A5014527958- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Transgenic Plants and Applications
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Burkholderia infections and melioidosis
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Toxin Mechanisms and Immunotoxins
- Protein Structure and Dynamics
- Chemical Looping and Thermochemical Processes
- Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research
- Occupational Health and Safety Research
- Brucella: diagnosis, epidemiology, treatment
- Biomedical and Engineering Education
- Biosensors and Analytical Detection
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects
- Infection Control and Ventilation
- Plant tissue culture and regeneration
- Computational Drug Discovery Methods
Medical University of Graz
2020-2024
Infection and viral entry of SARS-CoV-2 crucially depends on the binding its Spike protein to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) presented host cells. Glycosylation both proteins is critical for this interaction. Recombinant soluble human ACE2 can neutralize currently undergoing clinical tests treatment COVID-19. We used 3D structural models molecular dynamics simulations define N-glycans that critically influence Spike-ACE2 complex formation. Engineering N-glycosylation by site-directed...
Newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) continue to drive COVID-19 waves and are typically associated with immune escape increased resistance current therapeutics including monoclonal antibodies. By contrast, VOCs still display strong binding the host cell receptor ACE2. Consistent these properties, we have now found that a soluble ACE2-Fc decoy produced in glycoengineered plants effectively neutralizes different isolates exhibits even potency against as compared an ancestral...
Abstract Single-cell spatial transcriptomics technologies leveraged the potential to transcriptionally landscape sophisticated reactions in cells. Current methods delineate such complex interplay lack flexibility rapid target adaptation and are particularly restricted detecting rare transcripts. We developed a multiplex single-cell RNA In-situ hybridization technique, called ‘Molecular Cartography’ (MC) that can be easily tailored specific applications and, by providing unprecedented...
Immunoglobulin M (IgM) is the largest antibody isotype with unique features like extensive glycosylation and oligomerization. Major hurdles in characterizing its properties are difficulties production of well-defined multimers. Here we report expression two SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies glycoengineered plants. Isotype switch from IgG1 to IgM resulted IgMs, composed 21 human protein subunits correctly assembled into pentamers. All four recombinant carried a highly reproducible...
SARS-CoV-2 infects human cells via binding of the viral spike glycoprotein to its main cellular receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The protein-ACE2 receptor interaction is therefore a major target for development therapeutic or prophylactic drugs combat coronavirus infections. Various engineered soluble ACE2 variants (decoys) have been designed and shown exhibit virus neutralization capacity in cell-based assays vivo models. Human heavily glycosylated some glycans impair...
Background Melioidosis, caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, is a severe infectious disease with high mortality rates, but under-recognized worldwide. In endemic areas, there great need for simple, low-cost and rapid diagnostic tools. previous study we showed, that protein multiplex array 20 B. pseudomallei-specific antigens detects antibodies in melioidosis patients sensitivity specificity. subsequent the potential of anti-B. pseudomallei antibody detection was confirmed using Hcp1 single...
Abstract Objectives Rapid antigen tests (RAT) can provide valuable information on the presence or absence SARS-CoV-2 within 15 min without need of a laboratory. The analytical and diagnostic characteristics available RATs has led to question whether they safely distinguish between infectious non-infectious patients in an acute care setting. Methods Three nasopharyngeal swabs for analysis by RAT, reverse transcriptase real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), cell culture based infection...
The outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic created an unprecedented requirement for diagnostic testing, challenging not only healthcare workers and laboratories, but also providers. Quantitative RT-PCR various specimen types is considered gold standard detection SARS-CoV-2, both in terms sensitivity specificity. pre-analytical handling patient specimens a critical factor to ensure reliable valid test results. Therefore, effect storage duration temperature on RNA copy number stability was...
Introduction The environmental bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei causes the often fatal and massively underreported infectious disease melioidosis. Antigens inducing protective immunity in experimental models have recently been identified serodiagnostic tools improved. However, further elucidation of antigenic repertoire B. during human infection for diagnostic vaccine purposes is required. adaptation to very different habitats reflected by a huge genome selective transcriptional response...
Despite the unique advantages of IgG3 over other IgG subclasses, such as mediating enhanced effector functions and increased flexibility in antigen binding due to a long hinge region, therapeutic potential remains largely unexplored. This may be attributed difficulties recombinant expression reduced plasma half-life most allotypes. Here, we report plant two SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that exhibit high (P5C3) low (H4) binding. P5C3 H4-IgG1 mAbs were subclass-switched...
Abstract Infection and viral entry of SARS-CoV-2 crucially depends on the binding its Spike protein to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) presented host cells. Glycosylation both proteins is critical for this interaction. Recombinant soluble human ACE2 can neutralize currently undergoing clinical tests treatment COVID-19. We used 3D structural models molecular dynamics simulations define N-glycans that critically influence Spike-ACE2 complex formation. Engineering N-glycosylation by...
Abstract Immunoglobulin M (IgM) is the largest antibody isotype with unique features like extensive glycosylation and oligomerization. Major hurdles in characterizing its properties are difficulties production of well-defined multimers. Here we report expression two SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies glycoengineered plants. Isotype switch from IgG1 to IgM resulted pentameric IgMs, comprising correctly assembled 21 human protein subunits. All four recombinant carried a highly...