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The rational design and controlling synthesis of an anionic cuprous iodide supramolecular cluster with high nuclearity through noncovalent interactions remains a significant challenge. Herein, a cationic organic ligand ( L 1 ) 3+ was driven by anion-cation ion-pair electrostatic interaction to induce free cuprous iodide to aggregate into an anionic supramolecular cluster, [(Cu 5 I 8 ) 3- ( L 1 ) 3+ ] ( C1 ). Moreover, five copper(I) atoms bind with eight iodides through multiply bridged Cu-I bonds associated with intramolecular cuprophilic interactions in this butterfly-shaped cluster core. Supramolecular cluster C1 exhibited a solid-state emission at 380 nm and an emission at 405 nm in acetonitrile at room temperature, respectively. Interestingly, this unprecedented cuprous iodide cluster demonstrated a good catalytic performance for azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction (CuAAC) and the catalytic yield can be up to 80% for eight different substrates at 80 °C. Furthermore, the density functional theory (DFT) calculation revealed that the thermodynamic-dependent cycloaddition reaction underwent a four-step pathway with an overall energy barrier of -43.6 kcal mol -1 on the basis of intermediates monitored by mass spectrum.

Objective: To investigate the effect of antigens of different stage Schistosoma japonicum on airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma., Methods: 48 female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into eight groups. Mice in group A were given normal saline of equal volume as control. Group B was asthma model which was established by intraperitoneal and intranasal challenge with OVA. Mice in groups C, D and E were immunized with soluble egg antigen (SEA), soluble male worm antigen (SWA), and schistosomulum antigen (SSA) respectively 4 times in a week interval, followed by OVA sensitization as in group B 1 week after the final immunization. Mice in groups F, G, and H were immunized with SEA, SWA, and SSA respectively but sensitized and challenged with saline instead of OVA. 48 hours after asthma was induced, the mice were sacrificed. Leukocytes and eosinophils were counted in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The level of IL-5, IL-10 and IFN-gamma in BALF was detected. Pathologic changes in lung tissues were observed., Results: Inflammation cells, especially eosinophils, appeared in airways of mice in groups B, C, D and E, but with much less number in groups C, D and E. No inflammation cells were seen in airways of group A mice. The number of leukocytes, eosinophils and level of IL-5 in BALF of group B [(98.4 +/- 16.1) x 10(4)/ml, (17.6 +/- 4.3) x 10(4)/ml, (197.9 +/- 36.5) pg/ml respectively] were significantly higher than those of group A [(8.2 +/- 1.1) x 10(4)/ml, (0.02 +/- 0.01) x 10(4)/ ml, (12.3 +/- 7.4) pg/ml], however the levels of IL-10 and IFN-gamma were significantly lower than that of group A (P < 0.05). The number of leukocytes, especially eosinophils, in BALF of groups C, D and E was significantly lower than that of group B. The level of IL-5 in BALF of groups C, D and E was significantly reduced, while that of IL-10 and IFN-gamma in BALF of the 3 groups was significantly higher than group B (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: The immunization with S. japonicum antigens can effectively modulate the level of cytokines and inhibit the eosinophil infiltration and airway inflammation in asthmatic mice.

Objective: To explore the expression of PD-1-PD-L pathway of mice immunized with soluble egg antigen (SEA) or soluble male worm antigen (SMWA) of Schistosoma japonicum., Methods: Eighteen BALB/c mice were randomly divided into three groups named as control group (A), SEA immunized group (B) and SMWA immunized group (C). Mice in groups B and C were subcutaneously immunized weekly with SEA (50 microg) and SMWA (50 microg) of S. japonicum respectively. After 4 times immunization, the expression of programmed death-1 (PD-1), programmed death-ligand1 (PD-L1) and PD-L2 in splenic cells was measured with flow cytometer. The expression of IL-4 and IFN-gamma in cultural suspension of splenic cells was detected by sandwich-ELISA after stimulation with ConA., Results: The expression ratio of PD-1, PD-L1 and PD-L2 was extremely low in the control group, but increased after the immunization with SEA and SMWA. The expression ratio of PD-1 was (8.24 +/- 1.31)% in SEA immunized mice, higher than the mice immunized by SMWA [(6.08 +/- 1.28)%]. PD-L2 was much more elevated in SEA immunized mice [(5.26 +/- 1.73)%] while PD-L1 more significantly increased with SMWA immunization [(10.82 +/- 2.33)%]. In addition, the up-expression of PD-L1 was associated with the level of IFN-gamma and the expression of PD-L2 was associated with IL-4 secretion., Conclusion: The expression of PD-1-PDL was up-regulated in BALB/c mice immunized by SEA or SMWA of S. japonicum.

Objective: To produce and purify egg yolk immunoglobulin against soluble egg antigen (SEA) of Schistosoma japonicum, and evaluate its specificity and sensitivity., Methods: 25-week old hen was intravenously and subcutaneously immunized with SEA of Schistosoma japonicum for 4 times. Each hen was first immunized with 60 microg SEA and subsequent injections were performed at 10-day intervals with 30 microg SEA. IgY was extracted from eggs of hen 35 d after the first inoculation by WD (water-dilution) method, eggs from non-immunized hen were used as negative control. The protein concentration of IgY was measured by BCA method, and IgY was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. SEA-based ELISA was used to evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of the IgY., Results: 61 mg IgY was extracted from one egg. The results of SDS-PAGE and Western blotting demonstrated that the IgY contained one major protein band with molecular weight of 130,000 and could be recognized by SEA. Specific IgY could be immediately detected by SDS-PAGE and ELISA in the eggs laid by the hens from 10 days after the first immunization. On day 31 after the primary immunization, the antibody titer reached 1:1 600. 2.4 ng/ml SEA was detected by IgY based-sandwich ELISA, which indicated a high sensitivity of the purified IgY., Conclusion: Anti-SEA IgY with high specificity and sensitivity has been obtained and purified.