Effect of Mentha piperita and Cuminum cyminum essential oil on Tribolium castaneum and Sitophilus oryzae

Essential oils are one of the known plant materials for insect pest control. The studies about essential oils application for control of insect pest population has been started in recent years. This study aims to investigate repellency effect and fumigant toxicity of Mentha piperita and Cuminum cyminum essential oil on Tribolium castaneum and Sitophilus oryzae. The results showed that the mortality rate of adult insects was increased with increase in essential oil concentration. The highest pest mortality rate in the case of M. piperita and C. cyminum on T. castaneum and S. oryzae was 64, 68, 82 and 78%, respectively. The average insect mortality was significantly different in various concentrations in most of the treatments. Amounts of LC₅₀ were 0.421, 0.271, 0.135 and 0.136 (ml/ml) for M. piperita and C. cyminum essential oil on T. castaneum and S. oryzae, respectively. Different concentrations of M. piperita and C. cyminum essential oil had different repellency effect on T. castaneum and S. oryzae. Repellency effect was increased with increase in essential oil concentration, and the highest repellency effect was belonged to the highest concentration. Essential oils of M. piperita and C. cyminum caused 61.2 and 66.4% repellency on T. castaneum. Meanwhile, their effect was found to be 55.2 and 60.4% repellency on S. oryzae at the highest concentration.     

Tolerance induction by transcutaneous immunization through ultraviolet-irradiated skin is transferable through CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells and is dependent on host-derived IL-10

UV radiation of the skin impairs immune responses to haptens and to tumor Ags. Transcutaneous immunization (TCI) is an effective method of inducing immune responses to protein and peptide Ag. We explore the effect of UV irradiation on TCI. The generation of Ag-specific CTL to OVA protein, but not class I MHC-restricted OVA peptide, is inhibited by TCI through UV-irradiated skin. Consequently, the induction of protein contact hypersensitivity and in vivo Ag-specific CTL activity following OVA protein immunization is prevented. Application of haptens to UV-exposed skin induces hapten-specific tolerance. We demonstrate that application of protein or class II MHC-restricted OVA peptide to UV-irradiated skin induces transferable Ag-specific tolerance. This tolerance is mediated by CD4(+)CD25(+) T regulatory (T(reg)) cells. These Ag-specific T(reg) cells inhibit the priming of CTL following protein immunization in the presence of CpG adjuvant. IL-10 deficiency is known to prevent hapten-specific tolerance induction. In this study, we demonstrate, using IL-10-deficient mice and adoptive T cell transfer, that IL-10 is required for the direct inhibition of CTL priming following immunization through UV-irradiated skin. However, IL-10 is not required for the induction of T(reg) cells through UV-irradiated skin as IL-10-deficient T(reg) cells are able to mediate tolerance. Rather, host-derived IL-10 is required for the function of UV-generated T(reg) cells. These experiments indicate that protein and peptide TCI through UV-irradiated skin may be used to induce robust Ag-specific tolerance to neo-Ags and that UV-induced T(reg) cells mediate their effects in part through the modulation of IL-10.     

Apolipoprotein E polymorphism in Southern Iran: E4 allele in the lowest reported amounts

Background: Apolipoprotein E (apoE) with three major alleles E2, E3 and E4 is one of the critical genes in lipid metabolism. Common apoE alleles are in association with an increase in risk for central nervous and cardiovascular diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, hyperlipoproteinemia and stroke. ApoE3 is known as the most frequent allele in all populations, while association of apoE gene polymorphism with reported diseases have mostly been related to other two major alleles especially apoE4. Objective: To determine of apoE alleles frequencies in Southern Iran and comparison of those frequencies with other populations. Methods: DNA was extracted from the whole blood of 198 healthy unrelated candidates from population of Fars Province, Southern Iran, for apoE genotyping who were checked up by a physician. The frequencies of apoE alleles were compared with other populations by χ² test. Results: The frequencies of E2, E3 and E4 were 0.063, 0.886 and 0.051 respectively. These values were similar to those reported from populations of Kuwait, Oman, Lebanon, India, Turkey, Greece, Spain, Sardinia Islands of Italy and two Iranian populations but were different from South of Italy and Caucasians in other Europe regions, American, American-Indian, African, East Asian and Saudi populations (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The frequency of E4 allele as a genetic risk factor for some multifactorial diseases in the population of Southern Iran is in the lowest reported amounts in the world. Iranian population has Caucasoid origin but differs from some Caucasian populations in Europe and America. The results of present study are in agreement with the historical evidences which show admixture of Iranian population with other populations and some studies based on genetic polymorphisms in the population of Southern Iran.     

Deoxyribonucleic Acid Synthesis in Permeabilized Spheroplasts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Osmotically shocked spheroplasts from Saccharomyces cerevisiae incorporated deoxynucleoside triphosphates specifically into double-stranded nuclear and mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Results with this in vitro system for cells with and without mitochondrial DNA were compared. Strains lacking mitochondrial DNA were used to study nuclear DNA replication. With a temperature-sensitive mutant defective in DNA replication in vivo, DNA synthesis in vitro was temperature sensitive as well. The product of synthesis with all strains after very short labeling times consisted principally of short fragments that sedimented at approximately 4S in alkali; with longer pulse times or a chase with unlabeled nucleotides, they grew to a more heterogenous size, with an average of 6 to 8S and a maximum of 15S. There was little, if any, integration of these DNA fragments into the high-molecular-weight nuclear DNA. Analysis by CsCl density gradient centrifugation after incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine triphosphate showed that most of the product consisted of chains containing both preexisting and newly synthesized material, but there was also a small fraction (ca. 20%) in which the strands were fully synthesized in vitro. (32)P-label transfer ("nearest-neighbor") experiments demonstrated that at least a part of the material synthesized in vitro contained ribonucleic acid-DNA junctions. DNA pulse-labeled in vivo in a mutant capable of taking up thymidine 5'-monophosphate, sedimented in alkali at 4S, as in the case of the in vitro experiments.     

Depletion of Aspergillus nidulans cotA causes a severe polarity defect which is not suppressed by the nuclear migration mutation nudA2

The Aspergillus nidulans homologue of Neurospora crassa cot-1, cotA, encoding a member of the NDR protein kinase family, has been cloned and expressed under the control of the conditional alcA promoter. Depletion of CotA by repression of the alcA promoter led to a severe growth defect accompanied by loss of polarity. Germlings show greatly enlarged volume of the spores and hyphae, accompanied by an increase in number of nuclei per compartment, though the nucleus/volume ratio is not significantly altered. The depleted CotA phenotype was not suppressed by a nuclear migration mutation nudA2. Double mutants showed an additive, defective phenotype, unlike the suppression of the cot-1 ts mutation by ropy mutations seen in N. crassa, suggesting a different relationship between nuclear migration and the cot signalling pathway in A. nidulans. A functional CotA–GFP fusion protein was found in punctate regions of fluorescence similar to the distribution reported for human NDR2, and as a cap at the hyphal tip.     

Effect of Molybdenum Nanoparticles on Blood Cells,Liver Enzymes,and Sexual Hormones in Male Rats

Despite an increasing surge in application of nanoparticles in industries, there is a serious lack of information concerning their impact on human health and the environment. The present study investigated effects of molybdenum nanoparticles (Mo NPs) injected intraperitoneally into Sprague-Dawley rats at different doses of Mo NPs (5, 10, and 15 mg/kg BW per day) during a period of 28 days. Hematological and biochemical parameters as well as sexual hormones and histopathological examinations of the liver and testis were assessed and compared with control group. The results showed that the serum levels of testosterone decreased significantly in both groups of 10 and 15 mg (Mo NPs)/kg BW in comparison with the control group (p < 0.05). However, there were insignificant differences observed in luteinizing hormone (LH) levels and hematological parameters when compared with the control group (p > 0.05). The results of liver enzymes showed that serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) decreased significantly in both dosage groups of 5 and 10 mg/kg BW (Mo NPs) when compared with the control group (p < 0.05), and significant decrease obtained in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels at dose of 5 mg/kg BW in comparison with the control group (p < 0.05). The histopathological examination of testis showed a decrease in number of Leydig cells. Also, the number of chronic inflammatory cells increased in portal triad and parenchyma in liver tissue of rats exposed to Mo NPs.     

Structural features of the Seneca Valley virus internal ribosome entry site (IRES) element: a picornavirus with a pestivirus-like IRES

The RNA genome of Seneca Valley virus (SVV), a recently identified picornavirus, contains an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) element which has structural and functional similarity to that from classical swine fever virus (CSFV) and hepatitis C virus, members of the Flaviviridae. The SVV IRES has an absolute requirement for the presence of a short region of virus-coding sequence to allow it to function either in cells or in rabbit reticulocyte lysate. The IRES activity does not require the translation initiation factor eIF4A or intact eIF4G. The predicted secondary structure indicates that the SVV IRES is more closely related to the CSFV IRES, including the presence of a bipartite IIId domain. Mutagenesis of the SVV IRES, coupled to functional assays, support the core elements of the IRES structure model, but surprisingly, deletion of the conserved IIId(2) domain had no effect on IRES activity, including 40S and eIF3 binding. This is the first example of a picornavirus IRES that is most closely related to the CSFV IRES and suggests the possibility of multiple, independent recombination events between the genomes of the Picornaviridae and Flaviviridae to give rise to similar IRES elements.     

Expression of recombinant HAO3 from an Iranian isolate of Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum in Pichia pastoris and evaluation of its antigenicity

Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum tick is considered as one of the main problem of ruminants’ productivity in endemic countries such as parts of Africa, the Middle East and India. The disease is economically important and hence, its control and eradication is a priority. This problem reinforces the need for alternative approach like vaccine to control tick infestations instead of continuous application of acaricide which led to the natural selection of the acaricide-resistant ticks. Therefore, the present study provided evidence for the construction of transformant containing the chromosomally integrated multi-copy expression cassettes of HAO3, its successful and efficient expression in Pichia pastoris yeast and purification of the secreted protein by ultrafiltration (UF) system in a high level yield and purity.The result of antigenicity assay for the rHAO3 protein pointed well toward its capability for the elicitation of antibody response in immunized rabbits. Interestingly, the results indicated that the expressed HAO3 protein reacted well with mid gut antigen (MGAg) and rBm86 (Gavac) antisera in ELISA and western blot assays making it evident that the epitopes present in expressed protein are well recognized by the antibodies against MGAg and rBm86 proteins. Moreover, the presence of cross-reactive epitopes between rHAO3 protein with its native antigen from mid gut cells was also determined.     

High-frequency fire alters soil and plant chemistry but does not lead to nitrogen-limited growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus pilularis</Emphasis> seedlings

Background and aims

The current study was undertaken to investigate the mechanism underlying Boron (B)-alleviated phosphate (P) deficiency in Arabidopsis thaliana. Furthermore, we were interested to explore whether this alleviation of P deficiency by B could extend to Brassica crops.

Methods

Arabidopsis thaliana or Brassica oleracea plants were grown under P-sufficient or -deficient condition with or without extra B for 7 days, then shoots and roots of B. oleracea were sampled for analysis of soluble P content while those of A. thaliana were harvested for analysis of total P content, soluble P content and nitric oxide (NO) as well as for cell wall extraction and RNA isolation.

Results

A. thaliana plants showed reduced root growth and decreased P content in the root under P-deficient conditions, but improved root growth when supplemented with additional B. Further analysis revealed that exogenous B elevated the cell wall pectin content and facilitated the release of P in P-deficient seedlings, thus more soluble P was available to sustain growth under P deficiency. Furthermore, B supplement also increased soluble P in P-deficient cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.), an economically important vegetable crop. P deficiency alone was sufficient to induce NO accumulation, and in combination with B application further enhanced NO accumulation, while exogenous application of NO scavenger c-PTIO [2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide] counteracted this positive effect of B, indicating that NO is positively involved in B-mediated alleviation of P deficiency.

Conclusions

Our study reveals the critical role of B in improving the growth of P-deficient plants, and also provides evidence implicating the involvement of NO signal.

     

Surface modification of POSS-nanocomposite biomaterials using reactive oxygen plasma treatment for cardiovascular surgical implant applications

In this study, central composite design (CCD) was used to develop predictive models to optimize operating conditions of plasma surface modification. It was concluded that out of the two process variables, power and duration of plasma exposure, the latter was significantly affecting the surface energy (γ(s) ), chemistry, and topography of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane-poly(carbonate-urea)urethane (POSS-PCU) films. On the basis of experimental data, CCD was used to model the γ(s) using a quadratic modeling of the process variables to achieve optimum surface energy to improve the interaction between endothelial cells (ECs). It was found that optimal water θ for EC adhesion and retention, which was reported 55° from supporting literature (equivalent to γ(s) = 51 mN/m), was easily achievable using the following experimental conditions: (1) power output at 30 W for 75 Sec, (2) 90 W for 40 Sec, and (3) 90 W for 55 Sec in oxygen. In vitro cell culture and metabolic activity studies on optimized films [as in (1)] demonstrate increased adhesion, coverage, and growth of human umbilical vein endothelial cells that were confluent over a shorter time period (<24 H) than controls. Such materials enhanced the EC response and promoted endothelialization on optimized films, thus demonstrating their use as bypass graft materials.