GFP-PfCSP interacts with heparin.

<p><b>A</b>, Domain structures of full-length and recombinant <i>Pf</i>CSP. The termini are indicated. SP, signal peptide; NTD, N-terminal domain; CTD, C-terminal domain; RI, region I; RII+, region II plus; RIII, region III; GPI, GPI anchor sequence. <b>B</b>, Sequence alignment of residues preceding the region I in the NTD of CSP. Residues in <i>Pf</i>CSP are numbered, and residues mutated are highlighted in bold. Mutations that affect heparin binding are colored in red and mutation that does not is colored in cyan. Basic residues in other CSPs that are near region I are colored in orange. The region I is highlighted by a yellow box. Peptides that have been tested for heparin binding are underlined. <b>C</b>,<b>D</b>, Heparin binding of GFP-<i>Pf</i>CSP (<b>C</b>) and GFP alone (<b>D</b>). ~150 μg of purified protein was applied to the heparin column, and samples were analyzed by SDS-PAGE, followed by Coomassie staining. Domain structure of the protein used is shown on the left. I, input; FT, flow-through. <b>E-N</b>, as in <b>C</b>, but with GFP-tagged CSP mutants. Arrowhead indicates a contaminant. All data were confirmed by at least three independent experiments using three independently purified batches of proteins. Data shown are from a representative experiment.</p

Homotypic interactions between CSP termini.

<p><b>A</b>, <b>B</b>, Purified GFP-<i>Pf</i>CSPΔC or GFP alone was incubated with HA-αTSR. Immunoprecipitation (IP) was performed using anti-GFP (<b>A</b>) or anti-HA (<b>B</b>) antibodies. The samples were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting (IB) with anti-HA or anti-GFP antibodies. <b>C</b>, as in <b>A</b>, but with GFP-<i>Pf</i>CSP instead of GFP. <b>D</b>, as in <b>B</b>, but with GFP-<i>Pf</i>CSP instead of GFP.</p

Comparison of recombinant CSP from bacteria and yeast.

A, Heparin binding of GFP, GFP-PfCSP, GFP-PfCSPΔN, and GFP-αTSR purified from P. pastoris. Samples for GFP-PfCSP are analyzed by immunoblotting (IB) using antibodies against GFP. All other samples are analyzed by Coomassie staining. A degraded product of GFP-PfCSP is indicated by arrowhead. B, Gel filtration analysis of GFP-PfCSPΔN purified from either E. coli or P. pastoris. Fractions are analyzed by SDS-PAGE and coomassie staining. C, as in B, but with GFP-αTSR.</p

Attachment of CSP to hepatocytes.

<p><b>A</b>, Purified GFP-<i>Pf</i>CSP or mutant proteins were incubated with HepG2 cells. Binding of the proteins to the cells was quantified by using flow cytometry to detect GFP fluorescence. Analyzed data are shown on the right. The data are representative of at least four repetitions. <b>B</b>, Purified GFP-<i>Pf</i>CSP or mutant proteins were incubated with HepG2 cells. GFP on the cell surface was detected by live cell imaging. Nuclei were stained with Hoechst 33258 for identification of individual cells. Approximately 300 cells were counted for each sample. The data represent at least three repetitions.</p

Preparation of the colorful retroreflective film based on the polymer-stabilized cholesteric liquid crystal

A cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) mixture was prepared using a photoisomerizable chiral dopant and acrylates. With extending the irradiation time of a 365-nm UV light, the Bragg reflection band of the CLC mixture shifted to long wavelength. After photopolymerization, a polymer-stabilized CLC (PSCLC) film was obtained. The colorful PSCLC patterns with glass microspheres on the surface were prepared by controlling the competition between the photoisomerization of the chiral dopant and the photopolymerization of the acrylates. Due to the retroreflective property, the patterned PSCLC films can be applied as the traffic signs and for advertisement.</p

Main-Chain Sulfonium-Containing Homopolymers with Negligible Hemolytic Toxicity for Eradication of Bacterial and Fungal Biofilms

Antimicrobials against planktonic cells and established biofilms at low doses are in increasing demand to tackle antibiotic-resistant biofilm infections. As a promising alternative to antibiotics, cationic polymers can effectively kill planktonic microbes but usually require high concentrations to eradicate the established biofilms. Herein, we developed a series of sulfonium-based homopolymers with cationic sulfoniums and alkane spacers in the main chain. These polysulfoniums presented effective activity against planktonic fungi (Candida albicans) and bacteria (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) with minimum inhibition concentrations (MICs) of 0.5–32 μg/mL, and the optimal composition can provide an 80–90% reduction in biofilm mass and >99% killing of Candida albicans and Escherichia coli cells in 3-day mature biofilms at 2 × MIC as well as steadily low hemolytic toxicity. The influence of amphiphilicity and charge density of polysulfonium homopolymers on their antimicrobial activity against planktonic microbes and mature biofilms was investigated to provide insights for effective antimicrobial polymer design

Colorful patterned polyacrylate films prepared using cholesteric liquid-crystalline mixtures with a smectic order

Polymer-stabilised cholesteric liquid crystal (PSCLC) films with selective circularly polarised light reflection have attracted much attention for their applications as polarisers, energy-saving windows and for displays. Herein, CLC mixtures were prepared using a nematic LC LC242 and a chiral compound S-6 with enantiotropic SmA and SmC* phases, which exhibited a cholesteric phase with a smectic order. After photopolymerisation, the PSCLC films with fingerprint structure at the surfaces and supramolecular helical structure inside were obtained. Due to the existence of short-range smectic order in the cholesteric structure, the Bragg reflection bands were broadened. For a CLC mixture, with increasing temperature, the short-range smectic order was suppressed, and the selective Bragg reflection band shifted to the short wavelength. Based on this thermochromic behaviour, colourful PSCLC patterns and gratings were prepared, which were able to be applied in decoration and anti-counterfeiting. Since the PSCLC films can be obtained within several seconds under air, large-area films can be prepared on coating lines at low-cost.</p

A cinnamate liquid crystal for rapid optical recording

Photorecording materials have been applied for information recording. Herein, a cinnamate liquid crystal with an enantiotropic nematic phase was synthesised, which can be isomerised and polymerised under the irradiation of the 365-nm UV light. Cholesteric liquid crystal polymer network (CLCN) films were prepared using the mixtures of it, LC242, a chiral dopant and a photoinitiator. The CLCN films possess a slight gradient helical pitch which increases from the bottom to the top of the films. The formation of this structure should be driven by the photoisomerisation of the cinnamate. Under the irradiation of 365-nm UV light with a low intensity, the CLC mixtures show a photochromic behaviour which is proposed to be driven by the formation of oligomers. Based on this, the CLC mixtures can be applied for optical recording.</p

Classification of ecological environment variables and data sources.

Classification of ecological environment variables and data sources.</p

Space-time clusters of tuberculosis cases in Guangxi from 2010 to 2016.

Space-time clusters of tuberculosis cases in Guangxi from 2010 to 2016.</p