Human convalescent plasma protects K18-hACE2 mice against severe respiratory disease.

SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of COVID-19 and human infections have resulted in a global health emergency. Small animal models that reproduce key elements of SARS-CoV-2 human infections are needed to rigorously screen candidate drugs to mitigate severe disease and prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2. We and others have reported that transgenic mice expressing the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) viral receptor under the control of the Keratin 18 (K18) promoter develop severe and lethal respiratory disease subsequent to SARS-CoV-2 intranasal challenge.

Energetic response of Atlantic surfclam Spisula solidissima to ocean acidification.

In this study, we assessed the Atlantic surfclam (Spisula solidissima) energy budget under different ocean acidification conditions (OA). During 12 weeks, 126 individuals were maintained at three different ρCO concentrations. Every two weeks, individuals were sampled for physiological measurements and scope for growth (SFG).

Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of (+)-Asperpentyn and the Enantiomer of the Structure Assigned to Aspergillusol A.

Total syntheses of (+)-asperpentyn (1) and compound ent-2, the enantiomer of the structure, 2, assigned to the natural product aspergillusol A are reported. Both reaction sequences employ the enzymatically derived and enantiomerically pure cis-1,2-dihydrocatechol 4 as starting material and use Sonogashira cross-coupling chemistry to install the required enyne side-chain. The (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopic data derived from compound ent-2 match those reported for aspergillusol A, thus suggesting that the gross structure of this natural product has been assigned correctly, although its absolute stereochemistry remains unclear.