Macrocyclic diterpenoids from the seeds of Euphorbia peplus with potential activity in inducing lysosomal biogenesis

Background: Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against cancer biomarkers are key reagents in diagnosis and therapy. One such relevant biomarker is a preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma (PRAME) that is selectively expressed in many tumors. Knowing mAb’s epitope is of utmost importance for understanding the potential activity and therapeutic prospective of the reagents. Methods: We generated a mAb against PRAME immunizing mice with PRAME fragment 161–415; the affinity of the antibody for the protein was evaluated by ELISA and SPR, and its ability to detect the protein in cells was probed by cytofluorimetry and Western blotting experiments. The antibody epitope was identified immobilizing the mAb on bio-layer interferometry (BLI) sensor chip, capturing protein fragments obtained following trypsin digestion and performing mass spectrometry analyses. Results: A mAb against PRAME with an affinity of 35 pM was obtained and characterized. Its epitope on PRAME was localized on residues 202–212, taking advantage of the low volumes and lack of fluidics underlying the BLI settings. Conclusions: The new anti-PRAME mAb recognizes the folded protein on the surface of cell membranes suggesting that the antibody’s epitope is well exposed. BLI sensor chips can be used to identify antibody epitopes.

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Microbiome of Seven Full-Scale Anaerobic Digestion Plants in South Korea: Effect of Feedstock and Operational Parameters

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14030665 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 665

Author(s):

Michal Sposob ◽

Hee-Sung Moon ◽

Dongjin Lee ◽

Yeo-Myeong Yun

Keyword(s):

Microbial Population ◽

Ammonium Nitrogen ◽

H2 Production ◽

Full Scale ◽

Organic Loading Rate ◽

Operational Parameters ◽

Sludge Digestion ◽

Secondary Sludge ◽

Potential Activity ◽

Total Ammonium

In this study, the microbiomes linked with the operational parameters in seven mesophilic full-scale AD plants mainly treating food waste (four plants) and sewage sludge (three plants) were analyzed. The results obtained indicated lower diversity and evenness of the microbial population in sludge digestion (SD) plants compared to food digestion (FD) plants. Candidatus Accumulibacter dominated (up to 42.1%) in SD plants due to microbial immigration from fed secondary sludge (up to 89%). Its potential activity in SD plants was correlated to H2 production, which was related to the dominance of hydrogenotrophic methanogens (Methanococcus). In FD plants, a balance between the hydrogenotrophic and methylotrophic pathways was found, while Flavobacterium and Levilinea played an important role during acidogenesis. Levilinea also expressed sensitivity to ammonia in FD plants. The substantial differences in hydraulic retention time (HRT), organic loading rate (OLR), and total ammonium nitrogen (TAN) among the studied FD plants did not influence the archaeal methane production pathway. In addition, the bacterial genera responsible for acetate production through syntrophy and homoacetogenesis (Smithella, Treponema) were present in all the plants studied.

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Antiulcerogenic Potential Activity of Free and NanoencapsulatedPassiflora serratodigitataL. Extracts

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2014/434067 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Marc Strasser ◽

Peky Noriega ◽

Raimar Löbenberg ◽

Nádia Bou-Chacra ◽

Elfriede M. Bacchi

Keyword(s):

Entrapment Efficiency ◽

Aqueous Solubility ◽

Residual Water ◽

Flavonoid Content ◽

Organic Extract ◽

Water Fraction ◽

Physical Chemical ◽

Potential Activity ◽

Antiulcerogenic Activity ◽

Herbal Formulations

This paper provides evidence that the leaves and stem ofPassiflora serratodigitataL. dry crude extract (DCE), ethylacetate fraction (EAF), and residual water fraction show potential antiulcerogenic activity. Interestingly, the polymeric nanocapsule loaded with EAF had 10-fold more activity than the free EAF. Furthermore, the polymer nanoparticles provided homogeneous colloidal drug delivery systems and allowed overcoming challenges such as poor aqueous solubility as well as the physical-chemical instability of the organic extract, which presented 90% (w/w) of the flavonoid content. The entrapment efficiency of the total flavonoid was 90.6 ± 2.5% (w/v) for the DCE and 79.9 ± 2.7% (w/v) for the EAF. This study shows that nanoencapsulation improves both the physicochemical properties and the efficacy of the herbal formulations. Therefore, free and encapsulated extracts have the potential to be suitable drug design candidates for the therapeutic management of ulcer.

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Petty spurge (Euphorbia peplus L.)

Contact Dermatitis ◽

10.1111/j.1600-0536.1975.tb05352.x ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 128-128 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

C. D. Calnan

Keyword(s):

Euphorbia Peplus

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Accessibility and Intraurban Travel

Environment and Planning A Economy and Space ◽

10.1068/a190735 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 19 (6) ◽

pp. 735-748 ◽

Cited By ~ 118

Author(s):

S Hanson ◽

M Schwab

Keyword(s):

Travel Behavior ◽

Activity Spaces ◽

Household Travel Survey ◽

Trip Frequency ◽

Potential Activity ◽

Using Data ◽

Household Travel ◽

Automobile Use ◽

The Relationship ◽

Travel Distances

This paper contains an examination of the fundamental assumption underlying the use of accessibility indicators: that an individual's travel behavior is related to his or her location vis-à-vis the distribution of potential activity sites. First, the conceptual and measurement issues surrounding accessibility and its relationship to travel are reviewed; then, an access measure for individuals is formulated. Using data from the Uppsala (Sweden) Household Travel Survey and controlling for sex, automobile availability, and employment status, the authors explore the relationship between both home- and work-based accessibility and five aspects of an individual's travel: mode use, trip frequencies and travel distances for discretionary purposes, trip complexity, travel in conjunction with the journey to work, and size of the activity space. From the results it can be seen that although all of these travel characteristics are related to accessibility to some degree, the travel–accessibility relationship is not as strong as deductive formulations have implied. High accessibility levels are associated with higher proportions of travel by nonmotorized means, lower levels of automobile use, reduced travel distances for certain discretionary trip purposes, and smaller individual activity spaces. Furthermore, the density of activity sites around the workplace affects the distances travelled by employed people for discretionary purposes. Overall, accessibility level has a greater impact on mode use and travel distance than it does on discretionary trip frequency. This result was unexpected in light of the strong trip frequency–accessibility relationship posited frequently in the literature.

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