Synthesis of 3-Farnesyl Salicylic Acid, a Novel Antimicrobial from Piper multiplinervium

Both 3-farnesyl salicylic acid and 3-geranyl salicylic acid were synthesized from 2,6-dibromophenol and showed low levels of antimicrobial activity against E. coli strains

Post-traumatic stress and age variation in amygdala volumes among youth exposed to trauma

Theoretically, normal developmental variation in amygdala volumes may be altered under conditions of severe stress. The purpose of this article was to examine whether posttraumatic stress moderates the association between age and amygdala volumes in youth exposed to traumatic events who are experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Volumetric imaging was conducted on two groups of youth aged 9–17 years: 28 with exposure to trauma and PTSD symptoms (boys = 15, girls = 13) and 26 matched (age, IQ) comparison youth (Controls; boys = 12, girls = 14). There was a significant group by age interaction in predicting right amygdala volumes. A positive association between age and right amygdala volumes was observed, but only in PTSD youth. These associations with age remained when controlling for IQ, total brain volumes and sex. Moreover, older youth with PTSD symptoms had relatively larger right amygdala volumes than controls. Findings provide evidence that severe stress may influence age-related variation in amygdala volumes. Results further highlight the importance of utilizing age as an interactive variable in pediatric neuroimaging research, in so far as age may act as an important moderator of group differences

Developing the CRISPR Interference System to Understand Bacterial Gene Function

Gene function in bacteria is typically studied by isolation and characterization of mutants with loss of gene function. Since isolation or construction of specific mutants can be problematic when studying multiple genes with redundant function or bacteria with poorly developed genetic systems, we have developed an alternative genetic approach to study gene function. For this, we have exploited the observation that CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats), which normally serves to protect bacterial cells against transfer of foreign DNA, has been modified as a gene silencing system. We have improved the use of a mutationally altered Cas9 protein [Qi, L], along with co-expression of an RNA guide molecule, to repress expression of a number of genes in E. coli K-12 strains. This system has been used to silence expression of selected genes. This research should lead to a better understanding of gene function, as well as a general method to study pathogenic bacteria in their natural hosts.</p

Synthesis of 3-Farnesyl Salicylic Acid, a Novel Antimicrobial from Piper multiplinervium

Both 3-farnesyl salicylic acid and 3-geranyl salicylic acid were synthesized from 2,6-dibromophenol and showed low levels of antimicrobial activity against E. coli strains.This article is published as Kraus, George A., Divya Chaudhary, Sean Riley, Feng Liu, Allison Schlapkohl, Megan Weems, and Gregory J. Phillips. "Synthesis of 3-Farnesyl Salicylic Acid a Novel Antimicrobial from Piper multiplinervium." Natural Product Communications 8, no. 7 (2013): 911-913. DOI: 10.1177%2F1934578X1300800714. Posted with permission.</p