New compounds, sexual differences, and age-related variations in the femoral gland secretions of the lacertid lizard Acanthodactylus boskianus

Integumental gland secretions in lizards have been postulated to play a role as semiochemicals, but few studies have analysed the chemical nature of the gland secretions used in communication. We analysed the femoral gland secretions of Acanthodactylus boskianus using GC–MS, compared secretions of both sexes and different ages of males. For the first time in reptiles monoglycerides of fatty acids and glycerol monoethers of long chain alcohols were identified. In addition, alcohols, steroids, carboxylic acids, alkanes, amides, aldehydes, carboxylic acid esters, and squalene occurred. Sexual differences and age correlation in the amount of all major groups of compounds occurred, as such these results strengthen the theory that these secretions are used as semiochemicals. This work lays the foundations to test in future the role of chemical cues in mate choice and dominance hierarchies in lizards and to test the activity of compounds in behavioural assays to eventually identify the pheromones.     

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel is effective in a murine model of experimental Cryptosporidium parvum

Cryptosporidiosis, a major health issue for neonatal calves, is caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium parvum, which is highly resistant to drug treatments. To date, many anti-parasitic drugs have been tested, but only a few have been shown to be partially effective in treating cryptosporidiosis. Previous studies have indicated that pomegranate (Punica granatum) possesses anti-plasmodium, anti-cestode, and anti-nematode activities. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of P. granatum peel on suckling mice infected with experimental C. parvum. At 4days of age, 72 neonatal albino mice were randomly divided into five groups: G1: healthy controls, G2: infected/untreated controls, G3: uninfected/distilled water-treated, G4: uninfected/P. granatum peel-treated, and G5: infected/P. granatum peel-treated. Mice were experimentally-infected by oral administration of 1×10(3)C. parvum oocysts per animal. On day 7 post-inoculation (pi), treated mice received an aqueous suspension of P. granatum peel orally (3g/kg body weight). The presence of diarrhea, oocyst shedding, and weight gain/loss, and the histopathology of ileal sections were examined. Infected mice treated with the P. granatum peel suspension showed improvement in all parameters examined. Additionally, these mice did not exhibit any clinical symptoms and no deaths occurred. Oocyst shedding was very significantly reduced in the P. granatum-treated mice by day 14 pi (P<.05), and was completely eliminated by day 28 pi. The mean weight gain of the P. granatum-treated mice was significantly higher than that of the infected/untreated controls throughout the study (P<.01). Histopathological analysis of ileal sections further supported the clinical and parasitological findings. The histological architecture of villi from the P. granatum-treated mice on day 14 pi showed visible improvement in comparison with the infected/untreated controls, including renewed brush borders, reduced numbers of C. parvum trophozoites, and reduced lymphatic infiltration. On day 28 pi, tissues of the P. granatum-treated mice were very similar to those of healthy control mice. These results suggest that P. granatum peel is a promising anti-coccidial therapeutic treatment that lacks negative side effects.     

Mycobiota of Oil-Contaminated Soil Samples and Their Abilities for Dibenzothiophene Desulfurization

High sulfur content of crude oil leads to poor quality of oil products and many other negative consequences such as corrosion, catalyst poisoning and environmental pollution. Saudi Arabia is seeking to reduce sulfur content in diesel and gasoline to 10 ppm and to lower benzene content in gasoline to 1%. Biotechnological processes such as biodesulfurization can be considered an alternative or complement to conventional oil refining technologies. So, the objective of the present project is to isolate and identify endogenous fungal isolates capable of oil biodesulfurization. From 60 oil-contaminated soil samples collected from Saudi Arabia, 15 species belonged to 9 fungal genera were collected and identified morphologically and with ITS sequencing. Members of Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium were the most prevalent in the investigated samples. Among the collected fungal species, only Stachybotrys bisbyiisolates were able to utilize dibenzothiophene (DBT) as the sole sulfur source. Stachybotrys bisbyi TUSb1 could desulfurize 99% of the DBT (0.3 mM) as the sulfur source by a co-metabolism reaction with other carbon sources through the same pathway as 4S (involves sequential oxidation of the sulfur part and cleaving of the C–S bonds), and produced 2-hydroxy biphenyl (2-HBP) during 7 days of incubation at 30°C and 180 rpm. Stachybotrys bisbyi TUSb1 showed broad specificity for removing sulfur in different sulfur-containing compounds.     

Antischistosomal and liver protective effects of Curcuma longa extract in Schistosoma mansoni infected mice

With a view to clarify the induction of the "Crabtree consequence" in liver cells of S. mansoni infected mice, the curative effect of oil extract of C. longa was tested and compared to praziquantel (PZQ) the effective drug against all schistosome species occurring in man. Protein, glucose, glucose-6-phopsphatase, AMP-deaminase, adensoine deaminase, urea concentration, pyravate kinase (PK), phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and PK/PEPCK ratio were estimated. In addition, worm burden and ova count in mice infected with S. mansoni were elucidated. The result showed that C. longa normalized the concentration of protein, glucose, AMP-deaminase and adenosine deaminase, which were changed by infection. Moreover, it lowered pyruvate kinase level, while PZQ-treatment induced more elevation of this enzyme. PZQ was more effective in lowering worm burden while C. longa extract was more potent in reducing egg count.     

Carbohydrases in camel (Camelus dromedarius) pancreas. Purification and characterization of glucoamylase

The present study analyzed the existence of carbohydrases in camel pancreas compared to some other ruminants. Disaccharidases (maltase, cellobiase, lactase, trehalase and sucrase), glucoamylase and alpha-amylase were detected in pancreas of camel, sheep, cow and buffalo. Enzyme levels in sheep were lower than in the other ruminants. The highest level was detected for alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.2). Moderate activity levels were detected for glucoamylase (EC 3.2.1.3) and maltase (EC 3.2.1.20), while other disaccharidases showed very low activity. The results suggested that, in addition to alpha-amylase, glucoamylase and maltase may be synthesized and secreted from pancreas to the small intestine in ruminants. Camel pancreatic glucoamylase was purified and characterized. The purification procedure included glycogen precipitation and chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose and Sepharose 6B. The molecular mass was 58 kDa for native and denatured enzyme using gel filtration and SDS-PAGE, respectively. The enzyme had a pH optimum at 5.5 and a Km of 10 mg starch/mL with more affinity toward potato soluble starch than the other carbohydrates. Glucoamylase had a temperature optimum at 50 degrees C with heat stability up to 30 degrees C. The effect of different cations and inhibitors was examined. The camel pancreatic glucoamylase may possess an essential thiol.     

Differential PDGF secretion by graft and aortic SMC in response to oxidized LDL

Smooth muscle cells (SMC) from prosthetic vascular grafts constitutively secrete higher levels of platelet-derived growth factor-AA (PDGF-AA) than aortic SMC. Lipid oxidation products accumulate in grafts and may stimulate PDGF production. The effect of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) on PDGF-AA secretion by aortic and graft SMC was compared. SMC isolated from canine thoracic aorta or Dacron thoracoabdominal grafts (n = 10) were incubated with native LDL or oxLDL (0-400 microg/ml) for 72 h. PDGF-AA in the conditioned medium was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. OxLDL increased PDGF-AA production by graft SMC from 78 +/- 2 to 256 +/- 16 pg PDGF/microg DNA and aortic SMC from 21 +/- 1 to 40 +/- 2 pg PDGF/microg DNA. Native LDL had no effect. N-acetylcysteine inhibited oxLDL-induced PDGF increase. Both superoxide and H(2)O(2) stimulated PDGF secretion by graft SMC had little effect on aortic SMC. Our results suggest that PDGF production by graft (synthetic) SMC is more sensitive to stimulation by oxidative stress than aortic (contractile) SMC. Lipid oxidation products that accumulate in prosthetic vascular grafts can cause an oxidative stress, which stimulates PDGF production by graft SMC. PDGF can induce migration of aortic SMC onto the graft, contributing to the development of intimal hyperplasia.     

Effects of carnosine on bilharzial infestation in hamsters: biochemical and histochemical studies

We tested the ability of carnosine to improve some liver disorders induced by Schistosoma mansoni parasite in hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Results indicate that parasitic infestation induced elevation in serum alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, aspartate aminotransferase and procollagen III peptide as a marker of liver fibrosis. Administration of carnosine (10 mg/day) for 15 days either concurrent with infection, 2 and 4 weeks post-infestation was effective in reducing differential worm burden. It was also effective in renormalizing blood glucose level depending on the time course. The most evident effect of carnosine was on serum procollagen III peptide level, which was lowered in infested groups treated with carnosine. Histopathological studies confirmed the potential use of carnosine for intervention in schistosomiasis.     

Esterase and lipase in camel tick Hyalomma dromedarii (Acari: Ixodidae) during embryogenesis

Esterase and lipase activity showed significant changes during embryogenesis of camel tick Hyalomma dromedarii. From the elution profile of chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, six forms of H. dromedarii esterase (El to EVI) can be distinguished. Esterase EIII was purified to homogeneity after chromatography on Sepharose 6B. The molecular mass of esterase EIII was 45 kDa for the native enzyme and represented a monomer of 45 kDa by SDS-PAGE. Esterase EIII had an acidic pI at 5.3. Lipase activity was detected in the same DEAE-cellulose peaks (LI to LVI) of H. dromedarii esterases. The highest lipase activity was exhibited by lipase LIII. Esterase EIII and lipase LIII were compared with respect to Michaelis constant, substrate specificity, temperature optimum, heat stability, pH optimum, effect of metal ions and inhibitors. This study suggests that H. dromedarii lipolytic enzymes may play a central role in the interconversion of lipovitellins during embryogenesis.