Rate and equilibrium constants for the addition of triazolium salt derived N-heterocyclic carbenes to heteroaromatic aldehydes

Heteroaromatic aldehydes are often used preferentially or exclusively in a range of NHC-catalysed processes that proceed through the generation of a reactive diaminoenol or Breslow Intermediate (BI), with the reason for their unique reactivity currently underexplored. This manuscript reports measurement of rate and equilibrium constants for the reaction between N-aryl triazolium NHCs and heteroaromatic aldehydes, providing insight into the effect of the NHC and heteroaromatic aldehyde structure up to formation of the BI. Variation in NHC catalyst and heteroaromatic aldehyde structure markedly affect the observed kinetic parameters of adduct formation, decay to starting materials and onward reaction to BI. In particular, large effects are observed with both 3-halogen (Br, F) and 3-methyl substituted pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde derivatives which substantially favour formation of the tetrahedral intermediate relative to benzaldehyde derivatives. Key observations indicate that increased steric hindrance leads to a reduction in both k2 and k−1 for large (2,6-disubstituted)-N-Ar groups within the triazolium scaffold, and sterically demanding aldehyde substituents in the 3-position, but not in the 6-position of the pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde derivatives. As part of this study, the isolation and characterisation of twenty tetrahedral adducts formed upon addition of N-aryl triazolium derived NHCs into heteroaromatic aldehydes are described. These adducts are key intermediates in NHC-catalysed umpolung addition of heteroaromatic aldehydes and are BI precursors

Recombination Hotspots and Population Structure in Plasmodium falciparum

Understanding the influences of population structure, selection, and recombination on polymorphism and linkage disequilibrium (LD) is integral to mapping genes contributing to drug resistance or virulence in Plasmodium falciparum. The parasite's short generation time, coupled with a high cross-over rate, can cause rapid LD break-down. However, observations of low genetic variation have led to suggestions of effective clonality: selfing, population admixture, and selection may preserve LD in populations. Indeed, extensive LD surrounding drug-resistant genes has been observed, indicating that recombination and selection play important roles in shaping recent parasite genome evolution. These studies, however, provide only limited information about haplotype variation at local scales. Here we describe the first (to our knowledge) chromosome-wide SNP haplotype and population recombination maps for a global collection of malaria parasites, including the 3D7 isolate, whose genome has been sequenced previously. The parasites are clustered according to continental origin, but alternative groupings were obtained using SNPs at 37 putative transporter genes that are potentially under selection. Geographic isolation and highly variable multiple infection rates are the major factors affecting haplotype structure. Variation in effective recombination rates is high, both among populations and along the chromosome, with recombination hotspots conserved among populations at chromosome ends. This study supports the feasibility of genome-wide association studies in some parasite populations

Multiple Transporters Associated with Malaria Parasite Responses to Chloroquine and Quinine

Mutations and/or overexpression of various transporters are known to confer drug resistance in a variety of organisms. In the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, a homologue of P-glycoprotein, PfMDR1, has been implicated in responses to chloroquine (CO), quinine (ON) and other drugs, and a putative transporter, PfCRT, was recently demonstrated to be the key molecule in CO resistance. However, other unknown molecules are probably involved, as different parasite clones carrying the same pfcrt and pfmdr1 alleles show a wide range of quantitative responses to CO and ON. Such molecules may contribute to increasing incidences of ON treatment failure, the molecular basis of which is not understood. To identify additional genes involved in parasite CO and ON responses, we assayed the in vitro susceptibilities of 97 culture-adapted cloned isolates to CO and ON and searched for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DNA encoding 49 putative transporters (total 113 kb) and in 39 housekeeping genes that acted as negative controls. SNPs in 11 of the putative transporter genes, including pfcrt and pfmdr1, showed significant associations with decreased sensitivity to CQ and/or ON in P. faliparum. Significant linkage disequilibria within and between these genes were also detected, suggesting interactions among the transporter genes. This study provides specific leads for better understanding of complex drug resistances in malaria parasite

Lack of allele-specific efficacy of a bivalent AMA1 malaria vaccine

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Extensive genetic diversity in vaccine antigens may contribute to the lack of efficacy of blood stage malaria vaccines. Apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA1) is a leading blood stage malaria vaccine candidate with extreme diversity, potentially limiting its efficacy against infection and disease caused by <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>parasites with diverse forms of AMA1.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Three hundred Malian children participated in a Phase 2 clinical trial of a bivalent malaria vaccine that found no protective efficacy. The vaccine consists of recombinant AMA1 based on the 3D7 and FVO strains of <it>P. falciparum </it>adjuvanted with aluminum hydroxide (AMA1-C1). The gene encoding AMA1 was sequenced from <it>P. falciparum </it>infections experienced before and after immunization with the study vaccine or a control vaccine. Sequences of <it>ama1 </it>from infections in the malaria vaccine and control groups were compared with regard to similarity to the vaccine antigens using several measures of genetic diversity. Time to infection with parasites carrying AMA1 haplotypes similar to the vaccine strains with respect to immunologically important polymorphisms and the risk of infection with vaccine strain haplotypes were compared.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Based on 62 polymorphic AMA1 residues, 186 unique <it>ama1 </it>haplotypes were identified among 315 <it>ama1 </it>sequences that were included in the analysis. Eight infections had <it>ama1 </it>sequences identical to 3D7 while none were identical to FVO. Several measures of genetic diversity showed that <it>ama1 </it>sequences in the malaria vaccine and control groups were comparable both at baseline and during follow up period. Pre- and post-immunization <it>ama1 </it>sequences in both groups all had a similar degree of genetic distance from FVO and 3D7 <it>ama1</it>. No differences were found in the time of first clinical episode or risk of infection with an AMA1 haplotype similar to 3D7 or FVO with respect to a limited set of immunologically important polymorphisms found in the cluster 1 loop of domain I of AMA1.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This Phase 2 trial of a bivalent AMA1 malaria vaccine found no evidence of vaccine selection or strain-specific efficacy, suggesting that the extreme genetic diversity of AMA1 did not account for failure of the vaccine to provide protection.</p

Метод расчета зависимости динамики доходов работников от уровня образования в Республике Беларусь

We report a study of the process e(+)e(-) -&gt; (D*(D) over bar*)(0)pi(0) using e(+)e(-) collision data samples with integrated luminosities of 1092 pb(-1) at root s = 4.23 GeV and 826 pb(-1) at root s = 4.26 GeV collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII storage ring. We observe a new neutral structure near the (D*(D) over bar*)(0) mass threshold in the pi(0) recoil mass spectrum, which we denote as Z(c)(4025)(0). Assuming a Breit-Wigner line shape, its pole mass and pole width are determined to be (4025.5(-4.7)(+2.0) +/- 3.1) MeV/c(2) and (23.0 +/- 6.0 +/- 1.0) MeV, respectively. The Born cross sections of e(+)e(-) -&gt; Z(c)(4025)(0)pi(0) -&gt; (D*(D) over bar*)(0)pi(0) are measured to be (61.6 +/- 8.2 +/- 9.0) pb at root s = 4.23 GeV and (43.4 +/- 8.0 +/- 5.4) pb at root s = 4.26 GeV. The first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic.Funding: The BESIII Collaboration thanks the staff of BEPCII and the IHEP computing center for their strong support. This work is supported in part by the National Key Basic Research Program of China under Contract No. 2015CB856700; the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) under Contracts No. 11125525, No. 11235011, No. 11275266, No. 11322544, No. 11335008, and No. 11425524; the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Large-Scale Scientific Facility Program; the CAS Center for Excellence in Particle Physics (CCEPP); the Collaborative Innovation Center for Particles and Interactions (CICPI); the Joint Large-Scale Scientific Facility Funds of the NSFC and the CAS under Contracts No. 11179007, No. U1232201, and No. U1332201; the CAS under Contracts No. KJCX2-YW-N29 and No. KJCX2-YW-N45; the 100 Talents Program of the CAS; INPAC and the Shanghai Key Laboratory for Particle Physics and Cosmology; German Research Foundation DFG under Contract No. Collaborative Research Center CRC-1044; the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Italy; the Ministry of Development of Turkey under Contract No. DPT2006K-120470; the Russian Foundation for Basic Research under Contract No. 14-07-91152; the U.S. Department of Energy under Contracts No. DE-FG02-04ER41291, No. E-FG02-05ER41374, No. DE-FG02-94ER40823, and No. DESC0010118; the U.S. National Science Foundation; the University of Groningen (RuG) and the Helmholtzzentrum fuer Schwerionenforschung GmbH (GSI), Darmstadt; and the WCU Program of National Research Foundation of Korea under Contract No. R32-2008-000-10155-0.</p

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Curcumin ameliorates H₂O₂-induced injury through SIRT1-PERK-CHOP pathway in pancreatic beta cells

Oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress play crucial roles in pancreatic β cell destruction, leading to the development and progression of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Curcumin, extracted from plant turmeric, possesses multiple bioactivities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis properties in vitro and in vivo. However, it remains unknown whether curcumin improves ER stress to prevent β cells from apoptosis. In this study, we aim to investigate the role and mechanism of curcumin in ameliorating H2O2-induced injury in MIN6 (a mouse insulinoma cell line) cells. Cell viability is examined by CCK8 assay. Hoechst 33258 staining, TUNEL and flow cytometric assay are performed to detect cell apoptosis. The relative amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are measured by DCFH-DA. WST-8 is used to determine the total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Protein expressions are determined by western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining. Pretreatment with curcumin prevents MIN6 cells from H2O2-induced cell apoptosis. Curcumin decreases ROS generation and inhibits protein kinase like ER kinase (PERK)-C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) signaling axis, one of the critical branches of ER stress pathway. Moreover, incubation with curcumin activates silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) expression and subsequently decreases the expression of CHOP. Additionally, EX527, a specific inhibitor of SIRT1, blocks the protective effect of curcumin on MIN6 cells exposed to H2O2. In sum, curcumin inhibits the PERK-CHOP pathway of ER stress mediated by SIRT1 and thus ameliorates H2O2-induced MIN6 cell apoptosis, suggesting that curcumin and SIRT1 may provide a potential therapeutic approach for T1DM