Lessons learned from the 2019-nCoV epidemic on prevention of future infectious diseases

Only a month after the outbreak of pneumonia caused by 2019-nCoV, more than forty-thousand people were infected. This put enormous pressure on the Chinese government, medical healthcare provider, and the general public, but also made the international community deeply nervous. On the 25th day after the outbreak, the Chinese government implemented strict traffic restrictions on the area where the 2019-nCoV had originated—Hubei province, whose capital city is Wuhan. Ten days later, the rate of increase of cases in Hubei showed a significant difference (p = 0.0001) compared with the total rate of increase in other provinces of China. These preliminary data suggest the effectiveness of a traffic restriction policy for this pandemic thus far. At the same time, solid financial support and improved research ability, along with network communication technology, also greatly facilitated the application of epidemic prevention measures. These measures were motivated by the need to provide effective treatment of patients, and involved consultation with three major groups in policy formulation—public health experts, the government, and the general public. It was also aided by media and information technology, as well as international cooperation. This experience will provide China and other countries with valuable lessons for quickly coordinating and coping with future public health emergencies.     

Unravelling the Leishmania genome

The past few years have seen significant advances in our understanding of eukaryotic genomes. In the field of parasitology, this is best exemplified by the application of genome mapping techniques to the study of genome structure and function in the protozoan parasite, Leishmania. Although much is known about the organism and the diseases it causes, molecular genetics has only recently begun to play a major part in elucidating some of the unusual characteristics of this interesting parasite. Mapping of the small (35 Mb) genome and determination of the functional role of genes by the application of in vitro homologous gene targeting techniques are revealing novel avenues for the development of prophylactic measures.     

Photosharing websites may improve Hemiptera biodiversity knowledge and conservation

Internet photosharing websites is a very recent and powerful tool for the study of biodiversity, and a meeting point of general public fond of nature and professional naturalists. The article discusses when an uploaded picture is scientifically valuable, and the benefits of structured hosting websites for the most fruitful information retrieval. Examples are given of faunistic, biological, ecological and conservation results concerning Hemiptera provided by information download from photosharing websites.     

Biosynthesis of bacterial glycogen: purification and characterization of ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase with modified regulatory properties from Escherichia coli B mutant CL1136-504

The l-thyroxine binding site in human serum thyroxine-binding globulin was investigated by affinity labeling with N-bromoacetyl-l-thyroxine (BrAcT₄). Competitive binding studies showed that, in the presence of 100 molar excess of BrAcT₄, binding of thyroxine to thyroxine-binding globulin was nearly totally abolished. The reaction of BrAcT₄ to form covalent binding was inhibited in the presence of thyroxine and the affinity-labeled thyroxinebinding globulin lost its ability to bind thyroxine. These results indicate BrAcT₄ and thyroxine competed for the same binding site. Affinity labeling with 2 mol of BrAcT₄/mol of thyroxine-binding globulin resulted in the covalent attachment of 0.7 mol of ligand. By amino acid analysis and high voltage paper electrophoresis, methionine was identified as the major residue labeled (75%). Lysine, tyrosine, and histidine were also found to be labeled to the extent of 8, 8, and 5%, respectively.     

Medicinal plants of the Argentine Yungas plants of the Las Yungas biosphere reserve, Northwest of Argentina, used in health care

We have compared the species richness of medicinal plants and the differential patterns of use amongst settlements in the Andean communities of Northwest Argentina which have differing levels of isolation. About 259 ethnoespecies, belonging to 74 plant families, were included, representing between 70 and 80% of the total estimate. The results indicate that Coronopus didymus is the most relevant and important species. The method of use of medicinal plants and the ailments treated by rural doctors compared to those of the layperson is different. Native and exotic plants are used differently according to the body system treated. There are some relationships between internal and external use and body systems and recipes. The greater medicinal species richness found in the less isolated locations is due to external enriching cultural influences.     

Status of nutrition and health claims in Europe

Functional foods are closely associated with claims on foods. There are two categories of claims on foods: nutrition claims and health claims. Health claims on (functional) foods must be scientifically substantiated. In December 2006, the European Union published its Regulation 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods. As concerns scientific evaluation, the EU-project PASSCLAIM resulted in a set of criteria for the scientific substantiation of health claims on foods. The European Food Safety Authority provides the scientific advise to the European Commission for health claims submitted under Regulation 1924/2006 and has hitherto published several hundreds of opinions on health claims, part of which are positive, part which are negative and a few with insufficient evidence. Antioxidant claims have been approved for the general function of vitamins but not for direct health effects in humans. Another issue with claims is consumer understanding. Consumers can hardly distinguish between graded levels of evidence, and they do make only little or no distinction between nutrition and health claims. Consumers understand nutrition and health claims different from scientists and regulators. Therefore, innovation in industry can readily proceed via approved nutrition claims and approved health claims. The market and the shelves in the stores will not be empty; rather they will look different in the years to come.     

A simple, inexpensive, and precise microcell for the exchange dialysis and equilibrium dialysis of small samples

A simple equilibrium dialysis cell may be quickly prepared from common, inexpensive microcentrifuge tubes. The resulting cell is easy to use and precise enough for quantitative dialysis studies of small samples (<50 μl). In addition, by using a portion of the cell, exchange dialysis of small samples can easily be done.     

Cord-factor analogs: synthesis of 6,6'-di-O-mycoloyl- and -corynomycoloyl-(alpha-D-galactopyranosyl alpha-D-galactopyranoside)

Appropriate solvolysis of 2,3,2',3'-tetra-O-benzyl-4,6,4', 6'-tetra-O-mesyl-alpha,alpha-trehalose gave 2,3,2',3' -tetra-O-benzyl-(alpha-D-galactopyranosyl alpha-D-galactopyranoside) (2). Selective tosylation or mesylation of 2 respectively gave the 6, 6'-ditosylate (3) and 6,6'-dimesylate (4), the structures of which were confirmed by the 1H-n.m.r. spectra of the corresponding 4,4'-di-O-acetyl derivatives. Treatment of 3 with potassium mycolate in toluene, and subsequent hydrogenolysis, gave the 6'-mycolate 6-tosylate derivative. Treatment of 3 with potassium mycolate or potassium corynomycolate in hexamethylphosphoric triamide, followed by catalytic hydrogenolysis, yielded the respective cord-factor analogs 6,6'-di-O-mycoloyl-(alpha-D-galactopyranosyl alpha-D-galactopyranoside) and 6,6'-di-O-corynomycoloyl-(alpha-D-galactopyranosyl alpha-D-galactopyranoside). The same 6,6'-diesters were obtained from the 6,6'-dimesylate 4. Putative 4,6-anhydro-6'-monomycolates are also described.