Genetic variability and molecular phylogeny of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Pleurotus eryngii</Emphasis> species-complex isolates from Iran,and notes on the systematics of Asiatic populations

The Pleurotus eryngii species-complex includes taxa of the northern hemisphere growing in association with plants of the family Apiaceae (umbellifers). In this study, 45 Pleurotus strains were isolated from five different host-plants: Ferula ovina, F. assa-foetida, Smyrniopsis aucheri, Kellusia odoratissima, and Cachrys ferulacea; all plant species, with the exception of C. ferulacea, are reported for the first time as hosts for this fungal group. Random amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR (RAPD) analysis and nucleotide sequence data from the internal transcribed spacer of the nuclear rRNA genes (ITS1, 5.8S and ITS2) were used for assessing genetic diversity and for determining phylogenetic relationships among the populations studied. Results permitted the grouping of the strains studied into three major clusters corresponding mainly to the nature of the host-plant: the first included isolates collected from Ferula spp. only, the second included isolates originating from C. ferulacea only but from various sampling locations, and the third included all K. odoratissima and S. aucheri associated strains plus a few isolates collected from F. ovina and C. ferulacea. The grouping of the Iranian material, in conjunction with the position in the resulting phylograms of other previously obtained P. eryngii complex sequences, revealed that the first cluster is related to the asiatic ‘P. nebrodensis’ (or to the asiatic Ferula spp. associated Pleuroti), the second forms a rather distinct lineage which is linked with reference strains originally classified as P. fossulatus, whereas the third cluster falls within the main part (or the “core”) of this complex, i.e., P. eryngii. Pleurotus populations growing on umbellifers in Iran seem either to have recently diverged through a sympatric speciation process based mainly on ecological factors (e.g., P. fossulatus), or they form part of a rather wide agglomerate associated with various host-plants where exchange of genetic material is still in progress (i.e., P. eryngii).     

3D-printed PLA/Gel hybrid in liver tissue engineering: Effects of architecture on biological functions

The liver is one of the vital organs in the body, and the gold standard of treatment for liver function impairment is liver transplantation, which poses many challenges. The specific three-dimensional (3D) structure of liver, which significantly impacts the growth and function of its cells, has made biofabrication with the 3D printing of scaffolds suitable for this approach. In this study, to investigate the effect of scaffold geometry on the performance of HepG2 cells, poly-lactic acid (PLA) polymer was used as the input of the fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D-printing machine. Samples with simple square and bioinspired hexagonal cross-sectional designs were printed. One percent and 2% of gelatin coating were applied to the 3D printed PLA to improve the wettability and surface properties of the scaffold. Scanning electron microscopy pictures were used to analyze the structural properties of PLA–Gel hybrid scaffolds, energy dispersive spectroscopy to investigate the presence of gelatin, water contact angle measurement for wettability, and weight loss for degradation. In vitro tests were performed by culturing HepG2 cells on the scaffold to evaluate the cell adhesion, viability, cytotoxicity, and specific liver functions. Then, high-precision scaffolds were printed and the presence of gelatin was detected. Also, the effect of geometry on cell function was confirmed in viability, adhesion, and functional tests. The albumin and urea production of the Hexagonal PLA scaffold was about 1.22 ± 0.02-fold higher than the square design in 3 days. This study will hopefully advance our understanding of liver tissue engineering toward a promising perspective for liver regeneration.     

Effect of salinity and waterlogging on growth,anatomical and antioxidative responses in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mentha aquatica</Emphasis> L.

Salinity and waterlogging are two stresses which in nature often occur simultaneously. In this work, effects of combined waterlogging and salinity stresses are studied on the anatomical alteration, changes of enzymatic antioxidant system and lipid peroxidation in Mentha aquatica L. plants. Seedlings were cultured in half-strength Hoagland medium 50 days after sowing, and were treated under combination of three waterlogging levels (well drained, moderately drained and waterlogging) and NaCl (0, 50, 100, 150 mM) for 30 days. Moderately drained and waterlogging conditions induced differently aerenchyma formation in roots of M. aquatica salt-treated and untreated plants. Moreover, stele diameter and endodermis layer were also affected by salt stress and waterlogging. Salt stress significantly decreased growth, relative water content (RWC), protein level, catalase (CAT) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities, and increased proline content, MDA content, H₂O₂ level and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Waterlogging in salt-untreated plants increased significantly growth parameters, RWC, protein content, antioxidant enzyme activity, and decreased proline content, H₂O₂ and MDA levels. In salt-treated plant, waterlogging caused strong induction of antioxidant enzymes activities especially at severe stress condition. These results suggest M. aquatica is a waterlogging tolerant plant due to significant increase of antioxidant activity, membrane stability and growth under water stress. High antioxidant capacity under waterlogging can be a protective strategy against oxidative damage, and help to salt stress alleviation.     

The Intensity of a Bean Fusarium Root Rot Epidemic is Dependent on Planting Strategies

Restricting Fusarium root rot (FRR) epidemics and improving productivity using fewer chemicals is a major concern in bean‐growing regions. The main purpose of this research was to identify the planting strategies associated with FRR development and seed production in bean crops. A 2‐year study of 122 commercial bean farms in four major producing regions in Zanjan, Iran, was performed to characterize the associations of farming indicators with FRR and productivity. Linear mixed‐effect models, contingency tables and correspondence analyses were used to describe the variables relationships. Low disease and high productivity were linked to herbicide and manure applications, fungicidal treatment of seeds, manual sowing and sprinkler irrigation. Furrow irrigation, mechanical sowing, planting on raised seedbeds, the lack of fertilizer and herbicide use accounted for high disease and low seed production. The results of the study provide further evidence of factors contributions to the wider FRR spread over bean‐cropping systems. Overall, this suggests that the selected composition of planting strategies can improve bean production and reduce FRR intensity.     

Correction: Neutralizing Antibody Response after Intramuscular Purified Vero Cell Rabies Vaccination (PVRV) in Iranian Patients with Specific Medical Conditions

Objective

Post exposure prophylaxis using one of the WHO-approved vaccines is the method of choice for preventing rabies. Abnormal immune function in patients with some specific medical conditions, such as pregnancy, chronic hepatitis B virus infection, different types of cancers like lymphoma, diabetes I and II, corticosteroid consumption by patients with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus, could impair the immunologic response to various vaccines. The immune response to rabies vaccination has never been examined in patients with any of these described medical conditions. This study purposed to evaluate the neutralyzing antibody response after vaccination with purified Vero cell rabies vaccine (PVRV) according to the WHO-recommended Post–Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) "ESSEN" regimen.

Methods

Thirty healthy volunteers and 50 volunteers with different medical conditions who were exposed to a suspected rabid animal in the 2nd or 3rd category of exposure received 5 doses of PVRV under the ESSEN protocol. Three blood samples were collected on days 0 (before the first dose), 14, and 35. The anti-rabies antibody titer was measured using the Rapid Fluorescent Foci Inhibition Test (RFFIT) and an ELISA Bio-Rad, Platelia, Rabies II kit.

Results

All subjects reached NAb titers above 0.5 IU/ml by day 14 after vaccination. On day 35 (1 week after receiving the last rabies vaccine), anti-rabies antibodies were in the protective level (>0.5 IU/ml) in both groups. There was no statistically significant difference in anti-rabies antibody response due to the type of exposure (category 2 or 3), and successful seroconversion was confirmed in both groups.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the ESSEN protocol using the PVRV vaccine is sufficient for rabies prophylaxis in patients with specific medical conditions.     

Compensatory Role of Insulin in the Extinction but Not Reinstatement of Morphine-Induced Conditioned Place Preference in the Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Neurochemical Research - Insulin receptors are distributed in the whole brain, including different parts of the reward circuit that modulate dopamine as the primary neurotransmitter implicated in...     

Leishmania tropica infection, in comparison to Leishmania major, induces lower delayed type hypersensitivity in BALB/c mice

Leishmania tropica and L. major are etiologic agents of human cutaneous leishmaniasis. Delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) is an immunologic response that has been frequently used as a correlate for protection against or sensitization to leishmania antigen. In BALB/c mice, L. tropica infection results in non-ulcerating disease, whereas L. major infection results in destructive lesions. In order to clarify the immunologic mechanisms of these 2 different outcomes, we compared the ability of these 2 leishmania species in induction of DTH response in this murine model. BALB/c mice were infected with L. major or L. tropica, and disease evolution and DTH responses were determined. The results show that the primary L. major infection can exacerbate the secondary L. major infection and is associated with DTH response. Higher doses of the primary L. major infection result in more disease exacerbation of the secondary L. major infection as well as higher DTH response. L. tropica infection induces lower DTH responses than L. major. We have previously reported that the primary L. tropica infection induces partial protection against the secondary L. major infection in BALB/c mice. Induction of lower DTH response by L. tropica suggests that the protection induced against L. major by prior L. tropica infection may be due to suppression of DTH response.