Cranberry Extract’s Potential To Reduce Streptococcus Mutans

Streptococcus mutans is the most prominent cariogenic bacteria in the oral cavity due to strong adhesion properties. Reducing the leading cariogenic bacteria in dental caries is important for the longevity of natural teeth. The anti-adhesion effects from cranberry derivatives could be helpful in reducing the amount of S. mutans. This literature review aims to determine whether cranberry extract based mouth rinse is effective in reduction of the S. mutans bacterial load. Current evidence seems to indicate that cranberry derivatives in mouth rinses can effectively reduce numbers of this specific bacterium in the oral cavity. As a result, cranberry extracts in non-dialyzable material (NDM) form could potentially be an alternative to antibiotic mouth rinses including chlorhexidine rinse.https://dune.une.edu/dh_studpost/1012/thumbnail.jp

Prospectus, January 24, 2019

The Prospectus:Engaging the Present-Preserving the Past, Meet the Editors, The Banquet of American Dreams, Check out the Tutors in D120, Trimble, Meinert December Parkland Athletes of the Month, Cobra Excel in Fall 2018 Classroom, Meet the Parkland Hall of Fame Class of 2018https://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2019/1000/thumbnail.jp

Prospectus, February 13, 2020

THE SCIENCE OF LOVE; Love is in the air; Perimeter Road to host second annual music festival this May; Letter to the editor; Jacarra Lee receives Outstanding Black Student Award; Study abroad deadlines quickly approaching; Black History Month figure; Arthur Ashe; Support soars for Illini Basketballhttps://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2020/1003/thumbnail.jp

A Chemical Biology Approach to Understanding Molecular Recognition of Lipid II by Nisin(1-12): Synthesis and NMR Ensemble Analysis of Nisin(1-12) and Analogues

Natural products that target lipid II, such as the lantibiotic nisin, are strategically important in the development of new antibacterial agents to combat the rise of antimicrobial resistance. Understanding the structural factors that govern the highly selective molecular recognition of lipid II by the N-terminal region of nisin, nisin(1-12), is a crucial step in exploiting the potential of such compounds. In order to elucidate the relationships between amino acid sequence and conformation of this bicyclic peptide fragment, we have used solid-phase peptide synthesis to prepare two novel analogues of nisin(1-12) in which the dehydro residues have been replaced. We have carried out an NMR ensemble analysis of one of these analogues and of the wild-type nisin(1-12) peptide in order to compare the conformations of these two bicyclic peptides. Our analysis has shown the effects of residue mutation on ring conformation. We have also demonstrated that the individual rings of nisin(1-12) are pre-organised to an extent for binding to the pyrophosphate group of lipid II, with a high degree of flexibility exhibited in the central amide bond joining the two rings

Prospectus, May 9, 2019

President Obama Speaks at Foellinger Auditorium; Humans of Parkland: Fernando Rodriguez Andrade; Mr. Smith Goes to Springfield; Isolation vs. Interaction on a Multicultural Campus; Meet the Staff; Parkland Soccer Attracts World-Wide Attention; Study Abroad at Parkland; Parkland Celebrates Earth Day with Sustainability Fair; Student Voices Heard at CAS Event; Hunger and Homelessness at Parkland; Parkland students give back on spring break; Humans of Parkland: Nour Kibech; Christmas, Navidad, Natal; Controversial Cartoon Receives Public Backlash; Photoshttps://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2019/1053/thumbnail.jp

Induced pluripotent stem cell-based disease modeling identifies ligand-induced decay of megalin as a cause of Donnai-Barrow syndrome

Donnai-Barrow syndrome (DBS) is an autosomal-recessive disorder characterized by multiple pathologies including malformation of forebrain and eyes, as well as resorption defects of the kidney proximal tubule. The underlying cause of DBS are mutations in LRP2, encoding the multifunctional endocytic receptor megalin. Here, we identified a unique missense mutation R3192Q of LRP2 in an affected family that may provide novel insights into the molecular causes of receptor dysfunction in the kidney proximal tubule and other tissues affected in DBS. Using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell lines we generated neuroepithelial and kidney cell types as models of the disease. Using these cell models, we documented the inability of megalinR3192Q to properly discharge ligand and ligand-induced receptor decay in lysosomes. Thus, mutant receptors are aberrantly targeted to lysosomes for catabolism, essentially depleting megalin in the presence of ligand in this affected family

Heterogeneous photocatalytic recycling of FeX2/FeX3 for efficient halogenation of C−H bonds using NaX

Environmental-friendly halogenation of C−H bonds using abundant, non-toxic halogen salts is in high demand in various chemical industries, yet the efficiency and selectivity of laboratory available protocols are far behind the conventional photolytic halogenation process which uses hazardous halogen sources. Here we report an FeX2 (X=Br, Cl) coupled semiconductor system for efficient, selective, and continuous photocatalytic halogenation using NaX as halogen source under mild conditions. Herein, FeX2 catalyzes the reduction of molecular oxygen and the consumption of generated oxygen radicals, thus boosting the generation of halogen radicals and elemental halogen for direct halogenation and indirect halogenation via the formation of FeX3. Recycling of FeX2 and FeX3 during the photocatalytic process enables the halogenation of a wide range of hydrocarbons in a continuous flow, rendering it a promising method for applications

High DDT resistance without apparent association to kdr and Glutathione-Stransferase (GST) gene mutations in Aedes aegypti population at hotel compounds in Zanzibar

Global efforts to control Aedes mosquito-transmitted pathogens still rely heavily on insecticides. However, available information on vector resistance is mainly restricted to mosquito populations located in residential and public areas, whereas commercial settings, such as hotels are overlooked. This may obscure the real magnitude of the insecticide resistance problem and lead to ineffective vector control and resistance management. We investigated the profile of insecticide susceptibility of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes occurring at selected hotel compounds on Zanzibar Island. At least 100 adults Ae. aegypti females from larvae collected at four hotel compounds were exposed to papers impregnated with discriminant concentrations of DDT (4%), permethrin (0.75%), 0.05 deltamethrin (0.05%), propoxur (0.1%) and bendiocarb (0.1%) to determine their susceptibility profile. Allele-specific qPCR and sequencing analysis were applied to determine the possible association between observed resistance and presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the voltage-gated sodium channel gene (VGSC) linked to DDT/pyrethroid cross-resistance. Additionally, we explored the possible involvement of Glutathione-S-Transferase gene (GSTe2) mutations for the observed resistance profile. In vivo resistance bioassay indicated that Ae. aegypti at studied sites were highly resistant to DDT, mortality rate ranged from 26.3% to 55.3% and, moderately resistant to deltamethrin with a mortality rate between 79% to and 100%. However, genotyping of kdr mutations affecting the voltage-gated sodium channel only showed a low frequency of the V1016G mutation (n = 5; 0.97%). Moreover, for GSTe2, seven non-synonymous SNPs were detected (L111S, C115F, P117S, E132A, I150V, E178A and A198E) across two distinct haplotypes, but none of these were significantly associated with the observed resistance to DDT. Our findings suggest that cross-resistance to DDT/deltamethrin at hotel compounds in Zanzibar is not primarily mediated by mutations in VGSC. Moreover, the role of identified GSTe2 mutations in the resistance against DDT remains inconclusive. We encourage further studies to investigate the role of other potential insecticide resistance markers.This study forms a part of the EnSuZa project funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.https://journals.plos.org/plosntdsdm2022Zoology and Entomolog

Photocatalytic abstraction of hydrogen atoms from water using hydroxylated graphitic carbon nitride for hydrogenative coupling reactions

Employing pure water, the ultimate green source of hydrogen donor to initiate chemical reactions that involve a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) step is fascinating but challenging due to its large H−O bond dissociation energy (BDEH-O=5.1 eV). Many approaches have been explored to stimulate water for hydrogenative reactions, but the efficiency and productivity still require significant enhancement. Here, we show that the surface hydroxylated graphitic carbon nitride (gCN−OH) only requires 2.25 eV to activate H−O bonds in water, enabling abstraction of hydrogen atoms via dehydrogenation of pure water into hydrogen peroxide under visible light irradiation. The gCN−OH presents a stable catalytic performance for hydrogenative N−N coupling, pinacol-type coupling and dehalogenative C−C coupling, all with high yield and efficiency, even under solar radiation, featuring extensive impacts in using renewable energy for a cleaner process in dye, electronic, and pharmaceutical industries