Synthesis of some quinolinyl chalcone analogues and investigation of their anticancer and synergistic anticancer effect with doxorubicin

Two derivatives of 2-(4-acetylanilino)quinolines (IIIa, b) were synthesized as scaffolds for synthesis of open chalcone analogues (Va-f) through Claisen-Schmidt condensation with a set of aromatic aldehydes (IVa-d). Derivatives (Va, b) were further manipulated into cyclic ??,??-unsaturated ketones by Michael-addition of acetylacetone and ethylacetoacetate affording derivatives (VI?CVII). Deethoxycarboxylation of derivatives (VIIa, b) afforded cyclohexenons (VIIIa, b) allowing formation of a mini library of ??,??-unsaturated ketones for screening their anticancer and synergistic anticancer effect with doxorubicin using colon cancer cell line (Caco-2). Two open enones, (Vb) and (Ve), showed significant anticancer activity with IC₅₀ of 5.0 and 2.5 ??M respectively. Only one cyclic enone, (VIa) showed synergistic anticancer activity with doxorubicin at 10 ??M.     

Inhibition of endogenous CO by ZnPP protects against stress-induced gastric lesion in adult male albino rats

Carbon monoxide (CO) has been found to be produced in every living cell in a biochemical reaction catalyzed by heme-oxygenase (HO) enzyme which degrades heme into biliverdin, CO, and iron. Endogenous CO is not a waste product, but acts as a chemical messenger mediating and modulating many intracellular biochemical reactions that regulate physiological functions. This study was designed to investigate the effect of inhibition of endogenous CO production by zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP), an HO inhibitor, on the gastric secretion and ulceration induced by cold-restraint stress (CRS) in adult male albino rats. Rats were pylorically ligated and divided randomly into the following groups (six rats each): control, ZnPP treated (50 μmol/kg/day, s.c. for 10 days), CRS, and stressed ZnPP treated groups. Blood samples were collected from the retro-orbital sinus of anesthetized rats for determination of CO concentration. We found that ZnPP pretreatment significantly decreased HO-1 level, CO level, and volume of gastric juice as compared to the control non-stressed rats. In the present study, ZnPP pretreatment proved to be protective against development of ulcerative lesions in CRS model as evidenced by reduction of the ulcer index, and this could be mediated through reduction of free and total acidity of gastric secretion and decreased lipid peroxidation but with significantly decreased gastric protective nitric oxide and prostaglandin E(2) levels. In conclusion and according to our results, the protective effect of ZnPP on CRS-induced gastric ulcers despite of inhibition of endogenous CO could be attributed to the presence of zinc which is known to have a protective anti-ulcer effect.     

Human exposure to mycotoxins in Egypt

This investigation examined the exposure of Egyptian infants to Aflatoxin M₁ (AfM₁) and of lactating mothers to Aflatoxin B₁, using AfM₁ in human milk as a biomarker for exposure to AfB₁. The presence of ochratoxin A (OA) in human milk was also investigated to determine the levels of infants exposure to OA from human milk. The results indicated that AfM₁ was found in 66 (55 %) of 120 human milk samples with a mean of 0.3 ± 0.53 ng/mL (range 0.02 to 2.09 ng/mL). OA was found in 43 (35.8 %) of 120 human milk samples with a mean of 21.1 ± 13.7 ng/mL (range 5.07 to 45.01 ng/mL), which will cause a daily intake of OA from human milk exceeding the suggested tolerable dose of 5 ng/kg_-1 of OA body weight. On the other side AfM₁ was found in 25 % of blood samples (5 out of 20 samples), at a mean of 1.18 ng/mL, but it was detected only in one urine sample (1 out of 20 samples). OA was detected only in 2 out of 13 blood samples (15.4 %) with an average 3.67 ng/mL. Whereas OA was not detected in all analyzed urine samples.     

Growth Promotion and Immune Stimulation in Nile Tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus,Fingerlings Following Dietary Administration of a Novel Marine Probiotic,Psychrobacter maritimus S

A 50-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of a novel marine psychrotrophic bacterium, Psychrobacter maritimus     

Time-resolved resonance Raman characterization of the bO640 intermediate of bacteriorhodopsin. Reprotonation of the Schiff base.

The resonance Raman spectrum of photolyzed bacteriorhodopsin under conditions known to increase the concentration of the bO640 intermediate in both H2O and D2O is presented. By use of computer subtraction techniques and a knowledge of the Raman spectra of the unphotolyzed bacteriorhodopsin as well as the other intermediates in the cycle, a qualitative spectrum of bO640 is determined. The shift of a band at 1630 cm-1 in H2O to 1616 cm-1 in D2O suggests that the Schiff base of bO640 is protonated. Additional bands at 947, 965, and 992 cm-1 that appear only in D2O suspensions confirm that a proton is coupled to the retinal chromophore of bO640. The reprotonation of the Schiff base thus occurs during the bM412 to bO640 step. The fingerprint region, sensitive to the isomeric configuration of the retinal chromophore of bO640, is dissimilar to the fingerprint regions of published model compounds and other forms of bacteriorhodopsin.     

Detection of myostatin gene MSTN in some goat breeds (Capra hircus)

Till now not information about myostatin MSTN gene in Egyptian goat breeds. Here we show more information about MSTN in some Egyptian goat breeds to enrich the database with new sequences for Egyptian goat breeds. Our conducted study focused on detection and identifying the MSTN gene as a candidate gene of the muscles growth trait in three goat breeds (Zaraibi, Baladi and Damascus). We found the similarity between the registered sequences with the accession numbers KY463684 for Zaraibi and KY463685 for Baladi and Chinese goat breeds of the MSTN gene deposited with international gene banks by up to 99% and some other species including sheep, cows and bull breeds with percentages of 95 to 97% and between 95 to 99%, respectively. There is also a correlation between the sequences of the registered pieces of Baladi with KY463686 and Damascus and Chinese breeds with KY441464 of MSTN deposited with international gene banks by up to 99% and some other species including sheep and bull breeds at a ratio of 99% for two pieces. Results demonstrated the deposited sequences of object are part of intron 1, exon 2 is fully sequenced with Zaraibi and Baladi breeds; the intron 1, exon 1 with Baladi breed; and the intron 2, part of exon 3 with Damascus breed. Therefore, the Egyptian goat breeds consider national wealth can be used to develop breeding and improvement programs which helps in more applicable scopes like biotechnology, genetic engineering and molecular biology with the help of bioinformatics tools.     

In Vitro Selection and Identification of Potential Probiotics Isolated from the Gastrointestinal Tract of Nile Tilapia, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreochromis niloticus</Emphasis>

Fish gut bacteria can be used as probiotics for aquaculture. The aim of this study is to screen and identify beneficial probiotic bacteria from the gut of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Nine out of one hundred thirty-five isolates were non-pathogenic through intraperitoneal injection and had antibacterial activities with at least a strain from the five isolated fish pathogens, Aeromonas sobria, Aeromonas hydrophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas putida, and Staphylococcus aureus. Further tests showed that such isolates can survive in the presence of high bile concentration (10%) and at different acidic pH values. A strains (14HT) was sensitive to all selected antibiotics, two strains were (9HT and 11HT) resistant to streptomycin and three strains (9HT, 11HT and 38HT) had resistance to two antibiotics. Four isolates (11HT, 33HT, 38HT and 41HT) had an amylase and a protease activities and one strain (47HT) showed only amylase activity. Based on 16S rRNA gene analysis, the isolated strains were identified as follows: Lactococcus lactis (8HT, 9HT, 11HT and 33HT); Enterococcus faecalis (14HT), Lysinibacillus sp. (38HT) and Citrobacter freundii (39HT, 41HT and 47HT).     

Effect of irradiation on female painted apple moth Teia anartoides (Lep., Lymantriidae) sterility and attractiveness to males

Abstract:  Live female painted apple moths are being used to monitor the distribution of this invasive species in Auckland as part of a major eradication effort, and the goal of this project was to develop a method to minimize the risk of unwanted live insect propagation from the trapping programme as a result of vandalism or 'eco-terrorism'. Female pupae were irradiated with a range of doses and their egg viability assessed, and also tested to determine the impact of irradiation on male moth catch in the field. Female painted apple moth pupae, irradiated at a range of doses from 100 to 500 Gy, were placed in cages in traps at 10 m spacings from non-irradiated females, near a central release site of irradiated males. Untreated control females alternated along orthogonal transects with irradiated females. The results indicated no significant effect of female irradiation on catch of males. There was no correlation between dose and catch, within the range of exposures tested. There was a very low hatch rate of eggs from females irradiated at all doses tested (100–500 Gy). These results suggest that irradiated females could be used in traps to reduce potential risks of deliberate spread of the unwanted organism by activists, without affecting the effectiveness of monitoring males.     

Behavioral observations of codling moth, Cydia pomonella, in orchards permeated with synthetic pheromone

Mating disruption of codling moth, Cydia pomonella, was studied in apple orchards treated with the main pheromone compound codlemone, (E,E)-8,10-dodecadienol, and a blend of codlemone and codlemone acetate, (E,E)-8,10-dodecadienyl acetate, a strong pheromone antagonist. Codlemone alone and the pheromone/antagonist-blend had a similar effect on the behavior of males emerging into air-permeated orchards. Male flights within tree canopy and upwind orientation along tree rows were strongly enhanced by both formulations, compared to untreated plots. However, the codlemone/codlemone acetate-blend increased the rate of cross-wind and downwind flights within the orchard, compared to codlemone alone. The major difference between these two formulations was that males from nearby, untreated orchards were attracted towards orchards treated with codlemone, but not towards treatments with codlemone/codlemone acetate. Additional tests were done with an equilibrium blend of codlemone and its geometric isomers. Aerial pheromone concentrations in the orchards were recorded by the field electroantennogram technique. Decreasing pheromone concentrations towards the upper part of the tree canopy, together with the stimulation of male flight activity by synthetic pheromone explains failures to control codling moth at high population densities with current dispenser formulations.     

Genetic population diversity of European eel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anguilla anguilla</Emphasis> elvers in two Egyptian water bodies,Rosetta (Rachid) estuary and Burullus Lake

The European eel Anguilla anguilla is a species of great economic importance for Egypt. Its long trans-Atlantic migrations for semelparous spawning then larval homing provides a possible way for worldwide mixing of populations. Its natural habitats in Egypt, as in other Mediterranean countries, are under heavy load of pollution due to anthropogenic activities. Hence, a major priority should be given to assess the genetic diversity within/among eels’ populations as a step towards revealing populations’ status, identification of possible conservation units, and, subsequently, implementation of proper conservation and management strategies for them. For this, A. anguilla elvers were collected from Rosetta estuary and Burullus coastal lagoon in the North of Egypt. Sequencing of the barcode region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (COI) was carried out for all collected elvers. The sequences were analyzed using various genetic, phylogenetic, and population analyses to assess their variability. A total of 33 haplotypes were identified, 14 of which were unique to Burullus Lake, and 11 to Rosetta estuary. Very low fixation (F _st ?=?0–0.04) was found for A. anguilla populations in Egypt and worldwide, except for the Turkish and Czech ones (F _st ?=?0.47–0.62 and 0.18–0.41, respectively). Both Egyptian populations showed signs of recent populations’ expansion, besides low, non-significant raggedness values. The results suggested Burullus Lake and Rosetta estuary as separate conservation units for A. anguilla in Egypt. These units require special attention for proper protection and management of the existing eel diversity and permitting sustainability in the activities dealing with eel’s fishing and aquaculture.