Identification of an Immunoglobulin M (IgM) Antibody Against Enolase 1 Protein (ENO1) Derived from HEK-293 Cells in Patients with Kidney Failure

Kidney failure is one of the most important challenges in medicine. In this study, we used HEK-293 kidney cells to evaluate and compare changes in the expr     

Aphid population abundance and pestiferous effect on various bean plant species

The population abundance, infestation, and harmful effects of the aphid Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae) were studied on four bean plant species, namely the country bean (Lablab purpureus var. BARI Seem 1), the yard‐long bean (Vigna sesquipedalis var. BARI Borboti 1), the hyacinth bean (Dolichos lablab var. BARI Seem 6), and the bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris var. BARI Jar Seem 3). Aphid abundance and infestation on the leaves, inflorescences, flowers, and pods differed significantly among the bean plant species, with P. vulgaris and V. sesquipedalis having the lowest and highest results, respectively. Aphid severity grade and the number of trichomes of the bean plant species were negatively correlated. The duration of the growth stages among the bean plant species were significantly different, with V. sesquipedalis having the shortest durations. Aphid abundance and infestation significantly affected the physical and phytochemical characteristics of the bean plant species. The highest reduction of number of leaves, flower inflorescences, and pod inflorescences per plant, and moisture and chlorophyll content in the leaves was found in L. purpureus. The results for V. sesquipedalis revealed the highest reduction in plant height, seed weight, and pH, while those of D. lablab showed the highest reduction in leaf area.     

Promising applications of cold plasma for microbial safety,chemical decontamination and quality enhancement in fruits

Consumers’ demand is increasing for safe foods without impairing the phytochemical and sensory quality. In turn, it has increased research interest in the exploration of innovative food processing technologies. Cold plasma technology is getting popularity now days owing to its high efficacy in decontamination of microbes in fruit and fruit-based products. As a on-thermal approach, plasma processing maintains the quality of fruits and minimizes the thermal effects on nutritional properties. Cold plasma is also exploited for inactivating enzymes and degrading pesticides as both are directly related with quality loss and presently are most important concerns in fresh produce industry. The present review covers the influence of cold plasma technology on reducing microbial risks and enhancing the quality attributes in fruits.     

Advanced psychometric testing on a clinical screening tool to evaluate insomnia: sleep condition indicator in patients with advanced cancer

Sleep and Biological Rhythms - To examine the psychometric properties of the Sleep Condition Indicator (SCI) using different psychometric approaches [including classical test theory, Rasch models,...     

Integrative effects of stress- and stress tolerance-inducing elicitors on in vitro bioactive compounds of ajowan [Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague] medicinal plant

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) - In the present study, the integrative effects of two sets of stress tolerance-inducing and stress-inducing elicitors, including polyethylene...     

Incorporation of the Tat cell‐penetrating peptide into nanofibers improves the respective antitumor immune response

A major challenge for the development of anticancer vaccines is the induction of a safe and effective immune response, particularly mediated by CD8+ T lymphocytes, in an adjuvant‐free manner. In this respect, we present a simple strategy to improve the specific CD8+ T cell responses using KFE8 nanofibers bearing a Class I (Kb)‐restricted peptide epitope (called E. nanofibers) without the use of adjuvant. We demonstrate that incorporation of Tat, a cell‐penetrating peptide (CPP) of the HIV transactivator protein, into E. nanofibers remarkably enhanced tumor‐specific CD8+ T cell responses. E. nanofibers containing 12.5% Tat peptide (E.Tat_12.5 nanofiber) increased antigen cross‐presentation by bone marrow‐derived dendritic cells as compared with E. nanofibers, or E. nanofibers containing 25 or 50% the Tat peptide. Uptake of KFE8.Tat_12.5 nanofibers by dendritic cells (DCs) was significantly increased compared with KFE8 nanofiber lacking Tat. Peritoneal and lymph node DCs of mice immunized with E.Tat_12.5 nanofibers exhibited increased presentation of the H2kb‐epitope (reminiscent for cross‐presentation) compared with DCs obtained from E. nanofiber vaccinated mice. Tetrameric and intracellular cytokine staining revealed that vaccination with E.Tat_12.5 triggered a robust and specific CD8+ T lymphocyte response, which was more pronounced than in mice vaccinated with E. nanofibers alone. Furthermore, E.Tat_12.5 nanofibers were more potent than E. nanofiber to induce antitumor immune response and tumor‐infiltrating IFN‐γ CD8 T lymphocyte. In terms of cancer vaccine development, we propose that harnessing the nanofiber‐based vaccine platform with incorporated Tat peptide could present a simple and promising strategy to induce highly effective antitumor immune response.     

Mating behaviour and behavioural ecology of a Predatory Wasp,Symmorphus allobrogus (de Saussure) (Hymenoptera: Eumeninae)

This paper represents an attempt to investigate the mating behaviour of Symmorphus allobrogus, explaining the willingness of male to mount and copulate. The male displays including mode and frequency of antennation and position while copulating, the displays further comprises of intensity and frequency of rejecting behaviour. The presence of the male’s copulatory and postcopulatory courtship studies, understands the maintenance of monandry. The wasp has numerous secondary sexual characters, and the mating behaviour follows a phyletic and the specific sexual mating characters in context of sexual selection. The duration of mating phases and the number of male antennation series during precopulatory, copulatory and postcopulatory phases of mounting, differs significantly. Mating success depends mostly on the activities of male in the premounting phase and the behaviour of both sexes has a roughly equal importance for it in precopulatory phase. While during copulation, activity of male has little influence on its duration; however, behaviour of female has crucial effect, inducing its earlier termination.     

A Dermal Gel Made of Rutilus Kutum Skin Collagen-Chitosan for Deep Burn Healing

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Natural compounds extracted from marine organisms consisting of biological active materials like collagen provide a major source of...