Microwave-accelerated energy-efficient esterification of free fatty acid with a heterogeneous catalyst

This paper shows energy-efficiency of microwave-accelerated esterification of free fatty acid with a heterogeneous catalyst by net microwave power measurement. In the reaction condition of 5 wt% sulfated zirconia and 1:20 M ratio of oil to methanol at 60°C and atmospheric pressure, more than 90% conversion of the esterification was achieved in 20 min by microwave heating, while it took about 130 min by conventional heating. Electric energy consumption for the microwave heating in this accelerated esterification was only 67% of estimated minimum heat energy demand because of significantly reduced reaction time.     

1-(Arylsulfonyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-quinolin-4-one derivatives as 5-HT(6) serotonin receptor ligands

Piperazinyl derivatives of 1-(arylsulfonyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-quinolin-4-ones have been identified with high binding affinities for 5-HT₆ receptor. In particular, 2-methyl-5-(N-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-1-(naphthalene-2-sulfonyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-quinolin-4-one (8g) exhibits high binding affinity toward 5-HT₆ (IC₅₀ = 8 nM) receptor with good selectivity over other serotonin and dopamine receptors.     

Expression of an immunogenic Ebola immune complex in Nicotiana benthamiana

Filoviruses (Ebola and Marburg viruses) cause severe and often fatal haemorrhagic fever in humans and non‐human primates. The US Centers for Disease Control identifies Ebola and Marburg viruses as ‘category A’ pathogens (defined as posing a risk to national security as bioterrorism agents), which has lead to a search for vaccines that could prevent the disease. Because the use of such vaccines would be in the service of public health, the cost of production is an important component of their development. The use of plant biotechnology is one possible way to cost‐effectively produce subunit vaccines. In this work, a geminiviral replicon system was used to produce an Ebola immune complex (EIC) in Nicotiana benthamiana. Ebola glycoprotein (GP1) was fused at the C‐terminus of the heavy chain of humanized 6D8 IgG monoclonal antibody, which specifically binds to a linear epitope on GP1. Co‐expression of the GP1‐heavy chain fusion and the 6D8 light chain using a geminiviral vector in leaves of N. benthamiana produced assembled immunoglobulin, which was purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation and protein G affinity chromatography. Immune complex formation was confirmed by assays to show that the recombinant protein bound the complement factor C1q. Size measurements of purified recombinant protein by dynamic light scattering and size‐exclusion chromatography also indicated complex formation. Subcutaneous immunization of BALB/C mice with purified EIC resulted in anti‐Ebola virus antibody production at levels comparable to those obtained with a GP1 virus‐like particle. These results show excellent potential for a plant‐expressed EIC as a human vaccine.     

Screening and characterization of a cellulase gene from the gut microflora of abalone using metagenomic library

A metagenomic fosmid library was constructed using genomic DNA isolated from abalone intestine. Screening of a library of 3,840 clones revealed a 36 kb insert of a cellulase positive clone (pAMHElO). A shotgun clone library was constructed using the positive clone (pAMHElO) and further screening of 3,840 shotgun clones with an approximately 5 kb insert size using a Congo red overlay revealed only one cellulase positive clone (pAMHL9). The pAMHL9 consisted of a 5,293-bp DNA sequence and three open reading frames (ORFs). Among the three ORFs, cellulase activity was only shown in the recombinant protein (CelAMll) coded by ORF3, which showed 100% identity with outer membrane protein A from Vibrio alginolyticus 12G01, but no significant sequence homology to known cellulases. The expressed protein (CelAMll) has a molecular weight of approximately 37 kDa and the highest CMC hydrolysis activity was observed at pH 7.0 and 37°C. The carboxymethyl cellulase activity was determined by zymogram active staining and different degraded product profiles for CelAMll were obtained when cellotetraose and cellopentaose were used as the substrates, while no substrate hydrolysis was observed on oligosaccharides such as cellobiose and cellotriose.     

Complete mitochondrial genome of the nerippe fritillary butterfly, Argynnis nerippe (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the nerippe fritillary butterfly, Argynnis nerippe, which is listed as an endangered species in Korea, is described with an emphasis on the A+T-rich region. The 15,140-bp long circular molecule consisted of 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and 1 control region, known in insect as the A+T-rich region, as found in typical metazoans. The 329-bp long A+T-rich region located between srRNA and tRNA(Met) possessed the highest A/T content (95.7%) than any other region of the genome. Along with the several conserved sequences found typically in the lepidopteran insects the genome contained one tRNA(Met)-like and tRNA(Leu)(UUR)-like sequence in the A+T-rich region.     

Linkage and association scan for tanning ability in an isolated Mongolian population

Tanning ability is important, because it represents the ability of the skin to protect itself against ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Here, we sought to determine genetic regions associated with tanning ability. Skin pigmentation was measured at the outer forearm and buttock areas to represent facultative and constitutive skin color, respectively. In our study population consisting of isolated Mongolian subjects, with common histories of environmental UV exposure during their nomadic life, facultative skin color adjusted by constitutive skin color was used to indicate tanning ability. Through linkage analysis and family-based association tests of 345 Mongolian subjects, we identified 2 potential linkage regions regulating tanning ability on 5q35.3 and 12q13.2, having 6 and 7 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), respectively. Those significant SNPs were located in or adjacent to potential candidate genes related to tanning ability: GRM6, ATF1, WNT1, and SILV/Pmel17.     

Differences in clinical features according to Boryoung and Karp genotypes of Orientia tsutsugamushi

Background

Scrub typhus is an infectious disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. The differences in virulence of O. tsutsugamushi prototypes in humans are still unknown. We investigated whether there are any differences in the clinical features of the Boryoung and Karp genotypes.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Patients infected with O. tsutsugamushi, as Boryoung and Karp clusters, who had visited 6 different hospitals in southwestern Korea were prospectively compared for clinical features, complications, laboratory parameters, and treatment responses. Infected patients in the Boryoung cluster had significantly more generalized weakness, eschars, skin rashes, conjunctival injection, high albumin levels, and greater ESR and fibrinogen levels compared to the Karp cluster. The treatment response to current antibiotics was significantly slower in the Karp cluster as compared to the Boryoung cluster.

Conclusion

The frequency of occurrence of eschars and rashes may depend on the genotype of O. tsutsugamushi.