Smp76, a Scorpine-Like Peptide Isolated from the Venom of the Scorpion Scorpio maurus palmatus,with a Potent Antiviral Activity Against Hepatitis C Virus and Dengue Virus

Growing global viral infections have been a serious public health problem in recent years. This current situation emphasizes the importance of developing m     

The involvement of an endogenous circadian rhythm in photoperiodic timing in Acrochaetium asparagopsis (Rhodophyta,Acrochaetiales)

In Acrochaetium asparagopsis (Chemin) Papenfuss, tetrasporocyst formation is a genuine short-day photoperiodic response. Experiments in bi-diurnal and tri-diurnal cycles have shown that maximum inhibition of the response occurred with night-breaks given at approximately 24 h intervals and coincided with the postulated skotophile phase, while maximum stimulation was due to night-breaks in the postulated photophile phase. In cycle length experiments the fertility was stimulated in cycle lengths of 24 and 44 h and it was inhibited in cycle lengths of 36–40 and 52 h (or more). In addition the response was inhibited by light periods longer than 14 h, however long the associated dark period. Dark periods of various durations were completely ineffective in initiating tetrasporocysts and an induction phase of 5–7 short-days (8:) was necessary for the fertility. The lighting treatment following the induction phase was found to have no significant effect on the fertility and tetrasporocysts were obtained in continuous light or darkness. In resetting experiments, three more reversed short-day cycles (11 cycles, :8, photoperiod started at 24.00) were required to obtain the same maximum fertility (100%) observed under normal short-day cycles (9 cycles, 8:16, photoperiod started at 08.00). The induction, however, was completely lost with 96 h of continuous light (20 µE m^-2s^-1) and even 14 reversed short-day cycles were ineffective in initiating a new rhythmic mechanism.     

Natural infestation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pimeliaphilus joshuae</Emphasis> on scorpion species from Egypt

The main goal of this study was to study the acarine parasite, Pimeliaphilus joshuae (Prostigmata: Pterygosomatidae) on various scorpion species from Egypt to determine its prevalence, abundance and intensity in relation to host species, size and sex. A total of 95 Leiurus quinquestriatus, 98 Androctonus australis, 40 A. amoreuxi, 30 Scorpio maurus palmatus and 46 Orthochirus scrobicuosus were examined during August 2009. Prevalence and mean abundance of P. joshuae varied significantly in relation to host species, host size and sex. In L. quinquestriatus, A. australis, and A. amoreuxi, the prevalence was 76.8, 13.3, and 50.0%, whereas the mean abundance was 47.6, 6.7 and 14.3%, respectively. Prevalence and mean abundance of P. joshuae were both positively correlated with host size in L. quinquestriatus and A. australis. We conclude that P. joshuae is found in a wide range of scorpion species exhibiting a low degree of host specificity. Controlled laboratory infection experiments are required to explain why S. m. palmatus and O. scrobicuosus are not susceptible to infestation by P. joshuae.     

Repellent and insecticidal activities of Melia azedarach L. against cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.)

A crude acetone extract and oil of ripe fruits from Melia azedarach L. were evaluated against the 2nd and 4th instar larvae of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Both oil and extract exhibited highly significant growth inhibition at all concentrations tested, while the oil of M. azedarach recorded higher insecticidal activity against both instars than the crude extract. GC-MS analysis of the oil revealed the presence of linoleic acid methyl ester, oleic acid methyl ester, and free oleic acid as the main components in addition to hexadecanol, palmitic acid, methyl esters of stearic acid and myristic acid. Fatty acids and their esters were not only the main constituents of essential oil from the ripe fruits of M. azedarach, but also mainly responsible for the insecticidal and growth inhibition activity against S. littoralis.     

Algorithmic Global Criteria for Excluding Oscillations

We investigate algorithmic methods to tackle the following problem: Given a system of parametric ordinary differential equations built by a biological model, does there exist ranges of values for the model parameters and variables which are both meaningful from a biological point of view and where oscillating trajectories, can be found? We show that in the common case of polynomial vector fields known criteria excluding the existence of non-constant limit cycles lead to quantifier elimination problems over the reals.We apply these criteria to various models that have been previously investigated in the context of algebraic biology.     

The prognostic impact of hypermethylation for a panel of tumor suppressor genes and cell of origin subtype on diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Molecular Biology Reports - Diffuse Large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an aggressive disease with heterogeneous outcome and marked variable response to chemotherapy. We assessed promoter...     

Techno-economic and environmental approaches of Cd2+ adsorption by olive leaves (Olea europaea L.) waste

Abstract

In this study, the techno-economic approach of olive leaves (Olea europaea L.) wastes for the removal of Cd²⁺ from aqueous solutions was demonstrated. The adsorption process was illustrated regarding batch experiments and scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, and Fourier-transform infrared characterization. The optimum pH and contact time were 6.6 and 123?min, respectively, giving Cd²⁺ removal efficiencies of 94.9% at C_o = 50?mg/L and 81.5% at C_o = 100?mg/L. The monolayer adsorption capacity of the Langmuir isotherm model was 32.6?mg/g (R² = 0.97). The adsorption mechanisms might be related to (a) ion exchange with cations (e.g., K⁺, Na⁺, and Ca²⁺), (b) formation of cadmium chloride complexes, (c) interaction with oxygen-containing functional groups, (d) physical agglomeration in the pore surface, and (e) precipitation interaction using inorganic minerals (i.e., carbonates, phosphates, and silicates). The total cost of the adsorption process for the treatment of ions-containing wastewater was 0.038 $USD/m³. Assuming a benefit-cost of tertiary treated water as 0.044 $USD/m³, the adsorption system could attain a payback period of 5.7?years. This period was shorter than the lifetime of the capital investment (i.e., 10?years), and hence, the project would be economically feasible for an application.     

Genetic profile of Egyptian hepatocellular-carcinoma associated with hepatitis C virus Genotype 4 by 15 K cDNA microarray: Preliminary study

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a preventable disease rather than a curable one, since there is no well-documented effective treatment modality until now, making the molecular study of this disease mandatory.

Findings

We studied gene expression profile of 17 Egyptian HCC patients associated with HCV genotype-4 infection by c-DNA microarray. Out of the 15,660 studied genes, 446 were differentially expressed; 180 of them were up regulated and 134 were down regulated. Seventeen genes out of the 180 up-regulated genes are involved in 28 different pathways. Protein phosphatase 3 (PPP3R1) is involved in 10 different pathways followed by fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1), Cas-Br-M ecotropic retroviral transforming sequence b (CBLB), spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) involved in three pathways; bone morphogenetic protein 8a (BMP8A), laminin alpha 3 (LAMA3), cell division cycle 23 (CDC23) involved in 2 pathways and NOTCH4 which regulate Notch signaling pathway. On the other hand, 25 out of the 134 down-regulated genes are involved in 20 different pathways. Integrin alpha V alpha polypeptide antigen CD51 (ITGVA) is involved in 4 pathways followed by lymphotoxin alpha (TNF superfamily, member 1) (LTA) involved in 3 pathways and alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M), phosphorylase kinase alpha 2-liver (PHKA2) and MAGI1 membrane associated guanylate kinase 1 (MAGI1) involved in 2 pathways. In addition, 22 genes showed significantly differential expression between HCC cases with cirrhosis and without cirrhosis. Confirmation analysis was performed on subsets of these genes by RT-PCR, including some up-regulated genes such as CDK4, Bax, NOTCH4 and some down-regulated genes such as ISGF3G, TNF, and VISA.

Conclusion

This is the first preliminary study on gene expression profile in Egyptian HCC patients associated with HCV-Genotype-4 using the cDNA microarray. The identified genes could provide a new gate for prognostic and diagnostic markers for HCC associated with HCV. They could also be used to identify candidate genes for molecular target therapy.     

Lactic acid production from lignocellulose-derived sugars using lactic acid bacteria: overview and limits

Lactic acid is an industrially important product with a large and rapidly expanding market due to its attractive and valuable multi-function properties. The economics of lactic acid production by fermentation is dependent on many factors, of which the cost of the raw materials is very significant. It is very expensive when sugars, e.g., glucose, sucrose, starch, etc., are used as the feedstock for lactic acid production. Therefore, lignocellulosic biomass is a promising feedstock for lactic acid production considering its great availability, sustainability, and low cost compared to refined sugars. Despite these advantages, the commercial use of lignocellulose for lactic acid production is still problematic. This review describes the "conventional" processes for producing lactic acid from lignocellulosic materials with lactic acid bacteria. These processes include: pretreatment of the biomass, enzyme hydrolysis to obtain fermentable sugars, fermentation technologies, and separation and purification of lactic acid. In addition, the difficulties associated with using this biomass for lactic acid production are especially introduced and several key properties that should be targeted for low-cost and advanced fermentation processes are pointed out. We also discuss the metabolism of lignocellulose-derived sugars by lactic acid bacteria.