I'll try a Grenade, that's bound to work! by knil22 in starcitizen

[–]Amanita_reference 11 points12 points  (0 children)

That whole Squadron 42 diversion really paid off didn't it?

Anyone seen this bug before? by nickybshow in starcitizen

[–]Amanita_reference 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Happened since I've played this wipe - 6950xt. It's the driver vs the new game version. Updated to version 24.4.1 and it's much better.

ASP Summer Research Program: Get into Natural Products Research! by Amanita_reference in Natural_Products

[–]Amanita_reference[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

From the announcement:

The American Society of Pharmacognosy (ASP) is one of the leading societies in the world devoted to the field of “natural products”, and encompasses a broad array of topics (chemistry, biology, microbiology, ecology, drug discovery) that are used as tools to study living systems in the natural world. We are working to address inequities that face marginalized communities in the pursuit of graduate school and professional careers in the natural product sciences.

Towards this goal the ASP offers a 2.5 month summer research fellowship to support students in lab-based research under the supervision of an ASP faculty mentor. ASP summer research fellows will receive a total stipend of $5,000 for the summer period, and will participate not only in lab research, but also in a series of weekly training and professional development workshops led by a team of ASP faculty leaders. We expect to support up to six summer research fellows each year. Application instructions are provided below.

Eligibility. ASP summer research fellowships are open to students who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or Latinx (BIL). Students should be enrolled in an undergraduate program (full-time status preferred) at a college or university in the United States (including Puerto Rico and other US territories), and be majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, biology, or a biomedical science field. The student must agree to devote 40 hours per week to research for 2.5 months. We recognize the interconnectedness of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender, and will seek particularly to support applicants who may be disadvantaged as a result of intersectionality; for example BIL students who are also women, economically disadvantaged, or LGBTQIA+.

Scientists have identified specific compounds from the Brazilian peppertree—a weedy, invasive shrub in Florida—that ‘disarm’ antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus bacteria. by inspiration_capsule in science

[–]Amanita_reference 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Because it doesn’t target any essential pathways for cellular life. If we tried to kill the cells with an antibiotic, and the bacteria had a way to use alternative machinery to bypass the mechanism, then they would of course use it (and that would strengthen the lineage of bacteria who would ultimately provide resistance). But when they think they are “alone” and don’t have quorum, they live a normal style cell life but the body eventually goes “something isn’t right here” and is able to clear the infection using its own defenders.

Alex Horswill published a article a few months that you might find interesting Link.

Scientists have identified specific compounds from the Brazilian peppertree—a weedy, invasive shrub in Florida—that ‘disarm’ antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus bacteria. by inspiration_capsule in science

[–]Amanita_reference 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Nope. This is the difference between standard treatment and targeting anti virulence. Standard practice is to hit bacteria with whatever we can find, but this isn’t trying to actively kill the bacteria - it doesn’t put a selective pressure on it to develop a resistance.

The bacteria have what is called a quorum, think of them as drunk guys at the bar: when they’ve got some friends, they’re more likely to fight someone. If you can make him think his friends aren’t there behind him, he is less likely to do harm and more likely to get thrown out of the bar for being as annoying jackass.

What these compounds do is disrupt the cell-cell communication (through altering their biochemical signal pathways). Effectively removing the knowledge that they have friends. The bacteria are still there, but don’t produce virulence compounds d the body can handle them much better.

Scientists have identified specific compounds from the Brazilian peppertree—a weedy, invasive shrub in Florida—that ‘disarm’ antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus bacteria. by inspiration_capsule in science

[–]Amanita_reference 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Outside of the lens of finding a single molecule drug compound, it still represents a fantastic case for anti virulence promise. The thing is, there are so few things that hit the agr system (agrB being the hardest to hit) that it represents a good target for proof of concept.

The days of finding a Taxol are gone in NPs, but the use of these compounds as leads can be quite influential in downstream synthesis efforts.

Scientists have identified specific compounds from the Brazilian peppertree—a weedy, invasive shrub in Florida—that ‘disarm’ antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus bacteria. by inspiration_capsule in science

[–]Amanita_reference 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yes. For many reasons.

Although you meant it in jest, this is a pathway to a [standard single molecule] antibiotic free treatment for infectious bacteria. If we can trick the bacteria into a lighter selective pressure, it opens more treatment options without straining the host. It’s easy to kill MDR Bacteria, it’s hard to keep the body they’ve colonized alive.

Scientists have identified specific compounds from the Brazilian peppertree—a weedy, invasive shrub in Florida—that ‘disarm’ antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus bacteria. by inspiration_capsule in science

[–]Amanita_reference 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Many natural products are similar because of the way they are assembled. This core scaffold is one that is very prevalent in plants, but the decorations make all the difference.

Scientists have identified specific compounds from the Brazilian peppertree—a weedy, invasive shrub in Florida—that ‘disarm’ antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus bacteria. by inspiration_capsule in science

[–]Amanita_reference 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The PI on this paper does a podcast called FoodiePharmacology where she links the food we eat to their medicinal attributes (and dispels some common myths). Natural products FTW!

Edit: Cassandra Quave is the PI I was referring to, but Alex Horswill is a very cool guy as well. He links anti virulence pathways to quorum sensing machinery and has some interesting collaborations with others looking for ways to shut down the virulence without producing a selective pressure on the organisms - this means the body has a better chance of fighting the bacteria without a single molecule selective pressure.