Recent Publications by AGS Members
2026-07-03
Published in: Annals of Noninvasive Electrocardiology : the Official Journal of the International Society for Holter and Noninvasive Electrocardiology, Inc
No abstract
2026-07-01
Published in: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is the leading cause of hospital-acquired life-threatening diarrhea. C. difficile toxins TcdA and TcdB contain a glucosyltransferase domain (GTD) that glucosylates and inactivates host GTPases, disrupting the actin cytoskeleton and compromising epithelial integrity. TcdB, the most potent virulence factor, drives disease progression and is a high-priority target forC. difficiletreatment and prevention. The iminosugar isofagomine has been shown to inhibit...
2026-06-30
Published in: Analytical Chemistry
On-bead single-pot solid-phase enhanced sample preparation, SP3, also known as protein aggregation capture (PAC), is a robust, high-throughput, and widely utilized approach for proteomic sample preparation. Recent studies have highlighted PAC/SP3 as an ideal platform for chemoproteomics, allowing chemical labeling while minimizing sample loss and improving recovery of derivatized peptides. In this work, we establish an on-bead PAC/SP3 protein-level amine and carboxyl derivatization approach to...
2026-06-29
Published in: Nature Genetics
Maize primary metabolism drives complex agronomic traits, yet its genetic regulation remains difficult to resolve. Here we integrated genomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic data from 1,404 maize progenies derived from 24 diverse founders to dissect the genetic architecture of primary metabolism. We constructed a high-confidence regulatory network that resolved causal genes underlying metabolic quantitative trait loci and successfully identified targets for improving maize nutritional quality....
2026-06-23
Published in: Nature Communications
Most bacteria have evolved mechanisms to compete with other bacteria, often through the specialised secretion of proteinaceous toxins. However, mycobacteria have not previously been reported to engage in this form of competition. The thick and unusual mycobacterial cell wall, comprised of peptidoglycan, arabinogalactan and mycolic acids, is generally thought to be highly protective to these bacteria. Here, we show that some mycobacteria can use endo-D-arabinanases of the GH183 family for...
2026-06-23
Published in: Molecular Systems Biology
Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are dynamic and critical to adaptive homeostasis. While there have been massive efforts to catalogue proteome-wide PPIs, global quantification of changes remains a challenge. Here, we integrate dynamic protein correlation profiling - mass spectrometry (PCP-MS) and quantitative cross linking-mass spectrometry (qXL-MS) using multiplexed stable isotope labelling to characterise global PPI remodelling following the development of chronic skeletal muscle insulin...
2026-06-17
Published in: Talanta
Porous graphitized carbon (PGC) LC-MS/MS-based detection of glycans ranging from approximately 3-15 saccharide residues is a gold standard in glycomics; however, robust glycoprofiling workflows that also cover mono- and disaccharide glycans (e.g. Tn, T, sialyl Tn O-glycans) are less mature. Given the growing appreciation that short glycans are biologically and clinically important, we here address this analytical shortcoming by testing the glycoprofiling performance of a new Supel Carbon PGC...
2026-06-15
Published in: Mbio
Helicobacter pylori colonizes the gastric mucosa of around half of the world's population and is a major cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric cancer. Current therapies are becoming increasingly ineffective due to the rapid spread of antibiotic resistance, creating an urgent need for new treatment options with distinct mechanisms of action. Drug repurposing offers a practical and cost-effective approach to address this gap. PBT2 is an 8-hydroxyquinoline derivative...
2026-06-14
Published in: Chemistry, an Asian Journal
A C-2 functionalized l-IdoA derivative was designed as a potential pharmacological chaperone for MPS II, and several routes to its synthesis were investigated. Successful synthesis proceeded via an oxidation/Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons sequence, overcoming significant challenges with competing elimination reactions to give alkene derivatives in good overall yields. Catalytic hydrogenation of the double bonds proceeded stereoselectively in high yield to give the desired L-ido-configured products,...
2026-06-12
Published in: Research Square
Mycobacteriophages, viruses that infect mycobacteria, hold promise as therapeutics against antibiotic-resistant mycobacterial infections. Although thousands of mycobacteriophages have been isolated, high-resolution baseplate structures have been reported for only two, revealing a knowledge gap in understanding phage-host interactions. Most mycobacteriophages are siphophages, possessing four structural components: capsid, connector, non-contractile tail and baseplate. The baseplate plays a...
2026-06-09
Published in: Applied and Environmental Microbiology
Inducible gene expression is pivotal to dissect bacterial physiology and virulence mechanisms. Across the Burkholderia genus, a limited range of inducible systems currently exist that allow tight regulation. In this study, we engineer a set of cumate inducible vectors for use in Burkholderia cenocepacia that offer minimal basal expression and the ability to control B. cenocepacia gene expression in eukaryotic cells. Through mutagenesis-based studies of cumate circuits and the cumate regulator...
2026-06-08
Published in: Jci Insight
It remains unclear why vaccines targeting prominent microbial virulence factors often fail in clinical trials. Because microbial virulence depends on interaction with the host immune system, we investigated how changes in host immune function alter vaccine efficacy. Using a vaccine against Staphylococcus aureus α-toxin (Hla), which targets host metalloprotease ADAM10 on myeloid cells, we show that Hla virulence is reduced in aged mice due to diminished ADAM10 activity and impaired myeloid cell...
2026-06-04
Published in: Current Opinion in Structural Biology
Glycosylation can be critical for determining the structure and functions of proteins, but it is often neglected, leading to significant knowledge gaps in our understanding of biology. The inherent heterogeneity of glycans presents technical challenges to glycoprotein characterisation and impedes the representation of intact glycoprotein structures. Here we discuss how glycan heterogeneity constitutes a fundamental property of glycoproteins and acts as a remarkably powerful strategy for...
2026-06-04
Published in: Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides genetic and pharmacological evidence that FUT8-mediated core fucosylation of platelet receptors promotes platelet activation and thrombus formation. Our results suggest that FUT8 in platelets may be a therapeutic target for thrombosis-related cardiovascular diseases.
2026-06-03
Published in: The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the potential of IP-antibiotic 12 as a novel therapeutic against multidrug-resistant gram-positive bacteria and provide a foundation for the development of next-generation IP-antibiotics with enhanced in vivo therapeutic efficacy.
2026-06-01
Published in: Clinical and Translational Medicine
No abstract
2026-05-28
Published in: Journal of Proteome Research
Burkholderia cenocepacia is an opportunistic pathogen associated with severe cystic fibrosis (CF) lung infections, where macrophages serve as both a crucial reservoir and a key mediator of intense inflammation. Currently, there is a paucity of insight into how B. cenocepacia infection impacts both the host and the B. cenocepacia proteomes. A key limitation for understanding the proteomic changes during intracellular replication of B. cenocepacia is its low infectivity, which results in in vitro...
2026-05-26
Published in: Journal of Virology
Human noroviruses are a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis, yet no licensed vaccine or antiviral is currently available. The extensive genetic diversity of noroviruses and the limited cross-protective immunity between genotypes complicate the development of broadly effective interventions. To systematically characterize norovirus-specific B cell responses from healthy individuals, we applied linking B cell receptor to antigen specificity through sequencing (LIBRA-seq) to peripheral blood...
2026-05-20
Published in: Nature Communications
Measurements of glycans modifying glycoproteins are hampered by the lack of standards that reflect the wide diversity in structure typically observed. To this end we exploit a large library of N-glycan standards comprised of a unique collection of 226 N-glycans including oligomannose, hybrid, and complex-type and apply a method employing porous graphitised carbon (PGC) and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (PGC-LC-MS) to provide a high-resolution separation and characterisation of...
2026-05-18
Published in: Acs Omega
Heparan sulfate (HS) can act as an attachment receptor for many different animal viruses. Virus binding to HS occurs through electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged sulfate and carboxyl groups of HS and positively charged amino acids present in viral proteins. Soluble heparin, a glycosaminoglycan related to HS, can inhibit infection by many viruses, but the clinical use of heparin is limited by its anticoagulant activity. Synthetic HS mimetics that lack anticoagulant activity...
2026-05-18
Published in: Microbiology Resource Announcements
Neisseria meningitidis is a primary cause of bacterial meningitis and septicemia, which is a significant global public health concern. Here, we report Oxford Nanopore Technologies RNA sequencing for N. meningitidis serogroup B strain M0579. This strain encodes the phase-variable DNA methyltransferase ModD1, an epigenetic regulator associated with hyperinvasive meningococcal B lineages.
2026-05-18
Published in: Acs Chemical Biology
Growth factor signaling governs essential cellular processes, and its precision relies on interactions with heparan sulfate on the cell surface. The sulfation pattern of heparan sulfate dictates its capacity to bind specific growth factors and their receptors, thereby controlling the signaling strength and specificity. Extracellular endosulfatases, including sulfatase 1 and sulfatase 2, further modulate these interactions by selectively removing sulfate groups from defined regions of heparan...
2026-05-11
Published in: International Journal of Cardiology. Heart & Vasculature
CONCLUSIONS: Although serum syndecan-1 and endocan levels decreased in peripheral blood over time post-MI on guideline-directed therapy, this study identified only modest relationships between syndecan-1 (and not endocan) and OCT compositional characteristics of lipid-rich, rupture-prone plaque.
2026-05-04
Published in: Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
COVID-19 disease is associated with thrombosis, but the pathogenic mechanism remains unclear. Here, we investigate how SARS-CoV-2 spike protein causes platelet activation and aggregation. Our three-dimensional ultrastructural analyses showed that invaginated platelet structures, open canalicular system (OCS), expanded upon activation, trapping viral particles in the process. Binding with platelet OCS concealed SAR-CoV-2 spike-coated particles from virion detection in platelet-depleted blood...
2026-05-01
Published in: Cell Reports
Drought stress during flowering severely threatens maize productivity by disrupting the synchrony of male and female flowering, while its genetic basis remains poorly understood. Through a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis, we identify an ABI3 transcription factor gene ZmABI45 as a key regulator of drought-induced anthesis-silking interval (ASI). We characterize a 12-bp insertion or deletion (indel) in the promoter of ZmABI45, demonstrating that its...
2026-04-29
Published in: Microbiology Resource Announcements
Neisseria meningitidis is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis and septicemia. Here, we report high-depth RNA-seq for N. meningitidis serogroup B strains MC58, B6116/77, and M0579. These strains encode phase-variable DNA methyltransferases ModA11, ModA12, and ModD1, respectively, which act as global epigenetic regulators central to meningococcal pathogenicity.
2026-04-29
Published in: Microbiology Resource Announcements
Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B is a major cause of meningitis and septicemia. Here, we report PacBio HiFi single-molecule real-time (SMRT) methylomics data sets for strains MC58, B6116/77, and M0579. These strains encode the phase-variable DNA methyltransferases ModA11, ModA12, and ModD1, respectively, which are epigenetic regulators pivotal to meningococcal pathogenicity.
2026-04-29
Published in: Mucosal Immunology
Influenza virus infection can result in outcomes ranging from moderate, self-limiting illness to severe, life-threatening disease. Although severe cases are frequently associated with CD8^(+) T cell lymphopenia, the underlying mechanisms driving this diminished T cell response remain poorly defined. Here, we investigated how severe influenza infection alters CD8^(+) T cell activation and trafficking. While CD8^(+) T cell priming was comparable between moderate and severe influenza infections, we...
2026-04-25
Published in: Nature Communications
All living cells have a sugar-coat that facilitates communication. Sialic acids cap mammalian glycans and are recognized by immune cells through sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins (Siglecs) that regulate signaling by their cytoplasmic motifs. Inconsistent reports of Siglecs expression and sialoglycan recognition limit their therapeutic potential. Here we investigate 14 functional human Siglecs for their expression, glycan interactions and affinities. SIGLEC mRNA is broad in...
2026-04-24
Published in: Analytical Chemistry
O-glycan analysis faces analytical challenges due to poor fragmentation characteristics of oxidatively released O-glycan acids, which can preserve labile O-acetyl modifications but suffer from charge fixation at the reducing end. This study introduces a supercharging approach using hexafluoroisopropyl alcohol (HFIP) and butylamine mobile phase additives for enhanced mass spectrometric analysis of bleach-released O-glycan acids. HFIP/butylamine increased average charge states by up to 50%...
2026-04-23
Published in: Virology
SARS-CoV-2 continues to impose a substantial burden to healthcare systems, economies, and communities. While several antivirals are approved for COVID-19 treatment, their use is limited by contraindications and uptake, and vaccines provide only partial and waning protection against infection. Therefore, additional antivirals are urgently needed to combat SARS-CoV-2. This study evaluated dendritic heparan sulfate (HS) mimetics as antivirals using pseudoviruses and wildtype SARS-CoV-2 spanning...
2026-04-22
Published in: Journal of Bacteriology
Burkholderia pseudomallei is a facultative intracellular pathogen and the causative agent of melioidosis. Treatment of this deadly infection is both protracted and limited to only a select number of antibiotics. Not only can patients suffer adverse reactions to prolonged therapy, but resistance has also been reported in several clinical isolates. Therefore, it is essential to identify new drug targets to combat this infection. One approach is to identify and target proteins that are involved in...
2026-04-22
Published in: Npj Vaccines
Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) causes significant morbidity globally, and no licensed vaccine currently exists. Observational studies suggest the four-component meningococcal B (4CMenB) vaccine may provide cross-protection against NG. We conducted MenGO, an open-label, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of 4CMenB against NG in gay and bisexual men (GBM). Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive two doses of 4CMenB, or no vaccine, and were followed for...
2026-04-17
Published in: Journal of the Endocrine Society
CONCLUSION: Deficiency of the Asn347 TS3 CBG glycoform is associated with ICU and 28-day mortality in septic shock.
2026-04-17
Published in: Archiv Der Pharmazie
Heparin is one of the oldest drugs on the market. Although clinically well established as an anticoagulant for decades, owing to its natural origin and heterogeneous glycosaminoglycan polysaccharide structure, ensuring consistent quality and reproducible biological activity remains challenging. While these facts argue against future applications of heparin in clinical routine, an increasing number of studies reveal additional potential therapeutic applications of heparin beyond its anticoagulant...
2026-04-17
Published in: Molecular Neurobiology
No abstract
2026-04-16
Published in: Acs Pharmacology & Translational Science
Platelets play a crucial role in the hematogenous metastasis of cancer. Beyond their mechanical function of forming a protective cloak around circulating tumor cells, which can be antagonized by heparin, activated platelets release various immunomodulatory components. Based on a proteome profiling of releasates, we address the immunosuppressive activities of TGF-β1 and MMP2 to CD4^(+) and CD8^(+) T cells in several in vitro assays and compare heparin and synthetic heparin mimetics in targeting...
2026-04-13
Published in: The Plant Genome
Cannabis sativa has undergone over 10,000 years of domestication, resulting in extensive genetic and phenotypic diversity among cultivated chemotypes. Increased medical and recreational use of specialized metabolites accumulating in cannabis glandular trichomes-primarily the cannabinoids ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)-has amplified research interest and a need to develop supporting genomic tools. Here, we present PacBio Iso-Seq-based transcriptome assemblies for two...
2026-04-13
Published in: Frontiers in Immunology
CONCLUSION: The results of the clinical trials demonstrated a favorable safety profile and a high level of immunogenicity of Sputnik V XBB in adults and adolescents.
2026-04-09
Published in: Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta. General Subjects
The mammalian brain is enveloped in a dense, charge-rich glycocalyx that orchestrates cell signalling, migration, and synaptic stability. Transcriptomic explorations of this molecular interface have previously focussed on the complex enzymatic machinery of glycan synthesis. However, relying on glycosyltransferase expression only, ignores the existence of rate-limiting factors. In this Perspective, we use the high-resolution single-cell data in the Allen Brain Cell (ABC) Atlas to shift the...
2026-04-08
Published in: Frontiers in Immunology
The continuous evolution of SARS-CoV-2 virus has led to the emergence of multiple Omicron descendants resistant to previously approved therapeutic antibodies. Therefore, cross-reactive antibodies to conserved neutralizing epitopes are urgently needed to protect immunocompromised patients and individuals at high risk of severe COVID-19. Here we report the characterization of 1p2B5, a single-domain antibody targeting N-terminal domain (NTD) of SARS-CoV-2 S protein. 1p2B5 exerts broad neutralizing...
2026-04-08
Published in: Chembiochem : a European Journal of Chemical Biology
Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a well-established target for lowering cholesterol and is abundantly present in the extracellular space. Inhibitors of PCSK9 have achieved marked success in the clinic, but an alternative strategy for therapeutic modulation is emerging through the degradation of PCSK9. This novel strategy has been enabled by the identification of cell surface receptors such as the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR), which mediates the lysosomal...
2026-04-07
Published in: Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry
The oxazolidinone antibiotic class has been shown to be a promising scaffold for developing new herbicides. Here we use tedizolid, a known antibiotic, as a scaffold for herbicide development. Tedizolid analogues have been prepared with herbicidal activity and diminished antibacterial activity, as demonstrated using model systems.
2026-04-05
Published in: Journal of Advanced Research
CONCLUSION: Rhein is a promising RSV fusion inhibitor, and its unique binding mode offers a valuable lead compound for overcoming drug resistance.
2026-04-03
Published in: Frontiers in Microbiology
Chitin, an abundant polysaccharide in shrimp and crab shells, serves as a primary resource for producing glucosamine and chitosan oligosaccharides. Chemical hydrolysis is widely utilized in these processes, due to the limited efficacy of many chitinases on powdered chitin. Additionally, many chitinases perform much better on colloidal chitin, which still requires swelling of the powdered chitin with hydrochloric acid. In this study, chitinases from a mangrove isolated P. oxalicum were...
2026-03-31
Published in: Nature Communications
Sialic acid O-acetylation is implicated in the modulation of sialoglycan recognition and ganglioside biology. The sugar modification is catalyzed by CASD1, a Golgi membrane protein that encompasses a luminal catalytic domain and a multipass transmembrane domain. The mechanism of how acetyl-CoA is provided to the Golgi remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the acetyl-CoA transporter SLC33A1 provides acetyl-CoA to the luminal domain of CASD1 and that patient-derived SLC33A1 variants linked...
2026-03-18
Published in: The Plant Journal : for Cell and Molecular Biology
Glandular trichomes (GTs) are epidermal outgrowths in which diverse specialised (secondary) metabolites are synthesised and stored. Cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) and its close relative hop (Humulus lupulus L.) have pharmaceutical and industrial significance due to the presence of these metabolites in their GTs. We examined the conservation or divergence of the specific transcriptional programmes underlying GT biology. To achieve this, we generated transcriptome atlases of trichomes, flower,...
2026-03-17
Published in: Nature Communications
Mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, possess a unique cell envelope containing arabinogalactan, a heteropolysaccharide critical for cell wall integrity and target of several tuberculosis drugs. The cytosolic precursor of arabinogalactan, lipid-linked galactan (LLG), is translocated across the plasma membrane by the essential ABC transporter Wzm-Wzt through a molecular mechanism that is poorly understood. Here, we present a series of cryo-EM structures of Wzm-Wzt from Mycobacterium...
2026-03-17
Published in: Current Opinion in Gastroenterology
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Despite significant progress in evidence-based therapies and models of care, hepatology continues to face challenges in translating proven interventions into routine clinical practice. Variability in adoption has contributed to ongoing gaps in quality, outcomes, and equity of care across diverse settings. Implementation science offers a systematic approach to understanding and improving how evidence-based interventions are delivered, adapted, and sustained in real-world...
2026-03-16
Published in: Microbiology Spectrum
Non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen of the human airway and is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. No vaccine currently exists in part due to the incredible diversity and extreme variability exhibited both genetically and phenotypically between NTHi strains. For a vaccine to be successful, selection of appropriate antigens is key. Antigens need to show high conservation between strains, be present in most/all strains, and be...