Amino-functionalized Zr-MOF nanoparticles for adsorption of CO2 and CH4

Amino-functionalized Zr-MOF (amino-Zr-MOF) was synthesized using 2-aminoterephthalic acid as an organic linker. The physicochemical properties of the material were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and N2 adsorption to understand its crystalline structure, morphology, thermal stability, and porous structure. CO2 adsorption isotherms on amino-Zr-MOF were obtained at 1 atm and at different temperatures. In addition, CO2 and CH4 adsorption at high pressure (up to 10 atm) was also measured. CO2 adsorption capacity on amino-Zr-MOF was 9 mmol/g at 988 kPa, 0°C, while CH4 adsorption capacity was 3.7 mmol/g at 900 kPa, 0°C. The heat of CO2 adsorption on amino-Zr-MOF was estimated to be 29.4 kJ/mol. Continuous column tests of CO2 adsorption were performed at different concentrations of CO2 in nitrogen at 20 mL/min and 0.7 g adsorbent and total adsorbed amounts of CO2 within the column during the breakthrough time were calculated to be 4.55, 5.26 and 4.37 mmol/g at 10%, 15% and 20%CO2, respectively

Immune cell early activation, apoptotic kinetic, and T-cell functional impairment in domestic pigs after ASFV CADC_HN09 strain infection

African swine fever (ASF) caused by the African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a fatal and highly contagious disease of domestic pigs characterized by rapid disease progression and death within 2 weeks. How the immune cells respond to acute ASFV infection and contribute to the immunopathogenesis of ASFV has not been completely understood. In this study, we examined the activation, apoptosis, and functional changes of distinct immune cells in domestic pigs following acute infection with the ASFV CADC_HN09 strain using multicolor flow cytometry. We found that ASFV infection induced broad apoptosis of DCs, monocytes, neutrophils, and lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of pigs over time. The expression of MHC class II molecule (SLA-DR/DQ) on monocytes and conventional DCs as well as CD21 expression on B cells were downregulated after ASFV infection, implying a potential impairment of antigen presentation and humoral response. Further examination of CD69 and ex vivo expression of IFN-γ on immune cells showed that T cells were transiently activated and expressed IFN-γ as early as 5 days post-infection. However, the capability of T cells to produce cytokines was significantly impaired in the infected pigs when stimulated with mitogen. These results suggest that the adaptive cellular immunity to ASFV might be initiated but later overridden by ASFV-induced immunosuppression. Our study clarified the cell types that were affected by ASFV infection and contributed to lymphopenia, improving our understanding of the immunopathogenesis of ASFV

Induction of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Lipid-Specific T Cell Responses by Pulmonary Delivery of Mycolic Acid-Loaded Polymeric Micellar Nanocarriers

Mycolic acid (MA), a major lipid component of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) cell wall, can be presented by the non-polymorphic antigen presenting molecule CD1b to T cells isolated from Mtb-infected individuals. These MA-specific CD1b-restricted T cells are cytotoxic, produce Th1 cytokines, and form memory populations, suggesting that MA can be explored as a potential subunit vaccine candidate for TB. However, the controlled elicitation of MA-specific T cell responses has been challenging due to difficulties in the targeted delivery of lipid antigens and a lack of suitable animal models. In this study, we generated MA-loaded micellar nanocarriers (MA-Mc) comprised of self-assembled poly(ethylene glycol)-bl-poly(propylene sulfide; PEG-PPS) copolymers conjugated to an acid sensitive fluorophore to enhance intracellular delivery of MA to phagocytic immune cells. Using humanized CD1 transgenic (hCD1Tg) mice, we found these nanobiomaterials to be endocytosed by bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs) and localized to lysosomal compartments. Additionally, MA-Mc demonstrated superior efficacy over free MA in activating MA-specific TCR transgenic (DN1) T cells in vitro. Following intranasal immunization, MA-Mc were primarily taken up by alveolar macrophages and DCs in the lung and induced activation and proliferation of adoptively transferred DN1 T cells. Furthermore, intranasal immunization with MA-Mc induced MA-specific T cell responses in the lungs of hCD1Tg mice. Collectively, our data demonstrates that pulmonary delivery of MA via PEG-PPS micelles to DCs can elicit potent CD1b-restricted T cell responses both in vitro and in vivo and MA-Mc could be explored as subunit vaccines against Mtb infection

Increased Virulence of an Epidemic Strain of Mycobacterium massiliense in Mice

Chronic pulmonary disease and skin/soft tissue infections due to non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) of the Mycobacterium chelonae-abscessus-massiliense group is an emerging health problem worldwide. Moreover, the cure rate for the infections this group causes is low despite aggressive treatment. Post-surgical outbreaks that reached epidemic proportions in Brazil recently were caused by M. massiliense isolates resistant to high-level disinfection with glutaraldehyde (GTA). Understanding the differences in the virulence and host immune responses induced by NTM differing in their sensitivity to disinfectants, and therefore their relative threat of causing outbreaks in hospitals, is an important issue.We compared the replication and survival inside macrophages of a GTA-susceptible reference Mycobacterium massiliense clinical isolate CIP 108297 and an epidemic strain from Brazil, CRM-0019, and characterized the immune responses of IFNγ knockout mice exposed to a high dose aerosol with these two isolates. CRM-0019 replicated more efficiently than CIP 108297 inside mouse bone marrow macrophages. Moreover, the animals infected with CRM-0019 showed a progressive lung infection characterized by a delayed influx of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, culminating in extensive lung consolidation and demonstrated increased numbers of pulmonary CD4+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells compared to those infected with the reference strain. Immunosuppressive activity of regulatory T cells may contribute to the progression and worsening of NTM disease by preventing the induction of specific protective immune responses.These results provide the first direct evidence of the increased virulence in macrophages and mice and pathogenicity in vivo of the Brazilian epidemic isolate and the first observation that NTM infections can be associated with variable levels of regulatory T cells which may impact on their virulence and ability to persist in the host

Synthesis, characterization, and CO<inf>2</inf> adsorption of three metal-organic frameworks (MOFs): MIL-53, MIL-96, and amino-MIL-53

© 2016 Elsevier LtdIn this study, MIL-53, MIL-96, and amino-MIL-53 were prepared, characterized, and tested for CO2 adsorption. These metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) exhibit different characteristics, although MIL-53 and amino-MIL-53 have the same topology. The BET surface areas are 1519, 687, and 262 m2/g for MIL-53, MIL-96, and amino-MIL-53, respectively. They exhibit different thermal stability with MIL-53 having the highest stability which starts to decompose at 773 K, while amino-MIL-53 and MIL-96 show lower thermal stability, decomposing upon heating up to 650 and 570 K, respectively. Static adsorption of CO2 at 1 bar and 273 K was conducted, showing CO2 adsorption capacities of 64, 124, and 48 cc/g for MIL-53, MIL-96, and amino-MIL-53, respectively. The heat of adsorption for CO2 was found to be 39, 28.6, and 28 kJ/mol for MIL-53, MIL-96, and amino-MIL-53, respectively. Dynamic adsorption experiment shows that MIL-53 achieves the highest working capacity among all three materials around 169 cc/g at 1 bar and room temperature (304 K). Amino-MIL-53 shows a dynamic adsorption capacity of 121 cc/g at the same conditions and MIL-96 demonstrates a dynamic adsorption of 98.2 cc/g at 1 bar and 298 K. The higher working capacity demonstrated by MIL-53 and amino-MIL-53 are attributed to their larger pore size, making them promising candidate adsorbents for practicing carbon capture in real-world applications

Preservation and utilisation of historic buildings in old district of Guangzhou from the perspective of space syntax

The old district of Guangzhou was taken as an example to explore new approaches – the perspective of space syntax – to study the urban structure based on the Geographic Information Centre (GIS) space statistics. Results show that the old district of Guangzhou has significant spatial heterogeneity; the historic regions, as the urban core, have a deep effect on the city and own a ‘double interface’ for both the visitors and indigenous inhabitants. Unique space logic has been formed in the long history of the city, but the grid structure of the old district is unbalanced and incomplete, and some regions have problems in accessibility. Given this, the paper, based on the distribution of the historical buildings, proposed to create contextual urban axes, optimise the public service and improve the space structure, to provide a reference to the preservation and utilisation of historic buildings

Research on sustainable design of sports centre based on algorithm verification

In the process of urbanisation in China, many cities expect to promote the development of new towns through the construction of sports centres. However, due to the unreasonable design of the scale, accessibility and vitality of the sports centre, the catalyst effect of the sports centre is difficult to play an effective role. Using cluster analysis algorithm and spatial syntax, this study analyses the algorithm of sports centres with sustainable development characteristics, and puts forward the conclusions of sustainable development planning strategies such as venue merger design under the principle of intensive, maintaining high accessibility of sports centres, ensuring the compound function of surrounding plots and grid space to improve regional vitality, in order to provide some inspiration for the planning and construction of Sports Centre in the future

Characterization of chicken interleukin-9 receptor alpha chain

ABSTRACT: Interleukin-9 receptor alpha chain (IL-9Rα) is the ligand-binding subunit of IL-9R that plays roles in IL-9-mediated allergy, inflammation, infection, and tumor immunity. While mammalian IL-9Rαs have been extensively investigated, avian IL-9Rα has not yet been identified and characterized. In this study, we cloned chicken IL-9Rα (chIL-9Rα) and performed a phylogenetic analysis, analyzed its tissue distribution, characterized the expression form of natural chIL-9Rα. Phylogenetic analysis showed that chIL-9Rα has less than 25% amino acid homology with mammalian IL-9Rαs. The chIL-9Rα mRNA was abundantly detected only in heart and mitogen-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Furthermore, 4 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against chIL-9Rα were generated using prokaryotic recombinant chIL-9Rα (rchIL-9Rα). Using anti-chIL-9Rα mAbs, natural chIL-9Rα expressed on the splenocytes of chickens was observed by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and its molecular weight of 51 kDa was identified by Western blotting. Overall, our study reveals for the first time the presence of IL-9Rα in birds, and provides immunological tools for further investigating the roles of chIL-9 in diseases and immunity

Nonclassical MHC Ib-restricted CD8⁺ T Cells Recognize <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>-Derived Protein Antigens and Contribute to Protection Against Infection

<div><p>MHC Ib-restricted CD8⁺ T cells have been implicated in host defense against <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> (Mtb) infection. However, the relative contribution of various MHC Ib-restricted T cell populations to anti-mycobacterial immunity remains elusive. In this study, we used mice that lack MHC Ia (K^b-/-D^b-/-), MHC Ia/H2-M3 (K^b-/-D^b-/-M3^-/-), or β₂m (β₂m^-/-) to study the role of M3-restricted and other MHC Ib-restricted T cells in immunity against Mtb. Unlike their dominant role in <i>Listeria</i> infection, we found that M3-restricted CD8⁺ T cells only represented a small proportion of the CD8⁺ T cells responding to Mtb infection. Non-M3, MHC Ib-restricted CD8⁺ T cells expanded preferentially in the lungs of Mtb-infected K^b-/-D^b-/-M3^-/- mice, exhibited polyfunctional capacities and conferred protection against Mtb. These MHC Ib-restricted CD8⁺ T cells recognized several Mtb-derived protein antigens at a higher frequency than MHC Ia-restricted CD8⁺ T cells. The presentation of Mtb antigens to MHC Ib-restricted CD8⁺ T cells was mostly β₂m-dependent but TAP-independent. Interestingly, a large proportion of Mtb-specific MHC Ib-restricted CD8⁺ T cells in K^b-/-D^b-/-M3^-/- mice were Qa-2-restricted while no considerable numbers of MR1 or CD1-restricted Mtb-specific CD8⁺ T cells were detected. Our findings indicate that nonclassical CD8⁺ T cells other than the known M3, CD1, and MR1-restricted CD8⁺ T cells contribute to host immune responses against Mtb infection. Targeting these MHC Ib-restricted CD8⁺ T cells would facilitate the design of better Mtb vaccines with broader coverage across MHC haplotypes due to the limited polymorphism of MHC class Ib molecules.</p></div

Non-M3, MHC Ib-restricted CD8⁺ T cells preferentially expand in the lung and express elevated levels of KLRG1 during Mtb infection.

<p>WT and K^b-/-D^b-/-M3^-/- mice were sacrificed at indicated time-points, single cells from the lung and spleen were prepared for phenotypic analysis of CD8⁺ T cells by flow cytometry. (A) Kinetic changes of total number of CD8⁺ T cells in the lung and spleen from C57BL/6 (n = 4–9) and K^b-/-D^b-/-M3^-/- (n = 7–9) mice after infection. Numbers in bracket indicate fold changes of expansion at indicated time points after infection. (B) Kinetic changes of total number of CD44^hiCD62L^loCD8⁺ effector T cells (T_EFF) in lung and spleen from C57BL/6 (n = 4–6) and K^b-/-D^b-/-M3^-/- (n = 4–7) mice during infection. (C, D) Representative histograms show the expression of KLRG1 (C) and PD-1 (D) on CD8 T_EFF cells from the lung at day 0 and day 60 post-infection. Grey solid areas indicate isotype control. Data shown are representative of three independent experiments. (E) Representative dot plots depict CD127 expression on CD8⁺ effector and memory (CD44^hiCD62L^hi) cells in the lungs of indicated mice before infection or at day 60 post-infection. (F, G) Bar graphs depict the mean ± SEM of the percentage (F) and total number (G) of CD8⁺ Tcm. (CD127⁺CD44^hiCD62L^hi) cells in the lung of C57BL/6 (n = 4–6) and K^b-/-D^b-/-M3^-/- (n = 4–7) at indicated time points after infection. *<i>P</i> <0.05, **<i>P</i> <0.01, ***<i>P</i> <0.001.</p