Partial characterization of chorionic gonadotropin-like binding sites from the bacteria Xanthomonas maltophilia

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin and Related Peptides: Candidate Anti-Inflammatory Therapy in Early Stages of Sepsis

Sepsis continues to be a major cause of morbidity, mortality, and post-recovery disability in patients with a wide range of non-infectious and infectious inflammatory disorders, including COVID-19. The clinical onset of sepsis is often marked by the explosive release into the extracellular fluids of a multiplicity of host-derived cytokines and other pro-inflammatory hormone-like messengers from endogenous sources ("cytokine storm"). In patients with sepsis, therapies to counter the pro-inflammatory torrent, even when administered early, typically fall short. The major focus of our proposed essay is to promote pre-clinical studies with hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) as a potential anti-inflammatory therapy for sepsis.

The microbes of the intestine: an introduction to their metabolic and signaling capabilities

This article summarizes advances in the field of host-microbe interactions in the gut. The human gut is home to a complex community of microbes (the microbiota) that plays a critical role in host nutrient acquisition and metabolism, development of intestinal epithelial cells, and host immune system. Genetic background, nutritional status, and environmental factors influence the structure and function of the gut microbiota. Networks for cell-cell communication include microbes actively communicating with microbes of the same and other species; host cells recognizing and interacting with commensal versus pathogenic organisms; and microbes releasing peptides that resemble peptide hormones of vertebrates, possibly influencing host cell function.