Thin Film of ZnAl 2 O 4 :Eu 3+ Synthesized by a non-Alkoxide Precursor Sol-Gel Method

) films were prepared by the dip-coating technique using a non-alkoxide precursor sol-gel method in ethanolic medium. Photoluminescence spectra displayed the main excitation bands at 270 and 393 nm. The emission spectra of the film heated at 500 ºC displayed bands at 578, 590, 612, 650 and 698 nm, assigned to th

Ion-exchange resin as a new tool for characterisation of coordination compounds and MOFs by NMR spectroscopy

1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy is used to investigate the organic constituents of metal complexes, MOFs and coordination compounds synthesised under solvothermal and precipitation conditions. The elucidation of the ligands in paramagnetic compounds bearing Cu2+(d9), Gd3+ (f7), Eu3+ (f6), Fe3+(d5), ions after treatment with a cationic exchange resin is possible. We prove the efficiency of two post-synthesis linker modifications on diamagnetic IRMOF-3 Zn2+ (d10) with ethyl isocyanate and benzyl bromide

BDNF, trkB and PSA-NCAM in the hippocampus of Roman rats after forced swimming

The selective breeding of Roman High- (RHA) and Low-Avoidance (RLA) rats are considered as a genetic model of resilience to stress-induced depression and of vulnerability to that trait, respectively1. There is evidence that alterations in neuronal plasticity in the hippocampus and other brain areas are critically involved in the pathophysiology of mood disorders. Here, we investigated on immunochemical occurrence of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tyrosine-kinase receptor trkB and polysialilated form of the neural cell adhesion molecule (PSANCAM) in the hippocampus of the Roman rat lines under baseline conditions and after acute forced swimming (FS). Western blot (WB) analyses showed that, in basal conditions, the relative levels of BDNF, trkB and PSA-NCAM markedly differed, appearing lower by 48%, 25% and 65%, respectively, in RLA vs RHA rats. WB analyses carried out after FST showed no differences between baseline and FST rats. In tissue sections, BDNF-, trkB- and PSA-NCAM-like immunoreactivity (LI) showed a distinctive labelling, mainly localized to proximal neuronal processes and nerve fibers distributed in the Ammon’s horn and dentate gyrus (DG). A number of PSA-NCAM-positive neurons in the subgranular layer of dentate gyrus also occurred. Densitometric analysis further showed differences in the hippocampal subregions. Thus, upon FST, BDNF-LI was less abundant in the CA3 sector of the Ammon’s horn of FST vs control RLA rats (-24%), whereas PSA-NCAM-LI was more abundant in the DG of RHA than RLA rats (+26%). Our findings suggest that an altered neuronal availability of and/or responsiveness to BDNF and inadequate dynamic events related to neuroplasticity may contribute to outline the molecular and morphological basis for the distinct vulnerability to stress-induced depression in the two rat lines

The vaccine potential of Bordetella pertussis biofilm-derived membrane proteins

Pertussis is an infectious respiratory disease of humans caused by the gram-negative pathogen Bordetella pertussis. The use of acellular pertussis vaccines (aPs) which induce immunity of relative short duration and the emergence of vaccine-adapted strains are thought to have contributed to the recent resurgence of pertussis in industrialized countries despite high vaccination coverage. Current pertussis vaccines consist of antigens derived from planktonic bacterial cultures. However, recent studies have shown that biofilm formation represents an important aspect of B. pertussis infection, and antigens expressed during this stage may therefore be potential targets for vaccination. Here we provide evidence that vaccination of mice with B. pertussis biofilm-derived membrane proteins protects against infection. Subsequent proteomic analysis of the protein content of biofilm and planktonic cultures yielded 11 proteins which were ≥ three-fold more abundant in biofilms, of which Bordetella intermediate protein A (BipA) was the most abundant, surface-exposed protein. As proof of concept, mice were vaccinated with recombinantly produced BipA. Immunization significantly reduced colonization of the lungs and antibodies to BipA were found to efficiently opsonize bacteria. Finally, we confirmed that bipA is expressed during respiratory tract infection of mice, and that anti-BipA antibodies are present in the serum of convalescent whooping cough patients. Together, these data suggest that biofilm proteins and in particular BipA may be of interest for inclusion into future pertussis vaccines.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasCentro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriale

The vaccine potential of Bordetella pertussis biofilm-derived membrane proteins

Pertussis is an infectious respiratory disease of humans caused by the gram-negative pathogen Bordetella pertussis. The use of acellular pertussis vaccines (aPs) which induce immunity of relative short duration and the emergence of vaccine-adapted strains are thought to have contributed to the recent resurgence of pertussis in industrialized countries despite high vaccination coverage. Current pertussis vaccines consist of antigens derived from planktonic bacterial cultures. However, recent studies have shown that biofilm formation represents an important aspect of B. pertussis infection, and antigens expressed during this stage may therefore be potential targets for vaccination. Here we provide evidence that vaccination of mice with B. pertussis biofilm-derived membrane proteins protects against infection. Subsequent proteomic analysis of the protein content of biofilm and planktonic cultures yielded 11 proteins which were ≥ three-fold more abundant in biofilms, of which Bordetella intermediate protein A (BipA) was the most abundant, surface-exposed protein. As proof of concept, mice were vaccinated with recombinantly produced BipA. Immunization significantly reduced colonization of the lungs and antibodies to BipA were found to efficiently opsonize bacteria. Finally, we confirmed that bipA is expressed during respiratory tract infection of mice, and that anti-BipA antibodies are present in the serum of convalescent whooping cough patients. Together, these data suggest that biofilm proteins and in particular BipA may be of interest for inclusion into future pertussis vaccines.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasCentro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriale

Investigation of the preparation and reactivity of metal-organic frameworks of cerium and pyridine-2,4,6-tricarboxylate

The synthesis of three coordination polymers of cerium(III) and the ligand pyridine-2,4,6-tricarboxylate (PTC) is reported. Two of the materials crystallise under hydrothermal conditions at 180 °C, with [Ce(PTC)(H O) ]·1.5H O, (1), being formed on extended periods of reaction time, 3 days or longer, and Ce(PTC)(H O) , (2), crystallising after 1 day. Both phases contain Ce(III) but are prepared using the Ce(IV) salt Ce(SO ) ·4H O as reagent. Under solvothermal conditions (mixed water- , -dimethylformamide (DMF)), the phase [Ce(PTC)(H O)(DMF)]·H O (3) is crystallised. The structures of the three materials are resolved by single crystal X-ray diffraction, with the phase purity of the samples determined by powder X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. (1) is constructed from helical chains cross-linked by the PTC linkers to give a three-dimensional structure that contains clusters of water molecules in channels that are hydrogen-bonded to each other and to additional waters that are coordinated to cerium. (2) also contains nine-coordinate cerium but these are linked to give a dense framework, in which water is directly coordinated to cerium. (3) contains corner-shared nine-coordinate cerium centres, linked to give a framework in which Ce-coordinated DMF fills space. Upon heating the material (1) in air all water is irreversibly lost to give a poorly crystalline anhydrous phase Ce(PTC), as deduced from X-ray thermodiffractometry and thermogravimetric analysis. The material (1), however, is hydrothermally stable, and is also stable under oxidising conditions, where immersion in 30% H O gives no loss in crystallinity. Oxidation of around 50% of surface Ce to the +4 oxidation state is thus possible, as evidenced by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which is accompanied by a colour change from yellow to orange. Photocatalytic activity of (1) is screened and the material shows effective degradation of methyl orange

The vaccine potential of Bordetella pertussis biofilm-derived membrane proteins

Pertussis is an infectious respiratory disease of humans caused by the gram-negative pathogen Bordetella pertussis. The use of acellular pertussis vaccines (aPs) which induce immunity of relative short duration and the emergence of vaccine-adapted strains are thought to have contributed to the recent resurgence of pertussis in industrialized countries despite high vaccination coverage. Current pertussis vaccines consist of antigens derived from planktonic bacterial cultures. However, recent studies have shown that biofilm formation represents an important aspect of B. pertussis infection, and antigens expressed during this stage may therefore be potential targets for vaccination. Here we provide evidence that vaccination of mice with B. pertussis biofilm-derived membrane proteins protects against infection. Subsequent proteomic analysis of the protein content of biofilm and planktonic cultures yielded 11 proteins which were ≥ three-fold more abundant in biofilms, of which Bordetella intermediate protein A (BipA) was the most abundant, surface-exposed protein. As proof of concept, mice were vaccinated with recombinantly produced BipA. Immunization significantly reduced colonization of the lungs and antibodies to BipA were found to efficiently opsonize bacteria. Finally, we confirmed that bipA is expressed during respiratory tract infection of mice, and that anti-BipA antibodies are present in the serum of convalescent whooping cough patients. Together, these data suggest that biofilm proteins and in particular BipA may be of interest for inclusion into future pertussis vaccines.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasCentro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriale