Analysis of the ARTIC V4 and V4.1 SARS-CoV-2 primers and their impact on the detection of Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 lineage-defining mutations.

The ARTIC protocol uses a multiplexed PCR approach with two primer pools tiling the entire SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) genome. Primer pool updates are necessary for accurate amplicon sequencing of evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants with novel mutations. The suitability of the ARTIC V4 and updated V4.

Pyocin efficacy in a murine model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis.

Background: Bloodstream infections with antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa are common and increasingly difficult to treat. Pyocins are naturally occurring protein antibiotics produced by P. aeruginosa that have potential for human use.

A three-dimensional ParF meshwork assembles through the nucleoid to mediate plasmid segregation.

Genome segregation is a fundamental step in the life cycle of every cell. Most bacteria rely on dedicated DNA partition proteins to actively segregate chromosomes and low copy-number plasmids. Here, by employing super resolution microscopy, we establish that the ParF DNA partition protein of the ParA family assembles into a three-dimensional meshwork that uses the nucleoid as a scaffold and periodically shuttles between its poles.

Structures of archaeal DNA segregation machinery reveal bacterial and eukaryotic linkages.

Although recent studies have provided a wealth of information about archaeal biology, nothing is known about the molecular basis of DNA segregation in these organisms. Here, we unveil the machinery and assembly mechanism of the archaeal Sulfolobus pNOB8 partition system. This system uses three proteins: ParA; an atypical ParB adaptor; and a centromere-binding component, AspA.

Aqueous hydrotrope: an efficient and reusable medium for a green one-pot, diversity-oriented synthesis of quinazolinone derivatives.

A library of quinazolinones was prepared by the one-pot three-component reaction of isatoic anhydride, ammonium salts/amines, and various electrophiles using aqueous hydrotropic solution as an efficient, economical, reusable, and green medium giving good to excellent yields of products in very short time. The method offers a versatile way for the development of diversity-oriented synthesis of quinazolinones.

Structural mechanism of ATP-induced polymerization of the partition factor ParF: implications for DNA segregation.

Segregation of the bacterial multidrug resistance plasmid TP228 requires the centromere-binding protein ParG, the parH centromere, and the Walker box ATPase ParF. The cycling of ParF between ADP- and ATP-bound states drives TP228 partition; ATP binding stimulates ParF polymerization, which is essential for segregation, whereas ADP binding antagonizes polymerization and inhibits DNA partition. The molecular mechanism involved in this adenine nucleotide switch is unclear.

Ultrasound promoted efficient and green synthesis of β-amino carbonyl compounds in aqueous hydrotropic medium.

Ultrasound promoted synthesis of β-amino carbonyl compounds in aqueous hydrotropic medium at ambient temperature is reported. The remarkable features of the new procedure are shorter reaction time, excellent yields in aqueous medium, cleaner reaction profile and simple experimental and work-up procedure.

Structural plasticity of an acid-activated chaperone allows promiscuous substrate binding.

HdeA has been shown to prevent acid-induced aggregation of proteins. With a mass of only 9.7 kDa, HdeA is one of the smallest chaperones known.