Background Melophagus ovinus (Diptera: Hippoboscidae), a hematophagous ectoparasite, is mainly found in Europe, Northwestern Africa, and Asia. This wingless fly infests sheep, rabbits, and red foxes, and causes inflammation, wool loss and skin damage. Furthermore, this parasite has been shown to transmit diseases, and plays a role as a vector. Herein, we investigated the presence of various Rickettsia species in M. ovinus.MethodsIn this study, a total of 95 sheep keds were collected in Kuqa County and Alaer City southern region of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwestern China. First, collected sheep keds were identified on the species level using morphological keys and molecular methods based on a fragment of the 18S ribosomal DNA gene (18S rDNA). Thereafter, to assess the presence of rickettsial DNA in sheep keds, the DNA of individual samples was screened by PCR based on six Rickettsia-specific gene fragments originating from six genes: the 17-kilodalton antigen gene (17-kDa), 16S rRNA gene (rrs), surface cell antigen 4 gene (sca4), citrate synthase gene (gltA), and outer membrane protein A and B genes (ompA and ompB). The amplified products were confirmed by sequencing and BLAST analysis (https://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi?PROGRAM=blastn&PAGE_TYPE=BlastSearch&LINK_LOC=blasthome).ResultsAccording to its morphology and results of molecular analysis, the species was identified as Melophagus ovinus, with 100% identity to M. ovinus from St. Kilda, Australia (FN666411). DNA of Rickettsia spp. were found in 12 M. ovinus samples (12.63%, 12/95). Rickettsia raoultii and R. slovaca were confirmed based on phylogenetic analysis, although the genetic markers of these two rickettsial agents amplified in this study showed molecular diversity.ConclusionsThis is the first report of R. raoultii and R. slovaca DNA in M. ovinus. Rickettsia slovaca was found for the first time around the Taklimakan Desert located in China. This finding extends the geographical range of spotted fever group rickettsiae. Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1885-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
BackgroundErxian decoction (EXD) is used to treat menopause-related symptoms in Chinese medicine. This study aims to identify the bioactive compounds and potential actions of EXD by network pharmacological analysis.MethodsTwo databases, the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database and TCM Database@Taiwan, were used to retrieve literature of phytochemicals of EXD. STITCH 4.0 and the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database were used to search for compound–protein and compound–gene interactions, respectively. DAVID Bioinformatics Resources 6.7 and Cytoscape 3.01 with Jepetto plugin software were used to perform a network pharmacological analysis of EXD.ResultsA total of 721 compounds were identified in EXD, of which 155 exhibited 2,656 compound–protein interactions with 1,963 associated proteins determined by STITCH4.0 database, and of which 210 had 14,893 compound–gene interactions with 8,536 associated genes determined by Comparative Toxicogenomics Database. Sixty three compounds of EXD followed the Lipinski’s Rule with OB ≥30% and DL index ≥0.18, of which 20 related to 34 significant pathway- or 12 gene- associated with menopause.ConclusionsTwenty compounds were identified by network pharmacology as potential effective ingredients of EXD for relieving menopause with acceptable oral bioavailability and druggability.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13020-015-0051-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
2019): Pathway Complexity in the Stacking of Imine-linked Macrocycles Related to Two-Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks. ChemRxiv. Preprint.This work reports on the assembly of imine-linked macrocycles that serve as models of two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs). Interlayer interactions play an important role in the formation of 2DCOFs, yet the effect of monomer structure on COF formation, crystallinity, and susceptibility to exfoliation are not well understood. For example, monomers with both electron-rich and electron-poor π-electron systems have been proposed to strengthen interlayer inter-actions and improve crystallinity. Here we probe these effects by studying the stacking behavior of imine-linked macrocycles that represent discrete models of 2D COFs.Specifically, macrocycles based on terephthaldehyde (PDA) or 2,5-dimethoxyterephthaldehyde (DMPDA) stack upon cooling molecularly dissolved solutions. Both macrocycles assemble cooperatively with similar ΔHe values of -97 kJ/mol and -101 kJ/mol, respectively, although the DMPDA macrocycle assembly process showed a more straightforward temperature dependence. Circular dichroism spectroscopy performed on macrocycles bearing chiral side chains revealed a helix reversion process for the PDA macrocycles that was not observed for the DMPDA macrocycles.Given the structural similarity of these monomers, these findings demonstrate that the stacking processes associated with nanotubes derived from these macrocycles, as well as for the corresponding COFs, are complex and susceptible to kinetic traps, casting doubt on the relevance of thermodynamic arguments for improving materials quality. File list (3) download file view on ChemRxiv 2019_03_ChemRxiv_MacrocycleAssembly_Wang_Manus... (6.99 MiB) download file view on ChemRxiv 2019_03_ChemRxiv_MacrocycleAssembly_Wang_SI.pdf (2.98 MiB) download file view on ChemRxiv TOC3.tiff (177.29 KiB)
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