Adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells and keratinocytes co‐culture on gelatin/chitosan/β‐glycerol phosphate nanoscaffold in skin regeneration

Using cell‐based engineered skin is an emerging strategy for treating difficult‐to‐heal wounds. To date, much endeavor has been devoted to the fabrication of appropriate scaffolds with suitable biomechanical properties to support cell viability and growth in the microenvironment of a wound. The aim of this research was to assess the impact of adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD‐MSCs) and keratinocytes on gelatin/chitosan/β‐glycerol phosphate (GCGP) nanoscaffold in full‐thickness excisional skin wound healing of rats. For this purpose, AD‐MSCs and keratinocytes were isolated from rats and GCGP nanoscaffolds were electrospun. Through an in vivo study, the percentage of wound closure was assessed on days 7, 14, and 21 after wound induction. Samples were taken from the wound sites in order to evaluate the density of collagen fibers and vessels at 7 and 14 days. Moreover, sampling was done on days 7 and 14 from wound sites to assess the density of collagen fibers and vessels. The wound closure rate was significantly increased in the keratinocytes‐AD‐MSCs‐scaffold (KMS) group compared with other groups. The expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor, collagen type 1, and CD34 were also significantly higher in the KMS group compared with the other groups. These results suggest that the combination of AD‐MSCs and keratinocytes seeded onto GCGP nanoscaffold provides a promising treatment for wound healing.     

Mitochondrial targeting of vitamin E succinate enhances its pro-apoptotic and anti-cancer activity via mitochondrial complex II

Mitochondrial complex II (CII) has been recently identified as a novel target for anti-cancer drugs. Mitochondrially targeted vitamin E succinate (MitoVES) is modified so that it is preferentially localized to mitochondria, greatly enhancing its pro-apoptotic and anti-cancer activity. Using genetically manipulated cells, MitoVES caused apoptosis and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in CII-proficient malignant cells but not their CII-dysfunctional counterparts. MitoVES inhibited the succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity of CII with IC(50) of 80 μM, whereas the electron transfer from CII to CIII was inhibited with IC(50) of 1.5 μM. The agent had no effect either on the enzymatic activity of CI or on electron transfer from CI to CIII. Over 24 h, MitoVES caused stabilization of the oxygen-dependent destruction domain of HIF1α fused to GFP, indicating promotion of the state of pseudohypoxia. Molecular modeling predicted the succinyl group anchored into the proximal CII ubiquinone (UbQ)-binding site and successively reduced interaction energies for serially shorter phytyl chain homologs of MitoVES correlated with their lower effects on apoptosis induction, ROS generation, and SDH activity. Mutation of the UbQ-binding Ser(68) within the proximal site of the CII SDHC subunit (S68A or S68L) suppressed both ROS generation and apoptosis induction by MitoVES. In vivo studies indicated that MitoVES also acts by causing pseudohypoxia in the context of tumor suppression. We propose that mitochondrial targeting of VES with an 11-carbon chain localizes the agent into an ideal position across the interface of the mitochondrial inner membrane and matrix, optimizing its biological effects as an anti-cancer drug.     

Molecular Detection of Campylobacter Species: Comparision of 16SrRNA with slyD,cadF, rpoA,and dnaJ Sequencing

Background: Campylobacter spp. are the main cause of human gastroenteritis. The 16SrRNA sequencing is one of fast molecualr method to detect this fastidious. In this study, we compared the sequencing of 16srRNA genewith four housekeeping genestodetect Campylobacter spp. in patients with diarrhea and healthy people.Methods:60 samples of Campylobacter DNA extracted from stool samples of 30 patients with diarrhea and 30 healthy people were used. In order to detect Campylobacter, we designed primers for proliferation of 16SrRNA, cadF, dnaJ, slyD , and rpoA genes using Primer 3, Mega 4.0 and Blast software. Then the PCR products were sequenced using ABI system.Results:The sequencing showed concordance of PCR-products with deposited sequences in the Gene Bank. Among diarrhea patients, 53.3% of samples were significantly (p< 0.05) positive for slyD and cadF genes and 50% of samples were positive using 16SrRNA, rpoA, and dnaJ genes by PCR assay. The average of sensitivity and specificity were found 53.33% and 83.33%, respectively.Conclusion:Due to various copies of repeated sequences of 16SrRNA gene, analyzing its amplicons on electrophoresis may be more difficult than the slyD and cadF genes. According to our results, among the 5 studied genes; the highest detection rate was related to slyD and cadF genes. Although, dnaJ and rpoA genes,instead of 16SrRNA gene, can be considered as appropriate genes for molecular detection of Campylobacter bacteria.     

Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 barcode data of fish of the Nayband National Park in the Persian Gulf and analysis using meta-data flag several cryptic species

We provide cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) barcode sequences of fishes of the Nayband National Park, Persian Gulf, Iran. Industrial activities, ecological considerations and goals of The Fish Barcode of Life campaign make it crucial that fish species residing in the park be identified. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of barcoding data on fishes of the Persian Gulf. We examined 187 individuals representing 76 species, 56 genera and 32 families. The data flagged potentially cryptic species of Gerres filamentosus and Plectorhinchus schotaf. 16S rDNA data on these species are provided. Exclusion of these two potential cryptic species resulted in a mean COI intraspecific distance of 0.18%, and a mean inter- to intraspecific divergence ratio of 66.7. There was no overlap between maximum Kimura 2-parameter distances among conspecifics (1.66%) and minimum distance among congeneric species (6.19%). Barcodes shared among species were not observed. Neighbour-joining analysis showed that most species formed cohesive sequence units with little variation. Finally, the comparison of 16 selected species from this study with meta-data of conspecifics from Australia, India, China and South Africa revealed high interregion divergences and potential existence of six cryptic species. Pairwise interregional comparisons were more informative than global divergence assessments with regard to detection of cryptic variation. Our analysis exemplifies optimal use of the expanding barcode data now becoming available.     

Hydrodynamic Analysis and Responsivity Improvement of a Metal/Semiconductor/Metal Plasmonic Detector

Characteristic improvements of photon/plasmon detectors have been the subject of several investigations in the area of plasmonic integrated circuits. Among different suggestions, silicon-based metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) waveguides are one of the most popular structures for the implementation of high-quality photon/plasmon detectors in infrared wavelengths. In this paper, an integrated silicon-germanium (SiGe) core MSM plasmon detector is proposed to detect λ = 1550 nm with internal photoemission mechanism. Performance characteristics of the new sub-micron device are simulated with a simplified hydrodynamic model. In a specific bias point (V = 3 V and the incident optical power of 0.31 mW), the output current is 404.3 μA (276 μA detection current and 128.3 μA dark current), responsivity is 0.89 A/W, and the 3-dB electrical bandwidth is 120 GHz. Simulation results for the proposed plasmon detector, in comparison with the empirical results of a reported Si-based MSM device, demonstrate considerable responsivity enhancement.

     

Calcium: A novel and efficient inducer of differentiation of adipose‐derived stem cells into neuron‐like cells

This study comparatively investigated the effectiveness of calcium and other well‐known inducers such as isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) and insulin in differentiating human adipose‐derived stem cells (ADSCs) into neuronal‐like cells. ADSCs were immunophenotyped and differentiated into neuron‐like cells with different combinations of calcium, IBMX, and insulin. Calcium mobilization across the membrane was determined. Differentiated cells were characterized by cell cycle profiling, staining of Nissl bodies, detecting the gene expression level of markers such as neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN), microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP2), neuron‐specific enolase (NSE), doublecortin, synapsin I, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and myelin basic protein (MBP) by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) and protein level by the immunofluorescence technique. Treatment with Ca + IBMX + Ins induced neuronal appearance and projection of neurite‐like processes in the cells, accompanied with inhibition of proliferation and halt in the cell cycle. A significantly higher expression of MBP, GFAP, NeuN, NSE, synapsin 1, doublecortin, and MAP2 was detected in differentiated cells, confirming the advantages of Ca + IBMX + Ins to the other combinations of inducers. Here, we showed an efficient protocol for neuronal differentiation of ADSCs, and calcium fostered differentiation by augmenting the number of neuron‐like cells and instantaneous increase in the expression of neuronal markers.     

A Meta-Analysis of the Prevalence of Toxoplasmosis in Livestock and Poultry Worldwide

EcoHealth - Toxoplasma gondii causes toxoplasmosis with a global prevalence in the world. A large proportion of human illness is most frequently associated with consuming raw and undercooked meat...     

A barley mutant with improved salt tolerance through ion homeostasis and ROS scavenging under salt stress

To investigate key regulatory components and genes with great impact on salt tolerance, near isogenic or mutant lines with distinct salinity tolerance are suitable genetic materials to simplify and dissect the complex genes networks. In this study, we evaluated responses of a barley mutant genotype (73-M4-30), in comparison with its wild-type background (Zarjou) under salt stress. Although the root growth of both genotypes was significantly decreased by exposure to sodium chloride (NaCl), the effect was greater in the wild type. The chlorophyll content decreased under salt stress for the wild type, but no change occurred in the mutant. The mutant maintained the steady-state level of [K⁺] and significantly lower [Na⁺] concentrations in roots and higher [K⁺]/[Na⁺] ratio in shoots under salt conditions. The catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) activity, and proline content were higher in the mutant than those in the wild type under controlled conditions. The soluble proline was higher after 24 h of salt stress in roots of the mutant but was higher after 96 h of salt stress in the wild type. The CAT and POD activity of the mutant increased under salt stress which was as a coincidence to lower levels of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents. The ratio of dry-to-fresh weight of the roots increased for the mutant under salt stress which was as a result of the higher phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) gene expression and peroxidase activity and involved in cell wall lignification. Consequently, it seems that ion homeostasis and increased peroxidase activity have led to salt tolerance in the mutant’s genotype.