Modern venomics – Current insights, novel methods and future perspectives in biological and applied animal venom research

Venoms have evolved >100 times in all major animal groups, and their components, known as toxins, have been fine-tuned over millions of years into highly effective biochemical weapons. There are many outstanding questions on the evolution of toxin arsenals, such as how venom genes originate, how venom contributes to the fitness of venomous species, and which modifications at the genomic, transcriptomic, and protein level drive their evolution. These questions have received particularly little attention outside of snakes, cone snails, spiders, and scorpions. Venom compounds have further become a source of inspiration for translational research using their diverse bioactivities for various applications. We highlight here recent advances and new strategies in modern venomics and discuss how recent technological innovations and multi-omic methods dramatically improve research on venomous animals. The study of genomes and their modifications through CRISPR and knockdown technologies will increase our understanding of how toxins evolve and which functions they have in the different ontogenetic stages during the development of venomous animals. Mass spectrometry imaging combined with spatial transcriptomics, in situ hybridization techniques, and modern computer tomography gives us further insights into the spatial distribution of toxins in the venom system and the function of the venom apparatus. All these evolutionary and biological insights contribute to more efficiently identify venom compounds, which can then be synthesized or produced in adapted expression systems to test their bioactivity. Finally, we critically discuss recent agrochemical, pharmaceutical, therapeutic, and diagnostic (so-called translational) aspects of venoms from which humans benefit

First Observation of Self-Amplified Spontaneous Emission in a Free-Electron Laser at 109 nm Wavelength

We present the first observation of Self-Amplified Spontaneous Emission (SASE) in a free-electron laser (FEL) in the Vacuum Ultraviolet regime at 109 nm wavelength (11 eV). The observed free-electron laser gain (approx. 3000) and the radiation characteristics, such as dependency on bunch charge, angular distribution, spectral width and intensity fluctuations all corroborate the existing models for SASE FELs.Comment: 6 pages including 6 figures; e-mail: [email protected]

Photoactive Properties of Transport Sol-Gel Layers Based on Strontium Titanate for Perovskite Solar Cells

In this work, we have investigated the photocurrent and spectral sensitivity of the silicon/SrTiO3:xNb/perovskite structures. The sol–gel method carried out the deposition of undoped SrTiO3 layers as well as niobium-doped (SrTiO3:Nb) layers at atomic concentrations of 3 and 6% Nb. The perovskite layer, CH3NH3PbI3_xClx, has been deposited by the vacuum co-evaporation technique. The layers have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements. The volt–ampere characteristics and spectral sensitivity of the fabricated samples have been measured under illumination with selective wavelengths of 405, 450, 520, 660, 780, 808, 905, 980, and 1064 nm of laser diodes. We have shown that for different configurations of applied voltage between silicon, SrTiO3:xNb, and CH3NH3PbI3_xClx, the structures are photosensitive ones with a variation of photocurrent from microamperes to milliamperes depending on Nb concentration in SrTiO3, and the highest photocurrent and spectral sensitivity values are observed when a SrTiO3:Nb layer with 3 at.% of Nb is used. A possible application of the proposed structure with a SrTiO3:Nb layer for perovskite solar cells and photodetectors is being discussed

DYSFUNCTION OF COMPLEMENT SYSTEM IN FAMILIAL MEDITERRANEAN FEVER

Abstract. During attacks of familial mediterranean fever (FMF), multiple systemic events are triggered, most of which promote autoinflammatory reactions. A molecular pattern of immune abnormalities in FMF is yet unclear. There is an increasing evidence to suggest an involvement of the complement system, the major inflammatory mediator, in FMF pathogeneses. In present study, we examined functional activities of the alternative and the classical complement cascades, and some relationships between alterations in the functional activities of these cascades in FMF. To this purpose, we measured hemolytic activities of classic (CH50) and alternative complement pathways (AH50), and of the complement components C3 (C3H50), factor B (fBH50) and factor D (fDH50) in blood serum of twenty-eight colchicine-free FMF patients and twenty-five healthy subjects. According to the data obtained, a decrease in serum levels of AH50 and increase in CH50 and C3H50 were detected in FMF patients, as compared to normal values. No significant difference was detected between the affected persons and healthy subjects for fBH50 and fDH50. Correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between alterations in CH50 and C3H50 and a negative correlation between alterations in AH50 and CH50. From the data obtained, following conclusions have been made: 1) pathogenesis of FMF is characterized by a complement dysfunction, including hyperactivation of classical complement pathway and hypoactivation state of alternative pathway; 2) alterations in functional activities of classical and alternative complement activation pathways in FMF are interdependent; 3) the alternative pathway is suppressed on the initial stage of its activation; 4) high blood levels of C-reactive protein, serum amyloid P component, and circulating immune complexes, associated with FMF, might be responsible for hyperactivation of classical complement pathway in this disease

Modern venomics-Current insights, novel methods, and future perspectives in biological and applied animal venom research.

Venoms have evolved >100 times in all major animal groups, and their components, known as toxins, have been fine-tuned over millions of years into highly effective biochemical weapons. There are many outstanding questions on the evolution of toxin arsenals, such as how venom genes originate, how venom contributes to the fitness of venomous species, and which modifications at the genomic, transcriptomic, and protein level drive their evolution. These questions have received particularly little attention outside of snakes, cone snails, spiders, and scorpions. Venom compounds have further become a source of inspiration for translational research using their diverse bioactivities for various applications. We highlight here recent advances and new strategies in modern venomics and discuss how recent technological innovations and multi-omic methods dramatically improve research on venomous animals. The study of genomes and their modifications through CRISPR and knockdown technologies will increase our understanding of how toxins evolve and which functions they have in the different ontogenetic stages during the development of venomous animals. Mass spectrometry imaging combined with spatial transcriptomics, in situ hybridization techniques, and modern computer tomography gives us further insights into the spatial distribution of toxins in the venom system and the function of the venom apparatus. All these evolutionary and biological insights contribute to more efficiently identify venom compounds, which can then be synthesized or produced in adapted expression systems to test their bioactivity. Finally, we critically discuss recent agrochemical, pharmaceutical, therapeutic, and diagnostic (so-called translational) aspects of venoms from which humans benefit

Injection of harmonics generated in gas in a free-electron laser providing intense and coherent extreme-ultraviolet light

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