Establishment of a TaqMan probe-based qPCR assay for detecting microsporidia Enterospora epinepheli in grouper.

Enterospora epinepheli is an intranuclear microsporidian parasite causing serious emaciative disease in hatchery-bred juvenile groupers (Epinephelus spp.). Rapid and sensitive detection is urgently needed as its chronic infection tends to cause emaciation as well as white faeces syndrome and results in fry mortality. This study established a TaqMan probe-based real-time quantitative PCR assays targeting the small subunit rRNA (SSU) gene of E. epinepheli. The relationship between the standard curve of cycle threshold (Ct) and the logarithmic starting quantity (SQ) was determined as Ct = -3.177 lg (SQ) + 38.397. The correlation coefficient (R2 ) was 0.999, and the amplification efficiency was 106.4%. The detection limit of the TaqMan probe-based qPCR assay was 1.0 × 101 copies/µL and that is 100 times sensitive than the traditional PCR method. There is no cross-reaction with other aquatic microsporidia such as Ecytonucleospora hepatopenaei, Nucleospora hippocampi, Potaspora sp., Ameson portunus. The intra-assay and inter-assay showed great repeatability and reproducibility. In addition, the test of clinical samples showed that this assay effectively detected E. epinepheli in the grouper's intestine tissue. The established TaqMan qPCR assays will be a valuable diagnostic tool for the epidemiological investigation as well as prevention and control of E. epinepheli.

Novel Cu(II)-RGD-octapeptides: Synthesis, coordination mode, in vitro anti-platelet aggregation/in vivo anti-thrombotic evaluation and correlation of sequence with nano-structure.

The synthesis, bioassays and nano-structure characterization of Cu(II)-RGD-octapeptide complexes Cu(II)-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser [Cu(II)-4a], Cu(II)-Arg-Gly-Asp-Val-Arg-Gly-Asp-Val [Cu(II)-4b] and Cu(II)-Arg-Gly-Asp-Phe-Arg-Gly-Asp-Phe [Cu(II)-4c] were investigated. UV-vis, CD and CD/ESI-MS spectra suggested that the coordination of Cu(II)-4a-c met a 3 N mode. In the in vitro anti-platelet aggregation assay the IC(50) values of Cu(II)-RGD-octapeptide complexes were 10 - 110 folds lower than that of RGD-octapeptides. In the in vivo anti-thrombotic assay the effective dose of Cu(II)-RGD-octapeptide complexes was 5000 folds lower than that of RGD-octapeptides. In transmission electron microscopy measurement Cu(II)-4a-c offered distinct nano-images. The effect of the sequence on the in vitro anti-platelet aggregation/in vivo anti-thrombotic activity and the nano-structure of Cu(II)-4a-c was discussed. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR: This basic science paper discusses the synthesis, coordination mode, in vitro anti-platelet aggregation and in vivo anti-thrombotic evaluation of novel Cu(II)-RGD-octapeptides.

Supramolecular engineering of a 2D Kagomé lattice: synthesis, structures, and magnetic properties.

Two 2D Mn (II) complexes, [Mn3(TzDC)2(phen)3] x 2 H2O (1; H3TzDC = 1,2,3-triazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) and [Mn3(TzDC)2(bipy)3] x 4 H2O (2; bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine), were synthesized by hydrothermal reactions and characterized magnetically, and complex 1 was the first example of the chiral complex with a Kagomé lattice connectivity obtained through spontaneous resolution.

A novel three-dimensional heterometallic compound: templated assembly of the unprecedented planar "Na within [Cu4]" metalloporphyrin-like subunits.

A 3D heterometallic compound, [Cu4Na4(TzDC)4(H2O)7]n (H3TzDC = 1,2,3-triazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid), which contains unprecedented planar "Na within [Cu4]" metalloporphyrin-like subunits, was synthesized by hydrothermal reactions involving in situ formation of the ligand and templated assembly of the metalloporphyrin-like subunits.

Unprecedented 3D entanglement of 1D zigzag coordination polymers leading to a robust microporous framework.

One-dimensional zigzag coordination chains in four different directions are hierarchically entangled to generate an unprecedented 3D interwoven framework, which exhibits permanent porosity and guest selectivity.

A Zn4O-containing doubly interpenetrated porous metal-organic framework for photocatalytic decomposition of methyl orange.

A doubly interpenetrated semiconducting MOF Zn(4)O(2,6-NDC)(3)(DMF)(1.5)(H(2)O)(0.5)·4DMF·7.5H(2)O (UTSA-38) of a cubic net has been constructed, which exhibits photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methyl orange in aqueous solution.

From achiral ligands to chiral coordination polymers: spontaneous resolution, weak ferromagnetism, and topological ferrimagnetism.

Using the achiral diazine ligands bearing two bidentate pyridylimino groups as sources of conformational chirality, five azido-bridged coordination polymers are prepared and characterized crystallographically and magnetically. The chirality of the molecular units is induced by the coordination of the diazine ligands in a twisted chiral conformation. The use of L(1) (1,4-bis(2-pyridyl)-1-amino-2,3-diaza-1,3-butadiene) and L(2) (1,4-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,4-diamino-2,3-diaza-1,3-butadiene) induces spontaneous resolution, yielding conglomerates of chiral compounds [Mn(3)(L(1))(2)(N(3))(6)](n) (1) and [Mn(2)(L(2))(2)(N(3))(3)](n)(ClO(4))(n).nH(2)O (2), respectively, where triangular (1) or double helical (2) chiral units are connected into homochiral one-dimensional (1D) chains via single end-to-end (EE) azido bridges. The chains are stacked via hydrogen bonds in a homochiral fashion to yield chiral crystals. When L(3) (2,5-bis(2-pyridyl)-3,4-diaza-2,4-hexadiene) is employed, a partial spontaneous resolution occurs, where binuclear chiral units are interlinked into fish-scale-like homochiral two-dimensional (2D) layers via single EE azido bridges. The layers are stacked in a heterochiral or homochiral fashion to yield simultaneously a racemic compound, [Mn(2)(L(3))(N(3))(4)](n) (3a), and a conglomerate, [Mn(2)(L(3))(N(3))(4)](n).nMeOH (3b). On the other hand, the ligand without amino and methyl substituents (L(4), 1,4-bis(2-pyridyl)-2,3-diaza-1,3-butadiene) does not induce spontaneous resolution. The resulting compound, [Mn(2)(L(4))(N(3))(4)](n) (4), consists of centrosymmetric 2D layers with alternating single diazine, single EE azido, and double end-on (EO) azido bridges, where the chirality is destroyed by the centrosymmetric double EO bridges. These compounds exhibit very different magnetic behaviors. In particular, 1 behaves as a metamagnet built of homometallic ferrimagnetic chains with a unique "fused-triangles" topology, 2 behaves as a 1D antiferromagnet with alternating antiferromagnetic interactions, 3a and 3b behave as spin-canted weak ferromagnets with different critical temperatures, and 4 also behaves as a spin-canted weak ferromagnet but exhibits two-step magnetic transitions.

New one-dimensional azido-bridged manganese(II) coordination polymers exhibiting alternating ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic interactions: structural and magnetic studies.

Five Mn(II)[bond]azido coordination polymers of formula [Mn(L)(N(3))(2)](n) have been synthesized and crystallographically characterized, and their magnetic properties studied, where L's are the bidentate Schiff bases obtained from the condensation of pyridine-2-carbaldehyde with aniline (1) and its derivatives p-toluidine (2), m-toluidine (3), p-chloroaniline (4), and m-chloroaniline (5). All the complexes consist of the zigzag Mn(II)[bond]azido chains in which the Mn(II) ions are alternately bridged by two end-to-end (EE) and two end-on (EO) azido ligands, the cis-octahedral coordination being completed by the two nitrogen atoms of the Schiff base ligands. Compound 2 is unique in that the Mn[bond](EE-N(3))(2)[bond]Mn ring adopts an unusual twist conformation with the two linear azido bridges crossing each other. By contrast, the rings in the other compounds take the usual chair conformation with the two azido bridges parallel. The double EO bridging fragments in the complexes are similar with the bridging angles (Mn[bond]N[bond]Mn) ranging from 99.6 degrees to 104.0 degrees. Magnetic analyses reveal that alternating ferro- and antiferromagnetic interactions are mediated through the alternating EO and EE azido bridges with the J(F) and J(AF) parameters in the ranges of 4.1-8.0 and -11.8 to -15.4 cm(-1), respectively. Finally, the magnetostructural correlations are investigated. The present complexes follow the general trend that the ferromagnetic interaction through the double EO bridge increases with the Mn[bond]N[bond]Mn bridging angle, while the antiferromagnetic interaction through the double EE bridge is dependent on the distortion of the Mn[bond](N(3))(2)[bond]Mn ring from planarity toward the chair conformation and the Mn[bond]N[bond]N angle.

Structural and magnetic properties of three one-dimensional azido-bridged copper(II) and manganese(II) coordination polymers.

Three one-dimensional (1D) azido-bridged coordination polymers of formula [Cu(L)(N3)2]n (1), [Cu2(Me-L)(N3)4]n (2), and [Mn(L)(N3)2]n (3) have been synthesized and structurally characterized, and their magnetic properties studied, where L and Me-L are 2-(pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine and 2-(3-methylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine, respectively. Compound 1 consists of 1D chains in which the Cu(II) ions with a square pyramidal geometry are alternately bridged by an end-to-end (EE) and an end-on (EO) azido ligands, both adopting a basal-apical disposition. Compound 2 exhibits an unprecedented chain topology built via three different kinds of EO azido bridges. Four Cu(II) ions in the square pyramidal environment are alternately bridged by single and double EO bridges to form a tetranuclear cyclic ring, and neighboring rings are interlinked by double EO bridges to generate a "chain of rings". The intraannular double azido ions are disposed between metal ions in a basal-basal fashion, and the other two kinds of azido ions adopt the basal-apical disposition. Compound 3 consists of 1D concave-convex chains in which cis-octahedrally coordinated Mn(II) ions are alternately bridged by double EE and double EO bridges. There exist pi-pi interactions between the ligands bound to the neighboring Mn(II) ions bridged by the EO bridges. Temperature- and field-dependent magnetic analyses reveal alternate ferromagnetic interactions for 1, dominating ferromagnetic interactions for 2, and alternating ferro- and antiferromagnetic interactions through the EO and EE azido bridges for 3, respectively.