Researchers at the Tokyo University of Science in Japan are currently exploring an innovative approach that keeps copper atoms closer to fight against bacteria.
A Phys.org report specifically said the scientists are discovering such a strategy to boost the hydrogen peroxide or H202’s vivo antibacterial activity. H202 is a commonly used disinfectant.
This finding of antibiotics was considered a major breakthrough in the field of medicine, which helped save many lives.
Regrettably, the common use has resulted in the fast evolution of bacterial strains that are highly resistant, that are threatening to bring back humanity to the beginning in combatting infectious diseases. 2
Although scientists are searching for new design ideas for antibacterial drugs, the general development of new agents is presently declining.
In the new study, Accelerated Redox Reaction of Hydrogen Peroxide by Employing Locally Concentrated State of Copper Catalysts on Polymer Chain, published in Macromolecular Rapid Communications, a research team led by Professor Hidenori Otsuka and Assistant Professor Shigehito Osawa reported their successful enhancement of H202 activity through the use of cautiously tailored polymers that contain copper.
In a similar report, Pharma Sources said, to understand the researchers’ method, it is important to know the manner H202 is acting to combat bacteria in the first place, as well as the role played by copper.
Essentially, H202 can be decomposed into a hydroxyl radical or OH, and a hydroxide anion or OH-, the first-mentioned is highly poisonous to microbes as it is readily destroying certain biomolecules.
Getting Copper Atoms Close Enough Together
In its initial state of oxidation, Copper, also identified as Cu(I), can catalyze H202’s splitting into a hydroxyl radical and a hydroxide anion, turning into Cu(II) in the process by means of oxidation.
Inquisitively, H202 can catalyze, too, the reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I), although only if such a reaction is in some way facilitated. One approach that can be achieved is to have copper atoms get close enough together.
Nonetheless, when employing Cu(II)-containing complexes liquefied in a solution, the only way for them to get close together is by unintentionally bumping into each other, which necessitates an extremely high copper concentration.
The researchers discovered a workaround to this particular tissue by drawing inspiration from cellular chemistry; as Dr. Osawa said, in living organisms, copper is forming complexes with proteins to effectively catalyze redox reactions.
Tyrosinase, for example, comprises two copper complex areas in close proximity to each other, which is facilitating the formation of reaction intermediates between the copper complexes and oxygen species.
The researchers thought they could leverage this mechanism type in artificially produced polymers with copper complexes, even if dispersed in a solution.
DPA-Copper Complexes
With this notion, the scientists developed a long polymer chain with DPA or dipicolylamine as copper-containing complexes.
The Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry journal describes DPA as a distinctive structural switching component for helical peptides.
As specified in the said Phys.org report, these DPA-copper complexes were attached as “pendant groups” to a long polymer backbone.
When such polymers are dispersed in a solution, the CuII atoms in the pendant groups are retained in close proximity and locally high densities, massively increasing the probabilities that two of them will be close enough to be reduced by H202 to Cu(I).
Through numerous experiments, the researchers demonstrated that the use of such tailored polymers led to higher catalytic activity for the separation of H202, leading to more OH even for lower copper concentrations.
Further tests through the use of Escherichia coli cultures, as explained in the National Library of Medicine, revealed that these polymers substantially improved H202’s antibacterial potential.
Related information about copper as an antimicrobial is shown on KSAT 12’s YouTube video below:
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The body of Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei — who died after being set on fire by her partner in Kenya — was received Friday by family and anti-femicide crusaders, ahead of her burial a day later.
Cheptegei’s family met with dozens of activists Friday who had marched to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital’s morgue in the western city of Eldoret while chanting anti-femicide slogans.
She is the fourth female athlete to have been killed by her partner in Kenya in yet another case of gender-based violence in recent years.
Viola Cheptoo, the founder of Tirop Angels – an organization that was formed in honor of athlete Agnes Tirop, who was stabbed to death in 2021, said stakeholders need to ensure this is the last death of an athlete due to gender-based violence.
“We are here to say that enough is enough, we are tired of burying our sisters due to GBV,” she said.
It was a somber mood at the morgue as athletes and family members viewed Cheptegei’s body which sustained 80% of burns after she was doused with gasoline by her partner Dickson Ndiema. Ndiema sustained 30% burns on his body and later succumbed.
Ndiema and Cheptegei were said to have quarreled over a piece of land that the athlete bought in Kenya, according to a report filed by the local chief.
Cheptegei competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics less than a month before the attack. She finished in 44th place.
Cheptegei’s father, Joseph, said that the body will make a brief stop at their home in the Endebess area before proceeding to Bukwo in eastern Uganda for a night vigil and burial on Saturday.
“We are in the final part of giving my daughter the last respect,” a visibly distraught Joseph said.
He told reporters last week that Ndiema was stalking and threatening Cheptegei and the family had informed police.
Four in 10 women or an estimated 41% of dating or married Kenyan women have experienced physical or sexual violence perpetrated by their current or most recent partner, according to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022.
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — A rare Bronze-Era jar accidentally smashed by a 4-year-old visiting a museum was back on display Wednesday after restoration experts were able to carefully piece the artifact back together.
Last month, a family from northern Israel was visiting the museum when their youngest son tipped over the jar, which smashed into pieces.
Alex Geller, the boy’s father, said his son — the youngest of three — is exceptionally curious, and that the moment he heard the crash, “please let that not be my child” was the first thought that raced through his head.
The jar has been on display at the Hecht Museum in Haifa for 35 years. It was one of the only containers of its size and from that period still complete when it was discovered.
The Bronze Age jar is one of many artifacts exhibited out in the open, part of the Hecht Museum’s vision of letting visitors explore history without glass barriers, said Inbal Rivlin, the director of the museum, which is associated with Haifa University in northern Israel.
It was likely used to hold wine or oil, and dates back to between 2200 and 1500 B.C.
Rivlin and the museum decided to turn the moment, which captured international attention, into a teaching moment, inviting the Geller family back for a special visit and hands-on activity to illustrate the restoration process.
Rivlin added that the incident provided a welcome distraction from the ongoing war in Gaza. “Well, he’s just a kid. So I think that somehow it touches the heart of the people in Israel and around the world,“ said Rivlin.
Roee Shafir, a restoration expert at the museum, said the repairs would be fairly simple, as the pieces were from a single, complete jar. Archaeologists often face the more daunting task of sifting through piles of shards from multiple objects and trying to piece them together.
Experts used 3D technology, hi-resolution videos, and special glue to painstakingly reconstruct the large jar.
Less than two weeks after it broke, the jar went back on display at the museum. The gluing process left small hairline cracks, and a few pieces are missing, but the jar’s impressive size remains.
The only noticeable difference in the exhibit was a new sign reading “please don’t touch.”
VICTORIA – The British Columbia government is partnering with a bear welfare group to reduce the number of bears being euthanized in the province.
Nicholas Scapillati, executive director of Grizzly Bear Foundation, said Monday that it comes after months-long discussions with the province on how to protect bears, with the goal to give the animals a “better and second chance at life in the wild.”
Scapillati said what’s exciting about the project is that the government is open to working with outside experts and the public.
“So, they’ll be working through Indigenous knowledge and scientific understanding, bringing in the latest techniques and training expertise from leading experts,” he said in an interview.
B.C. government data show conservation officers destroyed 603 black bears and 23 grizzly bears in 2023, while 154 black bears were killed by officers in the first six months of this year.
Scapillati said the group will publish a report with recommendations by next spring, while an independent oversight committee will be set up to review all bear encounters with conservation officers to provide advice to the government.
Environment Minister George Heyman said in a statement that they are looking for new ways to ensure conservation officers “have the trust of the communities they serve,” and the panel will make recommendations to enhance officer training and improve policies.
Lesley Fox, with the wildlife protection group The Fur-Bearers, said they’ve been calling for such a committee for decades.
“This move demonstrates the government is listening,” said Fox. “I suspect, because of the impending election, their listening skills are potentially a little sharper than they normally are.”
Fox said the partnership came from “a place of long frustration” as provincial conservation officers kill more than 500 black bears every year on average, and the public is “no longer tolerating this kind of approach.”
“I think that the conservation officer service and the B.C. government are aware they need to change, and certainly the public has been asking for it,” said Fox.
Fox said there’s a lot of optimism about the new partnership, but, as with any government, there will likely be a lot of red tape to get through.
“I think speed is going to be important, whether or not the committee has the ability to make change and make change relatively quickly without having to study an issue to death, ” said Fox.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 9, 2024.
