Direct Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein by Peracetic Acid

Peracetic acid (PAA) disinfectants are effective against a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Several studies have shown the efficacy of PAA against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); however, its efficacy in SARS-CoV-2 variants and the molecular mechanism of action of PAA against SARS-CoV-2 have not been investigated. SARS-CoV-2 infection depends on the recognition and binding of the cell receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) via the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein. Here, we demonstrated that PAA effectively suppressed pseudotyped virus infection in the Wuhan type and variants, including Delta and Omicron. Similarly, PAA reduced the authentic viral load of SARS-CoV-2. Computational analysis suggested that the hydroxyl radicals produced by PAA cleave the disulfide bridges in the RBD. Additionally, the PAA treatment decreased the abundance of the Wuhan- and variant-type spike proteins. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed direct inhibition of RBD-ACE2 interactions by PAA. In conclusion, the PAA treatment suppressed SARS-CoV-2 infection, which was dependent on the inhibition of the interaction between the spike RBD and ACE2 by inducing spike protein destabilization. Our findings provide evidence of a potent disinfection strategy against SARS-CoV-2.     

Anammox Bacterial S-Adenosyl-l-Methionine Dependent Methyltransferase Crystal Structure and Its Interaction with Acyl Carrier Proteins

Ladderane lipids (found in the membranes of anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing [anammox] bacteria) have unique ladder-like hydrophobic groups, and their highly strained exotic structure has attracted the attention of scientists. Although enzymes encoded in type II fatty acid biosynthesis (FASII) gene clusters in anammox bacteria, such as S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM)-dependent enzymes, have been proposed to construct a ladder-like structure using a substrate connected to acyl carrier protein from anammox bacteria (AmxACP), no experimental evidence to support this hypothesis was reported to date. Here, we report the crystal structure of a SAM-dependent methyltransferase from anammox bacteria (AmxMT1) that has a substrate and active site pocket between a class I SAM methyltransferase-like core domain and an additional α-helix inserted into the core domain. Structural comparisons with homologous SAM-dependent C-methyltransferases in polyketide synthase, AmxACP pull-down assays, AmxACP/AmxMT1 complex structure predictions by AlphaFold, and a substrate docking simulation suggested that a small compound connected to AmxACP could be inserted into the pocket of AmxMT1, and then the enzyme transfers a methyl group from SAM to the substrate to produce branched lipids. Although the enzymes responsible for constructing the ladder-like structure remain unknown, our study, for the first time, supports the hypothesis that biosynthetic intermediates connected to AmxACP are processed by SAM-dependent enzymes, which are not typically involved in the FASII system, to produce the ladder-like structure of ladderane lipids in anammox bacteria.     

Effects of Streamer Discharge on PM2.5 Containing Endotoxins and Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons and Their Biological Responses In Vitro

Experimental and epidemiological studies have demonstrated that fine particulate matter with a diameter of <2.5 μm (PM2.5) affects both the respiratory and immune systems. However, effective approaches to reduce PM2.5-induced hazardous effects have not been discovered yet. Streamer discharge is a category of plasma discharge in which high-speed electrons collide with oxygen and nitrogen molecules. Although streamer discharge can reportedly eliminate bacteria, molds, chemical substances, and allergens, its ability to decontaminate PM2.5 has not been previously demonstrated. The present study explored whether streamer discharge treatment could reduce PM2.5-induced inflammatory responses by employing an in vitro system. PM2.5 was collected under four conditions (Bangkok (Sep.–Dec.), Bangkok (Dec.–Mar.), Singapore, and Taipei). Airway epithelial cells and antigen-presenting cells exposed to non-treated PM2.5 in several conditions resulted in inflammatory responses. Streamer-discharged PM2.5 (Bangkok (Sep.–Dec.)) decreased the expression of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 compared to non-treated PM2.5. Moreover, composition analysis demonstrated that streamer discharge reduced some compounds, such as endotoxins and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, included in PM2.5 that can elicit inflammatory responses. Streamer discharge treatment can reduce endotoxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and the subsequent inflammatory responses induced by PM2.5 in vitro.     

Effect of defects on the fatigue limit of Ni‐based superalloy 718 with different grain sizes

Tension‐compression fatigue tests were performed on two types of Ni‐based superalloy 718 with different microstructures in which small artificial defects of various sizes and shapes were introduced. The susceptibility of the fatigue strength to the defects varied significantly with the microstructure morphology, ie, a smaller grain size made the alloy more susceptible to defects. The fatigue limit as a small‐crack threshold was successfully predicted using the parameter model. The evaluation of the fatigue limit was classified into the following three stages depending on the defect size: (a) harmless defect regime, (b) small‐crack regime, and (c) large‐crack regime. Such a classification enabled comprehensive evaluation of the fatigue limit in a wide range of defect size, considering (a) defect size over a range of small crack to large crack and (b) characteristics of matrix represented by grain size and hardness.     

Dynamically-Stable Motion Planning for Humanoid Robots

We present an approach to path planning for humanoid robots that computes dynamically-stable, collision-free trajectories from full-body posture goals. Given a geometric model of the environment and a statically-stable desired posture, we search the configuration space of the robot for a collision-free path that simultaneously satisfies dynamic balance constraints. We adapt existing randomized path planning techniques by imposing balance constraints on incremental search motions in order to maintain the overall dynamic stability of the final path. A dynamics filtering function that constrains the ZMP (zero moment point) trajectory is used as a post-processing step to transform statically-stable, collision-free paths into dynamically-stable, collision-free trajectories for the entire body. Although we have focused our experiments on biped robots with a humanoid shape, the method generally applies to any robot subject to balance constraints (legged or not). The algorithm is presented along with computed examples using both simulated and real humanoid robots.     

Inhibitory effect of alginic acids on hyaluronidase and on histamine release from mast cells

The effects of various types of alginic acid consisting of L-guluronic acids (G) and D-mannuronic acids (M) on hyaluronidase and mast cell degranulation were examined. Alginic acid with an M/G ratio of 1.0 exhibited the strongest inhibition of both activities, the higher molecular weight alginic acids of 150 to 370 kDa being preferable in both cases. Esterification of the carboxyl residue enhanced the latter activity.     

Secondary structures of synthetic peptides corresponding to the first membrane-contact portion of normal band 3 and its deletion mutant (Southeast Asian ovalocytosis)

The heat shock response (HSR) was characterized in the gills of two lamprey species that differ with respect to their adult life history. In vivo labelling with [35S]methionine revealed an enhanced synthesis of heat shock proteins (HSPs) having approximate molecular weights of 70 kDa (HSP70) and 90 kDa (HSP90) following heat treatment. Induction of the HSR occurred in larval lampreys (ammocoetes) following temperature elevations of 13-16 degrees C for the parasitic species, the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) and 16-20 degrees C for the nonparasitic species, the brook lamprey (Lampetra appendix). The case in L. appendix represents the greatest increase in temperature required to induce the HSR in gill tissue among aquatic poikilotherms studied to data and induction occurs within a temperature range (25-29 degrees C) not normally experienced by these animals. Western blotting detected the presence of 70 and 90 kDa HSPs and HSP70 levels were greater in post-metamorphic L. appendix than in ammocoetes both before and after heat shock. The HSR of lampreys appears to be induced during times of emergency when large, rapid temperature increases are experienced. The high set-point temperature for induction of the response may be a consequence of both the environments they presently inhabit and their experiences during evolution.     

Single-shot microscopic electron imaging of intense femtosecond laser-produced plasmas

A simple technique for single-shot microscopic electron imaging was demonstrated for the study of intense femtosecond laser-produced plasmas. Passed through a permanent magnet lens designed for 110-keV electrons, hot electrons emitted from the plasma produced by a single laser pulse of 0.8 mJ with intensity of 3 × 10(16) W/cm(2) were successfully imaged. Analyzing this image, we found that electrons were emitted from an area of 3 μm in diameter. At higher laser intensity of 10(18) W/cm(2), distinct structures were observed in and near the focal spot of the laser; that is, the electrons were emitted from several separate spots. These results show that laser-plasma electron imaging is promising for studying the interactions of femtosecond lasers with high-density plasmas.