Study of defense-related gene expression in grapevine infested by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Colomerus vitis</Emphasis> (Acari: Eriophyidae)

As the main source of lipids and proteins in honey bees, pollen is a major nutrient provider involved in development and health and has been studied for tolerance stimulation against pathogens and parasites. In the case of Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman (Acari, Mesostigmata: Varroidae) parasitization, the lack of a complete laboratory system to rear both the bee larva and the acarian parasite limited the studies concerning larval nutrition effects on the bee tolerance and resistance against varroatosis. Due to the development of this complete rearing protocol, we managed to feed young honey bee larvae with pollen supplemented solutions and to study the effect on their later development under parasitism conditions. In our experimental conditions, pollen influences neither the deformity rate, nor the survival of bees both parasitized and unparasitized. However, pollen extract supplementation seems to significantly impact the weight of the spinning bee larvae without having an effect on the physiological weight loss during pupation, so the differences found at the larval stage remain the same as at emergence. Varroa has a deleterious effect on bee pupae and led to a steady increase of the physiological weight loss experienced during metamorphosis. Interestingly, this ponderal loss associated with Varroa parasitization seems to be reduced in the polyfloral pollen supplementation condition. Altogether, this work is to our knowledge the first to study in laboratory conditions the impact of larval nutrition on the tolerance to parasitism. A diverse pollen diet may be beneficial to the bees’ tolerance against V. destructor parasitism.     

Effect of plant growth regulators on indirect shoot organogenesis of Ficus religiosa through seedling derived petiole segments

Ficus religiosa is known as a long-lived multipurpose forest tree. The tree plays an important role for religious, medicinal, and ornamental purposes. However, the propagation rate of Ficus religiosa is low in natural habitat so the plant tissue culture techniques are an applicable method for multiplication of this valuable medicinal plants. Thus, the aim of this study is to understand the effect of different auxin/cytokinin ratios on indirect shoot organogenesis of this plant. According to our results, the maximum callus induction frequency (100%) was obtained on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.5?mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) plus 0.05?mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) from petiole segments. For shoot induction purpose, the yellow-brownish, friable, organogenic calli were inoculated on shoot induction medium. On MS medium supplemented with 1.5?mg/l BAP and 0.15?mg/l Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), 96.66% of the petiole-derived calli responded with an average number of 3.56 shoots per culture. The highest root formation frequency (96.66%), root number (5.5), and root length (4.83?cm) were achieved on MS medium containing 2.0?mg/l IBA plus 0.1?mg/l Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The rooted shoots were successfully transferred to field condition and the substrate with the mixture of cocopeat and perlite (1:1) had the highest survival rate (96.66%). This is the first report of an effective in vitro organogenesis protocol for F. religiosa by indirect shoot organogenesis through axenic seedling derived petiole explants, which can be efficiently employed for conservation of this important medicinal plant species as well as the utilization of active biomolecules.     

Clastogenic ROS and biophotonics in precancerous diagnosis

Background

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide. The application of biophotonics for diagnosing precancerous lesions is a major breakthrough in oncology and is associated with the expression of clastogenic bio-markers, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), namely, superoxide anion radicals, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals, and lipid peroxidation products. These ROS are the major sources of ultra-weak biophotons emission; in addition, biophotons are emitted from other biomolecules, which are not associated with ROS. The precancerous phase is diagnosed on the basis of biophoton emission from biomarkers. The type of biophotons emitted depends on the structure of the clastogenic ROS.

Methods

ROS-based emission of ultra-weak photons can be detected using charge coupled device (CCD) cameras and photomultiplier tubes. Furthermore, spectroscopic and microscopic analysis can yield more advanced and definite results.

Results

The frequency and intensity of biophoton emission associated with each ROS provides information regarding the precancerous phase. Previous have attempted to show an association between precancerous growth and biophoton emission; however, their results were not conclusive. In this review, we have addressed multiple aspects of the molecular environment, especially light- matter interactions, to derive a successful theoretical relationship which may have the ability to diaganose the tumor at precancerous stage and to give the solutions of previous failures. This can be a major quantum leap toward precancerous diagnosis therapy.

Conclusion

Biophotonics provides an advanced framework, for easily diagnosing cancer at its preliminary stage. The relationship between biophotons, clastogenic factors, and biochemical reactions in the cellular microenvironment can be understood successfully. The advancement in precancerous diagnosis will improve human health worldwide. The versatility of biophotonics can be used further for novel applications in biology, biochemistry, chemistry and social fields.

     

Seed Polyphenolic Profile,Antioxidative Activity,and Fatty Acids Composition of Wild and Cultivated Carthamus Species

Total flavonoid content (TFC) and cyanidin‐3‐glucoside (Cyd‐3‐glu) of seed and seed coat extract of 16 genotypes from five species of Carthamus were studied, and their major polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of the seed coat extracts were determined using HPLC analysis and DPPH assay, respectively. Additionally, fatty acids composition of the seed oil was analyzed by GC. In general, TFC and Cyd‐3‐glu content of seed coat extracts were higher than those of seed extracts. A novel breeding line with black seed coat (named A82) depicted lower TFC (3.79 mg QUE/g DW) but higher Cyd‐3‐glu (24.64 mg/g DW) compared to the white and other seed‐pigmented genotypes. DPPH radical scavenging activity showed a strong association with Cyd‐3‐glu content (r = 0.84), but no correlation with TFC (r = ?0.32). HPLC analysis of seed coat extracts revealed that four compounds were dominant constituents including rutin (7.23 – 117.95 mg/100 g DW), apigenin (4.37 – 64.88 mg/100 g DW), quercetin (3.09 – 14.10 mg/100 g DW), and ferulic acid (4.49 – 30.41 mg/100 g DW). Interestingly, the genotype A82 with an appropriate polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acids index (5.46%) and a moderate linoleic fatty acid content (64.70%) had higher nutritional and pharmaceutical value than all the other genotypes.     

Mitigation of sodium chloride toxicity in Solanum lycopersicum L. by supplementation of jasmonic acid and nitric oxide

We investigated the effects of exogenous application of jasmonic acid (JA) and nitric oxide (NO) on growth, antioxidant metabolism, physio-biochemical attributes and metabolite accumulation, in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants exposed to salt stress. Treating the plants with NaCl (200 mM) resulted in considerable growth inhibition in terms of biomass, relative water content, and chlorophyll content, all of which were significantly improved upon application of JA and NO under both normal and NaCl-stress treatments. Salt treatment particularly 200 mM NaCl caused an apparent increase in electrolyte leakage, lipid peroxidation, and hydrogen peroxide production, which were reduced by exogenous application of JA and NO. Salt treatment triggered the induction of antioxidant system by enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR). Application of JA and NO separately as well as in combination caused a significant improvement in activities of SOD, CAT, APX, and GR activities. JA and NO either applied individually or in combination boosted the flavonoid, proline and glycine betaine synthesis under NaCl treatments. In conclusion, the exogenous application of JA and NO protected tomato plants from NaCl-induced damage by up-regulating the antioxidant metabolism, osmolyte synthesis, and metabolite accumulation.     

WNT and NOTCH signaling pathways as activators for epidermal growth factor receptor in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Background

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the most common histological type of esophageal cancer, with a poor prognosis. Deregulation of WNT and NOTCH signaling pathways is important in ESCC progression, which can be due to either malfunction of their components or crosstalk with other pathways. Therefore, identification of new crosstalk between such pathways may be effective to introduce new strategies for targeted therapy of cancer. A correlation study was performed to assess the probable interaction between growth factor receptors and WNT/NOTCH pathways via the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Musashi1 (MSI1), respectively.

Methods

Levels of MSI1/EGFR mRNA expression in tumor tissues from 48 ESCC patients were compared to their corresponding normal tissues using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results

There was a significant correlation between EGFR and MSI1 expression (p?=?0.05). Moreover, there was a significant correlation between EGFR/MSI1 expression and grade of tumor differentiation (p?=?0.02).

Conclusion

This study confirms a direct correlation between MSI1 and EGFR and may support the important role of MSI1 in activation of EGFR through NOTCH/WNT pathways in ESCC.

     

Reduction of marginal mass required for successful islet transplantation in a diabetic rat model using adipose tissue–derived mesenchymal stromal cells

Background aims

Adipose tissue–derived mesenchymal stromal cells (AT-MSCs), widely known as multipotent progenitors, release several cytokines that support cell survival and repair. There are in vitro and in vivo studies reporting the regenerative role of AT-MSCs possibly mediated by their protective effects on functional islet cells as well as their capacity to differentiate into insulin-producing cells (IPCs).

Impact of incubation period on biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons from refinery wastewater in Kuantan,Malaysia by indigenous bacteria

This work studied the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) extracted from refinery wastewater to produce industrially important by-products at different incubation periods. Two out of 13 bacterial isolates, KRD2 and KRA4 were isolated. Dichloromethane was used to extract the PHC, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that the refinery wastewater PHC was successfully biodegraded using the selected bacterial isolates within 15 days of incubation. Both KRD2 and KRA4 isolates degraded all 13 initially extracted PHC compounds within 5 days, except C13BD and C9BD, which produced 6 and 4 compounds as secondary metabolites with peak area percentages of 1.58, 1.38, 0.85, 29.94, 7.59, and 11.16% and 3.55, 2.88, 52.31, and 6.14%, respectively. These metabolites have been reported in industrial and medical applications. After 10 days, only 6 and 8 compounds were degraded by both isolates, respectively, and C11PAD compound was produced, as well as C5PAD, C7PAD, and C13PAD. After 15 days, it was clear that all the initial PHC compounds have been completely degraded by both isolates. Metabolites C5PAD, C6PAD, C8PAD, and C13PAD were produced by KRD2, and metabolites C5PAD, C6PAD, C8PAD, and C9PAD were produced by KRA4 at different peak areas. The alignment revealed that the KRA4 isolate was included in the genus Chryseobacterium gambrini, while KRD2 isolate was successfully identified as Mycobacterium confluentis using the Biolog microbial identification system. The incubation period evidently affected biodegradation process by indigenous degraders. These effective bacteria were shown to be of great potential for further application in biodegradation technology of PHC contaminated refinery wastewater to produce industrially important by-products.     

Associations of Spexin and cardiometabolic parameters among women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus

Spexin (SPX) is a novel biomarker abundantly expressed in several animal and human tissues implicated in food intake and glucose control, respectively. As new roles for SPX are emerging, the present study explored for the first time, the associations of SPX to several cardiometabolic indices and inflammatory markers in pregnant women, a demographic not yet investigated with respect to SPX. A total of 117 Saudi women subdivided to those with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (N?=?63) and those without (N?=?54) were included in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometry, glycemic, lipid, vitamin D, adipocytokines and inflammatory markers were measured consecutively at baseline and after the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Age- and BMI adjusted comparisons revealed that levels of SPX were not significantly different in pregnant women with and without GDM. In all subjects, circulating levels of SPX showed modest associations with glucose (R?=?0.18; p?=?.08) and HOMA β (R?=??0.19; p?=?.09) as well as significant positive associations with total cholesterol (R?=?0.25; p?=?.02), LDL-cholesterol (R?=?0.25; p?=?.02), 25(OH)D (R?=?0.22; p?=?.04), albumin (R?=?0.30; p?<?.01) and IL1β (R?=?0.41; p?<?.01). Stepwise regression analysis also suggested that IL1β, leptin and albumin were the significant predictors of SPX. In summary, SPX levels modestly affect glucose and insulin sensitivity in pregnant women but is not associated with GDM and obesity. The significant association of SPX to ILβ warrants further investigation as to the role of SPX in immune modulation.