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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Novel Long-Chain Compounds With Both Immunomodulatory And Mena Inhibitory Activities Against Staphylococcus Aureus And Its Biofilm., Seoung-Ryoung Choi, Joel Frandsen, Prabagaran Narayanasamy Jan 2017

Novel Long-Chain Compounds With Both Immunomodulatory And Mena Inhibitory Activities Against Staphylococcus Aureus And Its Biofilm., Seoung-Ryoung Choi, Joel Frandsen, Prabagaran Narayanasamy

Journal Articles: Pathology and Microbiology

Menaquinone (MK) biosynthesis pathway is a potential target for evaluating antimicrobials in gram-positive bacteria. Here, 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoate prenyltransferase (MenA) was targeted to reduce methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) growth. MenA inhibiting, long chain-based compounds were designed, synthesized and evaluated against MRSA and menaquinone utilizing bacteria in aerobic conditions. The results showed that these bacteria were susceptible to most of the compounds. Menaquinone (MK-4) supplementation rescued MRSA growth, suggesting these compounds inhibit MK biosynthesis. 3a and 7c exhibited promising inhibitory activities with MICs ranging 1-8 μg/mL against MRSA strains. The compounds did not facilitate small colony variant formation. These compounds also inhibited the …


Neuroprotection Through Flavonoid: Enhancement Of The Glyoxalase Pathway., Joel Frandsen, Prabagaran Narayanasamy Jan 2017

Neuroprotection Through Flavonoid: Enhancement Of The Glyoxalase Pathway., Joel Frandsen, Prabagaran Narayanasamy

Journal Articles: Pathology and Microbiology

The glyoxalase pathway functions to detoxify reactive dicarbonyl compounds, most importantly methylglyoxal. The glyoxalase pathway is an antioxidant defense mechanism that is essential for neuroprotection. Excessive concentrations of methylglyoxal have deleterious effects on cells, leading to increased levels of inflammation and oxidative stress. Neurodegenerative diseases - including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Aging and Autism Spectrum Disorder - are often induced or exacerbated by accumulation of methylglyoxal. Antioxidant compounds possess several distinct mechanisms that enhance the glyoxalase pathway and function as neuroprotectants. Flavonoids are well-researched secondary plant metabolites that appear to be effective in reducing levels of oxidative stress and inflammation in neural …


Gallium Nanoparticles Facilitate Phagosome Maturation And Inhibit Growth Of Virulent Mycobacterium Tuberculosis In Macrophages., Seoung-Ryoung Choi, Bradley E. Britigan, David M. Moran, Prabagaran Narayanasamy Jan 2017

Gallium Nanoparticles Facilitate Phagosome Maturation And Inhibit Growth Of Virulent Mycobacterium Tuberculosis In Macrophages., Seoung-Ryoung Choi, Bradley E. Britigan, David M. Moran, Prabagaran Narayanasamy

Journal Articles: Pathology and Microbiology

New treatments and novel drugs are required to counter the growing problem of drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb). Our approach against drug resistant M.tb, as well as other intracellular pathogens, is by targeted drug delivery using nanoformulations of drugs already in use, as well as drugs in development. Among the latter are gallium (III) (Ga)-based compounds. In the current work, six different types of Ga and rifampin nanoparticles were prepared in such a way as to enhance targeting of M.tb infected-macrophages. They were then tested for their ability to inhibit growth of a fully pathogenic strain (H37Rv) or a …