抗原变异可使得多种致病微生物易于逃避宿主免疫应答。表达在感染红细胞表面的恶性疟原虫红细胞表面蛋白1（PfPMP1）与感染红细胞、内皮细胞、树突状细胞以及胎盘的单个或多个受体作用，在黏附及免疫逃避中起关键的作用。每个单倍体基因组var基因家族编码约60种成员，通过启动转录不同的var基因变异体为抗原变异提供了分子基础。

疟原虫var基因转换速率变化导致抗原变异[英]／Paul H, Robert P, Christodoulou Z, et al//Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Driven by the high demand for sensitive and specific tools for optical sensing and imaging, bioprobes with various working mechanisms and advanced functionalities are flourishing at an incredible speed. Conventional fluorescent probes suffer from the notorious effect of aggregation-caused quenching that imposes limitation on their labelling efficiency or concentration to achieve desired sensitivity. The recently emerged fluorogens with an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) feature offer a timely remedy to tackle the challenge. Utilizing the unique properties of AIE fluorogens (AIEgens), specific light-up probes have been constructed through functionalization with recognition elements, showing advantages such as low background interference, a high signal to noise ratio and superior photostability with activatable therapeutic effects. In this tutorial review, we summarize the recent progress in the development of specific AIEgen-based light-up bioprobes. Through illustration of their operation mechanisms and application examples, we hope to provide guidelines for the design of more advanced AIE sensing and imaging platforms with high selectivity, great sensitivity and wide adaptability to a broad range of biomedical applications.

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Specific light-up bioprobes based on AIEgen conjugates

In vitro pharmacological profiling is increasingly being used earlier in the drug discovery process to identify undesirable off-target activity profiles that could hinder or halt the development of candidate drugs or even lead to market withdrawal if discovered after a drug is approved Here, for the first time, the rationale, strategies and methodologies for in vitro pharmacological profiling at four major pharmaceutical companies (AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis and Pfizer) are presented and illustrated with examples of their impact on the drug discovery process We hope that this will enable other companies and academic institutions to benefit from this knowledge and consider joining us in our collaborative knowledge sharing

Reducing safety-related drug attrition: the use of in vitro pharmacological profiling

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the leading inherited form of intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder, and patients can present with severe behavioural alterations, including hyperactivity, impulsivity and anxiety, in addition to poor language development and seizures. FXS is a trinucleotide repeat disorder, in which >200 repeats of the CGG motif in FMR1 leads to silencing of the gene and the consequent loss of its product, fragile X mental retardation 1 protein (FMRP). FMRP has a central role in gene expression and regulates the translation of potentially hundreds of mRNAs, many of which are involved in the development and maintenance of neuronal synaptic connections. Indeed, disturbances in neuroplasticity is a key finding in FXS animal models, and an imbalance in inhibitory and excitatory neuronal circuits is believed to underlie many of the clinical manifestations of this disorder. Our knowledge of the proteins that are regulated by FMRP is rapidly growing, and this has led to the identification of multiple targets for therapeutic intervention, some of which have already moved into clinical trials or clinical practice.

Fragile X syndrome

Many studies have reported abnormal gut microbiota in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), suggesting a link between gut microbiome and autism-like behaviors. Modifying the gut microbiome is a potential route to improve gastrointestinal (GI) and behavioral symptoms in children with ASD, and fecal microbiota transplant could transform the dysbiotic gut microbiome toward a healthy one by delivering a large number of commensal microbes from a healthy donor. We previously performed an open-label trial of Microbiota Transfer Therapy (MTT) that combined antibiotics, a bowel cleanse, a stomach-acid suppressant, and fecal microbiota transplant, and observed significant improvements in GI symptoms, autism-related symptoms, and gut microbiota. Here, we report on a follow-up with the same 18 participants two years after treatment was completed. Notably, most improvements in GI symptoms were maintained, and autism-related symptoms improved even more after the end of treatment. Important changes in gut microbiota at the end of treatment remained at follow-up, including significant increases in bacterial diversity and relative abundances of Bifidobacteria and Prevotella. Our observations demonstrate the long-term safety and efficacy of MTT as a potential therapy to treat children with ASD who have GI problems, and warrant a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in the future.

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Long-term benefit of Microbiota Transfer Therapy on autism symptoms and gut microbiota

The purinergic P2X7 receptor (P2X7R), an ATP-gated non-selective cation channel, has emerged as a gatekeeper of inflammation that controls the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. As a key player in initiating the inflammatory signaling cascade, the P2X7 receptor is currently under intense scrutiny as a target for the treatment of different pathologies, including chronic inflammatory disorders (rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis), chronic neuropathic pain, mood disorders (depression and anxiety), neurodegenerative diseases, ischemia, cancer (leukemia), and many others. For these reasons, pharmaceutical companies have invested in discovering compounds able to modulate the P2X7R and filed many patent applications. This review article presents an account of P2X7R structure, function, and tissue distribution, emphasizing its role in inflammation. Next, we illustrate the different chemical classes of non-competitive P2X7R antagonists reported by highlighting their properties and qualities as clinical candidates for treating inflammatory disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. We also discuss the efforts to develop effective Positron Emission Tomography (PET) radioligands to progress the understanding of the pathomechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders, to provide evidence of drug-target engagement, and to assist clinical dose selection for novel drug therapies.  .

Enza Lacivita

Papers

Structure-Activity Relationships and Therapeutic Potential of Purinergic P2X7 Receptor Antagonists.