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1.
LC GC North America ; 38(6):320-324, 2020.
Article in English | ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-20243314

ABSTRACT

Aside from evaporation of water from buffer solutions, precipitation of buffer salts can also easily occur when a buffer solution comes into contact with a pure organic solvent. [...]one should avoid- at all costs-a situation where a LC system component containing an aqueous buffer is flushed immediately with a pure organic solvent. Solvents and Buffers Figure 1 shows a picture of a buffer bottle I observed in an LC laboratory about a year ago. Many of the aqueous buffer solutions used in LC (and even high-performance liquid chromatography [HPLC] grade water, if given enough time and exposure to aboratory dust) are environments quite favorable to microbes, particularly those in the middle of the pH range.

2.
Journal of Biological Chemistry ; 299(3 Supplement):S136, 2023.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-20242023

ABSTRACT

According to the World Health Organization, Tuberculosis (TB) is the second leading cause of death by a single infectious disease behind COVID-19. Despite a century of effort, the current TB vaccine does not effectively prevent pulmonary TB, promote herd immunity, or prevent transmission. Therefore, we seek to develop a genetic prophylaxis for TB. We have determined D-cycloserine to be the optimal target for this approach due to its relatively short six-enzyme biosynthetic pathway. D-CS is a second-line antibiotic for TB that inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis. The first committed step towards D-CS synthesis is catalyzed by the L-serine-O-acetyltransferase (DcsE) which converts L-serine and acetyl-CoA to O-acetyl-L-serine (L-OAS). To test if the D-CS pathway could be an effective prophylaxis for TB in human cells, we endeavored to express DcsE in human cells and test its functionality. We overexpressed DcsE tagged with FLAG and GFP in A549 lung cancer cells as determined using fluorescence microscopy. We observed that purified DcsE catalyzed the synthesis of L-OAS as observed by HPLC-MS. Therefore, DcsE synthesized in human cells is a functional enzyme capable of converting L-serine and acetyl-CoA to L-OAS demonstrating the first step towards DCS production in human cells.Copyright © 2023 The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

3.
Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology ; 30(8):e78-e86, 2023.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-20241555

ABSTRACT

Spike protein is a receptor protein that has e role in the entry step of SARS-CoV2. This protein will bind to the ACE2 receptor in the human body and activate TMPRSS2. Inhibition of this protein will prevent the binding of the virus to host cells to spread the infection. This study aims to identify the activity of bioactive compounds of Merremia mammosa (Lour) tuber obtained from LC-MS/MS QTOF analysis of a previous study against the Spike protein of SARS-CoV2 using molecular docking and ADMET analysis. Molecular docking was conducted using SARS-CoV2 spike protein (PDB id. 6M0J) using Maestro Schrodinger software. Results showed that from 206 compounds there are 8 compounds of Merremia mammosa (Lour) that have lower predictive binding energies than standard drugs arbidol, hydroxychloroquine, and chloroquine. Result(s): 206 compounds of Merremia mammosa (Lour) tuber were successfully docked, there were 8 compounds that have docking scores more negative than standard drugs. It indicates that 8 compounds are more active than the positive controls. ADMET study revealed all of those potential ligands had the possibility to be developed as drugs. Conclusion(s): Molecular docking simulations were successfully utilized to identify the potential compounds from Merremia mammosa (Lour) tuber with the activity as an inhibitor for spike protein of SARS-CoV2. Further in vitro assay and purification are needed for future research.Copyright © 2021 Muslim OT et al.

4.
Diabetic Medicine ; 40(Supplement 1):99-100, 2023.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-20240054

ABSTRACT

HbA1c measurement is widely used for diagnosis/ management/remission of diabetes with international schemes certifying comparability. A) 75 year-old Chinese female with type 2 diabetes was admitted in April 2020 with Covid-19 and diabetic ketoacidosis. Glucose was 35mmol/l and HbA1c 150mmol/mol with previous HbA1c of 45mmol/mol on metformin and alogliptin. She was treated for ketoacidosis and once-daily Lantus introduced along with supportive management of viral illness. B) 68 year-old Afro-Caribbean with type 2 diabetes on metformin before admission, presented with new onset, jerky ballistic movements of high amplitude in right arm, 10-15 movements every 5 min. Admission glucose was >33mmol/l, ketones 1.8mmol/l and HbA1c >217mmol/ mol. Hemichorea-hemiballism, a hyperglycaemia related movement was diagnosed and insulin commenced. Glucose decreased to 8-20mmol/ l, reaching 5-15mmol/ l by time of discharge. Ballistic movements resolved when glycaemic control improved with HbA1c 169mmol/mol, 25 days after discharge. C) Several days before admission, a female with diabetes over 20 years required attention from paramedics on four occasions for hypoglycaemia. Months beforehand metformin was replaced by gliclazide due to chronic kidney disease with HbA1c 50mmol/mol, and she was transfused six weeks before admission for microcytic anaemia. Gliclazide was discontinued and her diet modified which prevented further hypoglycaemic episodes. Variant haemoglobin, beta-thalassaemia which can overestimate glycaemia;undetected by HbA1c HPLC method, invalidated HbA1c as did the blood transfusion. These cases highlight that inadequate understanding of HbA1c can lead to acute presentations of dysglycaemia. As HbA1c accuracy can be affected by multiple factors, clinical assessment and triangulation are key to the management of such patients.

5.
Journal of Biological Chemistry ; 299(3 Supplement):S84, 2023.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-20236838

ABSTRACT

The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic continues to sicken millions worldwide and fundamentally change the way people interact with each other. In order to better characterize the SARS-CoV-2 virus and potentially develop methods of inhibition for further spread of the disease, this research project focused on synthesizing and characterizing the trans-membrane region of the accessory protein ORF7a. ORF7a has been implicated in proper viral assembly, leading to the idea that inhibition of this protein could prevent viral copies from being produced and halt the spread of the virus. The goal of this project was to determine the oligomerization state of the protein through a fluorescence assay in order to better understand the quaternary structure of the ORF7a complex and how it folds. The fluorescence assay is performed using three different samples of the synthesized peptide: one labeled with a TAMRA fluorophore, one labeled with a NBD fluorophore, and the last is unlabeled. After determining the oligomerization state of the protein, potential inhibitors could be synthesized and tested for their efficacy at inhibiting the function of the protein. Further applications of these inhibitors on other viruses can be explored due to the highly conserved nature of transmembrane domains across multiple viral families. Synthesis of the protein was done using a Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis (SPPS) technique and multiple batches of all three samples of peptide have been generated. Characterization and purification were done using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) as well as Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LCMS). Current research focuses on the purification and quantification of purified ORF7a oligopeptide for implementation of the fluorescence assay. -Hampden-Sydney College Office of Undergraduate Research.Copyright © 2023 The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

6.
LC GC North America ; 40(5):229-231, 2022.
Article in English | ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-20236205

ABSTRACT

Reducing the molecule complexity is achieved by reducing the molecule size after enzymatic digestion to produce smaller fragments more amenable to LC separation and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) sequencing. Non-denaturing CEX chromatography, size-exclusion chromatogra- phy (SEC), hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC), and protein A modes can be easily coupled to reversed-phase LC (RPLC) because of the high aqueous conditions, enabling the versatile 4D-LC-MS systems with the use of alternative modes to 1D CEX, such as SEC or Protein A (6,7). [...]the nanopar-ticle size and free drug concentration are determined at the particle Level, whereas the encapsulated drug and lipids forming the layer are commonly characterized at the molecuar level after denaturing the lipid nanoparticle (LNP) via a surfactant. [...]MDLC-MS setups present a formidable opportunity to unify the characterization of drug delivery systems at the molecular and particle evels, which would enable their high throughput analysis.

7.
Cancer Research Conference: American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, ACCR ; 83(7 Supplement), 2023.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-20236158

ABSTRACT

The COVID19 pandemic accelerated opportunities for innovation within the decentralization process of clinical trials with opportunities for implementation of patient-centric workflows for efficiency and cost-reduction. Decentralized sample collection, particularly whole blood using dried blood spots (DBS) provides the ideal mechanism for patient driven sample collection with ease of access to sample generation, drug level assessments and metabolomic prMegofiling, providing longitudinal real-time measure of drug specific pharmacodynamic readout for safety and efficacy. In this study, we report the development of a protocol for the capture and comprehensive profiling of metabolomics using dried blood spots from a cohort of 49 healthy volunteer donors. Using liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometric (UPLC-MS/MS) methods an untargeted metabolomic approach resulted in the identification of >800 biochemicals of which a significant subset was found to be presented in corresponding matched plasma (from whole blood) samples. The biochemicals identified from the DBS samples included metabolites that were part of the lipid, amino acid, nucleotide, peptide, cofactors, carbohydrate and energy super pathways. A significant number of metabolites identified in the DBS samples were xenobiotics including those representing the biotransformation products of drugs. The overall metabolite profiles were analyzed for precision and accuracy of measure, variability in performance and dynamic range to establish benchmarks for evaluation. An additional cohort with a longitudinal sampling as part of the protocol provided the reproducibility of the analytic method for inter-day variability of metabolite performance over time. Although metabolomic profiles varied between individuals from a population perspective, there was minimal variation observed within individuals when samples were profiled longitudinally over several weeks. Thus, the protocols for DBS collection and the corresponding capture of a large set of metabolites with reproducible performance provides an opportunity for its implementation in oncological clinical trials as part of a de-centralized clinical trial solution.

8.
LC GC North America ; 39(1):19-21, 2021.
Article in English | ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-20232412

ABSTRACT

The people who work at companies that manufacture chromatography instruments and consumables are often well positioned to be aware of developments, needs, and trends that not everyone else sees, because they serve customers in a range of areas of focus and with diverse demands-such as academic researchers investigating fundamental aspects of separation science techniques, industrial analysts solving problems that they may not be allowed to talk about at conferences, or chemists working in government laboratories in areas like environmental research. Inaccurate data can be generated from variable, glass vial surface chemistries, which can lead to investigations or flawed decisions can be made from these results. The Reduced Surface Activity (RSA(tm)) Glass Technology was developed to address these issues, and to provide chemists with sample containers for LC-MS, MS, HPLC, GC, and CE that deliver reliable, consistent results by not adsorbing basic analytes, or adding metals to, or changing the pH of the diluent. The stringent RSA manufacturing processes are continued through to final contaminate-free packaging and quality control, where they are tested for adsorption, metal content, and residual materials.

9.
J Sep Sci ; : e2300203, 2023 May 31.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-20236330

ABSTRACT

Humic acid was the main compound in soil and reduced the availability of some organic compounds in soils. In this work, humic acid was immobilized for the first time on a homemade neutravidin poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) capillary column with a 20 µm i.d. for the screening of potential ligands to humic acid and the evaluation of their molecular recognition mechanism. This homemade humic acid column enabling it to work at very low backpressure (0.60 MPa at 20 nl/min flow rate), had a long lifetime, excellent repeatability, and negligible non-specific binding sites. The performance of this affinity humic acid column was demonstrated by the evaluation of recognition assay for a series of known ligands of humic acid (a series of rodenticide molecules) which is the heart of the fragment-based drug design. In addition, this column was used successfully for highlighting the binding mechanism to humic acid of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2-spike protein. As well this new humic acid miniaturized liquid chromatography column developed in this work could be used in the feature for another solute molecule-humic acid binding studies or for a separative mode.

10.
World Mycotoxin Journal ; 16(1):1-2, 2023.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-2321986
11.
Journal of Physical Chemistry C ; 2023.
Article in English | Scopus | ID: covidwho-2318837

ABSTRACT

The integrative study of the pharmacokinetics and dynamics of a drug has been of great research interest due to its authentic description of the biomedical and clinical pros and cons. Acetaminophen (N-acetyl-4-aminophenol, AcAP) is a well-known analgesic having a high therapeutic value, including the Covid-19 treatment. However, an overdose of the drug (>200 mg/kg of men) can lead to liver toxicity. An intermediate, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), metabolite formation has been found to be responsible for the toxicity. For the detection of NAPQI, several ex situ techniques based on electrochemical methods followed by nuclear magnetic resonance, high-performance liquid chromatography, and LC-MS were stated. For the first time, we report an in situ electrochemical approach for AcAP oxidation and NAPQI intermediate (Mw = 149.1 g mol-1) trapping on a graphitic nanomaterial, carbon black (CB)-modified electrode in pH 7 phosphate buffer solution (CB@NAPQI). The NAPQI-trapped electrode exhibited a surface-confined redox peak at E°′ = 0.350 ± 0.05 V vs Ag/AgCl with a surface excess value of 3.52 n mol cm-2. Physicochemical characterizations by scanning electron microscopy, Raman, FTIR, and in situ electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) techniques supported the entrapment of the molecular species. Furthermore, the scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) technique has been adopted for surface-mapping the true active site of the NAPQI-trapped electrode. As a biomimetic study, the mediated oxidation reaction of NADH by CB@NAPQI was demonstrated, and the mechanistic and quantitative aspects were studied using cyclic voltammetry, rotating disc electrode, amperometry, and flow injection analysis techniques. © 2023 American Chemical Society.

12.
Cardiovascular Therapy and Prevention (Russian Federation) ; 22(3):50-59, 2023.
Article in Russian | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-2318779

ABSTRACT

Aim. To study the effect of inhalation therapy with an active hydrogen (AH) on the protein composition of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) in patients with post-COVID syndrome (PCS). Material and methods. This randomized controlled parallel prospective study included 60 patients after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with PCS during the recovery period and clinical manifestations of chronic fatigue syndrome who received standard therapy according to the protocol for managing patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (main) - 30 people who received standard therapy and AH inhalations (SUISONIA, Japan) for 10 days, and group 2 (control) - 30 medical workers who received only standard therapy. Patients in both groups were comparable in sex and mean age. All participants in the study were sampled with EBC on days 1 and 10. Samples were subjected to tryptic digestion and high-performance liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry analysis using a nanoflow chromatograph (Dionex 3000) in tandem with a high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometer (timsTOF Pro). Results. A total of 478 proteins and 1350 peptides were identified using high resolution mass spectrometry. The number of proteins in samples after AH therapy, on average, is 12% more than before treatment. An analysis of the distribution of proteins in different groups of patients showed that only half of these proteins (112) are common for all groups of samples and are detected in EBC before, after, and regardless of hydrogen therapy. In addition to the qualitative difference in the EBC protein compositions in different groups, quantitative changes in the concentration of 36 proteins (mainly structural and protective) were also revealed, which together made it possible to reliably distinguish between subgroups before and after treatment. It is worth noting that among these proteins there are participants of blood coagulation (alpha-1-antitrypsin), chemokine- and cytokine-mediated inflammation, and a number of signaling pathways (cytoplasmic actin 2), response to oxidative stress (thioredoxin), glycolysis (glyceraldehyde-3- phosphate dehydrogenase), etc. Conclusion. The use of hydrogen therapy can contribute to the switching of a number of physiological processes, which may affect the success of recovery in PCS patients. In particular, the obtained results indicate the activation of aerobic synthesis of adenosine triphosphate in mitochondria by hydrogen therapy, which correlates well with the decrease in the blood lactate level detected by laboratory studies. At the same time, this therapy can inhibit pro-inflammatory activity, negatively affecting the coagulation and signaling pathways of integrins and apoptosis, and, in addition, activate protective pathways, tricarboxylic acid cycle, FAS signaling, and purine metabolism, which may be essential for effective recovery after COVID-19.Copyright © 2023 Vserossiiskoe Obshchestvo Kardiologov. All rights reserved.

13.
IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ; 1169(1):012091, 2023.
Article in English | ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-2318024

ABSTRACT

Since COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increasing of people adopting a healthy lifestyle through health supplement and functional foods. This study aimed to develop turmeric milk which has high antioxidant activity that can be accepted by the community. The difference in the concentration of turmeric powder added (0.9%, 1.9%, and 2.8%) was carried out to determine the antioxidant activity by DPPH method and the curcumin level by HPLC method. Hedonic tests were used to evaluate the effect of turmeric powder into consumer acceptance. Results showed that the addition of turmeric is lowering the hedonic value. Turmeric milk with 2.8% turmeric powder had the highest levels of curcumin (53.95 mg/260 mL) and antioxidant activity (90.51%) but had the lowest acceptance rate (4.02) while turmeric milk with 0.9% of turmeric powder) had the lowest levels of curcumin (25.28 mg/260 mL) and antioxidant activity (81.76%) but had the highest acceptance rate (4.97). Turmeric milk with 1.9% was the most favourable due to overall value in the hedonic test is 4.58 and antioxidant activity of 86.61%.

14.
Journal of Biological Chemistry ; 299(3 Supplement):S134-S135, 2023.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-2317120

ABSTRACT

The transmembrane domains of viral proteins are highly conserved and crucial to normal viral function. Oligomeric transmembrane domains present novel opportunities for drug development, as their disruption can prevent the assembly of the virus. The Reichart lab is particularly interested in developing retro-inverso peptide inhibitors. Retro-inverso peptides are peptides using D-amino acids mirroring a region of target protein, which allows the peptide to inhibit viral assembly, but they are also significantly less likely to be catabolized by natural metabolic or immunologic processes. The efficacy of these inhibitors is governed largely by the extent to which they mirror the target protein, making highly conserved regions, such as transmembrane domains, ideal target regions for these inhibitors. The primary technique in the literature for the investigation of oligomerization states uses fluorescence spectroscopy. We are now working on developing a novel alternative system to evaluate protein oligomerization using spin-labeled peptides that are directly incorporated into the peptide sequence. Direct incorporation of the spin-label into the peptide sequence is a more powerful technique than the standard procedures used in the literature. In particular, the ability to incorporate spin labels in various positions within the protein can give novel insights into the relative depth of the protein within a membrane, which is very difficult to study using other techniques and not possible using the fluorescence technique. The transmembrane domains of proteins with known and well-characterized monomer and trimer standard oligomerization states were synthesized using an Fmoc Solid- Phase Peptide Synthesis (SPPS) procedure incorporating an Fmoc-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-N-oxyl-4-amino-4-carboxylic acid, (Fmoc-TOAC) instead of an alanine. Direct incorporation of stable N-oxide spin labels, which can be contrasted to labeling cysteine residues after the protein synthesis, has been used for the investigation of the secondary structure of proteins for decades, but the application of this spin labeling technique to study the oligomerization states of transmembrane domains of proteins is an understudied application. The products of SPPS were analyzed using a Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy instrument and purified using High Performance Liquid Chromatography. The spin-label was then deprotected and evaluated using Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) Spectroscopy. There are two primary future directions following this research project: first, the generation of viral proteins with spin labels incorporated in different positions to determine the relative depth of each position within the membrane;second, the incorporation of spin labels into SARS-CoV- 2 proteins to develop a model for in vitro evaluation of retro-inverso peptide assembly inhibitors. -Hampden-Sydney College Office of Undergraduate Research.Copyright © 2023 The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

15.
Traditional Medicine Research ; 8(7) (no pagination), 2023.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-2316521

ABSTRACT

This article reviews the major advances in acupuncture research in 2022, including clinical reports, basic research, and reviews. In terms of the type of literature, most of them are systematic reviews and clinical trials, while high-quality basic studies can also be found. The innovative inventions and researches in this field are of increasing quality and in a wide range of fields, acupuncture is attracting more and more attention in the international arena. In particular, some acupuncture combined sensors such as H2 -EC/SD co-therapy, precise positioning, and vivo monitoring of neurotransmitter has been used for oncological diseases and neuropathic pain. Acupuncture has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of pain, stroke, psychiatric disorders, cancer, COVID-19 and others. Most of the studies show that acupuncture can play a positive role in various diseases and provide evidence for clinical applications and mechanism research.Copyright © 2023 By Author(s). Published by TMR Publishing Group Limited.

16.
Journal of Biological Chemistry ; 299(3 Supplement):S609, 2023.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-2315015

ABSTRACT

The spike protein in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) is directly responsible for the binding to ACE2 receptors in host cells. While the spike protein overall is known to form trimers, the oligomerization state of the transmembrane domain of the spike protein in SARS-CoV-2 is unknown. It is believed to be essential for the function of this protein. Since the transmembrane domain of the spike protein is highly conserved in SARS-CoV-2 it is important to investigate its character and determine its relationship to the function of the protein as awhole. The goal of this project was to synthesize, characterize, and analyze the function of the transmembrane domain (TM) of the spike protein in SARS-CoV-2. The most practical method to synthesize the TM domain of the S protein is through solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). SPPS is a process in which peptides are made by linking amino acids, the monomers of proteins, one at a time until the full sequence is achieved. These peptide chains will then need to be purified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The synthesized peptides will be analyzed using liquid chromatography- mass spectrometry (LCMS) to confirm the identity of the synthesized peptides as well as any potential impurities. The continued investigation of the S protein can lead to the discovery of small peptides capable of inhibiting key processes to the binding mechanism of SARS-CoV-2. The function of the S protein is believed to only present when the transmembrane domain forms a trimer. Therefore, the analysis of their oligomerization states will be investigated by synthesizing versions of the peptide that fluoresce when excited using dyes such as nitrobenzodiazole (NBD) and tetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA) in a fluorescence assay. -Hampden-Sydney College Office of Undergraduate Research.Copyright © 2023 The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

17.
Principles of Genetics and Molecular Epidemiology ; : 77-86, 2022.
Article in English | Scopus | ID: covidwho-2314373

ABSTRACT

Metabolomics supports uncovering relevant pathophysiological mechanisms and identifying biomarkers of risk and progression in diseases. Furthermore, metabolomics has allowed the characterization of the proteins and metabolites of COVID-19, neurodegenerative processes, gestational diabetes mellitus, cancer breast, process of kidney transplantation, and Parkinson diagnosis, among other diseases (Table 7.1). Metabolomics employs noninvasive human biological samples such as serum, breath, and urine to screen and identify novel biomarkers. The combination of NMR, LC/MS, and CG/MS is desirable to detect, identify, and quantify hundreds of thousands of metabolites, useful in biomarker discovery toward clinical applications. The generation of biological information has led to the creation of databases such as BioBankWarden, which can be used to store and retrieve specific information from different clinical fields linked to biomaterials collected from patients. The use of metabolomics allows greater precision in the diagnosis and follow-up of the treatment of any disease. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

18.
Journal of Biological Chemistry ; 299(3 Supplement):S135, 2023.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-2314280

ABSTRACT

The presence of estrogenic compounds (endocrine-disruptors, EDCs) in the water supply raises concerns about human and aquatic health. Current methods for detecting estrogen contamination require expensive, time-consuming techniques such as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography. Previously reported estrogen biosensors required multiple cloning and transformation steps for successful detection in bacteria. Synthetic biology allows for the construction of genetic devises composed of DNA sequences modified to be interchangeable and provide novel functions. New tools and devices are constantly needed to enhance the already extensive list of novel genetic parts. Our approach to the design of an estrogen responsive element uses methodology developed in the Wells lab (Elledge et al, 2021) to detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. This methodology takes advantage of the split Nanoluciferase (spLUC) protein divided into two functional domains (designated SmBit and LgBit). Based on rational engineering design we express dimerization dependent LgBit and SmBit fused to the Estrogen Receptor alpha protein (ERalpha) in bacteria cells. These two monomeric proteins will dimerize in the presence of estrogen, reconstitute the split luciferase enzyme and reestablish enzyme activity. Cells can be lysed, and luminescence detected to quantify estrogen present in the sample. We present here the construction strategy and proof of concept data demonstrating the efficiency of this dual-functional biosensor and its effectiveness for detection of estrogenic compounds in contaminated water. NSF-REU-1852150, REU Site: A multisite REU in Synthetic Biology, 2019.Copyright © 2023 The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

19.
Applied Sciences ; 13(9):5300, 2023.
Article in English | ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-2313532

ABSTRACT

The moisture levels in sausages that were stored for 16 days and added with different concentrations of orange extracts to a modification solution were assessed using response surface methodology (RSM). Among the 32 treatment matrixes, treatment 10 presented a higher moisture content than that of treatment 19. Spectral pre-treatments were employed to enhance the model's robustness. The raw and pre-processed spectral data, as well as moisture content, were fitted to a regression model. The RSM outcomes showed that the interactive effects of [soy lecithin concentration] × [soy oil concentration] and [soy oil concentration] × [orange extract addition] on moisture were significant (p < 0.05), resulting in an R2 value of 78.28% derived from a second-order polynomial model. Hesperidin was identified as the primary component of the orange extracts using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The PLSR model developed from reflectance data after normalization and 1st derivation pre-treatment showed a higher coefficient of determination in the calibration set (0.7157) than the untreated data (0.2602). Furthermore, the selection of nine key wavelengths (405, 445, 425, 455, 585, 630, 1000, 1075, and 1095 nm) could render the model simpler and allow for easy industrial applications.

20.
Eur J Pharm Sci ; 187: 106464, 2023 Aug 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2317205

ABSTRACT

During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the international medical product supply chain was tight, causing breaks in the availability of neuromuscular blocking agents essential for the treatment of patients in intensive care units. The present study describes the pharmaceutical development of an injectable 2 mg/mL solution of pancuronium bromide (PC) in a very short lapse of time. The sterile solution was compounded into a good manufacturing practice grade A clean room, filtered (0.2 µm) and filled into 10 mL type I glass, manually sealed with bromobutyl rubber stoppers. A novel HPLC-MS stability indicating method for pancuronium quantification and its degradation product was developed and validated. This fast, sensitive and straightforward method was used to study the stability of the formulation using a semi-predictive method, enabling a very fast attribution of a temporary shelf-life, which was confirmed by a classic prospective stability study. The production line and the analytical tools set-up were performed in six weeks and the semi-predictive stability study was conducted in 90 days, allowing us to predict a shelf life, which was successfully confirmed by prospective study. In conclusion, using innovative methods, we were able to rapidly overcome the shortage of a critical drug.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Pancuronium , Humans , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods , Prospective Studies , Pandemics , Drug Stability , Drug Compounding
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