Molecular architecture of tailed double-stranded DNA phages

The tailed double-stranded DNA bacteriophages, or Caudovirales, constitute ~96% of all the known phages. Although these phages come in a great variety of sizes and morphology, their virions are mainly constructed of similar molecular building blocks via similar assembly pathways. Here we review the structure of tailed double-stranded DNA bacteriophages at a molecular level, emphasizing the structural similarity and common evolutionary origin of proteins that constitute these virions.

Solid-State NMR H-N-(C)-H and H-N-C-C 3D/4D Correlation Experiments for Resonance Assignment of Large Proteins

Solid-state NMR spectroscopy can provide insight into protein structure and dynamics at the atomic level without inherent protein size limitations. However, a major hurdle to studying large proteins by solid-state NMR spectroscopy is related to spectral complexity and resonance overlap, which increase with molecular weight and severely hamper the assignment process. Here the use of two sets of experiments is shown to expand the tool kit of 1 H-detected assignment approaches, which correlate a given amide pair either to the two adjacent CO-CA pairs (4D hCOCANH/hCOCAcoNH), or to the amide 1 H of the neighboring residue (3D HcocaNH/HcacoNH, which can be extended to 5D). The experiments are based on efficient coherence transfers between backbone atoms using INEPT transfers between carbons and cross-polarization for heteronuclear transfers. The utility of these experiments is exemplified with application to assemblies of deuterated, fully amide-protonated proteins from approximately 20 to 60 kDa monomer, at magic-angle spinning (MAS) frequencies from approximately 40 to 55 kHz. These experiments will also be applicable to protonated proteins at higher MAS frequencies. The resonance assignment of a domain within the 50.4 kDa bacteriophage T5 tube protein pb6 is reported, and this is compared to NMR assignments of the isolated domain in solution. This comparison reveals contacts of this domain to the core of the polymeric tail tube assembly.

Paradigm shift in bacteriophage-mediated delivery of anticancer drugs: from targeted 'magic bullets' to self-navigated 'magic missiles'

INTRODUCTION

New phage-directed nanomedicines have emerged recently as a result of the in-depth study of the genetics and structure of filamentous phage and evolution of phage display and phage nanobiotechnology. This review focuses on the progress made in the development of the cancer-targeted nanomaterials and discusses the trends in using phage as a bioselectable molecular navigation system. Areas covered: The merging of phage display technologies with nanotechnology in recent years has proved promising in different areas of medicine and technology, such as medical diagnostics, molecular imaging, vaccine development and targeted drug/gene delivery, which is the focus of this review. The authors used data obtained from their research group and sourced using Science Citation Index (Web of Science) and NCBI PubMed search resources. Expert opinion: First attempts of adapting traditional concepts of direct targeting of tumor using phage-targeted nanomedicines has shown minimal improvements. With discovery and study of biological and technical barriers that prevent anti-tumor drug delivery, a paradigm shift from traditional drug targeting to nanomedicine navigation systems is required. The advanced bacteriophage-driven self-navigation systems are thought to overcome those barriers using more precise, localized phage selection methods, multi-targeting 'promiscuous' ligands and advanced multifunctional nanomedicine platforms.

Rekindling of a Masterful Precedent; Bacteriophage: Reappraisal and Future Pursuits

Antibiotic resistance is exuberantly becoming a deleterious health problem world-wide. Seeking innovative approaches is necessary in order to circumvent such a hazard. An unconventional fill-in to antibiotics is bacteriophage. Bacteriophages are viruses capable of pervading bacterial cells and disrupting their natural activity, ultimately resulting in their defeat. In this article, we will run-through the historical record of bacteriophage and its correlation with bacteria. We will also delineate the potential of bacteriophage as a therapeutic antibacterial agent, its supremacy over antibiotics in multiple aspects and the challenges that could arise on the way to its utilization in reality. Pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and genetic engineering of bacteriophages and its proteins will be briefly discussed as well. In addition, we will highlight some of the in-use applications of bacteriophages, and set an outlook for their future ones. We will also overview some of the miscellaneous abilities of these tiny viruses in several fields other than the clinical one. This is an attempt to encourage tackling a long-forgotten hive. Perhaps, one day, the smallest of the creatures would be of the greatest help.

Biomolecules capturing live bacteria from clinical samples

Rapid phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) requires the enrichment of live bacteria from patient samples, which is particularly challenging in the context of life-threatening bloodstream infections (BSIs) due to low bacterial titers. Over two decades, an extensive array of pathogen-specific biomolecules has been identified to capture live bacteria. The prevailing biomolecules are immune proteins of the complement system, antibodies, aptamers, phage proteins, and antimicrobial peptides. These biomolecules differ by their binder generation technologies and exhibit highly variable specificities, ranging from bacterial strains to most pathogenic bacteria. Here, we summarize how these diverse biomolecules were identified, list examples of successfully reported capture assays, and provide an outlook on the use of nanobodies raised against conserved surface-accessible proteins as promising biomolecules for pathogen capture.