Selenium biotransformations in an insect ecosystem: effects of insects on phytoremediation

Phytoremediation of selenium-contaminated soils may be influenced by higher trophic levels including insects. We examined how selenium affects the behavior, survival, and development of the wasp parasitoid Cotesia marginiventris, parasitizing its natural host, the beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua, feeding on alfalfa, Medicago sativa, irrigated with water containing selenate. X-ray absorption spectroscopy was used to quantify the selenium chemical forms in each trophic level. Alfalfa partially transformed selenate to organoselenium. S. exigua contained only organoselenium, both directly absorbed from M. sativa and transformed from selenate. C. marginiventris cocoons collected shortly after larval emergence contained only organoselenium derived from the host. The surprising finding of trimethylselenonium-like species in adult parasitoids and the cocoons from which they emerged suggests that adults and pharates can detoxify excess selenium through methylation and volatilization. Adult parasitoids do not discriminate against selenium-containing alfalfa, even though alfalfa generates selenium volatiles. Parasitoids raised on selenium-fed larvae emerged later and pupae weighed less than their selenium-free counterparts. We conclude therefore that C. marginiventris can be used to control S. exigua damage to M. sativa being used to remove selenium from soils. Moreover, the presence of such insects may improve phytoremediation by increasing biotransformation of inorganic selenium and release of volatile selenium species.     

Characterization of the binding site for inhibitors of the HPV11 E1-E2 protein interaction on the E2 transactivation domain by photoaffinity labeling and mass spectrometry

An indandione-containing class of inhibitors abrogates DNA replication of human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11 by binding reversibly to the transactivation domain (TAD) of the viral E2 protein and inhibiting its interaction with the viral E1 helicase. To locate the binding site of this class of protein-protein interaction inhibitors, a benzophenone derivative was used to generate an irreversibly labeled E2-TAD polypeptide. The single site of covalent modification of the E2-TAD was identified by proteolytic digestions using trypsin, LysC, and V8 proteases and characterization of the resulting peptides by LC-MS procedures. Through this methodology, the benzophenone attachment point was located at the terminal methyl of residue Met101. Evidence further pinpointed the site of photoaffinity attachment to the terminal carbon atom, which is significant in providing a definitive example of the ability to locate photoinduced cross-linking to a polypeptide with atomic resolution using solely mass spectrometric detection. The location of the inhibitor binding site vis-à-vis the Glu39 and Glu100 residues sensitive to mutation for HPV 11 E2-TAD is discussed in relation to the crystal structure of the E2-TAD from the related HPV type 16.     

The Oxidation of the Aldehyde Groups in Dialdehyde Starch

This paper describes the difference in relative reactivity of the aldehyde groups present in dialdehyde starch towards different oxidising agents. The oxidation of dialdehyde starch with peracetic acid and sodium bromide leads to only partial oxidation to give mono‐aldehyde‐carboxy starch, while oxidation with sodium chlorite results in dicarboxy derivatives. In order to obtain a more in depth insight into this phenomenon, the products obtained after partial oxidation via both routes were isolated and characterised. The results showed a pronounced difference in preferences between the two carbonyl groups towards the different oxidising agents.     

Complement-Opsonized Nano-Carriers Are Bound by Dendritic Cells (DC) via Complement Receptor (CR)3, and by B Cell Subpopulations via CR-1/2, and Affect the Activation of DC and B-1 Cells

The development of nanocarriers (NC) for biomedical applications has gained large interest due to their potential to co-deliver drugs in a cell-type-targeting manner. However, depending on their surface characteristics, NC accumulate serum factors, termed protein corona, which may affect their cellular binding. We have previously shown that NC coated with carbohydrates to enable biocompatibility triggered the lectin-dependent complement pathway, resulting in enhanced binding to B cells via complement receptor (CR)1/2. Here we show that such NC also engaged all types of splenic leukocytes known to express CR3 at a high rate when NC were pre-incubated with native mouse serum resulting in complement opsonization. By focusing on dendritic cells (DC) as an important antigen-presenting cell type, we show that CR3 was essential for binding/uptake of complement-opsonized NC, whereas CR4, which in mouse is specifically expressed by DC, played no role. Further, a minor B cell subpopulation (B-1), which is important for first-line pathogen responses, and co-expressed CR1/2 and CR3, in general, engaged NC to a much higher extent than normal B cells. Here, we identified CR-1/2 as necessary for binding of complement-opsonized NC, whereas CR3 was dispensable. Interestingly, the binding of complement-opsonized NC to both DC and B-1 cells affected the expression of activation markers. Our findings may have important implications for the design of nano-vaccines against infectious diseases, which codeliver pathogen-specific protein antigen and adjuvant, aimed to induce a broad adaptive cellular and humoral immune response by inducing cytotoxic T lymphocytes that kill infected cells and pathogen-neutralizing antibodies, respectively. Decoration of nano-vaccines either with carbohydrates to trigger complement activation in vivo or with active complement may result in concomitant targeting of DC and B cells and thereby may strongly enhance the extent of dual cellular/humoral immune responses.     

Development and application starch films: PBAT with additives for evaluating the shelf life of Tommy Atkins mango in the fresh-cut state

In this study, formulations of cassava starch and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) flexible films were developed, with glycerol, coconut nanocellulose, annatto, and citric acid in different concentrations, as well as the effectiveness of the selected materials in fresh-cut mangoes storage was evaluated. The tensile strength of the different formulations varied from 1.90 (E4) to 6.65 MPa (E3c), and the strain varied from 206.31 (E1c) to 278.41% (E8); this variation was dependent on the percentage of the polymer matrix incorporated. The a_w values of the formulations ranged from 0.396 (E2) to 0.569 (E3c). The Formulations E4 and E7 (with additives) presented good properties and were selected to condition mangoes. The micrographs of these films showed regions of micropores that can facilitate the diffusion of water from the packaged product to the surface, allowing decreases in moisture and a_w, which is associated with higher color maintenance during fruit storage. E7 presented better barrier properties than E4 (lower values of WVP and water solubility) which may have influenced in a positive way to maintain the stability of the package in the studied period. E7 can be considered as a viable alternative for minimally processed mango storage. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 48150.     

The Distribution of Fatty Acid Biomarkers of Dairy Intake across Serum Lipid Fractions: The Prospective Metabolism and Islet Cell Evaluation (PROMISE) Cohort

Circulating fatty acids (FA) derived largely from dairy consumption have most commonly been measured in total human serum or phospholipid (PL) fractions, and have been used as validated biomarkers of dairy intake in a growing number of epidemiological studies. Nevertheless, measurement and characterization of a wider spectrum of FA biomarkers of dairy across the four major serum lipid fractions is lacking. This study aimed to (1) quantify FA biomarkers of dairy in PL, triacylglycerol (TAG), cholesteryl ester (CE), and unesterified fatty acid (FFA) serum lipid fractions; and (2) identify potential demographic and metabolic factors that may modify the proportions of these FA across serum fractions. Baseline data from 444 adults in the PROMISE cohort were analyzed. FA biomarkers, 15:0, t16:1n-7, 18:2-c9,t11, and t18:1n-7 were quantified from serum. Dairy intake was estimated using the validated Canadian Diet History Questionnaire. Our results show that t18:1n-7 was the most abundant FA biomarker in all fractions except CE, where 18:2-c9,t11 was the most abundant. Positive correlations within fractions, and across FA in the PL, CE, and FFA fractions were found, however, TAG FA were negatively correlated with the other fractions. PL and CE FA were positively associated with dairy intake, and negatively associated with markers of dysmetabolism while, in contrast, these markers were predictors of higher TAG dairy FA. This study is the first to demonstrate distinct proportions of dairy FA in different serum lipid fractions. PL and CE FA marked dairy intake in this cohort, while TAG FA appeared to be markers of dysmetabolism.     

Reinforcement of polypropylene with lignocellulose nanofibrils and compatibilization with biobased polymers

Freeze‐dried and milled lignocellulose nanofibrils (LCNF) were used to reinforce polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites. The LCNF, containing up to 9% lignin, was obtained from residual Empty Palm Fruit Bunch (EPFB) fibers. Soy protein isolate (SPI) and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) were tested as coupling agents as well as maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP), which was used as a reference. A good level of dispersion of LCNF in the PP matrix while mechanical testing and thermal analyses indicated an improvement of the thermo‐mechanical behavior of the nanocomposites was revealed upon loading of the lignin‐containing nanofibrils. The tensile modulus of PP was increased by 15% upon the addition of 1% LCNF with SPI as a compatibilizer. Likewise, the thermal stability of the composites was most markedly enhanced. Overall, LCNF and SPI, two important bioresources, are introduced here for the development of novel and cost‐effective PP‐based composites. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43854.     

Adaptive infill sampling criterion for multi-fidelity optimization based on Gappy-POD

This paper presents a reformulation of the “Gappy Proper Orthogonal Decomposition” (Gappy-POD) multi-fidelity modeling approach and proposes an enrichment criterion associated with an adaptive infill algorithm. The latter is here applied to the study of the flight domain of the RAE-2822 transonic airfoil at two different levels of accuracy to demonstrate its ability to detect areas in a two-dimensional design space where the surrogate model needs improvement to better drive the optimization process.