SummaryMalaria parasites modify their host cell, the mature human erythrocyte. We are interested in the molecules mediating these processes, and have recently described a family of parasite-encoded heat shock proteins (PfHsp40s) that are targeted to the host cell, and implicated in host cell modification. Hsp40s generally function as co-chaperones of members of the Hsp70 family, and until now it was thought that human Hsp70 acts as the PfHsp40 interaction partner within the host cell. Here we revise this hypothesis, and identify and characterize an exported parasite-encoded Hsp70, referred to as PfHsp70-x. PfHsp70-x is exported to the host erythrocyte where it forms a complex with PfHsp40s in structures known as J-dots, and is closely associated with PfEMP1. Interestingly, Hsp70-x is encoded only by parasite species that export the major virulence factor EMP1, implying a possible role for Hsp70-x in EMP1 presentation at the surface of the infected erythrocyte. Our data strongly support the presence of parasite-encoded chaperone/co-chaperone complexes within the host erythrocyte, which are involved in protein traffic through the host cell. The host-pathogen interaction within the infected erythrocyte is more complex than previously thought, and is driven not only by parasite co-chaperones, but also by the parasite-encoded chaperone Hsp70-x itself.

CUX1 was identified as an important mediator of tumour cell survival in pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Since the beginning of the phenomenon of new psychoactive substances (NPS), synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) have been the largest and most prevalent subclass of these drugs in Europe. Many countries implemented specific legislation scheduling classes of substances defined on the basis of their chemical structure to reduce supply. We describe the identification and analytical characterization within the EU project ADEBAR plus of 1-(cyclobutylmethyl)-N-(2-phenylpropan-2-yl)-1Hindole-3-carboxamide which resulted in the formal notification through the Early Warning System of the European Monitoring Centre for Drug and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). This is the first identification of this new SCRA worldwide and the analytical data was distributed (inter-)nationally right after identification in 2019. First, the substance was isolated from the herbal material using preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Structure elucidation and analytical characterization were performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), gas chromatography-solid state infrared spectroscopy (GC-sIR), liquid chromatographyelectrospray ionization-quadrupole time of flight-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-qToF-MS), Raman spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The new compound contains a cyclobutyl methyl group as a side chain and has not been described in any patent to our knowledge. Based on the semisystematic nomenclature of SCRAs, we propose Cumyl-CBMICA as a short name for the compound.

In this study, we contrast the impacts of surface coating bacterial nanocellulose small-diameter vascular grafts (BNC-SDVGs) with human albumin, fibronectin, or heparin–chitosan upon endothelialization with human saphenous vein endothelial cells (VEC) or endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in vitro. In one scenario, coated grafts were cut into 2D circular patches for static colonization of a defined inner surface area; in another scenario, they were mounted on a customized bioreactor and subsequently perfused for cell seeding. We evaluated the colonization by emerging metabolic activity and the preservation of endothelial functionality by water soluble tetrazolium salts (WST-1), acetylated low-density lipoprotein (AcLDL) uptake assays, and immune fluorescence staining. Uncoated BNC scaffolds served as controls. The fibronectin coating significantly promoted adhesion and growth of VECs and EPCs, while albumin only promoted adhesion of VECs, but here, the cells were functionally impaired as indicated by missing AcLDL uptake. The heparin–chitosan coating led to significantly improved adhesion of EPCs, but not VECs. In summary, both fibronectin and heparin–chitosan coatings could beneficially impact the endothelialization of BNC-SDVGs and might therefore represent promising approaches to help improve the longevity and reduce the thrombogenicity of BNC-SDVGs in the future.

Previously, we identified the transcription factor CUX1 as an important modulator of invasion and resistance to apoptosis. Expression profiles suggested that CUX1 regulates a complex transcriptional program mediating tumor progression. We aimed to identify functionally relevant targets of CUX1 by using RNA interference (RNAi)-based loss-of-function screens. Therefore, we generated an RNAi library containing putative transcriptional targets of CUX1 identified by microarrays and performed cell viability screens. Using this approach, several CUX1 targets with effect on tumor cell viability were identified, including the glutamate receptor GRIA3, which was validated in detail for its effects on proliferation, apoptosis, and cell migration using RNAi knock-down and overexpression strategies in vitro, as well as xenograft models in vivo. The expression of GRIA3 was evaluated in human pancreatic cancer tissues. We found that knock-down of GRIA3 significantly reduced proliferation and migration and enhanced apoptosis. In contrast, overexpression of GRIA3 significantly reduced apoptosis and enhanced both proliferation and tumor cell migration. GRIA3 could be confirmed as a downstream effector of CUX1 and was expressed in pancreatic cancer tissues. In vivo, GRIA3 significantly enhanced the growth of subcutaneous xenografts. Inhibitors of glutamate receptors such as GYKI52466 and SYM2206 significantly decreased survival of pancreatic cancer cells, suggesting the presence of glutamate signaling in pancreatic cancer. In conclusion, GRIA3 plays a role as a mediator of tumor progression in pancreatic cancer downstream CUX1. To our knowledge, this is the first report to identify a glutamate receptor as a modulator of tumor progression in a solid cancer outside the brain.