PROMETRA International

BackgroundPlants are used in traditional healing practices of many cultures worldwide. Momordica balsamina is a plant commonly used by traditional African healers as a part of a treatment for HIV/AIDS. It is typically given as a tea to patients with HIV/AIDS. Water-soluble extracts of this plant were found to contain anti-HIV activity.MethodsWe employed cell-based infectivity assays, surface plasmon resonance, and a molecular-cell model of the gp120-CD4 interaction to study the mechanism of action of the MoMo30-plant protein. Using Edman degradation results of the 15 N-terminal amino acids, we determined the gene sequence of the MoMo30-plant protein from an RNAseq library from total RNA extracted from Momordica balsamina.ResultsHere, we identify the active ingredient of water extracts of the leaves of Momordica balsamina as a 30 kDa protein we call MoMo30-plant. We have identified the gene for MoMo30 and found it is homologous to a group of plant lectins known as Hevamine A-like proteins. MoMo30-plant is distinct from other proteins previously reported agents from the Momordica species, such as ribosome-inactivating proteins such as MAP30 and Balsamin. MoMo30-plant binds to gp120 through its glycan groups and functions as a lectin or carbohydrate-binding agent (CBA). It inhibits HIV-1 at nanomolar levels and has minimal cellular toxicity at inhibitory levels.ConclusionsCBAs like MoMo30 can bind to glycans on the surface of the enveloped glycoprotein of HIV (gp120) and block entry. Exposure to CBAs has two effects on the virus. First, it blocks infection of susceptible cells. Secondly, MoMo30 drives the selection of viruses with altered glycosylation patterns, potentially altering their immunogenicity. Such an agent could represent a change in the treatment strategy for HIV/AIDS that allows a rapid reduction in viral loads while selecting for an underglycosylated virus, potentially facilitating the host immune response.

To compare the safety and efficacy of bexagliflozin administered as monotherapy at three dosage strengths over a 12-week period to patients with type 2 diabetes who were either naïve to pharmacotherapy or were previously prescribed one oral hypoglycaemic agent and underwent a 6-week period of medication abstinence. Adults with type 2 diabetes (n = 292) having an HbA1c of between 7.0% and 8.5% were randomized to receive one of three dosage strengths of bexagliflozin (5, 10 or 20 mg) or placebo. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline to week 12 in the %HbA1c. Secondary endpoints included the changes from baseline in fasting plasma glucose (FPG), systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, body mass and fraction of patients achieving an HbA1c of <7%. The mixed model repeated measure estimates of the placebo-adjusted change in %HbA1c from baseline to week 12 for the 5, 10 and 20 mg groups were -0.55% (95% CI: -0.76%, -0.34%, P < 0.0001), -0.68% (95% CI: -0.89%, -0.47%, P < 0.0001) and -0.80% (95% CI: -1.01%, -0.59%, P < 0.0001), respectively. Significant and dose-dependent placebo-adjusted mean reductions from baseline to week 12 in FPG and body mass were observed. The fraction of subjects achieving an HbA1c of <7% was significantly greater in the 20 mg bexagliflozin group. The incidence of adverse events was similar for participants in all active arms (42.3%) compared with the rate measured in those receiving placebo (40.3%). Bexagliflozin confers substantial and dose-dependent benefits on subjects with type 2 diabetes and has an acceptable safety profile. Further evaluation of bexagliflozin for the control of type 2 diabetes in adults is warranted.

This study has analyzed the influence of shared leadership in innovation, investigating how creativity and Team-Member-Exchange (TMX) explain this connection and evaluating the effects of shared leadership on absorptive capacity and effectiveness of the teams. International research indicates that shared leadership enables organizations to overcome the complexity of its production processes and build a consistent and continuous innovation, but there are few studies in Brazil. Thus, the present study includes a descriptive analysis at the group level and is based on a sample of 222 employees and 19 formal leaders, allowing the investigation of 76 groups working in the Research and Development (R&D) of an energy Brazilian organization. The results suggests a positive influence of shared leadership in absorptive capacity and overall effectiveness of teams and confirm the mediating effects of creativity, suggesting that it appear to be a relevant route where shared leadership further innovation within the organization.