In Silico Structure-Based Design of Antiviral Peptides Targeting the Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus Glycoprotein Gn.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is an emerging tick-borne bunyavirus in Asia that causes severe disease. Despite its clinical importance, treatment options for SFTSV infection remains limited. The SFTSV glycoprotein Gn plays a major role in mediating virus entry into host cells and is therefore a potential antiviral target.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Hong Kong and in residents evacuated from Hubei province, China: a multicohort study.

Background: The role of subclinical severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in perpetuating the COVID-19 pandemic is unknown because population seroprevalence data are absent. We aimed to establish the sensitivity and specificity of our enzyme immunoassay and microneutralisation assay, and the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Hong Kong before and after the pandemic, as well as in Hong Kong residents evacuated from Hubei province, China.

Methods: We did a multicohort study in a hospital and university in Hong Kong.

Temporal profiles of viral load in posterior oropharyngeal saliva samples and serum antibody responses during infection by SARS-CoV-2: an observational cohort study.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes severe community and nosocomial outbreaks. Comprehensive data for serial respiratory viral load and serum antibody responses from patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are not yet available. Nasopharyngeal and throat swabs are usually obtained for serial viral load monitoring of respiratory infections but gathering these specimens can cause discomfort for patients and put health-care workers at risk.

A concise synthesis of N-substituted fagomine derivatives and the systematic exploration of their α-glycosidase inhibition.

A novel and concise scheme has been developed successfully for the syntheses of N-substituted fagomine derivatives. The transformation of lactone (2) to 1,5-diol (3) was carried on with high yield (93-95%). The cyclization of 4 to 5 is a high stereoselective reaction (de value > 98%).

Xanthones from Swertia mussotii as multitarget-directed antidiabetic agents.

Oxidative stress has been suggested to play a causative role in the development of obesity-induced insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Given the antioxidant potency of previously reported xanthones isolated from Swertia mussotii. These natural products were further evaluated against other targets in diabetes, aldose reductase and α-glucosidase, in order to identify novel multitarget-directed antidiabetic agents.

Xanthones from Swertia mussotii and their α-glycosidase inhibitory activities.

Two new xanthones, 1,8-dihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone 7-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1 → 2)-β-D-glucopyranoside] (1) and 1,8- dihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone 7-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1 → 3)-α-L-rhamno-pyranosyl (1 → 2)-β-D-xylopyranoside] (2), together with 26 known xanthones (3-28), were isolated from the aqueous ethanol extract of the traditional Chinese herb Swertia mussotii. Their structures were elucidated via spectroscopic analyses including 2D NMR. The inhibition of α-glucosidase by the isolated xanthones was evaluated by an in vitro high-throughput screening assay.

Antioxidant xanthones from Swertia mussotii, a high altitude plant.

Four new xanthones, 3,5,6,8-tetrahydroxyxanthone-1-C-β-D-glucoside (1), 7-hydroxy-3,4,8-trimethoxyxanthone-1-O-(β-D-glucoside) (2), 6-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyxanthone-1-O-(β-D-glucoside) (3), 3,4,7,8-tetramethoxyxanthone-1-O-(β-D-glucoside) (4), together with twenty-one known xanthones (5-25) were isolated from the ethanol aqueous extract of Swertia mussotii. Their structures were elucidated via spectroscopic analyses. Oxygen radical absorbance capacity of all the isolated xanthones was systematically evaluated by ORAC(FL) assay.