Dietary Supplementation of Potential Probiotics Bacillus subtilis,Bacillus licheniformis,and Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Synbiotic Improves Growth Performance and Immune Responses by Modulation in Intestinal System in Broiler Chicks Challenged with Salmonella Typhimurium

Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins - This study evaluates the effects of probiotics and synbiotics on the performance, immune responses, and intestinal morphology, and the expression of...     

Bioassay-guided discovery of antibacterial agents: in vitro screening of Peperomia vulcanica, Peperomia fernandopoioana and Scleria striatinux

Background

The global burden of bacterial infections is high and has been further aggravated by increasing resistance to antibiotics. In the search for novel antibacterials, three medicinal plants: Peperomia vulcanica, Peperomia fernandopoioana (Piperaceae) and Scleria striatinux (Cyperaceae), were investigated for antibacterial activity and toxicity.

Methods

Crude extracts of these plants were tested by the disc diffusion method against six bacterial test organisms followed by bio-assay guided fractionation, isolation and testing of pure compounds. The minimum inhibitory (MIC) and minimum bactericidal (MBC) concentrations were measured by the microdilution method. The acute toxicity of the active extracts and cytotoxicity of the active compound were performed in mice and mammalian cells, respectively.

Results

The diameter of the zones of inhibition (DZI) of the extracts ranged from 7?C13?mm on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus of which the methylene chloride:methanol [1:1] extract of Scleria striatinux recorded the highest activity (DZI?=?13?mm). Twenty-nine pure compounds were screened and one, Okundoperoxide, isolated from S. striatinux, recorded a DZI ranging from 10?C19?mm on S. aureus. The MICs and MBCs indicated that the Peperomias had broad-spectrum bacteriostatic activity. Toxicity tests showed that Okundoperoxide may have a low risk of toxicity with an LC₅₀ of 46.88???g/mL.

Conclusions

The antibacterial activity of these plants supports their use in traditional medicine. The pure compound, Okundoperoxide, may yield new antibacterial lead compounds following medicinal chemistry exploration.     

Molecular evolution of the Asian francolins (Francolinus, Galliformes): A modern reappraisal of a classic study in speciation

We investigated the evolution of the Asian francolins, five little known species in the genus Francolinus (Phasianidae). Evolutionary affinities of two of these species, F. gularis (swamp francolin) and F. pondicerianus (grey francolin), has long remained unclear. In contrast, the other three species, F. pintadeanus (Chinese francolin), F. pictus (painted francolin) and F. francolinus (black francolin) have been cast among the "spotted francolins" on a morphological and ecological basis. Previous molecular DNA investigations including Asian francolins mostly relied upon partial gene sequencing of one specimen per species (no more than three species and with the exclusion of F. pictus). Therefore, fundamental questions do persist. What relationship exists among the spotted and the other Asian francolins? What is the geographic origin of the black francolin, the species with the largest distribution range? How did the geological history influence the diversification of francolins across Asia? We sequenced the entire Control Region of the mitochondrial DNA in 228 samples of all five Asian francolin species, which were collected in 16 countries (from East Europe to East Asia). We constructed a molecular phylogeny according to four different procedures. We showed the monophyly of each of the Asian francolins and the spotted group, while that of the entire Asian group was presumed according to a biogeographical model we proposed. The splitting of the genus Francolinus occurred ～17.4Ma (95% HPD: 13.4-22.1) while the spotted francolins diverged ～10.5Ma (7.0-14.9). We resolved the most recent common ancestor to painted and black francolin as being in the Indian sub-continent, thus suggesting a westwards adaptive radiation of the latter. In Pakistan, we identified F. f. asiae representatives in the Northern Areas and in the Sindh. The latter represents a relict population of Indian fauna within the Pakistani range of the Great Rann of Kachchh.     

A new insight on serum microRNA expression as novel biomarkers in breast cancer patients

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the widespread lethal diseases affecting a large number of women worldwide. As such, employing and identifying significant markers for detecting BC in different stages can assist in better diagnosis and management of the disease. Several diverse markers have been introduced for diagnosis, but their limitations, including low specificity and sensitivity, reduce their application. microRNAs (miRNAs), as short noncoding RNAs, have been shown to significantly influence gene expression in different disease pathologies, especially BC. Clearly, among different samples used for detecting miRNA expressions, circulating miRNAs present as promising and useful biomarkers. Among different body fluid samples, serum serves as one of the most reliable samples, thanks to its high stability under various severe conditions and some unique features. Extensive research has suggested that BC-related miRNAs can remain stable in the serum. The objective of this review is to describe different samples used for detecting miRNAs in BC subjects with emphasis on serum miRNAs. So, this study highlights serum miRNAs with the potential of acting as biomarkers for different stages of BC. We reviewed the possible correlation between potential miRNAs and the risk of early breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer, response to chemotherapy, and relapse.     

miR-142-3p is a tumor suppressor that inhibits estrogen receptor expression in ER-positive breast cancer

Estrogen receptors (ERs) are involved in the development of many types of malignant tumors, in particular, breast cancer. Among others, ERs affect cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. The microRNA (miRNA) miR-142-3p has been shown to inhibit carcinogenesis by regulating various cellular processes, including cell cycle progression, cell migration, apoptosis, and invasion. It does so via targeting molecules involved in a range of signaling pathways. We surgically collected 20 ER-positive breast cancer samples, each with matched adjacent normal breast tissue, and measured the expression of miR-142-3p via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Bioinformatics methods, luciferase reporter assay, qRT-PCR, and western blot analysis were used to assess whether miR-142-3p could target ESR1, which encodes the estrogen receptor, in ER-positive breast cancer cells and patient samples. We also restored miRNA expression and performed cell viability, cytotoxicity, and colony formation assays. Western blot analysis and qRT-PCR were used to study the expression of apoptosis and stemness markers. We found that miR-142-3p is downregulated in ER-positive breast cancers. Restoration of miR-142-3p expression in ER-positive breast cancer cells reduced cell viability, induced apoptosis via the intrinsic pathway and decreased both colony formation and the expression of stem cell markers. Bioinformatic analysis predicted miR-142-3p could bind to 3′-untranslated region ESR1 messenger RNA (mRNA). Consistently, we demonstrated that miR-142-3p reduced luciferase activity in ER-positive breast cancer cells, and decreased ESR1 expression in both mRNA and protein levels. The results revealed miR-142-3p and ESR1 expression correlated negatively in ER-positive breast cancer samples. The results suggest miR-142-3p acts as a tumor suppressor via multiple mechanisms. Thus, restoration of miR-142-3p expression, for example, via miRNA replacement therapy, may represent an effective strategy for the treatment of ER-positive breast cancer patients.     

Breast cancer-linked lncRNA u-Eleanor is upregulated in breast of healthy women with lack or short duration of breastfeeding

Recently, it has been revealed that estrogen-related reproductive factors are linked with some early gene expression lesions associated with malignancy in clinically healthy breasts. Accordingly, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the association of expression levels of estrogen-related long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) upstream Eleanor (u-Eleanor) and HOX antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) with the different patterns of reproductive factors in breast tissue of healthy women. The subjects of this study were 98 cancer-free women who had undergone cosmetic mammoplasty. The expression levels of u-Eleanor and HOTAIR were measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results of the current study showed that the women without a history of breastfeeding had a high-level expression of u-Eleanor compared with the women with a breastfeeding duration greater than 6 to 24 months (P = 0.03) as well as the women with a breastfeeding duration of more than 24 months (P = 0.005). Furthermore, a higher expression of u-Eleanor was found in the women with a short breastfeeding duration for 1 to 6 months than that in the women with a breastfeeding duration of greater than 24 months (P = 0.02). In the same way, the results of correlation test (r = −0.258; P = 0.036) and multivariate regression model (β = −0.321; P = 0.023) are indicative of a significant relationship of elevated expression of u-Eleanor with decreasing breastfeeding duration in the women. These findings could be important to identify the molecular mechanisms behind the relationship between a lack or short duration of the breastfeeding and the risk of breast cancer, which has previously been reported by epidemiological studies.     

miR-542-3p suppresses osteoblast cell proliferation and differentiation,targets BMP-7 signaling and inhibits bone formation

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that interfere with translation of specific target mRNAs and thereby regulate diverse biological processes. Recent studies have suggested that miRNAs might have a role in osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. Here, we show that miR-542-3p, a well-characterized tumor suppressor whose downregulation is tightly associated with tumor progression via C-src-related oncogenic pathways, inhibits osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. miRNA array profiling in Medicarpin (a pterocarpan with proven bone-forming effects) induced mice calvarial osteoblast cells and further validation by quantitative real-time PCR revealed that miR-542-3p was downregulated during osteoblast differentiation. Over-expression of miR-542-3p inhibited osteoblast differentiation, whereas inhibition of miR-542-3p function by anti-miR-542-3p promoted expression of osteoblast-specific genes, alkaline phosphatase activity and matrix mineralization. Target prediction analysis tools and experimental validation by luciferase 3′ UTR reporter assay identified BMP-7 (bone morphogenetic protein 7) as a direct target of miR-542-3p. It was seen that over-expression of miR-542-3p leads to repression of BMP-7 and inhibition of BMP-7/PI3K- survivin signaling. This strongly suggests that miR-542-3p suppresses osteogenic differentiation and promotes osteoblast apoptosis by repressing BMP-7 and its downstream signaling. Furthermore, silencing of miR-542-3p led to increased bone formation, bone strength and improved trabecular microarchitecture in sham and ovariectomized (Ovx) mice. Although miR-542-3p is known to be a tumor repressor, we have identified second complementary function of miR-542-3p where it inhibits BMP-7-mediated osteogenesis. Our findings suggest that pharmacological inhibition of miR-542-3p by anti-miR-542-3p could represent a therapeutic strategy for enhancing bone formation in vivo.