Everything below concerns systematic review. We keep the language plain, cite what the science says, and separate well-supported claims from open questions.
Updated 2025-10-02. Numbers and descriptions here follow the published literature rather than marketing material.
Biologically, the peptide is studied mainly in the context of immune cell development and regulation. It is produced in the thymus and in several other tissues, and it appears to influence the maturation and activity of T cells and other immune populations. Laboratory work describes effects on cytokine production, on the balance between T cell subsets, and on the function of dendritic cells. Much of this evidence comes from cell culture and animal models, so the extent to which the same pathways operate in humans remains an open question.
Clinical interest has centered on chronic viral hepatitis, on immune restoration in various conditions, and on use as an adjuvant intended to improve responses to vaccines. Trials have reported mixed results, and regulatory status differs sharply between countries; in some places it is a prescription product, while elsewhere it is sold without an approved therapeutic indication. Because published studies vary widely in design, population, and endpoints, comparisons across them are difficult and no single conclusion covers the whole literature.
Thymosin alpha 1 is a short peptide of 28 amino acid residues that derives from the amino terminal region of a larger precursor protein known as prothymosin alpha. The peptide carries an acetyl group on its first residue and contains no disulfide bonds or carbohydrate chains. Its sequence is highly conserved across mammalian species, which is one reason laboratories treat it as a molecule with a defined and reproducible structure rather than a variable tissue extract. The name follows an early naming convention for thymus-derived fractions and does not imply that the peptide acts as a hormone in the classical endocrine sense.
市售的胸腺素α1通常以冻干粉形式提供,溶解后用于注射。其氨基酸组成包括多个酸性残基,因此在中性pH下带负电荷。该肽可溶于水和生理盐水,但在有机溶剂中溶解度有限。储存条件通常为冻干状态下负20摄氏度,溶解后需冷藏并避免反复冻融。常见的同义词包括胸腺肽α1、thymalfasin和Tα1。
胸腺素α1(thymosin alpha 1,Tα1)是一种由28个氨基酸组成的酸性肽,N端被乙酰化,分子量约为3108道尔顿。该肽最早从牛胸腺组织提取物中分离,属于胸腺素组分5的一个成分。其序列在不同哺乳动物中高度保守,提示其具有基本的生物学功能。名称中的“α1”指其在电泳中的迁移位置,并非表示亚型编号。它既存在于胸腺,也存在于脾脏和淋巴结等免疫组织。
20世纪70年代,研究者从胸腺提取物中纯化出多种小肽,Tα1是其中被较早表征的一种。最初的制备依赖组织匀浆和层析步骤,产量低且成分复杂。随着固相肽合成技术成熟,实验室和工业界能够生产与天然序列一致的合成版本。合成肽的纯度可达95%以上,并可通过反相高效液相色谱和质谱进行鉴定。这一转变使研究不再依赖动物胸腺来源。
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular mass | Approximately 3,108 Da | Consistent with a 28-residue acetylated peptide |
| Residue count | 28 | Corresponds to the amino terminal region of prothymosin alpha |
| Appearance of dry powder | White to off-white solid | Slight variation between lots is normal |
| Solubility class | Freely soluble in water | Low solubility in most organic solvents |
| Common synonyms | Thymosin alpha 1, T alpha 1 | The numeral reflects an early fraction numbering scheme |
Laboratory work indicates that the peptide acts on cells of both the innate and adaptive immune systems. Reported effects include signalling through Toll-like receptors on dendritic cells, enhanced T-cell maturation, and increased natural killer cell activity. These actions are described largely from cell-culture and animal experiments, and the precise receptor-level events remain incompletely defined. Studies in humans have generally measured immune markers rather than a single defined molecular target. The resulting picture remains partly descriptive.
Clinical research has examined the peptide in chronic hepatitis B and C, as a vaccine adjuvant, and in sepsis and oncology settings. Results across trials have been mixed, and several studies were small or conducted under differing protocols. Regulatory status varies by country, and the compound is not approved in every jurisdiction where it is studied. Evidence for any single indication should be read with attention to sample size and endpoint choice.
Overall evidence quality varies considerably. A large share of published reports come from single centers, rely on surrogate immunological markers, or lack adequate control groups. Systematic reviews have highlighted this heterogeneity as a barrier to pooling results. Open questions include which patients, if any, might benefit, what treatment duration is appropriate, and whether any effect is independent of standard care. The peptide is often described as an immune modulator rather than a therapy for one disease, which complicates confirmatory trial design.
Thymosin alpha 1 was identified in 1977 as a component of thymosin fraction 5, a heterogeneous preparation used in early studies of thymic function. Investigators purified the active material and determined its amino acid sequence, which enabled chemical synthesis. Work in the following decades concentrated on T-cell maturation and immune reconstitution in animals and small human cohorts. Early preparations varied in composition, so results from that period are difficult to compare with studies using defined synthetic peptide.
Identity and purity are usually assessed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, which separates the target peptide from truncated or chemically modified byproducts. Mass spectrometry confirms the expected molecular mass and can indicate acetylation state or sequence errors. Amino acid analysis and peptide mapping supply complementary sequence-level information, while endotoxin testing is relevant for preparations intended for cell or animal work. Purity figures reported by suppliers refer to the method used and are not directly comparable across laboratories unless conditions are stated.
Lyophilized material is typically treated as a hygroscopic solid that should be brought to room temperature before the container is opened, which limits condensation on the powder. Reconstitution is commonly done with sterile water or a buffered diluent, and gentle mixing is preferred over vigorous agitation to reduce foaming and surface adsorption. Because peptides can bind to plastic and glass, diluents containing a small amount of carrier protein are sometimes used in laboratory work. Working solutions are generally aliquoted and prepared fresh rather than subjected to repeated freezing and thawing.
=== Homogeneous screening of yoctoreactor libraries === A homogeneous method for screening yoctoreactor libraries (yR) has recently been developed which uses water-in-oil emulsion technology to isolate individual ligand-target complexes. Called Binder Trap Enrichment (BTE), ligands to a protein target are identified by trapping binding pairs (DNA-labelled protein target and yR ligand) in emulsion droplets during dissociation dominated kinetics. Once trapped, the target and ligand DNA are joined by ligation, thus preserving the binding information. Hereafter, identification of hits is essentially a counting exercise: information on binding events is deciphered by sequencing and counting the joined DNA - selective binders are counted with a much higher frequency than random binders. This is possible because random trapping of target and ligand is "diluted" by the high number of water droplets in the emulsion. The low noise and background signal characteristic of BTE is attributed to the "dilution" of the random signal, the lack of surface artifacts and the high fidelity of the yR library and screening method. Screening is performed in a single tube method. Biologically active hits are identified in a single round of BTE characterized by a low false positive rate. BTE mimics the non-equilibrium nature of in vivo ligand-target interactions and offers the unique possibility to screen for target specific ligands based on ligand-target residence time because the emulsion, which traps the binding complex, is formed during a dynamic dissociation phase.
A gelatine shot (usually called a Jell-O shot in North America and vodka jelly or jelly shot in the UK and Australia) is a shooter in which one or more liquors, usually vodka, rum, tequila, or neutral grain spirit, replaces some of the water or fruit juice that is used to congeal the gel. The American satirist and mathematician Tom Lehrer claims to have invented the gelatine shot in the 1950s while working for the National Security Agency, where he developed vodka gelatine as a way to circumvent a restriction of alcoholic beverages on base. An early published recipe for an alcoholic gelatine drink dates from 1862, found in How to Mix Drinks, or The Bon Vivant's Companion by Jerry Thomas: his recipe for "Punch Jelly" calls for the addition of isinglass or other gelatine to a punch made from cognac, rum, and lemon juice.
The vagina (pl.: vaginas or vaginae) is the elastic, muscular reproductive organ of the female genital tract through which mammals copulate and give birth. In humans, it extends from the vulval vestibule to the cervix (neck of the uterus). The vaginal introitus is normally partly covered by a thin layer of mucosal tissue called the hymen. The vagina also channels menstrual flow, which occurs in humans and closely related primates as part of the menstrual cycle. During sexual intercourse, the vaginal walls produce vaginal lubrication and create friction which stimulates the penis toward ejaculation, enabling fertilization. Along with pleasure and bonding, sexual activity can cause sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which can be prevented by safe sex practices. Other health issues may also affect the human vagina. The vagina has evoked strong reactions in societies throughout history, including negative perceptions and language, cultural taboos, and their use as symbols for female sexuality, spirituality, or regeneration of life. In common speech, the word "vagina" is often used incorrectly to refer to the vulva or to the female genitals in general.
Robert Martin Culp (August 16, 1930 – March 24, 2010) was an American actor and screenwriter widely known for his work in television. Culp earned an international reputation for his role as Kelly Robinson on I Spy (1965–1968), the espionage television series in which he and co-star Bill Cosby played secret agents. Before this, he starred in the CBS/Four Star Western series Trackdown as Texas Ranger Hoby Gilman in 71 episodes from 1957 to 1959. The 1980s brought him back to television as FBI Agent Bill Maxwell on The Greatest American Hero. Later, he had a recurring role as Warren Whelan on Everybody Loves Raymond, and was a voice actor for various video games, including Half-Life 2. Culp gave hundreds of performances in a career spanning more than 50 years.
== Manufacturing == The vaccine candidate can be made in a lyophilized powder form, allowed it to be shipped and stored between 2 and 8 °C (36 and 46 °F). In August 2021, Arcturus Therapeutics entered a partnership with Vinbiocare, a unit of Vingroup to conduct clinical trials of ARCT-154 COVID-19 vaccine, developed created using Arcturus’ STARR mRNA technology, in Vietnam and establish a manufacturing facility a factory in Hòa Lạc Hi-tech Park, Hanoi, which requires an estimated investment of $200 million and has the capacity to make 200 million doses per year. It is expected that Vingroup will produce its first batches of the vaccine in early 2022. Arcturus will provide to Vinbiocare access to "proprietary technologies and processes for the manufacture" of its vaccines, as well as an exclusive license to manufacture them solely for sales and use in Vietnam. This includes all of Arcturus’ other Covid-19 vaccines such as ARCT-021 and other vaccines in the future for disease prevention in Vietnam. Vinbiocare will pay $40m upfront, be responsible for technology transfer costs, and "pay for mRNA drug substance supplied by Arcturus and royalties on vaccines produced at the facility".
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
==== Road to war ==== Liu Wenhui's 1990 biography asserts that conflict between the two Lius was almost inevitable. Due to the consolidation of power in Sichuan that had occurred over the 1920s, Liu Wenhui and Liu Xiang had become the two most powerful warlords in the province. Liu Wenhui's assumption of the governorship in 1929 had turned many smaller warlords against him. By controlling the lower reaches of the Yangtze and the Qutang Gorge, Liu Xiang held the geographic advantage over his uncle, having priority in purchasing weapons from abroad (which entered Sichuan through the Yangtze), and had built a navy of three gunboats by fitting merchant ships with iron hulls. This also meant that Liu Xiang could block weapons from reaching Liu Wenhui's upstream domains, an ability that he would use to his advantage. Liu Xiang was also reportedly under the sway of his Taoist mystic advisor, Liu Congyun, who had told him that he was destined to unite the province under his rule. Yet another supposed factor contributing to conflict was the interference of Chiang Kai-shek, who did not want either warlord to become too powerful. Most sources agree that Liu Wenhui's abortive attempt to acquire military aviation assets in 1931 was the spark that led him to conflict with his nephew. Official Chinese sources state that a shipment ordered by Liu of foreign aircraft components worth 2 million yuan was seized by Liu Xiang at the port of Wanxian in Chongqing, leading to heightened tensions between the two Lius.
Platelets are activated by collagen receptor glycoprotein IV (GPVI). Proinflammatory platelet microvesicles trigger constant cytokine secretion from neighboring fibroblast-like synoviocytes, most prominently Il-6 and Il-8. Inflammatory damage to the surrounding extracellular matrix continuously reveals more collagen, binding receptors on platelets and maintaining microvesicle production.
Fortunately, the deadliness of the weapons proved therefore self-limiting and turned the Cold War into a peaceful competition between modernization alternatives. In Europe, the nuclear standoff stabilized frontiers, leading to a mutual recognition of spheres of influence that excluded the resort to arms in advancing social revolution or rolling back communism. Reagan found the principles of mutually assured destruction morally contentious and personally repugnant, and in 1983 commissioned the SDI to shield the United States from nuclear attack; the program alarmed Soviet leaders, who recognized they could neither match the technology nor afford the investment required to answer it. While the U.S. military buildup increased the costs of confrontation, Reagan’s turn toward cooperation helped reduce superpower tensions. European leaders consistently pressed for arms reduction, but the decisive change came with Gorbachev's post-Brezhnev leadership. His reforms, withdrawal from Afghanistan, and vision of a "common European home" signaled a new global commitment to disarmament. The abandonment of the Brezhnev Doctrine then enabled reform within the Eastern bloc, empowered dissent and ultimately facilitated the Cold War's end. With its end, a more peaceful future awaited Europe and the world alike.
=== Electrical conductivity and electrolysis === Pure water has a low electrical conductivity, which increases with the dissolution of a small amount of ionic material such as common salt. Liquid water can be split into the elements hydrogen and oxygen by passing an electric current through it—a process called electrolysis. The decomposition requires more energy input than the heat released by the inverse process (285.8 kJ/mol, or 15.9 MJ/kg).
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
trinucleotide repeat Any sequence in which an individual nucleotide triplet is repeated many times in tandem, whether in a gene or non-coding sequence. At most loci some degree of repetition is normal and harmless, but mutations which cause specific triplets (especially those of the form CnG) to increase in copy number above the normal range are highly unstable and responsible for a variety of genetic disorders.
== Diet == Like other blowflies, C. vomitoria colonize animal remains, including humans. While adult C. vomitoria feed on nectar, the larvae feed on corpses, the medium in which they grow. However, it has been shown that feeding on processed substrates (food that are modified for human consumption by increasing shelf life and taste through salting, curing, smoking, etc.) provided much better growth than unprocessed substrates such as raw unmodified liver. Because different substrates drastically affected growth, C. vomitoria is best characterized as a specialist that best utilizes processed substrates (minced meats, for example). Its close relative, Calliphora vicina, is a generalist, being able to utilize mixed substrates with equal growth rates. In the case of overcrowding, C. vomitoria competition results in compensation by increased speed of development, leading to smaller larvae and adults. This has complications in forensics because different parts of the body would grow at different rates. Additionally, it has been shown that the fly larvae are able to colonize even buried remains. Growth rates are similar between surface and buried larvae. Usually, these flies lay their eggs around wounds on fresh corpses shortly after death. Right before the pupal stage, the fly larvae that leaves the carrion can burrow into the soil in order to pupate. Then, adult flies emerge. In decaying carcasses, it was found that Calliphoridae flies dominate, especially C. vomitoria. In both spring and fall, C. vomitoria is the primary species found on carcasses. In some cases, C.
Kropotkin, Peter Alexeivitch (1911). "Cossacks" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). p. 218. "Cossacks during the Napoleonic Wars". "Zaporizhian Cossacks". "Encyclopedia of Ukraine". "History of Ukrainian Cossacks". "Encyclopedia of Ukraine". Soviet Cossacks (photography). Archived from the original on 2011-11-13. Retrieved 2010-07-27. – an issue of the propaganda journal USSR in Construction which presents numerous images of Cossack life in Soviet Russia. "Cossack Nation Live journal". {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help) "Cossack Nation – The Social Network of Ethnic Cossacks". "The Congress of Cossacks in America". "Pirate, Rebel, Freedom Fighter, Champion of the Poor". Archived from the original on 2007-08-05. Retrieved 2015-04-03. "History of the Cossacks 15–21st centuries". Open Public Library. Documents, maps, illustrations Peeling, Siobhan. "Cossacks". "International Encyclopedia of the First World War". 1914–1918 online. Archived from the original on 2019-12-30. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
=== Rectifiers === Selenium rectifiers were first used in 1933. They have mostly been replaced by silicon-based devices. One notable exception is in power DC surge protection, where the superior energy capabilities of selenium suppressors make them more desirable than metal-oxide varistors.
=== Reservoir === Unlike the single-layer and multi-layer drug-in-adhesive systems, the reservoir transdermal system has a separate drug layer. The drug layer is a liquid compartment containing a drug solution or suspension separated by the adhesive layer. The drug reservoir is totally encapsulated in a shallow compartment molded from a drug-impermeable metallic plastic laminate, with a rate-controlling membrane made of a polymer like vinyl acetate on one surface. This patch is also backed by the backing layer. In this type of system the rate of release is zero order. Reservoir patches should not be cut (with the exception of hyoscine hyrdobromide 1.5mg patch according to the British National Formulary for Children).
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
The name reflects an early convention for naming thymus-derived fractions. The peptide is characterized and measured as a defined molecule, and it does not operate through a single classical endocrine axis.
它不是经典的内分泌激素,而是一种免疫调节肽。其作用主要通过局部免疫细胞间的信号传递实现,而非经血液循环作用于远隔器官。
天然胸腺素α1主要从胸腺组织提取,也可在脾脏和淋巴结中检出。目前研究和临床使用的多为化学合成版本,不再依赖动物组织。
胸腺素组分5是牛胸腺提取物的粗组分,包含多种肽。胸腺素α1是其中一种被纯化和表征的单一肽,具有明确的28个氨基酸序列。