Lipid and nucleocapsid N-protein accumulation in COVID-19 patient lung and infected cells

The pandemic of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a global outbreak and prompted an enormous research effort. Still, the subcellular localization of the corona virus in lungs of COVID-19 patients is not well understood. Here, the localization of the SARS-CoV-2 proteins is studied in postmortem lung material of COVID-19 patients and in SARS- CoV-2 infected Vero cells, processed identically. Correlative light and electron microscopy on semi- thick cryo-sections, demonstrated induction of electron-lucent, lipid filled compartments after SARS- CoV-2 infection in both lung and cell cultures. In lung tissue, the non-structural protein 4 and the stable nucleocapsid N-protein, were detected on these novel lipid filled compartments. The induction of such lipid filled compartments and the localization of the viral proteins in lung of patients with fatal COVID-19, may explain the extensive inflammatory response and provide a new hallmark for SARS- Cov-2 infection at the final, fatal stage of infection.

SARS-CoV-2 causes brain inflammation and induces Lewy body formation in macaques

SARS-CoV-2 may cause acute respiratory disease, but the infection can also initiate neurological symptoms. Here we show that SARS-CoV-2 infection causes brain inflammation in the macaque model. An increased metabolic activity in the pituitary gland of two macaques was observed by longitudinal positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT). Post-mortem analysis demonstrated infiltration of T-cells and activated microglia in the brain, and viral RNA was detected in brain tissues from one animal. We observed Lewy bodies in brains of all rhesus macaques. These data emphasize the virus capability to induce neuropathology in this nonhuman primate model for SARS-CoV-2 infection. As in humans, Lewy body formation is an indication for the development of Parkinsons disease, this data represents a warning for potential long-term neurological effects after SARS-CoV-2 infection. TeaserSARS-CoV-2 causes brain inflammation and Lewy bodies, a hallmark for Parkinson, after an asymptomatic infection in macaques.

Dihydrogen generation from amine/boranes: synthesis, FT-ICR, and computational studies.

A Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance spectrometry (FT-ICR) study of the gas-phase protonation of ammonia-borane and sixteen amine/boranes R(1)R(2)R(3)N-BH(3) (including six compounds synthesized for the first time) has shown that, without exception, the protonation of amine/boranes leads to the formation of dihydrogen. The structural effects on the experimental energetic thresholds of this reaction were determined experimentally. The most likely intermediate and the observed final species (besides H(2)) are R(1)R(2)R(3)N-BH(4)(+) and R(1)R(2)R(3)N-BH(2)(+), respectively. Isotopic substitution allowed the reaction mechanism to be ascertained. Computational analyses ([MP2/6-311+G(d,p)] level) of the thermodynamic stabilities of the R(1)R(2)R(3)N-BH(3) adducts, the acidities of the proton sources required for dihydrogen formation, and the structural effects on these processes were performed. It was further found that the family of R(1)R(2)R(3)N-BH(4)(+) ions is characterized by a three-center, two-electron bond between B and a loosely bound H(2) molecule. Unexpected features of some R(1)R(2)R(3)N-BH(4)(+) ions were found. This information allowed the properties of amine/boranes most suitable for dihydrogen generation and storage to be determined.

A new class of organosuperbases, N-alkyl- and N-aryl-1,3-dialkyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene amines: synthesis, structure, pK(BH+) measurements, and properties.

A series of stable organosuperbases, N-alkyl- and N-aryl-1,3-dialkyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene amines, were efficiently synthesized from N,N'-dialkylthioureas and 3-hydroxy-2-butanone and their basicities were measured in acetonitrile. The derivatives with tert-alkyl groups on the imino nitrogen were found to be more basic than the tBuP(1) (pyrr) phosphazene base in acetonitrile. The origin of the high basicity of these compounds is discussed. In acetonitrile and in the gas phase, the basicity of the alkylimino derivatives depends on the size of the substituent at the imino group, which influences the degree of aromatization of the imidazole ring, as measured by (13)C NMR chemical shifts or by the calculated ΔNICS(1) aromaticity parameters, as well as on solvation effects. If a wider range of imino-substituents, including electron-acceptor substituents, is treated in the analysis then the influence of aromatization is less predominant and the gas-phase basicity becomes more dependent on the field-inductive effect, polarizability, and resonance effects of the substituent.

Posterior pelvic pain provocation test is negative in patients with lumbar herniated discs.

The classification of pelvic girdle pain can only be reached after lumbar causes have been excluded by a clinical examination. During clinical examination, the posterior pelvic pain provocation test is a well-established method for verifying pelvic girdle pain. However, a criticism of pelvic pain provocation tests is that they may have an effect on lumbar structures, thus yielding false-positive results. The posterior pelvic pain provocation test was performed with four groups of patients: patients with computed tomography-verified disc herniations (1) on the waiting list for surgery (14 women; 9 men); (2) 6 weeks after disc surgery (18 women, 12 men); (3) pregnant women seeking care for pelvic girdle pain (n = 25); and (4) women with persistent pelvic girdle pain after delivery (n = 32). The sensitivity of the posterior pelvic pain provocation test was 0.88 and the specificity was 0.89. The positive predictive value was 0.89 and the negative predictive value was 0.87. Analysis of only women showed similar results. In our study, the posterior pelvic pain provocation test was negative in patients with a well-defined lumbar diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation, both before and after disc surgery. Our results are an important step toward the more accurate classification of lumbopelvic pain.