1) proteins as the potent antigenicity regions for humoral immunity in addition to the bc loop region as a completely conserved region have been used for designing protective vaccines. We aimed to design vaccine candidates according to the bc loop, EDIII, and NS1 regions of Dengue serotype2 to be used as vaccine candidates for all serotypes of Dengue virus especially serotype 2.

Adjuvant Effects of Flagellin on the Immunological Patterns of the HIV-1 Vaccine Candidate: Vaccine Formulations Versus Different Routes of Immunization.

New strategies to increase the immune response to HIV-1 vaccine using immunological adjuvants such as Toll-like receptor agonists are needed. In this study, HIV-1 p24-Nef and conjugated form of the vaccine candidate to type-A flagellin (FLA) were injected in the BALB/c mice in different routes. Two weeks after the last immunization, lymphocyte proliferation was measured by the BrdU method.

The ins and outs of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs).

SARS-CoV-2, a newly emerging coronavirus that caused the COVID-19 epidemic, has been spreading quickly throughout the world. Despite immunization and some fairly effective therapeutic regimens, SARS-CoV-2 has been ravaging patients, health workers, and the economy. SARS-CoV-2 mutates and evolves to adapt to its host as a result of extreme selection pressure.

Corrigendum to 'How Iran responded to expanding need for laboratory services for COVID-19?'.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.hlpt.

Taguchi array optimization of the reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay for sensitive and rapid detection of dengue virus serotype 2.

Objectives: Serotype 2 of dengue virus (DENV-2) is the most prevalent cause of dengue fevers. In this study, the C-prM gene was used for specific detection of DENV-2 by RT-LAMP assay. The RT-LAMP assay was optimized using the Taguchi design of experiments.