Reversible covalent immobilization of Trametes villosa laccase onto thiolsulfinate-agarose: An insoluble biocatalyst with potential for decoloring recalcitrant dyes.

The development of a solid-phase biocatalyst based on the reversible covalent immobilization of laccase onto thiol-reactive supports (thiolsulfinate-agarose [TSI-agarose]) was performed. To achieve this goal, laccase-producing strains isolated from Eucalyptus globulus were screened and white rot fungus Trametes villosa was selected as the best strain for enzyme production. Reduction of disulfide bonds and introduction of "de novo" thiol groups in partially purified laccase were assessed to perform its reversible covalent immobilization onto thiol-reactive supports (TSI-agarose).

Nocardia and Lungs in COPD: Beyond Immuno-deficiencies.

Nocardia is an opportunistic pathogen and Pulmonary Nocardiosis (PN) occurred in more than half of the cases in subjects with immuno-suppressed status. COPD is one of the most common comorbidity observed in immuno-competent patients with PN. In this perspective study, we report the clinical patterns, the outcomes and the comorbidities of all cases of PN admitted in our Unit in the years 1999-2012.

Synthesis of a thiol-β-cyclodextrin, a potential agent for controlling enzymatic browning in fruits and vegetables.

A thiol-β-cyclodextrin was synthesized by a simple and environmentally friendly three-step method comprising epoxy activation of β-cyclodextrin, thiosulfate-mediated oxirane opening, and further reduction of the S-alkyl thiosulfate to a thiol group. The final step was optimized by using thiopropyl-agarose, a solid phase reducing agent with many advantages over soluble ones. β-Cyclodextrin thiolation was confirmed by titration with a thiol-reactive reagent, NMR studies, and MALDI-TOF/TOF.

Reversible covalent immobilization of enzymes via disulfide bonds.

This enzyme immobilization approach involves the formation of disulfide (-S-S-) bonds with the support. Thus, enzymes bearing exposed nonessential thiol (SH) groups can be immobilized onto thiol-reactive supports provided with reactive disulfides or disulfide oxides under mild conditions. The great potential advantage of this approach is the reversibility of the bonds formed between the activated solid phase and the thiol-enzyme, because the bound protein can be released with an excess of a low-molecular-weight thiol (e.

Clinical value of mesothelin in pleural effusions versus histology by medical thoracoscopy: brief report.

The aim of this study based on the third phase of the architecture of diagnostic research was to assess the sensitivity and specificity of soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) in pleural exudative effusions (PE) compared to the histology obtained by medical thoracoscopy as the diagnostic gold standard examination. We assessed 104 consecutive thoracoscopies. SMRP concentrations were obtained using an ELISA test.

Evaluation of soluble mesothelin-related peptide as a diagnostic marker of malignant pleural mesothelioma effusions: its contribution to cytology.

Soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) is regarded as an FDA approved biomarker for the diagnosis and monitoring of pleural malignant mesothelioma (MPM). We detected the SMRP levels in pleural effusions (PE) by means of an ELISA and analyzed their diagnostic relevance to differentiate MPM from benign pathology and from non-MPM pleural metastasis. Comparison with cytology in MPM-PE was also performed.

Clinical relevance of human mammaglobin mRNA in pleural effusion from patients undergoing thoracoscopy: a pilot study.

Background: human mammaglobin (hMAM) expression has been reported in pleural effusions (PE). The aim of this study was to assess the clinical relevance of hMAM mRNA in PE from patients who underwent thoracoscopy.


Material And Methods: A total of 288 patients with PE were studied, 155 of which were diagnosed with malignant and 133 with non-malignant diseases by thoracoscopy.

Thiopropyl-agarose as a solid phase reducing agent for chemical modification of IgG and F(ab')2.

Selective reduction of native disulfide bonds in immunoglobulins is one of the best methods for introducing reactive groups on to the protein surface. Additionally, the thiol groups so generated may allow oriented conjugation at a specific site of the immunoglobulin. Solid-phase reducing agents have many advantages over soluble ones (including ease of separation of excess reagent from reduced protein by filtration, and the potential for regeneration and multiple reuse).

Solid-phase reducing agents as alternative for reducing disulfide bonds in proteins.

Disulfide reduction of Kluyveromyces lactis and Aspergillus oryzae beta-galactosidases and beta-lactoglobulin was assessed. Reduction was performed using one of two thiol-containing agents: dithiothreitol (DTT) or thiopropyl-agarose with a high degree of substitution (1000 micromol of SH groups/g of dried gel). Both reductants allowed an increase of three- (for K.