Towards rapid on-site phage-mediated detection of generic Escherichia coli in water using luminescent and visual readout

Wild-type T4 bacteriophage and recombinant reporter lac Z T4 bacteriophage carrying the β-galactosidase gene were used for detection of generic Escherichia coli by monitoring the release of β-galactosidase upon phage-mediated cell lysis. The reaction was performed on a paper-based portable culture device to limit the diffusion of reagents and, hence, increase the sensitivity of the assay, and to avoid handling large sample volumes, making the assay suitable for on-site analysis. Chromogenic (chlorophenol red-β-d-galactopyranoside, CPRG) and bioluminescent (6-O-β-galactopyranosyl-luciferin, Beta-Glo^®) β-galactosidase substrates were tested in the assay. Water samples were first filtered through 0.45-μm pore size filters to concentrate bacteria. The filters were then placed into the paper-based device containing nutrient medium and incubated at 37 °C for 4 h. Bacteriophage with the respective indicator substrate was added to the device, and signal (color, luminescence) development was recorded with a digital camera, luminometer, or luminescence imaging device. It was demonstrated that as low as 40 or <10 colony-forming units (cfu)?ml^?1 of E. coli can be detected visually within 8 h when wild-type T4 bacteriophage or recombinant lacZ T4 bacteriophage were used in the assay, respectively. Application of the bioluminescent β-galactosidase substrate allowed reliable detection of <10 cfu ml^?1 within 5.5 h. The specificity of the assay was demonstrated using a panel of microorganisms including Aeromonas hydrophila, Enterobacter cloacae, E. coli, and Salmonella Typhimurium. Scheme for rapid E. coli assay including filtration of water sample, short incubation on the filter in a paper-based culture device, addition of bacteriophage and [beta]-galactosidase substrate, and recording/processing of the accumulated color or luminescence signal.      

Reversible Self‐Assembly of Terpyridine‐Functionalized Graphene Oxide for Energy Conversion

Terpyridine‐functionalized graphene oxides were prepared for self‐assembly into 3D architectures with various metal ions (e.g., Fe, Ru). The resulting electrode materials showed significantly improved electroactivities for efficient energy conversion and storage. They showed promise for application in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), photocurrent generation, and supercapacitance.     

Synthesis of Spiroheterocycles Containing Thiadiazole Thiadiazine and Triazine Moieties from Nitrilimines

Abstract

A series of 5-substituted 1-methyl-3-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1,2,4-triazin-6-ones was prepared by the reaction of α-amino acid methyl esters with appropriate nitrilimines and treated with phosphorus pentasulfide to afford 5-substituted 1-methyl-3-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1,2,4-triazin-6-thiones. When 1,2,4-triazin-6-thiones were allowed to react with nitrilimine, the novel 4,6-dimethyl-2,8-di-phenyl-10-substituted-1-thia-3,4,6,7,9-pentaazaspiro[4.5]dec-2,7-dienes were obtained and confirmed by their elemental analyses and spectral data. Some of the synthesized compounds were tested in vitro for their antimicrobial activity.

Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements to view the free supplemental file.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT      

Rp-HPLC Determination of Quercetin in a Novel D-α-Tocopherol Polyethylene Glycol 1000 Succinate Based SNEDDS Formulation: Pharmacokinetics in Rat Plasma

Despite its proven efficacy in diverse metabolic disorders, quercetin (QU) for clinical use is still limited because of its low bioavailability. D-α-Tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) is approved as a safe pharmaceutical adjuvant with marked antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In the current study, several QU-loaded self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) were investigated to improve QU bioavailability. A reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed, for the first time, as a simple and sensitive technique for pharmacokinetic studies of QU in the presence of TPGS SNEDDS formula in rat plasma. The analyses were performed on a Xterra C₁₈ column (4.6 × 100 mm, 5 µm) and UV detection at 280 nm. The analytes were separated by a gradient system of methanol and phosphate buffer of pH 3. The developed RP-HPLC method showed low limit of detection (LODs) of 7.65 and 22.09 ng/mL and LOQs of 23.19 and 66.96 ng/mL for QU and TPGS, respectively, which allowed their determination in real rat plasma samples. The method was linear over a wide range, (30–10,000) and (100–10,000) ng/mL for QU and TPGS, respectively. The selected SNEDDS formula, containing 50% w/w TPGS, 30% polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG 200), and 20% w/w pumpkin seed oil (PSO), showed a globule size of 320 nm and −28.6 mV zeta potential. Results of the pharmacokinetic studies showed 149.8% improvement in bioavailability of QU in SNEDDS relative to its suspension. The developed HPLC method proved to be simple and sensitive for QU and TPGS simultaneous determination in rat plasma after oral administration of the new SNEDDS formula.     

A Validated LC–MS/MS Assay for the Simultaneous Quantification of the FDA-Approved Anticancer Mixture (Encorafenib and Binimetinib): Metabolic Stability Estimation

The concurrent use of oral encorafenib (Braftovi, ENF) and binimetinib (Mektovi, BNB) is a combination anticancer therapy approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for patients with BRAFV600E/V600K mutations suffering from metastatic or unresectable melanoma. Metabolism is considered one of the main pathways of drug elimination from the body (responsible for elimination of about 75% of known drugs), it is important to understand and study drug metabolic stability. Metabolically unstable compounds are not good as they required repetitive dosages during therapy, while very stable drugs may result in increasing the risk of adverse drug reactions. Metabolic stability of compounds could be examined using in vitro or in silico experiments. First, in silico metabolic vulnerability for ENF and BNB was investigated using the StarDrop WhichP450 module to confirm the lability of the drugs under study to liver metabolism. Second, we established an LC–MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of ENF and BNB applied to metabolic stability assessment. Third, in silico toxicity assessment of ENF and BNB was performed using the StarDrop DEREK module. Chromatographic separation of ENF, BNB, and avitinib (an internal standard) was achieved using an isocratic mobile phase on a Hypersil BDS C₁₈ column. The linear range for ENF and BNB in the human liver microsome (HLM) matrix was 5–500 ng/mL (R² ≥ 0.999). The metabolic stabilities were calculated using intrinsic clearance and in vitro half-life. Furthermore, ENF and BNB did not significantly influence each other’s metabolic stability or metabolic disposition when used concurrently. These results indicate that ENF and BNB will slowly bioaccumulate after multiple doses.     

Fluorogenic Probes with Substitutions at the 2 and 7 Positions of Cephalosporin are Highly BlaC‐Specific for Rapid Mycobacterium tuberculosis Detection

Current methods for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) are either time consuming or require expensive instruments and are thus are not suitable for point‐of‐care diagnosis. The design, synthesis, and evaluation of fluorogenic probes with high specificity for BlaC, a biomarker expressed by Mtb, are described. The fluorogenic probe CDG‐3 is based on cephalosporin with substitutions at the 2 and 7 positions and it demonstrates over 120 000‐fold selectivity for BlaC over TEM‐1 Bla, the most common β‐lactamase. CDG‐3 can detect 10 colony‐forming units of the attenuated Mycobacterium bovis strain BCG in human sputum in the presence of high levels of contaminating β‐lactamases expressed by other clinically prevalent bacterial strains. In a trial with 50 clinical samples, CDG‐3 detected tuberculosis with 90 % sensitivity and 73 % specificity relative to Mtb culture within one hour, thus demonstrating its potential as a low‐cost point‐of‐care test for use in resource‐limited areas.     

Green Validated TLC and UV Spectrometric Techniques for Hyoscine Butylbromide and Ketoprofen Determination in Pharmaceutical Dosage Form

Journal of Analytical Chemistry - Two spectrometric methods and a TLC-densitometric method are described for the determination of hyoscine/ketoprofen combination. A new spectrophotometric method...     

Photoemission and LEED study of the Sn/Rh(111) surface--early oxidation steps and thermal stability

We have deposited two monolayers of Sn onto Rh(111) single crystal. After the deposition, no ordered structure was revealed by low energy electron diffraction (LEED). We oxidized the obtained system in a low-pressure oxygen atmosphere at 420 K. The oxidized sample was then gradually heated to study the thermal stability of the oxide layer. We characterized the system by synchrotron radiation stimulated photoelectron spectroscopy and LEED. Valence band and core level photoelectron spectra of rhodium, tin and oxygen were used to study the oxidation of the Sn-Rh(111) surface and its behaviour upon annealing. A low stoichiometric oxide of Sn was created on the surface. The oxidation process did not continue towards creation of SnO(2) with higher oxygen dose. The annealing at 970 K caused decomposition of the surface oxide of Sn and creation of an ordered (√3 × √3)R30° Sn-Rh(111) surface alloy.     

Heterocyclic synthesis using nitrilimines. Part 13: Synthesis of new1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-s-tetrazine derivatives

The reaction of C-aroyl-N-arylnitrilimines with 1,1-dimethylhydrazine or 1-methyl-1-phenylhydrazine led to the formation of the acyclic electrophilic addition products, which underwent thermal oxidative cyclization at CH₃ to 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-s-tetrazines. Both analytical and spectroscopic data of all the synthesized compounds are in full agreement with the proposed structures.