The post CfP | Psychoactives: Recreational drugs repurposed as novel therapies (Submission Deadline: 27 June) was curated by information for practice.

Repurposing webinar content was a major hassle—until now

Repurposed 3D Printer Allows Economical and Programmable Fraction Collection for Proteomics of Nanogram Scale Samples  ACS Publications

Finding antivirals to reduce coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) morbidity and mortality has been challenging. Large randomized clinical trials that aimed to test four repurposed drugs, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir-ritonavir, interferon beta 1a, and remdesivir, have shown that these compounds lack an impact on the COVID-19 course. Although the phase III COVID-19 vaccine trial results are encouraging, the search for effective COVID-19 therapeutics should not stop. Recently, plitidepsin (aplidin) demonstrated highly effective preclinical activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Its antiviral activity was 27.5-fold more potent than that of remdesivir (K. M. White, R. Rosales, S. Yildiz, T. Kehrer, et al., Science, 2021, https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/01/22/science.abf4058). Plitidepsin, a repurposed drug developed for the treatment of multiple myeloma, targets the host translation cofactor eEF1A. Plitidepsin has shown efficacy in animal models and phase I/II human trials. Although plitidepsin is administered intravenously and its toxicity profile remains to be fully characterized, this compound may be a promising alternative COVID-19 therapeutic.

In its old form, the antibiotic is very safe for use but it lacks the necessary antibacterial activity against many bacterial pathogens.

Given the rapid spread of COVID-19 and its relatively high mortality, filling the gap for coronavirus-specific drugs is urgent.

These artists used recycled pine, driftwood and waste timber to create their pieces.

ABSTRACT

In the absence of a vaccine, multidrug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae has emerged as a major human health threat, and new approaches to treat gonorrhea are urgently needed. N. gonorrhoeae pili are posttranslationally modified by a glycan that terminates in a galactose. The terminal galactose is critical for initial contact with the human cervical mucosa via an interaction with the I-domain of complement receptor 3 (CR3). We have now identified the I-domain galactose-binding epitope and characterized its galactose-specific lectin activity. Using surface plasmon resonance and cellular infection assays, we found that a peptide mimic of this galactose-binding region competitively inhibited the N. gonorrhoeae-CR3 interaction. A compound library was screened for potential drugs that could similarly prohibit the N. gonorrhoeae-CR3 interaction and be repurposed as novel host-targeted therapeutics for multidrug-resistant gonococcal infections in women. Two drugs, methyldopa and carbamazepine, prevented and cured cervical cell infection by multidrug-resistant gonococci by blocking the gonococcal-CR3 I-domain interaction.

IMPORTANCE Novel therapies that avert the problem of Neisseria gonorrhoeae with acquired antibiotic resistance are urgently needed. Gonococcal infection of the human cervix is initiated by an interaction between a galactose modification made to its surface appendages, pili, and the I-domain region of (host) complement receptor 3 (CR3). By targeting this crucial gonococcal–I-domain interaction, it may be possible to prevent cervical infection in females. To this end, we identified the I-domain galactose-binding epitope of CR3 and characterized its galactose lectin activity. Moreover, we identified two drugs, carbamazepine and methyldopa, as effective host-targeted therapies for gonorrhea treatment. At doses below those currently used for their respective existing indications, both carbamazepine and methyldopa were more effective than ceftriaxone in curing cervical infection ex vivo. This host-targeted approach would not be subject to N. gonorrhoeae drug resistance mechanisms. Thus, our data suggest a long-term solution to the growing problem of multidrug-resistant N. gonorrhoeae infections.

Tottenham have granted the NHS access to their stadium to carry out coronavirus testing.

Instead of trashing these old treads, they have been made into a inter-looping work of art in the same station.

Think you need to be an engineer and spend a bundle to create a mini-hydropower generator? Think again.

Not sure if you really want to live in a tiny house? This tiny home builder is making these cabins from salvaged materials, which visitors can test out at an eco-retreat in Maryland.

A fading fairytale village will become Switzerland's first 'scattered hotel' thanks to a foundation committed to saving it.

Image credit: Karen, used under Creative Commons license. Dear Pablo: Say an average fancy t-shirt holds carbon footprint of 6kg but is never sold and sits in the warehouse of a textile/clothing production company. I take that same t-shirt and use it to

Decommisioned parachutes are being transformed into lightweight rain harvesting systems to provide drinking water in semi-arid regions.

Did we say we hate concrete? Just the new stuff. This kind of concrete should be buffed, polished and treasured.

A look at this year's Casa FOA, an exhibition which combines charity and patrimony conservation showcasing the best architecture and design from the Argentine capital.

These intricately redone antique pocket watches and other timepieces feature scenes inspired by fairytales and steampunk.

You thought disco was dead? Not with these old payphone booths, now transformed into ultra-exclusive, tiny dance clubs, complete with the disco ball.

Sometimes when catalogers examine a book, we find that parts of its structure use recycled materials from other books. These materials are often invisible, hidden away under outer coverings of paper or leather, and revealed only when an item is damaged or taken apart for conservation. But sometimes, the entire outer cover itself is made from...

The post Rare Books Revealed: Parchment Repurposed appeared first on New-York Historical Society.

ICMR has identified over a dozen other drugs, including remdesivir, mycobacterium W, disulfiram and resveratrol, which could be used for treating Covid-19. Some of these drugs are undergoing clinical trials in India, sources said.

The experiments follow up on an earlier study that identified 69 compounds that could disrupt possible interactions between viral and human proteins

The experiments follow up on an earlier study that identified 69 compounds that could disrupt possible interactions between viral and human proteins