Therapeutics and Prevention
Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionAntibodies Elicited by an NS1-Based Vaccine Protect Mice against Zika VirusZika virus is a global public health threat that causes microcephaly and congenital malformations in newborns and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. Currently, no vaccines or treatments are available. While antibodies targeting the envelope glycoprotein can neutralize virus, they carry the risk of antibody-dependent enhancement of disease (ADE). In contrast, antibodies generated against the NS1 protein can be protective without...
Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionGut Microbiota Metabolite Indole Propionic Acid Targets Tryptophan Biosynthesis in Mycobacterium tuberculosisNew drugs against tuberculosis are urgently needed. The tryptophan (Trp) analog indole propionic acid (IPA) is the first antitubercular metabolite produced by human gut bacteria. Here, we show that this antibiotic blocks Trp synthesis, an in vivo essential biosynthetic pathway in M. tuberculosis. Intriguingly, IPA acts by decoupling a bacterial feedback regulatory mechanism: it mimics Trp as allosteric inhibitor of...
Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionBroad and Protective Influenza B Virus Neuraminidase Antibodies in Humans after Vaccination and their Clonal Persistence as Plasma CellsInfluenza virus infections continue to cause substantial morbidity and mortality despite the availability of seasonal vaccines. The extensive genetic variability in seasonal and potentially pandemic influenza strains necessitates new vaccine strategies that can induce universal protection by focusing the immune response on generating protective antibodies against conserved targets such as regions within the influenza neuraminidase...
Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionTargeting Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter spp.: Sulbactam and the Diazabicyclooctenone β-Lactamase Inhibitor ETX2514 as a Novel Therapeutic AgentThe number and diversity of β-lactamases are steadily increasing. The emergence of β-lactamases that hydrolyze carbapenems poses a significant threat to our antibiotic armamentarium. The explosion of OXA enzymes that are carbapenem hydrolyzers is a major challenge (carbapenem-hydrolyzing class D [CHD]). An urgent need exists to discover β-lactamase inhibitors with class D activity. The sulbactam-ETX2514 combination demonstrates the...
Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionA More Robust Gut Microbiota in Calorie-Restricted Mice Is Associated with Attenuated Intestinal Injury Caused by the Chemotherapy Drug CyclophosphamideImproving the gut microbiota via calorie restriction is beneficial for human health. Our findings showed differential responses between calorie-restricted mice and ad libitum-fed mice. Compared with the ad libitum-fed mice, the calorie-restricted mice were less susceptible to cyclophosphamide side effects otherwise observed on the gut integrity and its microbiota. These results show the potential benefits of...
Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionNovel Intersubunit Interaction Critical for HIV-1 Core Assembly Defines a Potentially Targetable Inhibitor Binding PocketPrecise assembly and disassembly of the HIV-1 capsid core are key to the success of viral replication. The forces that govern capsid core formation and dissociation involve intricate interactions between pentamers and hexamers formed by HIV-1 CA. We identified one particular interaction between E28 of one CA and K30′ of the adjacent CA that appears more frequently in pentamers than in hexamers and that is important for capsid assembly....
Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionDesign of Nanoparticulate Group 2 Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin Stem Antigens That Activate Unmutated Ancestor B Cell Receptors of Broadly Neutralizing Antibody LineagesCurrent influenza vaccines are primarily strain specific, requiring annual updates, and offer minimal protection against drifted seasonal or pandemic strains. The highly conserved stem region of hemagglutinin (HA) of group 2 influenza A virus subtypes is a promising target for vaccine elicitation of broad cross-group protection against divergent strains. We used structure-guided protein engineering employing multiple protein...
Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionDual β-Lactam Combinations Highly Active against Mycobacterium abscessus Complex In VitroThe emergence of chronic MABC infections among immunocompromised populations and their inherent and acquired resistance to effective antibiotic therapy have created clinical challenges in advancing patients for transplant surgery and treating those with disease. There is an urgent need for new treatment regimens, and the repurposing of existing antibiotics provides a rapid strategy to advance a laboratory finding to patient care. Our...
Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionDidehydro-Cortistatin A Inhibits HIV-1 by Specifically Binding to the Unstructured Basic Region of TatTat activates virus production, and limited Tat transactivation correlates with HIV-1 latency. The Tat inhibitor dCA locks HIV in persistent latency. This drug class enables block-and-lock functional cure approaches, aimed at reducing residual viremia during therapy and limiting viral rebound. dCA may also have additional therapeutic benefits since Tat is also neurotoxic. Unfortunately, Tat inhibitors are not clinically available. We...
Commentary | Therapeutics and PreventionCommensal Bacteria: Not Just Innocent BystandersNeisseria gonorrhoeae is quickly becoming untreatable due to its acquisition of resistance to multiple antimicrobials. It is vital that we begin to understand the mechanisms by which this is occurring.