RNA aptamers showing affinity and specificity for different strains of human influenza virus were assembled onto gold nanoparticles that subsequently formed a gold nanoshell (AuNS) around the viral ...envelope. These shells could be visualised by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Changes in size and structure of the AuNS coated virus can be used to detect the viruses. We show that sedimentation with a low cost centrifuge and visual determination can detect 3 × 10(8) viral particles.
Coronaviruses raise serious concerns as emerging zoonotic viruses without specific antiviral drugs available. Here we screened a collection of 16671 diverse compounds for anti-human coronavirus 229E ...activity and identified an inhibitor, designated K22, that specifically targets membrane-bound coronaviral RNA synthesis. K22 exerts most potent antiviral activity after virus entry during an early step of the viral life cycle. Specifically, the formation of double membrane vesicles (DMVs), a hallmark of coronavirus replication, was greatly impaired upon K22 treatment accompanied by near-complete inhibition of viral RNA synthesis. K22-resistant viruses contained substitutions in non-structural protein 6 (nsp6), a membrane-spanning integral component of the viral replication complex implicated in DMV formation, corroborating that K22 targets membrane bound viral RNA synthesis. Besides K22 resistance, the nsp6 mutants induced a reduced number of DMVs, displayed decreased specific infectivity, while RNA synthesis was not affected. Importantly, K22 inhibits a broad range of coronaviruses, including Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and efficient inhibition was achieved in primary human epithelia cultures representing the entry port of human coronavirus infection. Collectively, this study proposes an evolutionary conserved step in the life cycle of positive-stranded RNA viruses, the recruitment of cellular membranes for viral replication, as vulnerable and, most importantly, druggable target for antiviral intervention. We expect this mode of action to serve as a paradigm for the development of potent antiviral drugs to combat many animal and human virus infections.
The paper discusses the preparation of multicomponent thin films of Cu-Ti composite with desired elemental composition using the pulsed magnetron co-sputtering technology. The technological goal ...described in the paper was deposition the Cu-Ti composite with elemental ratio of about 50/50 at%, which is close to the eutectic point from the Cu-Ti alloy system. A large difference in the sputtering yield (about seven-fold) of Cu and Ti metals was challenging, because of the features of used power supplies. Desired concentrations of the Ti and Cu elements were obtained as a result of application of multimagnetron sputtering system, where magnetrons were equipped with the Ti or Cu targets. Additionally, pulse power supply was used together with the pulse width modulation controller. Moreover, the article presents investigations of structural and mechanical properties of deposited Cu, Ti and Cu-Ti films with elemental composition of ca. 50/50 at.%. It was found that the two component Cu0.5Ti0.5 thin films were composed of Cu4Ti3 nanocrystallites built-in an amorphous matrix. As compared to the pure Cu and Ti thin films, the prepared composite exhibited improved hardness and better elasticity reflected in lower values of the Young's modulus. The results of nanoindentation investigations showed that the Cu0.5Ti0.5 composite thin film was characterized by the hardness of 7.59 GPa.
•A multi-magnetron co-sputtering system was scaled on the Cu-Ti case study.•The Cu-Ti material were selected due to the large difference in the sputtering yield.•A desired chemical composition of ca. 50/50 at.% of Cu/Ti thin film was obtained.•The Cu0.5Ti0.5 thin films composed from Cu4Ti3 nanocrystallites built in an amorphous matrix.•The Cu0.5Ti0.5 composite, as compared to Cu and Ti thin films, showed improved hardness and better elasticity.
Human polyclonal anti-Abeta antibodies present in serum and in IVIg include specificities for the linear N-terminal and central region epitopes on Abeta monomers as well as conformational epitopes on ...Abeta oligomers and fibrils.
This paper presents the results of experimental investigations of the action on biological objects of high pressure (/spl sim/1 atm) air excited in a discharge chamber. E. Coli and Staphylococcus ...bacteria in concentrations of -10/sup 5/ cm/sup 3/ were used for the biological cultures and Aspergillus and Penicilium were used with the granular substances. Bactericidal properties were observed up to 80 mm from the nearest electrode of the glow discharge device.
The influence of basic discharge parameters on the efficiency of bacterial decontamination in liquids has been studied, The experiments have been carried out with a voltage of 19 kV, a pulse ...repetition rate of 0.1-10 Hz, and a pulse energy of 3-10 J. The pulses were applied to electrodes located in a water-filled cell. The suspension contained staphilococci or E. Coli with a concentration of 10/sup 6/-10/sup 8/ per ml. At 10 J/ml energy input, the bacterial decontamination efficiency was found to be 100%. Even at low -2.5 J/ml energy density, the efficiency of removing the bacteria was still more than 94%.
Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy has shown promising results in treating Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, a Random Forest (RF) classification model was used to identify possible ...effects of IVIg on a group of eight subjects who underwent immunotherapy. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from eight ADsubjects who underwent IVIg therapy were collected before therapy, after 6 months of therapy, and after a 3‐month drug washout period. Samples were analyzed using 2DE and further studied using a RF classification model to identify effects of IVIg on a panel of 23 putative diagnostic ADbiomarkers previously identified. Six of the eight subjects showed improvements with respect to the 23 ADdiagnostic biomarkers after 6 months of therapy compared to the samples taken at the outset of the trial. All subjects reverted back to baseline during drug washout. These results are also consistent with clinical observations. The observed improvements in subjects during 6 months of IVIg therapy and the reversion back to baseline during drug washout provides preliminary evidence regarding the potential use of IVIg as an AD immunotherapy.
Abstract Herpes simplex virus type 1 variants selected by virus propagation in cultured cells in the presence of the sulfated oligosaccharide PI-88 were analyzed. Many of these variants were ...substantially resistant to the presence of PI-88 during their initial infection of cells and/or their cell-to-cell spread. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the deletion of amino acids 33–116 of gC but not lack of gC expression provided the virus with selective advantage to infect cells in the presence of PI-88. Purified gC (Δ33–116) was more resistant to PI-88 than unaltered protein in its binding to cells. Alterations that partly contributed to the virus resistance to PI-88 in its cell-to-cell spread activity were amino acid substitutions Q27R in gD and R770W in gB. These results suggest that PI-88 targets several distinct viral glycoproteins during the course of initial virus infection and cell-to-cell spread.
In this paper new magnetron sputtering system for multilayers deposition has been presented. The system allows sputtering of different materials from 4 targets in low pressure of working and reactive ...gas (oxygen, argon, oxygen + argon). Manufactured structures can be build from films, which have gradient concentration of dopant. Also the doping process can be performed with high precision in continuous or in pulse way. The high doping precision and possibility of deposition of multilayers without interruption of the sputtering process was received after application of a special designed magnetron pulse supplies. Thanks of that the system allows on manufacturing of the multilayers, which connect properties of different single films (dielectric, semiconducting and conducting) in one structure.
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