Subacute toxic effects of silver nanoparticles oral administration and withdrawal on the structure and function of adult Albino Rats’ hepatic tissue

Products containing Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are becoming vastly used in our daily life. The widespread increased introduction of Ag NPs in many aspects of life has raised researchers'' concerns regarding their safety and toxicity for biological and environmental life in the past few years. The current study aimed to explore the subsequent effects of Ag NPs withdrawal, following short-term oral administration. Eighteen rats were assigned randomly into three groups (control group "1" and AG NPs treated groups "2" and "3"; 6 animals each). The control group received normal food and tap water while groups 2 & 3 received 0.5 ml of a solution containing 25 ppm Ag NPs for 14 days. Group 2 rats were sacrificed on day 14 whereas group 3 was left for another 14 days of particle cessation followed by euthanasia on day 28. Functional assessment was done by liver enzyme assays, hydrogen peroxide activity, hepatic Bdnf expression, and P53 immunoreactivity. Hepatic tissue structural assessment was done via hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff as well as Masson''s trichrome stains. The results revealed a significant elevation of Hydrogen peroxide in group 2 only compared to the control group. Hepatic Bdnf and liver enzymes were both insignificantly affected. Structural abnormalities and enhanced apoptosis in hepatic tissue were found 14 days after ceasing the nanoparticles. In conclusion: Structural and functional insults following Ag NPs oral administration continues after particle withdrawal, and interestingly they do not necessitate apparent reflection on liver enzyme assays.     

Melatonin and schistosomal antigens ameliorate the anti-oxidative and biochemical response to Schistosoma mansoni infection in hamster

The present study was designed to investigate the potential protective effect of melatonin as an antioxidant separately or in combination with antigens (cercarial; CAP or soluble worm; SWAP) against Schistosoma mansoni infection in hamsters. Each hamster was sensitized with an initial immunization of 0.6 ml of the extracted antigen (30 μg protein/mL). After four days,a second injection of 0.4 mL was given (20 μg protein/mL). Then,each hamster was exposed to 260±20 S.mansoni cercariae followed with melatonin...     

Comparative genetic mapping reveals synteny and collinearity between the American cranberry and diploid blueberry genomes

Cranberry and blueberry are closely related and recently domesticated fruit crops in the genus Vaccinium. Both have a presumed American origin and likely evolved from a common ancestor; however, details of their adaptive radiation and the extent of their genomic divergence remains little understood. To better understand their evolutionary and genomic relationships, a set of 323 cross-transferable simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were identified, added to existing marker datasets, and used to construct linkage maps for cranberry (582 SSRs) and an interspecific diploid blueberry population (V. darrowii x V. corymbosum) x V. corymbosum (409 markers, densest blueberry SSR map currently available). The maps allowed for the first comparative genetic mapping study in Vaccinium, and revealed a surprisingly high degree of macro-synteny and collinearity between the cranberry and blueberry genomes. Approximately 93% of the blueberry linkage map was collinear with cranberry, while the remaining 7% (66.3 cM) was spread across 15 non-collinear regions detected in eight of the 12 linkage groups. These observations suggest that large-scale genome differentiation between the cranberry and blueberry genomes has not occurred during their evolution, and that sequence information will be highly transferable between the species in future genetic research and breeding. Finally, the set of 323 cross-transferable SSRs and linkage maps they were used to construct can serve as a shared resource for the Vaccinium research community, enabling additional comparative mapping studies, the identification and transfer of quantitative trait loci and candidate genes between species, and future exploration of evolutionary relationships in Vaccinium.     

Glycation as an atherogenic modification of LDL

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To highlight the potential importance of glycation as an atherogenic modification of LDL in both diabetic and nondiabetic people. RECENT FINDINGS: Small dense LDL which is known to be most closely associated with atherogenesis is more susceptible to glycation than more buoyant LDL. Glycation and oxidation of LDL appear to be intimately associated. SUMMARY: Glycation of LDL occurs chiefly due to the nonenzymatic reaction of glucose and its metabolites with the free amino groups of lysine in which LDL is rich. Higher concentrations of glycated LDL are present in diabetic than in nondiabetic individuals, but even in the latter, there is generally more circulating glycated LDL than oxidatively modified LDL. Probably, oxidation and glycation of LDL are at least partially interdependent, but both prevent LDL receptor-mediated uptake and promote macrophage scavenger receptor uptake. The recognition that LDL glycation is at least as important as oxidation in atherogenesis may lead to improvements in our understanding of its mechanism and how to prevent it.     

Zilienkrankheiten unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der primären ziliären Dyskinesie

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a clinically and genetically heterogenous group of disorders, predominantly inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. The disease phenotype is characterised by defective mucociliary clearance of the airways caused by inborn defects of motile respiratory cilia. Randomization of left/right-body symmetry is found in most PCD variants and results from dysfunction of nodal cilia during early embryonic development. Thus ~50% of PCD patients exhibit situs inversus or heterotaxia. To date nine genes encoding either axonemal motor protein components or dynein assembly factors have been identified. In addition, two X-linked syndromic PCD variants associated either with retinitis pigmentosa or mental retardation have been reported. High-speed videomicroscopy (HVM) for ciliary beat evaluation is the most sensitive diagnostic test, since electron microscopy (EM) and immunofluorescence (IF) analyses are not able to detect all PCD variants. Genetic analyses should be targeted once the PCD variant has been characterized in detail by HVM and EM/IF.     

CD spectrum of bacteriorhodopsin: Best evidence against exciton model

We summarize the predictions of the exciton model that was originally proposed to explain the observed biphasic band shape of its CD spectrum in the visible region of bacteriorhodopsin (bR). It is shown that to reconcile these predictions with the observed results on the linear dichroism, the retinal isomerization time and, the retinal-retinal distance, the biphasic nature of the observed CD spectrum of bR becomes itself an evidence against the exciton model because of the uncertainty principle.

Reduced bR (RbR), which retains its hexagonal structure, shows a monophasic CD spectrum with relatively small rotational strength as compared to bR. This is shown to disagree with predictions made by the exciton model. The results could best be explained in terms of retinal-protein heterogeneity leading to two or more types of bR in which their retinals suffer opposite sense of intramolecular rotational distortion along their retinal long axis. Such a retinal-protein heterogeneity disappears in reduced bR which is known to have a planar (nondistorted) retinal conjugated system, resulting in a monophasic CD with reduced rotational strength, as observed.

     

Synthesis,antimicrobial, anti-biofilm evaluation,and molecular modelling study of new chalcone linked amines derivatives

A series of amide chalcones conjugated with different secondary amines were synthesised and characterised by different spectroscopic techniques ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and ESI-MS. They were screened for in vitro antibacterial activity. Compounds 36, 37, 38, 42, and 44 are the most active among the synthesised series exhibiting MIC value of 2.0–10.0?µg/ml against different bacterial strains. Compound 36 was equipotent to the standard drug Ampicillin displaying MBC value of 2.0?µg/ml against the bacterial strain Staphylococcus aureus. The products were screened for anti-biofilm activity. Compounds 36, 37, and 38 exhibited promising anti-biofilm activity with IC₅₀ value ranges from 2.4 to 8.6?µg. Molecular modelling was performed suggesting parameters of signalling anti-biofilm mechanism. AspB327 HisB340 (arene–arene interaction) and IleB328 amino acid residues seemed of higher importance to inhibit c-di-GMP. Hydrophobicity may be crucial for activity. ADME calculations suggested that compounds 36, 37, and 38 could be used as good orally absorbed anti-biofilm agents.     

Correlation between heat shock proteins,adiponectin, and T lymphocyte cytokine expression in type 2 diabetics

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) features insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, overproduction of inflammatory cytokines, and systemic oxidative stress. Here, heat shock proteins Hsp70 and Hsp 90, adiponectin, and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1, Hsp32) are profiled in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and serum from 25 T2DM patients and 25 healthy control subjects. Cells cultured with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate/ionomycin were evaluated by three-color flow cytometry for immunophenotypic biomarkers. Plasma HO-1, Hsp, and adiponectin levels were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Relative to healthy controls, T2DM patients exhibited significantly elevated plasma Hsp70, and representation of T helper immunophenotypes activated to express inflammatory cytokines, including CD4+ IFN-γ+, CD4+ TNF-α+, CD4+ IL-6+, CD4+ IL-1β+ T cells, significantly lower representation of CD4+ IL-10+ T cells, plasma adiponectin and cell-associated HO-1 expression—with no significant differences in plasma Hsp90 between T2DM and healthy controls. Plasma HO-1 and adiponectin in T2DM patients inversely correlated with TNF-α and showed inverse correlation between serum LDL and plasma HO-1. Moreover, TNF-α and Hsp90 in T2DM patients correlated positively with fasting blood glucose (FBG). These results demonstrate correlation between potentially pathogenic T cells, HO-1, and adiponectin, additionally revealing a T helper (Th)1-related character of T2DM immunopathogenesis, suggesting potential for novel T cell-related management strategies for T2DM and related co-morbidities.     

High-throughput marker assays for <Emphasis Type="Italic">FaRPc2</Emphasis>-mediated resistance to Phytophthora crown rot in octoploid strawberry

Phytophthora crown rot (PhCR) caused by Phytophthora cactorum is a destructive disease of the allo-octoploid cultivated strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch). Many major strawberry cultivars grown worldwide are susceptible to PhCR. Resistance is conferred by the recently-discovered FaRPc2 locus, but high-throughput markers are not yet available for marker-assisted breeding. In the current study, we developed DNA markers for two haplotypes at the FaRPc2 locus associated with resistance, H2 and H3. Marker validation and marker-assisted selection were performed in University of Florida (UF) breeding population. Seven single nucleotide polymorphism-based high resolution melting (HRM) markers linked to H2 and four HRM markers for H3 were developed. One HRM marker, RPCHRM3 linked to H3, was converted to a Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) marker. To further examine the utility of the markers, they were screened in University of California Davis cultivars with known phenotypes as well as in 20 diverse accessions with phenotypes that are reported in the literature and that are preserved at the USDA-ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository, in Corvallis, Oregon. The most informative markers for FaRPc2 resistance are being implemented in the UF strawberry breeding program to improve PhCR resistance.     

Effect of dietary fish meal replacement by red algae, Gracilaria arcuata, on growth performance and body composition of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

A 12-week long feeding experiment was initiated to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of red algae, Gracilaria arcuata, on the growth performance, feed utilization and body composition of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758). The fish were fed with an algae-free control diet (C) and three experimental diets which replaced conventional fish meal with varying levels of dried G. arcuata (20%, 40% and 60%, represented as G20, G40 and G60, respectively). The growth parameters of final weight (FW), weight gain (WG), percentage of weight gain (WG%), daily growth rate (DGR) and specific growth rate (SGR) were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) at all levels of algae incorporation compared to the control diet. Moreover, the negative impact of Gracilaria meal on the growth performance of Nile tilapia increased as the proportion of algae in the diet increased, with fish on diet G20 exhibiting a significantly higher growth performance than the fish on either of the G40 and G60 diets. On the other hand, the feed utilization parameters feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) did not show significant differences between the fish in the control group and those on diet G20, although poorer FCR and PER outcomes were achieved in the case of fish on diet G60. The content of moisture, protein and ash in muscle and carcass increased as the proportion of Gracilaria meal in the diets increased, but the reverse was true for lipid level. These results indicate that incorporation of less than 20% red algae, Gracilaria arcuata, could be feasible in the diet of Nile tilapia and further studies are recommended to optimize the level of algae to improve growth performance.