Primer development for detection of Phaseolus vulgaris and Olathe transgenic bean.

Several strategies have been employed for genetically engineering resistance to viruses in transgenic plants. The bean golden mosaic virus (BGMV) is responsible for causing the gold mosaic of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and causes severe yield losses due to yellow-green mosaic of leaves, stunted growth and distorted pods. Olathe transgenic bean (Olathe 5.1) was successfully produced by EMBRAPA using the RNA interference (RNAi) concept to silence the rep viral gene in common bean to generate transgenic lines with strong resistance to BGMV. In this work, real time PCR (RT-PCR) method with SYBR Green was developed to detect this newly genetically modified (GM) plant

Construção de plasmídeos calibrantes para quantificação do feijão Embrapa 5.1 por PCR em tempo real.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi a construção de um plasmídeo calibrante para quantificação do feijão Embrapa 5.1

Development and validation of real-time PCR screening methods for detection of cry1A.105 and cry2Ab2 genes in genetically modified organisms

Primers and probes were developed for the element-specific detection of cry1A.105 and cry2Ab2 genes, based on their DNA sequence as present in GM maize MON89034. Cry genes are present in many genetically modified (GM) plants and they are important targets for developing GMO element-specific detection methods. Element-specific methods can be of use to screen for the presence of GMOs in food and feed supply chains. Moreover, a combination of GMO elements may indicate the potential presence of unapproved GMOs (UGMs). Primer-probe combinations were evaluated in terms of specificity, efficiency and limit of detection. Except for specificity, the complete experiment was performed in 9 PCR runs, on 9 different days and by testing 8 DNA concentrations. The results showed a high specificity and efficiency for cry1A.105 and cry2Ab2 detection. The limit of detection was between 0.05 and 0.01 ng DNA per PCR reaction for both assays. These data confirm the applicability of these new primer-probe combinations for element detection that can contribute to the screening for GM and UGM crops in food and feed samples

Synthesis of a val-pro diaminodiol dipeptide isostere by epoxyamine cyclization

The base-catalyzed hydroazidation of alpha'-amino alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones with in situ generated hydrazoic acid was found to proceed with highstereoselectivity in favor of the syn product. The stereoselectivity is controlled by the configuration of the enone and syn/anti ratios up to 7:1were obtained with secondary and tertiary amines at low temperature. By this route the diamino alcohol core of HIV-PR inhibitors ritonavir andlopinavir was synthesized in 37% yield from phenylalanine

PEPTIDOMIMETIC INHIBITORS OF RETROVIRAL PROTEASES AND THEIR USE AS ANTIVIRALS

The patent describes new peptidomimetic inhibitors of retroviral proteases, in particular of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease. These inhibitors comprise as the core structure a new diaminodiol isostere of the dipeptide Phe-Pro having four stereogenic centres. The inhibitors of the invention have been shown to inhibit HIV protease and can therefore be usefully employed as antivirals for post-exposure prophylaxis and as a therapy for viral infections by a retrovirus, in particular HIV. The syntheses processes of the isosteres and inhibitors are also described

Hyaluronan-Carbon Nanotube Derivatives: Synthesis, Conjugation with Model Drugs and Dosy NMR Characterization

International audienc

On the design and control of an empowering manipulator to increase the capabilities of humans in industrial applications

Empowering robotic solutions are exploited for industrial applications in order to reduce/limit risk factors related to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and to improve the capabilities of humans. This paper aims at proposing both (a) the design and (b) the control of a cooperative manipulator in order to empower humans in onerous industrial tasks execution. (a) a dual driven actuation (DDA) is proposed and described for the shoulder joint of an empowering robotic system. (b) a fuzzy impedance control based approach to assist the human operator while lifting (partially) unknown weight components is proposed. The control method has been validated in a hatrack-like component installation, case-study related to the H2020 CleanSky 2 EURECA project. The proposed application has been shown during the KUKA Innovation Award. As a test platform, a KUKA iiwa 14 R820 has been used

Synthesis and Biological Activity of Potent HIV-1 Protease Inhibitors Based on Phe-Pro Dihydroxyethylene Isosteres

Peptidomimetic inhibitors of HIV-1 PR are still a key resource in the fight against AIDS. Here we describe the synthesis and biological activity of HIV-1 PR inhibitors based on four novel dihydroxyethylene isosteres of the Phe-Pro and Pro- Pro dipeptides. The isosteres, containing four stereogenic centers, were synthesized in high yield and excellent stereoselectivity via the cyclization of epoxy amines derived from \u3b1-amino acids. The inhibitors were assembled by coupling the isosteres with suitable flanking groups and were screened against recombinant HIV PR showing activities in the subnanomolar to micromolar range. Two Phe-Pro-based inhibitors active at the nanomolar level were further investigated: both inhibitors combine the ability to suppress HIV-1 replication in infected MT-2 cells with low cytotoxicity against the same cells, thereby displaying a high therapeutic index. These results demonstrate the potential of the new Phe-Pro dihydroxyethylene isostere as a core unit of powerful HIV-1 PR inhibitors