Polarization Controlling of Multi Resonant Graphene-Based Microstrip Antenna

Plasmonics - In this paper, a graphene-based patch antenna is proposed. The antenna structure is designed so that each of the various antenna sections affected by chemical potential changes can...     

Clostridium difficile Modulates Host Innate Immunity via Toxin-Independent and Dependent Mechanism(s)

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the leading cause of hospital and community-acquired antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and currently represents a significant health burden. Although the role and contribution of C. difficile toxins to disease pathogenesis is being increasingly understood, at present other facets of C. difficile-host interactions, in particular, bacterial-driven effects on host immunity remain less studied. Using an ex-vivo model of infection, we report that the human gastrointestinal mucosa elicits a rapid and significant cytokine response to C. difficile. Marked increase in IFN-γ with modest increase in IL-22 and IL-17A was noted. Significant increase in IL-8 suggested potential for neutrophil influx while presence of IL-12, IL-23, IL-1β and IL-6 was indicative of a cytokine milieu that may modulate subsequent T cell immunity. Majority of C. difficile-driven effects on murine bone-marrow-derived dendritic cell (BMDC) activation were toxin-independent; the toxins were however responsible for BMDC inflammasome activation. In contrast, human monocyte-derived DCs (mDCs) released IL-1β even in the absence of toxins suggesting host-specific mediation. Infected DC-T cell crosstalk revealed the ability of {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"R20291","term_id":"774925","term_text":"R20291"}}R20291 and 630 WT strains to elicit a differential DC IL-12 family cytokine milieu which culminated in significantly greater Th1 immunity in response to {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"R20291","term_id":"774925","term_text":"R20291"}}R20291. Interestingly, both strains induced a similar Th17 response. Elicitation of mucosal IFN-γ/IL-17A and Th1/Th17 immunity to C. difficile indicates a central role for this dual cytokine axis in establishing antimicrobial immunity to CDI.     

Link between MnSOD Ala16Val (rs4880) polymorphism and asthma risk is insignificant from sequential meta-analysis

The mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) enzyme protects lungs against oxidative stress by neutralizing the free radical superoxide produced in the respiratory function. This has relevance to asthma. Therefore, it is of interest to describe the potential effect of MnSOD Ala16Val genetic polymorphism to asthma risk. Known data in this context is inconclusive in nature. The possible link between MnSOD Ala16Val polymorphism and asthma is explored using sequence meta-analysis. Data from the pooled analysis of MnSOD Ala16Val polymorphism using five genetic models i.e., allelic (Val vs. Ala: p=0.846; OR=1.033, 95% CI=0.742 to 1.440) is discussed. Homozygous (Val Val vs. Ala Ala: p=0.517; OR=1.307, 95% CI=0.582 to 2.932) and heterozygous (Val Ala vs. Ala Ala: p=0.307; OR=1.138, 95% CI=0.888 to 1.459) data using the described models are documented. Data from the dominant model (Val Val + Val Ala vs. Ala Ala: p=0.301; OR=1.289, 95% CI=0.797 to 2.085) and the recessive model (Val Val vs. Val Ala + Ala Ala: p=0.761; OR=0.924, 95% CI=0.555 to 1.538) analyses for several ethnic subgroups in this context is reported.     

Nanobody-based chimeric receptor gene integration in Jurkat cells mediated by PhiC31 integrase

The crucial role of T lymphocytes in anti-tumor immunity has led to the development of novel strategies that can target and activate T cells against tumor cells. Recombinant DNA technology has been used to generate non-MHC-restricted chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). Here, we constructed a panel of recombinant CAR that harbors the anti-MUC1 nanobody and the signaling and co-signaling moieties (CD3ζ/CD28) with different spacer regions derived from human IgG3 with one or two repeats of the hinge sequence or the hinge region of FcγRII. The PhiC31 integrase system was employed to investigate if the recombination efficiency could be recruited for high and stable expression of T cell chimeric receptor genes. The effect of nuclear localization signal (NLS) and two different promoters (CMV and CAG) on efficacy of PhiC31 integrase in human T cell lines was evaluated. The presence of integrase in combination with NLS, mediated up to 7.6 and 8.5 fold increases in CAR expression in ZCHN-attB and ZCHHN-attB cassette integrated T cells, respectively. Our results showed that highly efficient and stable transduction of the Jurkat cell line by PhiC31 integrase is a feasible modality for generating anti-cancer chimeric T cells for use in cancer immunotherapy.     

Intrabasin variation in allometry coefficients of Lenkoran Capoeta capoeta gracilis (Keyserling, 1861) in the Gorganroud basin,southeast Caspian Sea,Iran

It is believed that streams of a basin may contribute to stream‐specific variation in allometry coefficients related to between‐habitat differences. To test intra‐basin variation of the allometry coefficients of Lenkorn Capoeta capoeta gracilis (Keyserling, 1861), a total of 1731 individuals were sampled in six streams of the Gorganroud basin (southeast Caspian Sea) between April and May 2008. Values of b ranged from 2.647 for males of Chelchai to 2.964 for females of Madarsou, indicating negative allometric growth for the fish in the basin. There were variations in the allometry coefficient among the considered groups, which can be interpreted as species’ response to different habitats. To the best knowledge of the authors, this study documents the comparative reference on variation of allometry coefficient of Capoeta capoeta gracilis in southeast Caspian streams.     

Sympatric morphotypes of the restricted-range Tashan Cave Garra: distinct species or a case of phenotypic plasticity?

Environmental Biology of Fishes - Among Tashan cave barb Garra tashanensis inhabiting a small cave in southwest Iran, two mental disc (sucking mouth disc) forms were observed. To assess their...     

Identification of genes associated with kernel size in almond [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb] using RNA-Seq

Plant Growth Regulation - Almond is a stone fruit crop belonging to the Rosaceae family, cultivated in the temperate region of the world for its high nutritive valued fruits. In today’s...     

Thymol has anticancer effects in U-87 human malignant glioblastoma cells

Molecular Biology Reports - Thymol (2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol) is a colorless crystalline derivative of cymene, that possesses pleotropic pharmacological properties, including analgesic,...     

Sodium nitroprusside: its beneficial role in drought stress tolerance of “Mexican lime” (Citrus aurantifolia (Christ.) Swingle) under in vitro conditions

In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant - As a novel antioxidant, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) can be used to reduce the adverse effects of various abiotic stresses, especially drought...     

microRNAs: New prognostic,diagnostic, and therapeutic biomarkers in cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is as a kind of cancer beginning from the cervix. Given that cervical cancer could be observed in women who infected with papillomavirus, regular oral contraceptives, and multiple pregnancies. Early detection of cervical cancer is one of the most important aspects of the therapy of this malignancy. Despite several efforts, finding and developing new biomarkers for cervical cancer diagnosis are required. Among various prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic biomarkers, miRNA have been emerged as powerful biomarkers for detection, treatment, and monitoring of response to therapy in cervical cancer. Here, we summarized various miRNAs as an employable platform for prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic biomarkers in the treatment of cervical cancer.