Biology subjects

Kraus, T.

Publications and source records attributed to Kraus, T..

7 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Super-resolution compatible DNA labeling technique reveals chromatin mobility and organization changes during differentiation

Chromatin dynamics play a crucial role in cellular differentiation, yet tools for studying global chromatin mobility in living cells remain limited. Here, we developed a novel probe for the metabolic labeling of chromatin and tracking its mobility during neural differentiation. The labeling system utilizes a newly developed silicon rhodamine-conjugated deoxycytidine triphosphate (dCSiRTP). We show that this dCTP is efficiently delivered into living human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and neural stem cells (NSCs) via a synthetic transporter (SNTT1). Using correlative confocal microscopy and stimulated emission depletion (STED) super-resolution microscopy, we quantified the sizes of labeled chromatin domains. Time lapse super-resolution microscopy combined with single particle tracking revealed that chromatin mobility decreases during the transition from iPSCs (pluripotent state) to NSCs and neurons (differentiated state). This reduction in mobility correlates with the differentiation state, suggesting a role for chromatin dynamics in cellular plasticity. Concomitant mechanistic insights obtained from MNase digestion assays, chromatin compaction and histone modification analyses revealed a decrease in chromatin accessibility during neuronal differentiation, indicating that chromatin adopts a more constrained and compacted structure. These findings provide new insights into chromatin regulation during neurogenesis.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Heterologous immunization strategy developed broadly reactive human monoclonal antibodies against the BK virus

BK polyomavirus (BKV) causes polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (BKV-nephropathy) and polyomavirus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis (BKV-HC) following kidney transplantation and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). BKV strains consist of four distinct genotypes (BKV-I, - II, -III, and -IV) with more than 80% of individuals seropositive for the BKV-I genotype, and lower prevalences of infection or co-infection with the other genotypes. BKV-nephropathy occurs widely in immunosuppressed transplant recipients, with the recommended treatment including reduction of immunosuppressive drugs. High serum titers of BKV-neutralizing antibodies and treatment with BKV-neutralizing intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) are associated with reduced levels of BKV-DNAemia in kidney transplant recipients, suggesting anti-BKV antibodies can limit viral load. Thus, we set out to generate broadly neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the viral protein 1 (VP1) major capsid protein of BKV genotypes I-IV using VelocImmune(R) transgenic mice that encode for human immunoglobulins. Hybridoma clones from VelocImmune(R) mice immunized with combinations of BKV I-IV VP1 and respective genotypes of BKV pseudoviruses (BK-PsV) were screened using a high-throughput binding assay against BKV-I VP1 expressed in HEK-293 cells. The VP1-binding hybridoma clones were then assessed for neutralization with BK-PsV consisting of respective VP1 proteins from BKV-I, -II, -III, or -IV on the virion surface. Overall, thirty-six broadly cross-neutralizing mAbs against BKV-I, -II, -III, and -IV -were identified. Twenty of the cross-reactive immunoglobulins were subjected to nucleotide sequencing resulting in six clonotype families with fourteen genetically distinct immunoglobulins. Several of the most effective mAbs were fully humanized with the IgG1 Fc domain and broad neutralization of BK-PsV-I, II, III, and IV genotypes with IC50s ranging from [~]7-200 pM. Thus, these cross-neutralizing mAbs represent potential biologics to developed into BKV therapeutics.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Plasmonic Stimulation of Gold Nanorods for the Photothermal Control of Engineered Living Materials

Engineered living materials (ELMs) use encapsulated microorganisms within polymeric matrices for biosensing, drug delivery, capturing viruses, and bioremediation. It is often desirable to control their function remotely and in real time. Suitable, genetically engineered microorganisms respond to changes of their environment. Here, we combine this local sensitivity with a nanostructured encapsulation material to sensitize the ELM for infrared light. Previously, blue light has been used to stimulate microorganisms that contain optogenetic modules responsive to those wavelengths without the need for exogenous cofactors. Here, we use plasmonic gold nanorods (AuNR) that have a strong absorption maximum at 808 nm, a wavelength where human tissue is relatively transparent. Biocompatible composites of a Pluronic-based hydrogel and AuNR are prepared without agglomeration; they react to illumination by local heating. We measure a photothermal conversion efficiency of 47 % in transient temperature measurements. Steady-state temperature profiles from local photothermal heating are quantified using infrared photothermal imaging, correlated with measurements inside the gel, and applied to stimulate thermoresponsive bacteria. Using a bilayer ELM construct with the thermoresponsive bacteria and the thermoplasmonic composite gel in two separate but connected hydrogel layers, it is shown that the bacteria can be stimulated to produce a fluorescent protein using infrared light in a spatially controlled manner.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2022

Network topology in brain tumor patients with and without structural epilepsy- a prospective MEG-study

It has been proposed that functional connectivity (FC) and network topology (NT) are altered in patients with glial brain tumors. So far there is no consensus on the pattern of these changes, furthermore data on FC in patients with brain metastases (BMs) as well as on the presence and absence of tumor-related epilepsy is lacking. We aimed to analyze preoperative NT of newly diagnosed, singular, supratentorial glial brain tumors (GBTs) and BMs with and without structural epilepsy. FC and NT derived from resting state magnetoencephalography (MEG) were compared between patients (PAs) and matched healthy controls (HCs), between GBTs and BMs as well as between patients with and without structural epilepsy. We investigated all patients, who met our inclusion criteria from February 2019 to March 2021. Clinical data was collected from patients electronic medical charts. We analyzed whole brain (wb) connectivity in six frequency bands, calculated three different network topological parameters (node degree (ND), shortest path length (L), clustering coefficient (CC)) and performed a stratification, where differences in the power were to be found. For data analysis we used Fieldtrip, Brain Connectivity Matlab toolboxes and in-house built scripts. We consecutively included 41 patients (21 men), mean age 60.1ys (range 23-82), who were operated on at our institution. Tumor histology included high-grade gliomas (n=18), low-grade gliomas (n=4), dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNET, n=1), BMs (n=14) and others (n=4). Statistical analysis revealed a significant decrease for wb ND in patients compared to healthy controls in every frequency range analyzed at the descriptive and corrected level (p1-30Hz=0.002, p{gamma}=0.002, p{beta}=0.002, p=0.002, p{theta}=0.024, p{delta}=0.002). Furthermore, at the descriptive level, we found a significant augmentation for wb CC (p1-30Hz=0.031, p{delta}=0.013) in PAs compared to HCs, which did not persist the false discovery rate (FDR) correction. There were no differences in the networks of glial brain tumors and metastases identified. However, we found a significant increase in wb CC in patients with structural epilepsy (p{theta}= 0.048), and significantly lower wb ND (p= 0.039) at the uncorrected level. Our data suggests that network topology is altered in brain tumor patients, which is in line with previous studies. Tumor histology per se might not influence the brains functional network, however, tumor-related epilepsy seems to do so. Longitudinal studies and in-depth analysis of possible factors and confounders might be helpful to further substantiate these findings.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Dissecting CD8+ T cell pathology of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection by single-cell epitope mapping

The current COVID-19 pandemic represents a global challenge. A better understanding of the immune response against SARS-CoV-2 is key to unveil the differences in disease severity and to develop future vaccines targeting novel SARS-CoV-2 variants. Feature barcode technology combined with CITE-seq antibodies and DNA-barcoded peptide-MHC I Dextramer reagents enabled us to identify relevant SARS-CoV-2-derived epitopes and compare epitope-specific CD8+ T cell populations between mild and severe COVID-19. We identified a strong CD8+ T cell response against an S protein-derived epitope. CD8+ effector cells in severe COVID-19 displayed hyperactivation, T cell exhaustion and were missing characteristics of long-lived memory T cells. We identify A*0101 WTAGAAAYY as an immunogenic CD8+ T cell epitope with the ability to drive clonal expansion. We provide an in-depth characterization of the CD8+ T cell-mediated response to SARS-CoV-2 infection which will be relevant for the development of molecular and targeted therapies and potential adjustments of vaccination strategies.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2018

Interleukin 22 mediates interleukin 23-induced pathology in newborn mice by disrupting the function of intestinal and pancreatic cells

Mice expressing IL-23 constitutively in the intestine or skin fail to grow and die prematurely. These phenotypes are associated with marked changes in the levels of circulating cytokines and with changes in the transcriptome of the pancreas and intestine. Marked changes are observed in the expression of molecules involved in digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids, resulting in a malabsorptive condition. Genetic ablation of IL-22, or one of the subunits of the IL-22R in mice expressing IL-23, restores normal growth and increases the life span of the animals. Mechanistically, IL-22 acts directly at the level of pancreatic acinar cells to decrease expression of the pancreas associated transcription factor 1a (Ptfla), an important transcription factor controlling expression of genes encoding pancreatic enzymes, and acinar cell identity. The results indicate that dysregulated expression of IL-23 and IL-22 has severe consequences in newborns and reveal an unsuspected role for IL-22 in controlling pancreatic enzyme secretion and food absorption.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2017

Leukocyte counts based on site-specific DNA methylation analysis

The composition of white blood cells is usually assessed by histomorphological parameters or flow cytometric measurements. Alternatively, leukocyte differential counts (LDCs) can be estimated by deconvolution algorithms for genome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm) profiles. We identified cell-type specific CG dinucleotides (CpGs) that facilitate relative quantification of leukocyte subsets. Site-specific analysis of DNAm levels by pyrosequencing provides similar precision of LDCs as conventional methods, whereas it is also applicable to frozen samples and requires only very small volumes of blood. Furthermore, we describe a new approach for absolute quantification of cell numbers based on a non-methylated reference DNA. Our \"Epi-Blood-Count\" facilitates robust and cost effective analysis of blood counts for clinical application.

molecular biology↗