Worldline colour fields and non-Abelian quantum field theory

In the worldline approach to non-Abelian field theory the colour degrees of freedom of the coupling to the gauge potential can be incorporated using worldline “colour” fields. The colour fields generate Wilson loop interactions whilst Chern-Simons terms project onto an irreducible representation of the gauge group. We analyse this augmented worldline theory in phase space focusing on its supersymmetry and constraint algebra, arriving at a locally supersymmetric theory in superspace. We demonstrate canonical quantisation and the path integral on S1 for simple representations of SU(N).

Integral transforms of the quantum mechanical path integral: Hit function and path-averaged potential

We introduce two integral transforms of the quantum mechanical transition kernel that represent physical information about the path integral. These transforms can be interpreted as probability distributions on particle trajectories measuring respectively the relative contribution to the path integral from paths crossing a given spatial point (the hit function) and the likelihood of values of the line integral of the potential along a path in the ensemble (the path-averaged potential).

Small-Molecule Targets in Immuno-Oncology

Advances in understanding the role and molecular mechanisms underlying immune surveillance and control of (pre)malignancies is revolutionizing clinical practice in the treatment of cancer. Presently, multiple biologic drugs targeting the immune checkpoint proteins PD(L)1 or CTLA4 have been approved and/or are in advanced stages of clinical development for many cancers. In addition, combination therapy with these agents and other immunomodulators is being intensively explored with the aim of improving primary response rates or prolonging overall survival. The effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy with biologics is spurring research in alternate approaches including small-molecule-mediated targeting of intracellular pathways modulating the innate and adaptive immune response. This focus of this review is on some of the key intracellular pathways where the development of a small-molecule therapeutic is attractive, tractable, and potentially synergistic with extracellular biologic-mediated immune checkpoint blockade.

Clinical Development of Histamine H4 Receptor Antagonists

The discovery of the histamine H₄ receptor (H₄R) provided a new avenue for the exploration of the physiological role of histamine, as well as providing a new drug target for the development of novel antihistamines. The first step in this process was the identification of selective antagonists to help unravel the pharmacology of the H₄R relative to other histamine receptors. The discovery of the selective H₄R antagonist JNJ 7777120 was vital for showing a role for the H₄R in inflammation and pruritus. While this compound has been very successful as a tool for understanding the function of the receptor, it has drawbacks, including a short in vivo half-life and hypoadrenocorticism toxicity in rats and dogs, that prevented advancing it into clinical studies. Further research let to the discovery of JNJ 39758979, which, similar to JNJ 7777120, was a potent and selective H₄R antagonist and showed anti-inflammatory and anti-pruritic activity preclinically. JNJ 39758979 advanced into human clinical studies and showed efficacy in reducing experimental pruritus and in patients with atopic dermatitis. However, development of this compound was terminated due to the occurrence of drug-induced agranulocytosis. This was overcome by developing another H₄R antagonist with a different chemical structure, toreforant, that does not appear to have this side effect. Toreforant has been tested in clinical studies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, or psoriasis. In conclusions there have been many H₄R antagonists reported in the literature, but only a few have been studied in humans underscoring the difficulty in finding ligands with all of the properties necessary for testing in the clinic. Nevertheless, the clinical data to date suggests that H₄R antagonists can be beneficial in treating atopic dermatitis and pruritus.

6-Substituted quinolines as RORγt inverse agonists

We identified 6-substituted quinolines as modulators of the retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt). The synthesis of this class of RORγt modulators is reported, and optimization of the substituents at the quinoline 6-position that produced compounds with high affinity for the receptor is detailed. This effort identified molecules that act as potent, full inverse agonists in a RORγt-driven cell-based reporter assay. The X-ray crystal structures of two full inverse agonists from this chemical series bound to the RORγt ligand binding domain are disclosed, and we highlight the interaction of a hydrogen-bond acceptor on the 6-position substituent of the inverse agonist with Glu379:NH as a conserved binding contact.

Discovery and SAR of 6-alkyl-2,4-diaminopyrimidines as histamine H₄ receptor antagonists

This report discloses the discovery and SAR of a series of 6-alkyl-2-aminopyrimidine derived histamine H4 antagonists that led to the development of JNJ 39758979, which has been studied in phase II clinical trials in asthma and atopic dermatitis. Building on our SAR studies of saturated derivatives from the indole carboxamide series, typified by JNJ 7777120, and incorporating knowledge from the tricyclic pyrimidines led us to the 6-alkyl-2,4-diaminopyrimidine series. A focused medicinal chemistry effort delivered several 6-alkyl-2,4-diaminopyrimidines that behaved as antagonists at both the human and rodent H4 receptor. Further optimization led to a panel of antagonists that were profiled in animal models of inflammatory disease. On the basis of the preclinical profile and efficacy in several animal models, JNJ 39758979 was selected as a clinical candidate; however, further development was halted during phase II because of the observation of drug-induced agranulocytosis (DIAG) in two subjects.

Coherent spin control by electrical manipulation of the magnetic anisotropy

High-spin paramagnetic manganese defects in polar piezoelectric zinc oxide exhibit a simple, almost axial anisotropy and phase coherence times of the order of a millisecond at low temperatures. The anisotropy energy is tunable using an externally applied electric field. This can be used to control electrically the phase of spin superpositions and to drive spin transitions with resonant microwave electric fields.

Effect of fat and CHO meals on intermittent exercise in soccer players

Pre-exercise meals containing carbohydrates (CHO) are recommended to athletes, although there is evidence to suggest that a high fat meal prior to exercise increases utilisation of fats yet may not adversely affect performance. This study investigated the effect of a high fat and high CHO pre-exercise meal prior to high intensity intermittent exercise. Ten male recreational soccer players performed a soccer specific protocol followed by a 1 km time trial 3 ½ h after ingesting one of 2 test meals, high fat meal (HFM) or a high CHO meal (HCM). Blood glucose, fatty acids (FA), glycerol, β-hydroxybutyrate, lactate and insulin were assessed prior to the meal, pre-exercise, half-time, and post-exercise, whilst rates of CHO and fat oxidation were determined at 4 time points during the exercise as well as heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Significant increases in FA, glycerol, β-hydroxybutyrate and fat oxidation after the HFM were observed, while CHO oxidation was significantly higher following the HCM (P<0.05). No performance effect was found for the 1 km time trial (HFM: 228.6+14.4 s; HCM: 229.4+26.5 s) (mean+SD). These findings suggest that the type of meal ingested prior to soccer simulated exercise has an impact on metabolism, but not on the subsequent performance as determined in the present study.