Optimierung und quantitative Auswertung eines hochsensitiven Reverse Transkriptase-Aktivitäts Assays

Ziel dieser Arbeit war die Vereinfachung und Optimierung der bekannten hochsensitiven RT-Nachweisverfahren. Hochsensitive RT-Nachweisverfahren bestehen aus der Generierung von cDNA aus einem heteropolymeren Template mit anschließender Amplifikation der entstandenen cDNA mittels PCR. Bei den ersten in der Literatur beschriebenen Verfahren zum hochsensitiven RT-Aktivitätsnachweis mit PCR-Amplifikationsschritt (PERT, Pyra 1994; AmpRT, Heneine 1995) handelt es sich um qualitative Verfahren mit Gel-Elektrophorese und Ethidiumbromid Färbung der PCR-Produkte als Read-out. Von diesen beschriebenen Verfahren wurde die Auswahl des heteropolymeren RNA-Templates und der grundsätzliche Ablauf, sowie einige Überlegungen zur Optimierung übernommen. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurden neue, optimierte Primersequenzen für den RT-Schritt sowie für den PCR-Amplifikationsschritt entworfen. Diese Primersequenzen ermöglichen die Untersuchung der RT-Aktivität im Verlauf des RNA-Templates sowie die Untersuchung des Einflusses von RT-Inhibitoren. Es wurden die üblichen Optimierungsschritte wie MgCl2-Titration, Titration der Primerkonzentration und Variation der Annealing-Temperatur durchgeführt. Um eine Kontamination im Sinne eines Carry-over von PCR-Produkten zu verhindern, wurde ein UNG/dUTP System integriert und in seiner Wirksamkeit überprüft. Zwei verschiedene quantitative Read-out Verfahren wurden verglichen: Die Bestimmung der Menge an entstandenem PCR-Produkt am Ende des PCR-Schrittes stellte sich als arbeitsaufwändig heraus und ermöglichte nur einen geringem linearen Messbereich. Die Real-Time-Quantifizierung zeigte dagegen einen weiten linearen Messbereich und benötigt nach dem PCR-Schritt keine zusätzlichen Arbeitsschritte. Es konnte somit die Überlegenheit des Nachweises mittels Real-Time-PCR im Vergleich zur Endpunkt-Bestimmung gezeigt werden. Zur Real-Time Quantifizierung wurde für die Fluoreszenz-Detektion statt einer Exonuklease-Sonde (TM-PERT, TaqMan-Verfahren, z.B. von Maudru 1998 beschrieben) ein Molecular Beacon verwendet. Auch hier wurden die üblichen Optimierungsverfahren (Sonden-Titration, Einsaatmenge cDNA) durchgeführt. Mit dem entwickelten Verfahren können so geringste Mengen von RT-Aktivität, entsprechend ca. 40 Viruspartikeln mit hoher Kontaminationssicherheit und hoher Spezifität nachgewiesen werden. Es konnte das Ansprechen auf nukleosidische RT-Inhibitoren gesteigert werden, mit der Möglichkeit phänotypische Resistenztests auch gegen AZT durchzuführen. Zahlreiche viel versprechende Anwendungsgebiete des RT-Aktivitäts Nachweises mit dem hier etablierten Test sind jedoch derzeit für die Routineanwendung nicht zugänglich, solange die Probleme durch unspezifische Inhibitoren, wie sie beispielsweise im Blutplasma vorkommen, nicht gelöst sind. Um dieses Nachweisverfahren für die virologische Diagnostik einzuführen, wird ein stabiles und einfaches Aufreinigungsverfahren für RT aus Blutplasma von Patienten benötigt

Dynamical mean-field study of ferromagnetism in the periodic Anderson model

The ferromagnetic phase diagram of the periodic Anderson model is calculated using dynamical mean-field theory in combination with the modified perturbation theory. Concentrating on the intermediate valence regime, the phase boundaries are established as function of the total electron density, the position of the atomic level and the hybridization strength. The main contribution to the magnetic moment stems from the f-electrons. The conduction band polarization is, depending on the system parameters either parallel or antiparallel to the f-magnetization. By investigating the densities of states, one observes that the change of sign of the conduction band polarization is closely connected to the hybridization gap, which is only apparent in the case of almost complete polarization of the f-electrons. Finite-temperature calculations are also performed, the Curie temperature as function of electron density and f-level position are determined. In the intermediate-valence regime, the phase transitions are found to be of second order.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figures, accepted by Phys. Rev.

Exploring the Full Potential of Photocatalytic Carbon Dioxide Reduction Using a Dinuclear Re2Cl2 Complex Assisted by Various Photosensitizers

Photosensitizing units have already been applied to enable light-driven catalytic reduction of CO2 with mononuclear rhenium complexes. However, dinuclear catalytic systems that are able to activate CO2 in a cooperative bimetallic fashion have only rarely been combined with photosensitizers. We here present detailed studies on the influence of additional photosensitizers on the catalytic performance of a dirhenium complex (Re2Cl2) and present correlations with spectroscopic measurements, which shed light on the reaction mechanism. The use of [Ir(dFppy)3] (Ir, dFppy=2-(4,6-difluorophenyl)pyridine)) resulted in considerably faster CO2 to CO transformation than [Cu(xant)(bcp)]PF6 (Cu, xant=xantphos, bcp=bathocuproine). Emission quenching studies, transient absorption as well as IR spectroscopy provide information about the electron transfer paths of the intermolecular systems. It turned out that formation of double reduced species [Re2Cl2]2− along with an intermediate with a Re−Re bond ([ReRe]) can be taken as an indication of multi-electron storage capacity. Furthermore, under catalytic conditions a CO2-bridged intermediate was identified.German Research FoundationDFG http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001659Peer Reviewe

A Dinuclear Re Complex as a Multi Talent – Photocatalysis and Electrocatalysis combined with Spectroscopy

Mononuclear rhenium complexes have been widely studied as photo- and electrocatalysts. However, dinuclear systems with cooperative properties have rarely been investigated. On the basis of two homobimetallic rhenium complexes, we report the synthesis and characterization of two isomers and their photo- and electrochemical properties. By combining the respective isomer with the photosensitizer [Ir(dFppy)3] (Ir, dFppy=2-(4,6-difluorophenyl) pyridine)) enhanced CO2 to CO transformation could be observed and by further spectroscopic investigations the reaction mechanism could be fathomed. The observed enhanced catalytic activity compared to monometallic systems derives from the cooperative Re−Re interaction through two electron reduction on the complex (and thereby formation of an intermediate species with a Re−Re bond). Using LSV measurements the cooperative CO2 activation was also observed for one of the isomers, cisL1-Re2Cl2, in electrocatalytic measurements. The two isomers have a somewhat lower catalytic activity than earlier prepared geometric isomers, but show better catalytic properties than their mononuclear counterpart.priority program 2102 Light-controlled reactivity of metal complexesPeer Reviewe

Experimenting with robotic intra-logistics domains

We introduce the asprilo [1] framework to facilitate experimental studies of approaches addressing complex dynamic applications. For this purpose, we have chosen the domain of robotic intra-logistics. This domain is not only highly relevant in the context of today's fourth industrial revolution but it moreover combines a multitude of challenging issues within a single uniform framework. This includes multi-agent planning, reasoning about action, change, resources, strategies, etc. In return, asprilo allows users to study alternative solutions as regards effectiveness and scalability. Although asprilo relies on Answer Set Programming and Python, it is readily usable by any system complying with its fact-oriented interface format. This makes it attractive for benchmarking and teaching well beyond logic programming. More precisely, asprilo consists of a versatile benchmark generator, solution checker and visualizer as well as a bunch of reference encodings featuring various ASP techniques. Importantly, the visualizer's animation capabilities are indispensable for complex scenarios like intra-logistics in order to inspect valid as well as invalid solution candidates. Also, it allows for graphically editing benchmark layouts that can be used as a basis for generating benchmark suites. [1] asprilo stands for Answer Set Programming for robotic intra-logisticsComment: Paper presented at the 34nd International Conference on Logic Programming (ICLP 2018), Oxford, UK, July 14 to July 17, 2018 18 pages, LaTeX, 8 PDF figures (arXiv:YYMM.NNNNN

Milk oligosaccharides: a review

Milk oligosaccharides (OSs) confer unique health benefits to the neonate. Although human digestive enzymes cannot degrade these sugars, they support specific commensal microbes and act as decoys to prevent the adhesion of pathogenic micro-organisms to gastrointestinal cells. The limited availability of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) impedes research into these molecules and their potential applications in functional food formulations. Recent studies show that complex OSs with fucose and N-acetyl neuraminic acid (key structural elements of HMO bioactivity) also exist in caprine milk, suggesting a potential source of bioactive milk OSs suitable as a functional food ingredient

A nearby m star with three transiting super-earths discovered by k2

I. J. M. Crossfied, “A Nearby M Star with Three Transiting Super-Earths Discovered by K2”, The Astrophysical Journal, Vol 804(1), April 2015. © 2015. The American Astronomical Society.Small, cool planets represent the typical end-products of planetary formation. Studying the architectures of these systems, measuring planet masses and radii, and observing these planets' atmospheres during transit directly informs theories of planet assembly, migration, and evolution. Here we report the discovery of three small planets orbiting a bright (Ks = 8.6 mag) M0 dwarf using data collected as part of K2, the new ecliptic survey using the re-purposed Kepler spacecraft. Stellar spectroscopy and K2 photometry indicate that the system hosts three transiting planets with radii 1.5-2.1 , straddling the transition region between rocky and increasingly volatile-dominated compositions. With orbital periods of 10-45 days the planets receive just 1.5-10x the flux incident on Earth, making these some of the coolest small planets known orbiting a nearby star; planet d is located near the inner edge of the system's habitable zone. The bright, low-mass star makes this system an excellent laboratory to determine the planets' masses via Doppler spectroscopy and to constrain their atmospheric compositions via transit spectroscopy. This discovery demonstrates the ability of K2 and future space-based transit searches to find many fascinating objects of interest.Peer reviewe

Exploring the full potential of photocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction using a dinuclear Re2Cl2 complex assisted by various photosensitizers

Photosensitizing units have already been applied to enable light‐driven catalytic reduction of CO2 with mononuclear rhenium complexes. However, dinuclear catalytic systems that are able to activate CO2 in a cooperative bimetallic fashion have only rarely been combined with photosensitizers. We here present detailed studies on the influence of additional photosensitizers on the catalytic performance of a dirhenium complex (Re2Cl2) and present correlations with spectroscopic measurements, which shed light on the reaction mechanism. The use of [Ir(dFppy)3] (Ir, dFppy=2‐(4,6‐difluorophenyl)pyridine)) resulted in considerably faster CO2 to CO transformation than [Cu(xant)(bcp)]PF6 (Cu, xant=xantphos, bcp=bathocuproine). Emission quenching studies, transient absorption as well as IR spectroscopy provide information about the electron transfer paths of the intermolecular systems. It turned out that formation of double reduced species [Re2Cl2]2- along with an intermediate with a Re-Re bond ([ReRe]) can be taken as an indication of multi‐electron storage capacity. Furthermore, under catalytic conditions a CO2‐bridged intermediate was identified.German Research FoundationProjekt DEA