Chitinolytic and antifungal activity of a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus pumilus</Emphasis> chitinase expressed in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis</Emphasis>

The Bacillus pumilus SG2 chitinase gene (ChiS) and its truncated form lacking chitin binding (ChBD) and fibronectin type III (FnIII) domains were transformed to Arabidopsis plants and the expression, functionality and antifungal activity of the recombinant proteins were investigated. Results showed that while the two enzyme forms showed almost equal hydrolytic activity toward colloidal chitin, they exhibited a significant difference in antifungal activity. Recombinant ChiS in plant protein extracts displayed a high inhibitory effect on spore germination and radial growth of hyphae in Alternaria brassicicola, Fusarium graminearum and Botrytis cinerea, while the activity of the truncated enzyme was strongly abolished. These findings demonstrate that ChBD and FnIII domains are not necessary for hydrolysis of colloidal chitin but play an important role in hydrolysis of chitin–glucan complex of fungal cell walls. Twenty microgram aliquots of protein extracts from ChiS transgenic lines displayed strong antifungal activity causing up to 80% decrease in fungal spore germination. This is the first report of a Bacillus pumilus chitinase expressed in plant system.     

Bioactivity of aviprin and aviprin-3″-<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-glucoside,two linear furanocoumarins from Apiaceae

Furanocoumarins are well-known natural products that occur in the most evolved genera of Apiaceae family. This compounds were found to have cytotoxic, phytotoxic, photosensitizing, insecticidal, antibacterial and high antifungal effects. Aviprin is considered as a linear furanocoumarin substituted at C8 with an oxygenated prenyl residue. In this study we found that aviprin is a bioactive compound that exhibits high antibacterial, antifungal and phytotoxic activity. The compound stunted the germination of lettuce seeds with IC₅₀ value of 0.270 mg/ml. The compound also inhibited the mycelia growth of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Aviprin indicated antibacterial activity against tested gram negative and positive bacteria with inhibition zone of 19–23.5 mm. Our results shown that aviprin can play an allelopatic role for plant.     

Production of nitric oxide by murine macrophages induced by lipophosphoglycan of Leishmania major

Protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania cause a number of important human diseases. One of the key determinants of parasite infectivity and survival is the surface glycoconjugate lipophosphoglycan (LPG). In addition, LPG is shown to be useful as a transmission blocking vaccine. Since culture supernatant of parasite promastigotes is a good source of LPG, we made attempts to characterize functions of the culture supernatant, and membrane LPG isolated from metacyclic promastigotes of Leishmania major. The purification scheme included anion-exchange chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography and cold methanol precipitation. The purity of supernatant LPG (sLPG) and membrane LPG (mLPG) was determined by SDS-PAGE and thin layer chromatography. The effect of mLPG and sLPG on nitric oxide (NO) production by murine macrophages cell line (J774.1A) was studied. Both sLPG and mLPG induced NO production in a dose dependent manner but sLPG induced significantly higher amount of NO than mLPG. Our results show that sLPG is able to promote NO production by murine macrophages.     

Soils selenium level and esophageal cancer: An ecological study in a high risk area for esophageal cancer

ProjectGolestan province, located in northeast of Iran, has been known as a high risk area for esophageal cancer (EC). This study was conducted to assess the relationship between soils selenium (Se) level and development of EC in this region.ProceduresIn this ecological study, 135 blocks were identified in Golestan province based on geographical altitude and longitude on the map. One soil sample was collected from the center of each block. Then we investigated Se concentration in soil samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Statistical analysis was performed by the Pearson correlation test and Student t-tests. P-values of less than 0.05 were considered as significant.ResultsThe mean±SD of soils Se level in Golestan province was 3.7±1.61 mg/kg. There was a positive correlation between soils Se level and EC rates in this area (P=0.03) (Pearson correlation coefficient=0.19). Soils Se concentration was significantly higher in high (4.13 mg/kg) than in the low (3.39 mg/kg) EC rate areas (P=0.01).ConclusionsWe found high soils Se concentration and a significant positive relationship between soils Se level and EC rate in Golestan province of Iran. So, high soils Se level may play a possible role in developing EC in this area, specifically in Turkmensahra (very high EC rates).     

Acetylcholinesterase/Butyrylcholinesterase inhibition activity of some new carbacylamidophosphate deriviatives

Eight newly synthesized carbacylamidophosphates with the general formula RC(O)NHP(O)Cl₂ with R = pCl–C₆H₄ 1a, pBr–C₆H₄ 2a, C₆H₅ 3a, and pMe–C₆H₄ 4a and RC(O)NHP(O)(NC₄H₈O)₂ R = pCl–C₆H₄ 1b, pBr–C₆H₄ 2b, C₆H₅ 3b, pMe–C₆H₄ 4b, were selected to compare the inhibition kinetic parameters, IC₅₀, K_i, k_p and K_D, on human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (hAChE) and bovine serum butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), Also, the in vivo inhibition potency of compound 2a, 2b and 3a, were studied. The data demonstrates that compound 2a and compound 2b are the potent sensitive as AChE and BuChE inhibitors respectively, and the inhibition of hAChE is about 10-fold greater than that of BuChE.     

Efficiency of some herbal pesticides on reproductive parameters of silverleaf whitefly,Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

The silverleaf whitefly is one of the most important pests found commonly in Iran and in the world. The development of alternative methods instead of chemical applications is necessary in pest management for human health and environment protection. The objective of this research was to assess the effects of extracts of two medicinal plant species: Calotropis procera and Allium sativum, and a formulation containing azadirachtin on fecundity and fertility of the silverleaf whitefly, grown on greenhouse tomato plants. The effects were compared to that of pymetrozine, a synthetic insecticide. According to the results, there was a significant difference among treatments for all reproductive parameters. Gross fecundity rates for pesticides control, herbal extract control, C. procera extract, A. sativum extract, azadirachtin and pymetrozine were 184.75, 146.72, 80.11, 82.18, 63.06 and 55.96 eggs, respectively. These herbal extracts were effective against this pest and they can be the suitable choices for replacing these chemical insecticides.     

Introduction of Beauveria bassiana as a biological control agent against the Ommatissus lybicus in Kerman province

Dubas bug, Ommatissus lybicus is one of the major sucking pests of date palm. Data palm is the most important economic crop in Iran. In this research, we isolated the pathogenic strain KB 201, KB 206, KB 211, KB 215, KB 220 and KB 512, of entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana from soil and insects, which produced aerial and submerged conidia and blastospores in the laboratory conditions. We investigated the best conditions for the production and utilisation of the spore suspension to spray the nymph of O. lybicus, which is one of the important pests in Kerman province (Iran). A total of 180 isolates that naturally infected by O. lybicus were collected from date palm in Kerman province during spring and summer seasons 2010–2011. The pathogen city test was carried out with direct spray. To bioassay the isolates, three concentrations of the spore suspension were prepared as follows: 1?×?10⁶, 1?×?10⁷ and 1?×?10⁸?conidia/ml. The pests were sprayed by aerial conidial suspension, which was prepared by 0.01% Tween 80 in distilled water, and the controls were sprayed by 0.01% Tween 80in distilled water. After spraying the pests, the plates were incubated at 25?±?1?°C and 80% of relative humidity. Then, the treated pests were monitored every day for the fungal growth and mortality.     

Determination of culturable indoor airborne fungi during normal and dust event days in Ahvaz, Iran

The first purpose of our study was to determine culturable indoor airborne fungi in different places in Ahvaz during normal and dust event days. Ahvaz is the biggest city in southwest of Iran which has suffered from dust storms in recent decade. To minimize personal exposure to polluted air, governmental and private sectors excluding critical places such as hospitals, fire department and security organization are closed during dust event days. Therefore, the second objective of this survey was to see whether this plan (forced shutdown) is in place. Samples were collected from July 2010 to March 2011 by using quick take 30 equipped with a single-stage sampler. Fungal population was measured in school, university and hospital during normal and dust event days. Five dominant fungi genera in three sampling stations were Cladosporium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Penicillium and Rhizopus the concentrations (CFU/m³) of which were higher during dust events than normal days. Airborne fungi such as Aspergillus, Mucor and Rhizopus are opportunistic fungi which can cause aspergillusis and mucormycosis infections in immunodeficiency individuals, vulnerable groups as well as healthy people. The results of this study confirmed the measure of forced shutdown in Ahvaz city due to increased concentration of fungi during dust event days.     

The role of estrogen and progesterone, administered alone and in combination, in modulating cytokine concentration following traumatic brain injury

Cytokines play an important role in the pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study was designed to determine the effects of administering progesterone (P) and estrogen (E), alone and in combination, on brain water content, blood-brain barrier (BBB) disturbance, and brain level of cytokines following diffuse TBI. Ovariectomized rats were divided into 9 groups, treated with vehicle, E1, E2, P1, P2, E1+P1, E1+P2, E2+P1, and E2+P2. Levels of BBB disruption (5 h), cytokines, and water content (24 h) were evaluated after TBI induced by the Marmarou method. Physiological (E1 and P1) and pharmacological (E2 and P2) doses of estrogen and progesterone were administered 30 min after TBI. Water content in the E1+P2-treated group was higher than in the E1-treated group. The inhibitory effect of E2 on water content was reduced by adding progesterone. The inhibitory effect of E1 and E2 on Evans blue content was reduced by treatment with E1+P1 and E2+P2, respectively. The brain level of IL-1β was reduced in E1 and E2, after TBI. In the E2+P2-treated group, this level was higher than in the E2-treated group. The brain level of TGF-β was also elevated by the administration of progesterone and estrogen alone, and reduced when the hormones were administered in combination. In conclusion, a combined administration of progesterone and estrogen inhibited the decreasing effects of administration of progesterone and estrogen alone on water content and BBB disruption that mediated to change the proinflammatory cytokines.     

Autosomal recessive mental retardation: homozygosity mapping identifies 27 single linkage intervals, at least 14 novel loci and several mutation hotspots

Mental retardation (MR) has a worldwide prevalence of around 2% and is a frequent cause of severe disability. Significant excess of MR in the progeny of consanguineous matings as well as functional considerations suggest that autosomal recessive forms of MR (ARMR) must be relatively common. To shed more light on the causes of autosomal recessive MR (ARMR), we have set out in 2003 to perform systematic clinical studies and autozygosity mapping in large consanguineous Iranian families with non-syndromic ARMR (NS-ARMR). As previously reported (Najmabadi et al. in Hum Genet 121:43-48, 2007), this led us to the identification of 12 novel ARMR loci, 8 of which had a significant LOD score (OMIM: MRT5-12). In the meantime, we and others have found causative gene defects in two of these intervals. Moreover, as reported here, tripling the size of our cohort has enabled us to identify 27 additional unrelated families with NS-ARMR and single-linkage intervals; 14 of these define novel loci for non-syndromic ARMR. Altogether, 13 out of 39 single linkage intervals observed in our cohort were found to cluster at 6 different loci on chromosomes, i.e., 1p34, 4q27, 5p15, 9q34, 11p11-q13 and 19q13, respectively. Five of these clusters consist of two significantly overlapping linkage intervals, and on chr 1p34, three single linkage intervals coincide, including the previously described MRT12 locus. The probability for this distribution to be due to chance is only 1.14 × 10(-5), as shown by Monte Carlo simulation. Thus, in contrast to our previous conclusions, these novel data indicate that common molecular causes of NS-ARMR do exist, and in the Iranian population, the most frequent ones may well account for several percent of the patients. These findings will be instrumental in the identification of the underlying genes.