Arming the troops: Post-translational modification of extracellular bacterial proteins

Funder: The Evelyn TrustFunder: The Cystic Fibrosis TrustFunder: British Lung Foundation; FundRef: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100000351Protein secretion is almost universally employed by bacteria. Some proteins are retained on the cell surface, whereas others are released into the extracellular milieu, often playing a key role in virulence. In this review, we discuss the diverse types and potential functions of post-translational modifications (PTMs) occurring to extracellular bacterial proteins

The Rose Tech Explorer - November 16, 1962

https://scholar.rose-hulman.edu/rose_tech_explorer/1042/thumbnail.jp

A randomised trial of early palliative care for maternal stress in infants prenatally diagnosed with single-ventricle heart disease

AbstractChildren with single-ventricle disease experience high mortality and complex care. In other life-limiting childhood illnesses, paediatric palliative care may mitigate maternal stress. We hypothesised that early palliative care in the single-ventricle population may have the same benefit for mothers. In this pilot randomised trial of early palliative care, mothers of infants with prenatal single-ventricle diagnoses completed surveys measuring depression, anxiety, coping, and quality of life at a prenatal visit and neonatal discharge. Infants were randomised to receive early palliative care – structured evaluation, psychosocial/spiritual, and communication support before surgery – or standard care. Among 56 eligible mothers, 40 enrolled and completed baseline surveys; 38 neonates were randomised, 18 early palliative care and 20 standard care; and 34 postnatal surveys were completed. Baseline Beck Depression Inventory-II and State-Trait Anxiety Index scores exceeded normal pregnant sample scores (mean 13.76±8.46 versus 7.0±5.0 and 46.34±12.59 versus 29.8±6.35, respectively; p=0.0001); there were no significant differences between study groups. The early palliative care group had a decrease in prenatal to postnatal State-Trait Anxiety Index scores (−7.6 versus 0.3 in standard care, p=0.02), higher postnatal Brief Cope Inventory positive reframing scores (p=0.03), and a positive change in PedsQL Family Impact Module communication and family relationships scores (effect size 0.46 and 0.41, respectively). In conclusion, these data show that mothers of infants with single-ventricle disease experience significant depression and anxiety prenatally. Early palliative care resulted in decreased maternal anxiety, improved maternal positive reframing, and improved communication and family relationships.</jats:p

Weed and Brush Control for Pastures and Rangeland.

54 p

Improved Production and Separation Technologies for Non-standard PET Radionuclides

Brief summary of activity issues, concerns, successes: Project 1 is completed. We have optimized plating parameters with the new target bodies and slanted target plating system. The target station has been mounted on the end of the beamline, service lines have been nstalled to allow for helium and water cooling. We have routinely produced copper-64 using the new slanted target system in conjunction with our automated system. In project 2, we successfully fabricated and tested microfluidic extraction devices made out of two organic solvent-resistant polymers, thiolene and SIFEL. Initially, we developed analytical and computational models to describe the extraction process, and used the model to design the microfluidic devices. Then we optimized the microfabrication procedures to manufacture microreactors, followed by optimization of the operational parameters to obtain a stable aqueous-organic interface, which is critical for efficient extraction. When we tested the thiolene devices for extraction of copper-64, we observed very low extraction efficiencies (less than 5%) due to adhesion of copper to thiolene. However, we observed very high extraction efficiencies with SIFEL devices (greater than 95%), which are due to the high interfacial area for extraction and shorter diffusion lengths

Improved Production and Separation Technologies for Non-standard PET Radionuclides

Brief summary of activity issues, concerns, successes: Project 1 is completed. We have optimized plating parameters with the new target bodies and slanted target plating system. The target station has been mounted on the end of the beamline, service lines have been nstalled to allow for helium and water cooling. We have routinely produced copper-64 using the new slanted target system in conjunction with our automated system. In project 2, we successfully fabricated and tested microfluidic extraction devices made out of two organic solvent-resistant polymers, thiolene and SIFEL. Initially, we developed analytical and computational models to describe the extraction process, and used the model to design the microfluidic devices. Then we optimized the microfabrication procedures to manufacture microreactors, followed by optimization of the operational parameters to obtain a stable aqueous-organic interface, which is critical for efficient extraction. When we tested the thiolene devices for extraction of copper-64, we observed very low extraction efficiencies (less than 5%) due to adhesion of copper to thiolene. However, we observed very high extraction efficiencies with SIFEL devices (greater than 95%), which are due to the high interfacial area for extraction and shorter diffusion lengths

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 1,2-disubsubstituted 4-quinolone analogues of Pseudonocardia sp. natural products.

A series of analogues of Pseudonocardia sp. natural products were synthesized, which have been reported to possess potent antibacterial activity against Helicobacter pylori and induce growth defects in Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Taking inspiration from a methodology used in our total synthesis of natural products, we applied this methodology to access analogues possessing bulky N-substituents, traditionally considered to be challenging scaffolds. Screening of the library provided valuable insights into the structure-activity relationship of the bacterial growth defects, and suggested that selectivity between bacterial species should be attainable. Furthermore, a structurally related series of analogues was observed to inhibit production of the virulence factor pyocyanin in the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which may be a result of their similarity to the Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) quorum sensing autoinducer. This provided new insights regarding the effect of N-substitution in PQS analogues, which has been hitherto underexplored.SF was supported by a BBSRC studentship. DRS acknowledges support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/P020291/1) and Royal Society (Wolfson Research Merit Award)