Data on the generation of rabbit infections and RPR titre changes in serum samples from syphilis patients at follow-up

The data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled “Performance of novel infection phase-dependent antigens in syphilis serodiagnosis and treatment efficacy determination”. The rabbit model [1,2] is an appropriate animal model for studying syphilis, a classic sexually transmitted disease (STD). Live Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum, Tp) and inactivated T. pallidum were inoculated in the backs of New Zealand rabbits. RT-PCR was performed to determine whether T. pallidum DNA could be detected in different groups. Sixty paired serum samples from patients at follow-up were tested by RPR and recombinant Tp0971-, Tp0768-, Tp0462- and Tp92-based ELISA. Keywords: Treponema pallidum, Rabbit, RPR, ELIS

Synthesis of axially chiral oxazoline–carbene ligands with an N-naphthyl framework and a study of their coordination with AuCl·SMe2

Axially chiral oxazoline–carbene ligands with an N-naphthyl framework were successfully prepared, and their coordination behavior with AuCl·SMe2 was also investigated, affording the corresponding Au(I) complexes in moderate to high yields

Synthesis of chiral mono(N-heterocyclic carbene) palladium and gold complexes with a 1,1'-biphenyl scaffold and their applications in catalysis

Axially chiral mono(NHC)–Pd(II) and mono(NHC)–Au(I) complexes with one side shaped 1,1'-biphenyl backbone have been prepared from chiral 6,6'-dimethoxybiphenyl-2,2'-diamine. The complexes were characterized by X-ray crystal structure diffraction. The Pd(II) complex showed good catalytic activities in the Suzuki–Miyaura and Heck–Mizoroki coupling reactions, and the (S)-Au(I) complexes also showed good catalytic activities in the asymmetric intramolecular hydroamination reaction to give the corresponding product in moderate ee

Resurgence of syphilis: focusing on emerging clinical strategies and preclinical models

Abstract Syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum), has had a worldwide resurgence in recent years and remains a public health threat. As such, there has been a great deal of research into clinical strategies for the disease, including diagnostic biomarkers and possible strategies for treatment and prevention. Although serological testing remains the predominant laboratory diagnostic method for syphilis, it is worth noting that investigations pertaining to the DNA of T. pallidum, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), chemokines, and metabolites in peripheral blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and other bodily fluids have the potential to offer novel perspectives on the diagnosis of syphilis. In addition, the global spread of antibiotic resistance, such as macrolides and tetracyclines, has posed significant challenges for the treatment of syphilis. Fortunately, there is still no evidence of penicillin resistance. Hence, penicillin is the recommended course of treatment for syphilis, whereas doxycycline, tetracycline, ceftriaxone, and amoxicillin are viable alternative options. In recent years, efforts to discover a vaccine for syphilis have been reignited with better knowledge of the repertoire of T. pallidum outer membrane proteins (OMPs), which are the most probable syphilis vaccine candidates. However, research on therapeutic interventions and vaccine development for human subjects is limited due to practical and ethical considerations. Thus, the preclinical model is ideal for conducting research, and it plays an important role in clinical transformation. Different preclinical models have recently emerged, such as in vitro culture and mouse models, which will lay a solid foundation for clinical treatment and prevention of syphilis. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the most recent syphilis tactics, including detection, drug resistance treatments, vaccine development, and preclinical models in clinical practice

Integrated device based on a sudomotor nanomaterial for sweat detection

The compositions of sweat and blood are related. Therefore, sweat is an ideal noninvasive test body fluid that could replace blood for linear detection of many biomarkers, especially blood glucose. However, access to sweat samples remains limited to physical exercise, thermal stimulation, or electrical stimulation. Despite intensive research, a continuous, innocuous, and stable method for sweat stimulation and detection has not yet been developed. In this study, a nanomaterial for a sweat-stimulating gel based on the transdermal drug delivery system is presented, which transports acetylcholine chloride into the receptors of sweat glands to achieve the function of biological stimulation of skin sweating. The nanomaterial was applied to a suitable integrated sweat glucose detection device for noninvasive blood glucose monitoring. The total amount of evaporated sweat enabled by the nanomaterial is up to 35 μL·cm-2 for 24 h, and the device detects up to 17.65 μM glucose under optimal conditions, showing stable performance regardless of the user's activity level. In addition, the in vivo test was performed and compared with several studies and products, which showed excellent detection performance and osmotic relationship. The nanomaterial and associated integrated device represent a significant advance in continuous passive sweat stimulation and noninvasive sweat glucose measurement for point-of-care applications

Immunogenicity and protective efficacy against Treponema pallidum in New Zealand rabbits immunized with plasmid DNA encoding flagellin

Abstract Plasmid DNA encoding flagellin FlaB3 was used as a vaccination candidate for the evaluation of immunogenicity and protection against Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum dissemination. First, intramuscular injection of the flagellin encoded by the plasmid DNA into New Zealand rabbits elicited both humoral and cellular immune responses. Total IgG production increased in response to flagellin. In addition, serum IFN-γ secretion and CD8+ cells were substantially greater in the rabbits immunized with the plasmid encoding flagellin FlaB3 than those in the rabbits immunized with recombinant flagellin. The flagellin encoded by the plasmid DNA induced significant upregulation of serum IL-6 and IL-8 compared to that of the control rabbits. Subsequently, intradermal challenge of the vaccinated New Zealand rabbits with 1 × 107 T. pallidum resulted in a significant reduction of the bacterial organ burden in the blood, liver, spleen, and testicles in the flagellin plasmid DNA-vaccinated rabbits. Furthermore, the histopathological analysis demonstrated that the rabbits immunized with the plasmid DNA-encoded flagellin (FlaB3) showed better immune protection. These findings provide evidence that plasmid DNA-encoded flagellin (FlaB3) may be useful as a potential immunization route for future development of a vaccine to inhibit T. pallidum dissemination in related animals

A novel ELISA using a recombinant outer membrane protein, rTp0663, as the antigen for serological diagnosis of syphilis

Background: The lack of Treponema pallidum-specific antigens with highly accurate diagnosis makes the diagnosis of syphilis challenging. Methods: A soluble recombinant version of a new diagnostic protein Tp0663 has been produced. The serodiagnostic potential of this protein was assessed by screening 3326 serum samples simultaneously evaluated by rapid plasma reagin and T. pallidum particle agglutination tests. Kappa (κ) coefficients were used to compare the concordance between clinical diagnosis and the Tp0663-based ELISA or the ARCHITECT Syphilis TP chemiluminescent immunoassay (Abbott GmbH and Co. KG). Results: Using the results of clinical diagnosis as the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of Tp0663 were found to be 98.83% (95% confidence interval (CI) 96.61–99.60%) and 100% (95% CI 99.88–100%), respectively. In comparison, the ARCHITECT Syphilis TP assay was found to have a lower sensitivity (97.27%, 95% CI 94.46–98.67%) and specificity (99.61%, 95% CI 99.32–99.78%). In particular, the ARCHITECT Syphilis TP exhibited a false-positive rate of 0.39%. Moreover, the ELISA was in perfect agreement with the gold standard, with a κ value of 0.99, comparable to that of ARCHITECT Syphilis TP (0.96). Conclusion: These results identified Tp0663 as a novel serodiagnostic candidate with great potential for developing novel tests for the diagnosis of syphilis

Genomic epidemiology reveals early transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and mutational dynamics in Nanning, China

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants are a fatal pathogen resulting in substantial morbidity and mortality, and posing a great threat to human health with epidemics and pandemics. Methods: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed to investigate the SARS-CoV-2 genomic characterization. Phylogenetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genomes was used to probe the evolutionary. Homology protein structure modelling was done to explore potential effect of the mutations. Results: The eighty genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 obtained from the thirty-nine patients with COVID-19. A novel variant with mutation H625R concomitant with S50L in spike glycoprotein had been identified. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that SARS-CoV-2 variants belong to several distinct lineages. Homology modelling indicated that variant with mutation H625R and S50L increases flexibility of S1 subunit. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 genomes are constantly evolving by accumulation of point mutations. The amino acid H625R in combination with S50L may have a significant impact on the interaction between spike glycoprotein and ACE2