Publications by authors named "Peggy Barbe"

Poxviruses are double-stranded DNA viruses including relevant zoonotic pathogens with high morbidity and potential biological warfare threats. Although African swine fever virus belongs to the family and is not strictly classified as a member, both fall within the same class of that replicate in the cytoplasm. Among compounds targeting these viruses, acyclic nucleoside phosphonate (ANP) prodrugs are promising inhibitors of viral DNA polymerases.

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The accurate quantification of biomarkers is paramount in modern medicine, particularly in cancer where precise diagnosis is imperative for targeted therapy selection. In this paper we described a multiplexed analysis diagnostic approach based on cleavable MS-tagged antibodies. The technology uses MS-tag isotopologues and the sydnonimine-cyclooctyne click-and-release bioorthogonal reaction.

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Key Points: MQ232, a disulfide-bond reticulated peptide derived from a natural snake toxin, was optimized as a new aquaretic drug candidate. MQ232 showed very low acute and chronic toxicity in rat and a biodistribution in mice strongly in favor of the kidney organs. MQ232 induced a sole aquaretic effect and demonstrated high activities on hyponatremia and polycystic kidney disease models.

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  • Brevetoxins (BTXs) are toxic compounds primarily linked to neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP) in humans, prompting studies to assess their effects.
  • An acute oral toxicity study was conducted in mice to evaluate the impact of various doses of BTX-3, revealing sex-based differences in sensitivity and symptoms.
  • Key findings showed that BTX-3 caused rapid and temporary decreases in body weight, temperature, and muscle activity, with more severe effects observed in males, particularly at higher doses.
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Research on graphene-based nanomaterials has experienced exponential growth in the last few decades, driven by their unique properties and their future potential impact on our everyday life. With the increasing production and commercialization of these materials, there is significant interest in understanding their fate . Herein, we investigated the distribution of C-few-layer graphene (C-FLG) flakes (lat.

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The melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) plays a role in energy homeostasis and represents a target for treating energy balance disorders. For decades, synthetic ligands have been derived from MC4R endogenous agonists and antagonists, such as setmelanotide used to treat rare forms of genetic obesity. Recently, animal venoms have demonstrated their capacity to provide melanocortin ligands with toxins from a scorpion and a spider.

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The development of anti-infectives against a large range of AB-like toxin-producing bacteria includes the identification of compounds disrupting toxin transport through both the endolysosomal and retrograde pathways. Here, we performed a high-throughput screening of compounds blocking Rac1 proteasomal degradation triggered by the Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factor-1 (CNF1) toxin, which was followed by orthogonal screens against two toxins that hijack the endolysosomal (diphtheria toxin) or retrograde (Shiga-like toxin 1) pathways to intoxicate cells. This led to the identification of the molecule C910 that induces the enlargement of EEA1-positive early endosomes associated with sorting defects of CNF1 and Shiga toxins to their trafficking pathways.

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  • * A new bioanalytical method was created using dual radiolabeling and digital imaging to track these conjugates, where anti-MMP-14 antibody fragments were labeled with carbon-14 and the drug with tritium.
  • * This strategy allowed for real-time monitoring and quantification of both the protein and drug in the body, enhancing understanding of their distribution across different organs during circulation.
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  • Venomous animals produce Kunitz-type peptides, with mambaquaretin-1 (MQ1) being a selective antagonist for the V2 receptor, prompting researchers to explore more mamba venoms to expand the V2R-Kunitz peptide family.
  • Through bio-guided screening, eight new MQs were discovered, all acting as antagonists to the V2R, revealing significant interactions within specific loops of the MQ1 peptide structure.
  • The insights gained suggest that the extensive interaction sites of MQ1 contribute to its selectivity, with the variant MQ1-K39A showing promise for enhanced affinity targeting human V2R, paving the way for potential medicinal advancements.
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  • Toxic marine dinoflagellates are causing harmful algal blooms, leading to contamination of seafood and posing risks to consumers due to toxic compounds known as pinnatoxins (PnTx).
  • PnTx-G, a member of this toxin family, interacts with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and has been found to easily cross physiological barriers, accumulating in the liver and intestines after administration to rats.
  • Research indicates that PnTx-G can cross the human placental barrier, raising concerns about its potential health impacts as the presence of contaminated shellfish increases due to climate change.
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Dystrophin-Dp71 being a key membrane cytoskeletal protein, expressed mainly in Müller cells that provide a mechanical link at the Müller cell membrane by direct binding to actin and a transmembrane protein complex. Its absence has been related to blood-retinal barrier (BRB) permeability through delocalization and down-regulation of the AQP4 and Kir4.1 channels (1).

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Most inherited retinal dystrophies display progressive photoreceptor cell degeneration leading to severe visual impairment. Optogenetic reactivation of retinal neurons mediated by adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy has the potential to restore vision regardless of patient-specific mutations. The challenge for clinical translatability is to restore a vision as close to natural vision as possible, while using a surgically safe delivery route for the fragile degenerated retina.

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  • Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) is a non-invasive imaging method allowing detailed observation of retinal layers in both humans and recently adapted for animals, particularly rodents.
  • The study improved layer delineation in the retina of mice and rats by developing a method to average SD-OCT data, leading to precise identification of photoreceptor segments and their interfaces with retinal pigment epithelium.
  • SD-OCT proves to be an accurate imaging tool for assessing retinal health, capable of longitudinal monitoring of retinal diseases, and is comparable to traditional histological analysis.
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