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Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is a powerful biocatalyst for carbon dioxide (CO

Additional file 2: Table S1. Disulfide-bond prediction of Plasmodium tmCAs.

Since recent research indicates that the addition of graphene increases the mechanical and biological properties of calcium phosphates simultaneously, graphene oxide (GO) was used in this research to enhance the properties of brushite cement. The main objective of this study is to investigate the mechanism of nucleationand growth of brushite crystals on GO sheets. Calcium nitrate tetrahydrate and diammonium hydrogenphosphate were used as calcium and phosphate precursors. The brushite chemical precipitation method on graphene sheets was used in this study and computer-assisted modeling was used to understand the process. The results of this study showed that the hybrid powders contained brushite and GO. Brushite crystals were grown after nucleation in proportion to the three main planes containing (020), (12), and (141). The final particles were plate shaped. The results of setting time tests showed that increasing the GO% decreases the setting time and this trend continues with an increasing amount of GO. The results of the mechanical evaluation showed that increasing the GO by up to 2% increased the mechanical properties and more than that decreased the mechanical properties.

Additional file 1: Figure S1. W7JAI7 is the representative of group 1 of α-CAs. Figure S2. Q8IHW5 is the representative of group 2 of α-CAs. Figure S3. V7PFH4 is the representative of η-CAs. Figure S4. Multiple sequence analysis (MSA) of W7JAI7 selected from group 1 of transmembrane α-CAs of Plasmodium spp. with human transmembrane α-CAs. Figure S5. Multiple sequence analysis (MSA) of Q8IHW5 selected from group 2 of transmembrane α-CAs of Plasmodium spp. with human transmembrane α-CAs. Figure S6. Multiple sequence analysis (MSA) containing transmembrane η-CA (V7PFH4) of Plasmodium spp. and human transmembrane α-CAs. Figure S7. Prediction of transmembrane localization of representative α- and η-CAs from Plasmodium spp. The prediction identified transmembrane segments near the C-terminal ends of W7JAI7 from group 1 (A) and Q8IHW5 from group 2 (B) of P. falciparum α-CAs and V7PFH4 from P. yoelii η-CAs (C). Figure S8. Pairwise sequence alignment of PDB 2W2J and W7JAI7 V7PFH4 indicating the locations of predicted MHC-I ligands. Figure S9. Pairwise sequence alignment of PDB 3FE4 and Q8IHW5 indicating the locations of predicted MHC-I ligands. Figure S10. Pairwise sequence alignment of PDB 3FE4 and V7PFH4 indicating the locations of predicted MHC-I ligands. Figure S11. Pairwise sequence alignment of PDB 2W2J and W7JAI7 indicating the locations of predicted MHC-II ligands. Figure S12. Pairwise sequence alignment of PDB PDB 3FE4 and Q8IHW5 indicating the location of predicted MHC-II ligand. Figure S13. Pairwise sequence alignment of PDB 3FE4 and V7PFH4 indicating the location of predicted MHC-II ligand.

Background: The Fucose-Mannose Ligand (FML) of Leishmania infantum is a complex glycoprotein which does not elicit adequate immunogenicity in human. In recent years, adjuvant compounds derived from plants have been used for improving the immunogenicity of the vaccines. Glycyrrhizin (GL) is a natural triterpenoid saponin that has known immunomodulatory activities. In the present study, we investigated the effects of a co-treatment with FML and GL on the production of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) by macrophages, in vitro. Methods: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated murine peritoneal macrophages were treated with FML (5 μg/ml) of Leishmania infantum and various concentrations of GL (1 μg/ml, or 10 μg/ml or 20 μg/ml). After 48h of treatment, cell culture supernatants were recovered and the levels of TNF-α, IL-10, IL-12p70, and IP-10 were measured by sandwich ELISA and NO concentration by Griess reaction. Results: Our results indicated that the treatment of activated macrophages with FML plus GL leads to enhanced production of NO, TNF-α, IL-12p70, and reduction of IL-10 levels in comparison with FML treatment alone. Conclusions: We, therefore, concluded that GL can improve the immunostimulatory effect of FML on macrophages and leads to polarization of them toward an M1-like phenotype.

Introduction: Dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) is a member of the family of calcium phosphates (CP), which has many uses in bone cement. Recently, graphene and its derivatives have been studied to increase the biological and mechanical properties of CP structures and their results have been satisfactory.Objective: In this study, the main objective is to investigate the physical properties of GO/DCPD powders, which has been synthesized via a simple precipitation method.Material and Methods: Calcium nitrate tetrahydrate and diammonium hydrogen phosphate were used as a precursor for DCPD synthesis. DCPD was precipitated in the presence of graphene oxide. The powders obtained after washing and drying were evaluated. The analysis performed in the sample includes inductively coupled plasma (ICP), Raman Spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction, Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM), and high-resolution TEM.Result: Raman Spectroscopy and XRD results showed that dicalcium phosphate dehydrate formed the hybrid powders along with graphene oxide. DCPD crystallite size was estimated at 138 nm. Microscopic images confirmed the preferred directional growth of DCPD particles. FTIR and XPS results confirmed the emerging bands. ICP and EDS results confirmed the presence of trace elements in the synthesized powders.