Biosorption of chromium(VI) from aqueous solution by cone biomass of Pinus sylvestris

Biosorption of chromium(VI) on to cone biomass of Pinus sylvestris was studied with variation in the parameters of pH, initial metal ion concentration and agitation speed. The biosorption of Cr(VI) was increased when pH of the solution was decreased from 7.0 to 1.0. The maximum chromium biosorption occurred at 150 rpm agitation. An increase in chromium/biomass ratio caused a decrease in the biosorption efficiency. The adsorption constants were found from the Freundlich isotherm at 25 degrees C. The cone biomass, which is a readily available biosorbent, was found suitable for removing chromium from aqueous solution.     

An Amino Acid Deletion in SZT2 in a Family with Non-Syndromic Intellectual Disability

Autosomal recessive intellectual disability (ID) is characterized by extensive genetic heterogeneity. Recently, three mutations in SZT2 were reported in two unrelated children with unexplained infantile epileptic encephalopathy with severe ID. Here we report a European American family with three children having non-syndromic mild or moderate ID without seizures. Whole-exome sequencing of three affected siblings revealed a three base pair deletion (c.4202_4204delTTC) located in a 19 mb autozygous region on chromosome 1, leading to an amino acid deletion (p.Phe1401del) in SZT2. All three children were homozygous for the deletion and their parents were heterozygous as expected in autosomal recessive inheritance. SZT2 is highly expressed in neuronal tissues and regulates seizure threshold and neuronal excitation in mice. We conclude that the disruption of SZT2 with some residual function might lead to mild or moderate ID without seizures.     

Quantification of Trypsin Activity by a New Biosensing System Based on the Enzymatic Degradation and the Destructive Nature of Trypsin

Trypsin is an enzyme that is included in the hydrolysis class of enzymes. Trypsin catalyzes the cleavage of proteins from a serine residue and is found in the digestive system of vertebrates. The cystic fibrosis, which is an autosomal recessive disorder, is associated with the trypsin deficiency. The meconium ileus is caused by this deficiency. Beside the clinical significance of trypsin, it is also used in many industrial applications, such as tissue culture labs, milk industry, proteomics, and different kinds of food production processes. In this study, a glucose oxidase based electrochemical biosensing system was constructed for sensitive and accurate determination of trypsin activity in different samples. A novel working principle was operated in the reported biosensor, which is based on the trypsin degradation ratio in the bioactive layer of the biosensor. Detailed optimization and characterization experiments were carried out to obtain the best electrochemical signals. The system introduced a linear determination range for trypsin activity between 6.65 and 33.25 U/ml. The biosensor was also used in the analysis of the trypsin activities of real samples.     

Isolation and production of thermostable α-amylase from thermophilic Anoxybacillus sp. KP1 from Diyadin hot spring in Ağri,Turkey

A novel amylolytic enzyme producing thermophilic bacterial strain KP1 from the Diyadin hot spring water in A?ri, Turkey, was isolated in the present study. Phylogenetic analysis based on the partial 16S rRNA gene, biochemical and physiological tests revealed that the strain KP1 belongs to the genus Anoxybacillus. The pH and temperature optima for the α-amylase production by Anoxybacillus sp. KP1 were 8.0 and 50°C, respectively, where the maximum growth was obtained at the 28^th hour of incubation and the highest α-amylase activity was obtained at the 40^th hour of incubation (8979.6 U/mL). The optimum pH and temperature for the enzyme activity were 8.0 and 60°C, respectively. The maximum α-amylase production was secreted in the presence of 2% (w/v) soluble starch (10837.7 U/mL). Among the various organic and inorganic nitrogen sources tested, while keeping the beef extract concentration constant, casamino acid (14310.6 U/mL), urea (14126 U/mL), and tryptone (13217.2 U/mL) at a concentration of 2% gave the maximum α-amylase production. The enzyme activity was enhanced in the presence of 1.5 mM Mn²⁺ (123%), whereas it was strongly inhibited 1.5 mM by Hg²⁺. Inhibition by 89% was obtained also with sodium dodecyl sulphate (1%). The enzyme was found to be relatively stable at a range of pH and temperature.     

The specific features of the developing T cell compartment of the neonatal lung are a determinant of respiratory syncytial virus immunopathogenesis

The human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of severe lower respiratory tract infections in infants, possibly due to the properties of the immature neonatal pulmonary immune system. Using the newborn lamb, a classical model of human lung development and a translational model of RSV infection, we aimed to explore the role of cell-mediated immunity in RSV disease during early life. Remarkably, in healthy conditions, the developing T cell compartment of the neonatal lung showed major differences to that seen in the mature adult lung. The most striking observation being a high baseline frequency of bronchoalveolar IL-4-producing CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, which declined progressively over developmental age. RSV infection exacerbated this pro-type 2 environment in the bronchoalveolar space, rather than inducing a type 2 response per se. Moreover, regulatory T cell suppressive functions occurred very early to dampen this pro-type 2 environment, rather than shutting them down afterwards, while γδ T cells dropped and failed to produce IL-17. Importantly, RSV disease severity was related to the magnitude of those unconventional bronchoalveolar T cell responses. These findings provide novel insights in the mechanisms of RSV immunopathogenesis in early life, and constitute a major step for the understanding of RSV disease severity.     

Zinc Transporter Proteins

Zinc, which is involved in the structure of all enzyme classes, is a micro nutrient element and necessary for growth and development. The ability of zinc to function without causing toxic effects is depends on the protection of its homeostasis. Zinc transporter proteins are responsible for keeping zinc at certain concentrations. Based on their predicted membrane topology, Zn transporters are divided into two major families, SLC39s/ZIPs and SLC30s/ZnTs, which transport Zn in opposite directions through cellular and intracellular membranes. ZIPs increases the zinc concentration in the cytosol. For this, the ZIPs carries the zinc from extracellular and intracellular compartments to the cytosol. ZnTs, reduces the concentration of zinc in the cytosol. For this, ZnTs carries the zinc from the cytosol to extracellular and intracellular compartments. After being transported to the cell, 50% of the zinc is found in the cytoplasm, 30–40% in the nucleus, and 10% in the plasma and organelle membranes. The expression of many zinc transporter proteins in the cell is depending on the concentration of zinc and the physiological problems. The aim of this study is to give information about association of zinc transporter proteins with physiological events and health problems.     

An integrative anatomical,morphological, micromorphological and molecular approach to Turkish epidendroid and orchidoid species (Orchidaceae)

We aimed to describe and analyse the morphological, anatomical and micromorphological traits of 36 Turkish orchids representing 12 genera (e.g. Anacamptis, Cephalanthera, Dactylorhiza, Orchis, Serapias) in detail and analyse their usability for solving phylogenetic and taxonomic issues. We applied UPGMA cluster analysis to anatomical, morphological and micromorphological characters such as root tubers, leaf and flower structures, pit, sclerenchymatic sheath, vascular bundle shape, crystal and starch, exodermis and endodermis structure, stomata type, bulliform cells in roots, shoots and leaves, surface structures like papillae, hairs and ornamentation on flower parts, leaves, fruits and seeds. Furthermore, in a phylogenetic framework, we analysed nuclear ribosomal ITS diversity in the same orchid species belonging, and in a combined Bayesian phylogenetic analysis based on anatomical, morphological, micromorphogical and ITS data we confirmed the usefulness of multiple data sets for effectively assessing taxonomically critical orchids. In the combined analysis, all genera were resolved as monophyletic with topologies congruent with recently published more thorough molecular phylogenetic reconstructions, while the trees obtained by seprately analysing the ITS and the anatomical, morphological, micromorphogical data were less resolved and partly inconclusive.     

Ingestion of the anti‐bacterial agent,gemifloxacin mesylate,leads to increased gst activity and peroxidation products in hemolymph of Galleria mellonella l. (lepidoptera: pyralidae)

Gemifloxacin mesylate (GEM) is a synthetic, fourth‐generation fluoroquinolone antibacterial antibiotic that has a broad spectrum of activity against bacteria. GEM inhibits DNA synthesis by inhibiting DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV activities. Recent research into insect nutrition and mass‐rearing programs, in which antibiotics are incorporated into the culture media to maintain diet quality, raised a question of whether clinical antibiotics influence the health or biological performance of the insects that ingest these compounds. Because some antibiotics are pro‐oxidant compounds, we addressed the question with experiments designed to assess the effects of GEM (mesylate salt) on oxidative stress indicators, using Galleria mellonella larvae. The insects were reared from first‐instar larvae to adulthood on artificial diets amended with GEM at 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, or 1.0%. Feeding on the 1% diets led to significantly increased hemolymph contents of the lipid peroxidation product, malondialdehyde and protein oxidation products, protein carbonyl. All GEM concentrations led to increased hemolymph glutathione S‐transferase activity. We inferred that although it was not directly lethal to G. mellonella larvae, dietary exposure to GEM exerts measurable oxidative damage, possibly on insects generally. Long‐term, multigenerational effects remain unknown.