In silico analyses of the genomes of three new bacteriocin-producing bacteria isolated from animal’s faeces

Archives of Microbiology - Here, we have analysed and explored the genome sequences of three newly isolated bacteria that were recently characterised for their probiotic activities and ability to...     

Detection of microRNA Expression in Human Peripheral Blood Microvesicles

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate translation of mRNA and protein. Loss or enhanced expression of miRNAs is associated with several diseases, including cancer. However, the identification of circulating miRNA in healthy donors is not well characterized. Microvesicles, also known as exosomes or microparticles, circulate in the peripheral blood and can stimulate cellular signaling. In this study, we hypothesized that under normal healthy conditions, microvesicles contain miRNAs, contributing to biological homeostasis.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Microvesicles were isolated from the plasma of normal healthy individuals. RNA was isolated from both the microvesicles and matched mononuclear cells and profiled for 420 known mature miRNAs by real-time PCR. Hierarchical clustering of the data sets indicated significant differences in miRNA expression between peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and plasma microvesicles. We observed 71 miRNAs co-expressed between microvesicles and PBMC. Notably, we found 33 and 4 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs in the plasma microvesicles and mononuclear cells, respectively. Prediction of the gene targets and associated biological pathways regulated by the detected miRNAs was performed. The majority of the miRNAs expressed in the microvesicles from the blood were predicted to regulate cellular differentiation of blood cells and metabolic pathways. Interestingly, a select few miRNAs were also predicted to be important modulators of immune function.

Conclusions

This study is the first to identify and define miRNA expression in circulating plasma microvesicles of normal subjects. The data generated from this study provides a basis for future studies to determine the predictive role of peripheral blood miRNA signatures in human disease and will enable the definition of the biological processes regulated by these miRNA.     

Screening of Synthetic Isoxazolone Derivative Role in Alzheimer’s Disease: Computational and Pharmacological Approach

Neurochemical Research - Alzheimer's disease (AD) is age-dependent neurological disorder with progressive loss of cognition and memory. This multifactorial disease is characterized by...     

Ligand design and synthesis of new imidazo[5,1-b]quinazoline derivatives as alpha1-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists

A series of new imidazo[5,1-b]quinazoline derivatives (VII-IX) was designed, synthesized, and biologically evaluated for their in vivo hypotensive or hypertensive activities. The design of these compounds was based upon the molecular modeling simulation of the fitting values and conformational energy values of the best-fitted conformers to both the alpha(1)-adrenoceptor (alpha(1)-AR) agonist and alpha(1)-adrenoceptor (alpha(1)-AR) antagonist hypotheses. These hypotheses were generated from their corresponding lead compounds using CATALYST software. The simulation studies predicted that compounds IXa and IXe would have probable affinity for the alpha(1)-AR antagonist hypothesis, while compounds IXb, IXc, and IXg predicted a higher affinity for the alpha(1)-AR agonist hypothesis. In vivo biological evaluation of these compounds for their effects on the blood pressure of normotensive cats was consistent with the results of molecular modeling studies, where compounds IXa and IXe exhibited hypotensive activity, while compounds IXb, IXc, and IXg resulted in increasing the blood pressure of the experimental animals at different doses.     

Coxites zubairensis Smout, 1956: a new record from Late Cenomanian of the Southern Galala Plateau,Egypt

Coxites zubairensis Smout 1956 is documented from the upper Cenomanian Galala Formation, Umm Khayshar stratigraphic section, Southern Galala Plateau, Eastern Desert, Egypt, and treated systematically.     

20-Hydroxyecdysone mediated activation of larval haemolymph protein uptake by fat body cells of Corcyra cephalonica (Insecta)

Evidence is presented here to show that 20-hydroxyecdysone is essential for the activation of the larval fat body for differential uptake of larval haemolymph proteins (LHPs). By using radiolabelled LHPs it is shown that the fat body cells of Corcyra cephalonica selectively incorporate LHPs during late-larval and prepupal development. Fluorographic analysis of the labelled fat body proteins from prepupal stage separated on sodium dodecyl-sulphate polyacrylamide gels suggests that the LHPs are sequestered without any degradation. Although, during the last larval instar the uptake of all the three LHPs (LHP 1, LHP 2 and LHP 3) by the fat body cells is very low, 20-hydroxyecdysone treatment of early, mid or late-last instars causes a significant increase in uptake of all the three LHPs. However, the response to hormone treatment was more pronounced in late-last instar when compared to early and mid-last instar.     

Hepatoprotective Effect of Silver Nanoparticles at Two Different Particle Sizes: Comparative Study with and without Silymarin

Silver nanoparticles have been used for numerous therapeutic purposes because of their increased biodegradability and bioavailability, yet their toxicity remains questionable as they are known to interact easily with biological systems because of their small size. This study aimed to investigate and compare the effect of silver nanoparticles’ particle size in terms of their potential hazard, as well as their potential protective effect in an LPS-induced hepatotoxicity model. Liver slices were obtained from Sprague Dawley adult male rats, and the thickness of the slices was optimized to 150 μm. Under regulated physiological circumstances, freshly cut liver slices were divided into six different groups; GP1: normal, GP2: LPS (control), GP3: LPS + AgNpL (positive control), GP4: LPS + silymarin (standard treatment), GP5: LPS + AgNpS + silymarin (treatment I), GP6: LPS + AgNpL + silymarin (treatment II). After 24 h of incubation, the plates were gently removed, and the supernatant and tissue homogenate were all collected and then subjected to the following biochemical parameters: Cox2, NO, IL-6, and TNF-α. The LPS elicited marked hepatic tissue injury manifested by elevated cytokines and proinflammatory markers. Both small silver nanoparticles and large silver nanoparticles efficiently attenuated LPS hepatotoxicity, mainly via preserving the cytokines’ level and diminishing the inflammatory pathways. In conclusion, large silver nanoparticles exhibited effective hepatoprotective capabilities over small silver nanoparticles.     

Formation of Umbilicaria decussata (Antarctic and Turkey) Extracts Based Nanoflowers with Their Peroxidase Mimic,Dye Degradation and Antimicrobial Properties

This work describes a unique and environmentally friendly approach for creating three-dimensional (3D) organic-inorganic flower shaped hybrid nanostructures called “nanoflower (NF)” by using Umbilicaria decussate (U. decussate) extract and copper ions (Cu²⁺). U. decussate species were collected from certain place in Antarctic and Turkey and extraction of each species were completed in methanol and water. The U. decussate extracts were used as organic components and Cu²⁺ acted as inorganic components for formation of U. decussate extracts based hybrid NFs. We rationally used these NFs as novel nanobiocatalyst and antimicrobial agents. These NFs exhibited peroxidase mimic, dye degradation and antimicrobial properties. The NFs were characterized with various techniques. For instance, the morphologies of the NFs were monitored by scanning electron microscope (SEM), presence of elements in the NFs were presented using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used to elucidate corresponding bending and stretching of bonds in the NFs. The NFs acted as effective Fenton agents in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, and we demonstrated their peroxidase-like activity against guaiacol, dye degradation property towards malachite green and antimicrobial activity for Aeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas sobria, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica and Staphylococcus aureus.