Census of cytosolic aminopeptidase activity reveals two novel cytosolic aminopeptidases

Nano-Inspired Technologies for Peptide Delivery

Nano-inspired technologies offer unique opportunities to treat numerous diseases by using therapeutic peptides. Therapeutic peptides have attractive pharmacological profiles and can be manufactured at relatively low costs. The major advantages of using a nanodelivery approach comprises significantly lower required dosages compared to systemic delivery, and thus reduced toxicity and immunogenicity. The combination of therapeutic peptides with delivery peptides and nanoparticles or small molecule drugs offers systemic treatment approaches, instead of aiming for single biological targets or pathways. This review article discusses exemplary state-of-the-art nanosized delivery systems for therapeutic peptides and antibodies, as well as their biochemical and biophysical foundations and emphasizes still remaining challenges. The competition between using different nanoplatforms, such as liposome-, hydrogel-, polymer-, silica nanosphere-, or nanosponge-based delivery systems is still "on" and no clear frontrunner has emerged to date.

Genetics of ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory arthritis that affects the spine and sacroiliac joints. It causes significant disability and is associated with a number of other features including peripheral arthritis, anterior uveitis, psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Significant progress has been made in the genetics of AS have in the last five years, leading to new treatments in trial, and major leaps in understanding of the aetiopathogenesis of the disease.