Formaldehyde Treatment Research Articles

Exploring the impact of a chemical disinfectant and an antiviral drug for RNA virus management in the Mediterranean fruit fly mass-rearing.

The Mediterranean fruit fly is an agricultural pest of a wide variety of fruit crops. An effective method to counteract them in the field is through the application of the sterile insect technique, which requires the mass-production of sterile males. The presence of pathogens, and specifically viruses, threatens the well-being of mass-reared insects generating an interest on the development of strategies for viral elimination or containment. Thirteen RNA viruses have been described in the medfly although so far only one of them, Ceratitis capitata nora virus, has been associated with detrimental effects on medfly development. In this context, medfly larvae were supplied with a chemical compound (formaldehyde) and an antiviral compound (ribavirin) via oral feeding to (1) test the potential of these compounds for viral elimination and (2) analyze their effect on medfly development. Overall, formaldehyde treatment did not reduce the viral titer for any of the tested viruses, while ribavirin effectively reduced the levels of two widespread RNA viruses but not in a dose-response manner. However, the addition of both compounds correlated with detrimental effects on medfly fitness, arguing against their use in mass-rearing facilities.

Transcriptomic data reveals an auxiliary detoxification mechanism that alleviates formaldehyde stress in Methylobacterium sp. XJLW

Methylobacterium sp. XJLW converts formaldehyde into methanol and formic acid via a Cannizzaro reaction in response to environmental formaldehyde stress. Methanol is further assimilated without formaldehyde or formic acid formation, whereas formic acid accumulates without undergoing further metabolism. Synthetic biology-based biotransformation of methanol to generate additional products can potentially achieve carbon neutrality. However, practical applications are hampered by limitations such as formaldehyde tolerance. In this study, we aimed to explore the specific mechanism of strain XJLW in response to formaldehyde stress. Thus, a transcriptomic analysis of XJLW under formaldehyde treatment was performed, revealing changes in the expression of specific genes related to one-carbon metabolism. Central metabolic genes were downregulated, whereas metabolic bypass genes were upregulated to maintain methanol assimilation in XJLW’s response to formaldehyde treatment. In total, 100 genes potentially related to methyl transfer were identified. The function of only one gene, RS27765, was similar to that of glyA, which encodes a methyltransferase involved in one-carbon metabolism. The double-mutant strain, lacking RS27765 and glyA, lost its ability to grow in methanol, whereas the single-mutant strain, lacking only one of these genes, still grew in methanol. Co-expression of RS27765 and RS31205 (YscQ/HrcQ type III secretion apparatus protein) enabled Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) to effectively degrade methanol. Using protein sequence analysis and molecular docking, we proposed a model wherein RS27765 is necessary for cell growth by using methanol generated via formaldehyde cannizzaro reaction. This process enables direct assimilation of methanol without producing formaldehyde and formic acid as intermediate metabolites. The RS27765 gene cluster, in conjunction with metabolic bypass genes, constitutes a novel auxiliary pathway facilitating formaldehyde stress tolerance in the strain.

Effects of Formaldehyde-Treated Feed on Rumen Metabolism and Blood Biochemistry in Lambs: A Review

This review evaluates the impact of formaldehyde treatment on feed for lambs, focusing on its effects on rumen metabolism and blood biochemical indicators. Formaldehyde is commonly used as a feed additive to improve nutritional efficiency and preserve feed quality. This review synthesizes data from various studies to assess how formaldehyde-treated feed influences rumen fermentation parameters, including volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, rumen pH, and microbial activity. Additionally, the review examines the effects of formaldehyde treatment on key blood biochemical markers such as glucose, urea nitrogen, and liver enzymes. Studies indicate that formaldehyde treatment can enhance the stability and digestibility of feed, potentially improving nutrient utilization and overall animal performance. The preservation of protein and reduction in feed spoilage are highlighted as significant benefits, contributing to more consistent rumen function and metabolic efficiency. However, the impact on rumen microbial populations and VFA profiles shows mixed results, with some studies reporting improved microbial efficiency and others noting minimal changes. The review also discusses potential adverse effects, including alterations in blood biochemical parameters. While formaldehyde treatment generally maintains or improves key indicators like blood glucose and protein levels, excessive use may lead to concerns such as elevated urea nitrogen levels and potential liver enzyme disruptions, the review concludes that formaldehyde-treated feed can be a valuable tool in optimizing feed efficiency and lamb health, provided it is used judiciously. Future research is recommended to further elucidate the long-term effects on rumen microbiota and metabolic processes, ensuring balanced benefits without compromising animal welfare.

Effects of Different Technological Forms of the Perilla frutescens in the Diet on Ruminal Fermentation, Milk and Plasma Fatty Acid Composition, Ruminal Biohydrogenation and Milk Quality in Dairy Goats.

Fatty acids can be protected by changing their structure or form against microbial activity, and the different forms of fatty acids can modulate the ruminal biohydrogenation rate and contribute to the desired fatty acid profile in milk fat. The study investigated the effects of perilla (Perilla frutescens) dietary supplementation in the diet in different technological forms (seed, oil and formaldehyde-treated oil) on milk, plasma and ruminal fatty acid composition, and milk quality in lactating goats. The four dietary treatments consisted of (1) no supplementation, basal diet (CON); (2) perilla supplementation as seed at 44.7g/kg (consisting of 20g/kg oil (PS)); (3) perilla supplementation as oil at 20g/kg (PO); (4) perilla supplementation as formaldehyde treated oil at 20g/kg (protected perilla oil [PPO]). The experiment was implemented in a double 4×4 Latin square trial design, and sampling was carried out for 7 days after 21 days of adaptation. Performance parameters were not affected by P. frutescens supplementation to the diet. PO decreased milk fat, whereas PPO increased milk fat. Milk cholesterol was not affected by P. frutescens dietary supplementation. Perilla oil supplementation in different forms to the diet did not affect ruminal pH, VFA and methane production. Perilla oil supplementation in different forms to the diet did not also affect the concentration of blood serum glucose, cholesterol and non-esterified fatty acids. Perilla supplementation to the diet increased the milk conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), C18:3n-3, C22:5n-3, C20:5n-3, C22:6n-3 and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentrations, and PPO group showed the greatest values. Ruminal palmitic (C16:0) acid was decreased, and in perilla groups, stearic acid (C18:0) concentration had the lowest, and ruminal c-9, t-11 CLA concentration had the highest value in PPO. It has been found that the most effective form of perilla oil in increasing milk quality is that with formaldehyde treatment (protected form). Perilla oil, which is a rich source of omega 3 in the diet, can be used to increase milk quality in goats without adversely affecting performance, ruminal fermentation and blood parameters.

Crosslinking intensity modulates the reliability and sensitivity of chromatin conformation detection at different structural levels

Formaldehyde (FA) is a chemical that facilitates crosslinking between DNA and proteins. It is widely used in various biochemical assays, such as chromosome conformation capture (3C) and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP). While the concentration and temperature of FA treatment are recognized as crucial factors in crosslinking, their quantitative effects have largely remained unexplored. In this study, we employed 3C as a model system to systematically assess the impacts of these two factors on crosslinking. Our findings indicate that the strength of crosslinking significantly influences chromatin conformation detection at nearly all known structural levels. Specifically, a delicate balance between sensitivity and reliability is required when detecting higher-level structures, such as chromosome compartments. Conversely, intense crosslinking is preferred when targeting lower-level structures, such as topologically associated domains (TADs) or chromatin loops. Based on our data, we propose a conceptual molecular thermal motion model to elucidate the roles of these two factors in restricting FA crosslinking. Our results not only shed light on the previously overlooked confounding factor in FA crosslinking but also highlight the need for caution in new technology developments that rely on FA crosslinking.

Formaldehyde exacerbates inflammation and biases T helper cell lineage commitment through IFN-γ/STAT1/T-bet pathway in asthma

The correlation between formaldehyde (FA) exposure and prevalence of asthma has been widely reported. However, the underlying mechanism is still not fully understood. FA exposure at 2.0 mg/m3 was found to exacerbate asthma in OVA-induced murine models. IFN-γ, the cytokine produced by T helper 1 (Th1) cells, was significantly induced by FA in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of asthmatic mice, which was different from cytokines secreted by other Th cells. The observation was also confirmed by mRNA levels of Th marker genes in CD4+ T cells isolated from BALF. In addition, increased production of IFN-γ and expression of T-bet in Jurkat T cells primed with phorbol ester and phytohaemagglutinin were also observed with 100 μM FA treatment in vitro. Upregulated STAT1 phosphorylation, T-bet expression and IFN-γ production induced by FA was found to be restrained by STAT1 inhibitor fludarabine, indicating that FA promoted Th1 commitment through the autocrine IFN-γ/STAT1/T-bet pathway in asthma. This work not only revealed that FA could bias Th lineage commitment to exacerbate allergic asthma, but also identified the signaling mechanism of FA-induced Th1 differentiation, which may be utilized as the target for development of interfering strategies against FA-induced immune disorders.

Hydrogen sulfide donor NaHS inhibits formaldehyde-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human lung epithelial cells via activating TGF-β1/Smad2/3 and MAPKs signaling pathways

Formaldehyde (FA) long term exposure leads to abnormal pulmonary function and small airway obstruction of the patients. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is one of the recognized gaseous transmitters involved in a wide range of cellular functions. It is unknown the involvement of H2S in FA-induced lung injury. The purpose of this study is to investigate the therapeutic potential and mechanism of H2S on FA-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of human lung epithelial cells. The cell viability of Beas2B and A549 cells after FA treatment were assessed using MTT assay. The endogenous H2S was visualized by fluorescence microscopy using of the 7-azido-4-methylcoumarin (AzMC). Cell morphology was observed under phase contrast microscope. The mRNAs and proteins level were evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting assays. FA treatment downregulated the endogenous H2S levels and the mRNAs and proteins level of H2S synthesizing enzymes, such as cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS), cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE), and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST) in Beas2B and A549 cells. FA treatment changed the cell morphology of Beas2B cells from cuboid to a spindle-shape, while declined the protein level of E-cadherin and increased the protein level of Vimentin. Moreover, FA treatment increased the proteins level of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), phosphorylated-Smad2 (p-Smad2), phosphorylated-Smad3 (p-Smad3), phosphorylated-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK), phosphorylated-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK), and phosphorylated-P38 (p-P38). Furthermore, the inhibitors of TGF-β receptor type 1 (TGFβRI) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathways reversed FA-induced decrease in E-cadherin expression and increase in Vimentin expression in Beas2B cells. Sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaHS) increased the level of H2S, while reversed FA-induced the low expression of E-cadherin and the high expression of Vimentin, TGF-β1, p-Smad2, p-Smad3, p-ERK, p-JNK, and p-P38. These findings indicates FA treatment downregulating the endogenous H2S in human lung epithelial cells. NaHS may inhibit FA-induced EMT in human lung epithelial cells via modulating TGF-β1/Smad2/3 and MAPKs signaling pathways. Therefore, we demonstrated that supplementation of exogenous H2S may inhibit FA-induced lung injury.

Ultra-high-field MRI of postmortem human fetal wrist joints: initial experience

BackgroundThis study aimed to assess the feasibility of postmortem ultra-high-field magnetic resonance imaging (UHF-MRI) to study fetal musculoskeletal anatomy and explore the contribution of variation in iodine and formaldehyde (paraformaldehyde, PFA) treatment of tissue.MethodsSeven upper extremities from human fetuses with gestational ages of 19 to 24 weeks were included in this experimental study, approved by the Medical Research Ethics Committee. The specimens were treated with various storage (0.2–4% PFA) and staining (Lugol’s solution) protocols and the wrist joint was subsequently imaged with 7.0 T UHF-MRI. Soft-tissue contrast was quantified by determining regions of interest within a chondrified carpal bone (CCB) from the proximal row, the triangular fibrocartilage (TFC), and the pronator quadratus muscle (PQM) and calculating the contrast ratios (CRs) between mean signal intensities of CCB to TFC and CCB to PQM.ResultsUHF-MRI showed excellent soft-tissue contrast in different musculoskeletal tissues. Increasing storage time in 4% PFA, CRs decreased, resulting in a shift from relatively hyperintense to hypointense identification of the CCB. Storage in 0.2% PFA barely influenced the CRs over time. Lugol’s solution caused an increase in CRs and might have even contributed to the inversion of the CRs.ConclusionsUHF-MRI is a feasible technique to image musculoskeletal structures in fetal upper extremities and most successful after short storage in 4% PFA or prolonged storage in 0.2% PFA. The use of Lugol’s solution is not detrimental on soft-tissue MRI contrast and therefore enables effectively combining UHF-MRI with contrast-enhanced micro-computed tomography using a single preparation of the specimen.Relevance statementUHF-MRI can be performed after CE-micro-CT to take advantage of both techniques.Key points• UHF-MRI is feasible to study human fetal cartilaginous and ligamentous anatomy.• Storage in low PFA concentrations (i.e., 0.2%) improves soft-tissue contrast in UHF-MRI.• Limited preservation time in high concentrations of PFA improves soft-tissue contrast in UHF-MRI.• Prior staining with Lugol’s solution does not reduce soft-tissue contrast in UHF-MRI.Graphical

Effect of artificial formaldehyde treatment on textural quality of fish muscles and methods employed for formaldehyde reduction from fish muscles

The influence of treatment of three different concentrations of formaldehyde on fish muscles textural quality was determined using spectrophotometric and reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) methods. The experimental fish treated with 1, 5 & 10 % formaldehyde for 5 min and as a result, the residual content was enhanced to almost 7, 11 and 15 times respectively. The hardness and chewiness of fish muscles increased with increase in formaldehyde concentration and the values increased by 80 and 121 % respectively in the fish treated with 10 % formaldehyde. In order to reduce formaldehyde content in fish, formaldehyde-treated fish was washed in running tap water, saline water and tepid water separately for a period up to 30 minutes and thereby the content got reduced to the acceptable label in 20, 20, and 10 min respectively. Similarly, treated fish was fried for five minutes and content was reduced to acceptable limits. Overall, this study could establish that formaldehyde treatment not only reduced bacterial load but also improved the textural properties of the fish muscles, creating the impression that the fish is fresh. Tepid water washing and frying process were effective in reducing formaldehyde content in fish muscles.

Comparation of moist heating and formaldehyde protein protection methods and their impact on dairy ration fermentability and digestibility

Improving protein efficiency has become the main target in dairy farming. The feeding strategy for high-producing cows is directed by optimizing non-protein nitrogen utilization while maintaining post-ruminal digested bypass protein. Soybean and soybean meal are protein sources with high biological value but are highly degradable, so they must be protected. This study aimed to compare the effect of moist heating and formaldehyde treatments as a method for protecting protein to increase rumen bypass protein. Parameters observed include fermentation profile (rumen pH, NH3, total VFA, protozoa, and total bacteria population) and nutrient digestibility. Treatments tested were an unprotected diet as control (C1), moist heating protected protein (C2), and formaldehyde protected protein (C3). Data were subjected to ANOVA using Randomized Block Design followed by orthogonal contrasts. The results showed that both moist heating and formaldehyde treatments (C2 and C3) reduced NH3 and total VFA concentration (p<0.05) without affecting rumen pH, protozoa, and total bacteria count (p>0.05). Dry matter and organic matter did not affect by the treatments. In conclusion, both moist heating and formaldehyde methods could be used to protect feed protein and improve bypass protein in the dairy ration.

NK-92-CD16A cell externalization of CD107a for detection of antigen-specific antibodies able to support ADCC: sensitive discrimination of antibody a-fucosylation

Abstract Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) by natural killer (NK) lymphocytes kills cells infected with enveloped viruses. Antiviral ADCC has three components: antigen-specific IgG1 or IgG3; effector cells with CD16A that recognize the Fc of IgG; and antigenic proteins in the plasma membranes of infected cells. Afucosylated antibodies support ADCC better than fucosylated antibodies; afucosylated fractions vary among individuals. Current assays that detect afucosylated antibodies to specific viruses involve antigen-specific antibody purification and mass spectrometry. We are developing clinical bioassays to detect antibodies that will support ADCC and assess their extents of afucosylation. Our pilot assay uses externalization of CD107a by NK-92-CD16A cells, this’ occurs when NK cells recognize cell-bound antibodies. We used two humanized monoclonal antibodies on CD20, GA101 WT or glycoengineered GE, 10% or ~50% afucosylated, with Raji cells. Cellular CD107a externalization was more sensitive than AF-647 donkey anti-IgG to detect total cell-bound antibody. The effective concentrations (EC50s) of the two antibodies for CD107a externalization differed by &amp;gt;15-fold. The more afucosylated GA101-GE was more detectable, at 0.2 ng/ml (=/&amp;lt; 700 Abs/Raji cell). CD107a externalization increased with excess antibody-bearing cells. Short 37 °C incubation (40 minutes) optimized detection of ADCC over intrinsic NK activity. Controls of GA101-GE alone and 56 °C heated human serum lacked effects on CD107a externalization. The assay appears compatible with formaldehyde treatment before NK cell staining. This sensitive bioassay appears suitable for assess serum samples for antiviral antibodies that will support ADCC. UNR Foundation C.E. Hudig Fund.

The effect of formaldehyde treatment of canola oilcake meal and sweet lupins on the in situ dry matter and crude protein digestibility

The value of feed protein sources in ruminant nutrition is measured by how effectively the protein is degraded in the rumen and converted into microbial protein. High-producing ruminants acquire high nutritional requirements to sustain their metabolic demands for production and performance. However, protein sources occasionally fall short in supplying the required amount of rumen undegradable protein and amino acids. Chemical treatment (formaldehyde) could be used to increase the efficiency of protein sources, which are highly degradable in the rumen. Canola oilcake meal (CM) and sweet lupin seed (SL) were treated with formaldehyde (40% w/v) at concentrations of 10 g/kg (F10) and 15 g/kg CP (F15). In this study, six Dohne Merino wethers fitted with rumen cannulas were used to determine the effect of formaldehyde treatment on the in situ dry matter and crude protein digestibility. The treatments entailed CM control (CMF0), CM treated with 10 g/kg CP formaldehyde (CMF10), CM treated with 15 g/kg CP formaldehyde (CMF15), SL control (SLF0) SL treated with 10 g/kg CP formaldehyde (SLF10) and SL treated with 15 g/kg CP formaldehyde (SLF15). Treatments were incubated in the rumen at time intervals of 0, 2, 4, 12, 36, 48, 72, and 96 hours. Overall, formaldehyde treatment significantly decreased rumen degradation at all outflow rates of both CM and SL. Therefore, formaldehyde treatment could be used to increase the rumen undegradable protein fraction. Potential improvement in animal performance in terms of live weight gain, average daily gain, and feed conversion efficiency has to be evaluated in production studies.

TiO2-WO3 Loaded onto Wood Surface for Photocatalytic Degradation of Formaldehyde

In this work, a facile method was adopted to prepare TiO2-WO3 loaded onto a wood surface by a two-step hydrothermal method. The as-prepared wood composite material can be used as a photocatalyst under UV irradiation for the photodegradation of formaldehyde. Related tests showed that TiO2-WO3 nano-architectonic materials with spherical particles loaded onto the wood substratewere mainly caused by self-photodegradation of formaldehyde. The TiO2-WO3 nanostructured material firmly adheres to the wood substrate through electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions. Meanwhile, the appearance of the new chemical bond Ti-O-W indicates the successful loading of TiO2-WO3 onto the wood surface. The photodegradation rate was measured and it was confirmed that the highest photodegradation performance of the modified wood was achieved at a molar ratio of 5:1 of TiO2 to WO3. This work provides a new strategy for the preparing of novel photocatalysts based on wood substrate. Moreover, the wood loaded with TiO2-WO3 is a promising candidate for indoor formaldehyde treatment in practical applications.

Bacopa monnieri reduces Tau aggregation and Tau-mediated toxicity in cells

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive memory loss and behavioral impairments. In the present study, the ethanolic extract of Bacopa monnieri was studied for its potency to inhibit Tau aggregation and rescuing of the viability of Tau-stressed cells. Bacopa monnieri was observed to inhibit the Tau aggregation in vitro. The cells exposed to Bacopa monnieri were also observed to have a low level of ROS and caspase-3 activity. The immunoblot and immunofluorescence analysis showed that Bacopa monnieri acts as an antioxidant and restored the Nrf2 levels in Neuro2a cells. Bacopa monnieri treatment to Neuro2a cells was observed to reduce the phospho-Tau load in formaldehyde-stressed cells. Furthermore, the treatment of Bacopa monnieri reduced the phosphorylation of GSK-3β in formaldehyde-stressed cells. Ran and NUP358 are the key proteins involved in nuclear transport. It was observed that formaldehyde treatment impaired the nuclear transport by missorting the NUP358 arrangement in Neuro2a cells. On the contrary, Bacopa monnieri treatment restored the NUP358 arrangement in cells. The overall results of the present study suggested that Bacopa monnieri could be considered a potent herb against Tau phosphorylation and Tau aggregation, which projects it as a promising formulation for Alzheimer's disease.

Effect of Feeding Formaldehyde Treated Rapeseed Meal on Metabolic Profile of Surti Buffalo Heifers

Present experiment was conducted on Surti buffalo heifers to compare the graded level (0%, 0.25%, 0.50%, and 1% CP) of formaldehyde (HCHO)-treated rapeseed meal (RSM) in compounded concentrate mixture (CCM) on various metabolic indices. A total of twenty Surti buffalo heifers (16-18 months old; 164.68±5.43 kg) were divided into 4 homogeneous groups of 5 individuals each. The CCM was formulated using formaldehyde-treated rapeseed meal (@ 0%, 0.25%, 0.50%, or 1% HCHO-treated RSM CP), damaged wheat, corn grit, cottonseed extract, rice polish (fine), deoiled rice bran, rice flake bran, molasses, urea, calcite powder and common salt. FT-0 group was fed with CCM having untreated RSM, while FT-25, FT-50 and FT-100 groups were fed CCM having 0.25 %, 0.5 % and 1% CP from HCHO treated rapeseed meal. Results revealed non-significant differences in the serum total protein, albumin, globulin, cholesterol, albumin: globulin ratio and aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase activities among different groups of heifers. However, serum urea concentration decreased (p&lt;0.01) due to increased formaldehyde treated RSM (0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1%) in the CCM. Serum T3 level was found elevated (p&lt;0.05) in the FT-50 and FT-100 groups, which revealed that formaldehyde treatment (@ 0.5 % and 1.0 %) had effectively destroyed the glucosinolate in rapeseed meal. Decreased serum urea and increased T3 levels of FT-50 and FT-100 groups indicated the effectiveness of formaldehyde treatment to protect the rapeseed meal without altering other blood metabolites.

One enzyme, many faces: urease is also canatoxin

Ureases catalyze the hydrolysis of urea into carbamate and ammonia. Well-conserved proteins, most plant ureases are hexamers of a single chain subunit, like the most abundant isoform of the jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) urease (JBU). Canatoxin (CNTX) was originally isolated from these seeds as a neurotoxic protein, and later characterized as an isoform of JBU with lower molecular mass and enzyme activity. Inactive CNTX oligomers form upon storage and stabilization of CNTX was achieved by treatment with low concentration of formaldehyde, avoiding its oligomerization. Here, nano-LC-MS/MS-based peptide analysis of CNTX revealed 804 amino acids identical to those of JBU’s sequence (840 amino acids). De novo sequencing of CNTX revealed 15 different peptides containing substitution of amino acid residues, denoting CNTX as a product of a paralog gene of JBU. The MS/MS analysis of formaldehyde-treated CNTX showed that amino acid residues located at the trimer–trimer interface of JBU’s hexamer were modified. The data confirmed that CNTX is an isoform of JBU and elucidated that stabilization by formaldehyde treatment occurs by modification of amino acids at the protein’s surface that prevents the formation of the hexamer and of higher molecular mass inactive aggregates. HIGHLIGHTS Canatoxin (CNTX) is an isoform of jack bean urease (JBU, hexamer of 90 kDa chains) MS/MS sequencing of CNTX showed 804 amino acids identical in JBU (840 residues) Formaldehyde treatment of CNTX stabilizes its toxicity and avoids oligomerization Modified amino acid residues in CNTX are at the trimer–trimer interface of JBU Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Effects of formaldehyde treated-soybeal meal on sheep performance

The study aims at investigating the effects of protecting soybean meal proteinby using formaldehyde on live weight gain, dry matter consumption and feedefficiency of local rams. The research was conducted during 10 weeks period, using a completely randomized design (CRD) with 4 treatments within 4 replicates. Sixteen fat tail sheep, approximately 10 – 14 months of age with body weights ranging from 9 – 12 kg were used in this experiment. Soybean meal was treated with various concentration of formaldehyde, i.e 0 g, 5 g, 10 g and 15 g formaldehyde/ kg soybean meal. Untreated soybean meal was used as the treatment control. Maize forage (zea mays) was given ad-libitum as basal diet. Treatment with highest formaldehyde levels enhanced live weight gain (19.27 kg), dry matter consumption (412.80 g/d) and feed efficiency (35.52 %). The result indicated that, formaldehyde treatment of soybean meal protected dietary protein from rumen micro-organisms. Further investigation the optimum level of formaldehyde is warranted.

Comparison of Physical and Biochemical Characterizations of SARS-CoV-2 Inactivated by Different Treatments.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused huge social and economic distress. Given its rapid spread and the lack of specific treatment options, SARS-CoV-2 needs to be inactivated according to strict biosafety measures during laboratory diagnostics and vaccine development. The inactivation method for SARS-CoV-2 affects research related to the natural virus and its immune activity as an antigen in vaccines. In this study, we used size exclusion chromatography, western blotting, ELISA, an electron microscope, dynamic light scattering, circular dichroism, and surface plasmon resonance to evaluate the effects of four different chemical inactivation methods on the physical and biochemical characterization of SARS-CoV-2. Formaldehyde and β-propiolactone (BPL) treatment can completely inactivate the virus and have no significant effects on the morphology of the virus. None of the four tested inactivation methods affected the secondary structure of the virus, including the α-helix, antiparallel β-sheet, parallel β-sheet, β-turn, and random coil. However, formaldehyde and long-term BPL treatment (48 h) resulted in decreased viral S protein content and increased viral particle aggregation, respectively. The BPL treatment for 24 h can completely inactivate SARS-CoV-2 with the maximum retention of the morphology, physical properties, and the biochemical properties of the potential antigens of the virus. In summary, we have established a characterization system for the comprehensive evaluation of virus inactivation technology, which has important guiding significance for the development of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 variants and research on natural SARS-CoV-2.

Promotion of formaldehyde degradation by electro-Fenton: Controlling the distribution of ·OH and formaldehyde near cathode to increase the reaction probability

The mismatch of pollutant concentration and ·OH concentration is the key reason for the inefficient degradation of formaldehyde in the electro-Fenton system. Therefore, formaldehyde and ·OH are adsorbed near the cathode, and the high concentration reaction region is constructed to increase the reaction probability, which is called control of the reaction region. Through nitrogen doping modification of the activated carbon cathode, the adsorption capacity of the modified cathode for formaldehyde and active species, and the selectivity of the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction were deeply analyzed. The results show that the suitable nitrogen doping form of the modified cathode significantly promotes the adsorption capacity of formaldehyde and H2O2, which is beneficial to realizing the promotion of formaldehyde degradation by nitrogen doped cathodes in the electro-Fenton system through control of the reaction region. Graphite nitrogen and pyrrolic nitrogen improve formaldehyde adsorption by enhancing the van der Waals force (8.897 mg g−1), and pyridinic nitrogen improve H2O2 adsorption (1.841 mg g−1) by enhancing the effect of hydrogen bonding interaction. Nitrogen doping enhances Fe2+ regeneration, which contributes to the generation of ·OH at the cathode, and promotes formaldehyde degradation. The control of the reaction region through modification of the electro-Fenton cathode achieved formaldehyde degradation of 35.1 mg L−1 (48.51% higher than that of the unmodified cathode), which provides a promising process for formaldehyde treatment.

Tetanus Toxin Fragment C: Structure, Drug Discovery Research and Production.

Tetanus toxoid (TTd) plays an important role in the pharmaceutical world, especially in vaccines. The toxoid is obtained after formaldehyde treatment of the tetanus toxin. In parallel, current emphasis in the drug discovery field is put on producing well-defined and safer drugs, explaining the interest in finding new alternative proteins. The tetanus toxin fragment C (TTFC) has been extensively studied both as a neuroprotective agent for central nervous system disorders owing to its neuronal properties and as a carrier protein in vaccines. Indeed, it is derived from a part of the tetanus toxin and, as such, retains its immunogenic properties without being toxic. Moreover, this fragment has been well characterized, and its entire structure is known. Here, we propose a systematic review of TTFC by providing information about its structural features, its properties and its methods of production. We also describe the large uses of TTFC in the field of drug discovery. TTFC can therefore be considered as an attractive alternative to TTd and remarkably offers a wide range of uses, including as a carrier, delivery vector, conjugate, booster, inducer, and neuroprotector.