Immunization with genetically attenuated P52-deficient Plasmodium berghei sporozoites induces a long-lasting effector memory CD8+ T cell response in the liver

Background

The induction of sterile immunity and long lasting protection against malaria has been effectively achieved by immunization with sporozoites attenuated by gamma-irradiation or through deletion of genes. For mice immunized with radiation attenuated sporozoites (RAS) it has been shown that intrahepatic effector memory CD8⁺ T cells are critical for protection. Recent studies have shown that immunization with genetically attenuated parasites (GAP) in mice is also conferred by liver effector memory CD8⁺ T cells.

Findings

In this study we analysed effector memory cell responses after immunization of GAP that lack the P52 protein. We demonstrate that immunization with p52 ^-GAP sporozoites also results in a strong increase of effector memory CD8⁺ T cells, even 6 months after immunization, whereas no specific CD4⁺ effector T cells response could be detected. In addition, we show that the increase of effector memory CD8⁺ T cells is specific for the liver and not for the spleen or lymph nodes.

Conclusions

These results indicate that immunization of mice with P. berghei p52 ^-GAP results in immune responses that are comparable to those induced by RAS or GAP lacking expression of UIS3 or UIS4, with an important role implicated for intrahepatic effector memory CD8⁺ T cells. The knowledge of the mediators of protective immunity after immunization with different GAP is important for the further development of vaccines consisting of genetically attenuated sporozoites.     

Real-space indicators for chemical bonding. Experimental and theoretical electron density studies of four deltahedral boranes

In an approach combining high-resolution X-ray diffraction at low temperatures with density functional theory calculations, two closo-borates, B(12)H(12)(2-) (1) and B(10)H(10)(2-) (2), and two arachno-boranes, B(10)H(12)L(2) [L = amine (3) or acetonitrile (4)], were analyzed by means of the atoms-in-molecules (AIM) theory and electron localizability indicator (ELI-D). The two-electron three-center (2e3c) bonds of the borane cages are investigated with the focus on real-space indicators for chemical bonding and electron delocalization. In compound 2, only two of the three expected bond critical points (bcp's) are found. However, a weakly populated ELI-D basin is found for this pair of adjacent B atoms and the delocalization index and the Source contributions are on the same order of magnitude as those for the other pairs. The opposite situation is found in the arachno-boranes, where no ELI-D basins are found for two types of B-B pairs, which, in turn, exhibit a bcp. However, again the delocalization index is on the same order of magnitude for this bonding interaction. The results show that an unambiguous real-space criterion for chemical bonding is not given yet for this class of compounds. The arachno-boranes carry a special B-B bond, which is the edge of the crown-shaped molecule. This bond is very long and extremely curved inward the B-B-B ring. Nevertheless, the corresponding bond ellipticity is quite small and the ELI-D value at the attractor position of the disynaptic valence basin is remarkably larger than those for all other B-B valence basins. Furthermore, the value of the ED is large in relation to the B-B bond length, so that only this bond type does not follow a linear relationship of the ED value at the bcp versus B-B bond distances, which is found for all other B-B bcp's. The results indicate that both 2e2c and 2e3c bonding play a distinct role in borane chemistry.     

On the 2-electron 3-center B-H-B bond: charge density determination of tetraborane(10)

In order to characterize the 2-electron 3-center hydride bridges in arachno-tetraborane, an experimental charge-density study was performed complemented with various theoretical calculations. The charge-density distribution and its topological properties were analyzed according to the "atoms in molecules" theory of Bader. The asymmetric bonding situation of the highly polarized hydride bridges is discussed in detail.     

Experimental electron density of sumanene, a bowl-shaped fullerene fragment; comparison with the related corannulene hydrocarbon

The experimental electron density of sumanene, C(21)H(12), was extracted from a high resolution X-ray data set measured at 100 K and topologically analyzed. In addition to bond topological and atomic properties, information about the density distribution between adjacent molecules, which show close C···C approaches of ~3.4 ? within the columnar π-stacks in the crystal lattice, are discussed. A comparison is made with the electron density of the related corannulene molecule based also on the analysis of Electron Localizability Indicator (ELI-D) calculations.     

Syntheses of highly unsaturated isocyanides via organometallic pathways

The carbon carbon coupling reaction by nucleophilic attack of (CO)(5)Cr(CN-CF=CF(2)) 1 by lithium or Grignard compounds 2a-i yields the isocyanide complexes (CO)(5)Cr(CN-CF=CF-R) 3a-i (a R = CH=CH(2), b R = CH=CF(2), c R = C≡CH, d R = C≡C-SiMe(3), e R = C≡C-Ph, f R = C≡C-C(6)F(4)OMe, g R = C≡C-C(6)H(3)(CF(3))(2), h R = C(6)F(5), i R = C(6)H(3)(CF(3))(2)) as mixtures of E and Z isomers. The dinuclear complexes 5a-c are obtained from the reaction of 1 with the dilithio or dimagnesium compound 4a-c as the Z,Z-, E,Z- and E,E-isomers, respectively. (CO)(5)Cr(CN-CF=CF-C≡C-C≡C-CF=CF-NC)Cr(CO)(5)7 is obtained as a mixture of Z,Z-, Z,E- and E,E-isomers from (CO)(5)Cr(CN-CF=CF-C≡C-H 3d by Eglington-Glaser coupling. (CO)(5)Cr(CN-CF=CF-C≡C-CF=CF-NC)Cr(CO)(5)6 and (CO)(5)Cr(CN-CF=CF-C=C-C≡C-CF=CF-NC)Cr(CO)(5)7 react with octacarbonyldicobalt forming the cluster compounds Z,Z-[{η(2)-μ(2)-(CO)(5)Cr(CN-CF=CF-C≡C-CF=CF-NC)Cr(CO)(5)}Co(2)(CO)(6)] Z,Z-8, E,Z-[{η(2)-μ(2)-(CO)(5)Cr(CN-CF=CF-C≡C-CF=CF-NC)Cr(CO)(5)}Co(2)(CO)(6)] E,Z-8 and E,E-[{η(2)-μ(2)-(CO)(5)Cr(CN-CF=CF-C≡C-CF=CF-NC)Cr(CO)(5)}Co(2)(CO)(6)] E,E-8 and Z,Z-[{η(2)-μ(2)-(CO)(5)Cr(CN-CF=CF-C≡C-C≡C-CF=CF-NC)Cr(CO)(5)}{Co(2)(CO)(6)}(2)] Z,Z-9, E,Z-[{η(2)-μ(2)-(CO)(5)Cr(CN-CF=CF-C≡C-C≡C-CF=CF-NC)Cr(CO)(5)}{Co(2)(CO)(6)}(2)] E,Z-9 and E,E-[{η(2)-μ(2)-(CO)(5)Cr(CN-CF=CF-C≡C-C≡C-CF=CF-NC)Cr(CO)(5)}{Co(2)(CO)(6)}(2)] Z,Z-9, respectively. The crystal and molecular structures of E-3d, Z-3h, Z,Z-8, E,Z-8 and Z,Z-9 were elucidated by single-crystal X-ray crystallography.     

A new type of N-heterocyclic silylene with ambivalent reactivity

The synthesis of a novel divalent silicon compound by debromination of the corresponding dibromosilyl precursor is reported. The silylene possesses a unique reactivity toward electrophiles of the type R-X (R = H, silyl; X = halogen, triflate) in comparison with the germanium congener. DFT calculations suggest that this is due to a much higher basicity of the silylene versus that of germylene lone-pair electrons. Thus, addition of Me3SiX to the silylene (X = OSO2CF3, triflate) furnishes the corresponding (kinetically favored) 1,4-adduct which subsequently rearranges to the thermodynamically favored 1,1-adduct.     

Corannulenes with Electron-Withdrawing Substituents: Synthetic Approaches and Resulting Structural and Electronic Properties

Corannulene is a multifaceted polyaromatic compound. It has many interesting properties; for example, it has a bowl-shaped molecular structure that, in addition, undergoes a dynamic inversion process. It has attracted much attention within the last decades. This is not only due to its structural properties but also its electronic properties and its various potential applications to materials chemistry. Here, synthetic approaches towards corannulene derivatives with electron-withdrawing substituents are summarized. This includes both selective and unselective methods. Further, the electrochemical properties, that is, the reduction potentials, are analyzed and compared. As a main conclusion, one can state that the electron affinity depends roughly linearly on the number of substituents. Finally, the structural behavior of the substituted buckybowls in the solid state is highlighted. This also allows a general statement about the influence of the electronic and steric nature of substituents on the molecular structures and the solid-state packing of the corannulene derivatives.     

Dienamine‐Induced Divinylcyclopropane–Cycloheptadiene Rearrangements

Sigmatropic rearrangements constitute an important group of pericyclic reactions. In contrast to cycloaddition reactions, examples of catalytic variants of electrocyclic reactions and sigmatropic rearrangements are still scarce in the chemical literature. Herein, we report the first organocatalytic Cope rearrangement of in situ‐generated divinylcyclopropanes. The reactive motif was generated by condensation of 4‐(2‐vinylcyclopropyl)but‐2‐enal derivatives with a secondary amine catalyst to form a transient dienamine. The cycloheptadiene products could be obtained in high yield and excellent diastereoselectivity. Importantly, the reaction was demonstrated to be stereospecific, proceeding under mild conditions, while exhibiting broad functional group tolerance.     

Supersaturation by gelling: Gel-grown single crystals of metal(II)carboxylates

Hydrolysis and polycondensation of tetraalcoxysilanes create both: a crystal growth medium and an alcohol-water mixture with diminished solubility for a lot of compounds. Solvent varying gel crystallization is shown for twenty metal(II)carboxylates in TMOS. The influence of pH-value, salt- and TMOS concentration and combination of this method with cooling crystallization are described.