Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michal Abram, Marcin Jakubiec, Anna Rapacz, Szczepan Mogilski, Gniewomir Latacz, Bartlomiej Szulczyk, Malgorzata Szafarz, Katarzyna Socala, Dorota Nieoczym, Elzbieta Wyska, Piotr Wlaz, Rafal M. Kaminski, Krzysztof Kaminski
Summary: A series of water-soluble analogues of previously described anticonvulsants were characterized in vivo and in vitro, with compound 14 showing robust anticonvulsant, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. The mechanism of action of compound 14 is believed to involve inhibition of sodium and calcium currents, as well as TRPV1 receptor antagonism. Overall, compound 14 exhibits potential for future preclinical development as a lead candidate.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hengwei Zhang, Wenzhi Li, Yuxi Wang, Yaping Tao, Yi Wang, Fan Yang, Ziqing Gao
Summary: In this study, the solvation effects on the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer of NOHPO molecules in different solvents were investigated using DFT and TD-DFT. It was found that the polarity of the solvent can influence the strength of the hydrogen bonds and subsequently affect the proton transfer process. Additionally, the spectral properties, geometric parameters, and charge distribution of NOHPO in different solvents were compared to reveal the impact of solvent polarity on ESIPT.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shikha Kamboj, Samridhi Thakral, Sunil Kumar, Vikramjeet Singh
Summary: A series of 3-hydroxy-N-(2-(substituted phenyl)-4-oxothiazolidin-3-yl)-2-napthamide derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The compounds were synthesized by condensation reaction and cyclization reaction. Among them, 3-hydroxy-N-(4-oxo-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)thiazolidin-3-yl)-2-naphthamide (S20) exhibited the highest antimicrobial potential.
CHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Xinyi Wan, Haiwen Li, Shan Wang, Cunde Wang
Summary: A method mediated by acetic acid was developed for the synthesis of highly stereoselective tetrahydrothiopyranols. The method is characterized by cheap and readily available starting materials, simple operation, and mild reaction conditions.
JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Daniel S. Honeycutt, William F. Charbonneau, Alexander J. North, Sara L. Cobb, Derek Lohmann, Massoud J. Miri
Summary: Polyesters with furan groups have attracted attention due to the renewability of furan containing monomers. In this study, 11 diols were evaluated in polymerizations with the dimethyl ester of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, and 8 of them were found to be novel. The results showed that the glass transition temperatures of these polyesters could be controlled over a wide range by selecting specifically substituted diols.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Pooja Phatak, Vinita Chauhan, Ram Kumar Dhaked, Uma Pathak, Nandita Saxena
Summary: The study evaluated the efficacy of 35 compounds against abrin and ricin, with 5 offering protection against abrin and 2 against ricin. The emergence of E-N-(2-acetylphenyl)-3-phenyl-acrylamide as a lead compound against RIPs was supported by in vivo studies.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Gustavo Pretelin-Castillo, Mayra Silva Miranda, Clara Espitia, Rosa Maria Chavez-Santos, Abel Suarez-Castro, Luis Chacon-Garcia, Rodrigo Aguayo-Ortiz, Roberto Martinez
Summary: This study investigated the role of substituents attached to the phenyl ring of a 3-hydroxy-3-phenyl-prop-2-enedithioic acid scaffold in inhibiting the growth of M. tuberculosis strain H37Rv. It was found that compounds with electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substituents on the aromatic ring showed potential antituberculosis activities, with compound 11e showing promising results for further development. Docking studies also revealed potential interactions between synthesized compounds and the HadAB enzyme, providing insights for future drug design.
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Dalia Abdel-Kader, Nancy Talaat
Summary: 4-Hydroxy-3-nitro-6-phenyl-6H-pyrano[3,2-c]quinoline-2,5-dione was reacted with 1,2-binucleophiles to form pyrazolyl and isoxazolylquinolinones. 3-Nitropyranoquinolinone reacted with different 1,4-binucleophiles to yield diazepinyl, oxazepinyl, and thiadiazepinylquinolinone derivatives. The compounds' structures were confirmed by elemental analysis and spectral data. Some products showed higher antioxidant activity with strong radical scavenging abilities.
SYNTHETIC COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sachin Puri, Nilesh S. Patil, Kapil Juvale
Summary: By performing in silico screening of pharmacokinetic profile and in vitro anticancer activity determination, the study investigated the maleimide derivatives linked with hydroxy phosphonate moiety. The results indicated that these compounds had desired physicochemical properties for oral bioavailability and showed preference for inhibiting cell growth in breast and lung cancer cell lines, with compound 5d exhibiting the most potent activity.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hisakazu Miyamoto, Hiroki Takahashi
Summary: The title compounds, 3-(p-phenylphenyl)-3-hydroxy-N-isopropyl-4,4-dimethylazetidin-2-one (2d) and 3-phenyl-3-hydroxy-N-isopropyl-4,4-dimethylazetidin-2-one (2a), were synthesized by photoreaction of N,N-diisopropyl(p-phenylphenyl)glyoxylamide 1d and N,N-diisopropylphenylglyoxylamide 1a, respectively, in solution. The formation of the compounds was confirmed by various spectroscopic techniques and X-ray diffraction. The crystal structures of compounds 2d and 2a belong to the orthorhombic and monoclinic systems, with space groups Pna2(1) and P2(1)/c, respectively.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Hiroki Mandai, Ryuhei Shiomoto, Kazuki Fujii, Koichi Mitsudo, Seiji Suga
Summary: An efficient acylative kinetic resolution method for 3-hydroxy-3-substituted 2-oxindoles has been developed using a chiral DMAP derivative. The catalyst showed high efficiency with a wide range of substrates and could achieve high resolution within a short reaction time.
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Min Yang, Yu-Lin Gao, Ming-Sheng Xie, Hai-Ming Guo
Summary: In this study, bifunctional chiral 4-aryl-pyridine-N-oxides (ArPNO) were used as efficient catalysts for the acylative kinetic resolution of 3-hydroxy-3-substituted oxindoles, where the oxygen serves as the nucleophilic site. The N-oxide group and N-H proton in ArPNO were found to be crucial for high selectivity and enhanced catalytic reactivity. Compared with other catalysts, chiral ArPNO exhibited higher selectivity and catalytic activity in the kinetic resolution of tertiary alcohols.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Zhikun Yang, Jiahui Xu, Yumeng Bai, Zhao Wang, Liusheng Duan, Weiming Tan
Summary: The study found that compound S8 exhibited excellent promotion effects on plant growth, positively impacting the growth and development of Arabidopsis thaliana and rice. Molecular docking analysis showed that S8 had a tighter binding with the GID1 receptor, and its bioactivity displayed a clear negative association with the docking score values.
JOURNAL OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jolanta Obniska, Malgorzata Gora, Anna Rapacz, Kinga Salat, Sabina Rybka, Michal Abram, Marcin Jakubiec, Krzysztof Kaminski
Summary: A library of new compounds were synthesized and tested for anticonvulsant and analgesic activities, with one compound showing promising results in both aspects. The potential mechanism of action for this compound involves its influence on neuronal sodium and calcium channels.
ARCHIV DER PHARMAZIE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Mihaela Birdeanu, Camelia Epuran, Ion Fratilescu, Eugenia Fagadar-Cosma
Summary: Covering steel surfaces with suitable materials for corrosion protection is a challenge due to the high utility and recyclability of steel. This study presents the development of new sandwich-type materials to improve corrosion inhibition of steel, with the best efficiency achieved through layers of specific porphyrin compounds. Morphological investigations and electrochemical techniques were utilized to analyze the corrosion inhibition mechanism and efficiency of the materials.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shuwen Liu, Yuanyuan Chen, Tianming Du, Wencong Zhao, Xuejing Liu, Heng Zhang, Qing Yuan, Liang Gao, Yuhui Dong, Xueyun Gao, Yong Gong, Peng Cao
Summary: In cyanobacteria and algae, flavodoxin (Fld) acts as an electron carrier during photosynthesis under stress conditions. This study presents the crystal structures of apo-Fld from Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942, revealing a potential dimer-monomer transition mechanism. The dimer serves as a standby state to stabilize itself, while the monomer is ready to bind FMN. Additionally, a docking model of the cyanobacterial Fld-FNR complex is proposed, highlighting the interactions between Fld and FNR.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ming Xiao, Fubo Ma, Jun Yu, Jianghang Xie, Qiaozhen Zhang, Peng Liu, Fei Yu, Yuming Jiang, Le Zhang
Summary: This study proposes a novel accurate strand-specific SARS-CoV-2 intra-host mutation spectra computation method, develops an efficient and fast SARS-CoV-2 intra-host mutation simulation method based on mutation spectra, and establishes an online analysis and visualization platform. The main results include: significant variability in the SARS-CoV-2 intra-host mutation spectra across different lineages, with major mutations occurring on both the positive and negative sense strands; our mutation simulation reveals a deviation from the base content percentage of Alpha-CoV/Delta-CoV after approximately 620 mutation steps; 2019-NCSS provides an easy-to-use and visualized online platform for SARS-Cov-2 analysis and mutation simulation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shuwen Liu, Qiulong Gao, Kaiming Hou, Zhangpeng Li, Jinqing Wang, Shengrong Yang
Summary: From the standpoint of fusion of solid and liquid lubrication, solvent-free MXene nanofluids were synthesized and demonstrated excellent friction-reduction and anti-wear properties even under high velocity, elevated temperature, and heavy load conditions.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Tian Lan, Jiaqi Wang, Shihan Bao, Qinyu Zhao, Xiangyu Sun, Yulin Fang, Tingting Ma, Shuwen Liu
Summary: This review systematically examines the relationship between fruit and vegetable juice (FVJ) processing and its nutrition and function in the past 10 years, highlighting the impact of processing technology on the nutrient and functional components of FVJ, and providing new perspectives for future studies.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Yun Zhu, Chengjian Gong, Shuwen Liu, Zhiyue Yu, Hanzeng Shao, Gaohang Yu
Summary: This paper proposes a multi-channel weighted truncated WSNM model based on the WSNM optimization framework for RGB colour image denoising. The proposed model is significantly improved by the optimization methods of superposition and truncation. It is also generalized to the tensor space and employed for the infrared imaging target detection based on the spatial-temporal tensor model for the first time. The efficiency and accuracy of the algorithm are verified through extensive experiments on real infrared data.
IET IMAGE PROCESSING
(2023)
Article
Virology
Shuai Xia, Fanke Jiao, Lijue Wang, Xueying Yu, Tianyu Lu, Yan Fu, Ziqi Huang, Xicheng Li, Jinghe Huang, Qian Wang, Qiuhong Man, Lize Xiong, Shibo Jiang, Lu Lu
Summary: The Omicron subvariants of SARS-CoV-2 have strong immune evasion capabilities and have caused a large number of infections and vaccine breakthroughs, particularly in the elderly population. The Omicron XBB subvariant, derived from the BA.2 lineage, has a distinct mutant profile in its spike protein and exhibits more efficient membrane-fusion kinetics. Convalescent or vaccine sera from elderly patients showed reduced efficacy against XBB infection, but the fusion inhibitors EK1 and EK1C4 were able to block XBB-mediated fusion and viral entry.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kuo Liu, Muxue Tang, Wei Xu, Xinfeng Meng, Hengwei Jin, Maoying Han, Jing Pu, Yutang Li, Fanke Jiao, Ruilin Sun, Ruling Shen, Kathy O. Lui, Lu Lu, Bin Zhou
Summary: In this study, a transgenic hACE2 mouse line was developed to specifically express hACE2 in different lung epithelial cells, including AT2 cells, club cells, and ciliated cells. All these mice models developed severe pneumonia after SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study demonstrates the usefulness of the hACE2 model in studying COVID-19-related pathologies in specific cell types.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Virology
Chao Wang, Qing Li, Lujia Sun, Xinling Wang, Huan Wang, Wenpeng Zhang, Jiahui Li, Yang Liu, Lu Lu, Shibo Jiang
Summary: Researchers developed a novel dual-target inhibitor by integrating a small-molecule HIV-1 inhibitor with an artificial peptide. This inhibitor showed improved activity against multiple drug-resistant HIV-1 strains.
Article
Immunology
Shuai Xia, Lijue Wang, Fanke Jiao, Xueying Yu, Wei Xu, Ziqi Huang, Xicheng Li, Qian Wang, Yun Zhu, Qiuhong Man, Shibo Jiang, Lu Lu
Summary: The continuous emergence of Omicron variant and its subvariants has led to an increasing number of infections, reinfections, and vaccine-breakthrough infections, posing a serious threat to human health. Several new Omicron subvariants with distinct mutation profiles in their spike proteins have shown enhanced ability to evade vaccine-induced immunity, increased infectivity, and transmissibility, becoming dominant sublineages. The study found that these novel Omicron subvariants have more efficient membrane fusion kinetics compared to the original variant, indicating increased pathogenicity. Peptide-based pan-CoV fusion inhibitors, EK1 and EK1C4, were found to be effective against membrane fusion and infection mediated by the S proteins of these Omicron subvariants. Immune sera induced by wild-type SARS-CoV-2 RBD-based vaccine or BA.2 convalescent sera showed synergism with EK1 against both wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and various Omicron subvariants, suggesting EK1-based fusion inhibitors as promising candidates for clinical antiviral agents against circulating Omicron subvariants.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Abdullah Khamis Ali Al Saidi, Adibehalsadat Ghazanfari, Shuwen Liu, Tirusew Tegafaw, Mohammad Yaseen Ahmad, Dejun Zhao, Ying Liu, So Hyeon Yang, Dong Wook Hwang, Ji-ung Yang, Ji Ae Park, Jae Chang Jung, Sung-Wook Nam, Yongmin Chang, Gang Ho Lee
Summary: Ultrasmall platinum nanoparticles (Pt-NPs) coated with three types of hydrophilic and biocompatible polymers were successfully synthesized using a one-pot polyol method. The polymer-coated Pt-NPs showed excellent stability and low cellular toxicity. They also exhibited stronger X-ray attenuation power compared to a commercial iodine contrast agent, indicating their potential as computed tomography contrast agents.
Article
Immunology
Tianyu Lu, Qiuhong Man, Xueying Yu, Shuai Xia, Lu Lu, Shibo Jiang, Lize Xiong
Summary: A prognostic model based on immune variables was developed and validated to early recognize potentially severe cases of Omicron variant-infected patients. Six predictors, including age, neutrophils, lymphocytes, procalcitonin, IL-2, and IL-10, were selected to establish the model. The model showed satisfactory high discrimination, calibration, and net benefit, indicating its potential use in reducing the severity and mortality of Omicron variant infection.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Songyi Xue, Wei Xu, Lei Wang, Xinling Wang, Qianyu Duan, Laurent Calcul, Shaohui Wang, Wenqi Liu, Xingmin Sun, Lu Lu, Shibo Jiang, Jianfeng Cai
Summary: We report a series of helical peptidomimetics, D-sulfonyl-gamma-AApeptides, which effectively mimic the key residues of heptad repeat 2 and interact with heptad repeat 1 in the SARS-CoV-2 S2 subunit, resulting in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-mediated fusion between virus and cell membranes. The leads also displayed broad-spectrum inhibitory activity against a panel of other human CoVs and showed strong potency in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, they also demonstrated complete resistance to proteolytic enzymes or human sera and exhibited extremely long half-life in vivo and highly promising oral bioavailability, delineating their potential as pan-CoV fusion inhibitors with the potential to combat SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Haifeng Zeng, Shaoshen Guo, Xuancheng Ren, Zhenkun Wu, Shuwen Liu, Xingang Yao
Summary: Extracellular vesicles, including ectosomes and exosomes, have emerged as promising natural carriers for drug delivery. Exosomes, which are 30-100 nm in diameter and possess a lipid bilayer, have high biocompatibility, stability, and low immunogenicity, making them desirable for cargo delivery. Loading cargo into exosomes, however, remains challenging despite various strategies developed. This review provides an overview of current cargo delivery strategies using exosomes and summarizes recent approaches for loading small-molecule, nucleic acid, and protein drugs into exosomes, offering insights for more efficient drug delivery.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiaonan Miao, Zhangpeng Li, Shuwen Liu, Kaiming Hou, Jinqing Wang, Shengrong Yang
Summary: This study presents a simple method to strengthen the mechanical properties and enhance the abrasion durability of MXene-based films through ionic bridging. The metal ions bridged with the surface groups of MXene and GO nanosheets to form ion-strengthened films, which significantly improved their mechanical properties and service life. The resulting MXene/GO nanocomposite films exhibit excellent lubricity and durability, making them promising lubricants in precision mechanical devices, MEMS/NEMS, etc.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Xinling Wang, Lujia Sun, Zezhong Liu, Lixiao Xing, Yun Zhu, Wei Xu, Shuai Xia, Lu Lu, Shibo Jiang
Summary: This study reports the development of a recombinant protein called HR1LS, which inhibits the fusion and entry of human coronaviruses into host cells and generates neutralizing antibodies. It is considered a promising candidate for the treatment and prevention of infections caused by SARS-CoV-2 and other potentially infectious coronaviruses.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2023)
