Characterization of the genetic diversity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium tuberculosis</Emphasis> in São Paulo city,Brazil

Background

Tuberculosis is a major health problem in São Paulo, Brazil, which is the most populous and one of the most cosmopolitan cities in South America. To characterize the genetic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the population of this city, the genotyping techniques of spoligotyping and MIRU were applied to 93 isolates collected in two consecutive years from 93 different tuberculosis patients residing in São Paulo city and attending the Clemente Ferreira Institute (the reference clinic for the treatment of tuberculosis).

Findings

Spoligotyping generated 53 different spoligotype patterns. Fifty-one isolates (54.8%) were grouped into 13 spoligotyping clusters. Seventy- two strains (77.4%) showed spoligotypes described in the international databases (SpolDB4, SITVIT), and 21 (22.6%) showed unidentified patterns. The most frequent spoligotype families were Latin American Mediterranean (LAM) (26 isolates), followed by the T family (24 isolates) and Haarlem (H) (11 isolates), which together accounted for 65.4% of all the isolates. These three families represent the major genotypes found in Africa, Central America, South America and Europe. Six Spoligo-International-types (designated SITs by the database) comprised 51.8% (37/72) of all the identified spoligotypes (SIT53, SIT50, SIT42, SIT60, SIT17 and SIT1). Other SITs found in this study indicated the great genetic diversity of M. tuberculosis, reflecting the remarkable ethnic diversity of São Paulo city inhabitants. The MIRU technique was more discriminatory and did not identify any genetic clusters with 100% similarity among the 93 isolates. The allelic analysis showed that MIRU loci 26, 40, 23 and 10 were the most discriminatory. When MIRU and spoligotyping techniques were combined, all isolates grouped in the 13 spoligotyping clusters were separated.

Conclusions

Our data indicated the genomic stability of over 50% of spoligotypes identified in São Paulo and the great genetic diversity of M. tuberculosis isolates in the remaining SITs, reflecting the large ethnic mix of the São Paulo city inhabitants. The results also indicated that in this city, M. tuberculosis isolates acquired drug resistance independently of genotype and that resistance was more dependent on the selective pressure of treatment failure and the environmental circumstances of patients.

     

Biogeographical analysis of two Polypodium species complexes (Polypodiaceae) in Mexico and Central America

We analyzed the geographical and elevational distributions of two Polypodium complexes from Mexico and Central America. Distribution data of nine species of the Polypodium colpodes complex and the Polypodium plesiosorum complex were obtained from almost 1500 herbarium specimens, field collections in Mexico and Costa Rica, and literature studies. The presence of each species was recorded for each Mesoamerican country, in 1° × 1° grid‐cells and biogeographical provinces. The rarity of species was also evaluated. Although the two complexes show extensive overlap, the P. colpodes complex is distributed mainly along the Pacific versant of Mexico and Central America, whereas the P. plesiosorum complex occurs mainly along the Atlantic versant. Those biogeographical provinces with maximum species diversity are Chiapas (seven species), Sierra Madre del Sur (six species), and the Trans‐Mexican Volcanic belt (six species). Grid‐cells with more species are located mainly in the mountains of central‐southern Mexico and northern Central America. Richness does not decrease or increase with latitude. Elevation distributions showed that most Polypodium species are concentrated in the montane interval and three species groups were recognized based on elevational preferences. Polypodium colpodes and P. plesiosorum are the most widely distributed species, whereas Polypodium castaneum and Polypodium flagellare are the only two species that possess the three attributes of rarity (narrow geographical distribution, high habitat specificity, and scarce local populations). Polypodium species of both complexes are present mainly in the montane regions of the study area and show some degree of geographical sympatry, especially in southern Mexico and northern Central America. This overlapping is explained by the elevation tolerance within montane systems and because most species inhabit three or more vegetation types. The distributional patterns of these complexes coincided with the three regional highlands of Mesoamerica, which are separated from each other by the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and by the lowlands of Nicaragua. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, ?? , ??–??.     

New acyclic quinoxaline nucleosides. Synthesis and anti-hiv activity

A series of acyclonucleosides substituted 1-(4,5-dihydroxypentyl) (13-8) and 2-(4,5-dihydroxypentyloxy)quinoxalines (19-24) were synthesized by the sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation of the derivatives 1-6 and 7-12, respectively. Treatment of the quinoxaline base 26 with (R)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-ylmethyl-p-toluenesulfonate (27) in the presence of NaH/DMF furnished 28. Acid hydrolysis of 28 gave 1-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-6,7-dimethyl-quinoxaline-2-one (29). Alternatively, 29 was prepared by sharpless dihydroxylation of 30. All the compounds were evaluated for their in vitro anti-HIV-1 and HIV-2 in MT-4 cell and found inactive, except 29, which showed inhibition of HIV-1 with EC50 value of 0.15 +/- 0.1 microg/ml and a therapeutic index (SI) of 73.     

A new approach to the synthesis of benzothiazole, benzoxazole, and pyridine nucleosides as potential antitumor agents

A modified nitrogen and sulfur glycosylation reaction involving benzothiazole benzoxazole and pyridine nucleoside bases with furanose and pyranose sugars are described. Conformational analysis has been studied by homo- and heteronuclear two-dimensional NMR methods (2D DFQ-COSY, HMQC and HMBC). The N and S sites of glycosylation were determined from the 1H, 13C heteronuclear multiple-quantum coherence (HMQC) experiments. All the deprotected nucleosides were tested for their potential antitumor activity.     

Synthesis of N-substituted 1-amino-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazole-2-thione-N-nucleosides and S-glycosylated derivatives

Fusion of the N-substituted 1-amino-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazole-2-thiones 1-4 with the peracylated ribose 5 in the presence of iodine afforded the N-nucleosides 6-9 in moderate yields. Deblocking with NaOMe/MeOH gave the free nucleosides 10-13. Alternatively, silylation of 4 followed by ribosylation with 5 in the presence of TMSOTf as catalyst afforded 9 in moderate yield. Ribosylation of 4 with the chlorodeoxyribose derivative 15 as well as 5 in the presence of NaH in DMF afforded the thioglycosides 16 and 18, respectively. Deblocking of 16 and 18 with NaOMe/MeOH gave the free S-thioglycosides 17 and 19, respectively. Thermal rearrangement of 19 at high temperature in the presence of iodine furnished 13 in low yield. The new free nucleosides and thioglycosides were inactive against HIV-1 and HIV-2 induced cytopathicity in human MT-4 lymphocyte cells.     

Structural,Morphological, and Optical Properties of Nanocrystalline (Bi2O3)1−x:(TiO2)x Thin Films for Transparent Electronics

The fabrication of low cost and eco-friendly transparent electronics using metal oxide semiconductors is still a challenging task. In this work, transparent nanocrystalline (Bi₂O₃)_1−x:(TiO₂)_x thin films were synthesized using a pulsed laser deposition technique (PLD); XRD analysis shows the films have polycrystalline structure of monoclinic Bi₂O₃; morphological and topographical properties were analyzed by SEM and AFM showing the films have smooth surfaces with RMS roughness (4.26–7.37 nm) with micro-and nano-spheres (2 μm to 23 nm); the optical properties were analyzed by Uv-Vis spectrometer and revealed high transmittance in the visible range; the best results were obtained at x = 0.05 where the highest crystallinity, highest transmittance (> 82%), and highest band gap (3.769 eV) were achieved; and empirical models have been proposed to estimate the band gap and Bi–O bond lengths as a function of TiO₂ concentration with excellent coincidence with the experimental data.

     

Aggregation risk prediction for antibodies and its application to biotherapeutic development

Aggregation is a common problem affecting biopharmaceutical development that can have a significant effect on the quality of the product, as well as the safety to patients, particularly because of the increased risk of immune reactions. Here, we describe a new high-throughput screening algorithm developed to classify antibody molecules based on their propensity to aggregate. The tool, constructed and validated on experimental aggregation data for over 500 antibodies, is able to discern molecules with a high aggregation propensity as defined by experimental criteria relevant to bioprocessing and manufacturing of these molecules. Furthermore, we show how this tool can be combined with other computational approaches during early drug development to select molecules with reduced risk of aggregation and optimal developability properties.     

Protein phosphatase 2A regulatory subunits affecting plant innate immunity,energy metabolism,and flowering time – joint functions among B'η subfamily members

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a heterotrimeric complex comprising a catalytic, scaffolding, and regulatory subunit. The regulatory subunits are essential for substrate specificity and localization of the complex and are classified into B/B55, B'', and B” non-related families in higher plants. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the close paralogs B''η, B''θ, B''γ, and B''ζ were further classified into a subfamily of B'' called B''η. Here we present results that consolidate the evidence for a role of the B''η subfamily in regulation of innate immunity, energy metabolism and flowering time. Proliferation of the virulent Pseudomonas syringae in B''θ knockout mutant decreased in comparison with wild type plants. Additionally, B''θ knockout plants were delayed in flowering, and this phenotype was supported by high expression of FLC (FLOWERING LOCUS C). B''ζ knockout seedlings showed growth retardation on sucrose-free medium, indicating a role for B''ζ in energy metabolism. This work provides insight into functions of the B''η subfamily members, highlighting their regulation of shared physiological traits while localizing to distinct cellular compartments.