Detection and molecular epidemiology of tick-borne encephalitis virus infections

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Structural Studies of Analgesics and Their Interactions. V.* The Crystal and Molecular Structure of Metamizol Monohydrate

Metamizol, Na[Ct3H16N3045], C13H16N304S-Na +, a sulphonyl derivative of amidopyrine, is perhaps the most widely used non-narcotic analgetic and antiinflammatory pyrazolone derivative. The monohydrate of the compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2Jc with eight molecules in a unit cell of dimensions a = 9.143 (3), b = 49.50 (2), c = 7.314 (2)/k and fl = 90.9 (1) °. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to an R value of 0.080 for 4466 observed reflections. The two crystallographically independent molecules in the structure have similar dimensions. The elongated molecules are hydrophobic at one end and hydrophilic at the other with the middle portion partly hydrophobic and partly hydrophilic. The pyrazolone group in the structure has dimensions similar to those found in uncomplexed antipyrine and amidopyrine. The crystal structure can be described as consisting of double layers of metamizol molecules stacked perpendicular to the b axis. The adjacent double layers are separated by a layer of Naions and water molecules.

Molecular hydrodynamic theory of non‐Markovian collective orientational relaxation in dense dipolar liquids

A microscopic study of the non‐Markovian (or memory) effects on the collective orientational relaxation in a dense dipolar liquid is carried out by using an extended hydrodynamic approach which provides a reliable description of the dynamical processes occuring at the molecular length scales. Detailed calculations of the wave‐vector dependent orientational correlation functions are presented. The memory effects are found to play an important role; the non‐Markovian results differ considerably from that of the Markovian theory. In particular, a slow long‐time decay of the longitudinal orientational correlation function is observed for dense liquids which becomes weaker in the presence of a sizeable translational contribution to the collective orientational relaxation. This slow decay can be attributed to the intermolecular correlations at the molecular length scales. The longitudinal component of the orientational correlation function becomes oscillatory in the underdamped limit of momenta relaxations and the frequency dependence of the friction reduce the frictional resistance on the collective excitations (commonly known as dipolarons) to make them long lived. The theory predicts that these dipolarons can, therefore, be important in chemical relaxation processes, in contradiction to the claims of some earlier theoretical studies.

Molecular theory of dielectric relaxation in a dense binary dipolar liquid

A molecular theory of dielectric relaxation in a dense binary dipolar liquid is presented. The theory takes into account the effects of intra- and interspecies intermolecular interactions. It is shown that the relaxation is, in general, nonexponential. In certain limits, we recover the biexponential form traditionally used to analyze the experimental data of dielectric relaxation in a binary mixture. However, the relaxation times are widely different from the prediction of the noninteracting rotational diffusion model of Debye for a binary system. Detailed numerical evaluation of the frequency-dependent dielectric function epsilon-(omega) is carried out by using the known analytic solution of the mean spherical approximation (MSA) model for the two-particle direct correlation function for a polar mixture. A microscopic expression for both wave vector (k) and frequency (omega) dependent dielectric function, epsilon-(k,omega), of a binary mixture is also presented. The theoretical predictions on epsilon-(omega) (= epsilon-(k = 0, omega)) have been compared with the available experimental results. In particular, the present theory offers a molecular explanation of the phenomenon of fusing of the two relaxation channels of the neat liquids, observed by Schallamach many years ago.

Reactivity Of Pph3 Toward Ruiiruiiicl(O2car)4 - Syntheses, Molecular-Structures, And Spectroscopic And Electrochemical Properties Of Ruiiruiii(Oh2)Cl(Mecn)(O2car)4(Pph3)2 And Ruii2(Oh2)(Mecn)2(O2car)4(Pph3)2

By the reaction of Ru2Cl(O2CAr)4 (1) and PPh3 in MeCN-H2O the diruthenium(II,III) and diruthenium(II) compounds of the type Ru2(OH2)Cl(MeCN)(O2CAr)4(PPh3)2 (2) and Ru2(OH2)(MeCN)2(O2CAr)4(PPh3)2 (3) were prepared and characterized by analytical, spectral, and electrochemical data (Ar is an aryl group, C6H4-p-X; X = H, OMe, Me, Cl, NO2). The molecular structure of Ru2(OH2)Cl(MeCN)(O2CC6H4-p-OMe)4(PPh3)2 was determined by X-ray crystallography. Crystal data are as follows: triclinic, P1BAR, a = 13.538 (5) angstrom, b = 15.650 (4) angstrom, c = 18.287 (7) angstrom, alpha = 101.39 (3)-degrees, beta = 105.99 (4)-degrees, gamma = 97.94 (3)-degrees, V = 3574 angstrom 3, Z = 2. The molecule is asymmetric, and the two ruthenium centers are clearly distinguishable. The Ru(III)-Ru(II), Ru(III)-(mu-OH2), and Ru(II)-(mu-OH2) distances and the Ru-(mu-OH2)-Ru angle in [{Ru(III)Cl(eta-1-O2CC6H4-p-OMe)(PPh3)}(mu-OH2)(mu-O2CC6H4-p-OMe)2{Ru(II)(MeCN)(eta-1-O2CC6H4-p-OMe)(PPh3)}] are 3.604 (1), 2.127 (8), and 2.141 (10) angstrom and 115.2 (5)-degrees, respectively. The compounds are paramagnetic and exhibit axial EPR spectra in the polycrystalline form. An intervalence transfer (IT) transition is observed in the range 900-960 nm in chloroform in these class II type trapped mixed-valence species 2. Compound 2 displays metal-centered one-electron reduction and oxidation processes near -0.4 and +0.6 V (vs SCE), respectively in CH2Cl2-TBAP. Compound 2 is unstable in solution phase and disproportionates to (mu-aquo)diruthenium(II) and (mu-oxo)diruthenium(III) complexes. The mechanistic aspects of the core conversion are discussed. The molecular structure of a diruthenium(II) compound, Ru2(OH2)(MeCN)2(O2CC6H4-p-NO2)4(PPh3)2.1.5CH2Cl2, was obtained by X-ray crystallography. The compound crystallizes in the space group P2(1)/c with a = 23.472 (6) angstrom, b = 14.303 (3) angstrom, c = 23.256 (7) angstrom, beta = 101.69 (2)-degrees, V = 7645 angstrom 3, and Z = 4. The Ru(II)-Ru(II) and two Ru(II)-(mu-OH2) distances and the Ru(II)-(mu-OH2)-Ru(II) angle in [{(PPh3)-(MeCN)(eta-1-O2CC6H4-p-NO2)Ru}2(mu-OH2)(mu-O2CC6H4-p-NO2)2] are 3.712 (1), 2.173 (9), and 2.162 (9) angstrom and 117.8 (4)-degrees, respectively. In both diruthenium(II,III) and diruthenium(II) compounds, each metal center has three facial ligands of varying pi-acidity and the aquo bridges are strongly hydrogen bonded with the eta-1-carboxylato facial ligands. The diruthenium(II) compounds are diamagnetic and exhibit characteristic H-1 NMR spectra in CDCl3. These compounds display two metal-centered one-electron oxidations near +0.3 and +1.0 V (vs SCE) in CH2Cl2-TBAP. The overall reaction between 1 and PPh3 in MeCN-H2O through the intermediacy of 2 is of the disproportionation type. The significant role of facial as well as bridging ligands in stabilizing the core structures is observed from electrochemical studies.

Structure of valinomycin by molecular dynamics studies

Valinomycin is an important ionophore which exhibits a high conformational flexibility. The study of various conformations adopted by this molecule together with the study of flexibility in a given conformation can throw light on the ion transport by the ionophore across the membrane. Molecular dynamics (MD) studies are ideal to characterize the flexibility in different parts of the molecule and can also give an idea of various conformations adopted by the molecule at a given temperature. Hence MD studies at 100K have been carried out on the minimized crystal structure of the molecule to scan the possible conformations in the neighbourhood of the well known 'bracelet' like structure of uncomplexed Valinomycin, Properties, like the flexibility, average values, r.m.s. fluctuations of the various intramolecular hydrogen bonds are discussed. Energy minimization has been carried out on selected MD simulated points to analyze the characteristics of the unique conformation adopted by this molecule at this temperature.

Crystal and molecular structure of putrescine DL- glutamic acid complex

The polyamines spermine, spermidine, putrescine, cadaverine, etc. have been implicated in a variety of cellular functions. However, details of their mode of interaction with other ubiquitous biomolecules is not known. We have solved a few structures of polyamine-amino acid complexes to understand the nature and mode of their interactions. Here we report the structure of a complex of putrescine with DL-glutamic acid. Comparison of the structure with the structure of putrescine-L-glutamic acid complex reveals the high degree of similarity in the mode of interaction in the two complexes. Despite the presence of a centre of symmetry in the present case, the arrangement of molecules is strikingly similar to the L-glutamic acid complex.

Temperature and concentration dependence of adsorption properties of methane in NaY: a molecular dynamics study

Molecular dynamics calculations on methane sorbed in NaY (Si/Al = 3.0) employing realistic methane-methane and methane-zeolite intermolecular potential functions at different temperatures (50, 150, 220, and 300 K) and concentrations (2, 4, 6, and 8 molecules/cage) are reported. The thermodynamic results are in agreement with the available experimental data. Guest-guest and guest-host radial distribution functions (rdfs), energy distribution functions, distribution of cage occupancy, center-of-cage-center-of-mass (coc-com) rdfs, velocity autocorrelation functions for com and angular motion and the Fourier transformed power spectra, and diffusion coefficients are presented as a function of temperature and concentration. At 50 K, methane is localized near the adsorption site. Site-site migration and essentially free rotational motion are observed at 150 K. Molecules preferentially occupy the region near the inner surface of the alpha-cage. The vibrational frequencies for the com of methane shift toward higher values with decreasing temperature and increasing adsorbate concentration. The observed frequencies for com motion are 36, 53, and 85 cm-1 and for rotational motion at 50 K, 95 and 150 cm-1 in agreement with neutron scattering data. The diffusion coefficients show a type I behavior as a function of loading in agreement with NMR measurements. Cage-to-cage diffusion is found to be always mediated by the surface.

The crystal and molecular structure of putrescine - di-glutamic acid complexes

The polyamines spermine, spermidine, putrescine, cadaverine, etc. have been implicated in a variety of cellular functions. However, details of their mode of interaction with other ubiquitous biomolecules is not known. We have solved a few structures of polyamine-amino acid complexes to understand the nature and mode of their interactions. Here we report the structure of a complex of putrescine with DL-glutamic acid. Comparison of the structure with the structure of putrescine-L-glutamic acid complex reveals the high degree of similarity in the mode of interaction in the two complexes. Despite the presence of a centre of symmetry in the present case, the arrangement of molecules is strikingly similar to the L-glutamic acid complex.

The velocity dispersion of giant molecular clouds. II - Mathematical and numerical refinements

The energy input to giant molecular clouds is recalculated, using the proper linearized equations of motion, including the Coriolis force and allowing for changes in the guiding center. Perturbation theory yields a result in the limit of distant encounters and small initial epicyclic amplitudes. Direct integration of the motion equations allows the strong encounter regime to be studied. The present perturbation theory result differs by a factor of order unity from that of Jog and Ostriker (1988). The result of present numerical integrations for the 2D (planar) velocity dispersion is presented. The accretion rate for a molecular cloud in the Galactic disk is calculated.

Crystal and Molecular Structure of N-acetyl-L-glutamine

The crystal and molecular structure of the title compound has been determined by direct methods from diffractometer data. Crystals are orthorhombic, with Z= 4 in a unit cell of dimensions : a= 13.811 (10), b= 5.095(5), c= 12.914(10)Å, space group P212121. The structure was refined by least-squares to R 3.31% for 868 observed reflections. There is significant non-planarity of the peptide group and its nitrogen atom is significantly pyramidal. There is no correlation between the double-bond character and reactivity of the C–N bond of the terminal amide group in glutamine and acetamide

Molecular Characterization of Viruses Causing the Cassava Brown Streak Disease Epidemic in Eastern Africa

Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) was described for the first time in Tanganyika (now Tanzania) about seven decades ago. Tanganyika (now Tanzania) about seven decades ago. It was endemic in the lowland areas of East Africa and inland parts of Malawi and caused by Cassava brown streak virus (CBSV; genus Ipomovirus; Potyviridae). However, in 1990s CBSD was observed at high altitude areas in Uganda. The causes for spread to new locations were not known.The present work was thus initiated to generate information on genetic variability, clarify the taxonomy of the virus or viruses associated with CBSD in Eastern Africa as well as to understand the evolutionary forces acting on their genes. It also sought to develop a molecular based diagnostic tool for detection of CBSD-associated virus isolates. Comparison of the CP-encoding sequences of CBSD-associated virus isolates collected from Uganda and north-western Tanzania in 2007 and the partial sequences available in Genbank revealed occurrence of two genetically distinct groups of isolates. Two isolates were selected to represent the two groups. The complete genomes of isolates MLB3 (TZ:Mlb3:07) and Kor6 (TZ:Kor6:08) obtained from North-Western (Kagera) and North-Eastern (Tanga) Tanzania, respectively, were sequenced. The genomes were 9069 and 8995 nucleotides (nt), respectively. They translated into polyproteins that were predicted to yield ten mature proteins after cleavage. Nine proteins were typical in the family Potyviridae, namely P1, P3, 6K1, CI, 6K2, VPg, NIa-Pro, NIb and CP, but the viruses did not contain HC-Pro. Interestingly, genomes of both isolates contained a Maf/HAM1-like sequence (HAM1h; 678 nucleotides, 25 kDa) recombined between the NIb and CP domains in the 3’-proximal part of the genomes. HAM1h was also identified in Euphorbia ringspot virus (EuRSV) whose sequence was in GenBank. The HAM1 gene is widely spread in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) it is known to be a nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) pyrophosphatase. Novel information was obtained on the structural variation at the N-termini of polyproteins of viruses in the genus Ipomovirus. Cucumber vein yellowing virus (CVYV) and Squash vein yellowing virus (SqVYV) contain a duplicated P1 (P1a and P1b) but lack the HC-Pro. On the other hand, Sweet potato mild mottle virus (SPMMV), has a single but large P1 and has HC-Pro. Both virus isolates (TZ:Mlb3:07 & TZ:Kor6:08) characterized in this study contained a single P1 and lacked the HC-Pro which indicates unique evolution in the family Potyviridae. Comparison of 12 complete genomes of CBSD-associated viruses which included two genomes characterized in this study, revealed genetic identity of 69.0–70.3% (nt) and amino acid (aa) identities of 73.6–74.4% at polyprotein level. Comparison was also made among 68 complete CP sequences, which indicated 69.0-70.3 and 73.6-74.4 % identity at nt and aa levels, respectively. The genetic variation was large enough for dermacation of CBSD-associated virus isolates into two distinct species. The name CBSV was retained for isolates that were related to CBSV isolates available in database whereas the new virus described for the first time in this study was named Ugandan cassava brown streak virus (UCBSV) by the International Committee on Virus Taxonomy (ICTV). The isolates TZ:Mlb3:07 and TZ:Kor6:08 belong to UCBSV and CBSV, respectively. The isolates of CBSV and UCBSV were 79.3-95.5% and 86.3-99.3 % identitical at nt level, respectively, suggesting more variation amongst CBSV isolates. The main sources of variation in plant viruses are mutations and recombination. Signals for recombination events were detected in 50% of isolates of each virus. Recombination events were detected in coding and non-coding (3’-UTR) sequences except in the 5’UTR and P3. There was no evidence for recombination between isolates of CBSV and UCBSV. The non-synonomous (dN) to synonomous (dS) nucleotide substitution ratio (ω) for the HAM1h and CP domains of both viruses were ≤ 0.184 suggesting that most sites of these proteins were evolving under strong purifying selection. However, there were individual amino acid sites that were submitted to adaptive evolution. For instance, adaptive evolution was detected in the HAM1h of UCBSV (n=15) where 12 aa sites were under positive selection (P< 0.05) but not in CBSV (n=12). The CP of CBSV (n=23) contained 12 aa sites (p<0.01) while only 5 aa sites in the CP gene of UCBSV were predicted to be submitted to positive selection pressure (p<0.01). The advantages offered by the aa sites under positive selection could not be established but occurrence of such sites in the terminal ends of UCBSV-HAMIh, for example, was interpreted as a requirement for proteolysis during polyprotein processing. Two different primer pairs that simultaneously detect UCBSV and CBSV isolates were developed in this study. They were used successfully to study distribution of CBSV, UCBSV and their mixed infections in Tanzania and Uganda. It was established that the two viruses co-infect cassava and that incidences of co-infection could be as high as 50% around Lake Victoria on the Tanzanian side. Furthermore, it was revealed for the first time that both UCBSV and CBSV were widely distributed in Eastern Africa. The primer pair was also used to confirm infection in a close relative of cassava, Manihot glaziovii (Müller Arg.) with CBSV. DNA barcoding of M. glaziovii was done by sequencing the matK gene. Two out of seven M. glaziovii from the coastal areas of Korogwe and Kibaha in north eastern Tanzania were shown to be infected by CBSV but not UCBSV isolates. Detection in M. glaziovii has an implication in control and management of CBSD as it is likely to serve as virus reservoir. This study has contributed to the understanding of evolution of CBSV and UCBSV, which cause CBSD epidemic in Eastern Africa. The detection tools developed in this work will be useful in plant breeding, verification of the phytosanitary status of materials in regional and international movement of germplasm, and in all diagnostic activities related to management of CBSD. Whereas there are still many issues to be resolved such as the function and biological significance of HAM1h and its origin, this work has laid a foundation upon which the studies on these aspects can be based.