scholarly journals Nasal mucus and influenza viruses. I. The haemagglutinin inhibitor in nasal secretions

1952 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 471-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Fazekas De St Groth

A technique is developed by which minimal changes in haemagglutinin inhibitors can be detected.It is shown that theinhibitor indexof normal human nasal secretions is 33·2 with a standard deviation of ±7·4. This value is independent of the donor, of the absolute amount of mucus collected, of the time of extraction, and of the period of storage.Minimal amounts of influenza viruses (less than one agglutinating dose) are capable of causing significant alteration in the inhibitor index upon interactionin vitrofor 60 min. at 37° C.

1978 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 431-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvio Parodi ◽  
Marco Cavanna ◽  
Pia Carlo ◽  
Claudia Bolognesi ◽  
Marina Picca ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thor Vinícius Martins Fajardo ◽  
Marcos Fernando Vanni ◽  
Osmar Nickel

ABSTRACT: The absolute quantification determines the absolute amount of a targeted nucleic acid expressed as a copy number or concentration. The knowledge of virus concentrations in commercial crops possesses high relevance to ensure a reliable diagnosis. The objective of this study was to perform an absolute quantification of five viruses in infected grapevines (Vitis spp.). Different known amounts of the standard sample (cloned viral cDNA or in vitro transcribed viral RNA) were quantified by TaqMan RT-qPCR. Based on these data, standard curves were generated plotting Ct values (threshold cycle) against the log of the standard sample amount. Infected grapevine samples were evaluated to determine virus titers, which were highly variable. This result may contribute to improve virus diagnosis by accurately quantifying virus titre variations in grapevines.


1992 ◽  
Vol 67 (01) ◽  
pp. 060-062 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Harsfalvi ◽  
E Tarcsa ◽  
M Udvardy ◽  
G Zajka ◽  
T Szarvas ◽  
...  

Summaryɛ(γ-glutamyl)lysine isodipeptide has been detected in normal human plasma by a sensitive HPLC technique in a concentration of 1.9-3.6 μmol/1. Incubation of in vitro clotted plasma at 37° C for 12 h resulted in an increased amount of isodipeptide, and there was no further significant change when streptokinase was also present. Increased in vivo isodipeptide concentrations were also observed in hypercoagulable states and during fibrinolytic therapy.


1979 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Miles ◽  
J Burnier ◽  
M Verlander ◽  
M Goodman ◽  
A Kleiss ◽  
...  

Flu-HPA is one of a series of flufenamic acid derivations that enhances plasminogen-dependent clot lysis in vitro. Studies of possible mechanisms of action of Flu-HPA were undertaken. The influence of Flu-HPA on the inhibition of purified plasmin by purified PI was studied. PI activity was assessed by its inhibition of the clevage of the tripeptide S-2251 (H-D-Val-Leu-Lys-pNA) by plasmin. Flu-HPA was dissolved in DMF or in methonol and preincubated with PI before addition of plasmin. At Flu-HPA concentrations greater than 1mM and up to 60mM, the inhibitory activity of PI was totally lost. The inhibitory effect of normal human plasma on plasmin was also completely abolished at concentrations of Flu-HPA between 2.5 and 40mM. The effect of Flu-HPA on the inhibition of purified plasma kallikrein by purified CI-Inh was also studied. CI-Inh activity was measured by its inhibition of cleavage of the tripeptide Bz-Pro-Phe-Arg-pNA by kallikrein. When Flu-HPA, dissolved in DMF or in methonol, was preincubated with CI-Inh, a concentration dependent inhibition of CI-Inh activity was observed. CI-Inh activity was abolished by concentrations of Flu-HPA greater than 1mM. Flu-HPA also inhibited the activity of CI-Inh on purified Factor XIIa. These observations suggest that this flufenamic acid derivative may enhance fibrinolysis not only by inhibiting PI activity but also by decreasing the inactivation of plasminogen activators by CI-Inh.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 920-933 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucía Gato-Calvo ◽  
Tamara Hermida-Gómez ◽  
Cristina R. Romero ◽  
Elena F. Burguera ◽  
Francisco J. Blanco

Background: Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) has recently emerged as a potential treatment for osteoarthritis (OA), but composition heterogeneity hampers comparison among studies, with the result that definite conclusions on its efficacy have not been reached. Objective: 1) To develop a novel methodology to prepare a series of standardized PRP releasates (PRP-Rs) with known absolute platelet concentrations, and 2) To evaluate the influence of this standardization parameter on the anti-inflammatory properties of these PRP-Rs in an in vitro and an ex vivo model of OA. Methods: A series of PRPs was prepared using the absolute platelet concentration as the standardization parameter. Doses of platelets ranged from 0% (platelet poor plasma, PPP) to 1.5·105 platelets/µl. PRPs were then activated with CaCl2 to obtain releasates (PRP-R). Chondrocytes were stimulated with 10% of each PRP-R in serum-free culture medium for 72 h to assess proliferation and viability. Cells were co-stimulated with interleukin (IL)-1β (5 ng/ml) and 10% of each PRP-R for 48 h to determine the effects on gene expression, secretion and intra-cellular content of common markers associated with inflammation, catabolism and oxidative stress in OA. OA cartilage explants were co-stimulated with IL-1β (5 ng/ml) and 10% of either PRP-R with 0.75·105 platelets/µl or PRP-R with 1.5·105 platelets/µl for 21 days to assess matrix inflammatory degradation. Results: Chondrocyte viability was not affected, and proliferation was dose-dependently increased. The gene expression of all pro-inflammatory mediators was significantly and dose-independently reduced, except for that of IL-1β and IL-8. Immunoblotting corroborated this effect for inducible NO synthase (NOS2). Secreted matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) was reduced to almost basal levels by the PRP-R from PPP. Increasing platelet dosage led to progressive loss to this anti-catabolic ability. Safranin O and toluidine blue stains supported the beneficial effect of low platelet dosage on cartilage matrix preservation. Conclusion: We have developed a methodology to prepare PRP releasates using the absolute platelet concentration as the standardization parameter. Using this approach, the composition of the resulting PRP derived product is independent of the donor initial basal platelet count, thereby allowing the evaluation of its effects objectively and reproducibly. In our OA models, PRP-Rs showed antiinflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-catabolic properties. Platelet enrichment could favor chondrocyte proliferation but is not necessary for the above effects and could even be counter-productive.


1984 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-97
Author(s):  
Graham R. Elliott ◽  
H.E. Amos ◽  
James W. Bridges

The rate of growth of normal human skin fibroblasts was inhibited in a dose related, reversible, fashion by practolol (N-4-(2-hydroxy)-3 (1-methyl)-aminopropoxyphenylacetamine) (ID50 1.35 ± 0.14 x 10-3M), propranolol (1-(isopropylamino)-3(1-naphthyl-oxy)-2-propranolol) (ID50 0.145 ± 0.02 x 10-3M) and paracetamol (N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) acetamide) (ID50 0.85 ± 0.2 x 10-3M). Skin fibroblasts isolated from a psoriasis patient were more sensitive towards practolol (ID50 0.48 ± 0.14 x 10-3M) and propranolol (ID50 0.032 ± 0.002 x 10-3M), but less sensitive towards paracetamol (ID50 1.3 ± 0.07 x 10-3M). In vitro generated metabolites of practolol, using normal or Arochlor 1254-pretreated hamster liver preparations, and structural analogues of practolol had no effect upon the growth of either cell type.


2018 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 427-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Astumian

Fluctuations favour state B = (B,B′) based on kinetic asymmetry combined with moderate dissipation rather than state A = (A,A′) in which the absolute amount of dissipation is greater but where there is no kinetic asymmetry.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii348-iii348
Author(s):  
Tina Huang ◽  
Andrea Piunti ◽  
Elizabeth Bartom ◽  
Jin Qi ◽  
Rintaro Hashizume ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Histone H3.3 mutation (H3F3A) occurs in 50% of cortical pediatric high-grade gliomas. This mutation replaces glycine 34 with arginine or valine (G34R/V), impairing SETD2 activity (H3K36-specific trimethyltransferase), resulting in reduced H3K36me on H3G34V nucleosomes relative to wild-type. This contributes to genomic instability and drives distinct gene expressions associated with tumorigenesis. However, it is not known if this differential H3K36me3 enrichment is due to H3G34V mutant protein alone. Therefore, we set to elucidate the effect of H3G34V on genomic H3K36me3 enrichment in vitro. METHODS Doxycycline-inducible short hairpin RNA (shRNA) against H3F3A was delivered via lentivirus to established H3G34V mutant pediatric glioma cell line KNS42, and H3G34V introduced into H3.3 wild type normal human astrocytes (NHA). Transfections were confirmed by western blot, fluorescent imaging, and flow cytometry, with resulting H3.3WT and H3K36me3 expression determined by western blot. H3.3WT, H3K36me3, and H3G34V ChIP-Seq was performed to evaluate genomic enrichment. RESULTS Complete knockdown of H3G34V was achieved with DOX-induced shRNA, with no change in total H3.3, suggesting disproportionate allelic frequency of genes encoding H3.3 (H3F3A and H3F3B). Modest increase in H3K36me3 occurred after H3F3A-knockdown from KNS42, suggesting H3G34V alone impacts observed H3K36me3 levels. Distinct H3K36me3 genomic enrichment was observed with H3G34V knock-in. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that DOX-inducible knockdown of H3F3A in an H3G34V mutant pediatric glioma cells and H3G34V mutation transduction in wild-type astrocytes affects H3K36me3 expression. Further evaluation by ChIP-Seq analysis for restoration of wild-type genomic H3K36me3 enrichment patterns with H3G34V knockdown, and mutant H3K36me3 patterns with H3G34V transduction, is currently underway.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 541
Author(s):  
Hani A. Alhadrami ◽  
Ahmed M. Sayed ◽  
Heba Al-Khatabi ◽  
Nabil A. Alhakamy ◽  
Mostafa E. Rateb

The COVID-19 pandemic is still active around the globe despite the newly introduced vaccines. Hence, finding effective medications or repurposing available ones could offer great help during this serious situation. During our anti-COVID-19 investigation of microbial natural products (MNPs), we came across α-rubromycin, an antibiotic derived from Streptomyces collinus ATCC19743, which was able to suppress the catalytic activity (IC50 = 5.4 µM and Ki = 3.22 µM) of one of the viral key enzymes (i.e., MPro). However, it showed high cytotoxicity toward normal human fibroblasts (CC50 = 16.7 µM). To reduce the cytotoxicity of this microbial metabolite, we utilized a number of in silico tools (ensemble docking, molecular dynamics simulation, binding free energy calculation) to propose a novel scaffold having the main pharmacophoric features to inhibit MPro with better drug-like properties and reduced/minimal toxicity. Nevertheless, reaching this novel scaffold synthetically is a time-consuming process, particularly at this critical time. Instead, this scaffold was used as a template to explore similar molecules among the FDA-approved medications that share its main pharmacophoric features with the aid of pharmacophore-based virtual screening software. As a result, cromoglicic acid (aka cromolyn) was found to be the best hit, which, upon in vitro MPro testing, was 4.5 times more potent (IC50 = 1.1 µM and Ki = 0.68 µM) than α-rubromycin, with minimal cytotoxicity toward normal human fibroblasts (CC50 > 100 µM). This report highlights the potential of MNPs in providing unprecedented scaffolds with a wide range of therapeutic efficacy. It also revealed the importance of cheminformatics tools in speeding up the drug discovery process, which is extremely important in such a critical situation.


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