At a low MOI (≤0.01), cytomegalovirus-associated programmed cell death terminates productive infection via a pathway triggered by the mitochondrial serine protease HtrA2/Omi. This infected cell death is associated with late phase replication events naturally suppressed by the viral mitochondrial inhibitor of apoptosis (vMIA). Here, higher MOI (ranging from 0.1-3.0) triggers cell death earlier d...

The secreted autotransporter toxin (Sat), found predominantly in uropathogenic Escherichia coli, is a member of the SPATE (serine protease autotransporters of Enterobacteriaceae) family and, as such, has serine protease activity and causes cytopathic effects on various cell types. To assess the contribution of the serine protease active site to the mechanism of action of Sat, mutations were mad...

In December 2019, in the province of Hubei (Wuhan-China), there was an outbreak a coronavirus-associated pneumonia, called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19).(1) SARS-CoV-2 enters cell by angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ECA 2) receptors that are expressed multiple organs, including testicular tissue.(2) Protein S is most likely primed transmembrane serine protease (TMPRSS2), which interacts w...

We have identified and cloned a human liver cDNA encoding an unusual mosaic polyprotein, called polyserase-I (polyserine protease-I). This protein exhibits a complex domain organization including a type II transmembrane motif, a low-density lipoprotein receptor A module, and three tandem serine protease domains. This unusual modular architecture is also present in the sequences predicted for mo...

PURPOSE Specific mutations in the transforming growth factor beta induced (TGFBI) gene are associated with lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD) type 1 and its variants. In this study, we performed an in-depth proteomic analysis of human corneal amyloid deposits associated with the heterozygous A546D mutation in TGFBI. METHODS Corneal amyloid deposits and the surrounding corneal stroma were procure...

Kinetics of bacterial growth and protease production were monitored on a novel isolated moderately halophilic bacterium, Salinivibrio sp. strain MS-7, and maximum growth and protease activity was achieved after 48 hours at 30°C and 180 rpm. To determine the effect of various carbon sources on protease production, glucose, lactose, sucrose and maltose were investigated and  maximum production of...

Proteasome inhibitors (e.g., bortezomib, MG132) are known to enhance adeno-associated virus (AAV) transduction; however, whether this results from pleotropic proteasome inhibition or off-target serine and/or cysteine protease inhibition remains unresolved. Here, we examined recombinant AAV (rAAV) effects of a new proteasome inhibitor, carfilzomib, which specifically inhibits chymotrypsin-like p...