The effect of DNA priming-protein boosting on enhancing humoral immunity and protecting mice against lethal HSV infections

Herpes simplex virus produces primary and latent infections with periodic recurrency. The prime-boost immunization strategies were studied using a DNA vaccine carrying the full-length glycoprotein D-1 gene and a baculovirus-derived recombinant glycoprotein D, both expressing herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D-1 protein. Immunization with recombinant DNAs encoding antigenic proteins could induce cellular and humoral responses by providing antigen expression in vivo. Higher immune response, however, occurred when the recombinant proteins followed DNA inoculation. While all groups of the immunized mice and positive control group could resist virus challenge, a higher virus neutralizing antibody level was detected in the animals receiving recombinant protein following DNA vaccination.     

Density functional theory study of epoxy polymer chains adsorbing onto single-walled carbon nanotubes: electronic and mechanical properties

We performed first principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) to investigate the effect of epoxy monomer content on the electronic and mechanical properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Our calculation results reveal that interfacial interaction increases with increasing numbers of epoxy monomers on the surface of SWCNTs. Furthermore, density of states (DOS) results showed no orbital hybridization between the epoxy monomers and nanotubes. Mulliken charge analysis shows that the epoxy polymer carries a positive charge that is directly proportional to the number of monomers. The Young’s modulus of the nanotubes was also studied as a function of monomer content. It was found that, with increasing number of monomers on the nanotubes, the Young’s modulus first decreases and then approaches a constant value. The results of a SWCNT pullout simulation suggest that the interfacial shear stress of the epoxy/SWCNT complex is approximately 68 MPa. These results agreed well with experimental results, thus proving that the simulation methods used in this study are viable.     

Induction of meiotic gynogenesis in ship sturgeon Acipenser nudiventris using UV-irradiated heterologous sperm

Diploid gynogenesis was induced in ship sturgeon Acipenser nudiventris using UV-irradiated sperm from Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii. The optimal condition for the retention of the second polar body in ship sturgeon was determined to be 10 min after activation/fertilization in experiments. The temperature of cold shock and its duration were 2.5 °C and 30 min, respectively. A total of 30 gynogens of known parentage from experimental treatments were screened using microsatellite DNA analysis, and uniparental transmission in meiogens was confirmed. The results show that heterologous Siberian sturgeon sperm is applicable as UV-irradiated sperm for the induction of gynogenesis in ship sturgeon. This technique may recover the critically endangered sturgeon species that are becoming extinct.     

ANRIL and ANRASSF1 long noncoding RNAs are upregulated in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most frequent cancer and the third-leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. It is a highly heterogeneous disease regarding the morphological and molecular viewpoints. Since it is curable in primary stages, early detection could improve the survival rate. Long noncoding RNAs contribute to a variety of cellular mechanisms, and their dysregulation is reported in various diseases such as cancer. Thus, they have a great potential to be used as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets as well. In the current study, ANRIL and ANRASSF1 expression levels were compared between GC tumors and the adjacent normal tissues collected from 39 Iranian patients using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method. Correlation between ANRIL and ANRASSF1 expression levels and other clinical parameters was also evaluated. ANRIL and ANRASSF1 were significantly overexpressed in GC tumors compared with adjacent tissues ( P < 0.0001 and P = 0.001, respectively). No significant correlation between ANRIL and ANRASSF1 expression levels and demographic information was found. This study suggests that ANRIL and ANRASSF1 may play a critical role in GC progression and can be considered as a potential diagnostic or therapeutics biomarkers.     

Production and stability of structured lipids from algal oils and capric acid

This study aimed to incorporate capric acid (CA) into selected algal oils, namely arachidoinc acid single cell oil (ARASCO), docosahexaenoic acid single cell oil (DHASCO) and the OMEGA-GOLD oil rich in dcosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and dosapentaenoic acid (n-6 DPA). Response surface methodology indicated that under optimum conditions (12.3% enzyme, 45 degrees C, and 29.4 h) CA incorporation was 20.0% into ARASCO; (4.2% enzyme, 43.3 degrees C, and 27.1 h) 22.6% into DHASCO and (2.5% enzyme, 46.6 degrees C and 25.2 h) 20.7% into the OMEGA-GOLD oil. Stereospecific analysis indicated that in all oils examined CA was mainly located at the sn-1 and sn-3 positions of the resultant TAG molecules while the highly unsaturated fatty acids being primarily esterified to the sn-2 positions of the three oils. In all cases, enzymatically modified oils were more susceptible to oxidation than their unmodified counterparts.     

Hydroxycinnamates and their in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities

Hydroxycinnamates are among the most widely distributed plant phenylpropanoids present in the free, conjugated-soluble and insoluble-bound forms. This review will focus on the occurrence, in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities of ferulic, coumaric, caffeic and sinapic acids and their derivatives. Hydroxycinnamates are found in almost all food groups though they are abundant in cereals, legumes, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables and beverages and render antioxidant activity by scavenging hydroxyl radical, superoxide radical anion, several organic radicals, peroxyl radical, peroxinitrite and singlet oxygen, among others. Further, their antioxidant activity as chain breaking antioxidants and reducing agents is also notable. Ferulic acid and its derivatives such as ferulic acid ethyl ester, ferulic acid dehydrodimers, feruloyl glycosides and curcumin have demonstrated potent antioxidant activity in both in vitro and in vivo systems. Similarly, caffeic acid and some of its derivatives such as caffeic acid phenethyl ester, rosmarinic acid, and chlorogenic acid exhibit antioxidant activity. The highest antioxidant activity was observed for caffeic acid whereas p-coumaric acid had the least effect among major hydroxycinnamic acids. The importance of structural effects on the potency of antioxidant activity of hydroxycinnamates is discussed. While this review also shows the existence of substantial body of evidences for in vitro antioxidant activity of hydroxycinnamates, there is a clear gap for in vivo information, particularly for sinapic and p-coumaric acids and their derivatives. The role of grains, fruits, vegetables and red wine in disease risk reduction and health promotion could partly be attributed to their constituent hydroxycinnamates.     

Shell selection behaviour and spatial distribution of three species of intertidal hermit crabs from Hormuz Island,Persian Gulf (Crustacea: Paguroidea)

Shell selection behaviour and spatial distribution of three hermit crab species, Diogenes avarus, D. karwarensis, and Areopaguristes perspicax, were studied at six sites along the intertidal zones of Hormuz Island in the Persian Gulf. 1025 specimens were collected occupying altogether 31 shell species (D. avarus 28 species, A. perspicax 22 species, and D. karwarensis 8 species). Diogenes avarus was found to be by far the most abundant of these three crab species, and Cerithidea cingulata the dominant shell occupied by these hermit crabs. The distribution of the hermit crabs significantly varied (p<0.05) among the sites. The number and the wide diversity of shells occupied in different sites show that the main factor in shell selection for these hermit crabs is the abundance and distribution of shell species in the field.     

Effect of season and artificial diet on amino acids and nucleic acids in gonads of green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis

The content of total and free amino acids (FAA) in green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) gonads varied with the season and feeding on an artificial diet. Glycine was the dominant amino acid in each season contributing 12.9-16.6% to the total amino acid (TAA) content, peaking in the spring. In the FAA profile, glycine accounted for 30.3-61.4% in different seasons. A grain-based artificial diet had noticeable effects on the total and FAA compositions of S. droebachiensis. Although, glycine was the dominant amino acid in the TAA profile during early harvesting, tyrosine in gonads became more dominant on week 9 of feeding. Furthermore, glycine was the dominant amino acid in the FAA pool after feeding the artificial diet. The total FAA content in the gonads increased significantly (P<0.05) from 20.6 on week 0 to 180.6 mg/g dry mass tissue on week 3. There were no significant (P<0.05) changes between week 6 and week 9. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content exceeded that of ribonucleic acid (RNA) in each season, while in cultured urchins, RNA content exceeded that of DNA only on week 6. The RNA/DNA ratio was significantly increased in the summer, whereas this ratio was increased up to week 6 followed by a decrease on week 9 in cultured counterparts.     

Purification and characterization of a collagenolytic protease from the filefish,Novoden modestrus

A serine collagenolytic protease was purified from the internal organs of filefish, Novoden modestrus, by ammonium sulfate, ion-exchange chromatography on a DEAE-Sephadex A-50, ion-exchange rechromatography on a DEAE-Sephadex A-50, and gel filtration on a Sephadex G- 150 column. The molecular mass of the filefish serine collagenase was estimated to be 27.0 kDa by gel filtration and SDS-PAGE. The purified collagenase was optimally active at pH 7.0-8.0 and 55 degrees C. The purified enzyme was rich in Ala, Ser, Leu, and Ile, but poor in Trp, Pro, Tyr, and Met. In addition, the purified collagenolytic enzyme was strongly inhibited by N-P-toluenesulfonyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK), diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP), and soybean trypsin inhibitor.     

Antioxidant activity of wheat extracts as affected by in vitro digestion

Phenolic compounds from soft wheat and its milling fractions were extracted and their in vitro antioxidant activity evaluated. Non-hydrolyzed extracts were prepared by extracting phenolics into distilled deionized water. To make hydrolyzed extracts samples were first subjected to pH adjustments in order to simulate gastrointestinal pH conditions. Total phenolic content (TPC) was determined using Folin-Ciocalteu's procedure. Total antioxidant activity (TAA) was determined using Trolox equivalents antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay and expressed as Trolox equivalents (TE). Antioxidant activity of wheat extracts was determined using the procedures of inhibition of beta-carotene bleaching, scavenging of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and inhibition of oxidation of human low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. The TPC and TAA of wheat extracts tested were significantly increased following hydrolysis. Similarly, the antioxidant activity, as determined by different procedures, was considerably increased when the samples were subjected to simulated digestion conditions.