Potential of Silver Nanoparticles in Overcoming the Intrinsic Resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to Secondary Metabolites from Carnivorous Plants

Carnivorous plants are exemplary natural sources of secondary metabolites with biological activity. However, the therapeutic antimicrobial potential of these compounds is limited due to intrinsic resistance of selected bacterial pathogens, among which Pseudomonas aeruginosa represents an extreme example. The objective of the study was to overcome the intrinsic resistance of P. aeruginosa by combining silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with secondary metabolites from selected carnivorous plant species. We employed the broth microdilution method, the checkerboard titration technique and comprehensive phytochemical analyses to define interactions between nanoparticles and active compounds from carnivorous plants. It has been confirmed that P. aeruginosa is resistant to a broad range of secondary metabolites from carnivorous plants, i.e., naphthoquinones, flavonoids, phenolic acids (MBC = 512 µg mL⁻¹) and only weakly sensitive to their mixtures, i.e., extracts and extracts’ fractions. However, it was shown that the antimicrobial activity of extracts and fractions with a significant level of naphthoquinone (plumbagin) was significantly enhanced by AgNPs. Our studies clearly demonstrated a crucial role of naphthoquinones in AgNPs and extract interaction, as well as depicted the potential of AgNPs to restore the bactericidal activity of naphthoquinones towards P. aeruginosa. Our findings indicate the significant potential of nanoparticles to modulate the activity of selected secondary metabolites and revisit their antimicrobial potential towards human pathogenic bacteria.     

Current Perspectives on the Physiological Activities of Fermented Soybean-Derived Cheonggukjang

Cheonggukjang (CGJ, fermented soybean paste), a traditional Korean fermented dish, has recently emerged as a functional food that improves blood circulation and intestinal regulation. Considering that excessive consumption of refined salt is associated with increased incidence of gastric cancer, high blood pressure, and stroke in Koreans, consuming CGJ may be desirable, as it can be made without salt, unlike other pastes. Soybeans in CGJ are fermented by Bacillus strains (B. subtilis or B. licheniformis), Lactobacillus spp., Leuconostoc spp., and Enterococcus faecium, which weaken the activity of putrefactive bacteria in the intestines, act as antibacterial agents against pathogens, and facilitate the excretion of harmful substances. Studies on CGJ have either focused on improving product quality or evaluating the bioactive substances contained in CGJ. The fermentation process of CGJ results in the production of enzymes and various physiologically active substances that are not found in raw soybeans, including dietary fiber, phospholipids, isoflavones (e.g., genistein and daidzein), phenolic acids, saponins, trypsin inhibitors, and phytic acids. These components prevent atherosclerosis, oxidative stress-mediated heart disease and inflammation, obesity, diabetes, senile dementia, cancer (e.g., breast and lung), and osteoporosis. They have also been shown to have thrombolytic, blood pressure-lowering, lipid-lowering, antimutagenic, immunostimulatory, anti-allergic, antibacterial, anti-atopic dermatitis, anti-androgenetic alopecia, and anti-asthmatic activities, as well as skin improvement properties. In this review, we examined the physiological activities of CGJ and confirmed its potential as a functional food.     

The “Angiogenic Switch” and Functional Resources in Cyclic Sports Athletes

Regular physical activity in cyclic sports can influence the so-called “angiogenic switch”, which is considered as an imbalance between proangiogenic and anti-angiogenic molecules. Disruption of the synthesis of angiogenic molecules can be caused by local changes in tissues under the influence of excessive physical exertion and its consequences, such as chronic oxidative stress and associated hypoxia, metabolic acidosis, sports injuries, etc. A review of publications on signaling pathways that activate and inhibit angiogenesis in skeletal muscles, myocardium, lung, and nervous tissue under the influence of intense physical activity in cyclic sports. Materials: We searched PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Clinical keys, and e-LIBRARY databases for full-text articles published from 2000 to 2020, using keywords and their combinations. Results: An important aspect of adaptation to training loads in cyclic sports is an increase in the number of capillaries in muscle fibers, which improves the metabolism of skeletal muscles and myocardium, as well as nervous and lung tissue. Recent studies have shown that myocardial endothelial cells not only respond to hemodynamic forces and paracrine signals from neighboring cells, but also take an active part in heart remodeling processes, stimulating the growth and contractility of cardiomyocytes or the production of extracellular matrix proteins in myofibroblasts. As myocardial vascularization plays a central role in the transition from adaptive heart hypertrophy to heart failure, further study of the signaling mechanisms involved in the regulation of angiogenesis in the myocardium is important in sports practice. The study of the “angiogenic switch” problem in the cerebrovascular and cardiovascular systems allows us to claim that the formation of new vessels is mediated by a complex interaction of all growth factors. Although the lungs are one of the limiting systems of the body in cyclic sports, their response to high-intensity loads and other environmental stresses is often overlooked. Airway epithelial cells are the predominant source of several growth factors throughout lung organogenesis and appear to be critical for normal alveolarization, rapid alveolar proliferation, and normal vascular development. There are many controversial questions about the role of growth factors in the physiology and pathology of the lungs. The presented review has demonstrated that when doing sports, it is necessary to give a careful consideration to the possible positive and negative effects of growth factors on muscles, myocardium, lung tissue, and brain. Primarily, the “angiogenic switch” is important in aerobic sports (long distance running). Conclusions: Angiogenesis is a physiological process of the formation of new blood capillaries, which play an important role in the functioning of skeletal muscles, myocardium, lung, and nervous tissue in athletes. Violation of the “angiogenic switch” as a balance between proangiogenic and anti-angiogenic molecules can lead to a decrease in the functional resources of the nervous, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems in athletes and, as a consequence, to a decrease in sports performance.     

(S)-Reutericyclin: Susceptibility Testing and In Vivo Effect on Murine Fecal Microbiome and Volatile Organic Compounds

We aimed to assess the in vitro antimicrobial activity and the in vivo effect on the murine fecal microbiome and volatile organic compound (VOC) profile of (S)-reutericyclin. The antimicrobial activity of (S)-reutericyclin was tested against Clostridium difficile, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus (S.) epidermidis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Propionibacterium acnes. Reutericyclin or water were gavage fed to male BALBc mice for 7 weeks. Thereafter stool samples underwent 16S based microbiome analysis and VOC analysis by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). (S)-reutericyclin inhibited growth of S. epidermidis only. Oral (S)-reutericyclin treatment caused a trend towards reduced alpha diversity. Beta diversity was significantly influenced by reutericyclin. Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) analysis showed an increase of Streptococcus and Muribaculum as well as a decrease of butyrate producing Ruminoclostridium, Roseburia and Eubacterium in the reutericyclin group. VOC analysis revealed significant increases of pentane and heptane and decreases of 2,3-butanedione and 2-heptanone in reutericyclin animals. The antimicrobial activity of (S)-reutericyclin differs from reports of (R)-reutericyclin with inhibitory effects on a multitude of Gram-positive bacteria reported in the literature. In vivo (S)-reutericyclin treatment led to a microbiome shift towards dysbiosis and distinct alterations of the fecal VOC profile.     

Molecular Mechanisms of the Deregulation of Muscle Contraction Induced by the R90P Mutation in Tpm3.12 and the Weakening of This Effect by BDM and W7

Point mutations in the genes encoding the skeletal muscle isoforms of tropomyosin can cause a range of muscle diseases. The amino acid substitution of Arg for Pro residue in the 90th position (R90P) in γ-tropomyosin (Tpm3.12) is associated with congenital fiber type disproportion and muscle weakness. The molecular mechanisms underlying muscle dysfunction in this disease remain unclear. Here, we observed that this mutation causes an abnormally high Ca²⁺-sensitivity of myofilaments in vitro and in muscle fibers. To determine the critical conformational changes that myosin, actin, and tropomyosin undergo during the ATPase cycle and the alterations in these changes caused by R90P replacement in Tpm3.12, we used polarized fluorimetry. It was shown that the R90P mutation inhibits the ability of tropomyosin to shift towards the outer domains of actin, which is accompanied by the almost complete depression of troponin’s ability to switch actin monomers off and to reduce the amount of the myosin heads weakly bound to F-actin at a low Ca²⁺. These changes in the behavior of tropomyosin and the troponin–tropomyosin complex, as well as in the balance of strongly and weakly bound myosin heads in the ATPase cycle may underlie the occurrence of both abnormally high Ca²⁺-sensitivity and muscle weakness. BDM, an inhibitor of myosin ATPase activity, and W7, a troponin C antagonist, restore the ability of tropomyosin for Ca²⁺-dependent movement and the ability of the troponin–tropomyosin complex to switch actin monomers off, demonstrating a weakening of the damaging effect of the R90P mutation on muscle contractility.     

Investigation of the Anti-Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Activity of (+)-Tanikolide- and (+)-Malyngolide-Based Analogues Prepared by Asymmetric Synthesis

Herein, we report antibacterial and antifungal evaluation of a series of previously prepared (+)-tanikolide analogues. One analogue, (4S,6S)-4-methyltanikolide, displayed promising anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus activity with a MIC of 12.5 µg/mL. Based on the antimicrobial properties of the structurally related (−)-malyngolide, two further analogues (4S,6S)-4-methylmalyngolide and (4R,6S)-4-methylmalyngolide bearing a shortened n-nonyl alkyl side chain were prepared in the present study using a ZrCl₄-catalysed deprotection/cyclisation as the key step in their asymmetric synthesis. When these were tested for activity against anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, the MIC increased to 50 µg/mL.     

DMFC阳极催化剂用GRQD-NiCo2O4复合物的制备与电催化活性分析

采用水热法制备GRQD-NiCo₂O₄复合物,利用XRD、SEM及TEM分析其微结构,并探讨其作为DMFC阳极催化剂使用时的电化学性能。微结构分析表明所得GRQD-NiCo₂O₄复合物皆为具NiCo₂O₄单一相的尖晶石结构,且GRQD质量浓度高于0.25 g/mL后表面形貌将转变GRQD与NiCo₂O₄相互结合的状态。电化学分析表明添加GRQD可有效增强NiCo₂O₄的导电性并提升其电化学稳定性,其中GRQD质量浓度为0.25 g/mL时所得样品经500次循环测试后电流密度约为77.5 A/g,与循环5次后相比其电流密度剩余量最大（约为69.7%）,该样品作为DMFC阳极催化剂使用时性价比最佳。     

粉煤灰的活性激发与机理研究进展

粉煤灰是燃煤电厂中煤粉燃烧后的固体废弃物,其日益累积不但会占用大量土地资源,还会破坏原有的自然环境,造成严重污染,近年来粉煤灰的处理和资源化利用受到广泛关注。激发粉煤灰的潜在活性是提高粉煤灰综合利用率的关键。对粉煤灰的物理活性和化学活性来源进行了介绍,并对粉煤灰活性的物理激发、水热激发及化学激发技术与激发机理进行了综述,为后续粉煤灰的活化研究和大规模利用提供了参考。不同手段均能激发粉煤灰活性,但采用单一手段激发时存在活化成本高、激发程度低等问题。未来粉煤灰激发技术将朝着多种手段并用的方向发展。     

柠檬酸复合改性对多环芳烃选择性开环铂/Beta催化剂性能的影响

通过水热处理、柠檬酸处理及其复合处理对Beta分子筛进行后改性,并以改性后的载体制得铂/Beta催化剂。采用X射线衍射（XRD）、X射线荧光光谱仪（XRF）、程序升温脱附（NH₃-TPD）、红外吡啶吸附（Py-IR）、骨架铝核磁共振技术（²⁷Al MAS NMR）及骨架硅核磁共振技术（²⁹Si MAS NMR）等表征了改性前后Beta分子筛的物化性质,并考察了改性前后铂/Beta的多环芳烃选择性开环性能。结果表明,Beta分子筛在柠檬酸处理过程中可同时发生络合脱铝与骨架补铝,实现骨架铝的再分布;Beta分子筛在水热处理过程中优先脱除稳定性相对较低的Si（2 Al）处骨架铝,产生骨架缺陷的同时生成一定比例的二次介孔结构;水热-柠檬酸复合处理影响Beta分子筛骨架补铝及骨架铝再分布的效果,水热处理后Beta分子筛中存在更多的骨架缺陷,促进活性Al（OH）₂⁺物种的骨架补铝作用。当Beta分子筛采用水热-柠檬酸复合处理顺序时,骨架补铝及骨架铝再分布效果显著,样品以中强酸为主,且具有较高的B酸量与L酸量的比值,所制备催化剂的多环芳烃选择性开环活性及稳定性最优。     

温度对CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-MgO高炉渣系Al2O3活度的影响

 Al₂O₃作为熔渣中的主要组元之一,其对熔渣的冶金性能的影响尤为突出。对于高炉炼铁而言,高炉渣中Al₂O₃增加会对炼铁及脱硫造成不利影响。然而,随着中国钢铁工业的不断发展,相对低廉的高Al₂O₃进口铁矿石使用量不断攀升,使得高炉渣中Al₂O₃含量明显增加,高炉渣中Al₂O₃质量分数往往大于15%,更高的甚至大于20%。目前关于高Al₂O₃高炉渣系中Al₂O₃组元的热力学性质(例如采用参考渣法测定Al₂O₃的活度)及其对炉渣冶金性能的影响等研究鲜有报道,而温度是影响冶金熔渣冶金性能的重要热力学因素之一,因此探讨温度对冶金熔渣中Al₂O₃组元活度影响的规律不仅具有重要的研究意义,同时也为现场实践提供坚实的理论依据。采用参考渣法对1 773～1 873 K温度条件下CaO-SiO₂-Al₂O₃-MgO高炉渣系Al₂O₃活度进行测定,并采用Raman光谱对熔渣的结构进行检测。考察了温度对CaO-SiO₂-Al₂O₃-MgO高炉渣系Al₂O₃活度的影响。结果表明,随着温度的增加,熔渣中Al₂O₃的化学势降低,熔渣与铜金属熔液之间的反应向右移动来达到新的平衡,因而Al₂O₃的活度随着温度的增加逐渐降低。温度的增加使熔渣中Al₂O₃与碱性金属氧化物发生反应,使钙铝酸盐(CaO·Al₂O₃和CaO·2Al₂O₃)和镁铝酸盐(MgO·Al₂O₃)等复合物生成量增加,此时熔渣的结构由于O2-的增加而逐渐发生解聚,熔渣中的自由Al₂O₃减少,从而导致Al₂O₃活度逐渐降低。