Complete and Prolonged Inhibition of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Infection In Vitro by CRISPR/Cas9 and CRISPR/CasX Systems

Almost all people become infected with herpes viruses, including herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), during their lifetime. Typically, these viruses persist in a latent form that is resistant to all available antiviral medications. Under certain conditions, such as immunosuppression, the latent forms reactivate and cause disease. Moreover, strains of herpesviruses that are drug-resistant have rapidly emerged. Therefore, it is important to develop alternative methods capable of eradicating herpesvirus infections. One promising direction is the development of CRISPR/Cas systems for the therapy of herpesvirus infections. We aimed to design a CRISPR/Cas system for relatively effective long-term and safe control of HSV-1 infection. Here, we show that plasmids encoding the CRISPR/Cas9 system from Streptococcus pyogenes with a single sgRNA targeting the UL30 gene can completely suppress HSV-1 infection of the Vero cell line within 6 days and provide substantial protection within 9 days. For the first time, we show that CRISPR/CasX from Deltaproteobacteria with a single guide RNA against UL30 almost completely suppresses HSV-1 infection of the Vero cell line for 3 days and provides substantial protection for 6 days. We also found that the Cas9 protein without sgRNAs attenuates HSV-1 infection. Our results show that the developed CRISPR/Cas systems are promising therapeutic approaches to control HSV-1 infections.     

Production of butanol and polyhydroxyalkanoate from industrial waste by Clostridium beijerinckii ASU10

This study demonstrated a biotechnological approach for simultaneous production of low‐cost H₂, liquid biofuels, and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) by solventogenic bacterium (Clostridium beijerinckii) from renewable industrial wastes such as molasses and crude glycerol. C beijerinckii ASU10 (KF372577) exhibited considerable performance for hydrogen production of 5.1 ± 0.84 and 11 ± 0.44 mL H₂ h^?1 on glycerol and sugarcane molasses, respectively. The total acetone‐butanol‐ethanol (ABE) generation from glycerol and molasses was 9.334 ± 2.98 and 10.831 ± 4.1 g L^?1, respectively. ABE productivity (g L^?1 h^?1) was 0.0486 and 0.0564 with a yield rate (g g^?1) up to 0.508 and 0.493 from glycerol and molasses fermentation, respectively. The PHA yields from glycerol and sugarcane molasses were 84.37% and 37.97% of the dried bacterial biomass, respectively. Additionally, the ultrathin section of C beijerinckii ASU10 showed that PHA granules were accumulated more densely on glycerol than molasses. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) analysis confirmed that the PHAs obtained from molasses fermentation included 3‐hydroxybutyrate (47.3%) and 3‐hydroxyoctanoate (52.7%) as the main constituents. Meanwhile, 3‐hydroxybutyrate represented the sole monomer of PHA produced from glycerol fermentation. This study demonstrated that C beijerinckii ASU10 (KF372577) is a potent strain for low‐cost PHA production depending on its high potential to produce high‐energy biofuel and other valuable compounds from utilization of organic waste materials.     

Novel Melt‐Castable Energetic Pyrazole: A Pyrazolyl‐Furazan Framework Bearing Five Nitro Groups

Continuing advances in energetic pyrazole construction foster further its rational use. This work establishes an approach for the first synthesis of nitropyrazole that bear both furazan and trinitromethyl moieties. The approach to the installation of the C(NO₂)₃ group exploits the destructive nitration of N‐acetonyl group. The target 3‐(3,4‐dinitro‐1‐(trinitromethyl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐5‐yl)‐4‐methylfurazan ( 6 ) has promising explosive properties.     

Bio-based poly(ethylene terephthalate) copolyesters made from cyclic monomers derived from tartaric acid

Two cyclic acetal compounds, 2,3-O-methylene L-threitol and dimethyl 2,3-O-methylene L-threarate, both coming from naturally-occurring tartaric acid, were used as comonomers to replace ethylene glycol and dimethyl terephthalate respectively, in the preparation of PET-based copolyesters by polycondensation in the melt. Synthesis results, structure and thermal properties of the two afforded copolyester series were evaluated and compared regarding composition and type of comonomer used in each case. All the copolyesters had a random microstructure and molecular weights in the 25,000–35,000 g·mol⁻¹ range. Their thermal properties varied logically with composition along each series but they significantly changed according to which acetal comonomer was used. PET copolyesters made from acetalized L-threitol displayed thermal stability and T_g comparable to PET, whereas these two properties were depressed in the copolyesters containing threarate units. Both types of copolyesters were able to crystallize for contents in tartaric acid derived units up to around 30% by adopting the crystal structure of PET. Crystallization rates and melting temperatures decreased with copolymerization in the two series but this effect was more noticeable in copolyesters made from threitol.     

Dust dispersal and Pb enrichment at the rare-metal Orlovka-Spokoinoe mining and ore processing site: insights from REE patterns and elemental ratios

Different geological, technogenic and environmental samples from the Orlovka-Spokoinoe Ta-Nb-Sn-W mining site and ore processing complex in Eastern Transbaikalia (Russia), were analysed for Pb, Y, Zr, Hf and rare earth elements (REE) to assess the effect of dust and metal dispersal on the environment within the Orlovka-Spokoinoe mining site. Potential source material analysed included ore-bearing and barren granites, host rocks, tailing pond sediments, and ore concentrates. Lichens and birch leaves were used as receptor samples. The REE enrichment relative to chondrite, the extent of the Eu anomalies, the enrichments of heavy REE (HREE), and Zr/Hf and Yb/Y ratios suggest that tailings, barren granites, and metasedimentary host rocks are the main sources of dust in the studied mining environment. In addition, calculated lead enrichment (relative to host rocks) suggests that the environment is polluted with Pb. Our results clearly demonstrate the potential of REE patterns and elemental ratios as a reliable technique to trace dust and metals sources and dispersal within a confined mining area offering a new tool for environmental assessment studies.     

Beeswax Fractions Used as Potential Oil Gelling Agents

The objective of this work was the fractionation of beeswax to investigate the phase behavior of binary blends of the fractions and their potential use as gelling agents in edible oleogels. We have extracted seven distinctive fractions, using preparative flash chromatography with eluents permitted to be used in the processing of food raw materials. The odor profile of the fractions was characterized. The high purity of collected fractions was shown through thin-layer chromatography, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and high-performance liquid chromatography with an evaporative light scattering detector methods for hydrocarbons (94.8%), monoesters (97.6%), and mixed mono-, di-, and triesters fraction (98.7%). Free fatty acids and fatty alcohol fractions had lower purity which equals 82.6% and 39%, respectively. The analysis of the binary pseudo phase diagram revealed that all fractions combined with hydrocarbons express eutectic behavior. Combinations of all other fractions resulted in the formation of solid solutions. This study shows that the texture of oleogels can be improved by using a combination of various fractions of beeswax instead of native wax.     

Method for Detecting of Clone Areas in a Digital Image under Conditions of Additional Attacks

Journal of Signal Processing Systems - The presented new method for detecting of clone areas in a digital image is effective in conditions of disturbing effects on the image that are additional to...     

The index of ideality of correlation: hierarchy of Monte Carlo models for glass transition temperatures of polymers

Glass transition temperatures of polymers were modelled by means of the CORAL software available on the Internet (http://www.insilico.eu/coral). The architecture of monomers was represented via simplified molecular input line entry systems (SMILES). Three random splits into the training and validation sets were tested to build up quantitative structure - property relationships (QSPRs). The index of Ideality of Correlation (IIC) represents a new measure of predictive potential. Application of the IIC as the criterion of predictive potential for the calibration set was tested in this work and resulted in correct recommendations for selection of the best model from three different models considered here.