Interfacial Engineering of Ru Nanocluster-Modified TiO Nanotube-Assisted Regulation of Lithium Polysulfide Reactions.

The inhibition of lithium polysulfide (LiPS) diffusion and the acceleration of reaction kinetics are two major challenges for the practical application of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. Herein, through an interface engineering strategy, a multifunctional sulfur host based on Ru nanocluster-modified TiO nanotubes (TiO-Ru) was designed. The TiO-Ru interface field effect, combined with the hollow nanotube structure and the strong chemical action of TiO, enhanced the LiPS trapping ability and inhibited the "shuttle effect".

A New HIV-1 KE-Reverse Transcriptase Variant Associated with the Rapid Expansion of CRF07_BC among Men Who Have Sex with Men.

HIV-1 CRF07_BC originated among injection drug users (IDUs) in China. After diffusing into men who have sex with men (MSM), CRF07_BC has shown a rapid expansion in this group; however, the mechanism remains unclear. Here, we identified a new KE variant of CRF07_BC that was characterized by five specific mutations (E28K, K32E, E248V, K249Q, and T338S) in reverse transcriptase.

Respiratory syncytial virus infection of microglia exacerbates SH-SY5Y neuronal cell injury by inducing the secretion of inflammatory cytokines: A Transwell study.

Objectives: To elucidate the mechanism of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection and central neuronal disease and to understand the role of microglia in neuronal injuries during RSV infection.

Materials And Methods: The effects of RSV and the cytokines produced by RSV-infected CHME-5 microglial cells on SY5Y neuronal cells were evaluated based on an Transwell coculture system. Five treatment groups were established in this study, including the normal control SY5Y group, RSV+SY5Y infection group, (cytokine+CHME-5)+SY5Y Transwell group, (RSV+CHME-5)+SY5Y Transwell group, and (RSV+cytokine+CHME-5)+SY5Y Transwell group.

Near Full-Length Genomic Characterization of 16 HIV-1 CRF01_AE Primary Isolates from Guangxi, China.

Isolation and culture of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are an important basis for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) etiology, immunology, drug screening, clinical treatment, and vaccine research. CRF01_AE is one of the predominant strains of HIV-1 in China. However, there are few HIV-1 CRF01_AE isolates that have been reported.

gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from soil in Fildes Peninsula, Antarctica.

A novel strain, designated AQ6-296, was isolated from a soil sample collected in Fildes Peninsula, Antarctic. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, non-endospore-forming, non-motile, strictly aerobic and rod-shaped. Growth occurred at 4-28 °C (optimum, 20 °C) and at pH 6.

sp. nov., isolated from soil on the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, strictly aerobic, coccus-shaped bacterium, designated S14-83, was isolated from a soil sample collected from the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the strain is a novel member of the genus , with as its closest relative (96.1 % similarity).

Deinococcus taklimakanensis sp. nov., isolated from desert soil.

A gamma- and UV radiation-tolerant, Gram-negative, short-rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated X-121, was isolated from soil samples collected from the Taklimakan desert in Xinjiang, China. Strain X-121 showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Deinococcus depolymerans TDMA-24 (94.7 %).

Sphingomonas antarctica sp. nov., isolated from Antarctic tundra soil.

Strain 200, isolated from a soil sample taken from Antarctic tundra soil around Zhongshan Station, was found to be a Gram-stain-negative, yellow-pigmented, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped and aerobic bacterium. Strain 200 grew optimally at pH 7.0 and in the absence of NaCl on R2A.

Flavitalea antarctica sp. nov., isolated from Fildes Peninsula, Antarctica.

A bright-yellow, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, gliding and aerobic bacterium, designated strain AQ6-291T, was isolated from the Fildes Peninsula, Antarctica, and its taxonomic position was investigated by genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses. Growth occurred at 4-28 °C (optimum 20 °C) and at pH 5.0-8.

Cdk1 activity is required for mitotic activation of aurora A during G2/M transition of human cells.

In mammalian cells entry into and progression through mitosis are regulated by multiple mitotic kinases. How mitotic kinases interact with each other and coordinately regulate mitosis remains to be fully understood. Here we employed a chemical biology approach using selective small molecule kinase inhibitors to dissect the relationship between Cdk1 and Aurora A kinases during G(2)/M transition.

Discovery of cercosporamide, a known antifungal natural product, as a selective Pkc1 kinase inhibitor through high-throughput screening.

The Pkc1-mediated cell wall integrity-signaling pathway is highly conserved in fungi and is essential for fungal growth. We thus explored the potential of targeting the Pkc1 protein kinase for developing broad-spectrum fungicidal antifungal drugs through a Candida albicans Pkc1-based high-throughput screening. We discovered that cercosporamide, a broad-spectrum natural antifungal compound, but previously with an unknown mode of action, is actually a selective and highly potent fungal Pkc1 kinase inhibitor.

Synthesis of 1,7-annulated indoles and their applications in the studies of cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors.

The synthesis of a novel series of 1,7-annulated indolocarbazoles 2 and 16 is described. These compounds were found to be potent cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors with good antiproliferative activity against two human carcinoma cell lines. These inhibitors also arrested tumor cells at the G1 phase and inhibited pRb phosphorylation.

Studies on cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors: indolo-[2,3-a]pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazoles versus bis-indolylmaleimides.

A series of indolo[2,3-a]pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazoles and their bis-indolylmaleimides precursors have been prepared in order to compare their activity as D1-CDK4 inhibitors. Both enzymatic and antiproliferative assays have shown that the structurally more constrained indolo[2,3-a]pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazoles are consistently more active (8-42-fold) in head-to-head comparison with their bis-indolylmaleimides counterparts. Cell-cycle analysis using flow cytometry have also shown that the indolocarbazoles are selective G1 blockers while the bis-indolylmaleimides arrest cells in the G2/M phase.

Aryl[a]pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazoles as selective cyclin D1-CDK4 inhibitors.

The synthesis of new analogues of Arcyriaflavin A in which one indole ring is replaced by an aryl or heteroaryl ring is described. These new series of aryl[a]pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazoles were evaluated as inhibitors of Cyclin D1-CDK4. A potent and selective D1-CDK4 inhibitor, 7a (D1-CDK4 IC(50)=45 nM), has been identified.

Novel, potent and selective cyclin D1/CDK4 inhibitors: indolo[6,7-a]pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazoles.

The synthesis and CDK inhibitory properties of a series of indolo[6,7-a]pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazoles is reported. In addition to their potent CDK activity, the compounds display antiproliferative activity against two human cancer cell lines. These inhibitors also effect strong G1 arrest in these cell lines and inhibit Rb phosphorylation at Ser780 consistent with inhibition of cyclin D1/CDK4.

Synthesis, structure-activity relationship, and biological studies of indolocarbazoles as potent cyclin D1-CDK4 inhibitors.

Novel substituted indolocarbazoles were synthesized, and their kinase inhibitory capability was evaluated in vitro. 6-Substituted indolocarbazoles 4 were found to be potent and selective D1/CDK4 inhibitors. 4d and 4h exhibited potent and ATP-competitive D1/CDK4 activities with IC50 values of 76 and 42 nM, respectively.

Synthesis of quinolinyl/isoquinolinyl[a]pyrrolo [3,4-c] carbazoles as cyclin D1/CDK4 inhibitors.

A novel series of pyrrolo[3,4-c] carbazoles fused with a quinolinyl/isoquinolinyl moiety were synthesized and their D1/CDK4 inhibitory and antiproliferative activity were evaluated. Compound 8H, 14H-isoquinolinyl[6,5-a]-pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazole-7,9-dione (1d) was found to be a highly potent D1/CDK4 inhibitor with an IC(50) of 69 nM. Compound 1d also inhibited tumor cell growth, arrested tumor cells in G1 phase and inhibited pRb phosphorylation.