A first insight into the intestinal microbiota of snow trout (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Schizothorax zarudnyi</Emphasis>)

This study addresses the biodiversity profile of bacterial community in the intestinal lumen and mucosa of snow trout fish by applying 16S rRNA gene 454-pyrosequencing. A total of 209,106 sequences with average length 689 (±53) were filtered, denoised, trimmed, and then sorted into OTUs based on 97 % sequence similarity using the USEARCH software pipeline. Bacteria representing 10 phyla were found in the samples investigated. Fimicutes ribotypes were present in intestinal-mucosa and lumen in all fish and often dominated the libraries (average 43 and 38 %, respectively). Proteobacteria were also prevalent, but at a lower relative abundance, at 22 and 29 % in mucosa and lumen, respectively. The autochthonous microbiota was dominated by sequences belonging to the Bacilli (mean sequence abundance 24 %), in particular the Lactobacillaceae, with Lactobacillus and Pediococcous being the most abundant genera. Fewer Bacilli (mean sequence abundance 22 %) and Actinobacteria (2 %) were present in the lumen, and allochthonous communities consisted of a more even split among the bacterial classes, with increases in sequences assigned to members of the γ-Proteobacteria (16 %) and Fusobacteriia (8 %). The principal bacterial genera recorded in the lumen belonged to the lactic acid bacteria group, Cetobacterium, Clostridium and Synechococcus. Results obtained suggest that the lumen and mucosal layer of the snow trout intestine may host different microbial communities. Moreover, both regions harbour a diverse microbiome with a greater microbial diversity in the intestinal mucus compared with the luminal communities of the fish. Many of these microbes might be of high physiological relevance for the fish and may play key roles in the functioning of its gut.     

Annotated checklist of the Hydraenidae (Coleoptera: Staphylinoidea) recorded from Iran

According to our analysis of literature sources on the family Hydraenidae (Coleoptera: Staphylinoidea) of Iran, it is represented by 67 species and three genera: Hydraena Kugelann, 1794 (21 species), Limnebius Leach, 1815 (six species) and Ochthebius Leach, 1815 (40 species). Twenty-two species are supposed to be endemic to Iran. Here, for the first time, we summarize species distribution data in Iranian provinces and present them in a checklist of Iranian Hydraenidae. We also present two additional species lists: one with incorrect records (one species and one subspecies) and the other with unidentified species.     

Synthesis of versatile thiol-reactive polymer scaffolds via RAFT polymerization

Well-defined polymer scaffolds convertible to (multi)functional polymer structures via selective and efficient modifications potentially provide an easy, versatile, and useful approach for a wide variety of applications. Considering this, a homopolymer scaffold, poly(pyridyldisulfide ethylmethacrylate) (poly(PDSM)), having pendant groups selectively reactive with thiols, was synthesized by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Soluble polymers with controlled molecular weights and narrow PDIs were generated efficiently. The versatility of the scaffold to generate random co- and ter-polymers combining multiple functionalities with controlled-composition was shown by separate and simultaneous conjugation of different mercapto-compounds, including a tripeptide in one-step. Conversion of water-insoluble scaffold to peptide-containing water-soluble copolymers was observed to yield nanometer-size particles with narrow polydispersity. The overall results suggest that the well-defined PDSM homopolymer scaffold generated via RAFT polymerization can be a versatile building block for generation of new structures having potential for drug delivery applications via a straightforward synthetic approach.     

Synthesis, in vitro antibacterial and carbonic anhydrase II inhibitory activities of N-acylsulfonamides using silica sulfuric acid as an efficient catalyst under both solvent-free and heterogeneous conditions

Silica sulfuric acid catalyzes efficiently the reaction of sulfonamides with both carboxylic acid anhydrides and chlorides under solvent-free and heterogeneous conditions. All the reactions were done at room temperature and the N-acylsulfonamides were obtained with high yields and purity via an easy work-up procedure. This method is attractive and is in a close agreement with green chemistry. These compounds were also investigated for antibacterial activity, including Gram-positive cocci and Gram-negative bacilli, and carbonic anhydrase II inhibitory activity.     

The prevalence of factor V Leiden,prothrombin G20210A and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism C677T among G6PD deficient individuals from Western Iran

It has been suggested that the allele frequency of thrombophilic mutations is affected by glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. The prevalence of thrombophilic mutations were studied in sixty G6PD deficient individuals including 57 males and three females with the mean age of 15 ± 3.08 and 110 age and sex matched healthy individuals consisted of 95 males and 15 females with the mean age of 16.19 ± 2.17 from the Kermanshah Province of Iran. Using a combination of PCR-RFLP technique, single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis and DNA sequencing polymorphic G6PD mutations were identified. The factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T were detected by PCR-RFLP method using MnlI, HindIII and HinfI restriction enzymes, respectively. Three mutations, G6PD Mediterranean, G6PD Chatham and G6PD Cosenza were identified in 60 G6PD deficient individuals with highest prevalence of G6PD Mediterranean (91.6%). In G6PD deficient individuals the prevalence of factor V Leiden tended to be higher (5%) compared to healthy individuals (2.7%). The prevalence of prothrombin G20210A mutation in G6PD deficient individuals was 1.7%. However, in normal subjects the prevalence of this mutation was 2.7%. The frequency of T allele in G6PD deficient individuals were insignificantly higher (29.16%) than those in healthy individuals (26.8%). Our finding indicates that the prevalence of factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A and MTHFR C677T in G6PD deficient individuals is not statistically different compared to normal subjects and G6PD deficiency is not associated with these thrombophilic mutations in Western Iran.     

Effects of mobile phone radiofrequency on the structure and function of the normal human hemoglobin

Widespread use of mobile phones has increased the human exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs). It is required to investigate the effect of EMFs on the biological systems. In this paper the effect of mobile phone RF (910 MHz and 940 MHz) on structure and function of HbA was investigated. Oxygen affinity was measured by sodium dithionite with UV–vis spectrophotometer. Structural changes were studied by circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results indicated that mobile phone EMFs altered oxygen affinity and tertiary structure of HbA. Furthermore, the decrease of oxygen affinity of HbA corresponded to the EMFs intensity and time of exposure.     

Ceramicines B–D,new antiplasmodial limonoids from Chisocheton ceramicus

Three new limonoids, ceramicines B–D (1–3), have been isolated from the bark of Chisocheton ceramicus. Structures and stereochemistry of 1–3 were fully elucidated and characterized by 2D NMR analysis. Ceramicines exhibited a moderate antiplasmodial activity.     

Exosomes communicate protective messages during oxidative stress; possible role of exosomal shuttle RNA

Background

Exosomes are small extracellular nanovesicles of endocytic origin that mediate different signals between cells, by surface interactions and by shuttling functional RNA from one cell to another. Exosomes are released by many cells including mast cells, dendritic cells, macrophages, epithelial cells and tumour cells. Exosomes differ compared to their donor cells, not only in size, but also in their RNA, protein and lipid composition.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In this study, we show that exosomes, released by mouse mast cells exposed to oxidative stress, differ in their mRNA content. Also, we show that these exosomes can influence the response of other cells to oxidative stress by providing recipient cells with a resistance against oxidative stress, observed as an attenuated loss of cell viability. Furthermore, Affymetrix microarray analysis revealed that the exosomal mRNA content not only differs between exosomes and donor cells, but also between exosomes derived from cells grown under different conditions; oxidative stress and normal conditions. Finally, we also show that exposure to UV-light affects the biological functions associated with exosomes released under oxidative stress.

Conclusions/Significance

These results argue that the exosomal shuttle of RNA is involved in cell-to-cell communication, by influencing the response of recipient cells to an external stress stimulus.     

Poroelasticity of cartilage at the nanoscale

Atomic-force-microscopy-based oscillatory loading was used in conjunction with finite element modeling to quantify and predict the frequency-dependent mechanical properties of the superficial zone of young bovine articular cartilage at deformation amplitudes, δ, of ∼15 nm; i.e., at macromolecular length scales. Using a spherical probe tip (R ∼ 12.5 μm), the magnitude of the dynamic complex indentation modulus, |E^∗|, and phase angle, φ, between the force and tip displacement sinusoids, were measured in the frequency range f ∼ 0.2–130 Hz at an offset indentation depth of δ₀ ∼ 3 μm. The experimentally measured |E^∗| and φ corresponded well with that predicted by a fibril-reinforced poroelastic model over a three-decade frequency range. The peak frequency of phase angle, f_peak, was observed to scale linearly with the inverse square of the contact distance between probe tip and cartilage, 1/d², as predicted by linear poroelasticity theory. The dynamic mechanical properties were observed to be independent of the deformation amplitude in the range δ = 7–50 nm. Hence, these results suggest that poroelasticity was the dominant mechanism underlying the frequency-dependent mechanical behavior observed at these nanoscale deformations. These findings enable ongoing investigations of the nanoscale progression of matrix pathology in tissue-level disease.