Nanostructured material-based optical and electrochemical detection of amoxicillin antibiotic

The penicillin derivative amoxicillin (AMX) plays an important role in treating various types of infections caused by bacteria. However, excessive use of AMX may have negative health effects. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to detect and quantify the AMX in pharmaceutical drugs, biological fluids, and environmental samples with high sensitivity. Therefore, this review article provides valuable and up-to-date information on nanostructured material-based optical and electrochemical sensors to detect AMX in various biological and chemical samples. The role of using different nanostructured materials on the performance of important optical sensors such as colorimetric sensors, fluorescence sensors, surface-enhanced Raman scattering sensors, chemiluminescence/electroluminescence sensors, optical immunosensors, optical fibre-based sensors, and several important electrochemical sensors based on different electrode types have been discussed. Moreover, nanocomposites, polymer, and MXenes-based electrochemical sensors have also been discussed, in which such materials are being used to further enhance the sensitivity of these sensors. Furthermore, nanocomposite-based photo-electrochemical sensors and the market availability of biosensors including AMX have also been discussed briefly. Finally, the conclusion, challenges, and future perspectives of the above-mentioned sensing techniques for AMX detection are presented.     

Systematic analysis of HD-ZIP transcription factors in sesame genome and gene expression profiling of SiHD-ZIP class I entailing drought stress responses at early seedling stage

Molecular Biology Reports - Sesame is an ancient oilseed crop, known for its high oil content and quality. Its sensitivity to drought at early seedling stage is one of the limiting factors...     

Patterns of Allelic Diversity in Spring Wheat Populations by SSR-Markers

Precise assessment of diversity in available breeding germplasm helps to preempt epidemics and abrupt environmental changes. Spring wheat germplasm consisting of 84 accessions including cultivars, breeding lines and landraces from various origins was scanned with 44 SSRs. For allele frequencies, allelic patterns, heterozygosity and polymorphism the selected population was divided in three subpopulations: (i) pre-green revolution (pre-1965), (ii) post-green revolution (post-1965), (iii) post-veery (post-2000). Alleles produced in pre-1965, post-1965 and post-2000 subpopulations were 115, 144 and 131, respectively. Mean PIC values for pre-1965, post-1965 and post-2000 subpopulations were 0.48, 0.52 and 051, respectively. Allelic patterns showed no locally common alleles in any of the subpopulation. The pre-1965 subpopulation had also no private allele, however, average number of private alleles decreased from post-1965 to post-2000 subpopulation. In case of effective alleles and Shannon’s information index trend was increasing from pre-1965 to post-1965 and then decreasing from post-1965 to post-2000. The decreasing trend alarms the reduced genetic diversity in wheat varieties developed after 2000. PCA and cluster analysis didn’t clearly differentiated subpopulations, though pre-1965 genotypes showed higher genetic distance from post-1965 and post-2000 subpopulations. The decreasing measures of genetic diversity in post-2000 wheat genotypes should be a concern for wheat breeders, therefore, all sources of broadening genetic diversity should be exploited.     

Impact of genetic variations of the CYP1A1, GSTT1, and GSTM1 genes on the risk of coronary artery disease

Carcinogenic and toxic molecules produce DNA adducts that contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. Genetic polymorphisms of xenobiotic-detoxified enzymes, which control the level of DNA adducts, may affect both enzymatic activity and individual susceptibility to coronary artery disease (CAD). In this study we investigated the effects of genetic polymorphisms of the CYP1A1*2C, GSTT1, and GSTM1 enzymes on CAD risk in a Turkish population. Genotypes were determined for 132 CAD patients and 151 healthy controls by the polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism method. There were no significant differences between patients and controls in terms of CYP1A1, GSTT1, and GSTM1 genotypes. Analysis of the possible interactions between the genotypes, after adjustment for the risk factors, demonstrated that individuals carrying CYP1A1 variant GSTT1 null genotypes had an 8.907-fold increased CAD risk compared to their wild status (p<0.05). We suggest that genetic polymorphisms of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes could play an important role in CAD. Therefore, CYP1A1 and GSTM1 polymorphisms should be considered as important parameters for the prediction of CAD.     

Human Parechovirus Genotypes -10, -13 and -15 in Pakistani Children with Acute Dehydrating Gastroenteritis

Human parechoviruses are known to cause asymptomatic to severe clinical illness predominantly respiratory and gastroenetric infections. Despite their global prevalence, epidemiological studies have not been performed in Pakistan. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed 110 fecal specimen and found 26 (24%) positive for viral RNA with HPeV-10 (n = 3, 23%), HPeV-13 (n = 4, 31%) and HPeV-15 (n = 6, 46%) genotypes. Clinical features of patients with different HPeV genotypes were compared. All HPeV positive children were aged ≤4 years (mean 13.92 months). The male-to-female ratio was 1: 1.17 (46.2 vs 53.8%) with significant association (p = .031) to HPeV infectivity. HPeV-10 and -13 were found during summer while HPeV-15 was only detected during late winter season. Disease symptoms were more severe in children infected with HPeV-10 and -13 as compared to HPeV-15. Fever and vomiting were observed in 100% cases of HPeV-10 and -13 while only 17% patients of HPeV-15 had these complaints. Phylogenetic analyses showed that HPeV-10, -13 and -15 strains found in this study have 9–13%, 16.8% and 21.8% nucleotide divergence respectively from the prototype strains and were clustered to distinct genetic lineages. This is the first report of HPeV-15 infection in humans although first identified in rhesus macaques. The arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) motif present at the C-terminal of VP1 responsible for the viral attachment to cellular integrins was not found in all of these strains. In conclusion, these findings enhance our knowledge related to the epidemiology and genetic diversity of the HPeV in Pakistan and support the need for continued laboratory based surveillance programs especially in infants and neonatal clinical settings. Further, the parechovirus pathogenesis, cross-species transmission and disease reservoirs must be ascertained to adopt better prevention measures.     

Oxidant/antioxidant parameters and their relationship with medical treatment in multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a neoplastic disorder characterized by monoclonal multiplying of plasma cells. Although radiation, environmental factors, viruses and other factors have been suggested as potential causes of the disease, the aetiopathogenesis of MM is still obscure. This clinical study was designed to investigate the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the aetiopathogenesis of the disease and the possible relationships between treatment and ROS production. For this purpose, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) activities as well as plasma nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in 14 MM patients newly diagnosed at stage III. The relationship between the above-mentioned parameters and vincristine-adriamycin-dexamethasone (VAD) therapy were also investigated in the same patients. All the enzyme activities and the parameters of oxidative stress were found to be significantly reduced after VAD therapy. These findings suggest that ROS may be involved in the aetiopathogenesis of MM. Further investigations with a larger cohort of MM patients are needed to provide definitive data about the role of ROS in MM and the alternative therapeutic approaches to MM.     

Insulin-stimulated Interaction between insulin receptor substrate 1 and p85alpha and activation of protein kinase B/Akt require Rab5

Binding of insulin to the insulin receptor initiates a cascade of protein phosphorylation and effector recruitment events leading to the activation of multiple distinct signaling pathways. Previous studies suggested that the diversity and specificity of insulin signal transduction are accomplished by both subcellular localization of receptor and the selective activation of downstream signaling molecules. The small GTPase Rab5 is a key regulator of endocytosis. Three Rab5 isoforms (Rab5a, -5b, and -5c) have been identified. Here we exploited the RNA interference technique to specifically knock down individual Rab5 isoforms to determine the cellular function of Rab5 in distinct insulin signaling pathways. Small interference RNA against a single Rab5 isoform had no effect on protein kinase B (PKB)/Akt or MAPK activation by insulin in NIH3T3 cells overexpressing human insulin receptor. However, simultaneous knockdown of all three Rab5 isoforms dramatically attenuated PKB/Akt activation by insulin without affecting MAPK activation. This inhibition of PKB/Akt activation was because of the impaired interaction between insulin receptor substrate 1 and the p85alpha subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. These results indicate a requirement of Rab5 in presenting p85 to insulin receptor substrate 1. Additional evidence supporting a role for Rab5 was suggested by studies with GAPex-5, a vps9 domain containing exchange factor. Down-regulation of GAPex-5 impaired insulin-stimulated PKB/Akt activation. Collectively, this study indicates the involvement of Rab5 in insulin signaling.     

Synthesis,structure–activity relationship and molecular docking of 3-oxoaurones and 3-thioaurones as acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors

The present study describes efficient and facile syntheses of varyingly substituted 3-thioaurones from the corresponding 3-oxoaurones using Lawesson’s reagent and phosphorous pentasulfide. In comparison, the latter methodology was proved more convenient, giving higher yields and required short and simple methodology. The structures of synthetic compounds were unambiguously elucidated by IR, MS and NMR spectroscopy. All synthetic compounds were screened for their inhibitory potential against in vitro acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes. Molecular docking studies were also performed in order to examine their binding interactions with AChE and BChE human proteins. Both studies revealed that some of these compounds were found to be good inhibitors against AChE and BChE.