A biosensor based on electroactive dipyrromethene-Cu(II) layer deposited onto gold electrodes for the detection of antibodies against avian influenza virus type H5N1 in hen sera

This paper describes the development of a biosensor for the detection of anti-hemagglutinin antibodies against the influenza virus hemagglutinin. The steps of biosensor fabrications are as follows: (i) creation of a mixed layer containing the thiol derivative of dipyrromethene and 4-mercapto-1-butanol, (ii) complexation of Cu(II) ions, (iii) oriented immobilization of the recombinant histidine-tagged hemagglutinin, and (iv) filling free spaces with bovine serum albumin. The interactions between recombinants hemagglutinin from the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus type H5N1 and anti-hemagglutinin H5 monoclonal antibodies were explored with Osteryoung square-wave voltammetry. The biosensor displayed a good detection limit of 2.4 pg/mL, quantification limit of 7.2 pg/mL, and dynamic range from 4.0 to 100.0 pg/mL in buffer. In addition, this analytical device was applied for the detection of antibodies in hen sera from individuals vaccinated and non-vaccinated against the avian influenza virus type H5N1. The limit of detection for the assay was the dilution of sera 1: 7?×?10⁶, which is about 200 times better than the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

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Graphical Abstract Scheme of immunosensor based on dipyrromethene-Cu(II)-Histidine-tagged hemagglutinin deposited on gold electrode

     

High order parallelisation of an unstructured grid,discontinuous-Galerkin finite element solver for the Boltzmann–BGK equation

ABSTRACT

This paper outlines the implementation and performance of a parallelisation approach involving partitioning of both physical space and velocity space domains for finite element solution of the Boltzmann-BGK equation. The numerical solver is based on a discontinuous Taylor–Galerkin approach. To the authors' knowledge this is the first time a ‘high order’ parallelisation, or `phase space parallelisation', approach has been attempted in conjunction with a numerical solver of this type. Restrictions on scalability have been overcome with the implementation detailed in this paper. The developed algorithm has major advantages over continuum solvers in applications where strong discontinuities prevail and/or in rarefied flow applications where the Knudsen number is large. Previous work by the authors has outlined the range of applications that this solver is capable of tackling. The paper demonstrates that the high order parallelisation implemented is significantly more effective than previous implementations at exploiting High Performance Computing architectures.     

A phosphoramidate substrate analog is a competitive inhibitor of the Tetrahymena group I ribozyme

BACKGROUND: Phosphoramidate oligonucleotide analogs containing N3'-P5' linkages share many structural properties with natural nucleic acids and can be recognized by some RNA-binding proteins. Therefore, if the N-P bond is resistant to nucleolytic cleavage, these analogs may be effective substrate analog inhibitors of certain enzymes that hydrolyze RNA. We have explored the ability of the Tetrahymena group I intron ribozyme to bind and cleave DNA and RNA phosphoramidate analogs. RESULTS: The Tetrahymena group I ribozyme efficiently binds to phosphoramidate oligonucleotides but is unable to cleave the N3'-P5' bond. Although it adopts an A-form helical structure, the deoxyribo-phosphoramidate analog, like DNA, does not dock efficiently into the ribozyme catalytic core. In contrast, the ribo-phosphoramidate analog docks similarly to the native RNA substrate, and behaves as a competitive inhibitor of the group I intron 5' splicing reaction. CONCLUSIONS: Ribo-N3'-P5' phosphoramidate oligonucleotides are useful tools for structural and functional studies of ribozymes as well as protein-RNA interactions.     

Applications of Fluorescent Sensor Based on 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinoline in Analytical Chemistry

Fluorescent dye 2-[(2-Hydroxyethyl)-(1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolin-6-ylmethyl)-amino]ethanol (LL1) was examined for its efficiency in the detection of small inorganic cations (lithium, sodium, barium, calcium, magnesium, cadmium, lead and zinc). The dye was synthesized in the laboratory and investigated by means of both, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence techniques. This compound acts as a fluorescent sensor suitable for detection of small inorganic cations (lithium, sodium, barium, calcium, magnesium, cadmium, lead and zinc) in strongly polar solvent (acetonitrile). An electron transfer from the electro-donative part (receptor) of the molecule to the acceptor part (fluorophore) is thought to be the main mechanism that underlies functionality of the compound as a sensor. This process can be retarded upon complexation of the receptor moiety by inorganic cations. Relatively high sensitivity but poor selectivity of the aminoalcohol thatcontains indicator towards the two-valued cations was observed. However, upon addition of some amounts of water the selectivity of this sensor has been enhanced (especially towards lead cation). The preliminary results in analytical application of the sensor are discussed.     

Microbial Synthesis of (S)- and (R)-Benzoin in Enantioselective Desymmetrization and Deracemization Catalyzed by Aureobasidium pullulans Included in the Blossom Protect™ Agent

In this study, we examined the Aureobasidium pullulans strains DSM 14940 and DSM 14941 included in the Blossom Protect™ agent to be used in the bioreduction reaction of a symmetrical dicarbonyl compound. Both chiral 2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethanone antipodes were obtained with a high enantiomeric purity. Mild conditions (phosphate buffer [pH 7.0, 7.2], 30 °C) were successfully employed in the synthesis of (S)-benzoin using two different methodologies: benzyl desymmetrization and rac-benzoin deracemization. Bioreduction carried out with higher reagent concentrations, lower pH values and prolonged reaction time, and in the presence of additives, enabled enrichment of the reaction mixture with (R)-benzoin. The described procedure is a potentially useful tool in the synthesis of chiral building blocks with a defined configuration in a simple and economical process with a lower environmental impact, enabling one-pot biotransformation.     

Recharge and spatial distribution of groundwater hydrochemistry in the Geum River basin,South Korea

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Groundwater in the Geum River basin is a major agricultural and domestic water resource. In the present study, we collected 128 groundwater...     

Identification of a metastable uranium metal–organic framework isomer through non-equilibrium synthesis

Since the structure of supramolecular isomers determines their performance, rational synthesis of a specific isomer hinges on understanding the energetic relationships between isomeric possibilities. To this end, we have systematically interrogated a pair of uranium-based metal–organic framework topological isomers both synthetically and through density functional theory (DFT) energetic calculations. Although synthetic and energetic data initially appeared to mismatch, we assigned this phenomenon to the appearance of a metastable isomer, driven by levers defined by Le Châtelier''s principle. Identifying the relationship between structure and energetics in this study reveals how non-equilibrium synthetic conditions can be used as a strategy to target metastable MOFs. Additionally, this study demonstrates how defined MOF design rules may enable access to products within the energetic phase space which are more complex than conventional binary (e.g., kinetic vs. thermodynamic) products.

Identifying the relationship between structure and energetics in a uranium MOF isomer system reveals how non-equilibrium synthetic conditions can be used as a strategy to target metastable MOFs.     

Dinitrogen activation by titanium sandwich complexes

The activation of dinitrogen by titanium sandwich complexes of the general form (eta5-C5Me4R)2Ti (R = CHMe2, CMe3, SiMe3) has been systematically investigated. Low-temperature, in situ, solution infrared spectroscopy has allowed detection of monomeric bis-dinitrogen complexes of titanium that are isostructural with more familiar dicarbonyl derivatives. One example, (eta5-C5Me4CHMe2)2Ti(N2)2, has also been characterized by X-ray diffraction and reveals weakly activated dinitrogen ligands. From the solution IR data, the relative azophilicity of the titanium sandwich complexes has been established and increases with smaller cyclopentadienyl substituents.