糙皮侧耳（平菇）疏水蛋白的分离纯化及其界面自组装特性研究

从糙皮侧耳Pleurotus ostreatus Pm039菌丝体中分离纯化到一种疏水蛋白并命名为Po.HYD1,SDS-PAGE显示其分子量约15kDa。Po.HYD1具有高度的表面活性,100μg/mL浓度下能够降低水表面张力至25.5mN/m。在1~100μg/mL浓度范围内存在6μg/mL和24μg/mL两个关键浓度,说明了不同浓度范围内自组装条件的改变。水接触角测定证明了Po.HYD1自组装膜的包被能够逆转固体表面的可湿润性。原子力显微镜分析揭示了Po.HYD1在云母表面形成厚度4.2±0.1nm“小杆层”;在高定向热裂解石墨表面形成厚度3.2~3.8nm吸附层;在剧烈振荡诱导下的水溶液中形成形状相似、取向一致但体积大小不等的“耳型”颗粒。     

Ⅰ型胶原蛋白在云母表面自组装的AFM研究

目的：利用原子力显微镜(AFM)观察不同浓度、pH值的I型胶原溶液在云母表面的自组装情况,从而研究样品浓度和酸度对胶原蛋白自组装的影响。方法：配制0．8μg/ml、8μg/ml、0．5mg/ml、1．0mg/ml、4mg/ml的胶原醋酸溶液(pH值2．7—3.0)和0.2mg/ml、0．5mg/ml、1．0mg/ml的胶原PBS溶液(pH值7．2—7．4)。取5μl的胶原蛋白溶液,滴于新剥离的云母表面,空气中在25℃室温下自然干燥后用AFM观察。结果：酸性条件下,低浓度时胶原蛋白在云母表面只是简单的吸附,随着浓度的增加,胶原分子在云母表面开始组装形成网状的结构,当浓度达到饱和浓度时,胶原形成无规线团结构。在中性条件下,胶原更容易行成纤维,随着浓度的增加,纤维的直径和长度都随着增加。结论：胶原蛋白分子有在固体表面进行自组装的特性,自组装的结果与样品的浓度、样品溶液的pH值有着很大的关系。     

铜绿假单胞菌脂多糖对阿萨希毛孢子菌生物膜形成的影响

目的研究铜绿假单胞菌脂多糖(LPS)对阿萨希毛孢子菌生物膜形成的影响。方法将不同浓度(100~0.1μg/mL)铜绿假单胞菌脂多糖与阿萨希毛孢子菌共培养后,利用倒置显微镜观察生物膜的形态学变化,并利用甲基四氮盐(XTT)减低法检测不同时间点生物膜生成量的变化。结果与生长对照组相比,实验组铜绿假单胞菌LPS对阿萨希毛孢子菌生物膜的生成具有菌株差异性和LPS浓度依赖性。其中,黏附阶段(2h),各浓度组铜绿假单胞菌LPS对生物膜形成的影响没有统计学差异。生物膜形成阶段(24h),与生长对照比,100μg/mL、10μg/mL、1μg/mL的铜绿假单胞菌LPS对阿萨希毛孢子菌的生物膜形成的抑制作用均有统计学意义作用。而在生物膜成熟阶段(48h),只有100μg/mL的铜绿假单胞菌LPS对阿萨希毛孢子菌的生物膜形成的抑制作用具有统计学意义。倒置显微镜下,实验组菌丝形成明显受到抑制,以孢子相为主。结论铜绿假单胞菌脂多糖可以通过抑制阿萨希毛孢子菌菌丝的形成来减少生物膜的形成,并且抑制作用具有时间和浓度依赖性,以24h时,100μg/mL作用最为显著。     

大蒜素对白念珠菌形态转换的影响研究

目的探讨大蒜素对白念珠菌形态转换的影响及其作用机制。方法倒置显微镜观察白念珠菌菌丝形成的体外动力学过程;采用CLSI-M27-A3微量液基稀释法检测大蒜素对白念珠菌的最小抑菌浓度(minimum inhibitory concentration,MIC);倒置显微镜观察不同浓度大蒜素对白念珠菌在Spider液体培养基中菌丝形成的影响;qRT-PCR法检测在不同浓度大蒜素作用下白念珠菌菌丝相关基因HWP1、ALS1、EFG1、PDE2表达水平的变化。结果白念珠菌在Spider液体培养基中6 h时出现较长菌丝,24 h后镜下可见大量念珠菌菌丝包裹酵母细胞,紧密交错;大蒜素对白念珠菌的MIC值为25μg/mL;倒置显微镜观察(25~100)μg/mL浓度的大蒜素能明显抑制Spider液体培养基中白念珠菌菌丝的生长;qRT-PCR结果显示,在(25~100)μg/mL浓度的大蒜素作用下,白念珠菌菌丝相关基因表达下调。结论大蒜素能有效抑制白念珠菌的形态转换,其作用机制可能与调节菌丝形成相关基因的表达水平有关。     

光动力学诊断肿瘤中光敏剂光漂白特性的研究

实验研究了三种光敏剂:血卟啉衍生物(HpD)、癌光啉(PsD-007)和血啉甲醚(HMME),在光敏剂浓度C分别为2μg/mL、3μg/mL、5μg/mL,激发光波长λ为488 nm和514.5 nm,光功率P为10 mW、15 mW、20 mW等不同条件下照射,光敏剂的光漂白特性。结果表明光敏剂的光漂白时间除了与光敏剂自身类型有关,还与其浓度、入射光源的功率及波长有关。HMME在488 nm、激光功率15 mW,浓度为2μg/mL、3μg/mL、5μg/mL时光漂白时间分别为210 s、240 s、325 s。     

1株Alternaria sp.真菌菌丝提取物对玉米种子发芽促进作用的研究

从健康的野生山枣根部分离得到1株真菌,经分子鉴定其为支链孢属Alternaria sp.并且对其进行液体培养到生长期后,菌丝体用4层纱布滤出,40℃烘干,研磨后用乙醇浸提3次,合并滤液,并测定其菌丝醇提取物的浓度,配成1、10、100μg/mL的浓度,进行玉米种子催芽试验。结果表明,浓度为1、10μg/mL的醇提取物,均可提高玉米种子的发芽指数,而浓度为100μg/mL的醇提取物则会降低玉米种子发芽指数。     

新疆家蚕抗菌肽体外抑制人胃癌细胞AGS的增殖

新疆家蚕抗菌肽(Cecropin XJ)具有抑制肿瘤细胞生长的能力。为研究不同浓度Cecropin XJ体外对人胃癌细胞AGS生长的影响,分别采用MTT比色法、软琼脂集落形成实验、流式细胞术、划痕愈合和Transwell实验进行检测。结果表明,20~100μg/mL的Cecropin XJ能够显著抑制AGS细胞的增殖,并具有剂量和时间依赖性。同时,20,50,100μg/mL的Cecropin XJ处理后集落形成率分别降低了(35.81±13.10)%、(48.12±5.68)%和(81.46±6.21)%。AGS细胞经不同浓度Cecropin XJ处理24 h后,凋亡率逐渐上升并且细胞周期阻滞于S期。20μg/mL Cecropin XJ能够显著抑制AGS细胞的迁移和侵袭,100μg/mL Cecropin XJ几乎完全抑制AGS细胞的迁移和侵袭。以上结果说明,Cecropin XJ能够抑制AGS细胞生长、增殖,有可能成为人胃癌治疗的辅助药物。     

负载白藜芦醇自组装多肽水凝胶的抗菌性能研究

[目的]制备一种负载白藜芦醇的自组装多肽水凝胶并探讨其抗菌性能。[方法]通过自组装制备多肽(FmocFFGGRGD)水凝胶和载有白藜芦醇的多肽水凝胶(Pep/RES);通过扫描电子显微镜和透射电子显微镜观察水凝胶的形貌和内部结构;通过流变仪检测水凝胶的流变性质;通过高效液相色谱检测Pep/RES的释放速率;通过细胞毒性试验研究该水凝胶的生物相容性;通过抑菌圈实验和活死细菌染色研究Pep/RES对大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌的抗菌性能。[结果]多肽溶液可在30 min内自组装形成稳定的水凝胶,水凝胶内部的三维结构密度随多肽浓度的增加而增加,2.0wt%浓度的多肽水凝胶稳定效果最好。白藜芦醇从Pep/RES水凝胶中缓慢释放7 d释放量达到50%,Pep/RES浸泡液对NIH/3T3细胞表现出良好的生物相容性。Pep/RES水凝胶中负载的白藜芦醇浓度为512μg/m L时,对金黄色葡萄球菌的抑菌圈直径即可达到5.41±0.18 mm,但即使白藜芦醇浓度达到1 024μg/m L,对大肠杆菌的抑菌圈直径仅为4.27±0.22 nm。[结论]Pep/RES结构稳定,安全无毒,能缓释白藜芦醇,并对金黄色葡萄球菌具有显著抑制作用。     

基于石英表面荧光性吖啶橙纳米自组装膜测定土壤中铬（Ⅵ）

研究了在石英表面上吖啶橙纳米金自组装膜的制备及其荧光特性,发现所构建的吖啶橙自组装膜具有强的荧光信号。在pH为7．60的KH2PO4^-NaOH缓冲溶液中,Cr^6＋离子能使吖啶橙自组装膜在λ=528nm处的荧光增强,增强的强度（△F）与Cr^6＋的浓度在一定浓度范围内呈线性关系,该方法的线性范围为0．00～36．00×10^-8μg／mL,检出限（DL）为2．47×10^-11μg／mL,将构建的吖啶橙自组装膜测定土壤中的Cr^6＋,回收率为94．91％～96．24％,相对标准偏差（RSD）为0．31％～0．70％。由此可知吖啶橙自组装膜适用于超痕量铬离子的界面荧光测定。实验结果表明该膜具有较好的可逆再生性能,自组装膜法检测限低、灵敏度高、反应速度快、稳定性好。     

白头翁汤正丁醇提取物对白念珠菌VVC临床株体外生物膜形成的抑制作用

目的探讨白头翁汤正丁醇提取物(Butyl alcohol extract of Bai Tou Weng decoction,BAEB)对分离自外阴阴道念珠菌病(vulvovaginal candidiasis,VVC)的白念珠菌临床分离株(以下简称VVC临床株)生物膜形成的影响。方法采用微量稀释法测定BAEB对白念珠菌的最低抑菌浓度(Minimal Inhibitory Concentration,MIC);甲基四氮盐(XTT)还原法测定BAEB对白念珠菌生物膜代谢活性的影响,Time-kill法检测BAEB对白念珠菌活菌数的影响;结晶紫染色法测定BAEB对白念珠菌生物膜生物量(Biomass)的影响;扫描电镜(SEM)观察BAEB对白念珠菌生物膜形态结构的影响;激光共聚焦显微镜(CLSM)检测BAEB对白念珠菌生物膜荧光信号强度的影响;实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)检测生物膜相关基因UME6、PES1和HSP90的转录水平变化。结果 BAEB对12株白念珠菌的MIC在64~256μg/mL之间,对白念珠菌生物膜的SMIC80(抑制80%生物膜形成的最低药物浓度)为1 024μg/mL或以上;Time-Kill曲线显示在12h之后,512、1 024μg/mL浓度的BAEB对白念珠菌均具良好的杀伤作用;结晶紫染色法表明512、1 024μg/mLBAEB能够减少其生物膜生物量;SEM观察到1 024μg/mL BAEB能够有效抑制白念珠菌在不同黏附介质上生物膜的完整度;CLSM显示512、1 024μg/mL的BAEB可以明显降低生物膜荧光信号强度;qRT-PCR检测显示在256、512、1 024μg/mL的BAEB作用下,UME6转录水平分别下调了72%、71%、77%,在512、1 024μg/mL的BAEB下HSP90转录水平上调了2.23和3.31倍,而PES1未有明显变化。结论 BAEB可以抑制白念珠菌VVC临床株体外生物膜的形成。     

Partial characterization of a hydrophobin protein Po.HYD1 purified from the oyster mushroom <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurotus ostreatus</Emphasis>

Hydrophobins fulfill various physiological functions in fungal development and growth, based on their mechanism of self-assembly at hydrophilic–hydrophobic interfaces into nano-scale, amphipathic membranes. One hydrophobin with an approximate molecular weight of 15 kDa, designated Po.HYD1, was purified from aerial hyphae of Pleurotus ostreatus strain Pm039. Ultrastructures of self-assembled films formed by Po.HYD1 on hydrophobic and hydrophilic substrates were revealed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). A monomolecular adsorption layer, thickness ranging from 3.2 to 3.8 nm, was observed on the surface of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), while a typical rodlet layer with uniform thickness of 4.2 ± 0.1 nm formed on the mica surface. Comparison of CD spectra showed significant secondary structural changes between monomeric and self-assembled states. The spectrum of monomeric Po.HYD1 had a maximum ellipticity at 190 nm and a minimum at 209 nm, and that of assemblage showed the maximum at 195 nm and the minimum shifted to 215–218 nm. Po.HYD1 showed high surface activity, based on the dramatic drop of surface tension through self-assembly at the water–air interface. Moreover, Po.HYD1 is capable of stabilizing the emulsion consisting of water and hexane.     

阿的平对热环境中行军战士血液某些生化指标的影响

利用比色法、竞争性蛋白结合技术及放射性免疫分析法,分析热环境中负重行军战士血液乳酸含量、ｃＡＭＰ、ｃＧＭＰ及皮质醇含量,以探讨热应激过程中机体的生化变化特点,并观察阿的平对这些变化的影响。结果表明：行军后战士血液乳酸浓度、皮质醇含量（２．０８±０．１８ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ、１６．２５±１．０５μｇ／１００ｍＬ）较行军前（１．６２±０．１６ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ、１４．９８±０．９μｇ／１００ｍＬ）明显升高,而行军后血浆ｃＡＭＰ浓度（１８．８±３．９ｐｍｏｌ／ｍＬ）则较行军前（３２．９±６．０ｐｍｏｌ／ｍＬ）显著降低,ｃＧＭＰ在行军前后无明显变化;行军前预服阿的平,具有减弱或逆转上述变化的作用。     

Screening of bioemulsifier-producing micro-organisms isolated from oil-contaminated sites

Eighty-eight micro-organisms were isolated from oil-contaminated soils and checked for their extracellular bioemulsifier producing potential. The micro-organisms were screened on the basis of oil spread, drop collapse and emulsification index. Most efficient strains were characterized as Lysinibacillus sp. SP1025 and Bacillus cereus SP1035. In Lysinibacillus sp. SP1025, the E-24 index, surface tension and production of crude bioemulsifier were found to be 83.3 % with diesel, 34.20?±?0.03 mN/m and 3.07?±?0.62 g/L, respectively, whereas in the case of Bacillus cereus SP1035, the E-24 index, surface tension and production of crude bioemulsifier recorded were 76.5 % with diesel, 43.42?±?0.03 mN/m and 3.90?±?0.3 g/L. Crude biomemulsifier produced by selected micro-organisms was stable, withstanding a wide temperature and pH range with an E-24 Index value greater than 50 %. All emulsions formed were oil-in-water type. Emulsions formed with tested aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, except those formed with ester based oils, were 100 % stable with the entire organic layer converted into emulsion. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report for bioemulsifier production from the genus Lysinibacillus.     

Antibacterial Activity of Long-Chain Primary Alcohols from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Solena amplexicaulis</Emphasis> Leaves

Extraction, thin layer chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry of Solena amplexicaulis (Lam.) Gandhi, commonly known as creeping cucumber, (Cucurbitaceae) leaves revealed 21 long-chain primary alcohols, and 100 g leaves indicated presence of 3651.59 ± 327.18 SE µg long-chain primary alcohols. 1-Heptadecanol and 1-triacontanol were the predominant and least abundant primary alcohols, representing for 780.44 ± 42.59 and 3.28 ± 0.55 SE μg, respectively. Antibacterial property of the complete synthetic blend (0.1%), comparable to long-chain alcohols as detected by GC-FID of 100 g S. amplexicaulis leaf extracts was evaluated on the pathogenic bacteria Salmonella gallinarum by agar well diffusion method, and exhibited 20.4, 26.7 and 38.2 mm zone of inhibition at 25, 50 and 100 μl doses, respectively. One hundred µl dose of 6 individual pure synthetic compounds, 1-tridecanol, 1-pentadecanol, 1-heptadecanol, 1-nonadecanol, 1-eicosanol and 1-tricosanol comparable to the amounts present in 0.1% solution of pure isolated alcohols from S. amplexicaulis leaves displayed 16.2, 17.7, 18.6, 22.8, 15.8 and 14.5 mm zone of inhibition against this bacterium, respectively. Hundred µl dose from a synthetic blend of above 6 compounds (comparable to the proportions as present in 0.1% solution of pure isolated alcohols from 100 g S. amplexicaulis leaves) exhibited 38.1 mm zone of inhibition against this bacterium. Furthermore, 100 μl dose from a mixture (1:1) comprising of chloramphenicol (1 µg/ml) and a synthetic blend of above 6 compounds displayed 38.8 mm inhibition zone against S. gallinarum, and hence, this combination might be used against this pathogenic bacteria.     

In vitro and in silico characterization of angiogenic inhibitors from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sophora interrupta</Emphasis>

Sophora interrupta Bedd, (Fabaceae) is used in Indian folk medicine to treat cancer. Angiogenesis is one of the crucial characteristics of cancer metastasis and is regulated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In this study, we examined the antiangiogenic properties of the root ethyl acetate extract of Sophora interrupta by various methods. In vitro antioxidant activity (100–600 μg/ml) of S. interrupta ethyl acetate (SEA) extract was evaluated by DPPH and ABTS, anti-inflammatory activity (50, 100 and 150 μg/ml) by estimating nitric oxide (NO) levels, anti-angiogenic activity (200 and 500 μg/ml) was validated by chorio allantoic membrane (CAM) assay and in silico molecular dynamic (MD) simulations analyses (25 ns) were performed to identify the anti-angiogenic compounds extracted from root extract. The antioxidative activity of SEA extract at IC₅₀ (200?±?0.6 μg/mL) is equal to that of ascorbic acid at IC₅₀ (50?±?0.6 μg/mL), and the anti-inflammatory activity of SEA extract at IC₅₀ (150?±?0.2 μg/mL) was inhibited significantly by nitric oxide (NO) production. The SEA extract significantly reduced the sprouting of new blood vessels at ID₅₀ 500?±?0.13 μg/mL in the CAM assay. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of the SEA extract detected 34 secondary metabolites, of which 6a,12a-dihydro-6H-(1,3)dioxolo(5,6)benzofuro(3,2-c)chromen-3-ol (maackiain) and funiculosin formed strong hydrogen bond interactions with Lys 920, Thr 916 and Cys 919 (2H), as well as Glu 917 of VEGFR2, and these interactions were similar to those of the anti-angiogenic compound axitinib. Significant findings in all the assays performed indicate that SEA extract has potential anti-angiogenic compounds that may interfere with VEGF-induced cancer malignancy.     

Antifungal Activity of Chitosan-Coated Poly(lactic-co-glycolic) Acid Nanoparticles Containing Amphotericin B

Amphotericin B (AmB) is one of the most used drugs for the treatment of systemic fungal infections; however, the treatment causes several toxic manifestations, including nephrotoxicity and hemolytic anemia. Chitosan-coated poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles containing AmB were developed with the aim to decrease AmB toxicity and propose the oral route for AmB delivery. In this work, the antifungal efficacy of chitosan-coated PLGA nanoparticles containing AmB was evaluated in 20 strains of fungus isolates from patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis (01 Candida glabrata and 03 Candida albicans), bloodstream infections (04 C. albicans and 01 C. tropicalis) and patients with urinary tract infection (04 Candida albicans, 02 Trichosporon asahii, 01 C. guilhermondii, 03 C. glabrata) and 01 Candida albicans ATCC 90028. Moreover, the cytotoxicity over erythrocytes was evaluated. The single-emulsion solvent evaporation method was suitable for obtaining chitosan-coated PGLA nanoparticles containing AmB. Nanoparticles were spherical in shape, presented mean particle size about 460 nm, positive zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency of 42%. Moreover, nanoparticles prolonged the AmB release. All the strains were susceptible to plain AmB and nanostructured AmB, according to EUCAST breakpoint version 8.1 (resistant > 1 μg/mL), using broth microdilution method. In C. albicans (urine, blood, and vulvovaginal secretion isolates, and 1 ATCC), the MIC value of AmB-loaded nanoparticles varied from 0.25 to 0.5 μg/mL and EUCAST varied from 0.03 to 0.5 μg/mL. In urine and vulvovaginal secretion isolates of C. glabrata, the MIC value of AmB-loaded nanoparticles varied from 0.25 to 0.5 μg/mL and EUCAST varied from 0.03 to 0.015 μg/mL. In urine isolates of C. guilhermondii, the MIC value of AmB-loaded nanoparticles was 0.12 μg/mL and EUCAST was 0.06 μg/mL. In blood isolates of C. tropicalis, the MIC value of AmB-loaded nanoparticles was 0.5 μg/mL and EUCAST was 0.25 μg/mL. Finally, in urine isolates of T asahii, the MIC value of AmB-loaded nanoparticles was 1 μg/mL and EUCAST varied from 0.5 to 1 μg/mL. In the cytotoxicity assay, plain AmB was highly hemolytic (100% in 24 h) while AmB-loaded chitosan/PLGA nanoparticles presented negligible hemolysis.     

A new isoflavonol and other constituents from Cameroonian propolis and evaluation of their anti-inflammatory,antifungal and antioxidant potential

Propolis is rich in diverse bioactive compounds. Propolis samples were collected from three localities of Cameroon and used in the study. Column chromatography separation of propolis MeOH:DCM (50:50) extracts yielded a new isoflavonol, 2-hydroxy-8-prenylbiochanin A (1) alongside 2′,3′-dihydroxypropyltetraeicosanoate (2) and triacontyl p-coumarate (3) isolated from propolis for first time together with seven compounds: β-amyrine (4), oleanolic acid (5), β-amyrine acetate (6), lupeol (7), betulinic acid (8), lupeol acetate (9) and lupenone (10). These compounds were tested for their inhibitory effect on oxidative burst where intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were produced from zymosan stimulated human whole blood phagocytes and on production of nitric oxide (NO) from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated J774.2 mouse macrophages. The cytotoxicity of these compounds was evaluated on NIH-3 T3 normal mouse fibroblast cells, antiradical potential on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazylhydrazyl (DPPH·) as well as their anti-yeast potential on four selected candida species. Compound 1 showed higher NO inhibition (IC₅₀ = 23.3 ± 0.3 µg/mL) than standard compound L-NMMA (IC₅₀ = 24.2 ± 0.8 µg/mL). Higher ROS inhibition was shown by compounds 6 (IC₅₀ = 4.3 ± 0.3 µg/mL) and 9 (IC₅₀ = 1.1 ± 0.1 µg/mL) than Ibuprofen (IC₅₀ = 11.2 ± 1.9 µg/mL). Furthermore, compound 1 displayed moderate level of cytotoxicity on NIH-3 T3 cells, with IC₅₀ = 5.8 ± 0.3 µg/mL compared to the cyclohexamide IC₅₀ = 0.13 ± 0.02 µg/mL. Compound 3 showed lower antifungal activity on Candida krusei and Candida glabrata, MIC of 125 μg/mL on each strain compared to 50 μg/mL for fuconazole. The extracts showed low antifungal activities ranging from 250 to 500 μg/mL on C. albicans, C. krusei and C. glabrata and the values of MIC on Candida parapsilosis were 500 μg/mL and above. DPPH* scavenging activity was exhibited by compounds 1 (IC₅₀ = 15.653 ± 0.335 μg/mL) and 3 (IC₅₀ = 89.077 ± 24.875 μg/mL) compared to Vitamin C (IC₅₀ = 3.343 ± 0.271 μg/mL) while extracts showed moderate antiradical activities with IC₅₀ values ranging from 309.31 ± 2.465 to 635.52 ± 11.05 µg/mL. These results indicate that compounds 1, 6 and 9 are potent anti-inflammatory drug candidates while 1 and 3 could be potent antioxidant drugs.     

Adsorption properties of proteins at and near the air/water interface from IRRAS spectra of protein solutions

A detailed study is performed using infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) to characterize the molecular behaviour of proteins at and near the air/water interface of protein solutions. IRRAS spectra of beta-casein solutions in H2O and D2O show spectral shifts and derivative-like features not commonly observed in monomolecular layer systems. They can be fully understood using optical theory. Fair agreement between experimental and simulated IRRAS spectra over a broad spectral range (4000-1000 cm(-1)) is obtained using a stratified layer model. An attenuated total reflection and transmission spectrum is used to represent the protein extinction coefficient in H2O and D2O, respectively. It is shown that the derivative-like features observed result from the reflective properties of the proteins themselves. Furthermore, both concentration and film thickness could be fitted. At high protein concentrations (100 mg/mL) the spectrum is that of a single homogeneous protein solution. At 0.1 mg/mL, beta-casein is accumulated at the surface in a thin layer of approximately 10 nm thickness, with a concentration about 2500 times higher than in the sub-phase. At an initial concentration of 10 mg/mL, the concentration in the surface layer is about 15 times higher than in the subphase, while the thickness is about 30 nm.     

In vitro anticancer properties of selected <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus</Emphasis> species

In spite of the recent advancements in oncology, the overall survival rate for pancreatic cancer has not improved over the last five decades. Eucalypts have been linked with cytotoxic and anticancer properties in various studies; however, there is very little scientific evidence that supports the direct role of eucalypts in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. This study assessed the anticancer properties of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of four Eucalyptus species using an MTT assay. The most promising extracts were further evaluated using a CCK-8 assay. Apoptotic studies were performed using a caspase 3/7 assay in MIA PaCa-2 cells. The aqueous extract of Eucalyptus microcorys leaf and the ethanolic extract of Eucalyptus microcorys fruit inhibited the growth of glioblastoma, neuroblastoma, lung and pancreatic cancer cells by more than 80% at 100 μg/mL. The E. microcorys and Eucalyptus saligna extracts showed lower GI₅₀ values than the ethanolic Eucalyptus robusta extract in MIA PaCa-2 cells. Aqueous E. microcorys leaf and fruit extracts at 100 μg/mL exerted significantly higher cell growth inhibition in MIA PaCa-2 cells than other extracts (p < 0.05). Statistically similar IC₅₀ values (p > 0.05) were observed in aqueous E. microcorys leaf (86.05 ± 4.75 μg/mL) and fruit (64.66 ± 15.97 μg/mL) and ethanolic E. microcorys leaf (79.30 ± 29.45 μg/mL) extracts in MIA PaCa-2 cells using the CCK-8 assay. Caspase 3/7-mediated apoptosis and morphological changes of cells were also witnessed in MIA PaCa-2 cells after 24 h of treatment with the extracts. This study highlighted the significance of E. microcorys as an important source of phytochemicals with efficacy against pancreatic cancer cells. Further studies are warranted to purify and structurally identify individual compounds and elucidate their mechanisms of action for the development of more potent and specific chemotherapeutic agents for pancreatic cancer.     

Use of the yeast-like cells of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tremella fuciformis</Emphasis> as a cell factory to produce a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurotus ostreatus</Emphasis> hydrophobin

Objectives

To obtain hydrophobin, a Class I hydrophobin gene, Po.hyd from Pleurotus ostreatus, was transformed into the yeast-like cells of Tremella fuciformis using Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

Results

The hydrophobin Po.HYD from P. ostreatus was heterogeneously expressed by the yeast-like cells of T. fuciformis. Plasmids harboring the Po.hyd gene driven by endogenous glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter were transformed by A. tumefaciens. The integration and expression of the rPo.HYD in the T. fuciformis cells were confirmed by PCR, Southern blot, fluorescence microscopy and quantitative real-time PCR. SDS-PAGE demonstrated that the rPo.HYD was extracted with the expected MW of 14 kDa. The yield of purified rPo.HYD was 0.58 mg/g dry wt. The protein, with its ability to stabilize oil droplets, exhibited a better emulsifying activity than the typical food emulsifiers Tween 20 and sodium caseinate.

Conclusion

Tremella fuciformis can be used as a cell factory to produce hydrophobin on a large scale for the food industry.