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1.
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces ; 238: 113907, 2024 Jun.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38608464

RESUMO

Multifunctional agents with therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities are imperative to the prevention of Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is considered due to abnormal aggregation and deposition of ß-amyloid protein (Aß) as well as oxidative stress. Herein, quercetin (Que)- and p-phenylenediamine (p-PD)-derived red emission carbon dots (CDs) synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal method were designed as a novel theranostic nano-agent for the multi-target treatment of AD. R-CD-75 with an optimized composition exhibited significant inhibition of Aß aggregation and rapid depolymerization of mature Aß fibrils (<4 h) at micromolar concentrations (2 and 5 µg/mL, respectively). Moreover, R-CD-75 potently scavenged reactive oxygen species and showed turned-on red fluorescence imaging of Aß plaques both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro assays proved that R-CD-75 significantly mitigated the Aß-induced cytotoxicity and enhanced the cultured cell viability from 74.9 % to 98.0 %, while in vivo studies demonstrated that R-CD-75 prolonged the lifespan of AD nematodes by over 50 % (from 13 to 20 d). Compared to the precursors Que and p-PD, R-CD-75 inherited some of their structures and functional groups, such as aromatic structures, phenolic hydroxyl and amino groups, which were considered to interact with Aß species through hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic interactions, and π-π stacking, thus contributing to its effectiveness in its theranostic functions. This research has opened a new avenue to the development of potent theranostic agents by designing novel carbon dots.


Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer , Peptídeos beta-Amiloides , Carbono , Pontos Quânticos , Quercetina , Nanomedicina Teranóstica , Quercetina/química , Quercetina/farmacologia , Peptídeos beta-Amiloides/metabolismo , Peptídeos beta-Amiloides/antagonistas & inibidores , Peptídeos beta-Amiloides/química , Doença de Alzheimer/tratamento farmacológico , Doença de Alzheimer/patologia , Doença de Alzheimer/metabolismo , Carbono/química , Carbono/farmacologia , Pontos Quânticos/química , Animais , Humanos , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio/metabolismo , Caenorhabditis elegans/efeitos dos fármacos , Caenorhabditis elegans/metabolismo , Tamanho da Partícula
2.
J Chromatogr A ; 1723: 464912, 2024 May 24.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38643740

RESUMO

Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019, the global demand for vaccines has increased rapidly to prevent infection and protect high-risk populations. However, identifying viral mutations poses an additional challenge for chromatographic purification of vaccines and subunit vaccines. In this study, a new affinity peptide model, X1VX2GLNX3WX4RYSK, was established, and a library of 612 peptides was generated for ligand screening. Based on a multistep strategy of ligand screening, 18 candidate peptides were obtained. The top ranking peptide, LP14 (YVYGLNIWLRYSK), and two other representative peptides, LP02 and LP06, with lower rankings were compared via molecular dynamics simulation. The results revealed that peptide binding to the receptor binding domain (RBD) was driven by hydrophobic interactions and the key residues involved in the binding were identified. Surface plasmon resonance analysis further confirmed that LP14 had the highest affinity for the wild RBD (Kd=0.520 µmol/L), and viral mutation had little influence on the affinity of LP14, demonstrating its great potential as a broad-spectrum ligand for RBD purification. Finally, chromatographic performance of LP14-coupled gel-packed column verified that both wild and omicron RBDs could be purified and were eluted by 0.1 mol/L Gly-HCl buffer (pH 3.0). This research identified a broad-spectrum peptide for RBD purification based on rational design and demonstrated its potential application in the purification of RBDs from complex feedstock.


Assuntos
Peptídeos , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/química , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/isolamento & purificação , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/metabolismo , Ligantes , Peptídeos/química , Peptídeos/isolamento & purificação , Simulação de Dinâmica Molecular , Humanos , SARS-CoV-2/química , SARS-CoV-2/isolamento & purificação , Ligação Proteica , COVID-19/virologia , Cromatografia de Afinidade/métodos , Ressonância de Plasmônio de Superfície
3.
J Chromatogr A ; 1721: 464851, 2024 Apr 26.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38574547

RESUMO

The increasing medical application of virus-like particles (VLPs), notably vaccines and viral vectors, has increased the demand for commercial VLP production. However, VLP manufacturing has not yet reached the efficiency level achieved for recombinant protein therapeutics, especially in downstream processing. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the challenges associated with affinity chromatography for VLP purification with respect to the diversity and complexity of VLPs and the associated upstream and downstream processes. The use of engineered affinity ligands and matrices for affinity chromatography is first discussed. Although several representative affinity ligands are currently available for VLP purification, most of them have difficulty in balancing ligand universality, ligand selectivity and mild operation conditions. Then, phage display technology and computer-assisted design are discussed as efficient methods for the rapid discovery of high-affinity peptide ligands. Finally, the VLP purification by affinity chromatography is analyzed. The process is significantly influenced by virus size and variation, ligand type and chromatographic mode. To address the updated regulatory requirements and epidemic outbreaks, technical innovations in affinity chromatography and process intensification and standardization in VLP purification should be promoted to achieve rapid process development and highly efficient VLP manufacturing, and emphasis is given to the discovery of universal ligands, applications of gigaporous matrices and platform technology. It is expected that the information in this review can provide a better understanding of the affinity chromatography methods available for VLP purification and offer useful guidance for the development of affinity chromatography for VLP manufacturing in the decades to come.


Assuntos
Vacinas de Partículas Semelhantes a Vírus , Ligantes , Proteínas Recombinantes , Peptídeos , Cromatografia de Afinidade
4.
Bioconjug Chem ; 35(3): 419-431, 2024 Mar 20.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38450606

RESUMO

The design of a potent amyloid-ß protein (Aß) inhibitor plays a pivotal role in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite endogenous transthyretin (TTR) being recognized as an Aß inhibitor, the weak inhibitory and blood brain barrier (BBB) crossing capabilities hinder it for Aß aggregation inhibition and transport. Therefore, we have herein designed a recombinant TTR by conjugating a cationic cell penetrating peptide (penetratin, Pen), which not only enabled the fusion protein, TTR-Pen (TP), to present high BBB penetration but also greatly enhanced the potency of Aß inhibition. Namely, the protein fusion made TP positively charged, leading to a potent suppression of Aß40 fibrillization at a low concentration (1.5 µM), while a TTR concentration as high as 12.5 µM was required to gain a similar function. Moreover, TP could mitigate Aß-induced neuronal death, increase cultured cell viability from 72% to 92% at 2.5 µM, and extend the lifespan of AD nematodes from 14 to 18 d. Thermodynamic studies revealed that TP, enriched in positive charges, presented extensive electrostatic interactions with Aß40. Importantly, TP showed excellent BBB penetration performance, with a 10 times higher BBB permeability than TTR, which would allow TP to enter the brain of AD patients and participate in the transport of Aß species out of the brain. Thus, it is expected that the fusion protein has great potential for drug development in AD treatment.


Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer , Peptídeos Penetradores de Células , Humanos , Barreira Hematoencefálica/metabolismo , Doença de Alzheimer/tratamento farmacológico , Doença de Alzheimer/metabolismo , Peptídeos Penetradores de Células/farmacologia , Peptídeos Penetradores de Células/metabolismo , Pré-Albumina/metabolismo , Pré-Albumina/uso terapêutico , Peptídeos beta-Amiloides/metabolismo , Proteínas Recombinantes/uso terapêutico
5.
Molecules ; 29(6)2024 Mar 21.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38543041

RESUMO

Design of amyloid ß-protein (Aß) inhibitors is considered an effective strategy for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the limited blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration and poor Aß-targeting capability restricts the therapeutic efficiency of candidate drugs. Herein, we have proposed to engineer transthyretin (TTR) by fusion of the Aß-targeting peptide KLVFF and cell-penetrating peptide Penetratin to TTR, and derived a fusion protein, KLVFF-TTR-Penetratin (KTP). Moreover, to introduce the scavenging activity for reactive oxygen species (ROS), a nanocomposite of KTP and manganese dioxide nanoclusters (KTP@MnO2) was fabricated by biomineralization. Results revealed that KTP@MnO2 demonstrated significantly enhanced inhibition on Aß aggregation as compared to TTR. The inhibitory effect was increased from 18%, 33%, and 49% (10, 25, and 50 µg/mL TTR, respectively) to 52%, 81%, and 100% (10, 25, and 50 µg/mL KTP@MnO2). In addition, KTP@MnO2 could penetrate the BBB and target amyloid plaques. Moreover, multiple ROS, including hydroxyl radicals, superoxide radicals, hydrogen peroxide, and Aß-induced-ROS, which cannot be scavenged by TTR, were scavenged by KTP@MnO2, thus resulting in the mitigation of cellular oxidative damages. More importantly, cell culture and in vivo experiments with AD nematodes indicated that KTP@MnO2 at 50 µg/mL increased the viability of Aß-treated cells from 66% to more than 95%, and completely cleared amyloid plaques in AD nematodes and extended their lifespan by 7 d. Overall, despite critical aspects such as the stability, metabolic distribution, long-term biotoxicity, and immunogenicity of the nanocomposites in mammalian models remaining to be investigated, this work has demonstrated the multifunctionality of KTP@MnO2 for targeting Aß in vivo, and provided new insights into the design of multifunctional nanocomposites of protein-metal clusters against AD.


Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer , Peptídeos Penetradores de Células , Fragmentos de Peptídeos , Animais , Humanos , Peptídeos beta-Amiloides/metabolismo , Doença de Alzheimer/metabolismo , Compostos de Manganês/farmacologia , Óxidos/farmacologia , Pré-Albumina/metabolismo , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio/metabolismo , Placa Amiloide/metabolismo , Mamíferos/metabolismo
6.
Viruses ; 16(3)2024 Mar 05.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38543765

RESUMO

The efficacy of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy is dependent on effective viral transduction, which might be inhibited by preexisting immunity to AAV acquired from infection or maternal delivery. Anti-AAV neutralizing Abs (NAbs) titer is usually measured by in vitro assay and used for patient enroll; however, this assay could not evaluate NAbs' impacts on AAV pharmacology and potential harm in vivo. Here, we infused a mouse anti-AAV9 monoclonal antibody into Balb/C mice 2 h before receiving 1.2 × 1014 or 3 × 1013 vg/kg of rAAV9-coGAA by tail vein, a drug for our ongoing clinical trials for Pompe disease. The pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and cellular responses combined with in vitro NAb assay validated the different impacts of preexisting NAbs at different levels in vivo. Sustained GAA expression in the heart, liver, diaphragm, and quadriceps were observed. The presence of high-level NAb, a titer about 1:1000, accelerated vector clearance in blood and completely blocked transduction. The AAV-specific T cell responses tended to increase when the titer of NAb exceeded 1:200. A low-level NAbs, near 1:100, had no effect on transduction in the heart and liver as well as cellular responses, but decreased transduction in muscles slightly. Therefore, we propose to preclude patients with NAb titers > 1:100 from rAAV9-coGAA clinical trials.


Assuntos
Anticorpos Neutralizantes , Doença de Depósito de Glicogênio Tipo II , Animais , Camundongos , Humanos , Doença de Depósito de Glicogênio Tipo II/terapia , Terapia Genética , Fígado , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Dependovirus/genética , Vetores Genéticos/genética , Anticorpos Antivirais
8.
Molecules ; 29(2)2024 Jan 07.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38257220

RESUMO

Co-immobilization of laccase and mediator 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) for wastewater treatment could simultaneously achieve the reusability of laccase and avoid secondary pollution caused by the toxic ABTS. Herein, Fe-induced mineralization was proposed to co-immobilize laccase and ABTS into a metal-organic framework (ZIF-8) within 30 min. Immobilized laccase (Lac@ZIF-8-Fe) prepared at a 1:1 mass ratio of Fe2+ to Zn2+ exhibited enhanced catalytic efficiency (2.6 times), thermal stability, acid tolerance, and reusability compared to free laccase. ABTS was then co-immobilized to form Lac+ABTS@ZIF-8-Fe (ABTS = 261.7 mg/g). Lac@ZIF-8-Fe exhibited significantly enhanced bisphenol A (BPA) removal performance over free laccase due to the local substrate enrichment effect and improved enzyme stability. Moreover, the Lac+ABTS@ZIF-8-Fe exhibited higher BPA removal efficiency than the free laccase+ABTS system, implying the presence of a proximity effect in Lac+ABTS@ZIF-8-Fe. In the successive malachite green (MG) removal, the MG degradation efficiency by Lac@ZIF-8-Fe was maintained at 96.6% at the fifth reuse with only an extra addition of 0.09 mM ABTS in each cycle. As for Lac+ABTS@ZIF-8-Fe, 58.5% of MG was degraded at the fifth cycle without an extra addition of ABTS. Taken together, this research has provided a novel strategy for the design of a co-immobilized laccase and ABTS system for the degradation of organic pollutants.


Assuntos
Compostos Benzidrílicos , Benzotiazóis , Poluentes Ambientais , Fenóis , Corantes de Rosanilina , Ácidos Sulfônicos , Lacase , Poluição Ambiental
10.
World J Pediatr ; 20(1): 11-25, 2024 Jan.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38064012

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading global cause of respiratory infections and is responsible for about 3 million hospitalizations and more than 100,000 deaths annually in children younger than 5 years, representing a major global healthcare burden. There is a great unmet need for new agents and universal strategies to prevent RSV infections in early life. A multidisciplinary consensus development group comprising experts in epidemiology, infectious diseases, respiratory medicine, and methodology aims to develop the current consensus to address clinical issues of RSV infections in children. DATA SOURCES: The evidence searches and reviews were conducted using electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, using variations in terms for "respiratory syncytial virus", "RSV", "lower respiratory tract infection", "bronchiolitis", "acute", "viral pneumonia", "neonatal", "infant" "children", and "pediatric". RESULTS: Evidence-based recommendations regarding diagnosis, treatment, and prevention were proposed with a high degree of consensus. Although supportive care remains the cornerstone for the management of RSV infections, new monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, drug therapies, and viral surveillance techniques are being rolled out. CONCLUSIONS: This consensus, based on international and national scientific evidence, reinforces the current recommendations and integrates the recent advances for optimal care and prevention of RSV infections. Further improvements in the management of RSV infections will require generating the highest quality of evidence through rigorously designed studies that possess little bias and sufficient capacity to identify clinically meaningful end points.


Assuntos
Bronquiolite , Infecções por Vírus Respiratório Sincicial , Infecções Respiratórias , Criança , Humanos , Infecções por Vírus Respiratório Sincicial/diagnóstico , Infecções por Vírus Respiratório Sincicial/prevenção & controle , Consenso , Vírus Sinciciais Respiratórios , Infecções Respiratórias/epidemiologia , Hospitalização
11.
Mol Ther ; 32(1): 59-73, 2024 Jan 03.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37974401

RESUMO

GPIHBP1 plays an important role in the hydrolysis of triglyceride (TG) lipoproteins by lipoprotein lipases (LPLs). However, Gpihbp1 knockout mice did not develop hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) during the suckling period but developed severe HTG after weaning on a chow diet. It has been postulated that LPL expression in the liver of suckling mice may be involved. To determine whether hepatic LPL expression could correct severe HTG in Gpihbp1 deficiency, liver-targeted LPL expression was achieved via intravenous administration of the adeno-associated virus (AAV)-human LPL gene, and the effects of AAV-LPL on HTG and HTG-related acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) were observed. Suckling Gpihbp1-/- mice with high hepatic LPL expression did not develop HTG, whereas Gpihbp1-/- rat pups without hepatic LPL expression developed severe HTG. AAV-mediated liver-targeted LPL expression dose-dependently decreased plasma TG levels in Gpihbp1-/- mice and rats, increased post-heparin plasma LPL mass and activity, decreased mortality in Gpihbp1-/- rat pups, and reduced the susceptibility and severity of both Gpihbp1-/- animals to HTG-AP. However, the muscle expression of AAV-LPL had no significant effect on HTG. Targeted expression of LPL in the liver showed no obvious adverse reactions. Thus, liver-targeted LPL expression may be a new therapeutic approach for HTG-AP caused by GPIHBP1 deficiency.


Assuntos
Hipertrigliceridemia , Pancreatite , Receptores de Lipoproteínas , Animais , Humanos , Camundongos , Ratos , Doença Aguda , Dependovirus/genética , Dependovirus/metabolismo , Hipertrigliceridemia/genética , Hipertrigliceridemia/terapia , Lipase Lipoproteica/genética , Lipase Lipoproteica/metabolismo , Fígado/metabolismo , Pancreatite/genética , Pancreatite/terapia , Pancreatite/metabolismo , Receptores de Lipoproteínas/genética , Receptores de Lipoproteínas/metabolismo , Triglicerídeos/metabolismo
12.
Cell Biosci ; 13(1): 229, 2023 Dec 19.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38115160

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common birth defects. Assessment of the incidence, distribution, disease spectrum, and genetic deficits of fetal CHDs in China is urgently needed. METHODS: A national echocardiography screening program for fetal CHDs was implemented in 92 prenatal screening-diagnostic centers in China. FINDINGS: A total of 18,171 fetal CHD cases were identified from 2,452,249 pregnancies, resulting in 7·4/1,000 as the national incidence rate of fetal CHD. The incidences of fetal CHD in the six geographical regions, the southern, central, eastern, southwestern, northern, and northwestern, were 7·647 (CI: 7·383-7·915), 7·839 (CI: 7·680-8·000), 7·647 (CI: 7·383-7·915), 7·562 (CI: 7·225-7·907), 5·618 (CI: 5·337-5·906), and 4·716 (CI: 4·341-5·108), respectively, per 1,000 pregnancies. Overall, ventricular septal defect was the most common fetal CHD, accounting for 17.04% of screened pregnancies nationwide, and tetralogy of Fallot, the most common anomaly in the major defect of fetal CHD, was the second most common, accounting for 9.72%. A total of 76.24% cases of fetal CHD were found to be an isolated intracardiac single defect. The remaining 23.76% of cases of fetal CHD had multiple heart defects. Among all extracardiac malformations, the central nervous system (CNS) was the most common tissue with extracardiac anomalies associated with CHD, accounting for 22.89% of fetal CHD cases. Chromosomal karyotyping identified trisomy 18 as the most common chromosomal abnormality in fetal CHD. We also documented that CHD-containing syndromes could be identified with a comprehensive approach integrating prenatal ultrasound, MRI, pathological autopsy, and cytogenetics and molecular genetics. CONCLUSION: Implementation of prenatal echocardiography as a practically feasible platform to screen fetal CHD will reduce the financial and emotional burden of CHD, which may facilitate intrauterine and neonatal intervention of CHD.

13.
J Mater Chem B ; 11(43): 10482-10496, 2023 11 08.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37909060

RESUMO

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease pathologically caused by amyloid-ß protein (Aß) aggregation, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. The pathogenesis of AD is still uncertain and intricate, and helpful therapy has rarely been recorded. So, discovering amyloid modulators is deemed a promising avenue for preventing and treating AD. In this study, human serum albumin (HSA), a protein-based Aß inhibitor, was utilized as a template to guide the synthesis of HSA-manganese dioxide nanocomposites (HMn NCs) through biomineralization. The in situ formed MnO2 in HSA endows this nano-platform with outstanding reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capability, including superoxide dismutase-mimetic and catalase-mimetic activities, which could scavenge the plethora of superoxide anion radicals and hydrogen peroxide. More importantly, the HMn NCs show enhanced potency in suppressing Aß fibrillization compared with HSA, which further alleviates Aß-mediated SH-SY5Y neurotoxicity by scavenging excessive ROS. Moreover, it is demonstrated that HMn NCs reduce Aß-related inflammation in BV-2 cells by lowering tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6. Furthermore, transgenic C. elegans studies showed that HMn NCs could remove Aß plaques, reduce ROS in CL2006 worms, and promote the lifespan extension of worms. Thus, HMn NCs provide a promising tactic to facilitate the application of multifunctional nanocomposites in AD treatment.


Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer , Nanocompostos , Neuroblastoma , Doenças Neurodegenerativas , Animais , Humanos , Peptídeos beta-Amiloides/metabolismo , Doença de Alzheimer/tratamento farmacológico , Doença de Alzheimer/metabolismo , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio/metabolismo , Compostos de Manganês/farmacologia , Óxidos/farmacologia , Doenças Neuroinflamatórias , Caenorhabditis elegans/metabolismo , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Antioxidantes , Albuminas
14.
Biomimetics (Basel) ; 8(6)2023 Oct 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37887589

RESUMO

Since the proposal of the brainstem axis theory, increasing research attention has been paid to the interactions between bacterial amyloids produced by intestinal flora and the amyloid ß-protein (Aß) related to Alzheimer's disease (AD), and it has been considered as the possible cause of AD. Therefore, phenol-soluble modulin (PSM) α3, the most virulent protein secreted by Staphylococcus aureus, has attracted much attention. In this work, the effect of PSMα3 with a unique cross-α fibril architecture on the aggregation of pathogenic Aß40 of AD was studied by extensive biophysical characterizations. The results proposed that the PSMα3 monomer inhibited the aggregation of Aß40 in a concentration-dependent manner and changed the aggregation pathway to form granular aggregates. However, PSMα3 oligomers promoted the generation of the ß-sheet structure, thus shortening the lag phase of Aß40 aggregation. Moreover, the higher the cross-α content of PSMα3, the stronger the effect of the promotion, indicating that the cross-α structure of PSMα3 plays a crucial role in the aggregation of Aß40. Further molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have shown that the Met1-Gly20 region in the PSMα3 monomer can be combined with the Asp1-Ala2 and His13-Val36 regions in the Aß40 monomer by hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions, which prevents the conformational conversion of Aß40 from the α-helix to ß-sheet structure. By contrast, PSMα3 oligomers mainly combined with the central hydrophobic core (CHC) and the C-terminal region of the Aß40 monomer by weak H-bonding and hydrophobic interactions, which could not inhibit the transition to the ß-sheet structure in the aggregation pathway. Thus, the research has unraveled molecular interactions between Aß40 and PSMα3 of different structures and provided a deeper understanding of the complex interactions between bacterial amyloids and AD-related pathogenic Aß.

15.
Ecol Evol ; 13(10): e10610, 2023 Oct.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37841228

RESUMO

Bitter taste perception plays an important role in preventing animals from digesting poisonous and harmful substances. In primates, especially the Cercopithecidae species, most species feed on plants; thus, it is reasonable to speculate that most of the bitter taste receptor genes (T2Rs) of primates are under purifying selection to maintain the functional stability of bitter taste perception. Gene duplication has happened in T2Rs frequently, and what will be the fate of T2Rs copies is another question we are concerned about. To answer these questions, we selected the T2Rs of primates reported in another study and conducted corresponding selective pressure analyses to determine what kind of selective pressure was acting on them. Further, we carried out selective pressure analyses on gene copies and their corresponding ancestors by considering several possible situations. The results showed that among the 25 gene groups examined here, 15 groups are subject to purifying selection and others are under relaxed selection, with many positively selected sites detected. Gene copies existed in several groups, but only some groups (clade1_a1-b2, clade1_c-c2, clade1_d1-d3, clade1_f1-f2, T2R10, T2R13, and T2R42) have positively selected sites, inferring that they may have some relation to functional divergence. Taken together, T2Rs in primates are under diverse selective pressures, and most gene copies are subject to the same selective pressures. In such cases, the copies may be just to keep the function conservative, and more copies can increase the quantity of the bitter taste receptor, raise the efficiency of bitter substance recognition, and finally enhance the fitness of feeding during the evolutionary course of primates. This study can improve our understanding of T2Rs evolution in primates.

16.
Microbiol Spectr ; 11(6): e0058923, 2023 Dec 12.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37811926

RESUMO

IMPORTANCE: Compared to multiplex PCR assays that are available in the Chinese market, the Acaruiter Respiratory Panel (fluorescent PCR) covers a wider range of pathogens including eight viruses, five bacteria, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae, and has high accuracy and effectiveness in the detection of pathogens. This is the first study to evaluate the performance of the Acaruiter Respiratory Panel. This regent may be a promising assay for comprehensive testing for respiratory pathogens from nasopharyngeal swab specimens in Chinese children.


Assuntos
Infecções Respiratórias , Vírus , Criança , Humanos , Infecções Respiratórias/microbiologia , Bactérias , Vírus/genética , Mycoplasma pneumoniae/genética , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Multiplex
17.
Front Psychol ; 14: 1247595, 2023.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37771805

RESUMO

Dynamic emojis are a form of nonverbal communication used in social programs to express emotions during conversations. Studies have shown that different dynamic effects can influence users' emotional perceptions. Previous studies have focused on the emotional responses elicited by static emojis, while the emotional responses to dynamic emojis have not been thoroughly explored. In this study, we examined the impact of 128 different dynamic effects, categorized into emotional types (HAHV, LAHV, HALV, and LALV), on users' arousal and valence, and conducted semi-structured interviews to identify users' preferred dynamic effects. The results revealed significant and positive correlations between the arousal levels of all dynamic emojis and the effects of rhythms. However, the impact of rhythms on the valence of dynamic emojis varied depending on the emotion types of emojis. Specifically, the effects of motion on the valence of dynamic high-valence emojis were found to be significant, whereas they were not significant for dynamic low-valence emojis. Based on these findings, we recommend considering following factors in the design of dynamic emojis, including rhythms, motion effects, motion range, emotional metaphors, and the creation of contrast.

18.
J Mater Chem B ; 11(37): 8994-9004, 2023 09 27.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37705421

RESUMO

Photo-oxygenation has emerged as an effective modality for scavenging Alzheimer's amyloid-ß (Aß) plaques. However, limitations of the current photo-oxidants, such as low Aß-targeting and single functionality, hinder the scavenging of Aß plaques via photo-oxygenation. Herein, based on an aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active fluorogen (named TPMD), we designed AIE photo-oxidant nanoparticles (T-LD NPs) for Aß imaging, inhibition, and disaggregation. The T-LD NPs were prepared by the assembly of hydrophobic TPMD with an Aß-targeting peptide (LPPFD, L) conjugated amphiphilic polymer (DSPE-PEG). Such T-LD NPs could specifically label Aß plaques for image-guided therapy. Under laser irradiation, T-LD NPs generated a plethora of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including 1O2, ˙OH, and O2˙-, to oxygenate Aß species, leading to the potent inhibition of Aß fibrillization, and significant alleviation of Aß-mediated neurotoxicity (36% to 10% at 20 µg mL-1). Notably, T-LD NPs could rapidly disaggregate mature Aß fibrils into fractured ß-sheet rich aggregates via photo-oxygenation, resulting in alleviated cytotoxicity. In vivo studies revealed that the photo-activated T-LD NPs scavenged amyloid plaques in the transgenic C. elegans strain CL2006 and extended the lifespan by 4 days. Taken together, this multifunctional T-LD NP integrated Aß-targeting, near-infrared fluorescence imaging, and photo-oxygenation, provides a new strategy for the development of multifunctional AIE photo-oxidants for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.


Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer , Nanopartículas , Animais , Peptídeos beta-Amiloides , Doença de Alzheimer/diagnóstico por imagem , Doença de Alzheimer/tratamento farmacológico , Caenorhabditis elegans , Imagem Óptica , Oxidantes
19.
ACS Appl Mater Interfaces ; 15(37): 44062-44074, 2023 Sep 20.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37682558

RESUMO

The abnormal aggregation of ß-amyloid protein (Aß) is one of the main pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and thus development of potent scavengers targeting Aß is considered an effective strategy for AD treatment. Herein, photosensitizer-doped carbonized polymer dots (PS-CPDs) were synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method using photosensitizer (PS) and o-phenylenediamine (oPD) as precursors, and furtherly applied to inhibit Aß aggregation via photooxygenation. The inhibition efficiency of such PS-CPDs can be adjusted by varying the type of photosensitizer, and among them, methylene blue-doped carbonized polymer dots (MB-CPDs) showed the strongest photooxygenation inhibition capability. The results demonstrated that under 650 nm NIR light irradiation, MB-CPDs (2 µg/mL) produced reactive oxygen species (ROS) to efficiently inhibit Aß fibrillization and disaggregate mature Aß fibrils and increased the cultured cell viability from 50% to 83%. In vivo studies confirmed that MB-CPDs extended the lifespan of AD nematodes by 4 days. Notably, the inhibitory capability of MB-CPDs is much stronger than that of MB and previously reported carbonized polymer dots. This work indicated that potent photooxygenation carbon dots can be obtained by using a photosensitizer as one of the precursors, and the results have provided new insights into the design of potent photooxygenation carbon nanomaterials targeting Aß in AD treatment.


Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer , Peptídeos beta-Amiloides , Animais , Doença de Alzheimer/tratamento farmacológico , Azul de Metileno/farmacologia , Fármacos Fotossensibilizantes/farmacologia , Carbono , Peixes , Polímeros
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