@article{YoussifHaggagElshamyetal.2019, author = {Youssif, Khayrya A. and Haggag, Eman G. and Elshamy, Ali M. and Rabeh, Mohamed A. and Gabr, Nagwan M. and Seleem, Amany and Salem, M. Alaraby and Hussein, Ahmed S. and Krischke, Markus and Mueller, Martin J. and Ramadan Abdelmohsen, Usama}, title = {Anti-Alzheimer potential, metabolomic profiling and molecular docking of green synthesized silver nanoparticles of Lampranthus coccineus and Malephora lutea aqueous extracts}, series = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {14}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, number = {11}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0223781}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-202696}, pages = {e0223781}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (SNPs) using plant extracts is an eco-friendly method. It is a single step and offers several advantages such as time reducing, cost-effective and environmental non-toxic. Silver nanoparticles are a type of Noble metal nanoparticles and it has tremendous applications in the field of diagnostics, therapeutics, antimicrobial activity, anticancer and neurodegenerative diseases. In the present work, the aqueous extracts of aerial parts of Lampranthus coccineus and Malephora lutea F. Aizoaceae were successfully used for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The formation of silver nanoparticles was early detected by a color change from pale yellow to reddish-brown color and was further confirmed by transmission electron microscope (TEM), UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDX). The TEM analysis of showed spherical nanoparticles with a mean size between 12.86 nm and 28.19 nm and the UV- visible spectroscopy showed λ\(_{max}\) of 417 nm, which confirms the presence of nanoparticles. The neuroprotective potential of SNPs was evaluated by assessing the antioxidant and cholinesterase inhibitory activity. Metabolomic profiling was performed on methanolic extracts of L. coccineus and M. lutea and resulted in the identification of 12 compounds, then docking was performed to investigate the possible interaction between the identified compounds and human acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, and glutathione transferase receptor, which are associated with the progress of Alzheimer's disease. Overall our SNPs highlighted its promising potential in terms of anticholinesterase and antioxidant activity as plant-based anti-Alzheimer drug and against oxidative stress.}, language = {en} } @article{SchattonYangKleffeletal.2015, author = {Schatton, Tobias and Yang, Jun and Kleffel, Sonja and Uehara, Mayuko and Barthel, Steven R. and Schlapbach, Christoph and Zhan, Qian and Dudeney, Stephen and Mueller, Hansgeorg and Lee, Nayoung and de Vries, Juliane C. and Meier, Barbara and Beken, Seppe Vander and Kluth, Mark A. and Ganss, Christoph and Sharpe, Arlene H. and Waaga-Gasser, Ana Maria and Sayegh, Mohamed H. and Abdi, Reza and Scharffetter-Kochanek, Karin and Murphy, George F. and Kupper, Thomas S. and Frank, Natasha Y. and Frank, Markus H.}, title = {ABCB5 Identifies Immunoregulatory Dermal Cells}, series = {Cell Reports}, volume = {12}, journal = {Cell Reports}, doi = {10.1016/j.celrep.2015.08.010}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-149989}, pages = {1564 -- 1574}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Cell-based strategies represent a new frontier in the treatment of immune-mediated disorders. However, the paucity of markers for isolation of molecularly defined immunomodulatory cell populations poses a barrier to this field. Here, we show that ATP-binding cassette member B5 (ABCB5) identifies dermal immunoregulatory cells (DIRCs) capable of exerting therapeutic immunoregulatory functions through engagement of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1). Purified Abcb5\(^+\) DIRCs suppressed T cell proliferation, evaded immune rejection, homed to recipient immune tissues, and induced Tregs in vivo. In fully major-histocompatibility-complex-mismatched cardiac allotransplantation models, allogeneic DIRCs significantly prolonged allograft survival. Blockade of DIRC-expressed PD-1 reversed the inhibitory effects of DIRCs on T cell activation, inhibited DIRC-dependent Treg induction, and attenuated DIRC-induced prolongation of cardiac allograft survival, indicating that DIRC immunoregulatory function is mediated, at least in part, through PD-1. Our results identify ABCB5\(^+\) DIRCs as a distinct immunoregulatory cell population and suggest promising roles of this expandable cell subset in cellular immunotherapy.}, language = {en} } @article{RuedenauerRaubenheimerKessnerBeierleinetal.2020, author = {Ruedenauer, Fabian A. and Raubenheimer, David and Kessner-Beierlein, Daniela and Grund-Mueller, Nils and Noack, Lisa and Spaethe, Johannes and Leonhardt, Sara D.}, title = {Best be(e) on low fat: linking nutrient perception, regulation and fitness}, series = {Ecology Letters}, volume = {23}, journal = {Ecology Letters}, number = {3}, doi = {10.1111/ele.13454}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-208709}, pages = {545-554}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Preventing malnutrition through consuming nutritionally appropriate resources represents a challenge for foraging animals. This is due to often high variation in the nutritional quality of available resources. Foragers consequently need to evaluate different food sources. However, even the same food source can provide a plethora of nutritional and non-nutritional cues, which could serve for quality assessment. We show that bumblebees, Bombus terrestris , overcome this challenge by relying on lipids as nutritional cue when selecting pollen. The bees 'prioritised' lipid perception in learning experiments and avoided lipid consumption in feeding experiments, which supported survival and reproduction. In contrast, survival and reproduction were severely reduced by increased lipid contents. Our study highlights the importance of fat regulation for pollen foraging bumblebees. It also reveals that nutrient perception, nutrient regulation and reproductive fitness can be linked, which represents an effective strategy enabling quick foraging decisions that prevent malnutrition and maximise fitness.}, language = {en} } @article{MuellerStoetterKalluvyaetal.2015, author = {Mueller, A. and Stoetter, L. and Kalluvya, S. and Stich, A. and Majinge, C. and Weissbrich, B. and Kasang, C.}, title = {Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among health care workers in a tertiary hospital in Tanzania}, series = {BMC Infectious Diseases}, volume = {15}, journal = {BMC Infectious Diseases}, number = {386}, doi = {10.1186/s12879-015-1129-z}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-141786}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Background: Sub-Saharan Africa has a high prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections. Health care workers (HCWs) are at high risk of contracting HBV infection through their occupation. Vaccination of HCWs against HBV is standard practice in many countries, but is often not implemented in resource-poor settings. We aimed with this cross-sectional study to determine HBV prevalence, HCW vaccination status, and the risk factors for HCWs contracting HBV infection in Tanzania. Methods: We enrolled 600 HCWs from a tertiary Tanzanian hospital. Their demographics, medical histories, HBV vaccination details and risk factors for contracting blood-borne infections were collected using a standardized questionnaire. Serum samples were tested for HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) markers by ELISA techniques, PCR and an anti-HBs rapid test. HCWs were divided in two subgroups: those at risk of contracting HBV (rHCW 79.2 \%) via exposure to potentially infectious materials, and those considered not at risk of contracting HBV (nrHCW, 20.8 \%). Results: The overall prevalence of chronic HBV infection (HBsAg+, anti-HBc+, anti-HBs-) was 7.0 \% (42/598). Chronic HBV infection was found in 7.4 \% of rHCW versus 5.6 \% of nrHCW(p-value = 0.484). HCWs susceptible to HBV (HBsAg-, anti-HBc-, anti-HBs-) comprised 31.3 \%. HBV immunity achieved either by healed HBV infection (HBsAg-, anti-HBc+, anti-HBs+) or by vaccination (HBsAg-, anti-HBc-, anti-HBs+) comprised 36.5 \% and 20.2 \%, respectively. 4.8 \% of participants had indeterminate results (HBsAg-, anti-HBc+, anti-HBc-IgM-, anti-HBs-). Only 77.1 \% of HCWs who received a full vaccination course had an anti-HBs titer > 10 ml/U. An anti-HBs point-of-care test was 80.7 \% sensitive and 96.9 \% specific. There was a significantly higher risk for contracting HBV (anti-HBc+) among those HCW at occupational risk (rHCW) of older age (odds ratios (OR) in rHCW 3.297, p < 0.0001 vs. nrHCW 1.385, p = 0.606) and among those HCW being employed more than 11 years (OR 2.51, p < 0.0001***). HCV prevalence was low (HCV antibodies 1.2 \% and HCV-RNA 0.3 \%). Conclusions: Chronic HBV infection is common among Tanzanian HCWs. One third of HCWs were susceptible to HBV infection, highlighting the need for vaccination. Due to high prevalence of naturally acquired immunity against HBV pre-testing might be a useful tool to identify susceptible individuals.}, language = {en} } @article{KraussVikukYoungetal.2020, author = {Krauss, Jochen and Vikuk, Veronika and Young, Carolyn A. and Krischke, Markus and Mueller, Martin J. and Baerenfaller, Katja}, title = {Epichlo{\"e} endophyte infection rates and alkaloid content in commercially available grass seed mixtures in Europe}, series = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, journal = {Microorganisms}, number = {4}, issn = {2076-2607}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms8040498}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-203323}, pages = {498}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Fungal endophytes of the genus Epichlo{\"e} live symbiotically in cool season grass species and can produce alkaloids toxic to insects and vertebrates, yet reports of intoxication of grazing animals have been rare in Europe in contrast to overseas. However, due to the beneficial resistance traits observed in Epichlo{\"e} infected grasses, the inclusion of Epichlo{\"e} in seed mixtures might become increasingly advantageous. Despite the toxicity of fungal alkaloids, European seed mixtures are rarely tested for Epichlo{\"e} infection and their infection status is unknown for consumers. In this study, we tested 24 commercially available seed mixtures for their infection rates with Epichlo{\"e} endophytes and measured the concentrations of the alkaloids ergovaline, lolitrem B, paxilline, and peramine. We detected Epichlo{\"e} infections in six seed mixtures, and four contained vertebrate and insect toxic alkaloids typical for Epichlo{\"e} festucae var. lolii infecting Lolium perenne. As Epichlo{\"e} infected seed mixtures can harm livestock, when infected grasses become dominant in the seeded grasslands, we recommend seed producers to test and communicate Epichlo{\"e} infection status or avoiding Epichlo{\"e} infected seed mixtures.}, language = {en} } @article{KraussVikukYoungetal.2020, author = {Krauss, Jochen and Vikuk, Veronika and Young, Carolyn A. and Krischke, Markus and Mueller, Martin J. and Baerenfaller, Katja}, title = {Correction: Krauss, J., et al. Epichlo{\"e} endophyte infection rates and alkaloid content in commercially available grass seed mixtures in Europe. Microorganisms 2020, 8, 498}, series = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, journal = {Microorganisms}, number = {10}, issn = {2076-2607}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms8101616}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-216254}, year = {2020}, abstract = {No abstract available.}, language = {en} } @article{KellerLeidingerVogeletal.2014, author = {Keller, Andreas and Leidinger, Petra and Vogel, Britta and Backes, Christina and ElSharawy, Abdou and Galata, Valentina and Mueller, Sabine C. and Marquart, Sabine and Schrauder, Michael G. and Strick, Reiner and Bauer, Andrea and Wischhusen, J{\"o}rg and Beier, Markus and Kohlhaas, Jochen and Katus, Hugo A. and Hoheisel, J{\"o}rg and Franke, Andre and Meder, Benjamin and Meese, Eckart}, title = {miRNAs can be generally associated with human pathologies as exemplified for miR-144*}, series = {BMC MEDICINE}, volume = {12}, journal = {BMC MEDICINE}, issn = {1741-7015}, doi = {10.1186/s12916-014-0224-0}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-114349}, pages = {224}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Background: miRNA profiles are promising biomarker candidates for a manifold of human pathologies, opening new avenues for diagnosis and prognosis. Beyond studies that describe miRNAs frequently as markers for specific traits, we asked whether a general pattern for miRNAs across many diseases exists. Methods: We evaluated genome-wide circulating profiles of 1,049 patients suffering from 19 different cancer and non-cancer diseases as well as unaffected controls. The results were validated on 319 individuals using qRT-PCR. Results: We discovered 34 miRNAs with strong disease association. Among those, we found substantially decreased levels of hsa-miR-144* and hsa-miR-20b with AUC of 0.751 ( 95\% CI: 0.703-0.799), respectively. We also discovered a set of miRNAs, including hsa-miR-155*, as rather stable markers, offering reasonable control miRNAs for future studies. The strong downregulation of hsa-miR-144* and the less variable pattern of hsa-miR-155* has been validated in a cohort of 319 samples in three different centers. Here, breast cancer as an additional disease phenotype not included in the screening phase has been included as the 20th trait. Conclusions: Our study on 1,368 patients including 1,049 genome-wide miRNA profiles and 319 qRT-PCR validations further underscores the high potential of specific blood-borne miRNA patterns as molecular biomarkers. Importantly, we highlight 34 miRNAs that are generally dysregulated in human pathologies. Although these markers are not specific to certain diseases they may add to the diagnosis in combination with other markers, building a specific signature. Besides these dysregulated miRNAs, we propose a set of constant miRNAs that may be used as control markers.}, language = {en} } @article{GrundMuellerRuedenauerSpaetheetal.2020, author = {Grund-Mueller, Nils and Ruedenauer, Fabian A. and Spaethe, Johannes and Leonhardt, Sara D.}, title = {Adding amino acids to a sucrose diet is not sufficient to support longevity of adult bumble bees}, series = {Insects}, volume = {11}, journal = {Insects}, number = {4}, issn = {2075-4450}, doi = {10.3390/insects11040247}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-203866}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Dietary macro-nutrients (i.e., carbohydrates, protein, and fat) are important for bee larval development and, thus, colony health and fitness. To which extent different diets (varying in macro-nutrient composition) affect adult bees and whether they can thrive on nectar as the sole amino acid source has, however, been little investigated. We investigated how diets varying in protein concentration and overall nutrient composition affected consumption, longevity, and breeding behavior of the buff-tailed bumble bee, Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Queenless micro-colonies were fed either natural nutrient sources (pollen), nearly pure protein (i.e., the milk protein casein), or sucrose solutions with low and with high essential amino acid content in concentrations as can be found in nectar. We observed micro-colonies for 110 days. We found that longevity was highest for pure pollen and lowest for pure sucrose solution and sucrose solution supplemented with amino acids in concentrations as found in the nectar of several plant species. Adding higher concentrations of amino acids to sucrose solution did only slightly increase longevity compared to sucrose alone. Consequently, sucrose solution with the applied concentrations and proportions of amino acids or other protein sources (e.g., casein) alone did not meet the nutritional needs of healthy adult bumble bees. In fact, longevity was highest and reproduction only successful in micro-colonies fed pollen. These results indicate that, in addition to carbohydrates and protein, adult bumble bees, like larvae, need further nutrients (e.g., lipids and micro-nutrients) for their well-being. An appropriate nutritional composition seemed to be best provided by floral pollen, suggesting that pollen is an essential dietary component not only for larvae but also for adult bees.}, language = {en} } @article{ElmaidomyMohammedHassanetal.2019, author = {Elmaidomy, Abeer H. and Mohammed, Rabab and Hassan, Hossam M. and Owis, Asmaa I. and Rateb, Mostafa E. and Khanfar, Mohammad A. and Krischke, Markus and Mueller, Martin J. and Abdelmohsen, Usama Ramadan}, title = {Metabolomic profiling and cytotoxic tetrahydrofurofuran lignans investigations from Premna odorata Blanco}, series = {Metabolites}, volume = {9}, journal = {Metabolites}, number = {10}, issn = {2218-1989}, doi = {10.3390/metabo9100223}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-193187}, pages = {223}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Metabolomic profiling of different Premna odorata Blanco (Lamiaceae) organs, bark, wood, young stems, flowers, and fruits dereplicated 20, 20, 10, 20, and 20 compounds, respectively, using LC-HRESIMS. The identified metabolites (1-34) belonged to different chemical classes, including iridoids, flavones, phenyl ethanoids, and lignans. A phytochemical investigation of P. odorata bark afforded one new tetrahydrofurofuran lignan, 4β-hydroxyasarinin 35, along with fourteen known compounds. The structure of the new compound was confirmed using extensive 1D and 2D NMR, and HRESIMS analyses. A cytotoxic investigation of compounds 35-38 against the HL-60, HT-29, and MCF-7 cancer cell lines, using the MTT assay showed that compound 35 had cytotoxic effects against HL-60 and MCF-7 with IC50 values of 2.7 and 4.2 µg/mL, respectively. A pharmacophore map of compounds 35 showed two hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) aligning the phenoxy oxygen atoms of benzodioxole moieties, two aromatic ring features vectored on the two phenyl rings, one hydrogen bond donor (HBD) feature aligning the central hydroxyl group and thirteen exclusion spheres which limit the boundaries of sterically inaccessible regions of the target's active site.}, language = {en} } @article{DiestelReschMeinhardtetal.2013, author = {Diestel, Uschi and Resch, Marcus and Meinhardt, Kathrin and Weiler, Sigrid and Hellmann, Tina V. and Mueller, Thomas D. and Nickel, Joachim and Eichler, Jutta and Muller, Yves A.}, title = {Identification of a Novel TGF-beta-Binding Site in the Zona Pellucida C-terminal (ZP-C) Domain of TGF-\(\beta\)-Receptor-3 (TGFR-3)}, series = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {8}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, number = {6}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0067214}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-130904}, pages = {e67214}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The zona pellucida (ZP) domain is present in extracellular proteins such as the zona pellucida proteins and tectorins and participates in the formation of polymeric protein networks. However, the ZP domain also occurs in the cytokine signaling co-receptor transforming growth factor beta (TGF-\(\beta\)) receptor type 3 (TGFR-3, also known as betaglycan) where it contributes to cytokine ligand recognition. Currently it is unclear how the ZP domain architecture enables this dual functionality. Here, we identify a novel major TGF-beta-binding site in the FG loop of the C-terminal subdomain of the murine TGFR-3 ZP domain (ZP-C) using protein crystallography, limited proteolysis experiments, surface plasmon resonance measurements and synthetic peptides. In the murine 2.7 angstrom crystal structure that we are presenting here, the FG-loop is disordered, however, well-ordered in a recently reported homologous rat ZP-C structure. Surprisingly, the adjacent external hydrophobic patch (EHP) segment is registered differently in the rat and murine structures suggesting that this segment only loosely associates with the remaining ZP-C fold. Such a flexible and temporarily-modulated association of the EHP segment with the ZP domain has been proposed to control the polymerization of ZP domain-containing proteins. Our findings suggest that this flexibility also extends to the ZP domain of TGFR-3 and might facilitate co-receptor ligand interaction and presentation via the adjacent FG-loop. This hints that a similar C-terminal region of the ZP domain architecture possibly regulates both the polymerization of extracellular matrix proteins and cytokine ligand recognition of TGFR-3.}, language = {en} }