Pecha Kucha 3: Memories, photographs, and archives: On historicising ‘puberty’ in the present
- Authors: Pinto, Pedro
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143937 , vital:38296 , https://ischp.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/ischp_2015_abstract_booklet.pdf
- Description: In 1997, Valerie Walkerdine incited researchers to use memory and fantasy as devices to explore the gendered meanings of being a child and becoming adult. Since we all once were children, we are in the ambiguous – and therefore productive – position of being both informants and ethnographers of childhood experiences. Whilst drawing on a historical investigation on puberty science, this presentation is a hybrid experiment: it combines my memories of growing up in Portugal in the early 1980s and photographs of children taken in clinical interventions from the late nineteenth century to the first decades of the twentieth. In articulating these materials and their different temporalities, my purpose is to explore the techniques and the power relations in which pubertal development came to being thought of, and disciplined, in contemporary societies. In doing so, I invite the possibility of historicising experience as a strategy to critically analyse our medicalised present.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Pinto, Pedro
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143937 , vital:38296 , https://ischp.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/ischp_2015_abstract_booklet.pdf
- Description: In 1997, Valerie Walkerdine incited researchers to use memory and fantasy as devices to explore the gendered meanings of being a child and becoming adult. Since we all once were children, we are in the ambiguous – and therefore productive – position of being both informants and ethnographers of childhood experiences. Whilst drawing on a historical investigation on puberty science, this presentation is a hybrid experiment: it combines my memories of growing up in Portugal in the early 1980s and photographs of children taken in clinical interventions from the late nineteenth century to the first decades of the twentieth. In articulating these materials and their different temporalities, my purpose is to explore the techniques and the power relations in which pubertal development came to being thought of, and disciplined, in contemporary societies. In doing so, I invite the possibility of historicising experience as a strategy to critically analyse our medicalised present.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Perceptions of the natural environment from a rural African perspective: a case of Cylondropuntia fulgida var. fulgida in Gwanda district, Zimbabwe
- Dube, Nqobizitha, Snowball, Jeanette D, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Dube, Nqobizitha , Snowball, Jeanette D , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/68578 , vital:29289 , http://2015.essa.org.za/fullpaper/essa_2994.pdf
- Description: Publisher version , Community environmental perceptions are instrumental in environmental management programmes given that perspectives govern human-environment relations. Despite numerous studies on environmental perceptions, little is known about how the rural poor particularly in Africa conceptualize, live with, and respond to pressing environmental issues facing them. As such, this paper uses the case of an invasive alien plant (IAP) (Cylindropuntia fulgida var. fulgida (Cff)) in a rural community (Gwanda district, Zimbabwe) to unveil the conceptualisation of the natural environment from a rural African perspective. This paper discloses the environmental worldview of the community and explains the formulation of the attitudes by the local households towards species in the environment. The study uses two horizontal dimensions of environmental attitudes formulation (New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) Scale and Kellet’s (1996) classification of environmental values). Data was collected using a questionnaire survey, group discussions and key informant interviews. A sample of 156 individuals comprised the study respondents. Results showed the residents of rural Gwanda district to hold both a conservation and utilisation conviction (syncretic view) towards the environment. However, utilisation outweighs conservation. Furthermore, older residents are more inclined to conservation in comparison to the youth. The study also divulged that the origin of a species in the natural environment was insignificant to the host community. However, the livelihood effects that species had (regardless of origins) were the major determinants of attitudes developed towards it.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Dube, Nqobizitha , Snowball, Jeanette D , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/68578 , vital:29289 , http://2015.essa.org.za/fullpaper/essa_2994.pdf
- Description: Publisher version , Community environmental perceptions are instrumental in environmental management programmes given that perspectives govern human-environment relations. Despite numerous studies on environmental perceptions, little is known about how the rural poor particularly in Africa conceptualize, live with, and respond to pressing environmental issues facing them. As such, this paper uses the case of an invasive alien plant (IAP) (Cylindropuntia fulgida var. fulgida (Cff)) in a rural community (Gwanda district, Zimbabwe) to unveil the conceptualisation of the natural environment from a rural African perspective. This paper discloses the environmental worldview of the community and explains the formulation of the attitudes by the local households towards species in the environment. The study uses two horizontal dimensions of environmental attitudes formulation (New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) Scale and Kellet’s (1996) classification of environmental values). Data was collected using a questionnaire survey, group discussions and key informant interviews. A sample of 156 individuals comprised the study respondents. Results showed the residents of rural Gwanda district to hold both a conservation and utilisation conviction (syncretic view) towards the environment. However, utilisation outweighs conservation. Furthermore, older residents are more inclined to conservation in comparison to the youth. The study also divulged that the origin of a species in the natural environment was insignificant to the host community. However, the livelihood effects that species had (regardless of origins) were the major determinants of attitudes developed towards it.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
PFB0595w is a Plasmodium falciparum J protein that co-localizes with PfHsp70-1 and can stimulate its in vitro ATP hydrolysis activity
- Njunge, James M, Mandal, Pradipta, Przyborski, Jude M, Boshoff, Aileen, Pesce, Eva-Rachele, Blatch, Gregory L
- Authors: Njunge, James M , Mandal, Pradipta , Przyborski, Jude M , Boshoff, Aileen , Pesce, Eva-Rachele , Blatch, Gregory L
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431739 , vital:72800 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocel.2015.02.008"
- Description: Heat shock proteins, many of which function as molecular chaperones, play important roles in the lifecycle and pathogenesis of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. The P. falciparum heat shock protein 70 (PfHsp70) family of chaperones is potentially regulated by a large complement of J proteins that localize to various intracellular compartments including the infected erythrocyte cytosol. While PfHsp70-1 has been shown to be an abundant cytosolic chaperone, its regulation by J proteins is poorly understood. In this study, we characterized the J protein PFB0595w, a homologue of the well-studied yeast cytosolic J protein, Sis1. PFB0595w, similarly to PfHsp70-1, was localized to the parasite cytosol and its expression was upregulated by heat shock. Additionally, recombinant PFB0595w was shown to be dimeric and to stimulate the in vitro ATPase activity of PfHsp70-1. Overall, the expression, localization and biochemical data for PFB0595w suggest that it may function as a cochaperone of PfHsp70-1, and advances current knowledge on the chaperone machinery of the parasite.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Njunge, James M , Mandal, Pradipta , Przyborski, Jude M , Boshoff, Aileen , Pesce, Eva-Rachele , Blatch, Gregory L
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431739 , vital:72800 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocel.2015.02.008"
- Description: Heat shock proteins, many of which function as molecular chaperones, play important roles in the lifecycle and pathogenesis of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. The P. falciparum heat shock protein 70 (PfHsp70) family of chaperones is potentially regulated by a large complement of J proteins that localize to various intracellular compartments including the infected erythrocyte cytosol. While PfHsp70-1 has been shown to be an abundant cytosolic chaperone, its regulation by J proteins is poorly understood. In this study, we characterized the J protein PFB0595w, a homologue of the well-studied yeast cytosolic J protein, Sis1. PFB0595w, similarly to PfHsp70-1, was localized to the parasite cytosol and its expression was upregulated by heat shock. Additionally, recombinant PFB0595w was shown to be dimeric and to stimulate the in vitro ATPase activity of PfHsp70-1. Overall, the expression, localization and biochemical data for PFB0595w suggest that it may function as a cochaperone of PfHsp70-1, and advances current knowledge on the chaperone machinery of the parasite.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Photocatalytic behaviour of zinc tetraamino phthalocyanine-silver nanoparticles immobilized on chitosan beads
- Khoza, Phindile, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Khoza, Phindile , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/189468 , vital:44849 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcata.2015.01.017"
- Description: Photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine 6G using unconjugated zinc tetraamino phthalocyanine (ZnTAPc) or when conjugated to Ag nanoparticles (ZnTAPc–AgNPs) is reported. Upon conjugating ZnTAPc to silver nanoparticles, the singlet oxygen production of the phthalocyanine was slightly increased. ZnTAPc and ZnTAPc–AgNPs were immobilized onto chitosan beads for ease of recovery after photocatalysis. Chitosan beads were characterized by FTIR, XRD and TGA. The photodegradation of Rhodamine 6G was used to evaluate the efficiency of the immobilized photocatalysts. In the presence of AgNPs, the photodegradation of Rhodamine 6G was enhanced. The apparent rates (k) were found to be 8.51 × 10−8 and 1.61 × 10−7 mol L−1 min−1 for chitosan supported ZnTAPc or ZnTAPc–AgNPs, respectively. The observation of good photocatalytic activity of the ZnTAPc when immobilized on chitosan proves the uncompromised efficiency of the photocatalysts even when confined in beads, showing great potential for the functionalized beads as heterogeneous catalysts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Khoza, Phindile , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/189468 , vital:44849 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcata.2015.01.017"
- Description: Photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine 6G using unconjugated zinc tetraamino phthalocyanine (ZnTAPc) or when conjugated to Ag nanoparticles (ZnTAPc–AgNPs) is reported. Upon conjugating ZnTAPc to silver nanoparticles, the singlet oxygen production of the phthalocyanine was slightly increased. ZnTAPc and ZnTAPc–AgNPs were immobilized onto chitosan beads for ease of recovery after photocatalysis. Chitosan beads were characterized by FTIR, XRD and TGA. The photodegradation of Rhodamine 6G was used to evaluate the efficiency of the immobilized photocatalysts. In the presence of AgNPs, the photodegradation of Rhodamine 6G was enhanced. The apparent rates (k) were found to be 8.51 × 10−8 and 1.61 × 10−7 mol L−1 min−1 for chitosan supported ZnTAPc or ZnTAPc–AgNPs, respectively. The observation of good photocatalytic activity of the ZnTAPc when immobilized on chitosan proves the uncompromised efficiency of the photocatalysts even when confined in beads, showing great potential for the functionalized beads as heterogeneous catalysts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy activity of (5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis (4-(4-carboxyphenycarbonoimidoyl) phenyl) porphyrinato) chloro gallium (III)
- Managa, Muthumuni, Amuhaya, Edith K, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Managa, Muthumuni , Amuhaya, Edith K , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/189043 , vital:44811 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2015.06.088"
- Description: (5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(4-(4-carboxyphenycarbonoimidoyl)phenyl)porphyrinato) chloro gallium(III) (complex 1) was conjugated to platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) (represented as 1-PtNPs). The resulting conjugate showed 18 nm red shift in the Soret band when compared to 1 alone. Complex 1 and 1-PtNPs showed promising photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans in solution where the log reductions obtained were 4.92, 3.76, and 3.95, respectively for 1-PtNPs. The singlet oxygen quantum yields obtained were higher at 0.56 for 1-PtNPs in DMF while that of 1 was 0.52 in the same solvent. This resulted in improved PACT activity for 1-PtNPs compared to 1 alone.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Managa, Muthumuni , Amuhaya, Edith K , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/189043 , vital:44811 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2015.06.088"
- Description: (5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(4-(4-carboxyphenycarbonoimidoyl)phenyl)porphyrinato) chloro gallium(III) (complex 1) was conjugated to platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) (represented as 1-PtNPs). The resulting conjugate showed 18 nm red shift in the Soret band when compared to 1 alone. Complex 1 and 1-PtNPs showed promising photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans in solution where the log reductions obtained were 4.92, 3.76, and 3.95, respectively for 1-PtNPs. The singlet oxygen quantum yields obtained were higher at 0.56 for 1-PtNPs in DMF while that of 1 was 0.52 in the same solvent. This resulted in improved PACT activity for 1-PtNPs compared to 1 alone.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy activity of gallium tetra-(4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin when conjugated to differently shaped platinum nanoparticles
- Managa, Muthumuni, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Managa, Muthumuni , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/189088 , vital:44815 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2015.06.077"
- Description: This work reports on the conjugation of differently shaped Pt nanoparticles (PtNPs) with ClGa(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (ClGaTCPP). The resulting conjugates were used for photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy against Staphylococcus aureus. The degree of photoinactivation is dependent on concentration of the conjugates, light dose (fluence) and illumination time. The log reduction obtained for ClGaTCPP when conjugated to cubic PtNPs was 4.64 log (which indicate 99.99% of the bacteria have been killed), which is much higher than 3.94 log unit for ClGaTCPPHexagonal PtNPs and 3.31 log units for ClGaTCPP-Unshaped PtNPs. ClGaTCPP alone gave a log unit reduction of less than 3, showing the importance of conjugation to PtNPs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Managa, Muthumuni , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/189088 , vital:44815 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2015.06.077"
- Description: This work reports on the conjugation of differently shaped Pt nanoparticles (PtNPs) with ClGa(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (ClGaTCPP). The resulting conjugates were used for photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy against Staphylococcus aureus. The degree of photoinactivation is dependent on concentration of the conjugates, light dose (fluence) and illumination time. The log reduction obtained for ClGaTCPP when conjugated to cubic PtNPs was 4.64 log (which indicate 99.99% of the bacteria have been killed), which is much higher than 3.94 log unit for ClGaTCPPHexagonal PtNPs and 3.31 log units for ClGaTCPP-Unshaped PtNPs. ClGaTCPP alone gave a log unit reduction of less than 3, showing the importance of conjugation to PtNPs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Photodynamic therapy effect of zinc monoamino phthalocyanine–folic acid conjugate adsorbed on single walled carbon nanotubes on melanoma cells
- Ogbodu, Racheal O, Ndhundhuma, Ivy, Karstten, Aletta, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Ogbodu, Racheal O , Ndhundhuma, Ivy , Karstten, Aletta , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/241400 , vital:50936 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2014.09.033"
- Description: This work reports on the photodynamic therapy effect of zinc monoamino phthalocyanine linked to folic acid represented as ZnMAPc-FA, which was further immobilized onto single walled carbon nanotube represented as ZnMAPc-FA-SWCNT on melanoma A375 cell line, the effect of SWCNT-FA (without ZnMAPc) was also examined. All the compounds were non-toxic to the melanoma A375 cell line in the absence of light. Upon irradiation of the melanoma A375 cell line with a 676 nm diode laser at a power density of 98 mW/cm2 at 5 J/cm2 about 60% and 63% cell death was observed in the presence of ZnMAPc-FA and ZnMAPc-FA-SWCNT respectively. SWCNT-FA had no significant photodynamic therapy or photothermal effect to the cell, only 23% of cell death was observed after irradiation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Ogbodu, Racheal O , Ndhundhuma, Ivy , Karstten, Aletta , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/241400 , vital:50936 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2014.09.033"
- Description: This work reports on the photodynamic therapy effect of zinc monoamino phthalocyanine linked to folic acid represented as ZnMAPc-FA, which was further immobilized onto single walled carbon nanotube represented as ZnMAPc-FA-SWCNT on melanoma A375 cell line, the effect of SWCNT-FA (without ZnMAPc) was also examined. All the compounds were non-toxic to the melanoma A375 cell line in the absence of light. Upon irradiation of the melanoma A375 cell line with a 676 nm diode laser at a power density of 98 mW/cm2 at 5 J/cm2 about 60% and 63% cell death was observed in the presence of ZnMAPc-FA and ZnMAPc-FA-SWCNT respectively. SWCNT-FA had no significant photodynamic therapy or photothermal effect to the cell, only 23% of cell death was observed after irradiation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Photoinactivation of Candida albicans and Escherichia coli using aluminium phthalocyanine on gold nanoparticles
- Mthethwa, Thandekile, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Mthethwa, Thandekile , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/189854 , vital:44940 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1039/C4PP00315B"
- Description: The conjugates of aluminium phthalocyanine (complex 1) with gold nanorods (complex 1–AuNRs) and bipyramids (complex 1–AuBPs) showed improved singlet oxygen quantum yields of 0.23 and 0.24, respectively, compared to that of complex 1 alone at 0.12. Complex 1 and its conjugates were used for the photoinactivation of fungi (C. albicans) and bacteria cells (E. coli). The Q band absorbances were the same for the Pc alone and when conjugated to AuNPs. The efficiency of these conjugates was evaluated by measuring the log reduction of the microorganisms (C. albicans and E. coli) after irradiation with visible light in the presence of photosensitizers. Aluminium phthalocyanine alone showed log 1.78 and log 2.51 reductions for C. albicans and E. coli respectively. However, the conjugates showed higher photosensitization with log 2.08 and log 3.34 for C. albicans and E. coli, respectively using 1–AuBPs. For complex 1–AuNRs log 2.53 and log 3.71 were achieved for C. albicans and E. coli respectively. The statistical analysis of the results showed that the enhanced photoinactivation observed in both microorganisms was irrespective of the shape of the nanoparticles conjugated. Photoinactivation of C. albicans was less than that of E. coli even though a higher concentration of complex 1 or its conjugates was used in C. albicans.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Mthethwa, Thandekile , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/189854 , vital:44940 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1039/C4PP00315B"
- Description: The conjugates of aluminium phthalocyanine (complex 1) with gold nanorods (complex 1–AuNRs) and bipyramids (complex 1–AuBPs) showed improved singlet oxygen quantum yields of 0.23 and 0.24, respectively, compared to that of complex 1 alone at 0.12. Complex 1 and its conjugates were used for the photoinactivation of fungi (C. albicans) and bacteria cells (E. coli). The Q band absorbances were the same for the Pc alone and when conjugated to AuNPs. The efficiency of these conjugates was evaluated by measuring the log reduction of the microorganisms (C. albicans and E. coli) after irradiation with visible light in the presence of photosensitizers. Aluminium phthalocyanine alone showed log 1.78 and log 2.51 reductions for C. albicans and E. coli respectively. However, the conjugates showed higher photosensitization with log 2.08 and log 3.34 for C. albicans and E. coli, respectively using 1–AuBPs. For complex 1–AuNRs log 2.53 and log 3.71 were achieved for C. albicans and E. coli respectively. The statistical analysis of the results showed that the enhanced photoinactivation observed in both microorganisms was irrespective of the shape of the nanoparticles conjugated. Photoinactivation of C. albicans was less than that of E. coli even though a higher concentration of complex 1 or its conjugates was used in C. albicans.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Photophysical and nonlinear optical studies of tetraakynyl zincphthalocyanine and its “clicked” analogue
- Bankole, Owolabi M, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Bankole, Owolabi M , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/189325 , vital:44837 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2015.01.048"
- Description: We report here for the first time on the photophysical and nonlinear optical behavior of tetra-substituted alkynyl zinc phthalocyanine and its “clicked” analogue (4 and 5). The compounds exhibited high triplet quantum yields in dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO). Nonlinear optical (NLO) properties were also evaluated for the two compounds at 532 nm and 10 ns in DMSO. We observed two-photon absorption (2PA) and strong reverse saturable absorption (RSA) as the dominant mechanisms at nanosecond laser excitation. The presence of electron acceptor groups fused with triazole linkers in the peripheral positions of 4 provide excellent coexistent features, such as enhanced triplet quantum yields and lifetimes compared to 5. Large third-order susceptibility (2.09 × 10−11 and 3.53 × 10−9 esu) and hyperpolarizability (1.09 × 10−30 and 9.13 × 10−29 esu) were estimated for complexs 4 and 5, respectively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Bankole, Owolabi M , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/189325 , vital:44837 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2015.01.048"
- Description: We report here for the first time on the photophysical and nonlinear optical behavior of tetra-substituted alkynyl zinc phthalocyanine and its “clicked” analogue (4 and 5). The compounds exhibited high triplet quantum yields in dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO). Nonlinear optical (NLO) properties were also evaluated for the two compounds at 532 nm and 10 ns in DMSO. We observed two-photon absorption (2PA) and strong reverse saturable absorption (RSA) as the dominant mechanisms at nanosecond laser excitation. The presence of electron acceptor groups fused with triazole linkers in the peripheral positions of 4 provide excellent coexistent features, such as enhanced triplet quantum yields and lifetimes compared to 5. Large third-order susceptibility (2.09 × 10−11 and 3.53 × 10−9 esu) and hyperpolarizability (1.09 × 10−30 and 9.13 × 10−29 esu) were estimated for complexs 4 and 5, respectively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Photophysical properties and photodynamic therapy effect of zinc phthalocyanine-spermine-single walled carbon nanotube conjugate on MCF-7 breast cancer cell line
- Ogbodu, Rachael O, Limson, Janice L, Prinsloo, Earl, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Ogbodu, Rachael O , Limson, Janice L , Prinsloo, Earl , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/189493 , vital:44851 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.synthmet.2015.03.011"
- Description: The present study shows improved photodynamic therapy (PDT) effect of zinc mono carboxy phenoxy phthalocyanine (ZnMCPPc (1)) upon conjugation to spermine (via amide bond) as a targeting molecule on MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The ZnMCPPc-spermine (2) conjugate was adsorbed onto single walled carbon nanotubes (represented as ZnMCPPc-spermine-SWCNT (3)). There was no change in the fluorescence quantum yield of complex 1 following formation of 2 or 3. Complexes 2 and 3 showed improved photophysical properties; with over 50% increases in triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yields compared to 1. Complexes 1, 2 and 3 were relatively not toxic to MCF-7 cancer cells when incubated with 5–40 μM of each complex for 24 h in the dark. The PDT results showed that at 40 μM complex 1 resulted in only 64% decrease in cell viability, while 2 and 3 improved the PDT effect of 1 to 97% and 95% decrease in cell viability at 40 μM respectively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Ogbodu, Rachael O , Limson, Janice L , Prinsloo, Earl , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/189493 , vital:44851 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.synthmet.2015.03.011"
- Description: The present study shows improved photodynamic therapy (PDT) effect of zinc mono carboxy phenoxy phthalocyanine (ZnMCPPc (1)) upon conjugation to spermine (via amide bond) as a targeting molecule on MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The ZnMCPPc-spermine (2) conjugate was adsorbed onto single walled carbon nanotubes (represented as ZnMCPPc-spermine-SWCNT (3)). There was no change in the fluorescence quantum yield of complex 1 following formation of 2 or 3. Complexes 2 and 3 showed improved photophysical properties; with over 50% increases in triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yields compared to 1. Complexes 1, 2 and 3 were relatively not toxic to MCF-7 cancer cells when incubated with 5–40 μM of each complex for 24 h in the dark. The PDT results showed that at 40 μM complex 1 resulted in only 64% decrease in cell viability, while 2 and 3 improved the PDT effect of 1 to 97% and 95% decrease in cell viability at 40 μM respectively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Photophysical properties gallium octacarboxy phthalocyanines conjugated to CdSe@ ZnS quantum dots
- Tshangana, Charmaine, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Tshangana, Charmaine , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/189055 , vital:44812 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2015.06.086"
- Description: L-Glutathione (GSH) capped core CdSe (2.3 nm) and core shell CdSe@ZnS quantum dots (QDs) (3.0 nm and 3.5 nm) were coordinated to gallium octacarboxy phthalocyanine (ClGaPc(COOH)8) to form ClGaPc(COOH)8–QDs conjugates. An efficient transfer of energy from the QDs to the Pcs was demonstrated through Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), the FRET efficiencies in all cases was above 50%. The photophysical parameters (triplet state and fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes) were also determined for the conjugates. There was a decrease in the fluorescence lifetimes of ClGaPc(COOH)8 in the presence of all the QDs, due to the heavy atom effect. The triplet quantum yields increased in the conjugates. The lifetimes also became longer for the conjugates compared to Pc alone.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Tshangana, Charmaine , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/189055 , vital:44812 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2015.06.086"
- Description: L-Glutathione (GSH) capped core CdSe (2.3 nm) and core shell CdSe@ZnS quantum dots (QDs) (3.0 nm and 3.5 nm) were coordinated to gallium octacarboxy phthalocyanine (ClGaPc(COOH)8) to form ClGaPc(COOH)8–QDs conjugates. An efficient transfer of energy from the QDs to the Pcs was demonstrated through Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), the FRET efficiencies in all cases was above 50%. The photophysical parameters (triplet state and fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes) were also determined for the conjugates. There was a decrease in the fluorescence lifetimes of ClGaPc(COOH)8 in the presence of all the QDs, due to the heavy atom effect. The triplet quantum yields increased in the conjugates. The lifetimes also became longer for the conjugates compared to Pc alone.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Photophysical properties of zinc phthalocyanine–uridine single walled carbon nanotube–conjugates
- Ogbodu, Rachael O, Amuhaya, Edith K, Mashazi, Philani N, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Ogbodu, Rachael O , Amuhaya, Edith K , Mashazi, Philani N , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/193586 , vital:45350 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2015.04.040"
- Description: The photophysical properties of the conjugate of uridine and zinc mono carboxy phenoxy phthalocyanine (ZnMCPPc–uridine, 4) are reported in this work. The conjugate was also adsorbed onto single walled carbon nanotubes (ZnMCPPc–uridine–SWCNT, 5). The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of 4 showed three N 1s peaks while that of 5 showed four N 1s peak, a new peak at 399.4 eV of 5 was assigned to pyrrolidonic nitrogen, due to the interaction of the pyrrolic nitrogen of 4 with the oxygen moiety of SWCNT–COOH in 5. The triplet lifetime, triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yields of the zinc mono carboxy phenoxy phthalocyanine increased by over 40% in the presence of uridine. SWCNTs resulted in only a small quenching of the triplet state parameters of 4.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Ogbodu, Rachael O , Amuhaya, Edith K , Mashazi, Philani N , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/193586 , vital:45350 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2015.04.040"
- Description: The photophysical properties of the conjugate of uridine and zinc mono carboxy phenoxy phthalocyanine (ZnMCPPc–uridine, 4) are reported in this work. The conjugate was also adsorbed onto single walled carbon nanotubes (ZnMCPPc–uridine–SWCNT, 5). The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of 4 showed three N 1s peaks while that of 5 showed four N 1s peak, a new peak at 399.4 eV of 5 was assigned to pyrrolidonic nitrogen, due to the interaction of the pyrrolic nitrogen of 4 with the oxygen moiety of SWCNT–COOH in 5. The triplet lifetime, triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yields of the zinc mono carboxy phenoxy phthalocyanine increased by over 40% in the presence of uridine. SWCNTs resulted in only a small quenching of the triplet state parameters of 4.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Photophysical studies of newly derivatized mono substituted phthalocyanines grafted onto silica nanoparticles via click chemistry
- Fashina, Adedayo, Amuhaya, Edith K, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Fashina, Adedayo , Amuhaya, Edith K , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/189537 , vital:44855 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2014.12.070"
- Description: This work reports on the synthesis, characterization and photophysical studies of newly derived phthalocyanine complexes and the phthalocyanine–silica nanoparticles conjugates. The derived phthalocyanine complexes have one terminal alkyne group. The derived phthalocyanine complexes showed improved photophysical properties (ФF, ФT, ΦΔ and τT) compared to the respective phthalocyanine complexes from which they were derived. The derived phthalocyanine complexes were conjugated to the surface of an azide functionalized silica nanoparticles via copper (1) catalyzed cyclo-addition reaction. All the conjugates showed lower triplet quantum yields ranging from 0.37 to 0.44 compared to the free phthalocyanine complexes. The triplet lifetimes ranged from 352 to 484 μs for the conjugates and from 341 to 366 μs for the free phthalocyanine complexes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Fashina, Adedayo , Amuhaya, Edith K , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/189537 , vital:44855 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2014.12.070"
- Description: This work reports on the synthesis, characterization and photophysical studies of newly derived phthalocyanine complexes and the phthalocyanine–silica nanoparticles conjugates. The derived phthalocyanine complexes have one terminal alkyne group. The derived phthalocyanine complexes showed improved photophysical properties (ФF, ФT, ΦΔ and τT) compared to the respective phthalocyanine complexes from which they were derived. The derived phthalocyanine complexes were conjugated to the surface of an azide functionalized silica nanoparticles via copper (1) catalyzed cyclo-addition reaction. All the conjugates showed lower triplet quantum yields ranging from 0.37 to 0.44 compared to the free phthalocyanine complexes. The triplet lifetimes ranged from 352 to 484 μs for the conjugates and from 341 to 366 μs for the free phthalocyanine complexes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Photophysicochemical properties and in vitro cytotoxicity of zinc tetracarboxyphenoxy phthalocyanine–quantum dot nanocomposites
- Oluwole, David O, Tilbury, Chelsea M, Prinsloo, Earl, Limson, Janice L, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Oluwole, David O , Tilbury, Chelsea M , Prinsloo, Earl , Limson, Janice L , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/240846 , vital:50878 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2015.12.060"
- Description: Cadmium based quantum dots (QDs) capped with two different ligands (thioglycolic acid, TGA, and glutathione, GSH) were synthesized. The QDs are: CdTe, CdTe/ZnO, CdTeSe, CdTeSe/ZnO and CdSe/ZnS (the last one for TGA only). Cytotoxicity of the QDs against MCF-7 epithelial breast cancer was evaluated. The TGA capped core QDs were found to be highly cytotoxic to the cell lines when compared to GSH capped ones. The glutathione capped QDs were covalently linked to zinc tetracarboxyphenoxy phthalocyanine (ZnTCPPc). Cytotoxicity and photophysicochemical properties of the conjugates were investigated. The toxicity of the core QDs was reduced in the presence of ZnTCPPc. Enhanced triplet quantum yields and long triplet lifetimes were obtained for ZnTCPPc in the presence of all QDs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Oluwole, David O , Tilbury, Chelsea M , Prinsloo, Earl , Limson, Janice L , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/240846 , vital:50878 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2015.12.060"
- Description: Cadmium based quantum dots (QDs) capped with two different ligands (thioglycolic acid, TGA, and glutathione, GSH) were synthesized. The QDs are: CdTe, CdTe/ZnO, CdTeSe, CdTeSe/ZnO and CdSe/ZnS (the last one for TGA only). Cytotoxicity of the QDs against MCF-7 epithelial breast cancer was evaluated. The TGA capped core QDs were found to be highly cytotoxic to the cell lines when compared to GSH capped ones. The glutathione capped QDs were covalently linked to zinc tetracarboxyphenoxy phthalocyanine (ZnTCPPc). Cytotoxicity and photophysicochemical properties of the conjugates were investigated. The toxicity of the core QDs was reduced in the presence of ZnTCPPc. Enhanced triplet quantum yields and long triplet lifetimes were obtained for ZnTCPPc in the presence of all QDs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Physicochemical and photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy studies of mono-and tetra-pyridyloxy substituted indium (III) phthalocyanines
- Osifeko, Olawale L, Durmus, Mahmut, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Osifeko, Olawale L , Durmus, Mahmut , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/189547 , vital:44856 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2014.12.011"
- Description: The synthesis and photophysicochemical properties of mono- and tetra-pyridyloxy substituted indium(III) phthalocyanines (InPcs) are presented in this study. General trends are described for quantum yields of fluorescence, triplet, singlet oxygen and photodegradation as well as lifetimes of fluorescence and triplet state of these compounds. The complexes exhibited high singlet oxygen quantum yields (ФΔ) ranging from 0.44 to 0.66 in DMF, and from 0.44 to 0.69 in DMSO and ФΔ = 0.31 for the quartenized tetra substituted InPc which is soluble in water. The triplet quantum yields (ФT) ranged from 0.77 to 0.95 in DMF and from 0.77 to 0.94) in DMSO. The tetra substituted photosensitizers do not differ in their inactivation of bacteria with over 8 log reduction of viable bacteria when compared with the mono substituted photosensitizer which could only manage a 1 log reduction.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Osifeko, Olawale L , Durmus, Mahmut , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/189547 , vital:44856 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2014.12.011"
- Description: The synthesis and photophysicochemical properties of mono- and tetra-pyridyloxy substituted indium(III) phthalocyanines (InPcs) are presented in this study. General trends are described for quantum yields of fluorescence, triplet, singlet oxygen and photodegradation as well as lifetimes of fluorescence and triplet state of these compounds. The complexes exhibited high singlet oxygen quantum yields (ФΔ) ranging from 0.44 to 0.66 in DMF, and from 0.44 to 0.69 in DMSO and ФΔ = 0.31 for the quartenized tetra substituted InPc which is soluble in water. The triplet quantum yields (ФT) ranged from 0.77 to 0.95 in DMF and from 0.77 to 0.94) in DMSO. The tetra substituted photosensitizers do not differ in their inactivation of bacteria with over 8 log reduction of viable bacteria when compared with the mono substituted photosensitizer which could only manage a 1 log reduction.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Physicochemical behavior of nanohybrids of mono and tetra substituted carboxyphenoxy phthalocyanine covalently linked to GSH–CdTe/CdS/ZnS quantum dots
- Oluwole, David O, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Oluwole, David O , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/189480 , vital:44850 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2014.10.024"
- Description: Zinc monocarboxyphenoxy and tetracarboxyphenoxy phthalocyanines were covalently linked with three different sizes of glutathione capped core/shell/shell {CdTe/CdS/ZnS(4.2), CdTe/CdS/ZnS(5.1) and CdTe/CdS/ZnS(6.7)}; a core shell {CdTe/CdS(3.1)} and core {CdTe(2.4)} quantum dots. The physicochemical behavior and Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) processes of the nanohybrids were investigated. The highest FRET efficiency was observed with CdTe/CdS/ZnS(6.7) nanohybrids with 98% and the least efficiency was observed with CdTe(2.4) nanohybrids with 85%. The CdTe/CdS/ZnS(6.7) also showed the best physicochemical behavior. These good physicochemical properties make the synthesized nanohybrids viable photosensitizers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Oluwole, David O , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/189480 , vital:44850 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2014.10.024"
- Description: Zinc monocarboxyphenoxy and tetracarboxyphenoxy phthalocyanines were covalently linked with three different sizes of glutathione capped core/shell/shell {CdTe/CdS/ZnS(4.2), CdTe/CdS/ZnS(5.1) and CdTe/CdS/ZnS(6.7)}; a core shell {CdTe/CdS(3.1)} and core {CdTe(2.4)} quantum dots. The physicochemical behavior and Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) processes of the nanohybrids were investigated. The highest FRET efficiency was observed with CdTe/CdS/ZnS(6.7) nanohybrids with 98% and the least efficiency was observed with CdTe(2.4) nanohybrids with 85%. The CdTe/CdS/ZnS(6.7) also showed the best physicochemical behavior. These good physicochemical properties make the synthesized nanohybrids viable photosensitizers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Planning for the future: mapping anticipated environmental and social impacts in a nascent tourism destination
- Aswani, Shankar, Diedrich, Amy, Currier, Kitty
- Authors: Aswani, Shankar , Diedrich, Amy , Currier, Kitty
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/145415 , vital:38436 , DOI: 10.1080/08941920.2015.1020582
- Description: Tourism is a significant driver of social and ecological change in developing countries, particularly in small-island states, which are susceptible to tourism impacts due to their particular social and environmental characteristics. In this article we present a participatory mapping approach to obtaining spatially explicit local perceptions of future environmental and social change resulting from tourism development, as well as addressing the different community conflicts that may arise through the introduction of tourism in the future in a Solomon Islands community. The results show that spatial conflicts within a community over territory and associated resources are likely to occur when designing natural resource management and tourism development plans. This knowledge can help us increase the future sustainability of tourism in nascent small-islands destinations, particularly in vulnerable regions such as Roviana, which have experienced very little tourism development and will likely experience more in the near future.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Aswani, Shankar , Diedrich, Amy , Currier, Kitty
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/145415 , vital:38436 , DOI: 10.1080/08941920.2015.1020582
- Description: Tourism is a significant driver of social and ecological change in developing countries, particularly in small-island states, which are susceptible to tourism impacts due to their particular social and environmental characteristics. In this article we present a participatory mapping approach to obtaining spatially explicit local perceptions of future environmental and social change resulting from tourism development, as well as addressing the different community conflicts that may arise through the introduction of tourism in the future in a Solomon Islands community. The results show that spatial conflicts within a community over territory and associated resources are likely to occur when designing natural resource management and tourism development plans. This knowledge can help us increase the future sustainability of tourism in nascent small-islands destinations, particularly in vulnerable regions such as Roviana, which have experienced very little tourism development and will likely experience more in the near future.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Plasmodium falciparum Hop (PfHop) interacts with the Hsp70 chaperone in a nucleotide-dependent fashion and exhibits ligand selectivity
- Zininga, Tawanda, Makumire, Stanley, Gitau, Grace W, Njunge, James M, Pooe, Ofentse J, Klimek, Hanna, Scheurr, Robina, Raifer, Hartmann, Prinsloo, Earl, Przyborski, Jude M, Hoppe, Heinrich C, Shonhai, Addmore
- Authors: Zininga, Tawanda , Makumire, Stanley , Gitau, Grace W , Njunge, James M , Pooe, Ofentse J , Klimek, Hanna , Scheurr, Robina , Raifer, Hartmann , Prinsloo, Earl , Przyborski, Jude M , Hoppe, Heinrich C , Shonhai, Addmore
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431752 , vital:72801 , xlink:href=" https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0135326"
- Description: Heat shock proteins (Hsps) play an important role in the development and pathogenicity of malaria parasites. One of the most prominent functions of Hsps is to facilitate the folding of other proteins. Hsps are thought to play a crucial role when malaria parasites invade their host cells and during their subsequent development in hepatocytes and red blood cells. It is thought that Hsps maintain proteostasis under the unfavourable conditions that malaria parasites encounter in the host environment. Although heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) is capable of independent folding of some proteins, its functional cooperation with heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) facilitates folding of some proteins such as kinases and steroid hormone receptors into their fully functional forms. The cooperation of Hsp70 and Hsp90 occurs through an adaptor protein called Hsp70-Hsp90 organising protein (Hop). We previously characterised the Hop protein from Plasmodium falciparum (PfHop). We observed that the protein co-localised with the cytosol-localised chaperones, PfHsp70-1 and PfHsp90 at the blood stages of the malaria parasite. In the current study, we demonstrated that PfHop is a stress-inducible protein. We further explored the direct interaction between PfHop and PfHsp70-1 using far Western and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analyses.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Zininga, Tawanda , Makumire, Stanley , Gitau, Grace W , Njunge, James M , Pooe, Ofentse J , Klimek, Hanna , Scheurr, Robina , Raifer, Hartmann , Prinsloo, Earl , Przyborski, Jude M , Hoppe, Heinrich C , Shonhai, Addmore
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431752 , vital:72801 , xlink:href=" https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0135326"
- Description: Heat shock proteins (Hsps) play an important role in the development and pathogenicity of malaria parasites. One of the most prominent functions of Hsps is to facilitate the folding of other proteins. Hsps are thought to play a crucial role when malaria parasites invade their host cells and during their subsequent development in hepatocytes and red blood cells. It is thought that Hsps maintain proteostasis under the unfavourable conditions that malaria parasites encounter in the host environment. Although heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) is capable of independent folding of some proteins, its functional cooperation with heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) facilitates folding of some proteins such as kinases and steroid hormone receptors into their fully functional forms. The cooperation of Hsp70 and Hsp90 occurs through an adaptor protein called Hsp70-Hsp90 organising protein (Hop). We previously characterised the Hop protein from Plasmodium falciparum (PfHop). We observed that the protein co-localised with the cytosol-localised chaperones, PfHsp70-1 and PfHsp90 at the blood stages of the malaria parasite. In the current study, we demonstrated that PfHop is a stress-inducible protein. We further explored the direct interaction between PfHop and PfHsp70-1 using far Western and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analyses.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Plasmodium falciparum Hop: detailed analysis on complex formation with Hsp70 and Hsp90
- Hatherley, Rowan, Clitheroe, Crystal-Leigh, Faya, Ngonidzashe, Tastan Bishop, Özlem
- Authors: Hatherley, Rowan , Clitheroe, Crystal-Leigh , Faya, Ngonidzashe , Tastan Bishop, Özlem
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/125708 , vital:35810 , https://doi.10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.11.103
- Description: The heat shock organizing protein (Hop) is important in modulating the activity and co-interaction of two chaperones: heat shock protein 70 and 90 (Hsp70 and Hsp90). Recent research suggested that Plasmodium falciparum Hop (PfHop), PfHsp70 and PfHsp90 form a complex in the trophozoite infective stage. However, there has been little computational research on the malarial Hop protein in complex with other malarial Hsps. Using in silico characterization of the protein, this work showed that individual domains of Hop are evolving at different rates within the protein. Differences between human Hop (HsHop) and PfHop were identified by motif analysis. Homology modeling of PfHop and HsHop in complex with their own cytosolic Hsp90 and Hsp70 C-terminal peptide partners indicated excellent conservation of the Hop concave TPR sites bound to the C-terminal motifs of partner proteins. Further, we analyzed additional binding sites between Hop and Hsp90, and showed, for the first time, that they are distinctly less conserved between human and malaria parasite. These sites are located on the convex surface of Hop TPR2, and involved in interactions with the Hsp90 middle domain. Since the convex sites are less conserved than the concave sites, it makes their potential for malarial inhibitor design extremely attractive (as opposed to the concave sites which have been the focus of previous efforts).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Hatherley, Rowan , Clitheroe, Crystal-Leigh , Faya, Ngonidzashe , Tastan Bishop, Özlem
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/125708 , vital:35810 , https://doi.10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.11.103
- Description: The heat shock organizing protein (Hop) is important in modulating the activity and co-interaction of two chaperones: heat shock protein 70 and 90 (Hsp70 and Hsp90). Recent research suggested that Plasmodium falciparum Hop (PfHop), PfHsp70 and PfHsp90 form a complex in the trophozoite infective stage. However, there has been little computational research on the malarial Hop protein in complex with other malarial Hsps. Using in silico characterization of the protein, this work showed that individual domains of Hop are evolving at different rates within the protein. Differences between human Hop (HsHop) and PfHop were identified by motif analysis. Homology modeling of PfHop and HsHop in complex with their own cytosolic Hsp90 and Hsp70 C-terminal peptide partners indicated excellent conservation of the Hop concave TPR sites bound to the C-terminal motifs of partner proteins. Further, we analyzed additional binding sites between Hop and Hsp90, and showed, for the first time, that they are distinctly less conserved between human and malaria parasite. These sites are located on the convex surface of Hop TPR2, and involved in interactions with the Hsp90 middle domain. Since the convex sites are less conserved than the concave sites, it makes their potential for malarial inhibitor design extremely attractive (as opposed to the concave sites which have been the focus of previous efforts).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Pollution Mapping In Freshwater Systems: Using Aquatic Plants To Trace N-Loading
- Hill, Jaclyn M, Motitsoe, Samuel N, Hill, Martin P
- Authors: Hill, Jaclyn M , Motitsoe, Samuel N , Hill, Martin P
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/444527 , vital:74248 , https://www.wrc.org.za/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/2262-1-15.pdf
- Description: The global degradation of both marine and freshwater ecosystems is primarily driven by the excessive addition of anthropogenic nutrients to watersheds. Increased nitrogen loading, for example, can result in widespread ecosystem deterioration and may include harmful algal blooms, large scale fish kills, hypoxia, the loss of aquatic vegetation and habitat, loss of biodiversity, disruption of ecosystem functioning and the establishment of invasive species. Reactive nitrogen inputs (N) stem from intensive agricultural land use, resulting in the increased use of N-containing organic and inorganic fertilizers and/or animal manure and their consequent run-off and the discharge of human sewage. In recent years, aquatic ecosystem health has been monitored using a number of techniques, of which the most widely applied in South Africa is the South African Scoring System (SASS5; Dickens and Graham, 2002). Bio-monitoring, however, typically identifies eutrophication prob-lems only after ecosystem-level impacts have already occurred and where ecosystem health has been disrupted, it is often not possible to link biotic changes to identifiable causes (especially in the case of non-point source pollution). Any methods that would allow for the detection of emerging eutrophication which can also trace and identify nutrient sources would greatly improve our ability to effectively manage our aquatic resources.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Hill, Jaclyn M , Motitsoe, Samuel N , Hill, Martin P
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/444527 , vital:74248 , https://www.wrc.org.za/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/2262-1-15.pdf
- Description: The global degradation of both marine and freshwater ecosystems is primarily driven by the excessive addition of anthropogenic nutrients to watersheds. Increased nitrogen loading, for example, can result in widespread ecosystem deterioration and may include harmful algal blooms, large scale fish kills, hypoxia, the loss of aquatic vegetation and habitat, loss of biodiversity, disruption of ecosystem functioning and the establishment of invasive species. Reactive nitrogen inputs (N) stem from intensive agricultural land use, resulting in the increased use of N-containing organic and inorganic fertilizers and/or animal manure and their consequent run-off and the discharge of human sewage. In recent years, aquatic ecosystem health has been monitored using a number of techniques, of which the most widely applied in South Africa is the South African Scoring System (SASS5; Dickens and Graham, 2002). Bio-monitoring, however, typically identifies eutrophication prob-lems only after ecosystem-level impacts have already occurred and where ecosystem health has been disrupted, it is often not possible to link biotic changes to identifiable causes (especially in the case of non-point source pollution). Any methods that would allow for the detection of emerging eutrophication which can also trace and identify nutrient sources would greatly improve our ability to effectively manage our aquatic resources.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015