CD1 and iNKT cells mediate immune responses against the GBS hemolytic lipid toxin induced by a non-toxic analog

Although hemolytic lipids have been discovered from many human pathogens including Group B Streptococcus (GBS), strategies that neutralize their function are lacking. GBS is a leading cause of pregnancy-associated neonatal infections, and adult GBS infections are on the rise. The GBS hemolytic lipid toxin or granadaene, is cytotoxic to many immune cells including T and B cells. We previously showed that mice immunized with a synthetic nontoxic analog of granadaene known as R-P4 had reduced bacterial dissemination during systemic infection. However, mechanisms important for R-P4 mediated immune protection was not understood. Here, we show that immune serum from R-P4-immunized mice facilitate GBS opsonophagocytic killing and protect naïve mice from GBS infection. Further, CD4+ T cells isolated from R-P4-immunized mice proliferated in response to R-P4 stimulation in a CD1d- and iNKT cell-dependent manner. Consistent with these observations, R-P4 immunized mice lacking CD1d or CD1d-restricted iNKT cells exhibit elevated bacterial burden. Additionally, adoptive transfer of iNKT cells from R-P4 vaccinated mice significantly reduced GBS dissemination compared to adjuvant controls. Finally, maternal R-P4 vaccination provided protection against ascending GBS infection during pregnancy. These findings are relevant in the development of therapeutic strategies targeting lipid cytotoxins.

Synthesis and Functionalization of Allenes by Direct Pd-Catalyzed Organolithium Cross-Coupling

A palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling between in situ generated allenyl/propargyl-lithium species and aryl bromides to yield highly functionalized allenes is reported. The direct and selective formation of allenic products preventing the corresponding isomeric propargylic product is accomplished by the choice of SPhos or XPhos based Pd catalysts. The methodology avoids the prior transmetalation to other transition metals or reverse approaches that required prefunctionalization of substrates with leaving groups, resulting in a fast and efficient approach for the synthesis of tri- and tetrasubstituted allenes. Experimental and theoretical studies on the mechanism show catalyst control of selectivity in this allene formation.

Carbon Nanotubes Conjugated with Triazole-Based Tetrathiafulvalene-Type Receptors for C60 Recognition

Fullerene receptors prepared by a twofold Cu^I -catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction with π-extended tetrathiafulvalene (exTTF) have been covalently linked to single-walled carbon nanotubes and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The nanoconjugates obtained were characterized by several analytical, spectroscopic and microscopic techniques (TEM, FTIR, Raman, TGA and XPS), and evaluated as C₆₀ receptors by using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The complexation between the exTTF-triazole receptor in the free state and C₆₀ was also studied by UV-Vis and ¹ H NMR titrations, and compared with analogous triazole-based tweezer-type receptors containing the electron-acceptor 11,11,12,12-tetracyano-9,10-anthraquinodimethane and benzene rings instead of exTTF motifs, providing in all cases very similar values for the association constant (log K_a ≈3.0-3.1). Theoretical density functional theory calculations demonstrated that the enhanced interaction between the host and the guest upon increasing the size of the π-conjugated arms of the tweezer is compensated by an increase in the energy penalty needed to distort the geometry of the host to wrap C₆₀ .

Electroactive carbon nanoforms: a comparative study via sequential arylation and click chemistry reactions

The reactivity of several carbon nanoforms (CNFs), single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and graphene, has been investigated through a combination of arylation and click chemistry Cu(I)-mediated azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reactions. The approach is based on the incorporation of electroactive π-extended tetrathiafulvalene (exTTF) units into the triazole linkers to modulate the electronic properties of the obtained conjugates. The introduction of strain, by bending the planar graphene sheet into a 3D carbon framework, is responsible for the singular reactivity observed in carbon nanotubes. The formed nanoconjugates were fully characterized by analytical, spectroscopic, and microscopic techniques (TGA, FTIR, Raman, UV-Vis-NIR, cyclic voltammetry, TEM and XPS). In the case of SWCNT conjugates, where the functionalization degree is higher, a series of steady-state and time resolved spectroscopy experiments revealed a photoinduced electron transfer from the exTTF unit to the electron-accepting SWCNT.