Construction of efficient bioelectrochemical devices: Improved electricity production from cyanobacteria (Leptolyngbia sp.) based on π-conjugated conducting polymer/gold nanoparticle composite interfaces

In this study, gold electrodes (GE) were coated with conducting polymers to obtain a high photocurrent using cyanobacteria from a novel bioelectrochemical fuel cell. For this purpose, 4-(4H-ditiheno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]pyrol-4-yl) aniline and 5-(4H-dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]pyrol-4-yl) napthtalane-1-amine monomers were coated on GE by performing an electropolymerization process. After that, gold nanoparticles (AuNP) were specifically modified by 2-mercaptoethane sulfonic acid and p-aminothiophenol to attach to the electrode surface. The conducting polymers GE coat was modified with functionalized AuNP using a cross-linker. The resulting electrode structures were characterized by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry under on-off illumination using a fiber optic light source. Cyanobacteria Leptolyngbia sp. was added to the GE/conducting polymer/AuNP electrode surface and stabilized by using a cellulose membrane. During the illumination, water was oxidized by the photosynthesis, and oxygen was released. The released oxygen was electrocatalytically reduced at the cathode surface and a 25 nA/cm ² photocurrent was observed in GE/ Leptolyngbia sp. After the electrode modifications, a significant improvement in the photocurrent up to 630 nA/cm ² was achieved.     

Feeding strategy design for recombinant human growth hormone production by Bacillus subtilis

Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering - Defined and semi-defined medium-based feeding strategies were developed to enhance recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) production by Bacillus subtilis...     

Widespread Expression of Erythropoietin Receptor in Brain and Its Induction by Injury

Erythropoietin (EPO) exerts potent neuroprotective, neuroregenerative and procognitive functions. However, unequivocal demonstration of erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) expression in brain cells has remained difficult since previously available anti-EPOR antibodies (EPOR-AB) were unspecific. We report here a new, highly specific, polyclonal rabbit EPOR-AB directed against different epitopes in the cytoplasmic tail of human and murine EPOR and its characterization by mass spectrometric analysis of immuno-precipitated endogenous EPOR, Western blotting, immunostaining and flow cytometry. Among others, we applied genetic strategies including overexpression, Lentivirus-mediated conditional knockout of EpoR and tagged proteins, both on cultured cells and tissue sections, as well as intracortical implantation of EPOR-transduced cells to verify specificity. We show examples of EPOR expression in neurons, oligodendroglia, astrocytes and microglia. Employing this new EPOR-AB with double-labeling strategies, we demonstrate membrane expression of EPOR as well as its localization in intracellular compartments such as the Golgi apparatus. Moreover, we show injury-induced expression of EPOR. In mice, a stereotactically applied stab wound to the motor cortex leads to distinct EpoR expression by reactive GFAP-expressing cells in the lesion vicinity. In a patient suffering from epilepsy, neurons and oligodendrocytes of the hippocampus strongly express EPOR. To conclude, this new analytical tool will allow neuroscientists to pinpoint EPOR expression in cells of the nervous system and to better understand its role in healthy conditions, including brain development, as well as under pathological circumstances, such as upregulation upon distress and injury.     

Pesta granule trials with Aspergillus alliaceus for the biocontrol of Orobanche spp.

The pathogenic fungus Aspergillus alliaceus has been shown to have potential for the biocontrol of Orobanche spp. (broomrape), a root parasitic plant. The effectiveness of A. alliaceus in reducing Orobanche infection was analysed using pesta granules prepared with different food formulations. The results showed that pesta granules comprising of fungal mycelia/spore mixtures from liquid and solid culture, sclerotia and fungal mycelia reduced Orobanche infection to a greater extent in below ground conditions when applied early and at high doses before crop sowing. In addition, pesta granules eliminated the risk of broomrape contamination within a 0.2–0.3 cm diameter of the granules. The sclerotial pathogenicity of A. alliaceus was compared with those of other fungi reported in other studies. In addition, some morphological and histological studies on the fungal pathogenicity on broomrape plants after infection are presented. The present study reveals the potential of sclerotial A. alliaceus pesta granule applications for long-term broomrape biocontrol under field conditions.     

Nisin production of Lactococcus lactis N8 with hemin‐stimulated cell respiration in fed‐batch fermentation system

In this study, nisin production of Lactococcus lactis N8 was optimized by independent variables of glucose, hemin and oxygen concentrations in fed‐batch fermentation in which respiration of cells was stimulated with hemin. Response surface model was able to explain the changes of the nisin production of L. lactis N8 in fed‐batch fermentation system with high fidelity (R² 98%) and insignificant lack of fit. Accordingly, the equation developed indicated the optimum parameters for glucose, hemin, and dissolved oxygen were 8 g L^?1 h^?1, 3 μg mL^?1 and 40%, respectively. While 1711 IU mL^?1 nisin was produced by L. lactis N8 in control fed‐batch fermentation, 5410 IU mL^?1 nisin production was achieved within the relevant optimum parameters where the respiration of cell was stimulated with hemin. Accordingly, nisin production was enhanced 3.1 fold in fed‐batch fermentation using hemin. In conclusion the nisin production of L. lactis N8 was enhanced extensively as a result of increasing the biomass by stimulating the cell respiration with adding the hemin in the fed‐batch fermentation. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 31:678–685, 2015     

Reliability and comparison of two facial measurements to detect changes of occlusal vertical dimension in complete denture wearers

Gerodontology 2010; doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2009.00353.x
Reliability and comparison of two facial measurements to detect changes of occlusal vertical dimension in complete denture wearers Background: Facial measurements are frequently used to determine OVD. However, the reliability of neither the method nor the chosen landmarks has been cleared yet. Objective: This study compares the reliability of two facial measurements, subnasal (SN) to chin (C) and tip of the nose (TN) to C, for determining occlusal vertical dimension (OVD). Materials and methods: Thirty edentulous subjects with adequate neuromuscular co‐ordination, without signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders and who had been wearing complete dentures for at least 5 years were enrolled. A modified central bearing device was used to alter the OVD and facial measurements were made with a digital caliper. Student’s t‐test was used to compare the two measurements. Interobserver and intraobserver reliability were evaluated with Spearman’s rho correlation test. Results: TN–C distance had an improved correlation with the changes in intraoral alterations than SN–C distance. While the means of the changes in facial measurements were in good agreement with the intraoral alterations, the ranges were wide. Both interobserver and intraobserver reliability of the measurements were high. Conclusion: While facial measurement is not a good predictor of OVD, TN–C distance appears to be more reliable than SN–C distance.     

Calcium hypochlorite on mouse embryonic fibroblast cells (NIH3T3) in vitro cytotoxicity and genotoxicity: MTT and comet assay

Molecular Biology Reports - Antimicrobial irrigation solutions are widely used under clinical settings. Their effect on dental tissue is a subject of recent research, which aims for a safer...