Kaya, K. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2023

Situating the oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms in the context of structural and connectome-level substrates and association with endogenous oxytocin

Genetic variants in the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) have been linked to individual differences in social behavior, while aberrant oxytocin regulation is associated with increased susceptibility to neuropsychiatric disorders. Recent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have demonstrated altered brain morphology and connectivity in response to OXTR single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of GG homozygous compared to targeted allele carriers, such as T or A. However, the sex-specific differences in the structural and connectome-level substrates of OXTR genetic variants and their relationship with endogenous oxytocin remain poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to decompose structural MRI and functional/structural connectivity to identify sex-specific differences among young adults through OXTR SNPs (rs53576, rs1042778, and rs2254298). High-resolution 3D T1-weighted, resting-state functional, and diffusion tensor images were acquired by sixty-one participants who provided blood samples for quantification of endogenous oxytocin concentrations and use for genotyping, followed by grouping with respect to homozygous and targeted allele carriers. We found that men had greater cortical surface area and sub(cortical) gray matter volume in different homozygous and targeted allele carriers. Resting-state functional and structural connectivity (rsFC and SC, respectively) were allocated differently, primarily in temporal and subcortical brain regions. There were also significant sex-specific differences in mean correlations between endogenous oxytocin and SC, whereas rsFC delineated more significant correlations on the node level. Our results provide valuable insights into sex-specific differences in the structural and connectome-level substrates of OXTR SNPs, contributing to understanding the role of oxytocin in socio-emotional processing and highlighting sex-specific differences in genetic and neural mechanisms underlying social behavior.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Rapid and Effective Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 by a Cationic Conjugated Oligomer with Visible Light: Studies of Antiviral Activity in Solutions and on Supports

This paper presents results of a study of a new cationic oligomer that contains end groups and a chromophore affording inactivation of SARS-Cov-2 by visible light irradiation in solution or as a solid coating on wipes paper and glass fiber filtration substrates. A key finding of this study is that the cationic oligomer with a central thiophene ring and imidazolium charged groups give outstanding performance in both killing of E. coli bacterial cells and inactivation of the virus at very short times. Our introduction of cationic N-Methyl Imidazolium groups enhances the light-activation process for both E. coli and SARS-Cov-2 but dampens the dark killing of the bacteria and eliminates the dark inactivation of the virus. For the studies with this oligomer in solution at concentration of 1 g/mL and E. coli we obtain 3 log killing of the bacteria with 10 min irradiation with LuzChem cool white lights (mimicking indoor illumination). With the oligomer in solution at a concentration of 10 g/mL, we observe 4 logs inactivation (99.99 %) in 5 minutes of irradiation and total inactivation after 10 min. The oligomer is quite active against E. coli on oligomer-coated wipes papers and glass fiber filter supports. The SARS-Cov-2 is also inactivated by the oligomer coated glass fiber filter papers. This study indicates that these oligomer-coated materials may be very useful as wipes and filtration materials.

biochemistry↗