Multifunctional theranostic applications of biocompatible green-synthesized colloidal nanoparticles

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - Phytochemicals offer immense promise for sustainable development and production of nanotechnology-enabled products. In the present study, Olax nana Wall. ex...     

Ecology of bacterial endophytes associated with wetland plants growing in textile effluent for pollutant-degradation and plant growth-promotion potentials

In this study, 41 culturable endophytic bacteria were isolated from the roots and shoots of three wetland plants, Typha domingensis, Pistia stratiotes and Eichhornia crassipes, and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Textile effluent-degrading and plant growth-promoting activities of these endophytes were determined. The analysis of endophytic bacterial communities indicated that plant species had a pronounced effect on endophytic bacterial association and maximum endophytes (56.5%) were associated with T. domingensis. These endophytic bacteria mainly belonged to different species of the genera Bacillus (39%), Microbacterium (12%) and Halomonas (12%). Eight of the 41 strains showing maximum efficiency of textile effluent degradation also exhibited plant growth-promoting activities such as production of indole-3-acetic acid and siderophore, presence of 1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase, and solubilization of inorganic phosphorous. This is the first study describing the diversity and plant-beneficial characteristics of the textile effluent-degrading endophytic bacteria associated with wetland plants. T. domingensis showed better growth in textile effluent and also hosted maximum number of endophytic bacteria in roots and shoots. The interactions between T. domingensis and its associated endophytic bacteria could be exploited to enhance the efficiency of constructed wetlands during the remediation of industrial effluent.     

Effects of simulated heat waves on an experimental community of pepper plants,green peach aphids and two parasitoid species

Heat waves – extended periods of abnormally hot weather – are predicted to increase in severity and frequency under climate change. The severity of heat waves should impact communities and food webs through effects on performance of individual species and through changes in the strength of interactions between them. This study tested the effects of severity of simulated heat waves, with daily maxima of either 32°C or 40°C, on a tritrophic food web consisting of plants, Capsicum anuum, aphids, Myzus persicae and two parasitoids, Aphidius matricariae and Aphelinus abdominalis. Osmolarity of plant sap (concentration of dissolved solids) was highest under 40°C heat waves, suggesting the presence of secondary plant compounds involved with stress responses. Population growth of aphids was lower under heat waves (both 32°C and 40°C daily maxima), compared to environments with periodic hot days. Development time of parasitoids was longer under heat waves. Heat waves decreased the proportion of winged aphids in the population. When both parasitoid species were present, impacts on aphid populations were greater in heat wave environments than environments with periodic hot days. When either parasitoid species was by itself, heat waves did not affect the interaction between parasitoids and aphids. Numbers of A. matricariae were reduced in heat wave environments, whereas numbers of A. abdominalis were not. In addition to direct effects on individual species, we also obtained indirect evidence for the effects of heat waves on the bottom–up effects of plant stress compounds on herbivore performance, and on the strength of inter and intra‐specific competition. Our results demonstrate that heat waves could have important effects on community structure, and on important, community‐level processes such as intra‐guild interactions and trophic cascades.     

Contribution of PTPN22, CD28, CTLA-4 and ZAP-70 variants to the risk of type 1 diabetes in Tunisians

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is caused by an immune-mediated destruction of the insulin-producing β-cells. Several studies support the involvement of T cell activation molecules. In order to underline the role of the genes involved in this pathway, we investigated, using the Sequenom MassARRAY platform, polymorphisms of sixteen single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) belonging to PTPN22, CD28, CTLA-4, and ZAP-70 genes in 76 T1D patients and 162 unrelated healthy controls from Southern Tunisia.     

Analytical variables influencing the HCV RNA determination by TaqMan real-time PCR in routine clinical laboratory practice

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) quantification is used as a prognostic marker for treatment success. In a routine clinical laboratory some infinitesimal sample handling factors can contribute to variability and loss of precision in HCV quantification. This may include blood collection tubes, blood drawing procedure, sample processing and storage temperatures. In current study blood was collected in tubes with different anticoagulant type (spray vs. liquid), group 1, blood was drawn with possible suck of methylated spirit through needle (experimental group) while avoiding the methylated spirit suck (control group) group 2, plasma separation was delayed from 0 to 60 min for group 3, plasma storage at different temperatures group 4. All samples were analyzed using Corbett research real time PCR system using AJ Roboscreen Kit. Mean viral load difference between spray vs. liquid was found 3.6 × 10(5) IU/ml (p < 0.001). Methylated spirit inhibited the viral load quantification with a value of 4.8 × 10(5) IU/ml (p < 0.001). Mean viral load difference was found 1.2 × 10(5) IU/ml (p < 0.05). Delay in centrifugation from 0 to 60 min and plasma placement at 25 °C for 15 min before freezing had no effect (p = 0.5996). Plasma storage temperature at -80 and -20 °C did not affect significantly on RNA levels (p > 0.05). In conclusion blood collection tubes and procedures can be a key factor in variability of results, that might affect the treatment response decision.     

A comparative proteome assay on the quality of yardlong bean pods as influenced by the organic and inorganic nourishment systems

The assumption of enhanced nutritional quality of food produced through the organic systems against the inorganic systems is under constant challenge. Changes in nutritional quality under varying methods of crop nourishment, if any, should be through the differential translation of proteins and hence should be reflected in the proteome profile. The present study was undertaken to understand the effect of organic and inorganic crop nourishments on the nutritional quality of yardlong bean, through two-dimensional proteome profiling. Yardlong beans were raised separately under organic and inorganic nourishment and the proteome of pods was profiled. The differentially expressed and upregulated proteins from immature and mature pods from both the systems were characterized through MALDI-ToF/MS. Under both the production systems, differentially expressed proteins were the contributors to antioxidant properties at different pod maturity stages and pod quality was proven to be independent of crop nourishment system. This study does not support the hypothesis that organically produced foods will be nutritionally superior.     

Sterols of the senegalese brown alga Padina vickersiae

Contrary to all the brown algae already studied for sterol content the Senegalese Padina vickersiae contains a great amount of cholesterol, chiefly in the later stages of growth. The seasonal variation of the sterols is studied and compared to other Phaeophyceae belonging to the genus Cystoseira.     

Autoimmune diseases association study with the KIAA1109–IL2–IL21 region in a Tunisian population

Autoimmune diseases (ADs) share several genetic factors resulting in similarity of disease mechanisms. For instance polymorphisms from the KIAA1109–interleukin 2 (IL2)–IL21 block in the 4q27 chromosome, has been associated with a number of autoimmune phenotypes. Here we performed a haplotype-based analysis of this AD related region in Tunisian patients. Ten single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs6534347, rs11575812, rs2069778, rs2069763, rs2069762, rs6852535, rs12642902, rs6822844, rs2221903, rs17005931) of the block were investigated in a cohort of 93 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 68 ulcerative colitis (UC), 39 Crohn’s disease (CD) patients and 162 healthy control subjects of Tunisian origin. In SLE population, haplotypes AGCAGGGTC, AGAAGAGTC, AGAAGGGTC and AGCCGAGTC provided significant evidence of association with SLE risk (p = 0.013, 0.028, 0.018 and 0.048, respectively). In the UC population, haplotype AGCCGGGTC provided a susceptibility effect for UC (p = 0.025). In the CD population, haplotype CAGGCC showed a protective effect against the development of CD (p = 0.038). Haplotype AAGGTT provided significant evidence to be associated with CD risk (p = 0.007). Our results support the existence of the associations found in the KIAA1109/IL2/IL21 gene region with ADs, thus confirms that the 4q27 locus may contribute to the genetic susceptibility of ADs in the Tunisian population.     

Association of BANK1 and cytokine gene polymorphisms with type 1 diabetes in Tunisia

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease (AID) with both genetic and environmental components. We aimed to investigate the genetic association of polymorphisms in genes previously linked with other AIDs, namely BANK1, IL15 and IL2/IL21 region.