Silver-coated magnetic nanoparticles as an efficient delivery system for the antibiotics trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole against E. Coli and S. aureus: release kinetics and antimicrobial activity

BioMetals - Trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole are prescribed for a broad spectrum of bacteria. However, the use of these medicines is restricted due to the risk of microbial resistance in the body....     

Some cytological and physiochemical features relating to non-storability of pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) pollen

Pollen grains may become desiccated after independence from parent plants and remain viable in an inactive dry state during presentation and dispersal, until the conditions for rehydration and germination are prepared. But some pollen types do not tolerate the desiccation state and lose the germination power soon after release, and therefore, are difficult to store. In this study, moisture content, germinability, cytology and dehydrin and phenolics contents were surveyed in pistachio pollen at fresh and desiccated states. Mature pollen lost 54.1% of its initial moisture after 48 h desiccation along with severe decrease in germinability. Light microscopy results indicated that a low rate of pollen grains have vegetative cell rupture caused by desiccation, but a higher rate of grains were intact in appearance. Numerous amyloplasts persisted after desiccation as a sensitivity indicator. A 16 kDa dehydrin band was detected by western blot method with higher content in desiccated than fresh samples. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed that the total content of phenolics increased slightly by desiccation. These results indicate the insufficiency of dehydrin and phenolics accumulation for achievement of desiccation tolerance. Furthermore, the severe loss of germinability in desiccated pistachio pollen may be the result of deficiency in some other protective mechanisms that need further investigations.     

Allergenicity of Acroptilon repens and Juglans regia pollen in rats

Pollen proteins that are located in the cytoplasm or on the surface of the exine can function as allergens and evoke immune system responses in sensitive patients, leading to allergic rhinitis and asthma. In this research, the pollen allergenicity and ability to induce IgE response of the pollen of two plant species were studied in rats. Acroptilon repens is an herbaceous, invasive plant with entomophilous pollen, while Juglans regia which is a tree crop produces anemophilous pollen. Immunoblot analysis using sera of sensitised rats revealed IgE reactivity to three protein bands including the 70, 41 and 25.12 kDa bands present in the A. repens pollen extract, while only one single immunogenic band of 11 kDa was detected in J. regia pollen extract. Both pollen extracts increased the eosinophil content and caused some clinical signs of allergy in treated rats. The results showed that both entomophilous and anemophilous pollen can be allergenic.