First record of the goby Buenia affinis Iljin, 1930 (Gobiidae) from the Aegean Sea and Sea of Marmara

Fourteen species of aphids (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) are recorded as new to Saudi Arabia. These are: Aphis coreopsidis (Thomas, 1878); Aphis illinoisensis Shimer, 1866; Baizongia pistaceae (Linnaeus, 1767); Capitophorus elaeagni (del Guercio, 1894); Dysaphis plantaginea (Passerini, 1860); Eucarazzia elegans (Ferrari, 1872); Geoica lucifuga (Zehntner, 1897); Hayhurstia atriplicis (Linnaeus, 1761); Macrosiphoniella absinthii (Linnaeus, 1758); Macrosiphoniella sanborni (Gillette, 1908); Smynthurodes betae Westwood, 1849; Uroleucon cichorii (Koch, 1855), and Wahlgreniella nervata (Gillette, 1908). Among these, three species, i.e. A. coreopsidis, A. illinoisensis, and W. nervata are alien species.     

The Salivary Scavenger and Agglutinin (SALSA) in Healthy and Complicated Pregnancy

Pre-eclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. The etiology is not clear, but an immune attack towards components of placenta or fetus has been indicated. This involves activation of the complement system in the placenta. We have previously described the presence of the complement-regulating protein salivary scavenger and agglutinin (SALSA) in amniotic fluid. In this study we investigated the potential role of SALSA in pregnancy by analyzing its presence in amniotic fluid and placental tissue during healthy and complicated pregnancies. SALSA levels in amniotic fluid increased during pregnancy. Before 20 weeks of gestation the levels were slightly higher in patients who later developed pre-eclampsia than in gestation age-matched controls. In the placenta of pre-eclamptic patients syncytial damage is often followed by the formation of fibrinoid structures. SALSA was found clustered into these fibrinoid structures in partial co-localization with complement C1q and fibronectin. In vitro analysis showed direct protein binding of SALSA to fibronectin. SALSA binds also to fibrin/fibrinogen but did not interfere with the blood clotting process in vitro. Thus, in addition to antimicrobial defense and epithelial differentiation, the data presented here suggest that SALSA, together with fibronectin and C1q, may be involved in the containment of injured placental structures into fibrinoids.     

Green synthesis of enantiopure (S)‐1‐(benzofuran‐2‐yl)ethanol by whole‐cell biocatalyst

Optically active aromatic alcohols are valuable chiral building blocks of many natural products and chiral drugs. Lactobacillus paracasei BD87E6, which was isolated from a cereal‐based fermented beverage, was shown as a biocatalyst for the bioreduction of 1‐(benzofuran‐2‐yl) ethanone to (S)‐1‐(benzofuran‐2‐yl) ethanol with highly stereoselectivity. The bioreduction conditions were optimized using L. paracasei BD87E6 to obtain high enantiomeric excess (ee) and conversion. After optimization of the bioreduction conditions, it was shown that the bioreduction of 1‐(benzofuran‐2‐yl)ethanone was performed in mild reaction conditions. The asymmetric bioreduction of the 1‐(benzofuran‐2‐yl)ethanone had reached 92% yield with ee of higher than 99.9% at 6.73 g of substrate. Our study gave the first example for enantiopure production of (S)‐1‐(benzofuran‐2‐yl)ethanol by a biological green method. This process is also scalable and has potential in application. In this study, a basic and novel whole‐cell mediated biocatalytic method was performed for the enantiopure production of (S)‐1‐(benzofuran‐2‐yl)ethanol in the aqueous medium, which empowered the synthesis of a precious chiral intermediary process to be converted into a sophisticated molecule for drug production.     

Identification and antifungal susceptibility of Candida isolated from intensive care unit patients

Candida was isolated in 205 of 1060 clinical specimens (19.33%) in our laboratary sent from the intensive care unit for mycological investigation between January 98-December 99. All isolated strains were identified to species level using the API Candida system (Bio-Meieux, France) as follows; Candida albicans (n:115, 56.09%), Candida tropicalis (n:23, 11.21%), Candida parapsilosis (n:21, 10.24%), Candida glabrata (n:12, 5.83%). Candida kefyr (n:9, 4.39%), Candida lusitaniae (n:7, 3.41%), Candida famata (n:6, 2.92%), Candida krusei (n:6, 2.92%), Candida guilliermondii (n:6, 2.92%). These stains were identified using congo-red-glucose-brain-heart-infusion agar and slime production was determined in Candida albicans 53.91% and 67.77% in other than Candida species. In the present study, E test (AB Biodisk, Solna, Sweeden) was used to test antifungal susceptibility. The resistance to amphotericin B was 19.51%, to fluconazole 27.31% and to flucytosine 20.00%.     

Metallohistins: a new class of plant metal-binding proteins

Two small multimeric histidine-rich proteins, AgNt84 and Ag164, encoded by two nodule-specific cDNAs isolated from nodule cDNA libraries of the actinorhizal host plant Alnus glutinosa, represent a new class of plant metal binding proteins. This paper reports the characterization of the purified in vitro-expressed proteins by size exclusion chromatography, circular dichroism, equilibrium dialysis, metal affinity chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. These analyses reveal that each polypeptide is capable of binding multiple atoms of Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Hg²⁺. A reversible shift in histidine C1 and C2 protons in NMR analysis occurred during titration of this protein with ZnCl₂ strongly suggesting that histidine residues are responsible for metal binding. AgNt84 and Ag164 are not related to metal binding metallothioneins and phytochelatins and represent a new class of plant metal binding proteins that we propose to call metallohistins. Possible biological roles in symbioses for AgNt84 and Ag164, and their potential for use in bioremediation are discussed.     

Effect of EDTA and Tannic Acid on the Removal of Cd,Ni, Pb and Cu from Artificially Contaminated Soil by Althaea rosea Cavan

In this study an ornamental plant of Althaea rosea Cavan was investigated for its potential use in the removal of Cd, Ni, Pb and Cu from an artificially contaminated soil. Effect of two different chelating agents on the removal has also been studied by using EDTA (ethylenediaminetetracetic acid) and TA (tannic acid). Both EDTA and TA have led to higher heavy metal concentration in shoots and leaves compared to control plants. However EDTA is generally known as an effective agent in metal solubilisation of soil, in this study, TA was found more effective to induce metal accumulation in Althaea rosea Cavan under the studied conditions. In addition to this, EDTA is toxic to some species and restraining the growth of the plants. The higher BCF (Bio Concentration Factor) and TF (Translocation Factor) values obtained from stems and leaves by the effects of the chemical enhancers (EDTA and TA) show that Althaea rosea Cavan is a hyper accumulator for the studied metals and may be cultivated to clean the contaminated soils.     

Anopheles Midgut Epithelium Evades Human Complement Activity by Capturing Factor H from the Blood Meal

Hematophagous vectors strictly require ingesting blood from their hosts to complete their life cycles. Exposure of the alimentary canal of these vectors to the host immune effectors necessitates efficient counteractive measures by hematophagous vectors. The Anopheles mosquito transmitting the malaria parasite is an example of hematophagous vectors that within seconds can ingest human blood double its weight. The innate immune defense mechanisms, like the complement system, in the human blood should thereby immediately react against foreign cells in the mosquito midgut. A prerequisite for complement activation is that the target cells lack complement regulators on their surfaces. In this work, we analyzed whether human complement is active in the mosquito midgut, and how the mosquito midgut cells protect themselves against complement attack. We found that complement remained active for a considerable time and was able to kill microbes within the mosquito midgut. However, the Anopheles mosquito midgut cells were not injured. These cells were found to protect themselves by capturing factor H, the main soluble inhibitor of the alternative complement pathway. Factor H inhibited complement on the midgut cells by promoting inactivation of C3b to iC3b and preventing the activity of the alternative pathway amplification C3 convertase enzyme. An interference of the FH regulatory activity by monoclonal antibodies, carried to the midgut via blood, resulted in increased mosquito mortality and reduced fecundity. By using a ligand blotting assay, a putative mosquito midgut FH receptor could be detected. Thereby, we have identified a novel mechanism whereby mosquitoes can tolerate human blood.     

The Open AUC Project

Progress in analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) has been hindered by obstructions to hardware innovation and by software incompatibility. In this paper, we announce and outline the Open AUC Project. The goals of the Open AUC Project are to stimulate AUC innovation by improving instrumentation, detectors, acquisition and analysis software, and collaborative tools. These improvements are needed for the next generation of AUC-based research. The Open AUC Project combines on-going work from several different groups. A new base instrument is described, one that is designed from the ground up to be an analytical ultracentrifuge. This machine offers an open architecture, hardware standards, and application programming interfaces for detector developers. All software will use the GNU Public License to assure that intellectual property is available in open source format. The Open AUC strategy facilitates collaborations, encourages sharing, and eliminates the chronic impediments that have plagued AUC innovation for the last 20 years. This ultracentrifuge will be equipped with multiple and interchangeable optical tracks so that state-of-the-art electronics and improved detectors will be available for a variety of optical systems. The instrument will be complemented by a new rotor, enhanced data acquisition and analysis software, as well as collaboration software. Described here are the instrument, the modular software components, and a standardized database that will encourage and ease integration of data analysis and interpretation software.     

sFas levels increase in response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in lung cancer patients

The Fas/Fas Ligand (FasL) system and survivin have counteracting roles in cell survival. Therefore, we explored the role of circulating soluble Fas (sFas) and the tissue levels of Fas and survivin with regard to response to chemotherapy in lung cancer patients. Serum samples from 52 lung cancer patients and 54 control subjects (19 benign lung disease and 35 healthy control subjects) were collected prior to and 24 and 48 h after chemotherapy. sFas was statistically significantly higher in the cancer group than that in the control groups (p < 0.001). Baseline (before chemotherapy) sFas values showed a statistically significant inverse correlation with overall survival (r = ?0.599, p < 0.001). There was a significant increase in serum sFas levels 24 h after treatment (p < 0.05). Contrarily, tissue levels of Fas and survivin were not changed following the chemotherapy (p > 0,05). In conclusion, increased sFas may be an indicator of poor outcome in lung cancer patients. However, cisplatin‐based chemotherapy may not be effective via neither the Fas/FasL system nor survivin pathway. Indeed, larger sample size is required for further evaluation. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.