scholarly journals Making 3D-Cry Toxin Mutants: Much More Than a Tool of Understanding Toxins Mechanism of Action

Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 600
Author(s):  
Susana Vílchez
Keyword(s):  
Mechanism Of Action ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Cry Toxins ◽  
Natural Toxins ◽  
Enhanced Activity ◽  
Cry Toxin ◽  
Improved Performance ◽  
Bacterium Bacillus ◽  
Made In

3D-Cry toxins, produced by the entomopathogenic bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, have been extensively mutated in order to elucidate their elegant and complex mechanism of action necessary to kill susceptible insects. Together with the study of the resistant insects, 3D-Cry toxin mutants represent one of the pillars to understanding how these toxins exert their activity on their host. The principle is simple, if an amino acid is involved and essential in the mechanism of action, when substituted, the activity of the toxin will be diminished. However, some of the constructed 3D-Cry toxin mutants have shown an enhanced activity against their target insects compared to the parental toxins, suggesting that it is possible to produce novel versions of the natural toxins with an improved performance in the laboratory. In this report, all mutants with an enhanced activity obtained by accident in mutagenesis studies, together with all the variants obtained by rational design or by directed mutagenesis, were compiled. A description of the improved mutants was made considering their historical context and the parallel development of the protein engineering techniques that have been used to obtain them. This report demonstrates that artificial 3D-Cry toxins made in laboratories are a real alternative to natural toxins.

DNA Inspirited Rational Construction of Nonconventional Luminophores with Efficient and Color-Tunable Afterglow

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunzhong Wang ◽  
Saixing Tang ◽  
Yating Wen ◽  
Shuyuan Zheng ◽  
Bing Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rational Design ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Double Helix ◽  
Mechanical Grinding ◽  
Room Temperature Phosphorescence ◽  
Color Tunable ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Rational Construction ◽  
Double Helix Structure ◽  
Made In

<div>Persistent room-temperature phosphorescence (p-RTP) from pure organics is attractive </div><div>due to its fundamental importance and potential applications in molecular imaging, </div><div>sensing, encryption, anticounterfeiting, etc.1-4 Recently, efforts have been also made in </div><div>obtaining color-tunable p-RTP in aromatic phosphors5 and nonconjugated polymers6,7. </div><div>The origin of color-tunable p-RTP and the rational design of such luminogens, </div><div>particularly those with explicit structure and molecular packing, remain challenging. </div><div>Noteworthily, nonconventional luminophores without significant conjugations generally </div><div>possess excitation-dependent photoluminescence (PL) because of the coexistence of </div><div>diverse clustered chromophores6,8, which strongly implicates the possibility to achieve </div><div>color-tunable p-RTP from their molecular crystals assisted by effective intermolecular </div><div>interactions. Here, inspirited by the highly stable double-helix structure and multiple </div><div>hydrogen bonds in DNA, we reported a series of nonconventional luminophores based on </div><div>hydantoin (HA), which demonstrate excitation-dependent PL and color-tunable p-RTP </div><div>from sky-blue to yellowish-green, accompanying unprecedentedly high PL and p-RTP </div><div>efficiencies of up to 87.5% and 21.8%, respectively. Meanwhile, the p-RTP emissions are </div><div>resistant to vigorous mechanical grinding, with lifetimes of up to 1.74 s. Such robust, </div><div>color-tunable and highly efficient p-RTP render the luminophores promising for varying </div><div>applications. These findings provide mechanism insights into the origin of color-tunable </div><div>p-RTP, and surely advance the exploitation of efficient nonconventional luminophores.</div>

scholarly journals Rational design of photocatalysts for ammonia production from water and nitrogen gas

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seokwoo Choe ◽  
Sung Min Kim ◽  
Yeji Lee ◽  
Jin Seok ◽  
Jiyong Jung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Source ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Ammonia Production ◽  
Significant Progress ◽  
Nitrogen Gas ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
Made In

AbstractPhotocatalytic N2 reduction has emerged as one of the most attractive routes to produce NH3 as a useful commodity for chemicals used in industries and as a carbon-free energy source. Recently, significant progress has been made in understanding, exploring, and designing efficient photocatalyst. In this review, we outline the important mechanistic and experimental procedures for photocatalytic NH3 production. In addition, we review effective strategies on development of photocatalysts. Finally, our analyses on the characteristics and modifications of photocatalysts have been summarized, based on which we discuss the possible future research directions, particularly on preparing more efficient catalysts. Overall, this review provides insights on improving photocatalytic NH3 production and designing solar-driven chemical conversions.

scholarly journals Policing, Crime and Mental Illness in England and Wales: Insights from the Literature

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 248
Author(s):  
Frank Kitt ◽  
Colin Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Public Agencies ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Police Service ◽  
High Profile ◽  
Made In

Mental illness pervades most societies, but it is only recently that its impact and effects upon individuals has slowly been recognised in England and Wales. When people suffering from this illness become involved with various public agencies, the way they are dealt with appears inconsistent and on occasions ends in tragedy. One agency that is constantly in contact with people who suffer mental health illness is the police service. Some high profile cases have clearly illustrated misunderstandings and the fact that the police are not generally equipped to deal with such individuals. This article considers a brief history and theoretical backcloth to police understanding and framing of mental illness in England and Wales, and explores the National Liaison and Diversion Model as an alternative to traditional police understanding and response. The article suggests that only by understanding the historical context, and literature, surrounding mental illness, can improvements be made in the criminal justice system as a whole and within the police service in particular.

scholarly journals A Review on the plants named after their karma (action) in Raja nighantu

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (05) ◽  
pp. 4426-4432
Author(s):  
Prof. Karnam Chandrashekhar
Keyword(s):  
Mechanism Of Action ◽  
Pharmacological Action ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
15Th Century ◽  
Made In

What is there in the name? May be it is true philosophically, but, from Ayurvedic perspective especially from Nama rupa vijnana`s point of view, a lot is hidden in the name. Plants are not named just because they need the name, on the contrary, they help in understanding various aspects of the plant. The rationale of naming a plant is well documented in Raja nighantu. Though, there is a confusion about its time, yet, most of Ayurveda scholars believe it to be a work of 15th century. The pharmacological action of a plant is taken as a basis under the heading prabhava (effect) in naming a plant. This way of naming a plant helps a lot to have a look at its mechanism of action. For the reason, it is a great clue towards the pharmacodynamics of that plant and basis of many other plants working on the same line. Keeping this fact in mind, an earnest attempt is made in this review to explore the plants that are attributed with the names on the basis of their action in Raja nighantu. This review reveals 170 plants named after 36 activities with 153 synonyms.

scholarly journals Rational design of functional materials guided by single particle chemiluminescence imaging

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (21) ◽  
pp. 5444-5451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weijun Kong ◽  
Qi Li ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Xiaoning Zhao ◽  
Shenglong Jiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Structural Characterization ◽  
Single Particle ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Functional Materials ◽  
Single Particles ◽  
Improved Performance

Correlated chemiluminescence imaging and structural characterization of single particles helped the rational design of functional materials with significantly improved performance.

scholarly journals Naturally Occurring Compounds/Materials as Alternatives to Synthetic Chemical Insecticides for Use in Fire Ant Management

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 758
Author(s):  
Jian Chen ◽  
David H. Oi
Keyword(s):  
Solenopsis Invicta ◽  
Fire Ants ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Red Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Natural Toxins ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta Buren ◽  
In Fire ◽  
Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Made In

The invasive red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (hereafter, fire ants), is a significant threat to public health and a danger to livestock, pets and wildlife due to their venomous stings. The fire ant has invaded many countries and regions and has become a globally significant pest. The current major tool to manage fire ants are synthetic insecticides that are used largely as stomach poisons in bait products or contact insecticides in spray, broadcast, drench, and dust products for area and nest treatments. In addition to these insecticide products, repellants and fumigants can also be useful in some unique scenarios. The ever-increasing public concern about the potential adverse effects of synthetic insecticides on health and the environment has been a driving force for searching for safer alternatives to control fire ants. Tremendous effort has been made in developing biologically-based control for managing fire ants; however, natural products continue to be one of the most attractive sources of safe alternatives to synthetic insecticides. Here, we summarized the synthetic insecticides that are currently used in managing fire ants, available alternative products in the current market, and academic efforts in searching for fire ant natural toxins, repellants and fumigants.

Soil classification in New Zealand - Legacy and lessons

Soil Research ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 843 ◽  
Author(s):  
AE Hewitt
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Soil Classification ◽  
Soil Taxonomy ◽  
Regional Correlation ◽  
Reconnaissance Survey ◽  
Soil Landscape ◽  
History Of ◽  
Intensive Land Use ◽  
Made In

A brief review of the history of soil classification in New Zealand is made in order to place the most recent work in its historical context. The first comprehensive system was inspired by the Russian concepts of zonality, and was published as the New Zealand Genetic Soil Classification by Taylor in 1948. It may be regarded as a grand soil-landscape model that related soil classes to environmental factors. Although successful in stimulating the reconnaissance survey of New Zealand soils, it failed to support the requirements of more intensive land use. Soil Taxonomy was tested as an alternative modem system for a period of 5 years but was found to make inadequate provision for important classes of New Zealand soils. The New Zealand Soil Classification was developed using many of the features of Soil Taxonomy while preserving successful parts of the New Zealand Genetic Soil Classification. Historical lessons include the increasing importance of electronic databases and regional correlation, the importance of nomenclature, the necessity of a national system and the divorce of soil classification from soil-landscape modelling.

The rational design of sandwich-like MnO2–Pd–CeO2 hollow spheres with enhanced activity and stability for CO oxidation

Nanoscale ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (14) ◽  
pp. 6776-6783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Zhang ◽  
Tong Li ◽  
Chang-An Wang ◽  
Jing-Li Luo
Keyword(s):  
Co Oxidation ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Hollow Spheres ◽  
Synthesis Process ◽  
Enhanced Activity

The synthesis process of sandwich-like MnO2–Pd–CeO2 hollow spheres.

Biology and structure of the zona pellucida: a target for immunocontraception

1994 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 319 ◽  
Author(s):  
O Epifano ◽  
J Dean
Keyword(s):  
Extracellular Matrix ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Molecular Biology ◽  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Current Understanding ◽  
Specific Structure ◽  
Pharmacological Agents ◽  
Made In

Although reversible interference of sperm-egg interactions with pharmacological agents has not yet been achieved, animal models have provided increasing evidence that immunological reagents directed against mammalian gametes can effectively inhibit fertilization. One potential target of immunocontraception is the zona pellucida, an extracellular matrix that surrounds the growing oocyte and ovulated egg. Recent advances in our knowledge of the biosynthesis and molecular biology of the zona pellucida have provided much information useful in the rational design of immunocontraceptive vaccines. There remain, however, major obstacles to using immunological reagents to prevent fertilization, including potential toxic side effects, the lack of adequate delivery systems and the possibility of incomplete reversibility. This review summarizes current understanding of the production of the zona pellucida during folliculogenesis, the structure of the conserved proteins and genes in the zona pellucida, and the progress made in the development of immunocontraceptive strategies that focus on this oocyte-specific structure.

scholarly journals Antipsychotic drugs for psychosis and agitation in dementia: efficacy, safety, and a possible noradrenergic mechanism of action

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 879-883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murray A. Raskind ◽  
Lucy Y. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Mechanism Of Action ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Antipsychotic Drugs ◽  
Drug Class ◽  
Work Group ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Dementia Patients ◽  
Pharmacologic Treatments ◽  
Made In ◽  
Noradrenergic Mechanism

The first patient described by Alzheimer in 1907 had both progressive cognitive deterioration and prominent comorbid signs and symptoms of psychosis and agitation (Alzheimer, 1907, 1987). In this editorial, we use “psychosis” to denote delusions and hallucinations and “agitation” to denote irritability, aggression, pressured motor activity, and active resistance to necessary care. Although advances have been made in the treatment of these non-cognitive symptoms, these psychosis and agitation symptoms continued to be burdensome and costly for dementia patients, caregivers, and society. Among the pharmacologic treatments available for psychosis and agitation, antipsychotic drugs are the drug class most consistently demonstrated effective for psychosis and agitation in dementia (Lyketsos et al., 2006; APA Work Group on Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias et al., 2007). These are widely prescribed for these behavioral problems, but their use remains controversial and their mechanism of action unclear.

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