Comparative Study on Biological Activities and Chemical Profiling of Mushroom (Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fr.) Quel.) Cultured on Lignocellulosic Agro Wastes

The relevance of the lignocellulosic substrate in the cultivation of mushrooms has lent support to the exploration of several lignocellulosic agro wastes. This study was, thus, aimed at the evaluation of durian peel as an alternative substrate for more sustainable mushroom cultivation and climate change mitigation. The secondary metabolites and biological activities of both aqueous and organic mushroom (Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fr.) Quel.) extract cultured on durian peel and rubberwood sawdust substrate were compared using GCMS, LCMS as well as various biological assays (cytotoxicity, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities). Mushroom extracts from durian peel substrates possess remarkable biological activities. The results showed that the aqueous extracts had poor antimicrobial activities. The organic extracts were more active against cancer cells than the aqueous extracts, while the aqueous extracts were more potent as antioxidants than the organic extracts. Overall, the mushroom extract from the durian substrate was the most effective except against A549 and SW948, while the aqueous extract from the durian substrate was the most effective against the A549 cancer cell lines with 29.53±2.39 % inhibition. On the other hand, the organic mushroom extract from the sawdust substrate was the most effective against SW948 with 60.24±2.45 % inhibition. Further studies, however, are needed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of action of P. pulmonarius extracts against cancer cell proliferation and the effect of the substrates on the nutritional composition, secondary metabolites, and other biological activities of P. pulmonarius extracts.     

The Labidocera pectinata group: an Indo-West Pacific lineage of planktonic copepods with descriptions of two new species

The Labidocera pectinata species group is recognized as a uniquemonophyletic lineage within the primarily tropical Indo-WestPacific radiation of coastal water species encompassed by theLabidocera kroyeri complex. Both categories are defined andthe six species comprising the pectinata group, including twonew to science, are diagnosed. Review of available facts supportsthe proposal that L. bipinnata be ranked as a junior synonymof L. rotunda. Phylogenetic relationships within the group basedon sexually modified characters are assessed. Two geminate pairsof parapatric species are identified. The geographic rangesof one pair are adjacent in the Andaman Sea, those of the otherpair in the vicinity of Cape York, Australia. Each pair appearsto be a consequence of a relatively recent speciation event.The apparent phylogenetic intermediacy of L. japonica linkingthe two tropical species of Asia and the three from Papua-Australiasuggests an older sequence of trans-hemisphere spreading anddiversification.     

Biochemical and Electrophysiological Demonstrations of the Actions of β-Bungarotoxin on Synapses in Brain

Homogeneous beta-bungarotoxin interacts irreversibly with rat olfactory cortex and produced permanent inhibition of neurotransmission (half-time of blockade for 230 nM toxin in 25 min). Binding occurs in the absence of divalent cations, but the rate of synaptic blockade is increased by Ca2+, which activates the intrinsic phospholipase A2 activity of the toxin. Other observable actions of the toxin, seen with rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes, are an increase in the release of acetylcholine, glutamate and gamma-aminobutyrate and impairment of transmitter uptake, which are all insensitive to tetrodotoxin. Inactivation of the toxin's phospholipase activity by chemical modification with p-bromophenacyl bromide diminishes the observed concomitant efflux of the neurotransmitters and lactate dehydrogenase. Collectively, the results support the idea that the toxin binds specifically and irreversibly to component(s) on nerve terminals and this together with the resultant phospholipolysis leads eventually to synaptic blockade. Such a proposal would account for the unique toxicity of the protein relative to phospholipase A2 enzymes.     

Purification, redox and spectroscopic properties of the tetraheme cytochrome c isolated from Rubrivivax gelatinosus.

The tetraheme cytochrome c subunit of the Rubrivivax gelatinosus reaction center was isolated in the presence of octyl beta-D-thioglucoside by ammonium sulfate precipitation and solubilization at pH 9 in a solution of Deriphat 160. Several biochemical properties of this purified cytochrome were characterized. In particular, it forms small oligomers and its N-terminal amino acid is blocked. In the presence or absence of diaminodurene, ascorbate and dithionite, different oxidation/reduction states of the isolated cytochrome were studied by absorption, EPR and resonance Raman spectroscopies. All the data show two hemes quickly reduced by ascorbate, one heme slowly reduced by ascorbate and one heme only reduced by dithionite. The quickly ascorbate-reduced hemes have paramagnetic properties very similar to those of the two low-potential hemes of the reaction center-bound cytochrome (gz = 3.34), but their alpha band is split with two components peaking at 552 nm and 554 nm in the reduced state. Their axial ligands did not change, being His/Met and His/His, as indicated by the resonance Raman spectra. The slowly ascorbate-reduced heme and the dithionite-reduced heme are assigned to the two high-potential hemes of the bound cytochrome. Their alpha band was blue-shifted at 551 nm and the gz values decreased to 2.96, although the axial ligations (His/Met) were conserved. It was concluded that the estimated 300 mV potential drop of these hemes reflected changes in their solvent accessibility, while the reduction in gz indicates an increased symmetry of their cooordination spheres. These structural modifications impaired the cytochrome's essential function as the electron donor to the photooxidized bacteriochlorophyll dimer of the reaction center. In contrast to its native state, the isolated cytochrome was unable to reduce efficiently the reaction center purified from a Rubrivivax gelatinosus mutant in which the tetraheme was absent. Despite the conformational changes of the cytochrome, its four hemes are still divided into two groups with a pair of low-potential hemes and a pair of high-potential hemes.     

Role of selenium against lead toxicity in male rats

Male albino rats were intramuscularly administered a single dose of lead acetate (100 μmol/kg b.wt). Another group of rats were injected with sodium selenite (10 μmol/kg b.wt) before lead intoxication. After 3 and 24 hours, lead treatment resulted in significant increases in acid and alkaline phosphatases, GOT and GPT, total proteins, and cholesterol in serum. The total triglycerides in serum was decreased after 24 hours of intoxication. Lead treatment also produced significant elevation of lipid peroxidation in liver and kidney. The antioxidant capacity of hepatic and renal cells in terms of the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione content was diminished. It appears from these results that lead may exert its toxic effect via peroxidative damage to renal and hepatic cell membranes after 24 hours. Selenium administration prior to lead injection produced pronounced prophylactic action against lead effects, and it is observed that selenium enhances the endogenous antioxidant capacity of the cells by increasing the activities of the superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase and the glutathione content. As a result, the lipid peroxidation was decreased in both liver and kidney. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 12: 345–349, 1998     

Growth and competition between seedlings of an invasive plantation tree, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia mangium,</Emphasis> and those of a native Borneo heath-forest species, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Melastoma beccarianum</Emphasis>

An introduced plantation tree species, Acacia mangium Willd., is becoming invasive in the Brunei region of Borneo. To examine its invasive potential, a greenhouse, additive series experiment (target–neighbour) involving seedlings of A. mangium and those of a common native heath-forest (kerangas), Melastoma beccarianum Cogn. was carried out under low and high light regimes in intra- and interspecific combinations over a 6-month period. Significant variations in growth parameters (other than biomass allocation patterns) existed amongst seedlings from different treatments. A major part of this variation in growth could be attributed to the main factors of target species, neighbour species, and competition (seedling density). For the growth variables examined, the target–species response was not consistent across light regimes. Under high light conditions, Acacia was the better competitor; the Lotka-Volterra competition coefficient effect of Melastoma on Acacia was lower (=0.30) than the effect of Acacia on Melastoma (=0.54). However, the reverse occurred under low light conditions with Melastoma gaining the upper hand (=1.45 and =0.44). These results show that light (and hence disturbance) can strongly influence the pattern and intensity of both intra- and interspecific competition between invasive and local flora species. Relatively intact forest is unlikely to be invaded by Acacia trees (as they are poor competitors under this scenario). On the other hand, the Acacia trees can easily invade disturbed forests, especially those prone to recurring drought and fire, and over time convert the habitats to nearly monospecific stands, as is presently being observed in Brunei.     

Anticancer efficacies of doxorubicin,verapamil and quercetin on FM3A cells under hyperthermic temperature

Hyperthermia (HT) in combination with anticancer drugs (ACDs) had proven to more efficacious in various cancers, although efficacies vary according to chemotherapeutic compounds and cancer types. Presently there are few data that compares anticancer efficacies among ACDs under hyperthermic conditions. Therefore, we selected three commonly used ACDs (quercetin, verapamil and doxorubicin) and compared their antitumor effects when each was treated with 43°C HT exposure. Firstly, FM3A, a murine breast cancer cell line, was treated with each ACD for 1 h followed by 43°C exposure for additional 1 h, and examined the effects of: 1) each drug, 2) 43°C HT exposure, and 3) the combination of each drug and 43°C HT exposure for 1, 6 and 24 h. The determined overall effects on FM3A cells were arrested cell proliferation, clonogenic efficiency and apoptosis. Pre-treatment of FM3A cells to each ACD followed by 43°C HT exposure produced greater antitumor effects including suppressed cell proliferation, reduced clonogenic efficiency and increased apoptotic cell death, compared to ACD treatment or HT exposure alone. Apoptotic cell death occurred in a time-dependent manner. Among the ACDs, antitumor efficacies varied in the order of doxorubicin > verapamil > quercetin. It was concluded that heat exposure during ACD treatment of caner cells may be an important factor to get a better antitumor benefit, even though this benefit may differ from one drug to another.     

Hypothalamic hypogonadism: induction of ovulation and pregnancy by subcutaneous pulsatile injections of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone

5 female patients with isolated hypothalamic hypogonadism were given subcutaneous pulses of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH), 2.5-15 micrograms every 90 min, for 2-6 months by means of an automated pump. This treatment produced an increase in serum LH, FSH, and estradiol levels in 4 patients, all of whom became pregnant. The estradiol levels failed to rise in 1 patient, in spite of an adequate LH and FSH response, and a subsequent biopsy showed evidence of primary ovarian failure in addition to the hypothalamic deficit. We conclude that subcutaneous pulsatile GnRH administration is a simple, safe, and relatively inexpensive way to induce ovulation in patients with hypothalamic hypogonadism.     

Recovery of kraft lignin from pulping wastewater via emulsion liquid membrane process

Kraft lignin (KL) is a renewable source of many valuable intermediate biochemical products currently derived from petroleum. An excessive of lignin comes from pulping wastewater caused an adverse pollution problems hence affecting human and aquatic life. A comprehensive study pertaining to emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) extraction of lignin from pulping wastewater was presented. ELM formulation contains Aliquat 336 as carrier, kerosene as diluent, sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) as stripping agent and Span 80 as surfactant. The emulsion stability was investigated at different surfactant concentrations, homogenizer speed and emulsification time. Modifier (2‐ethyl‐1‐hexanol) was added to avoid segregation of third phase while improving the emulsion stability. At optimum conditions, 95% and 56% of lignin were extracted and recovered, respectively at 10 min of extraction time, 0.007 M of Aliquat 336, 0.1 M of NaHCO₃ and 1:5 of treat ratio. Additional of modifier was contributed to highest recovery up to 98%. The ELM process was found to be equally feasible and quite effective in the recovery of KL from real pulping wastewater. Therefore, ELM process provides a promising alternative technology to recover KL from pulping wastewater while solving the environmental problems simultaneously. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 31:1305–1314, 2015     

Enterovirus Migration Patterns between France and Tunisia

The enterovirus (EV) types echovirus (E-) 5, E-9, and E-18, and coxsackievirus (CV-) A9 are infrequently reported in human diseases and their epidemiologic features are poorly defined. Virus transmission patterns between countries have been estimated with phylogenetic data derived from the 1D/VP1 and 3CD gene sequences of a sample of 74 strains obtained in France (2000–2012) and Tunisia (2011–2013) and from the publicly available sequences. The EV types (E-5, E-9, and E-18) exhibited a lower worldwide genetic diversity (respective number of genogroups: 4, 5, and 3) in comparison to CV-A9 (n = 10). The phylogenetic trees estimated with both 1D/VP1 and 3CD sequence data showed variations in the number of co-circulating lineages over the last 20 years among the four EV types. Despite the low number of genogroups in E-18, the virus exhibited the highest number of recombinant 3CD lineages (n = 10) versus 4 (E-5) to 8 (E-9). The phylogenies provided evidence of multiple transportation events between France and Tunisia involving E-5, E-9, E-18, and CV-A9 strains. Virus spread events between France and 17 other countries in five continents had high probabilities of occurrence as those between Tunisia and two European countries other than France. All transportation events were supported by BF values > 10. Inferring the source of virus transmission from phylogenetic data may provide insights into the patterns of sporadic and epidemic diseases caused by EVs.