モノアザテトラチオエーテルを含有する温度感応性高分子による銀(I)イオンの抽出挙動

A novel temperature sensitive extraction copolymers, 9-aza-3,6,12,15-tetrathiaheptadecane-derivatized N-isopropylacrylamide polymer (ATH-NIPAAm), has been synthesized in various incorporation ratios. The concentration of monoaza-tetrathioether groups in the copolymers was determined by ICP-AES measurements. The temperature-elevated extraction experiments revealed that Silver (I) ion was extracted efficiently into the polymer phase above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST). As the ratio of monoaza-tetrathioether groups in the polymer increased, the extraction efficiency of silver (I) ion was increased

A novel M cell–specific carbohydrate-targeted mucosal vaccine effectively induces antigen-specific immune responses

Mucosally ingested and inhaled antigens are taken up by membranous or microfold cells (M cells) in the follicle-associated epithelium of Peyer's patches or nasopharynx-associated lymphoid tissue. We established a novel M cell–specific monoclonal antibody (mAb NKM 16–2-4) as a carrier for M cell–targeted mucosal vaccine. mAb NKM 16–2-4 also reacted with the recently discovered villous M cells, but not with epithelial cells or goblet cells. Oral administration of tetanus toxoid (TT)– or botulinum toxoid (BT)–conjugated NKM 16–2-4, together with the mucosal adjuvant cholera toxin, induced high-level, antigen-specific serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G and mucosal IgA responses. In addition, an oral vaccine formulation of BT-conjugated NKM 16–2-4 induced protective immunity against lethal challenge with botulinum toxin. An epitope analysis of NKM 16–2-4 revealed specificity to an α(1,2)-fucose–containing carbohydrate moiety, and reactivity was enhanced under sialic acid–lacking conditions. This suggests that NKM 16–2-4 distinguishes α(1,2)-fucosylated M cells from goblet cells containing abundant sialic acids neighboring the α(1,2) fucose moiety and from non-α(1,2)-fucosylated epithelial cells. The use of NKM 16–2-4 to target vaccine antigens to the M cell–specific carbohydrate moiety is a new strategy for developing highly effective mucosal vaccines

水耕栽培野菜の抗酸化活性とミネラル含有量の測定

Many kinds of minerals and antioxidants are contained in foods. However, correlation between antioxidant activities and mineral contents have not been discussed in detail. In this study, therefore, we examined antioxidant activities of two typical hydroponic lettuces (i.e., furyl lettuce and green leaf lettuce) and their mineral contents. Antioxidant activities were measured by using Trolox (6-hydroxy-2, 5, 7, 8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid) as a typical water-soluble model compound of vitamin E. Mineral contents were measured simultaneously for multiple elements using Inductively Coupled Plasma- Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES).As a result, antioxidant activities of both lettuces at the leaf part and green leaf lettuce were higher than those at the stem part. In the same manner, mineral contents of those contents at the leaf part were also larger than the stem part. Thus, we found for the first time appreciable correlations between the mineral contents and the antioxidants activities in such hydroponic vegetables

Antigenic Change in Human Influenza A(H2N2) Viruses Detected by Using Human Plasma from Aged and Younger Adult Individuals

Human influenza A(H2N2) viruses emerged in 1957 and were replaced by A(H3N2) viruses in 1968. The antigenicity of human H2N2 viruses has been tested by using ferret antisera or mouse and human monoclonal antibodies. Here, we examined the antigenicity of human H2N2 viruses by using human plasma samples obtained from 50 aged individuals who were born between 1928 and 1933 and from 33 younger adult individuals who were born after 1962. The aged individuals possessed higher neutralization titers against H2N2 viruses isolated in 1957 and 1963 than those against H2N2 viruses isolated in 1968, whereas the younger adults who were born between 1962 and 1968 possessed higher neutralization titers against H2N2 viruses isolated in 1963 than those against other H2N2 viruses. Antigenic cartography revealed the antigenic changes that occurred in human H2N2 viruses during circulation in humans for 11 years, as detected by ferret antisera. These results show that even though aged individuals were likely exposed to more recent H2N2 viruses that are antigenically distinct from the earlier H2N2 viruses, they did not possess high neutralizing antibody titers to the more recent viruses, suggesting immunological imprinting of these individuals with the first H2N2 viruses they encountered and that this immunological imprinting lasts for over 50 years

Parallel and four-step synthesis of natural-product-inspired scaffolds through modular assembly and divergent cyclization

By emulating the universal biosynthetic strategy, which employs modular assembly and divergent cyclizations, we have developed a four-step synthetic process to yield a collection of natural-product-inspired scaffolds. Modular assembly of building blocks onto a piperidine-based manifold 6, having a carboxylic acid group, was achieved through Ugi condensation, N-acetoacetylation and diazotransfer, leading to cyclization precursors. The rhodium-catalyzed tandem cyclization and divergent cycloaddition gave rise to tetracyclic and hexacyclic scaffolds by the appropriate choice of dipolarophiles installed at modules 3 and 4. A different piperidine-based manifold 15 bearing an amino group was successfully applied to demonstrate the flexibility and scope of the unified four-step process for the generation of structural diversity in the fused scaffolds. Evaluation of in vitro antitrypanosomal activities of the collections and preliminary structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies were also undertaken