Infectivity of Steinernema mushtaqi (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) against insect pests and their mass production

The infectivity of entomopathogenic nematode (EPN), Steinernema mushtaqi was tested against legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata, tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura, blue butterfly, Lampides boeticus, red hairy caterpillar, Amsacta moorei, brown bug, Clavigralla gibbosa, mealy bug, Centrococcus somatics, fruit borer, Earias vittella and green bug, Nezara viridula larvae and in vivo mass production of the above-tested species of EPN have been carried out during 2008. S. mushtaqi was found to be more pathogenic to A. moorei, as it brought about 100% mortality within 48 h, than to S. litura, L. boeticus, N. viriduala and E. vittella, as mortality occurred within 72 h; whereas this level of mortality was recorded in C. somatis, C. gibbosa and M. vitrata within 144 h. No mortality was observed in the control treatment. Multiplication of S. mushtaqi and the yield of infective juveniles (IJs) on these insects was the highest (0.94 × 10⁵ IJs/cadaver) from N. viriduala, followed by S. litura (0.76 × 10⁵ IJs/cadaver), L. boeticus as also C. gibbosa (0.31 × 10⁵ IJs/cadaver) and M. vitrata (0.20 × 10⁵ IJs/cadaver). Very poor populations of IJs were found from A. moorei (0.15 × 10⁵ IJs/cadaver) and C. somatics (0.01 × 10⁵ IJs/cadaver). No multiplication of IJs was found from the cadaver of E. vittella. This opens a new hope of utilising S. mushtaqi in the insect pests management programme.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization study of new palladium complexes containing bioactive O,O-chelated ligands: evaluation of the DNA/protein BSA interaction,in vitro antitumoural activity and molecular docking

[Pd{(C,N)–C₆H₄CH₂NH(Et) (Qu)] (2) and [Pd{(C,N)–C₆H₄CH₂NH(Et) (Nar)] (3) (Qu = Quercetin, Nar = Naringin) mononuclear palladium (II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis, IR and electronic spectroscopy. The interaction of the prepared complexes with calf thymus DNA and bovine serum albumin (BSA), monitored by UV–visible and fluorescence titrations, respectively, have been carried out to better understand the mode of their action under biological conditions. Intercalative binding mode between the complexes and DNA is suggested by the binding constant (K_b) values of 2.5 × 10⁶ and 3.2 × 10⁶ for complexes 2 and 3, respectively. In particular, the in vitro cytotoxicity of the complexes on two cancer cells lines (bladder carcinoma TCC and breast cancer MCF7) showed that the compounds had broad spectrum, anti-cancer activity with low IC₅₀ values and the order of in vitro anticancer activities is consistent with the DNA-binding affinities. In the meantime, the quenching of tryptophan emission with the addition of complexes using BSA as a model protein indicated the protein binding ability. The quenching mechanisms of BSA by the complexes were static processes, according to the results obtained. The competitive binding using Warfarin, Digoxin and Ibuprofen site markers, which contain definite biding sites, demonstrated that the complexes bind to site I on BSA. Ultimately, the binding sites of DNA and BSA with the complexes have been determined by molecular modelling studies.     

Gene cloning and characterization of glycine oxidase from newly isolated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus subtilis</Emphasis> strain R5

The gene encoding the glycine oxidase from Bacillus subtilis strain R5 (goxR) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The gene consisted of 1,110 nucleotides that encoded a protein (GoxR) of 369 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 40,761 Da. The GoxR exhibited 98.6% identity with glycine oxidase from B. subtilis strain 168. Gene expression and purification of the recombinant GoxR were performed. The recombinant GoxR existed in a homotetramer form. The recombinant protein effectively catalyzed the oxidation of glycine and d-alanine. The specific activity of the purified recombinant GoxR was 0.96 U/mg when glycine was used as a substrate and 1.0 U/mg when d-alanine was substrate. The enzyme displayed its highest activity at pH 8.0 and at a temperature of 50°C. The activation energy of the reaction catalyzed by the enzyme was calculated to be 26 kJ/mol. The enzyme activity was significantly inhibited in the presence of organic solvents. No enhancement of enzyme activity was observed in the presence of metal cations. The experimental results presented in this study demonstrate that the enzyme was a bonafide glycine oxidase.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> signal peptidase recognizes and cleaves the signal sequence of xylanase from a newly isolated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus subtilis</Emphasis> strain R5

A gene encoding the xylanase from Bacillus subtilis strain R5 containing the native signal sequence was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The heterologous expression of the gene resulted in the production of the recombinant protein in the cytoplasm as well as its secretion into the culture medium. The xylanase activity in the culture medium increased with time after induction up to 90% of the total activity in 14 h. Molecular mass and N-terminal amino acid sequence determinations of the purified recombinant xylanase revealed that the native signal peptide was cleaved off by E. coli signal peptidases between Ala28 and Ala29.     

Melatonin: An important anticancer agent in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers among the elderly, which is also seen in the forms of hereditary syndromes occurring in younger individuals. Numerous studies have been conducted to understand the molecular and cellular pathobiology underlying colorectal cancer. These studies have found that cellular signaling pathways are at the core of colorectal cancer pathology. Because of this, new agents have been proposed as possible candidates to accompany routine therapy regimens. One of these agents is melatonin, a neuro-hormone known best for its essential role in upholding the circadian rhythm and orchestrating the many physiologic changes it accompanies. Melatonin is shown to be able to modulate many signaling pathways involved in many essential cell functions, which if deregulated cause an accelerated pace towards cancer. More so, melatonin is involved in the regulation of immune function, tumor microenvironment, and acts as an antioxidant agent. Many studies have focused on the beneficial effects of melatonin in colorectal cancers, such as induction of apoptosis, increased sensitivity to chemotherapy agents and radiotherapy, limiting cellular proliferation, migration, and invasion. The present review aims to illustrate the known significance of melatonin in colorectal cancer and to address possible clinical use.     

The point mutation analysis of Cyp2C9*2 (Arg144Cys C>T), Cyp2C9*3 (Ile359Leu A>C) and VKORC1 (1639G>A) in women with cervical cancer related to HPV: A case-control study

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted viral infection worldwide. HPV tumorigenesis genotypes are the causative agents of cervical cancer and genital malignancies. The scientific literature has demonstrated that life style, environmental, epigenetic accompanied with HR-HPV genotypes are potential risk factors for cervical cancer progression. The frequencies of the Cyp2C9*², Cyp2C9*³, and vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1) genotypes as potential molecular biomarkers have been investigated on Iranian women with cervical malignancy related to HPV genotypes. As a case-control study, the mutations were appraised using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism procedure on women suffering from HPV infection (60 cases), CC (46 cases), and 40 subjects of as healthy control. The outcomes demonstrated that Cyp2C9*³ showed a meaningful relationship between women diagnosed with cervical cancer and the healthy population (AA vs. AC; OR, 7.15; 95% CI, 1.94-26.3; p = .003). It was also observed that the Cyp2C9*³ mutation in women with cervical cancer and VKORC1 in healthy population with HPV (+), did not follow the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Our findings aid understanding the genetic polymorphism distribution of Cyp2C9*², Cyp2C9*³, and VKORC1 in women with genital malignancies. This can also be useful in predicting the susceptibility risk factors for developing cervical cancer. However, allelic discrimination as a molecular biomarker requires further research.     

In Silico Designing a Candidate Vaccine Against Breast Cancer

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Breast cancer (BC) is the most common type of women’s cancer with a prevalence of about 25%, although it is rare in men...     

The Synergism of DMSO and Diethyl Ether for Highly Reproducible and Efficient MA0.5FA0.5PbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells

Composition and film quality of perovskite are crucial for the further improvement of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), including efficiency, reproducibility, and stability. Here, it is demonstrated that by simply mixing 50% of formamidinium (FA⁺) into methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃), a highly crystalline, stable phase, and compact, polycrystalline grain morphology perovskite is formed by using a solvent‐mediated phase transformation process via the synergism of dimethyl sulfoxide and diethyl ether, which shows long carrier lifetime, low trap state density, and a record certified 21.8% power conversion efficiency (PCE) in pure‐iodide, alkaline‐metal‐free MA_0.5FA_0.5PbI₃ perovskite‐based PSCs. These PSCs show very high operational stability, with 85% PCE retention upon 1000 h 1 Sun intensity illumination. A 17.33% PCE module (6.5 × 7 cm²) is also demonstrated, attesting to the scalability of such devices.