De l’in-octavo au simple clic. L’Institut suisse pour l’étude de l’art (ISEA) et les publications scientifiques sur l’art en Suisse

La première publication scientifique sur l’art suisse, Geschichte und Abbildung der besten Mahler in der Schweitz [Histoire et illustration des meilleurs peintres en Suisse] est sortie de presse à Zurich en plusieurs livraisons, de 1754 à 1757. Éditée par Johann Kaspar Füssli (1706–1782), portraitiste issu d’une célèbre famille d’artistes zurichois, elle retrace brièvement, en deux volumes au format in-octavo, la vie et l’œuvre de quelque trois douzaines de peintres nés ou actifs sur le terri..

Rapid, Single-Cell Analysis and Discovery of Vectored mRNA Transfection In Vivo with a loxP-Flanked tdTomato Reporter Mouse

mRNA therapeutics hold promise for the treatment of diseases requiring intracellular protein expression and for use in genome editing systems, but mRNA must transfect the desired tissue and cell type to be efficacious. Nanoparticle vectors that deliver the mRNA are often evaluated using mRNA encoding for reporter genes such as firefly luciferase (FLuc); however, single-cell resolution of mRNA expression cannot generally be achieved with FLuc, and, thus, the transfected cell populations cannot be determined without additional steps or experiments. To more rapidly identify which types of cells an mRNA formulation transfects in vivo, we describe a Cre recombinase (Cre)-based system that permanently expresses fluorescent tdTomato protein in transfected cells of genetically modified mice. Following in vivo application of vectored Cre mRNA, it is possible to visualize successfully transfected cells via Cre-mediated tdTomato expression in bulk tissues and with single-cell resolution. Using this system, we identify previously unknown transfected cell types of an existing mRNA delivery vehicle in vivo and also develop a new mRNA formulation capable of transfecting lung endothelial cells. Importantly, the same formulations with mRNA encoding for fluorescent protein delivered to wild-type mice did not produce sufficient signal for any visualization in vivo, demonstrating the significantly improved sensitivity of our Cre-based system. We believe that the system described here may facilitate the identification and characterization of mRNA delivery vectors to new tissues and cell types

"Magnificentia Principis": das Mäzenatentum des Prinzen und Kardinals Maurizio von Savoyen (1593 - 1657)

Matthias Oberli untersucht das Mäzenatentum und die großartigen Auftritte eines Kirchenfürsten im 17. Jahrhundert im Piemont und in Rom auf ihren künstlerischen, repräsentativen und ökonomischen Gehalt hin und bringt sie in Verbindung mit dem Topos der Magnifizenz, der hier ausführlich abgehandelt wird. Basierend auf den Kassenbüchern und den Inventaren wird gezeigt, daß das Mäzenatentum ein vergleichsweise günstiges, aber unabdingbares Mittel der Selbstdarstellung Maurizios von Savoyen war, um in Rom mit den Papstnepoten und Diplomaten in Konkurrenz zu treten und dadurch den Anspruch seines Hauses auf einen Königstitel zu untermauern. Darüber hinaus wird der Kunstbetrieb in Rom und in Norditalien geschildert und das Sittenbild eines bisher kaum beachteten Mäzens entworfen, der so berühmte Künstler wie Albani, Domenichino, Duquesnoy, Reni, Tassi und Vouet sowie die Literaten Marino und Tesauro um sich scharte

A General Method for Suzuki–Miyaura Coupling Reactions Using Lithium Triisopropyl Borates

Conditions for the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of lithium triisopropyl borates are reported, as well as a procedure for a one-pot lithiation, borylation, and subsequent Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of various heterocycles with aryl halides. These borate species are much more stable toward protodeboronation than the corresponding boronic acids and can conveniently be stored on benchtop at room temperature

Ultrasound-enhanced transdermal delivery: recent advances and future challenges

The skin is a formidable diffusion barrier that restricts passive diffusion to small (<500 Da) lipophilic molecules. Methods used to permeabilize this barrier for the purpose of drug delivery are maturing as an alternative to oral drug delivery and hypodermic injections. Ultrasound can reversibly and non-invasively permeabilize the diffusion barrier posed by the skin. This review discusses the mechanisms of ultrasound-permeability enhancement, and presents technological innovations in equipment miniaturization and recent advances in permeabilization capabilities. Additionally, potentially exciting applications, including protein delivery, vaccination, gene therapy and sensing of blood analytes, are discussed. Finally, the future challenges and opportunities associated with the use of ultrasound are discussed. It is stressed that developing ultrasound for suitable applications is key to ensure commercial success.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant EB-00351)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant CA014051)Swiss National Science Foundation (Grant PA002_14059

mRNA vaccine delivery using lipid nanoparticles

mRNA vaccines elicit a potent immune response including antibodies and cytotoxic T cells. mRNA vaccines are currently evaluated in clinical trials for cancer immunotherapy applications, but also have great potential as prophylactic vaccines. Efficient delivery of mRNA vaccines will be key for their success and translation to the clinic. Among potential nonviral vectors, lipid nanoparticles are particularly promising. Indeed, lipid nanoparticles can be synthesized with relative ease in a scalable manner, protect the mRNA against degradation, facilitate endosomal escape, can be targeted to the desired cell type by surface decoration with ligands, and as needed, can be codelivered with adjuvants.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (EB 000244