First Crystal Structure for a Gold Carbene-Protein Adduct

The X-ray structure of the adduct formed in the reaction between the gold N-heterocyclic carbene compound Au(NHC)Cl (with NHC = 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazole-2-ylidene) and the model protein thaumatin is reported here. The structure reveals binding of Au(NHC)(+) fragments to distinct protein sites. Notably, binding of the gold compound occurs at lysine side chains and at the N-terminal tail; the metal binds the protein after releasing Cl- ligand, but retaining NHC fragment

Candida albicans infections in renal transplant recipients: effect of caspofungin on polymorphonuclear cells.

This study aimed to compare the caspofungin immunomodulating activities against Candida albicans on polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) from renal transplant recipients (RTRs) and healthy subjects (HSs). RTR PMNs showed a significantly reduced fungicidal activity compared with that of HS PMNs. Addition of caspofungin to RTR PMNs significantly potentiated the yeast intracellular killing rate, achieving values similar to those observed for HS PMNs. These data show that caspofungin is suitable for invasive candidiasis treatment in patients with immune system-impaired components

Epstein-Barr Virus in Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas: Evaluation of the Viral Presence and Significance in Skin and Peripheral Blood

The importance of viral agents in the development of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) is still debated. For this purpose, we retrospectively evaluated the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) presence in Sézary syndrome (SS), mycosis fungoides (MF), inflammatory dermatoses (ID), and healthy donors (HD) using different approaches: EBV-DNA was quantified in skin biopsies and peripheral blood using real-time PCR, EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER) transcripts were detected by in situ hybridization (ISH), and latent membrane protein1-2 antigens were detected by immunohistochemistry. Skin biopsies were EBV-DNA-positive in 8/30 (27%) SS, 7/71 (10%) MF, and 2/18 (11%) ID patients and in none of the 25 normal skin samples. Positive mRNA (EBER) signals, always confined to cerebriform T lymphocytes, were found in 5/30 SS patients (17%), whereas signals in all MF and ID patients were negative. The presence of EBV-DNA in skin and blood samples was associated with a significantly lower survival in MF/SS patients. In evaluating EBV serological status, most (>70%) SS, MF, and ID patients showed a serological reactivation demonstrated by the presence of anti-EA IgG. In conclusion, although the finding of EBV-DNA in CTCL does not prove its etiopathogenetic role and may be related instead to immunosuppression, our study demonstrates that it has prognostic relevance

Subclinical finding in the perception of tactile sensation involvement after SARS-CoV2 infection: comparison with healthy controls using Semmes–Weinstein monofilament testing

BackgroundPost-acute COVID-19 syndrome patients complain of sensory alterations, mainly positive symptoms such as paresthesia or neuropathic pain but also decreased tactile sensation. Using the Semmes–Weinstein monofilament test (SWMT), our study aims to confront recently infected SARS-CoV2 subjects with a control group.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional, single-centric study. We performed the SWMT (North Coast Medical Inc.) on 30 patients with previous SARS-CoV2 infection (COVID group) and 46 controls (control group). These patients did not present comorbidities or sensory impairment and did not take any medications. The control group tested negative for SARS-CoV2 infection since the COVID-19 pandemic; the COVID group was examined for this study after the resolution of the infection. We tested the threshold of tactile sensation of the tips of the thumb, index, and little finger of each hand, one hand at a time; the dorsum and the hypothenar regions were also tested.ResultsBoth groups presented the perception of tactile sensation within the reference value. Despite this result, subclinical changes suggestive of the involvement in peripheral sensory nerve function have been identified in the tested sites in the COVID group compared to the control group. The overall mean target force (grams) was higher in the COVID group than in the control group: 27 (7) vs. 19 (10) mg, p < 0.001.ConclusionControls and the COVID group infection had normal tactile sensation thresholds. However, the COVID group presented a higher threshold than the control group, suggesting a possible subclinical perception of tactile sensation involvement of A-beta nerve fibers

Inside out porphyridium cruentum: Beyond the conventional biorefinery concept

Here, an unprecedented biorefinery approach has been designed to recover high-added value bioproducts starting from the culture ofPorphyridium cruentum. This unicellular marine red alga can secrete and accumulate high-value compounds that can find applications in a wide variety of industrial fields. 300 ± 67 mg/L of exopolysaccharides were obtained from cell culture medium; phycoerythrin was efficiently extracted (40% of total extract) and isolated by single chromatography, with a purity grade that allowed the crystal structure determination at 1.60 Å; a twofold increase in β-carotene yield was obtained from the residual biomass; the final residual biomass was found to be enriched in saturated fatty acids. Thus, for the first time, a complete exploitation ofP. cruentumculture was set up.P.I. would like to acknowledge ALGAE4IBD project (FROM NATURE TO BEDSIDE-ALGAE BASED BIO COMPOUND FOR PREVENTION) funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation program under grant agreement N° 101000501. This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain (Grant No. PID2020-113050RB-I00). G.A.-R. would like to acknowledge the Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN) for his “Juan de la Cierva-Incorporación” postdoctoral grant IJC2019-041482-I. A.M. and G.F. thank Elettra Synchrotron of Trieste staff for their help during X-ray diffraction data collection.Peer reviewe