Development of small-molecule inhibitors against hantaviruses

Hantavirus (HV), a pathogen of animal infectious diseases that poses a threat to humans, has attracted extensive attention. Clinically, HV can cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), between which HFRS is mostly in Eurasia, and HPS is mostly in the Americas. This paper reviews the research progress of small-molecule inhibitors of HV.     

Retinal and optical adaptations for nocturnal vision in the halictid bee<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Megalopta genalis</Emphasis>

The apposition compound eye of a nocturnal bee, the halictid Megalopta genalis, is described for the first time. Compared to the compound eye of the worker honeybee Apis mellifera and the diurnal halictid bee Lasioglossum leucozonium, the eye of M. genalis shows specific retinal and optical adaptations for vision in dim light. The major anatomical adaptations within the eye of the nocturnal bee are (1) nearly twofold larger ommatidial facets and (2) a 4–5 times wider rhabdom diameter than found in the diurnal bees studied. Optically, the apposition eye of M. genalis is 27 times more sensitive to light than the eyes of the diurnal bees. This increased optical sensitivity represents a clear optical adaptation to low light intensities. Although this unique nocturnal apposition eye has a greatly improved ability to catch light, a 27-fold increase in sensitivity alone cannot account for nocturnal vision at light intensities that are 8 log units dimmer than during daytime. New evidence suggests that additional neuronal spatial summation within the first optic ganglion, the lamina, is involved.B.G. is thankful for travel awards from the Royal Physiographic Society, the Per Westlings Fond, the Foundation of Dagny and Eilert Ekvall and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. E.J.W. is grateful for the support of a Smithsonian Short-Term Research Fellowship, the Swedish Research Council, the Crafoord Foundation, the Wenner-Gren Foundation and the Royal Physiographic Society of Lund for their ongoing support     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-vanillylnonanamide tested as a non-toxic antifoulant,applied to surfaces in a polyurethane coating

The potential on N-vanillylnonanamide (NVN) in preventing the attachment of Pseudomonas stutzeri and a Bacillus cereus-group strain was investigated. NVN up to 852 μM was not toxic, nor was it an energy source for either organism. Microbial attachment assays were carried out on glass and polylysine slides. with NVN being dispersed in or applied to the surfaces using a polyurethane coating. NVN at 205 μM inhibited Bacillus adhesion on glass slides by 48% and the percentage did not significantly increase at 852 μM. NVN blended into or sprayed onto the coating at 205 μmol/kg did not prevent adhesion. The compound is therefore not useful as an antifouling product under the tested coating conditions.     

Disease-associated mutations in a bifunctional aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase gene elicit the integrated stress response

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) catalyze the charging of specific amino acids onto cognate tRNAs, an essential process for protein synthesis. Mutations in ARSs are frequently associated with a variety of human diseases. The human EPRS1 gene encodes a bifunctional glutamyl-prolyl-tRNA synthetase (EPRS) with two catalytic cores and appended domains that contribute to nontranslational functions. In this study, we report compound heterozygous mutations in EPRS1, which lead to amino acid substitutions P14R and E205G in two patients with diabetes and bone diseases. While neither mutation affects tRNA binding or association of EPRS with the multisynthetase complex, E205G in the glutamyl-tRNA synthetase (ERS) region of EPRS is defective in amino acid activation and tRNA^Glu charging. The P14R mutation induces a conformational change and altered tRNA charging kinetics in vitro. We propose that the altered catalytic activity and conformational changes in the EPRS variants sensitize patient cells to stress, triggering an increased integrated stress response (ISR) that diminishes cell viability. Indeed, patient-derived cells expressing the compound heterozygous EPRS show heightened induction of the ISR, suggestive of disruptions in protein homeostasis. These results have important implications for understanding ARS-associated human disease mechanisms and development of new therapeutics.     

The effect of UV radiation on O-7 Actinomycete in producing bioactive compounds in different growth conditions

Actinomycetes have been identified as an origin of many secondary metabolites, antibiotics and active components that impact microbial growth. Mediated mutations using UV in practice for the breeding of organisms. The objective of this study is to analyses the impact of UV radiation on the (O-7) Actinomycete isolate. This was a prospective analytical study of a several of actinomycetes. The isolates were screened for antimicrobial efficacy against multiple Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria, yeast, and fungi. Various factors such as UV, temperature, pH, light, agitation, fermentation durations and aeration have also been boosted for optimal antimicrobial production. The isolate (O-7) Actinomycete has been recognized as a highly bioactive producing organism. The isolate was exposed to various wavelengths, times under numerous growth conditions. It was found that 4% concentration of glucose as a carbon source is significantly optimal for the production of antibiotic for (O-7) UV exposed strain, however, concentration of 1% of lactose is significantly optimal for the production of antibiotic for (O-7) UV exposed strain. Yeast extract at a concentration of 1% was found to be the best source of nitrogen for (O-7) UV exposed, while pH 7.0 was found to be the most suitable for the same isolate. From the temperature optimization study, it was observed that (O-7) exposed strain showed good growth and maximum antibiotic production at 28 °C. The soil-isolated biological compounds (O-7) were effective against certain types of bacteria and fungi, and the research also demonstrated that exposure to UV radiation enhanced the production of these compounds.     

A型肉毒毒素联合CO2点阵激光治疗眼周皱纹的近期疗效评估

目的:探讨A型肉毒毒素联合CO_2点阵激光治疗眼周皱纹的近期临床疗效。方法:选择2013年6月到2014年6月我院接收眼部皱纹改善手术的患者90例,随机分为激光组、肉毒毒素组及联合治疗组,各30例,分别给予CO_2点阵激光治疗、A型肉毒毒素注射和A型肉毒毒素注射联合CO_2点阵激光治疗。所有患者在治疗后7 d、1月及3月进行疗效随访评价,比较三组不良反应情况。结果:三组患者眼周皱纹均有所改善,治疗1个月时效果最为明显。激光组的静态皱纹治疗效果明显,对动态皱纹治疗效果不明显;肉毒毒素组对动态皱纹治疗效果明显,对静态皱纹治疗效果不明显;联合治疗组对静态皱纹和动态皱纹均有明显的改善,其满意度评价总分数明显高于其他两组。三组患者对CO_2点阵激光和注射A型肉毒毒素所引起疼痛均能耐受,安全性好。结论:A型肉毒毒素联合CO_2点阵激光对静态皱纹和动态皱纹均有明显的改善作用,且不良反应轻,安全性好。     

氨基酸锌化合物的研究进展

氨基酸锌作为一种重要的营养添加剂,在补充人体微量元素方面有着重要的作用,本文重点综述了氨基酸锌制备的方法以及制备过程中的影响因素。     

不同中药复方及不同提取方法提取液对小鼠耐缺氧作用的影响

目的:探讨不同中药处方组成及其不同提取方法的复方提取物对小鼠耐缺氧能力的影响,以优选其处方组成和制备提取方法。方法:将雄性BALB/c小鼠随机分成6组：空白对照组、复方丹参组、复方红景天醇-水提取组(红景天、黄芪、黄精、枸杞子)、复方红景天水提取组、复方黄芪醇-水提取组(黄芪、黄精、枸杞子)、复方黄芪水提取组,每组30只,每组小鼠连续灌胃给药10 d,空白组灌胃灭菌注射用水,复方丹参组0.15 g/kg,复方红景天醇-水提取组和水提取组3 g/kg,复方黄芪醇-水提取组和水提取组1.7 g/kg。各组于末次灌胃1 h后进行常压耐缺氧实验、亚硝酸钠中毒存活实验和急性脑缺血缺氧实验,并测定小鼠脑组织氧化应激相关抗氧化物酶活性和代谢物含量。结果:与空白对照组相比,复方丹参组、复方黄芪醇-水提取组和水提取组常压耐缺氧存活时间均显著延长(P<0.01),脑缺血缺氧后张口喘气次数均显著增加(P<0.05)。各组注射亚硝酸钠后存活时间没有统计学差异。与空白对照组相比,复方黄芪水提取组T-AOC、SOD、GSH和CAT活性均显著升高(P<0.05,P<0.01),MDA含量均显...