Elasticity of the HIV-1 core facilitates nuclear entry and infection.

HIV-1 infection requires passage of the viral core through the nuclear pore of the cell, a process that depends on functions of the viral capsid. Recent studies have shown that HIV-1 cores enter the nucleus prior to capsid disassembly. Interactions of the viral capsid with the nuclear pore complex are necessary but not sufficient for nuclear entry, and the mechanism by which the viral core traverses the comparably sized nuclear pore is unknown. Here we show that the HIV-1 core is highly elastic and that this property is linked to nuclear entry and infectivity. Using atomic force microscopy-based approaches, we found that purified wild type cores rapidly returned to their normal conical morphology following a severe compression. Results from independently performed molecular dynamic simulations of the mature HIV-1 capsid also revealed its elastic property. Analysis of four HIV-1 capsid mutants that exhibit impaired nuclear entry revealed that the mutant viral cores are brittle. Adaptation of two of the mutant viruses in cell culture resulted in additional substitutions that restored elasticity and rescued infectivity and nuclear entry. We also show that capsid-targeting compound PF74 and the antiviral drug Lenacapavir reduce core elasticity and block HIV-1 nuclear entry at concentrations that preserve interactions between the viral core and the nuclear envelope. Our results indicate that elasticity is a fundamental property of the HIV-1 core that enables nuclear entry, thereby facilitating infection. These results provide new insights into the role of the capsid in HIV-1 nuclear entry and the antiviral mechanisms of HIV-1 capsid inhibitors.

Effect of the addition of Moringa Oleifera to fruit drinks on clinical parameters associated with iron deficiency anaemia in schoolchildren

Worldwide, iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is one the most significant nutritional maladies, especially in low and middle-income countries. This is mainly due to the associated morbidity, economic implications on the health system and the welfare state. One of the most prevalent causes of IDA in children is insufficient food intake, which has an obvious connection with the social environment. The main strategy in the management of this condition is counteracting such deficiency through the improvement of nutrition and family upbringing. Aiming to explore affordable, novel and straightforward approaches to treat this nutritional condition, we developed a descriptive study associated with the incorporation of Moringa Oleifera in homemade fruit beverages delivered to 32 children from low-income families, in order to assess the evolution of IDA, evaluating specific clinical parameters such as red blood cells volume, as well as hemoglobin, ferritin and serum iron levels, within a two months lapse. At the end of this period, we observed a significant statistical rise in the levels of all the assessed parameters, finding about a 1.3-fold increase in hemoglobin and ferritin levels and in red blood cells volume; serum iron was 1.1 times higher. These findings are demonstrative of the wide spectrum of the medicinal features of Moringa and establish a promising and accessible strategy easy to incorporate into the diet of families of children suffering this pathology(AU)

La anemia ferropénica (AF) es una de las carencias nutricionales más significativas a nivel mundial, especialmente en los países de bajos y medios ingresos, debido principalmente a la morbilidad asociada, las implicaciones en el sistema de salud y el estado de bienestar. Una de las causas más frecuentes de esta deficiencia en los niños es la ingesta insuficiente, que tiene una evidente conexión con el entorno social. La principal estrategia en el manejo de esta afección es contrarrestar esta deficiencia a través de la mejora de la nutrición y la educación familiar. Con el objetivo de explorar enfoques asequibles, novedosos y directos para el tratamiento de esta enfermedad, se desarrolló un estudio descriptivo asociado a la incorporación de la Moringa Oleifera en bebidas de frutas caseras que se suministraron a 32 niños de familias de bajos ingresos para hacerle seguimiento a la evolución de la anemia por deficiencia de hierro, evaluando parámetros clínicos específicos como el volumen de células rojas y los niveles de hemoglobina, ferritina y hierro sérico en un lapso de dos meses. Se observó un aumento estadísticamente significativo en los niveles de todos los parámetros evaluados una vez finalizado el período de intervención. Al final del ensayo, observamos un aumento estadístico significativo en los niveles de todos los parámetros evaluados, encontrando un aumento de aproximadamente 1.3 veces en los niveles de hemoglobina y ferritina y en el volumen de los glóbulos rojos; el hierro sérico fue 1.1 veces mayor. Estos hallazgos son una demostración del amplio espectro de las características medicinales de la Moringa y establecen una estrategia prometedora y accesible, fácil de incorporar a la dieta de las familias de los niños que sufren esta patología(AU)

Comparative early stage assessment of multiproduct biorefinery systems: An application to the isobutanol platform.

An early stage assessment method is applied to the production of isobutanol from lignocellulosic biomass, and to three multiproduct portfolios from the conversion of isobutanol: Case 1: production of isobutyl acetate and glycerol tert-butyl ether (GTBE), Case 2: production of isobutyl acetate and ketones, and Case 3: production of isobutyl acetate alkanes. The method screens and compares each route with its equivalent petrochemical counterpart. The method is composed by different indicators involving economic and environmental aspects. Sensitivity analyses were carried out to account for variation in prices, weighting factors and distribution of isobutanol to isobutyl acetate (in multiproduct portfolios). Results show that bio-based isobutanol has advantages over fossil-based isobutanol. In multiproduct systems, case 1 performs better, followed by cases 2 and 3. Screening using economic or environmental aspects show to have a significant effect on the results, where bio-based systems tend to perform better when environmental aspects are included.

Design and analysis of a second and third generation biorefinery: The case of castorbean and microalgae.

In this work, a biorefinery system including castor bean seeds and microalgae is used as a case study to evaluate the integration of second and third generation biorefineries. A biorefinery concept was applied for the combined production of polyol, ethylene-glycol, omega-3 acid, biodiesel, methanol and heat and power from castor bean and microalgae. Castor bean cake and microalgae paste were used to feed a biomass-fired system (BIGCC), where part of CO2 produced in flue gas is captured and employed as substrate for microalgae growth. To evaluate the performance of this biorefinery concept three scenarios based on different levels of mass and energy integration were modeled and assessed from techno-economic and environmental points of view. The scenario with the best economic and environmental performances was the one including full mass integration, full heat integration, and cogeneration scheme.

Techno-economic analysis for brewer's spent grains use on a biorefinery concept: the Brazilian case.

A techno-economic analysis for use of brewer's spent grains (BSG) on a biorefinery concept for the Brazilian case is presented. Four scenarios based on different levels of heat and mass integration for the production of xylitol, lactic acid, activated carbon and phenolic acids are shown. A simulation procedure using the software Aspen Plus and experimental yields was used. Such procedure served as basis for the techno-economic and environmental assessment according to the Brazilian conditions. Full mass integration on water and full energy integration was the configuration with the best economic and environmental performance. For this case, the obtained economic margin was 62.25%, the potential environmental impact was 0.012 PEI/kg products, and the carbon footprint of the processing stage represented 0.96 kg CO2-e/kg of BSG. This result served as basis to draw recommendations on the technological, economic and environmental feasibility for implementation of such type of biorefinery in Brazil.

Techno-economic analysis of bioethanol production from lignocellulosic residues in Colombia: a process simulation approach.

In this study a techno-economic analysis of the production of bioethanol from four lignocellusic (Sugarcane bagasse, Coffee cut-stems, Rice Husk, and Empty Fruit Bunches) residues is presented for the Colombian case. The ethanol production was evaluated using Aspen Plus and Aspen Process Economic Analyzer carrying out the simulation and the economic evaluation, respectively. Simulations included the composition of lignocellulosic residues, which was determined experimentally. It was found that empty fruit bunches presents the highest ethanol yield from a dry basis point of view (313.83 L/t), while rice husk produced less ethanol (250.56 L/t). The ethanol production cost was assessed for the standalone ethanol plant and the ethanol plant coupled with a cogeneration system. Moreover, ethanol production cost using EFB was the lowest with (0.49 US$/L) and without (0.58 US$/L) cogeneration scheme.

Techno-economic analysis for a sugarcane biorefinery: Colombian case.

In this paper a techno-economic analysis for a sugarcane biorefinery is presented for the Colombian case. It is shown two scenarios for different conversion pathways as function of feedstock distribution and technologies for sugar, fuel ethanol, PHB, anthocyanins and electricity production. These scenarios are compared with the Colombian base case which simultaneously produce sugar, fuel ethanol and electricity. A simulation procedure was used in order to evaluate biorefinery schemes for all the scenarios, using Aspen Plus software, that include productivity analysis, energy calculations and economic evaluation for each process configuration. The results showed that the configuration with the best economic, environmental and social performance is the one that considers fuel ethanol and PHB production from combined cane bagasse and molasses. This result served as the basis to draw recommendations on technological and economic feasibility as well as social aspects for the implementation of such type of biorefinery in Colombia.