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The Republic of Panama currently includes 414 recorded species of Trichoptera. Herein we add two new genera (Hydroptilidae: Angrisanoia Ozdikmen, 2008 and Mayatrichia Mosely, 1937) and 17 new country records (Philopotamidae: Chimarra (C.) tapanti Blahnik, Wormaldia bolivari Muñoz-Quesada and Holzenthal, and Wormaldia zunigae Muñoz-Quesada and Holzenthal; Hydropsychidae: Centromacronema pygmaeum Botosaneanu; Hydroptilidae: Brysopteryx esparta Harris and Holzenthal, Byrsopteryx solisi Harris and Holzenthal, Costatrichia falsa Santos, Takiya, and Nessimian, Mayatrichia illobia Harris and Holzenthal, Metrichia amplitudinis Bueno-Soria and Holzenthal, Ochrotrichia boquillas Moulton and Harris, O. conformalis Bueno-Soria and Holzenthal, O. quinealensis Bueno-Soria and Holzenthal, and O. unica Bueno-Soria and Santiago; Leptoceridae: Triaenodes morai Holzenthal and Andersen; Odontoceridae: Marilia kingsolveri Bueno-Soria and Rojas-Ascencio; and, Helicopsychidae: Helicopsyche alajuela Johanson and Holzenthal and Helicopsyche breviterga Flint) to Panama’s caddisfly fauna. The newly recorded taxa increase Panama’s total known caddisfly fauna to 431 species, distributed among 15 families and 55 genera. These results are part of an ongoing effort to characterize the caddisfly fauna of Panama, and to evaluate the aquatic insect diversity of the country’s major watersheds (cuencas). La República de Panamá actualmente incluye 414 especies registradas de Trichoptera. Aquí agregamos dos nuevos géneros (Hydroptilidae: Angrisanoia Ozdikmen, 2008 y Mayatrichia Mosely, 1937) y 17 nuevos registros para el país (Philopotamidae: Chimarra (C.) tapanti Blahnik, Wormaldia bolivari Muñoz-Quesada y Holzenthal, y Wormaldia zunigae Muñoz-Quesada y Holzenthal; Hydropsychidae: Centromacronema pygmaeum Botosaneanu; Hydroptilidae: Brysopteryx esparta Harris y Holzenthal, Byrsopteryx solisi Harris y Holzenthal, Costatrichia falsa Santos, Takiya, y Nessimian, Mayatrichia illobia Harris y Holzenthal, Met

Full Text, Thesis (PhD Doctorate), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Institute for Glycomics, Griffith Health, Heparan sulfate (HS) is a large, poly-anionic, linear polysaccharide that is made up of repeating disaccharide units of alternating glucosamine and gluco or ido uronic acid residues, and that features distinct patters of O- and N-sulfation. In mammalian biology, HS is the most prominent glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and in the form of heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) is a major constituent of the extracellular matrix. As such, HSPGs are inherently involved in an enormous diversity of biological functions. Extracellular HSPGs are almost ubiquitously expressed in mammalian systems and therefore many viral, bacterial, and parasitic human pathogens initiate infection through recognition of and attachment to HSPGs on the surface of host cells. In microbial pathogenesis, HSPGs primarily function as initial, low affinity co-receptors that provide a scaffold to mediate the interaction of microbes with the host cell. Concentration of the pathogen at the cell surface, then allows enhanced binding to specific secondary receptors that facilitate host cell entry. Many viruses adopt HSPGs as cellular receptors to facilitate attachment and entry, including enteroviruses (e.g. enterovirus A71, EV71) and pneumoviruses (human respiratory syncytial virus, hRSV, and human metapneumovirus, hMPV). EV71 is a major cause of hand, foot, and mouth disease, and hMPV is a leading cause of acute respiratory tract infections in children. It has been shown that poly-anionic carbohydrate-based agents (natural polysulfated oligosaccharides, as well as the highly sulfated oligomannoside HS mimetic PI-88) show antiviral activity. However, despite the extensive work carried out there remains no specific antivirals available for the treatment of EV71 and hMPV infections. Due to the increasing understanding of how HSPGs are involved in viral pathogenesis, we sought to investigate how the interactions of HS GAGs could be exploited for drug discovery purposes against a number of viral targets including EV7

The Republic of Panama currently includes 414 recorded species of Trichoptera. Herein we add two new genera (Hydroptilidae: Angrisanoia Ozdikmen, 2008 and Mayatrichia Mosely, 1937) and 17 new country records (Philopotamidae: Chimarra (C.) tapanti Blahnik, Wormaldia bolivari Muñoz-Quesada and Holzenthal, and Wormaldia zunigae Muñoz-Quesada and Holzenthal; Hydropsychidae: Centromacronema pygmaeum Botosaneanu; Hydroptilidae: Brysopteryx esparta Harris and Holzenthal, Byrsopteryx solisi Harris and Holzenthal, Costatrichia falsa Santos, Takiya, and Nessimian, Mayatrichia illobia Harris and Holzenthal, Metrichia amplitudinis Bueno-Soria and Holzenthal, Ochrotrichia boquillas Moulton and Harris, O. conformalis Bueno-Soria and Holzenthal, O. quinealensis Bueno-Soria and Holzenthal, and O. unica Bueno-Soria and Santiago; Leptoceridae: Triaenodes morai Holzenthal and Andersen; Odontoceridae: Marilia kingsolveri Bueno-Soria and Rojas-Ascencio; and, Helicopsychidae: Helicopsyche alajuela Johanson and Holzenthal and Helicopsyche breviterga Flint) to Panama’s caddisfly fauna. The newly recorded taxa increase Panama’s total known caddisfly fauna to 431 species, distributed among 15 families and 55 genera. These results are part of an ongoing effort to characterize the caddisfly fauna of Panama, and to evaluate the aquatic insect diversity of the country’s major watersheds (cuencas)., La República de Panamá actualmente incluye 414 especies registradas de Trichoptera. Aquí agregamos dos nuevos géneros (Hydroptilidae: Angrisanoia Ozdikmen, 2008 y Mayatrichia Mosely, 1937) y 17 nuevos registros para el país (Philopotamidae: Chimarra (C.) tapanti Blahnik, Wormaldia bolivari Muñoz-Quesada y Holzenthal, y Wormaldia zunigae Muñoz-Quesada y Holzenthal; Hydropsychidae: Centromacronema pygmaeum Botosaneanu; Hydroptilidae: Brysopteryx esparta Harris y Holzenthal, Byrsopteryx solisi Harris y Holzenthal, Costatrichia falsa Santos, Takiya, y Nessimian, Mayatrichia illobia Harris y Holzenthal, Metrichia amplitudinis Bueno-Soria y Holzenthal, Ochrotrichia boquillas Moulton y Harris, Ochrotrichia conformalis Bueno-Soria y Holzenthal, Ochrotrichia quinealensis Bueno-Soria y Holzenthal, y Ochrotrichia unica Bueno-Soria y Santiago; Leptoceridae: Triaenodes morai Holzenthal y Andersen; Odontoceridae: Marilia kingsolveri Bueno-Soria y Rojas- Ascencio; y, Helicopsychidae: Helicopsyche alajuela Johanson y Holzenthal y Helicopsyche breviterga Flint) a la fauna de Trichoptera de Panamá. Los taxones recien reportados aumentan el total de la fauna de Trichoptera de Panamá a 431 especies, distribuidas en 15 familias y 55 géneros. Estos resultados son parte de un esfuerzo continuo para caracterizar la fauna de Trichoptera y para evaluar la diversidad de insectos acuáticos de las principales cuencas hidrográficas (cuencas) de Panamá.

There have been 136 species of microcaddisflies (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) recorded from the Republic of Panama. Herein we describe seven new species from the Mount Totumas Cloud Forest and Biological Reserve, in the upper reaches of the Río Chiriquí Viejo watershed (Costatrichia devestiva, C. dietrichi, Metrichia brocha, M. calla, Neotrichia atopa, Ochrotrichia anticheirion, and Rhyacopsyche totuma). These results are part of an ongoing effort to characterize the aquatic insect fauna of Panama, and to evaluate that country’s major watersheds.

There have been 136 species of microcaddisflies (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) recorded from the Republic of Panama. Herein we describe seven new species from the Mount Totumas Cloud Forest and Biological Reserve, in the upper reaches of the Río Chiriquí Viejo watershed (Costatrichia devestiva, C. dietrichi, Metrichia brocha, M. calla, Neotrichia atopa, Ochrotrichia anticheirion, and Rhyacopsyche totuma). These results are part of an ongoing effort to characterize the aquatic insect fauna of Panama, and to evaluate that country’s major watersheds.

Full Text, Thesis (PhD Doctorate), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Institute for Glycomics, Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology, Carbohydrates are widely involved in physiological and pathological processes. The development of carbohydrate-based probes to investigate these processes is an important aspect of drug design and drug discovery. A carbohydrate moiety is generally used in drug development as a pharmacophore for a natural biological interaction. Alternatively, a carbohydrate moiety attached to a well-known biologically active pharmacophore (i.e. as a scaffold), can be used to address solubility issues and/or modulate the pharmacokinetic properties of that pharmacophore. The work of this thesis utilises carbohydrates in both of these ways. The research described in this PhD thesis was focused on the development and evaluation of carbohydrate-based probes for two different enzymes: cancer-related carbonic anhydrase isozymes, and influenza virus neuraminidases. A common feature of the development of these carbohydrate-based probes, was the use of glycosyl azides with in copper and ruthenium catalysed Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition (CuAAC and RuAAC) reactions to respectively form glycosyl 4- and 5-substituted [1,2,3]-triazoles. In Chapter 1, an overview of the significant involvement of carbohydrates in physiological and pathological processes and their use in drug discovery is provided, concentrating on drugs currently on the market or in clinical trials. This overview is followed by a discussion presenting the important role of click chemistry − especially CuAAC and RuAAC reactions − in medicinal chemistry, concentrating on the applications of AAC reactions in glycoscience. The aim of the research described in Chapter 2 was the design of carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitors that would specifically target the cancer-related membrane-associated isozymes CA IX and CA XII. CAs are ubiquitous enzymes that are involved in numerous essential biological processes. The various CA isozymes (CA I to XV) are either intracellular or localised on the cell membrane. Two specific membrane-associated isozyme

The Republic of Panama currently has 300 recorded species of Trichoptera distributed among 14 families. Herein we add 42 new country records for Panama, including one new family (Anomalopsychidae) and three new genera (Anomalopsychidae: Contulma; Hydroptilidae: Byrsopteryx and Cerasmatrichia). The newly recorded caddisfly taxa increase Panama’s total known fauna to 342 species, distributed among 15 families and 50 genera. These results are part of an ongoing effort to characterize the caddisfly fauna of Panama, and to evaluate that country’s major watersheds (cuencas).

The Republic of Panama currently has 300 recorded species of Trichoptera distributed among 14 families. Herein we add 42 new country records for Panama, including one new family (Anomalopsychidae) and three new genera (Anomalopsychidae: Contulma; Hydroptilidae: Byrsopteryx and Cerasmatrichia). The newly recorded caddisfly taxa increase Panama’s total known fauna to 342 species, distributed among 15 families and 50 genera. These results are part of an ongoing effort to characterize the caddisfly fauna of Panama, and to evaluate that country’s major watersheds (cuencas).

Full Text, Thesis (PhD Doctorate), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Institute for Glycomics, Griffith Health, Viruses are responsible for the onset of various infectious diseases and make a considerable impact on human health. The search for antiviral drugs is significantly assisted by an understanding of the molecular events taking place during viral infections. The research described in this Ph.D. thesis was focussed on enzymes involved in two important stages of the influenza virus life cycle; virus replication, and virus release from the infected host cell. Influenza virus is a significant human pathogen, with high annual infection rates, and three major pandemics recorded in the past 100 years. The continual emergence of new strains of this virus (for example 2009 H1N1 swine influenza virus and H5N1 avian influenza virus) presents an on-going threat to mankind that could have devastating health and socio-economic impact.

Full Text, Thesis (PhD Doctorate), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Institute for Glycomics, Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology, The human parainfluenza viruses (hPIV) are leading causes of respiratory disease in young children, the immunocompromised and the elderly. All subtypes can cause lower and upper respiratory disease. The surface of human parainfluenzza virus and a number of other paramyxoviruses contains, amongst other biomolecules, a multifunctional glycoprotein known as haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN). The HN has three roles in viral pathogenesis; the binding to terminally bound sialic acid residues of cell oligosaccharides, thereby mediating viral attacment to the host cell; the promotion of viral and host cell fusion; and the cleavage of cell surface sialic acids to promote viral elution from host cells. The important role of HN in the viral life-cycle makes it an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. This thesis details an investigation into the design, synthesis and assessment of novel inhibitors of paramyxoviral haemagglutinin-neuraminidase.

Full Text, Thesis (PhD Doctorate), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Institute for Glycomics, The World Health Organisation in 1997 recognised the need for the development of new drugs to combat the imminent threat of mass infection by multi-drug resistant strains of pathogenic micro-organisms that spread diseases such as tuberculosis (TB). With this in mind, the work covered in this thesis focused on the preparation of novel carbohydrate-based compounds as potential anti-bacterial agents, in particular targeted to mycobacterial infection. An essential cell wall structural component of various mycobacteria (including M. tuberculosis) is the galactofuranose (Galf) residue, which forms part of the polysaccharide connection between the mycolic acids and the peptidoglycan layer. Interference with the incorporation of Galf into this polysaccharide was expected to compromise the physical integrity of the bacterial cell wall leading to cell death. With minimal projected side-effects, owing to the lack of Galf residues in mammalian systems, hydrolytically-stable Galf analogues were selected as promising targets for the development of potential therapeutic agents against Galf containing pathogenic micro-organisms. In 2000, the von Itzstein group identified the novel Galf-based N,N-didecyl-S-(1-thio-?-D-galactofuranosyl) sulfenamide as a strong inhibitor of mycobacterial growth in vitro. As a result of this finding, a study of structure activity relationships (SAR) of galactofuranose derivatives as antibacterial agents has been undertaken. The primary focus has been on the synthesis of a family of glycofuranosyl derivatives based on the architecture of the N,N-dialkyl galactofuranosyl sulfenamide. To explore structure activity relationships, a number of related compounds were prepared. Chapter 2 describes the development of various synthetic routes towards a suite of S-, O-and N-galactofuranosides which were prepared from a common per-O-acylated Galf intermediate. The range of compounds included N,N-disubstituted sulfenamides and sulfonamides, branched and straight ch

Full Text, Thesis (PhD Doctorate), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), School of Biomolecular and Physical Sciences, Cholera is an epidemic infectious diarrhoeal disease that for centuries has proven its frightening ability to cause rapid and widespread loss of human life. All symptoms associated with cholera are a result of rapid dehydration due to infection by pathogenic strains of the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The damaging effects associated with cholera are mainly attributed to the toxin, which is secreted by the bacterium and infects cells lining the gastrointestinal tract. A sialidase, also secreted by the bacterium, is believed to facilitate toxin uptake by the gastrointestinal epithelium. V. cholerae sialidase is therefore a potential target for therapeutic intervention. A survey of the literature reveals that sialidases from different species share common features with respect to their structure, substrate specificity and catalytic mechanism. The unsaturated sialic acid, Neu5Ac2en, inhibits most exosialidases with a dissociation constant of inhibitor of -10-4 to-10-6 M and has frequently been used as a template in the design of more potent sialidase inhibitors. In the case of V. cholerae sialidase, there have been no inhibitors reported to date that are significantly more potent than Neu5Ac2en itself The present research aimed to develop a range of mimics of Neu5Ac2en, which contain various substituents to replace the C-6 glycerol side chain, as potential inhibitors of V cholerae sialidase. The x-ray crystal structure of V cholerae sialidase was used to explore potential interactions between active site residues and C-6 modified Neu5Ac2en mimetics of known inhibitory potency. Opportunities for interactions within the glycerol side chain pocket in the active site of V cholerae sialidase are discussed. A novel synthetic strategy was developed for the synthesis of a series of glucuronidebased Neu5Ac2en mimetics starting from readily available GIcNAc. This approach was employed for the preparation of Neu5Ac2en mimetics that contained an ether or thioether substituent as repl