Comparative analyses of eight complete plastid genomes of two hemiparasitic Cassytha vines in the family Lauraceae.

Cassytha is the sole genus of hemiparasitic vines (ca. 20 spp.) belonging to the Cassytheae tribe of the Lauraceae family. It is extensively distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. In this study, we determined the complete plastid genome sequences of C. filiformis and C. larsenii, which do not possess the typical quadripartite structure. The length of C. filiformis plastomes ranged from 114,215 to 114,618 bp, whereas that of C. larsenii plastomes ranged from 114,900 to 114,988 bp. Comparative genomic analysis revealed 1,013 mutation sites, four large intragenomic deletions, and five highly variable regions in the eight plastome sequences. Phylogenetic analyses based on 61 complete plastomes of Laurales species, 19 ITS sequences, and trnK barcodes from 91 individuals of Cassytha spp. confirmed a non-basal group comprising individuals of C. filiformis, C. larsenii, and C. pubescens in the family Lauraceae and proposed a sister relationship between C. filiformis and C. larsenii. Further morphological comparisons indicated that the presence or absence of hairs on the haustoria and the shape or size of fruits were useful traits for differentiating C. filiformis and C. larsenii.

Enhanced anti-influenza agents conjugated with anti-inflammatory activity.

Influenza therapy with a single targeted compound is often limited in efficacy due to the rapidly developed drug resistance. Moreover, the uncontrolled virus-induced cytokines could cause the high mortality of human infected by H5N1 avian influenza virus. In this study, we explored the novel dual-targeted bifunctional anti-influenza drugs formed by conjugation with anti-inflammatory agents. In particular, the caffeic acid (CA)-bearing zanamivir (ZA) conjugates ZA-7-CA (1) and ZA-7-CA-amide (7) showed simultaneous inhibition of influenza virus neuraminidase and suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These ZA conjugates provided remarkable protection of cells and mice against influenza infections. Intranasal administration of low dosage (<1.2 µmol/kg/day) of ZA conjugates exhibited much greater effect than the combination therapy with ZA and the anti-inflammatory agents in protection of the lethally infected mice by H1N1 or H5N1 influenza viruses.