A beta-galactose-specific lectin isolated from the marine worm Chaetopterus variopedatus possesses anti-HIV-1 activity

A 30 kDa beta-galactose-specific lectin named CVL was isolated from the polychaete marine worm Chaetopterus variopedatus (Annelida) and its anti-HIV-1 activity in vitro was determined. Results showed that CVL inhibited cytopathic effect induced by HIV-1 a

An inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (CEP-11004) counteracts the anti-HIV-1 action of trichosanthin

Trichosanthin (TCS) is a type I ribosome-inactivating protein possessing multiple biological and pharmacological activities. One of its major actions is inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication. The mechanism is still not clear. It is

A new lectin from the sea worm Serpula vermicularis: Isolation, characterization and anti-HIV activity

A GlcNAc-specific lectin was isolated from the sea worm Serpula vermicularis (SVL) (Annelida) and purified by ion-exchange, affinity and gel permeation chromatography. SVL was a homotetrameric protein with native molecular mass of about 50 kDa, and consis

Compounds from Kadsura heteroclita and related anti-HIV activity

Phytochemical investigation of the stems of Kadsura heteroclita led to isolation of 16 compounds, including the triterpenoid named longipcdlactone J (2), and two dibenzocyclooctadiene type lignans named heteroclitin I and J (3, 4). Compounds 8-10, 14, and

Transport of anti-sperm monoclonal IGA and IGC into murine male and female genital tracts from blood - Effect of sex hormones

Ab levels in the genital tract may be important in fertility and in preventing sexually transmitted diseases, In this study, I-125-labeled polymer or monomer mAb IgA (C4pIgA or C4mIgA) and IgC2b (C4IgC) to murine lactate dehydrogenase C4 and a polymer mAb IgA (npIgA) not cross-reacting with mouse sperm were intravenously injected into BALB/c mice, and the relative distribution of these Abs was determined. Polymer IgA was transported much more efficiently into the genital tract, trachea, and duodenum of both sexes than C4IgG and C4 mIgA (p < 0.01), The transport of polymer IgA (C4pIgA and npIgA) into the male genital tract greatly increased following orchiectomy (p < 0.01); this change was not affected by testosterone, suggesting that the unknown regulatory factor(s) from the testis may suppress polymer IgA transport, However, the transport of polymer IgA into female genital tissues was significantly decreased by ovariectomy (p < 0.01); this decline can be rectified by P-estradiol but not progesterone treatment, suggesting that estradiol may stimulate polymer IgA transport, Furthermore, the transport of C4IgG into tissues of the Fallopian tubes and the uterus was significantly decreased by treatment with progesterone (p < 0.01). Together, these findings indicate that serum polymer IgA can be transported selectively into the genital tracts of both sexes, that this transport is strongly under the control of gonads, and that transport of Ige into the Fallopian tubes and uterus is downregulated by progesterone.

In vitro anti-HIV and -HSV activity and safety of sodium rutin sulfate as a microbicide candidate

Sodium rutin sulfate (SRS) is a sulfated rutin modified from the natural flavonol glycoside rutin. Here, we investigated its in vitro anti-HIV and -HSV activities and its cytotoxic profile. Fifty percent inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of SRS against HIV-1 X4 virus IIIB, HIV-1 R5 isolates Ada-M and Ba-L were 2.3 +/- 0.2, 4.5 +/- 2.0 and 8.5 +/- 3.8 mu M with a selectivity index (SI) of 563, 575 and 329, respectively. Its IC50 against primary R5 HIV-1 isolate from Yunnan province in China was 13.1 +/- 5.5 mu M, with a Sl of 197. In contrast, unsulfated rutin had no activity against any of the HIV-1 isolates tested. Further study indicated that SRS blocked viral entry and virus-cell fusion likely through interacting with the HIV- I envelope glycoprotein. SRS also demonstrated some activity against human herpes simplex virus (HSV) with an IC50 of 88.3 +/- 0.1 mu M and a Sl of 30. The 50% cytotoxicity concentration (CC50) of SRS was >3.0 mM, as determined in human genital ME 180, HeLa and primary human foreskin fibroblast cells. Minimum inhibitory concentration of SRS for vaginal lactobacilli was >3.0 mM. These results collectively indicate that SRS represents a novel candidate for anti-HIV-1/HSV microbicide development. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and crystal structure of a polymeric erbium(III)-sodium(I) coordination complex of picolinic acid N-oxide

A new Er(III)-Na(I) coordination polymer of stoichiometry [NaEr2L5(H2O)(6)(NO3)](NO3). 3.5H(2)O (HL = picolinic acid N-oxide) has been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Crystals are triclinic, P (1) over bar with a = 9.823(2), b = 12.453(2), c = 20.643(4) Angstrom; alpha = 98.49(3), beta = 101.40(3), gamma = 108.69(3)degrees; V = 2284(1) Angstrom(3); Z = 2. Of the two independent eight-coordinate erbium(III) ions in this complex, one is surrounded by four bidentate chelating L ligands, and the other by one bidentate chelating L ligand, four aqua ligands and two anti-carboxylate oxygen atoms from two neighboring [ErL4] units. The sodium(I) ion is in a distorted octahedral environment, being coordinated by a unidentate nitrate anion, three aqua ligands and two anti-carboxylate oxygen atoms from two adjacent [ErL4] units. The complex is built from zigzag chains of syn-anti carboxylate-bridged erbium(III) moieties directed in the a direction, which are cross-linked pairwise by aqua-bridged dimeric sodium(I) units. The resulting composite polymeric chains are further connected by hydrogen bonds to form a three-dimensional network.

Holocaust w powieści Wasilija Grossmana "Życie i los"

Tematem artykułu jest książka bezpośrednio nie zaliczana do literatury Holocaustu, wybitna powieść Życie i los, rosyjskiego pisarza i dziennikarza Wasilija Grossmana, który dziś uznawany jest za jednego z najważniejszych twórców rosyjskich XX wieku. Życie i los okazuje się przykładem ujęcia dramatu Shoah na tle wojny jako części wielkiej Historii poddanej szaleństwom ideologii i polityki nazistów oraz terroru i rosnącego z drugiej strony antysemityzmu w państwie bolszewickim. Jednocześnie Zagłada pozostaje w tym utworze przede wszystkim tragedią konkretnych osób, widziana w porządku pojedynczej ludzkiej egzystencji, która nie daje się nigdy całkowicie sprowadzić do tego, co bezosobowe i masowe. Indywidualna perspektywa humanizuje obraz historii, ale też i go podważa w jego ogólnych strukturach i narracjach. Artykuł opisuje elementy, które składają się na żydowski wątek utworu. Dla jego odczytania ważny okazuje się szerszy kontekst biografii Grossmana i historia powstania oraz wydania powieści Życie i los. Jak widać – rosyjski pisarz dokonał dwóch znaczących gestów w odniesieniu do problemu reprezentacji Zagłady: z jednej strony zwrócił się ku konwencjom literackim, wykorzystał epicki rozmach, kompozycję wielowątkową i panoramiczne ujęcia wraz z ich koncepcją realizmu, wehikularności słowa, a jednocześnie wyszedł poza estetyczne ramy tekstu literackiego, wprowadził elementy lirycznych opisów i autobiograficzne akcenty oraz podkreślił etyczny wymiar całości – jako formy pamięci o tych niezliczonych ofiarach nie tylko Zagłady, ale i każdego XX wiecznego totalitaryzmu.

Antysemicki incydent prasowy. Kartki pocztowe i poznańskie gazety

Jednym z motywów ikonograficznych wykorzystywanych na reklamowych kartach pocztowych z przełomu XIX i XX wieku były strony tytułowe lokalnych gazet. Wokół poznańskich pocztówek z motywem „gazetowym” wydawanych przez Isaaka Plessnera wybuchła w 1904 roku polemika prasowa o silnie antysemickim podłożu. Zarzut dotyczył druku reklamy katolickiego czasopisma u żydowskiego wydawcy.

Narracyjne i antynarracyjne modele egzystencji w naukach humanistycznych i praktyce literackiej

Wydział Nauk Społecznych

Antysemityzm w Królestwie Polskim. Geneza i kształtowanie się nowoczesnej ideologii antyżydowskiej (1864-1914)

Wydział Historyczny

Development and standardization of solid phase assays for the detection of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA). A report on the second phase of an international cooperative study on the standardization of ANCA assays

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are diagnostic markers for systemic vasculitis. They are classically I detected by an indirect immunofluorescence test using normal donor neutrophils as substrate. This assay lacks antigenic specificity and is not quantitative. The 'EC/BCR Project for ANCA Assay Standardization' is an international collaboration study with the aim to develop and standardize solid phase assays for ANCA detection. In this part of the study the isolation and characterization of proteinase-3 and myeloperoxidase, the two main target molecules for ANCA, and the development and standardization of ELISAs with these antigens are described. Six laboratories successfully isolated purified proteinase-3 preparations that could be used. Three of these preparations, together with one myeloperoxidase preparation, were subsequently used for ANCA testing by ELISA. The ELISA technique was standardized in two rounds of testing in the 14 participating laboratories. The coefficient of variation of these new assays decreased from values of approx. 50% in the first round to approx. 20% in the second round. We conclude that purified proteinase-3 and myeloperoxidase can be used in standardized ELISAs for ANCA detection. Whether such procedures offer advantages over the IIF test will be determined in a prospective clinical study.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS) (I): Measures of prevention and control

Measures of prevention and control against polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) focus on an official food control, a code of best practice to reduce PAHs levels by controlling industry and in the development of a chemopreventive strategy. Regulation (EU) 835/2011 establishes maximum levels of PAHs for each food group. In addition, Regulations (EU) 333/2007 and 836/2011 set up the methods of sampling and analysis for its official control. Scientific studies prove that the chemopreventive strategy is effective against these genotoxic compounds effects. Most chemopreventive compounds studied with proven protective effects against PAHs are found in fruit and vegetables.

Triclabendazole-resistant <i>Fasciola hepaticai>: β-tubulin and response to <i>in vitroi> treatment with triclabendazole

Resistance in Fasciola hepatica to triclabendazole (Fasinex) has emerged in several countries. Benzimidazole resistance in parasitic nematodes has been linked to a single amino acid substitution (phenylalanine to tyrosine) at position 200 on the [beta]-tubulin molecule. Sequencing of [beta]-tubulin cDNAs from triclabendazole-susceptible and triclabendazole-resistant flukes revealed no amino acid differences between their respective primary amino acid sequences. In order to investigate the mechanism of triclabendazole resistance, triclabendazole-susceptible and triclabendazole-resistant flukes were incubated in vitro with triclabendazole sulphoxide (50 [mu]g/ml). Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed extensive damage to the tegument of triclabendazole-susceptible F. hepatica, whereas triclabendazole-resistant flukes showed only localized and relatively minor disruption of the tegument covering the spines. Immunocytochemical studies, using an anti-tubulin antibody, showed that tubulin organization was disrupted in the tegument of triclabendazole-susceptible flukes. No such disruption was evident in triclabendazole-resistant F. hepatica. The significance of these findings is discussed with regard to the mechanism of triclabendazole resistance in F. hepatica.