Photos of the Week: Aug. 3-9, 2020

The article covers three distinct stories. The first is about a devastating explosion in Beirut, which resulted in over 150 deaths and 5,000 injuries, with significant damage to the city's port and commercial district. The cause is linked to a warehouse fire that ignited a large stockpile of ammonium nitrate. The second story features Henrik Fisker, a car designer who is launching a new electric vehicle called the Ocean through his company Fisker Inc., using lessons learned from his previous company's failure. The third story discusses the plight of U.S. farmers like Lynn Hicks, who are facing bankruptcy despite federal payments, as they struggle with the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and a prolonged downturn in the agricultural economy.

Redesigning HVEM Interface for Selective Binding to LIGHT, BTLA, and CD160

The study focuses on redesigning the herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM) interface to achieve selective binding to its ligands LIGHT, BTLA, and CD160. Using a residue-specific pharmacophore approach, the researchers introduced mutations in HVEM to enhance binding specificity. The redesigned interfaces demonstrated selective binding in cell-based assays, offering potential therapeutic applications in modulating immune responses. The research highlights the importance of HVEM in immune regulation and its potential as a target for treating autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, and cancer.

Hindu Devotees Celebrate Janai Purnima Festival in Nepal

The article reports on the Janai Purnima Festival, also known as the Sacred Thread Festival, which took place at the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 3, 2020. During this festival, Hindu men, particularly from the Brahman and Chettri communities, participate in the annual tradition of changing their sacred thread, known as Janai. The Janai is either worn across the chest or tied around the wrist. This ritual signifies the renewal of their spiritual and physical vows.

Computational Redesign of PD-1 Interface for PD-L1 Ligand Selectivity

The article discusses the computational redesign of the PD-1 interface to selectively bind to PD-L1 while avoiding interaction with PD-L2. Using the ProtLID method, residue-specific pharmacophores were generated to identify mutations that enhance PD-L1 selectivity. Experimental validation of 32 single-point mutations revealed several mutants with increased selectivity for PD-L1. The study highlights the potential of these redesigned PD-1 variants as therapeutic leads for modulating the PD-1 pathway in cancer treatment.