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Metabolism is a major regulator of immune cell function, but it remains difficult to study the metabolic status of individual cells. Here, we present Compass, an algorithm to characterize cellular metabolic states based on single-cell RNA sequencing and flux balance analysis. We applied Compass to associate metabolic states with T helper 17 (Th17) functional variability (pathogenic potential) and recovered a metabolic switch between glycolysis and fatty acid oxidation, akin to known Th17/regulatory T cell (Treg) differences, which we validated by metabolic assays. Compass also predicted that Th17 pathogenicity was associated with arginine and downstream polyamine metabolism. Indeed, polyamine-related enzyme expression was enhanced in pathogenic Th17 and suppressed in Treg cells. Chemical and genetic perturbation of polyamine metabolism inhibited Th17 cytokines, promoted Foxp3 expression, and remodeled the transcriptome and epigenome of Th17 cells toward a Treg-like state. In vivo perturbations of the polyamine pathway altered the phenotype of encephalitogenic T cells and attenuated tissue inflammation in CNS autoimmunity.

Naturally occurring substituted benzoic acids, known for their exceptional biological activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were reacted with various aldehydes, aniline, and tert‐butyl isocyanide at 25 °C to give the desired hybrids with good to excellent yield in the range of 60–85 % and well characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HRMS, IR, and HPLC analysis. Molecular docking and simulation studies of compounds were conducted which predicted a high affinity towards quorum‐sensing (QS) receptors of P. aeruginosa. The polyphenolic hybrids were first screened for anti‐QS activity using the Agrobacterium tumefaciens NTL4 biosensor strain, followed by examining the antivirulence potential of selected hybrids against P. aeruginosa PAO1 in vitro. The highest degree of AHL (acyl homoserine lactone) inhibition in PAO1 was observed with the compound having a maximum number of phenolic groups. The hybrids in this investigation were also found to be non‐cytotoxic (biocompatible) towards HEK cells and may be further tested for their therapeutic efficacy against P. aeruginosa infections in vivo. It has been observed that the anti‐QS activity is directly proportional to the number of hydroxyl groups on the aromatic ring and one of the major contributing factors can be their chelating capacity as depicted by CAS shuttle assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferrites are important magnetic materials used in electronic devices. Nanocomposites of ferrites with TiO2, SiO2 and carbon quantum dots have gained recent interest due to their unique advantages, such as high chemical stability, surface-active sites, high specific surface area, non-toxicity, excellent optical properties, and tunable porosity. In the present review, general and adaptable coprecipitation, sol–gel, hydrothermal, solvothermal, and Stöber methods for the fabrication of nanocomposites are discussed. These materials offer the advantage of magnetic recovery and superior photocatalytic performance. The potential of nanocomposites to act as photocatalysts to eliminate organic pollutants and microbes from water is discussed. Mechanisms involved in these applications are also elaborated upon. The review provides a detailed study of recent applications and future perspectives of nanocomposites in sustainable water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]