The TGB1 Movement Protein of Potato virus X Reorganizes Actin and Endomembranes into the X-Body, a Viral Replication Factory

Potato virus X (PVX) requires three virally encoded proteins, the triple gene block (TGB), for movement between cells. TGB1 is a multifunctional protein that suppresses host gene silencing and moves from cell to cell through plasmodesmata, while TGB2 and TGB3 are membrane-spanning proteins associated with endoplasmic reticulum-derived granular vesicles. Here, we show that TGB1 organizes the PVX “X-body,” a virally induced inclusion structure, by remodeling host actin and endomembranes (endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi). Within the X-body, TGB1 forms helically arranged aggregates surrounded by a reservoir of the recruited host endomembranes. The TGB2/3 proteins reside in granular vesicles within this reservoir, in the same region as nonencapsidated viral RNA, while encapsidated virions accumulate at the outer (cytoplasmic) face of the X-body, which comprises a highly organized virus “factory.” TGB1 is both necessary and sufficient to remodel host actin and endomembranes and to recruit TGB2/3 to the X-body, thus emerging as the central orchestrator of the X-body. Our results indicate that the actin/endomembrane-reorganizing properties of TGB1 function to compartmentalize the viral gene products of PVX infection

Protected Long-Distance Guiding of Hypersound Underneath a Nanocorrugated Surface

In nanoscale communications, high-frequency surface acoustic waves are becoming effective data carriers and encoders. On-chip communications require acoustic wave propagation along nanocorrugated surfaces which strongly scatter traditional Rayleigh waves. Here, we propose the delivery of information using subsurface acoustic waves with hypersound frequencies of ∼20 GHz, which is a nanoscale analogue of subsurface sound waves in the ocean. A bunch of subsurface hypersound modes are generated by pulsed optical excitation in a multilayer semiconductor structure with a metallic nanograting on top. The guided hypersound modes propagate coherently beneath the nanograting, retaining the surface imprinted information, at a distance of more than 50 μm which essentially exceeds the propagation length of Rayleigh waves. The concept is suitable for interfacing single photon emitters, such as buried quantum dots, carrying coherent spin excitations in magnonic devices and encoding the signals for optical communications at the nanoscale

PRECLINICAL STUDY OF PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF ENTEROSORBENTE ON THE BASIS OF MONTMORILLONITE

Introduction: At present, enterosorbents based on mineral raw materials are in high demand among the population. However, there are no enterosorbents on the Russian pharmaceutical market on the basis of domestic mineral raw materials. Objectives: to study the pharmacological activity of enterosorbent based on montmorillonite of Russian origin under experimental conditions. Methods: The methodological approach was based on the implementation of a complex of theoretical, pharmacological, toxicological, histological, biochemical, statistical methods. Models of experimental diarrhea, acute and toxic liver damage, acute experimental pancreatitis were selected. Results and discussion: Enterosorbent based on montmorillonite Crim_04 has a dose-dependent antidiarrhoeal effect, which is manifested in an increase in the time of onset of diarrhea from 50.4% to 82.6% with various models of diarrhea, a reduction in the number of defecations from 50.4% to 64.4% liquid in them. Enterosorbent on the basis of montmorillonite has a high sorption activity to E.coli enterotoxin, inhibiting the outflow of fluid into the luminal cavity by 95.1%. In addition, the use of enterosorbent Crim_04 significantly improves biochemical indices in the blood serum of rats when modeling acute and chronic liver damage and acute pancreatitis. Conclusion: The enterosorbent under the Crim_04 cipher has a dose-dependent anti-diarrhea, detoxification activity, high sorption activity for E.coli enterotoxin, high therapeutic efficacy in experimental pancreatitis, most pronounced at a dose of 3320 mg / kg. It can be recommended for further complex toxicological studies and clinical trials

Dearsenation of Gold-Bearing Composite Concentrates without Forced Displacement in a Sublimator

The primary devices for extracting volatile components from dispersed materials in a vacuum are devices with the movement of raw materials by directed vibrations. During the analysis of the operation of such installations, some shortcomings were identified, due to the supply of heat flow to the processed raw material and the requirements for the choice of structural materials. In this article, the authors tested a heating method and a design of a sublimator with the supply of heat flow to the dispersed material by radiation from the heater. The sublimation zone is made in the form of a shaft formed by simple-shaped plates, the design and material of which involve the use of refractory and ceramic materials that are inert with respect to an aggressive vaporous sulfide medium. The movement of bulk material through the volume of the sublimator occurs due to rheological properties: sliding along inclined plates. Technological tests on the sublimation of arsenic sulfides from gravity and flotation composite concentrates of the Bakyrchik deposit (Kazakhstan) have shown the possibility of a high degree of sublimation of arsenic (more than 96–99%) while preserving precious metal composites in the sublimation residue and stable operation of equipment. Sublimation residues containing 0.14–0.30% As can be processed by known methods. The possibility of sufficiently complete removal of arsenic and its compounds from composite concentrates at a reduced pressure with the removal of the latter in the most environmentally friendly sulfide form has been established

DEVELOPMENT OF A SMARTPHONE-BASED BIOMIMETIC SENSOR FOR AFLATOXIN B1 DETECTION USING MOLECULARLY IMPRINTED POLYMER MEMBRANES

A novel smartphone-based optical biomimetic sensor based on free-standing molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) membranes was developed for rapid and sensitive point-of-care detection of aflatoxin B1. The developed MIP membranes were capable of selective recognition of the target analyte and, at the same time, of generation of a fluorimetric sensor response, which could be registered using the camera of a smartphone and analysed using image analysis. The developed system provides a possibility of synchronous detection of aflatoxin B1 in 96 channels. UV irradiation of aflatoxin B1, selectively bound by the MIP membranes from the analysed samples, initiated fluorescence of aflatoxin B1 with intensity directly proportional to its concentration. The composition of the MIP membranes used as a recognition element was optimised taking into account data of computational modelling. Two functional monomers (2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propansulfonic acid and acrylamide) were identified as optimal for the formation of aflatoxin B1-selective binding sites in the structure of the MIP membranes. Working characteristics of the smartphone-based sensor system were also estimated. The influence of pH and of buffer and NaCl concentrations on the smartphone based sensor responses were studied. High selectivity of the developed sensor system towards aflatoxin B1 was confirmed in experiments with close structural analogues of the target analyte - aflatoxin G2, and ochratoxin A. The detection limit for aflatoxin B1 using the smartphone-based sensor systems was found to be 20 ng mL-1 for the sensor based on MIP membranes synthesised with acrylamide as a functional monomer. The storage stability of the recognition elements of the developed sensors was estimated as one year when stored at 22°C. The possibility to detect the aflatoxin B1 in contaminated food samples was shown. The MIP-membrane-based sensor system provided a convenient point-of-care approach in food safety testin