Linear, dimeric, tetrameric, and cyclic peptides derived from lactoferricin B-containing non-natural amino acids and the RWQWR motif were synthesized, purified, and characterized using RP-HPLC, ...MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and circular dichroism. The antibacterial activity of peptides against
ATCC 11775,
ATCC 13636, and
ATCC 13076 was evaluated. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined. The synthetic bovine lactoferricin exhibited antibacterial activity against
ATCC 11775 and
ATCC 13076. The dimeric peptide (RRWQWR)₂K-Ahx exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against the tested bacterial strain. The monomeric, cyclic, tetrameric, and palindromic peptides containing the RWQWR motif exhibited high and specific activity against
ATCC 11775. The results suggest that short peptides derived from lactoferricin B could be considered as potential candidates for the development of antibacterial agents against infections caused by
.
High Mannose glycans (HM) are intermediates for the eukaryotic glycosylation pathway but are not commonly found on mature glycoproteins. HM, particularly Man9GlcNAc2 (M9), are present on the glycan ...shield of viral envelopes and have received attention as elements for semi-synthetic vaccines. The most common strategy to produce HM is extensive pronase digestion from soybean agglutinin (SBA) to obtain Asn-M9. Storage proteins from Phaseolus lunatus (butter beans) are abundant in M9 and could also be used for M9 production. Chemical alternatives to enzyme-based protocols such as sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) have been used effectively to release N-glycans. Here we present an application of the NaClO glycan release strategy to produce M9 from Phaseolus lunatus beans as an alternative to SBA and the characterisation of some of the release side products that support the release reaction mechanism.
Display omitted
•Phaseolus lunatus beans can be used as an alternative source to produce Man9GlcNAc2:M9.•Glycan chemical release using sodium hypochlorite NaClO was used to prepare Man9GlcNAc2:M9 from Phaseolus lunatus beans.•The isolated Man9GlcNAc2:M9 and the glycan nitrile side products were analysed by HPAE-PAD, MALDI-MS, HPLC-MS and NMR.
Severe mental illness diagnoses have overlapping symptomatology and shared genetic risk, motivating cross-diagnostic investigations of disease-relevant quantitative measures. We analysed ...relationships between neurocognitive performance, symptom domains, and diagnoses in a large sample of people with severe mental illness not ascertained for a specific diagnosis (cases), and people without mental illness (controls) from a single, homogeneous population.
In this case-control study, cases with severe mental illness were ascertained through electronic medical records at Clínica San Juan de Dios de Manizales (Manizales, Caldas, Colombia) and the Hospital Universitario San Vicente Fundación (Medellín, Antioquía, Colombia). Participants were assessed for speed and accuracy using the Penn Computerized Neurocognitive Battery (CNB). Cases had structured interview-based diagnoses of schizophrenia, bipolar 1, bipolar 2, or major depressive disorder. Linear mixed models, using CNB tests as repeated measures, modelled neurocognition as a function of diagnosis, sex, and all interactions. Follow-up analyses in cases included symptom factor scores obtained from exploratory factor analysis of symptom data as main effects.
Between Oct 1, 2017, and Nov 1, 2019, 2406 participants (1689 cases schizophrenia n=160; bipolar 1 disorder n=519; bipolar 2 disorder n=204; and major depressive disorder n=806 and 717 controls; mean age 39 years (SD 14); and 1533 female) were assessed. Participants with bipolar 1 disorder and schizophrenia had similar impairments in accuracy and speed across cognitive domains. Participants with bipolar 2 disorder and major depressive disorder performed similarly to controls, with subtle deficits in executive and social cognition. A three-factor model (psychosis, mania, and depression) best represented symptom data. Controlling for diagnosis, premorbid IQ, and disease severity, high lifetime psychosis scores were associated with reduced accuracy and speed across cognitive domains, whereas high depression scores were associated with increased social cognition accuracy.
Cross-diagnostic investigations showed that neurocognitive function in severe mental illness is characterised by two distinct profiles (bipolar 1 disorder and schizophrenia, and bipolar 2 disorder and major depressive disorder), and is associated with specific symptom domains. These results suggest the utility of this design for elucidating severe mental illness causes and trajectories.
US National Institute of Mental Health.
PDF
