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Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of invasive bacterial infections in human newborns. A key GBS virulence factor is its capsular polysaccharide (CPS), displaying terminal sialic acid (Sia) residues which block deposition and activation of complement on the bacterial surface. We recently demonstrated that GBS Sia can bind human CD33-related Sia-recognizing immunoglobulin (Ig) superfami

Regular prophylactic treatment with factor VIII (FVIII) and factor IX (FIX) concentrates in hemophilia A and B, respectively, is introduced in early infancy and has resulted in dramatic improvement of the conditions. Recombinant FVIII and FIX concentrates have been available for > 25 years and have been modified and refined through the years; however, unfortunately frequent intravenous administrat

Angiogenesis is a hallmark of cancer and is now a validated therapeutic target in the clinical setting. Despite the initial success, anti-angiogenic compounds impinging on the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway display limited survival benefits in patients and resistance often develops due to activation of alternative pathways. Thus, finding and validating new targets is highly warr

Lymphocytes from human peripheral blood were separated by Countercurrent distribution (CCD) in a charged aqueous two-phase system composed of Dextran T 500 and polyethylene glycol 6000. Maximal responses to the T-cell mitogens phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A were detected in a part of the distribution corresponding to the area where the highest percentage of E rosetting cells were seen. Anti

EndoS from Streptococcus pyogenes efficiently hydrolyzes the functionally important and conserved N-linked glycan of IgG in human blood. Repeated i.v. administration of EndoS in rabbits completely hydrolyzes the glycans of the whole IgG pool, despite the generation of anti-EndoS antibodies. EndoS administration had no apparent effects on the health of the animals. EndoS hydrolysis of the IgG glyca

Protein ADP-ribosylation is a reversible post-translational modification that regulates important cellular functions. The identification of modified proteins has proven challenging and has mainly been achieved via enrichment methodologies. Random mutagenesis was used here to develop an engineered Af1521 ADP-ribose binding macro domain protein with 1000-fold increased affinity towards ADP-ribose. T

We have characterized 2 distinct mechanisms through which infectious agents may promote platelet adhesion and thrombus formation in flowing blood, thus contributing to the progression of disease. In one case, the process initiates when the integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3) mediates platelet arrest onto immobilized bacterial constituents that have bound plasma fibrinogen. If blood contains antibodies agai

Background: A significant proportion of patients with asthma have persistent symptoms despite treatment with inhaled glucocorticosteroids. Objective: We hypothesized that in these patients, the alveolar parenchyma is subjected to mast cell-associated alterations. Methods: Bronchial and transbronchial biopsies from healthy controls (n = 8), patients with allergic rhinitis (n = 8), and patients with

In this paper, the authors show that liquid-liquid partition chromatography in an aqueous two-phase system offers unique possibilities of comparing the overall surface properties of intact antibodies in solution before and after binding of antigen. The authors demonstrate that the surface properties of antigen-antibody complexes are dependent on the variable regions of the antibodies, the nature o