4) was used as the running buffer in the subsequent studies The

4) was used as the running buffer in the subsequent studies. The effect of ionic strength SCH900776 of the running buffer was also investigated for the optimization of the conditions. The effect of ionic strength was studied by adding different concentrations of NaCl to the running buffer for the standard BSA solution of 1.0 × 10−10 M. As shown in Fig. 4(B), the change in the capacitance decreased with the increasing ionic strength of the

medium. Thus, maximum capacitance change was observed in the running buffer which did not contain any salt. After optimization of BSA detection conditions, real-time BSA detection studies from aqueous BSA solutions were carried out with the automated flow-injection capacitive system as described in Section 3.2. The BSA imprinted electrode was placed in the electrochemical flow cell and it was connected to the automated flow injection system. The running buffer was continuously passed through the flow system by the pump at a flow rate of 100 μL/min. Standard solutions of BSA in the concentration range of 1.0 × 10−20–1.0 × 10−8 M were prepared in the same running buffer and sequentially injected into the system. Phosphate buffer (10 mM, pH 7.4) was used as running buffer. Each solution was injected for 3 times through the flow system. After injection and equilibration periods, in total 15 min,

regeneration buffer was injected during 2.5 min before running buffer was used for reconditioning MycoClean Mycoplasma Removal Kit until the baseline signal was achieved. The decrease in capacitance increased with the increasing concentrations of BSA, as expected Everolimus order (Fig. 5(A)). In order to obtain a reliable analytical signal, an average of the last five capacitance readings was calculated. The graph was obtained by plotting the capacitance change (−pF cm−2) versus the logarithm of BSA molar concentration (Fig. 5(B)). An almost linear relationship was obtained between 1.0 × 10−18 and 1.0 × 10−8 M and the limit of detection

(LOD) was determined to be 1.0 × 10−19 M, based on IUPAC guidelines. Due to the results, the capacitance change as a function of log concentration of the analyte in the studied concentration range was linear with the regression equation of y = 52.27x + 1805.2 (R2 = 0.9477). When not in use, the electrodes were stored at 4 °C in a closed Petri dish. In order to test the selectivity of the BSA imprinted electrode, HSA and IgG were selected as competing proteins. For this purpose, the interactions between the aqueous solutions of BSA, HSA and IgG molecules and pre-mixed protein solutions having BSA/HSA, BSA/IgG, BSA/HSA/IgG and the BSA imprinted electrode were also investigated. As seen from Fig. 6(A), the change in capacitance was very low for the standard HSA (1.0 × 10−10 M, 10 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.4) and IgG solutions (1.0 × 10−10 M, 10 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.4) compared to that from the standard BSA solution (1.0 × 10−10 M, 10 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.4).

3) Again, the scoring cutoff was determined by the non-averaged,

3). Again, the scoring cutoff was determined by the non-averaged, replicate MFI values, resulting in a more stringent analysis (i.e. MFI values of the three different assay runs for the normal patient samples were not averaged before determining cutoff). Results are shown in Supplementary Fig. 3. Despite this stringent cutoff, all five previously known p53-positive samples (based on ELISA in Fig. 2) remained positive on the VeraCode™ beads in this rigorous inter-assay setting. Furthermore, the two additional p53-positives

picked up only by the VeraCode™ assay (and not ELISA) shown in Fig. 2 (single assay), also remained positive in this rigorous inter-assay setting. The average inter-assay CV was 20% across all sample-protein pairs (see error bars in Supplementary Fig. 3 for more detail). Finally, as an additional metric of inter-assay reproducibility, linear regression selleck products analysis of two separate assay runs of Obeticholic Acid in vitro the 94 samples for two different

TAAs (assayed in multiplex) showed R2 values ≥ 0.96 in both cases (Supplementary Fig. 4; p53, as well as insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2 [IGF2BP2] (Reuschenbach et al., 2009)). Next, to show compatibility of the VeraCode™ based assay with multiple biomarker classes and to increase the overall diagnostic sensitivity for CRC beyond TAAs alone, we combined three distinct biomarkers, i) autoantibodies against the aforementioned p53 TAA, as well as detection of serum Evodiamine levels of ii) carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and iii) the cytokine

GDF15. While CEA is very well known as a CRC biomarker for disease monitoring and prognostics, its diagnostic use alone or as part of a biomarker panel is currently under investigation ( Creeden et al., 2011 and Su et al., 2012). GDF15 (MIC-1) is perhaps not as well as established for CRC, however, several recent studies suggest it may be useful as a prognostic and diagnostic marker ( Xue et al., 2010, Wallin et al., 2011 and Brown et al., 2012). First, we sought to demonstrate that sandwich immunoassay detection of non-antibody serum protein biomarkers could also be achieved on the VeraCode™ system. As with the p53 TAA, this was done by comparison to conventional ELISA. In this case CEA was used as a model system (with 52 CRC and 25 normal serum/plasma samples). For the VeraCode™ assay, an anti-CEA capture antibody was attached to the bead surface. Following incubation with the serum/plasma samples to capture the CEA, detection was with a biotin labeled anti-CEA antibody followed by a fluorescently labeled streptavidin. ELISA (sandwich immunoassay format) was simply performed using a commercially available kit (see Materials and methods). Results are shown in Fig. 3. Clear agreement is apparent between the two assays as seen by the overlaid bar graphs in Fig. 3A.

01178 (1062 bp) Fig  2 shows that the nucleotide diversity in th

01178 (1062 bp). Fig. 2 shows that the nucleotide diversity in the 3′ region was higher than that in the 5′ region. Sequences from the 3′UTR (22 bp/SNP) yielded 4.7 times as many SNPs/InDels as that from exon II (104 bp/SNP). The frequency of InDels was lowest in 5′ end sequences and greatest in 3′UTRs. Of the 14 SNPs

in the coding regions, nine were silent substitutions and the other five resulted in amino acid replacement (Table 4). The first site was at 42 bp, where the amino acid Phe encoded by TTT was replaced by Leu encoded by TTA. The second site was at 522 bp, where Arg encoded by the common allele CGG was replaced by Gln encoded by CAG. The third site was at 761 bp, where Lys encoded by AAG was replaced by Asn Selleck EPZ6438 encoded by AAT. The fourth site was at 769 bp, where Arg encoded by AGA was replaced by Lys encoded by AAA. The fifth site was at 885–886 bp, where Ala encoded by GCC was replaced by Thr encoded by AAC. LD analysis revealed several high LD values at P ≤ 0.01, with two groups of sites showing complete linkage disequilibrium (cLD). The first cLD group consisted of 8 sites

(769, 836, 851, 885, 1038, 1095, 1144, and 1169) and the second cLD group 3 sites (761, 875, and 1034). Additionally, two SNP pairs (484 and 710; 522, 599 and 632) showed complete linkage disequilibrium, respectively ( Fig. 3). These cLD groups were referred to as LD blocks [29]. The mean of r2 (the squared allele–frequency correlations, which represented LD) was 0.48. According to the formula r2 = 1 / (a + 4 × b × distance) + e [30], the LD decay curve was estimated using a non-linear Selleckchem Galunisertib least-squares estimate of Γ fitted with the nls function in R, which indicated that LD did not decay over 748 bp. Using a different criterion [31], 16.81%

of SNP/InDel pairs had significant (P ≤ 0.001) LD by the commonly accepted criterion of r2 ≥ 0.1; 14.11% of SSR marker pairs were in LD at r2 ≥ 0.2. This estimate was based on 33 SNP/InDel loci that generated a total of 528 pairwise comparisons. Decay scatterplots of the LD values based on the syntenic r2 value for 92 accessions are shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 4 shows the effect of inter-marker distance on LD, namely that LD decays steadily and relatively Cetuximab in vitro rapidly with physical distance (bp). The extent of LD in the Exp2 sequence was 748 bp, with critical value r2 = 0.351 (determined according to the approach of Breseghello and Sorrells [3]), and 14.39% (76/528) of LD pairs were detected with r2 < 0.351. The combination of these 26 SNPs and 7 InDels resulted in a total of twelve haplotype groups across 92 accessions (Table 5). The level of haplotype diversity (Hd) was 0.844, with the frequency of each haplotype shown in Table 5. Among all the haplotypes, two major haplotypes (Hap_8 and Hap_9) were detected in 48 accessions, with the cumulative frequency of the first two haplotypes being 0.52.

9; 75th:1 6; 95th:5 5; IQR:0 71), respectively

9; 75th:1.6; 95th:5.5; IQR:0.71), respectively. Selleck PF 01367338 The serum lactate levels of patients poisoned by FGAEs were significantly higher (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference among the patient groups poisoned by FGAEs and SGAEs in terms of age, GCS score, and the length of hospitalization (p= 0.459, p= 0.055, and p= 0.774, respectively) (Table 6). We assessed the cases poisoned by carbamazepine, the most frequent cause of intoxication in our study, in terms of association between the serum carbamazepine

level and the age, the GCS score and also between the serum lactate level and the systolic blood pressure on admission to emergency medicine. We divided the carbamazepine poisoning patients into 3 groups according to serum carbamazepine levels as follows:

Under 15 mg/L (Group 1, n = 12), between 15-30 mg/L (Group 2, n = 13), and over 30 mg/L (Group 3, n = 13). We observed that in the group with high levels of carbamazepine levels, GCS score was significantly lower, and the serum lactate level was significantly higher (p = 0.004 and p < 0.001). When the cause of these differences was evaluated, we found a statistically significant difference between Group 3 and Group 1 in terms of GCS score (p= 0.001). There was also a significant difference between Group 1 and Group 3, as well as, between Group 2 and Group 3 in terms of the serum lactate level (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). There was no difference in terms of age and systolic blood pressure between the groups (p= 0.142 and p = 0.081) (Table 7). Likewise, NSC 683864 concentration there was a significant positive correlation between the serum carbamazepine level and the serum lactate level, and a significant negative correlation between the serum carbamapezine level and

GCS score (kk = 0.602, p < 0.001; and kk= -0.568, p < 0.001, respectively) (Table 9). We assessed the cases poisoned by VPA, the second most frequent cause of intoxication in our series, in terms of the association between serum VPA level and age, the GCS score, and also between the serum lactate level and the systolic blood pressure at the time of presentation. We Resveratrol divided the VPA poisoning patients into 3 groups according to serum VPA levels as follows: Under 100 mg/L (Group 1, n = 7), between 100-125 mg/L (Group 2, n = 10), and over 125 mg/L (Group 3, n = 9). There was no significant difference between the serum VPA level and GCS score, nor between the serum VPA level and the serum lactate level and the systolic blood pressure (p = 0.470, p = 0.897, p = 0.088, respectively) (Table 8). Likewise, there was no significant correlation between the serum VPA level and the serum lactate level, nor between the serum VPA level and the GCS score, the systolic blood pressure, and age (kk = 0.132, p = 0.520; kk = -0.185, p = 0.130, kk = -0.286, p = 0.156, kk= 0.171, p = 0.404, respectively) (Table 9) However, there was a significant positive correlation between the serum VPA level and the serum ammonia level (kk = 0.742, p < 0.001).

Severe allergies to house-hold, work-place and environmental alle

Severe allergies to house-hold, work-place and environmental allergies are known to be debilitating and should also be tested when possible. As indicated above, more comprehensive recommendations for relevant serological and allergy testing will be tackled in the future, as the list is long and the issues surrounding many tests will need to be addressed appropriately.

There is much work to be done in CFS research. In order for this work to be most beneficial for the patient and contribute significantly to scientific knowledge, CFS researchers need to agree on the use of standardized and valid instruments. We hope that this paper helps bring greater attention to this factor, promotes increased collaboration among investigators, and facilitates agreement upon this website minimum standards for reporting findings. Additional work that needs to be done involves the collection of standardized data fully characterizing CFS patients across clinical settings will make collection selleck compound of biologic samples and establishment of a biorepositories a crucial resource for the next generation of molecular testing. Having standardized data and biologic samples in the hands of experienced investigators, will increase the chance of validating findings and establishing meaningful sub-groups of CFS linked to biologic alterations

amenable to therapeutic interventions. At the present time, there are three groups that are attempting to do just this; one headed by the Chronic Fatigue Initiative, the other by the CFS group at the CDC, and a third by the CFIDS Association’s BioBank. “
“The name of author, Luciano D’Attilio was misspelled in the original publication. The correct spelling appears in the author line above. “
“Interdisciplinary collaboration

has established psychoneuroimmunology, also known as neuroimmunomodulation, as a field of investigation with the goal of rigorous scientific research into the elusive mind–body connection. The neuroendocrine system is capable of modulating the immune system via a wide breadth of control mechanisms that link these two systems (Blalock, 1994). Evidence for this interaction is derived from the observation that certain neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, and neurohormones affect the immune function both in vivo and in vitro, and receptors for these molecules are present on lymphocytes and macrophages O-methylated flavonoid ( Alves et al., 2007, Blalock, 1989, Carvalho-Freitas et al., 2008, Costa-Pinto and Palermo-Neto, 2010, Downing and Miyan, 2000, Nance and Sanders, 2007 and Quinteiro-Filho et al., 2012). Since the 1936 studies by Selye (1936), stress induction has been considered a promising method to study the interactions between the nervous and immune systems. Psychological stressors, such as confinement or predator odors, as well as physical stressors, such as low temperature or food shortage, evoke physiological changes that disturb homeostasis by altering the equilibrium of various humoral factors.

We sought to identify the major biological processes and signalin

We sought to identify the major biological processes and signaling pathways that are most likely affected by a group of miRNAs

during development of the maize ear. Several potential target genes were predicted to be associated with cloned miRNAs based on our filtering and screening procedures. The miRNAs encoding proteins involved in regulation of Kinase Inhibitor Library solubility dmso mating were represented at higher frequencies in our library. Furthermore, detailed gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that screened sub-sets of miRNA target genes were associated with ear development, function, and regulation (Fig. 5) involved in primary and secondary metabolism, signal transduction, transcription and regulation, and protein processing and destination To identify the target genes associated with ear germination

identified in our research, check details identical genes were extracted from GSE9386 raw data. We detected 92 differentially expressed genes (P = 0.05) associated with germination during the process of ear development. Most of the changes in differentially expressed genes were observed between 10 and 15 DAP, while 23 genes had significant fold changes between 25 and 35 DAP. To elucidate the expression profiles of the differentially expressed genes, we transformed comparisons of two consecutive time points into a comparison using expression levels at 10 DAP as a common reference. A selection of differentially expressed genes associated with the candidate miRNA in ear germination listed in Table 5 includes genes related to cell division, starch metabolism, storage proteins, and hormone signaling pathways. Both up- and down-regulation occurred during the ear germination process. Down-regulated gene expression predominated during the periods 15 to 25 and 25 to 35 DAP, whereas up-regulated gene expression predominated from 10 to 15 DAP. Thus, we added

20 and 22 DAP, which lie within the period from 15 to 25 DAP, and 30 DAP, which lies between the 25 and 35 DAP, to study the mechanism in more detail. The genes related to the ABA signaling pathway (e.g., serine/threonine protein kinase and transcription factor MYB30) and the gibberellin (GA) signaling pathway were also included in these two clusters. These genes were associated with ear germination and the candidate miRNAs. Through Levetiracetam analysis of gene expression patterns, we found that these genes may be involved in the entire germination process in the maize ear, and we concluded that miR167a/miR160b and miR528a might play major roles in ear germination by modifying their target genes, in combination with other miRNAs ( Fig. 6). To confirm the accuracy and reproducibility of the microarray results, real-time PCR was carried out using 8 differentially expressed genes associated with miR167a/160b and miR528a (Table 6). We added 20 DAP and 22 DAP in the period between 15 and 25 DAP and 30 DAP between 25 and 35 DAP to study the detailed mechanism by real-time PCR.

Consequently, inter-chromosomal contacts are about 70 times less

Consequently, inter-chromosomal contacts are about 70 times less frequent than intra-chromosomal contacts and may be present only in a fraction of cells where both interacting regions are accessible [41] (Figure 1). The fractal globule model has provided exciting initial insights into genome-wide short-range and long-range gene interactions involved in transcriptional regulation and chromosomal translocations in cancer. However, current 3C methodology surveys chromatin topology

within dynamic populations of cells. At the single cell level, chromatin interactions are likely to be dynamic, some being stochastic, and their frequency may depend on the cell cycle and additional factors. Therefore, an examination of chromatin topology of single cells is needed to assess cell-to-cell differences as well as changes during the cell cycle DAPT research buy and stages of differentiation in order to fully understand the relationship of gene interactions to cellular function. From the higher order fractal globule structure, chromatin is further selleck compound organized into chromosome

territories, where each chromosome, rather than being intertwined, occupies its own distinct region of the nucleus (reviewed in [42 and 43]). In order to study the contacts and interdigitation of chromosome territories, Bickmore and colleagues used fluorescently-labeled pooled sequence-capture probes to show that the exons of mouse chromosome 2 predominantly localize at the surface of the chromosome territory [44]. This is consistent with genes looping out of their chromosome territory and allows for interactions with regions of other chromosomes. Pulse-labeling experiments have revealed that only 1% of chromatin from different chromosomes co-localize in

interphase cells [45]. Thus it is likely that these inter-chromosomal interactions occur transiently and/or that these are rare events, as has also been proposed by genome-wide mapping of Farnesyltransferase chromosome interactions [41] (Figure 1). The importance of inter-chromosomal interactions for gene regulation still remains to be elucidated, but it has been proposed that some co-regulated genes can colocalize in interchromatin granules or transcription factories [46, 47 and 48]. However, it remains to be demonstrated if looping out from a chromosome territory is an active process preceding transcription, or if it is a consequence of gene activation (Figure 2). Treatment with the histone deacetylase inhibitor TSA results in increased chromatin mobility [49] and an increase in inter-chromosomal co-localization [45], suggesting that gene activation may not be a consequence of gene movement and co-localization, and that the two processes might indeed be independent from each other (Figure 2c).

The monitoring

protocol was as follows: after determining

The monitoring

protocol was as follows: after determining TIBI grade of 3 or less, the sample volume length was set at 10 mm and insonation depth set immediately distal at the site of the commencement of attenuation in MCA waveform. Power output was set at the maximum permitted level; monitoring commenced immediately after commencement of intravenous thrombolysis and continued for 2 h. Continuous Dabrafenib mouse off-line review of recanalization status was performed by an experienced neurosonologist (HZ) and documentation of TIBI grades made a 5 minutely intervals through the 2 h monitoring period. Sudden major improvement in TIBI grade was defined as increase of ≥3 TIBI grades in <15 min. Full recanalization was defined as achievement of TIBI grades 4 or 5. All TCD analyses were performed blind to CT and MR imaging analyses. MES were counted at off-line review of the by consensus human expert assessment (HZ and CRL) using standard acoustic and spectral criteria and also using PMD TCD criteria and related embolic signatures [28] and [29]. CT scans were obtained

with a multidetector scanner (16-slice Ipatasertib Philips Mx8000). Whole brain noncontrast CT was performed: 120 kV, 170 mA, 2 s scan time, contiguous 6-mm axial slices. Perfusion CT (CTP) followed, comprising two 60-s series. Each series consisted of one image per slice per second, commencing

5 s after intravenous administration of 40 ml of non-ionic iodinated contrast at a rate of 5 ml/s via a power injector. Each perfusion series covers a 24 mm axial section acquired as two adjacent 12-mm slices. The first section was at the level of the basal ganglia/internal capsule, and the second was placed directly above, towards the vertex. Thus, the two perfusion CT series allows assessment of two adjacent 24 mm cerebral sections [30]. CTA was performed after CTP, using the parameters 120 kV, 125 mA, slice thickness 1.5 mm, pitch 1.5:1, helical scanning mode, intravenous Anidulafungin (LY303366) administration of 70 ml of non-ionic contrast at 4 ml/s. Bolus-tracking software was used to maximise image acquisition at peak contrast arrival. Data acquisition was from base of skull to the top of lateral ventricles. Patients were selected if complete occlusion on CTA was present. Contrast within the distal MCA (beyond the occlusion) was presumed secondary to retrograde filling via leptomeningeal collaterals. Collateral status was divided into “good”, “moderate” or “poor” based on degree of reconstitution of the MCA up to the distal end of its occlusion on CTA [16]. Moderate flow and poor collateral flow were graded together as “reduced”. Follow-up imaging used a 1.5 T MRI (Siemens Avanto).

Consistent

Consistent ZD6474 with this idea, behavioral work in humans [55] found more intrusions (see Box 2) from a second learned list (List 2) when recalling the initial list (List 1) if participants had been reminded of List 1 before encoding List 2. This finding was recently replicated

in rodents using ‘lists’ of ordered feeder locations [56], with animals that learned two lists in the same relative to different spatial contexts producing more intrusions. These findings are consistent with the proposal that integration occurs via reactivation of prior memories; here, this work further highlights that integration can be encouraged by reminding the learner of the original encoding context. Other factors this website hypothesized to impact integration include (1) the nature of the underlying memory representations — with more distributed as opposed to localized representations proposed to promote integration [57]; and (2) the degree of competition between new content and prior memories (i.e., whether or not the two memories can coexist), with integration preferentially occurring in cases when competition is minimal [58]. With the related content

reinstated in the brain, hippocampal area CA1 (Figure 2) is thought to compare prior memories with incoming information from the environment [14]. CA1 may signal the presence of novelty (i.e., when new experiences violate memory-based predictions) and facilitate new encoding by increasing the plasticity of neighboring CA3 neurons [15]. Recent high-resolution fMRI work has shown that activation in human CA1 during the encoding of events that overlap with prior experiences relates to a behavioral measure of memory integration [14], consistent with the notion that CA1 triggers integration. The resulting integrated memories are highly structured, with shared elements nearly coded similarly across experiences 16• and 17. One recent study [16•] has shown that

hippocampal CA field firing patterns for overlapping events reflect a hierarchy of features coded according to their behavioral relevance. This organization scheme could then be exploited to extract commonalities across episodes and support a host of behaviors, as discussed below. Medial PFC may influence memory integration by biasing reactivation toward behaviorally relevant memories 12, 18 and 19. Across a number of domains, mPFC is thought to represent mental models that guide behavior 20 and 21. While its specific role in memory is only starting to be uncovered, some suggest that mPFC forms mental models based on mnemonic content (i.e., memory models) 22• and 23, which may include features such as behavioral relevance and appropriate response [19].

The structures of the analogues covered within each section are b

The structures of the analogues covered within each section are brought together in a table at the end of the section alongside a summary of each analogue’s application. Monoesters and their analogues have been studied extensively over the last 50 or so years, however, their mechanisms of transfer, both FRAX597 supplier under enzymatic catalysis and in its absence, have remained controversial [1•]. This section includes examples of kinetic studies, using heavy atom isotope effects, crystallographic studies that employ agents to mimic parts of the phosphoryl

transfer process, and finally non-hydrolysable analogues that can be employed as inhibitors and active site probes for a number of purposes that will be discussed in turn. A key illustration of the state of the art is the work of Brandão et al. [ 3••], where a combination of heavy-atom isotope kinetic studies ( Table 1, entry 1) CH5424802 chemical structure complements the use of vanadate-based transition state mimicry in crystallographic studies ( Table 1, entry 2) to reveal a unified view of the dynamic interactions that occur between enzyme and transferring phosphoryl group during both ‘ping’ and ‘pong’ steps of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B. The

key challenge in this area is the ability to measure and interpret the small isotope effects that arise from the use of heavy-atom systems. A cautionary tale runs alongside crystallographic studies that suggested the unusual occurrence and apparent stability of a phosphorane during phosphate monoester transfer in the active site of β-phosphoglucomutase [4]. The β-phosphoglucomutase enzyme mediates the transfer of phosphate between hydroxyl groups within glucose, via a ping-pong mechanism. The assertion of a phosphorane intermediate, accessed through an addition-elimination Nitroxoline mechanism sat contrary to the usual observation of more dissociative pathways. Subsequent 19-F NMR studies

showed that the postulated PO3− group of the phosphorane was, in fact, a MgF3− system ( Table 1, entry 3) [ 5•], that is difficult to distinguish from the PO3− group using X-ray diffraction alone. Similar 19-F NMR approaches with MgF3−, AlF3 and AlF4− transition state analogue systems have been used in tandem with crystallographic and mutagenesis studies to give insight into the balance between enzyme preferences for charge balancing versus isostery in several phosphoryl transferase enzymes [ 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10]. Loranger et al. recently prepared l-rhamnose 1C-phosphonates ( Table 1, entry 4) as potential inhibitors of bacterial nucleotidylyltransferases, which are key to the biosynthesis of viable cell walls [ 11]. The intention was to explore methylene (X = Y = H), monofluoromethylene (X = F, Y = H) and difluoromethylene (X = Y = F) systems as mimics of l-rhamnose 1-phosphate, however, synthetic difficulties prevented access to the monofluoro system that could potentially offer the best mimicry of the ionisation profile of the natural phosphate [ 12].