Aspergillus takadae,a novel heterothallic species of Aspergillus section Fumigati isolated from soil in China

Aspergillus takadae is characterized by its heterothallic reproduction, pale yellow cleistothecia, broadly lenticular ascospores with two short equatorial crests and smooth convex surfaces, and broadly ellipsoidal to ovate conidia with a smooth wall. The validation of these novel species is supported further by the analyses of the β-tubulin, calmodulin, actin, and RPB2 sequences. In addition, the phylogenetic tree and DDBJ accession numbers of all the species of Aspergillus section Fumigati are presented. We report on the crossing of A. takadae species and the result of crossing A. takadae with a closely related species, A. spathulatus.     

The correlation among molecular phylogenetics, morphological data, and growth temperature of the genus Emericella, and a new species

The species of the genus Emericella have been classified and identified on the basis of morphological features. However, the phylogenetic relationships in this genus have not been investigated. To clarify the relationships according to molecular phylogenetics, morphological characteristics, and growth temperature regimens in Emericella, multilocus sequencing analysis based on recent Aspergillus taxonomy was carried out. Various characteristic species formed individual clades, and maximum growth temperature reflected the phylogenetics. Emericella species exhibit various ascospore characteristics, although some species do not have distinct ascospore ornamentation. Species that have smooth-walled ascospores with two equatorial crests are polyphyletic. Here, Emericella pachycristata is described and illustrated as a new species. Its ascospores are similar to those of E. nidulans. These species produce smooth-walled ascospores, but the equatorial crests of E. pachycristata are thicker than those of E. nidulans. On the phylogenetic trees, E. pachycristata is closely related to E. rugulosa, which produces ascospores with ribbed convex surfaces. Thus, E. pachycristata is considered to be a new species both morphologically and phylogenetically.     

Milano Summer Particulate Matter (PM10) Triggers Lung Inflammation and Extra Pulmonary Adverse Events in Mice

Recent studies have suggested a link between particulate matter (PM) exposure and increased mortality and morbidity associated with pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases; accumulating evidences point to a new role for air pollution in CNS diseases. The purpose of our study is to investigate PM10sum effects on lungs and extra pulmonary tissues. Milano PM10sum has been intratracheally instilled into BALB/c mice. Broncho Alveolar Lavage fluid, lung parenchyma, heart and brain were screened for markers of inflammation (cell counts, cytokines, ET-1, HO-1, MPO, iNOS), cytotoxicity (LDH, ALP, Hsp70, Caspase8-p18, Caspase3-p17) for a putative pro-carcinogenic marker (Cyp1B1) and for TLR4 pathway activation. Brain was also investigated for CD68, TNF-α, GFAP. In blood, cell counts were performed while plasma was screened for endothelial activation (sP-selectin, ET-1) and for inflammation markers (TNF-α, MIP-2, IL-1β, MPO). Genes up-regulation (HMOX1, Cyp1B1, IL-1β, MIP-2, MPO) and miR-21 have been investigated in lungs and blood. Inflammation in the respiratory tract of PM10sum-treated mice has been confirmed in BALf and lung parenchyma by increased PMNs percentage, increased ET-1, MPO and cytokines levels. A systemic spreading of lung inflammation in PM10sum-treated mice has been related to the increased blood total cell count and neutrophils percentage, as well as to increased blood MPO. The blood-endothelium interface activation has been confirmed by significant increases of plasma ET-1 and sP-selectin. Furthermore PM10sum induced heart endothelial activation and PAHs metabolism, proved by increased ET-1 and Cyp1B1 levels. Moreover, PM10sum causes an increase in brain HO-1 and ET-1. These results state the translocation of inflammation mediators, ultrafine particles, LPS, metals associated to PM10sum, from lungs to bloodstream, thus triggering a systemic reaction, mainly involving heart and brain. Our results provided additional insight into the toxicity of PM10sum and could facilitate shedding light on mechanisms underlying the development of urban air pollution related diseases.     

Crystallographic,Spectroscopic, and Theoretical Investigation of the Efficiently Separated 21R and 21S‐Diastereoisomers of Argatroban

Argatroban ( I ), a potent noncovalent reversible thrombin inhibitor, is used as an anticoagulant for the parenteral treatment of heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) patients. By virtue of its pharmacological properties and the well‐balanced risks and benefits, argatroban is now emerging as a clinically relevant antithrombotic agent. The availability of this drug as a mixture of 21R and 21S‐diastereoisomers, in a ratio of roughly 64:36, prompted us to design an efficient separation setup of the two epimers. We pursued our efforts on their detailed structural analysis with the aim of understanding their different activity and aqueous solubility. These investigations were accompanied by a modeling study of the two diastereoisomers, with particular attention on the easy interconverting half‐chair of the tetrahydroquinoline system and its preferred conformation, which is determined by the configuration at C21. These results, together with the analysis of their physicochemical profiles, provide new useful information for the development of the individual diastereoisomers. Chirality 25:871–882, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Light-harvesting dendrimers

Dendrimers are well-defined, tree-like macromolecules, with a high degree of order and the possibility to contain selected chemical units in predetermined sites of their structure. Dendrimers are currently attracting the interest of many scientists because of their unusual chemical and physical properties and the wide range of potential applications. It is possible to design and synthesize dendrimers containing a variety of chromophoric groups organized in the dimensions of time, energy and space so as to obtain efficient light-harvesting devices that can be useful for solar energy conversion and other purposes.     

Biocatalytic, Enantioselective Preparations of (R)- and (S)-Ethyl 4-Chloro-3-Hydroxybutanoate, a Useful Chiral Synthon

The synthesis of optically active ethyl 4-chloro-3-X-butanoate derivatives la-d (X = OH, a; OCOCH₃, b; OCOC₃H₇, c; OCH₂C₆H₅, d) was realized using various biocatalytic approaches such as microbiological reduction of ethyl 4-chloro-3-oxobutanoate 2 with lactic acid bacteria, hydrolysis of lb-d by the hydrolytic enzymes PLE and BChE and the transesterification of la catalyzed by a lipase from Pseudomonas fluorescens (PFL).     

A new method for the in vivo identification of degenerated material property ranges of the human eye: feasibility analysis based on synthetic data

Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology - This paper proposes a new method for in vivo and almost real-time identification of biomechanical properties of the human cornea based on non-contact...     

Photoprocesses

The development of supramolecular chemistry has allowed the construction of structurally organized and functionally integrated chemical systems capable of elaborating the energy and information input of photons to perform complex functions. Model systems capable of mimicking the two fundamental steps of photosynthesis, namely light harvesting and photoinduced charge separation, have recently been developed.