Interplay between SARS-CoV-2-derived miRNAs,immune system,vitamin D pathway and respiratory system

The new coronavirus pandemic started in China in 2019. The intensity of the disease can range from mild to severe, leading to death in many cases. Despite extensive research in this area, the exact molecular nature of virus is not fully recognized; however, according to pieces of evidence, one of the mechanisms of virus pathogenesis is through the function of viral miRNAs. So, we hypothesized that SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis may be due to targeting important genes in the host with its miRNAs, which involved in the respiratory system, immune pathways and vitamin D pathways, thus possibly contributing to disease progression and virus survival. Potential miRNA precursors and mature miRNA were predicted and confirmed based on the virus genome. The next step was to predict and identify their target genes and perform functional enrichment analysis to recognize the biological processes connected with these genes in the three pathways mentioned above through several comprehensive databases. Finally, cis-acting regulatory elements in 5′ regulatory regions were analysed, and the analysis of available RNAseq data determined the expression level of genes. We revealed that thirty-nine mature miRNAs could theoretically derive from the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Functional enrichment analysis elucidated three highlighted pathways involved in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis: vitamin D, immune system and respiratory system. Our finding highlighted genes' involvement in three crucial molecular pathways and may help develop new therapeutic targets related to SARS-CoV-2.     

Biotransformation of monoterpenes by immobilized microalgae

This paper reports the biotransformation of carvone, limonene, β-pinene, thymol, and linalool using whole-cell-immobilized microalgal strains isolated from paddy fields of Iran. The strains was recognized by morphological characterization and assigned according to amplified 16S/18S rRNA genes by PCR. Ten unialgal strains including Chlorella, Oocystis, Chlamydomonas, and Synechococcus were immobilized in calcium alginate beads. After a 24-h incubation with substrates, characterization and identification of biotransformation products were done by GC/MS. None of the isolated immobilized microalgae converted β-pinene. In contrast, most of these strains biotransformed carvone and limonene to the related compounds. Some strains only reduced the C = C double bond to yield the dihydrocarvone isomers while others reduced the ketone to give the dihydrocarveol. The transformation ratio showed that Oocystis sp. MCCS 033 and Synechococcus sp. MCCS 035 produced dihydrocarvone isomers with the highest efficiency. Furthermore, limonene was converted into a mixture of five corresponding products and the maximum yield was 52.1% for carvone, the bioconverted product. Only one strain, Synechococcus sp. MCCS 034, oxidized thymol, and the product obtained from thymol was thymoquinone. Also, linalooloxide isomers and dihydrolinalool were obtained from linalool, and finally dihydrolinalool was the main product. These results showed a novel conversion pathway of linalool-forming dihydrolinalool.     

Wistar Rats Resistant to the Hypertensive Effects of Ouabain Exhibit Enhanced Cardiac Vagal Activity and Elevated Plasma Levels of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide

Ouabain is a cardiac glycoside produced in the adrenal glands and hypothalamus. It affects the function of all cells by binding to Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase. Several lines of evidence suggest that endogenous ouabain could be involved in the pathogenesis of essential (particularly, salt-sensitive) hypertension. However, information regarding the postulated hypertensive effect of the long-term administration of low-dose exogenous ouabain is inconsistent. This study was designed to help settle this controversy through the use of telemetric monitoring of arterial blood pressure and to elucidate the ouabain-induced alterations that could either promote or prevent hypertension. Ouabain (63 and 324 µg/kg/day) was administered subcutaneously to male Wistar rats. Radiotelemetry was used to monitor blood pressure, heart rate and measures of cardiovascular variability and baroreflex sensitivity. The continuous administration of ouabain for 3 months did not elevate arterial blood pressure. The low-frequency power of systolic pressure variability, urinary excretion of catecholamines, and cardiovascular response to restraint stress and a high-salt diet as well as the responsiveness to α1-adrenergic stimulation were all unaltered by ouabain administration, suggesting that the activity of the sympathetic nervous system was not increased. However, surrogate indices of cardiac vagal nerve activity based on heart rate variability were elevated. Molecular remodeling in mesenteric arteries that could support the development of hypertension (increased expression of the genes for the Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger and Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase α2 isoform) was not evident. Instead, the plasma level of vasodilatory calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) significantly rose from 55 (11, SD) in the control group to 89 (20, SD) pg/ml in the ouabain-treated rats (P_Tukey''s = 18.10⁻⁵). These data show that long-term administration of exogenous ouabain does not necessarily cause hypertension in rodents. The augmented parasympathetic activity and elevated plasma level of CGRP could be linked to the missing hypertensive effect of ouabain administration.     

Join queries optimization in the distributed databases using a hybrid multi-objective algorithm

Cluster Computing - In the distributed database systems, the relations needed by a query can be kept in several locations. This process significantly increases potential corresponding Query...     

Titanium oxide nanoparticles fabrication,hemoglobin interaction,white blood cells cytotoxicity,and antibacterial studies

This study is focused on the fabrication and characterization of titanium oxide (TiO₂) NPs. Afterwards; the interaction of TiO₂ NPs with human hemoglobin (Hb) was investigated by FTIR spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and molecular docking studies. Also, the cytotoxic effect of fabricated TiO₂ NPs against human white blood cells (WBCs) was considered by MTT assay. The antibacterial effect of synthesized NPs was examined on Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853); Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923). TEM and DLS investigations showed that the synthesized TiO₂ NPs have a narrow nano-sized distribution. XRD pattern of the fabricated NPs exhibited that the TiO₂ NPs contain anatase phase. Similarity in amide I and II signal intensities showed that secondary structure of the adsorbed Hb is preserved. The intrinsic fluorescence study revealed that the fluorescence quenching of Hb was done by complex formation between Hb and TiO₂ NPs trough the hydrogen bond and van der Waals interactions. Synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy determined that interaction of TiO₂ NPs with Hb did not unfold the Hb structure in the vicinity of the Tyr and Trp residues. Molecular docking study depicted that Glu-95, Thr-134 and Tyr-140 are involved in the formation of hydrophilic bonds. MTT data and antibacterial assays indicated that TiO₂ NPs endow distinguished antibacterial activities against Gram-negative and Gram positive strains at safe concentrations. This study may reveal that fabricated TiO₂ NP can be used as a safe and potent antibacterial agent.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma     

Injectable Supramolecular Hydrogel from Insulin-Loaded Triblock PCL-PEG-PCL Copolymer and γ-Cyclodextrin with Sustained-Release Property

Supramolecular hydrogels formed by cyclodextrins and polymers have been widely investigated as a biocompatible, biodegradable and controllable drug delivery system. In this study, a supramolecular hydrogel based on biodegradable poly(caprolactone)–poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(caprolactone) (PCL-PEG-PCL) triblock copolymers and γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) was prepared through inclusion complexation as an injectable, sustained-release vehicle for insulin. The triblock copolymer PCL-PEG-PCL was synthesised by the ring-opening polymerisation method, using microwave irradiation. The polymerisation reaction and the copolymer structures were evaluated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The supramolecular hydrogel was prepared in aqueous solution by blending an aqueous γ-CD solution with an aqueous solution of PCL-PEG-PCL triblock copolymer at room temperature. In vitro insulin release through the hydrogel system was studied. The relative surface hydrophobicity of standard and released insulin from the SMGel was estimated using 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonic acid (ANS). Results of ¹HNMR and gel permeation chromatography revealed that microwave irradiation is a simple and reliable method for synthesis of PCL-PEG-PCL copolymer. Gelation occurred within a minute. The supramolecular hydrogel obtained by mixing 10.54% (w/v) γ-CD and 2.5% (w/v) copolymer had an excellent syringeability. Insulin was released up to 80% over a period of 20 days. Insulin kept its initial folding after formulating and releasing from SMGel. A supramolecular hydrogel based on complexation of triblock PCL-PEG-PCL copolymer with γ-cyclodextrin is a suitable system for providing sustained release of therapeutic proteins, with desirable flow behaviour.Key words: insulin, PCL-PEG-PCL, supramolecular hydrogel, triblock copolymer, γ-CD     

Viscoelastic properties of cell walls of single living plant cells determined by dynamic nanoindentation

Plant development results from controlled cell divisions, structural modifications, and reorganizations of the cell wall. Thereby, regulation of cell wall behaviour takes place at multiple length scales involving compositional and architectural aspects in addition to various developmental and/or environmental factors. The physical properties of the primary wall are largely determined by the nature of the complex polymer network, which exhibits time-dependent behaviour representative of viscoelastic materials. Here, a dynamic nanoindentation technique is used to measure the time-dependent response and the viscoelastic behaviour of the cell wall in single living cells at a micron or sub-micron scale. With this approach, significant changes in storage (stiffness) and loss (loss of energy) moduli are captured among the tested cells. The results reveal hitherto unknown differences in the viscoelastic parameters of the walls of same-age similarly positioned cells of the Arabidopsis ecotypes (Col 0 and Ws 2). The technique is also shown to be sensitive enough to detect changes in cell wall properties in cells deficient in the activity of the chromatin modifier ATX1. Extensive computational modelling of the experimental measurements (i.e. modelling the cell as a viscoelastic pressure vessel) is used to analyse the influence of the wall thickness, as well as the turgor pressure, at the positions of our measurements. By combining the nanoDMA technique with finite element simulations quantifiable measurements of the viscoelastic properties of plant cell walls are achieved. Such techniques are expected to find broader applications in quantifying the influence of genetic, biological, and environmental factors on the nanoscale mechanical properties of the cell wall.     

Deficiency of LKB1 in heart prevents ischemia-mediated activation of AMPKalpha2 but not AMPKalpha1

Recent studies indicate that the LKB1 is a key regulator of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which plays a crucial role in protecting cardiac muscle from damage during ischemia. We have employed mice that lack LKB1 in cardiac and skeletal muscle and studied how this affected the activity of cardiac AMPKalpha1/alpha2 under normoxic, ischemic, and anoxic conditions. In the heart lacking cardiac muscle LKB1, the basal activity of AMPKalpha2 was vastly reduced and not increased by ischemia or anoxia. Phosphorylation of AMPKalpha2 at the site of LKB1 phosphorylation (Thr172) or phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase-2, a downstream substrate of AMPK, was ablated in ischemic heart lacking cardiac LKB1. Ischemia was found to increase the ADP-to-ATP (ADP/ATP) and AMP-to-ATP ratios (AMP/ATP) to a greater extent in LKB1-deficient cardiac muscle than in LKB1-expressing muscle. In contrast to AMPKalpha2, significant basal activity of AMPKalpha1 was observed in the lysates from the hearts lacking cardiac muscle LKB1, as well as in cardiomyocytes that had been isolated from these hearts. In the heart lacking cardiac LKB1, ischemia or anoxia induced a marked activation and phosphorylation of AMPKalpha1, to a level that was only moderately lower than observed in LKB1-expressing heart. Echocardiographic and morphological analysis of the cardiac LKB1-deficient hearts indicated that these hearts were not overtly dysfunctional, despite possessing a reduced weight and enlarged atria. These findings indicate that LKB1 plays a crucial role in regulating AMPKalpha2 activation and acetyl-CoA carboxylase-2 phosphorylation and also regulating cellular energy levels in response to ischemia. They also provide genetic evidence that an alternative upstream kinase can activate AMPKalpha1 in cardiac muscle.