Genetic diversity in the human major histocompatibility complex: lessons for vaccination approaches to HIV infection

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) harbours genes that have a primary function of regulating immune responsiveness. Our data on the distribution patterns of molecular subtypes of HLA class I and II extended haplotypes in India suggest that: (1) Asian Indians have extreme diversity in the MHC region, with several novel and unique alleles and disease-associated MHC haplotypes (e.g. the autoimmune-favouring A26-B8-DR3 haplotype); (2) there have been selective environmental and microbial pressures in India that directed either the generation of novel alleles through founder effect or the expansion of other alleles due to geophysical or socio-economic barriers, and (3) Asian Indians have a unique repertoire of peptide-presenting molecules to deal with pathogen-derived autoreactive antigens. This level of polymorphism concentrated within the MHC presents a formidable obstacle to the development of peptide-based vaccines, e.g. for AIDS. Further, studies conducted by us and others have provided a genetic basis for the possible predisposition and fast progression of HIV infections in the Indian population. Since there is selective predominance of different HLA alleles and haplotypes in different populations, a dedicated global screening effort is required to develop MHC-based vaccines against infectious diseases.     

Fluorogenic ratiometric dipodal optode containing imine-amide linkages: Exploiting subtle thorium (IV) ion sensing

The (13E,19E)-N1′,N3′-bis[4-(diethylamino)-2-hydroxybenzylidene]malonohydrazide (L) has been developed for the detection of Th⁴⁺ ions using dual channel signalling system. The UV–vis absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopic data revealed the formation of L–Th⁴⁺ complex in 1:1 equilibrium. The density functional theory (DFT) also confirms the optimum binding cavity for the recognition of metal ion. The binding constant computed from different mathematical models for an assembly of L–Th⁴⁺. The detection limit of L for Th⁴⁺ recognition is to a concentration down to 0.1 μM (0.023 μg g⁻¹). The present sensing system is also successfully applied for the detection of Th⁴⁺ ion present in soil near nuclear atomic plants.     

Expedient Protocols for the Installation of 1,5‐Benzoazepino‐Based Privileged Templates on the 2‐Position of 1,4‐Benzodiazepine Through a Phenoxyl Spacer

An efficient novel strategy for the hetero‐annulation of 2‐chloro‐1,4‐benzodiazepine ring, substituted on its 5‐position with a carboxamido group ( 5 ), has been developed to allow the incorporation of 1,5‐benzodiazepine, 1,5‐benzothiazepine, and 1,5‐benzoxazepine ( 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ) rings through their dimethylaminomethylene ketone intermediate ( 7 ).     

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Five-Membered O,N,N-Heterocycles

The development of new strategies for synthesis of five-membered O,N,N-heterocycles has remained a highly attractive but challenging proposition. An overview of the application of microwave irradiation in oxygen and two nitrogen atoms containing five-membered heterocyclic compounds synthesis is presented, focusing on the developments in the past 5–10 years. This contribution covers the literature concerning the total synthesis of five-membered O,N,N-heterocycles.     

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Six-Membered O-Heterocycles

The development of new strategies for synthesis of six-membered O-heterocycles has remained a highly attractive but challenging proposition. An overview of the application of microwave irradiation in oxygen-containing six-membered heterocyclic compounds synthesis is presented, focusing on the developments in the past 5–10 years. This contribution covers the literature concerning the total synthesis of six membered O-heterocycles.     

Nitrogen-Containing Six-Membered Heterocycles: Solid-Phase Synthesis

Solid-phase organic synthesis is a rapidly expanding area of synthetic chemistry that is being widely exploited in the search for new medicinally important compounds using combinatorial techniques. In recent decades, a large number of reports related to solid-phase synthesis of heterocycles have appeared because of the wide variety of their biological activity. In this review, we report the important role of solid-phase synthesis in the synthesis of nitrogen containing six-membered ring heterocycles.     

Poor quality drugs: grand challenges in high throughput detection, countrywide sampling, and forensics in developing countries

Throughout history, poor quality medicines have been a persistent problem, with periodical crises in the supply of antimicrobials, such as fake cinchona bark in the 1600s and fake quinine in the 1800s. Regrettably, this problem seems to have grown in the last decade, especially afflicting unsuspecting patients and those seeking medicines via on-line pharmacies. Here we discuss some of the challenges related to the fight against poor quality drugs, and counterfeits in particular, with an emphasis on the analytical tools available, their relative performance, and the necessary workflows needed for distinguishing between genuine, substandard, degraded and counterfeit medicines.     

Chemical modification of L-glutamine to alpha-amino glutarimide on autoclaving facilitates Agrobacterium infection of host and non-host plants: A new use of a known compound

Background

Accidental autoclaving of L-glutamine was found to facilitate the Agrobacterium infection of a non host plant like tea in an earlier study. In the present communication, we elucidate the structural changes in L-glutamine due to autoclaving and also confirm the role of heat transformed L-glutamine in Agrobacterium mediated genetic transformation of host/non host plants.

Results

When autoclaved at 121°C and 15 psi for 20 or 40 min, L-glutamine was structurally modified into 5-oxo proline and 3-amino glutarimide (α-amino glutarimide), respectively. Of the two autoclaved products, only α-amino glutarimide facilitated Agrobacterium infection of a number of resistant to susceptible plants. However, the compound did not have any vir gene inducing property.

Conclusions

We report a one pot autoclave process for the synthesis of 5-oxo proline and α-amino glutarimide from L-glutamine. Xenobiotic detoxifying property of α-amino glutarimide is also proposed.     

The synthesis of dehydrotryptophan and dehydrotryptophan-containing peptides

Dehydrotryptophan and its derivatives are non-proteinogenic amino acids commonly found in peptide-based natural products produced by microorganisms, marine organisms and plants. These non-proteinogenic amino acids are found in secondary metabolites and are formed by post translational modification processes. Although comprehensive reviews on the synthesis of dehydroamino acids are available, this perspective focuses solely on methods to synthesise the dehydrotryptophan-containing segment of naturally occurring peptides, amino acids and their derivatives.