Nucleotide sequence of Bacillus phage phi 29 genes 14 and 15: homology of gene 15 with other phage lysozymes.

The nucleotide sequence of Bacillus phage phi 29 genes 14 (g14) and 15 (g15) have been determined and shown to encode proteins with molecular weights of 15,014 and 28,022, respectively. The g14 open reading frame (ORF) was confirmed by sequencing a sus14(1241) mutant. Gene product 15 (gp15) has considerable homology with Salmonella phage P22 lysozyme and lesser homology with Escherichia coli phage T4 lysozyme. Putative translation signals are identified. In addition, the role of a previously described promoter, B2, is discussed.     

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MMP-3 gene variations affect MMP-1 and -3 serum concentration and associates with breast cancer

Molecular Biology Reports - Matrix metallopeptidases (MMPs) 1 and 3 have been shown to contribute to the initiation, and progression of different cancers, including breast cancer (BC). In this...     

Effects of selegiline,a monoamine oxidase B inhibitor,on differentiation of P19 embryonal carcinoma stem cells,into neuron-like cells

Selegiline, the irreversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B), is currently used to treat Parkinson’s disease. However, the mechanism of action of selegiline is complex and cannot be explained solely by its MAO-B inhibitory action. It stimulates gene expression, as well as expression of a number of mRNAs or proteins in nerve and glial cells. Direct neuroprotective and anti-apoptotic actions of selegiline have previously been observed in vitro. Previous studies showed that selegiline can induce neuronal phenotype in cultured bone marrow stem cells and embryonic stem cells. Embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells are developmentaly pluripotene cells which can be differentiated into all cell types under the appropriate conditions. The present study was carried out to examine the effects of selegiline on undifferentiated P19 EC cells. The results showed that selegiline treatment had a dramatic effect on neuronal morphology. It induced the differentiation of EC cells into neuron-like cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The peak response was in a dose of selegiline significantly lower than required for MAO-B inhibition. The differentiated cells were immunoreactive for neuron-specific proteins, synaptophysin, and β-III tubulin. Stem cell therapy has been considered as an ideal option for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Generation of neurons from stem cells could serve as a source for potential cell therapy. This study suggests the potential use of combined selegiline and stem cell therapy to improve deficits in neurodegenerative diseases.     

Detection and phylogenetic profiling of nodavirus associated with white tail disease in Malaysian <Emphasis Type="Italic">Macrobrachium rosenbergii</Emphasis> de Man

White tail disease (WTD) is a serious viral disease in the hatcheries and nursery ponds of Macrobrachium rosenbergii in many parts of the world. A new disease similar to WTD was observed in larvae and post larvae of M. rosenbergii cultured in Malaysia. In the present study, RT-PCR assay was used to detect the causative agents of WTD, M. rosenbergii nodavirus (MrNV) and extra small virus (XSV) using specific primers for MrNV RNA2 and XSV. The results showed the presence of MrNV in the samples with or without signs of WTD. However, XSV was only detected in some of the MrNV-positive samples. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the RNA2 of our Malaysian isolates were significantly different from the other isolates. Histopathological studies revealed myofiber degeneration of the tail muscles and liquefactive myopathy in the infected prawns. This was the first report on the occurrence of MrNV in the Malaysian freshwater prawn.     

Matrix metalloproteinas-9 functional promoter polymorphism 1562C>T increased risk of early-onset coronary artery disease

The Matrix metalloproteinas-9 functional promoter polymorphism 1562C>T may be considered an important genetic determinant of early-onset coronary artery disease (ECAD). In this study, association between MMP-9 1562C>T allele with plasma MMP-9 activity, homocysteine and lipid–lipoproteins level and ECAD in Iranian subjects was investigated. This case–control study consisted of 53 ECAD patients (age < 55 years) and unrelated late-onsets CAD (age > 70 years) who angiographically had at least 50% stenosis. MMP-9 1562C>T polymorphism was detected by PCRRFLP, plasma MMP-9 activity, serum lipid and homocysteine levels were determined by gelatin gel zymography, enzyme assay and by HPLC, respectively. The presence of MMP-9 1562C>T allele was found to be associated with ECAD (OR = 3.2, P = 0.001). The ECAD patients with MMP-9 1562C>T allele had higher MMP-9 activity (P = 0.001), LDL-C (P = 0.045), TC (P = 0.02) and homocysteine (P = 0.01) levels than the LCAD subjects. MMP-9 1562C>T allele is a risk factor for ECAD. The carriers of this allele have high levels of MMP-9 activity, LDL-C, TC and homocysteine (P = 0.01), thus, are more likely to develop myocardial infarction and CAD at young age (less than 55 years).     

Effect of Epichloë fungal endophyte symbiosis on tall fescue to cope with flooding-derived oxygen-limited conditions depends on the host genotype

Plant and Soil - There is little information about the role of fungal endophytes on plant performance under oxygen-limited conditions. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Epichloë...     

Fermented soybean meal extract improves oxidative stress factors in the lung of inflammation/infection animal model

Context

Fermented soybean products have been used in various ways, and more research is being conducted on them to reveal their benefit.

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidative activity of fermented soybean meal extract by Lactobacillus plantarum in vitro and in vivo tests.

Materials and methods

A Lactobacillus plantarum strain RM10 was selected through plate and fermentation experiment, which increased the degree of protein hydrolysis (1.015 μg/mL) and antioxidant activity in soybean meal fermented by selected bacteria (FSBM). In vivo study was done on septic rats as an inflammation/infection model, and then the trial groups were treated with different concentrations of fermented soybean meal extracts (FSBM, 5, 10, and 20%).

Results

DPPH radical-scavenging and ferrozine ion-chelating activity enhanced (P < 0.05) after fermentation of soybean meal compared to control group. Reduced (P < 0.05) expression of inflammatory genes and enzymes was detected in the lungs of rats treated with fermented soybean meal extract.

Discussion and conclusions

These results demonstrated that a diet containing fermented soybean meal extract improved extreme inflammatory response in an infectious disease like sepsis by reducing inflammatory factors.

     

Antileishmanial and Cytotoxic Effects of Essential Oil and Methanolic Extract of Myrtus communis L.

Plants used for traditional medicine contain a wide range of substances that can be used to treat various diseases such as infectious diseases. The present study was designed to evaluate the antileishmanial effects of the essential oil and methanolic extract of Myrtus communis against Leishmania tropica on an in vitro model. Antileishmanial effects of essential oil and methanolic extract of M. communis on promastigote forms and their cytotoxic activities against J774 cells were evaluated using MTT assay for 72 hr. In addition, their leishmanicidal activity against amastigote forms was determined in a macrophage model, for 72 hr. Findings showed that the main components of essential oil were α-pinene (24.7%), 1,8-cineole (19.6%), and linalool (12.6%). Findings demonstrated that M. communis, particularly its essential oil, significantly (P<0.05) inhibited the growth rate of promastigote and amastigote forms of L. tropica based on a dose-dependent response. The IC₅₀ values for essential oil and methanolic extract was 8.4 and 28.9 μg/ml against promastigotes, respectively. These values were 11.6 and 40.8 μg/ml against amastigote forms, respectively. Glucantime as control drug also revealed IC₅₀ values of 88.3 and 44.6 μg/ml for promastigotes and amastigotes of L. tropica, respectively. The in vitro assay demonstrated no significant cytotoxicity in J774 cells. However, essential oil indicated a more cytotoxic effect as compared with the methanolic extract of M. communis. The findings of the present study demonstrated that M. communis might be a natural source for production of a new leishmanicidal agent.