Academic literature on the topic 'Balason colony'

Quinoline and benzofuran moieties are commonly used for the synthesis of therapeutically beneficial molecules and drugs since they possess a wide range of pharmacological activities including potent anticancer activity as compared to other heterocyclic compounds. Many of well-known antimalarial, antimicrobial, anti-helminthic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiprotozoal, and antitumor compounds contain quinoline/benzofuran skeleton. The aim of this study was to analyze ten new quinoline and eighteen benzofuran derivatives for carcinoma cell line growth inhibition and to predict possible interactions with the target. The anticancer activity of these compounds against colon cancer (HCT-116) and triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-468) cell lines was determined and performed molecular docking to predict the possible interactions. Among ten quinoline derivatives, Q1, Q4, Q6, Q9, and Q10 were found to be the most potent against HCT-116 and MDA-MB-468 with IC50 values ranging from 6.2-99.6 and 2.7-23.6 μM, respectively. Using the IC50 values, a model equation with quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) was generated with their descriptors such as HBA1, HBA2, kappa (1, 2 and 3), Balaban index, Wiener index, number of rotatable bonds, log S, log P and total polar surface area (TPSA). The effect of benzofuran derivatives was moderate in cytotoxicity tests and hence only quinolines were considered for further analysis. The molecular docking indicated the mammalian / mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), Topoisomerase I and II as possible targets for these molecules. The predicted results obtained from QSAR and molecular docking analysis of quinoline derivatives showed high correlation in comparison to the results of the cytotoxic assay. Overall, this study indicated that quinolines are more potent as anticancer agents compared to benzofurans. Further, compound Q9 has emerged as a lead molecule which could be the base for further development of more potent anticancer agents.

During August 2012, vertical oozing cankers were sporadically observed on trunks and branches of walnut trees (Juglans regia) in the city of Zánka, near Lake Balaton and other parts of Hungary including Budapest, Győr, and Tatabánya cities. Cankers were observed on trunks and branches where brownish-black exudates staining the bark appeared mainly in the summer. Isolations were performed primarily from exudates but also from infected tissues using King's medium B (KB) (3) and EMB medium (2). Colonies similar in appearance to Brenneria nigrifluens (syn.: Erwinia nigrifluens) (1,5) were isolated. The bacterium, first reported in California, was also recorded in Iran, Spain, France, and several Italian locations, on walnut trees. The bacterial strain was gram negative and did not induce a hypersensitive response on tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. ‘White Burley’) leaves. The bacterium grew at 26°C. Colonies on KB were white and non-fluorescent, but on EMB medium were a typical dark purple with metallic green sheen. The results of substrate utilization profiling using the API 20E kit (Biomérieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France) showed that the bacterium belonged to the Enterobacteriaceae. The strain was positive for citrate utilization, H2S, and acetoin production and urease, glucose, inositol, saccharose, and arabinose reactions. Pathogenicity was tested by injecting five young healthy walnut branches on two separate 2-year-old grafted potted plants with a bacterial suspension containing 107 CFU/ml. Negative controls were walnut branches injected with sterile distilled water. Branches were enclosed in plastic bags and incubated in a greenhouse under 80% shade at 26°C day and 17°C night temperatures. Three months after inoculation, necrotic lesions were observed in the inner bark and dark lines were observed in internal wood, but no external cankers were observed on inoculated branches. The negative control appeared normal. B. nigrifluens was re-isolated from lesions on inoculated branches and identified as described above; thus, Koch's postulates were fulfilled. For molecular identification of the pathogen, 16S rDNA amplification was performed using genomic DNA from strain Bn-WalnutZa-Hun1 with a universal bacterial primer set (63f and 1389r) (4). The PCR products were cloned into a pGEM T-Easy vector (Promega, Madison, WI) and transformed into Escherichia coli DH5α cells. A recombinant plasmid (2A2.5) was sequenced using M13 forward and reverse primers. The sequence was deposited in NCBI GenBank (Accession No. HF936707) and showed 99% sequence identity with a number of B. nigrifluens strains, including type strains Z96095.1, AJ233415.1, JX484740.1, JX484739.1, JX484738.1, and FJ611884.1. On the basis of the symptoms, colony morphology, biochemical tests, and 16S rDNA sequence identity, the pathogen was identified as Brenneria nigrifluens. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a natural outbreak of bacterial bark canker on walnut in Hungary and the presence of the pathogen may seriously influence in local orchards and garden production in the future. References: (1) L. Hauben et al. Appl Microbiol 21:384, 1998. (2) J. E. Holt-Harris and O. Teague. J. Infect. Dis. 18:596, 1916. (3) E. O. King et al. J. Lab. Clin. Med. 44:301, 1954. (4) A. M. Osborn et al. Environ. Microbiol. 2:39, 2000. (5) E. E. Wilson et al. Phytopathology 47:669, 1957.

Abstract Introduction Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) belong to the most common hematological neoplasms in the elderly population, characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis, peripheral cytopenia and the risk of transformation into acute myeloid leukemia. There is increasing evidence that an aberrant innate immune response and a proinflammatory bone marrow (BM) microenvironment play a critical role in the pathogenesis of MDS. The alarmin S100A9, a key player for regulation of inflammatory responses, has been shown to be elevated in MDS patients. It directs an inflammatory cell death (pyroptosis) by increased NF-kB mediated transcription and secretion of proinflammatory, hematopoiesis-inhibitory cytokines and production of reactive oxygen species. Tasquinimod (TASQ, Active Biotech) is a novel, oral small molecular drug with S100A9 inhibitory activity and it is currently investigated in a phase Ib/IIa trial in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (NCT04405167). TASQ has demonstrated anti-angiogenic, antitumor and immunomodulatory properties in a broad range of preclinical solid tumor models; however, little is known about its effects in myeloid malignancies. Aim We investigated the role of S100A9 in cellular models of MDS and the potential of TASQ to target S100A9 within the MDS stroma in vitro. Methods Immunohistochemical staining of S100A9, CD271+ mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), CD68+ macrophages and CD66b+ neutrophils in BM tissues from MDS patients and healthy donors was performed with multiplex immunohistochemistry and analyzed with the VECTRA imaging system. MSCs from patients with either low-risk MDS, CMML or age-adjusted healthy donors were exposed to S100A9 (1.5µg/ml) in the presence or absence of TASQ (10µM). Subsequently, TLR4 downstreaming molecules such as IRAK1, gasdermin and NF-kB-p65 were analyzed by Western blot. Moreover, the mRNA expression of further proinflammatory molecules (IL-1b, IL-18, caspase1) and PD-L1 was quantified by real-time PCR. To study the impact on the hematopoietic support, MSCs were pre-treated for one week with S100A9 ± TASQ before CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) were seeded on the stromal layer. The colony formation (CAF-C) was analyzed weekly followed by a CFU-GEMM assay in methylcellulose medium. Additionally, PD-1 mRNA expression was quantified in cocultured HSPCs. Results Immunohistochemical staining of BM tissue demonstrated S100A9 expression mainly by CD66b+ neutrophils and with less extent by CD68+ macrophages. In line with this, we could not detect relevant S100A9 mRNA expression in cultured MDS or healthy MSCs in vitro. Exposure of MDS and healthy MSCs with S100A9 induced TLR4 downstream signalling as demonstrated by increased expression of IRAK1 and NF-kB-p65. We further detected a higher expression of gasdermin, an inductor of pyroptosis, in S100A9 exposed MSCs. Addition of TASQ abolished these effects and inhibited the expression of the mentioned proteins, indicating an alleviation of inflammation. Furthermore, we detected a 2-fold increase of mRNA expression of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1b and IL-18 as well as a 5-fold increase of their activator caspase 1 in MSCs after treatment with S100A9, which could be prevented by TASQ. Interestingly, PD-L1 as a potential downstream target was induced by S100A9 by 2.5-fold and could be suppressed by TASQ to about 50%. To evaluate the impact on the hematopoietic support of MSCs, we analysed MSC/HSPC cocultures after treatment with S100A9. We observed a decreased number of cobblestone area forming cells (CAF-C) as well as reduced numbers of colonies (CFU) in a subsequent clonogenic assay, indicating a disturbed hematopoietic support by S100A9 treated MSCs. Interestingly, both the number of CAF-C and CFU could be increased by TASQ pre-treatment. Finally, the PD-1 expression in co-cultured HSPCs was regulated in the same way as its ligand in treated MSCs, nominating this interaction as a potential target of S100A9/TASQ in the MDS BM. Conclusion In summary, we provide evidence that the pathological inflammasome activation in the myelodysplastic bone marrow can be rescued by TASQ at least in part by inhibition of the S100A9 mediated TLR4 downstream signalling including NF-kB-p65 transcription and PD-L1 expression. These effects result in an improved hematopoietic support by MSCs, suggesting a potential efficacy to improve cytopenia in low-risk MDS patients. Disclosures Balaian: Novartis: Honoraria. Törngren: Active Biotech: Current Employment. Eriksson: Active Biotech: Current Employment. Platzbecker: AbbVie: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Celgene/BMS: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Geron: Honoraria. Röllig: Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Jazz: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Bristol-Meyer-Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding.