Prevalence and detection of metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producingPseudomonas aeruginosa strains from clinical isolates in Iran

Of the 126 isolates obtained from clinical specimens, seventy strains were selected because of resistance or reduced susceptibilities to imipenem and/or ceftazidime. Screening for detection of MBL-producing strains was performed in latter isolates by the Etest MBL strips. Isolates that were positive to Etest MBL strips were analysed by PCR. PCR was performed with specific DNA probes for detection of genes coding IMP or VIM enzymes and positive controls (MBL-producing strains). Finally, eight isolates ofPseudomonas aeruginosa were detected to carry a bla_VIM gene.     

Surfactant-mediated amyloidogenesis behavior of stem bromelain; a biophysical insight

Neurodegenerative disorders are mainly associated with amyloid fibril formation of different proteins. Stem bromelain (SB), a cysteine protease, is known to exist as a molten globule state at pH 10.0. It passes through the identical surrounding (pH 10.0) in the gut epithelium of intestine upon oral administration. Protein–surfactant complexes are widely employed as drug carriers, so the nature of surfactant toward protein is of great interest. The present work describes the effect of cationic surfactants (CTAB & DTAB) and their hydrophobic behavior toward amyloidogenesis behavior of SB at pH 10.0. Multiple approaches including light scattering, far UV-CD, turbidity measurements, and dye binding assay (ThT, Congo red and ANS) were performed to measure the aggregation propensity of SB. Further, we monitored the hydrodynamic radii of aggregates formed using dynamic light scattering technique. Structure of fibrils was also visualized through fluorescence microscopy as well as TEM. At pH 10.0, low concentration of CTAB (0–200 μM) induced amyloid formation in SB as evident from a prominent increase in turbidity and light scattering, gain in β-sheet content, and enhanced ThT fluorescence intensity. However, further increase in CTAB concentration suppressed the fibrillation phenomenon. In contrast, DTAB did not induce fibril formation at any concentration used (0–500 μM) due to lower hydrophobicity. Net negative charge developed on protein at high pH (10.0) might have facilitated amyloid formation at low concentration of cationic surfactant (CTAB) due to electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions.     

Gibberellic Acid and Sulfur-Mediated Reversal of Cadmium-Inhibited Photosynthetic Performance in Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) Involves Nitric Oxide

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Gibberellic acid (GA) and sulfur (S) have been known to modulate physiological processes of plants in normal and stressful conditions. Cultivars of mungbean...     

In Vitro Study of Novel Collagenase (XIAFLEX?) on Dupuytren's Disease Fibroblasts Displays Unique Drug Related Properties

Dupuytren''s disease (DD) is a benign, fibroproliferative disease of the palmar fascia, with excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and over-production of cytokines and growth factors, resulting in digital fixed flexion contractures limiting hand function and patient quality of life. Surgical fasciectomy is the gold standard treatment but is invasive and has associated morbidity without limiting disease recurrence. Injectable Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCH) - Xiaflex® - is a novel, nonsurgical option with clinically proven in vivo reduction of DD contractures but with limited in vitro data demonstrating its cellular and molecular effects. The aim of this study was to delineate the effects of CCH on primary fibroblasts isolated from DD and non-DD anatomical sites (using RTCA, LDH, WST-1, FACS, qRT-PCR, ELISA and In-Cell Quantitative Western Blotting) to compare the efficacy of varying concentrations of Xiaflex® against a reagent grade Collagenase, Collagenase A. Results demonstrated that DD nodule and cord fibroblasts had greater proliferation than those from fat and skin. Xiaflex® exposure resulted in dose- and time-dependent inhibition of cellular spreading, attachment and proliferation, with cellular recovery after enzyme removal. Unlike Collagenase A, Xiaflex® did not cause apoptosis. Collagen expression patterns were significantly (p<0.05) different in DD fibroblasts across anatomical sites - the highest levels of collagen I and III were detected in DD nodule, with DD cord and fat fibroblasts demonstrating a smaller increase in both collagen expression relative to DD skin. Xiaflex® significantly (p<0.05) down-regulated ECM components, cytokines and growth factors in a dose-dependent manner. An in vitro scratch wound assay model demonstrated that, at low concentrations, Xiaflex® enabled a faster fibroblast reparatory migration into the wound, whereas, at high concentrations, this process was significantly (p<0.05) inhibited. This is the first report elucidating potential mechanisms of action of Xiaflex® on Dupuytren fibroblasts, offering a greater insight and a better understanding of its effect in DD.     

Mass transfer correlation in flotation of palm oil by colloidal gas aphrons

Colloidal gas aphrons (CGAs) are micron-sized bubbles, which are produced by stirring a dilute surfactant solution at a high speed. In this work, CGAs have been used to clarify oily wastewater by flotation technique. The CGAs sparging rate was a critical factor that governed the efficiency of the process. A model for the determination of the mass transfer coefficient is also developed for the purpose of process design.     

Y receptor-mediated induction of CD63 transcripts, a tetraspanin determined to be necessary for differentiation of the intestinal epithelial cell line, hBRIE 380i cells.

Peptide YY (PYY) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) are peptides that coordinate intestinal activities in response to luminal and neuronal signals. In this study, using the rat hybrid small intestinal epithelial cell line, hBRIE 380i cells, we demonstrated that PYY- and NPY-induced rearrangement of actin filaments may be in part through a Y1alpha and/or a nonneuronal Y2 receptor, which were cloned from both the intestinal mucosa and the hBRIE 380i cells. A number of PYY/NPY-responsive genes were also identified by subtractive hybridization of the hBRIE 380i cells in the presence or absence of a 6-h treatment with PYY. Several of these genes coded for proteins associated with the cell cytoskeleton or extracellular matrix. One of these proteins was the transmembrane-4 superfamily protein CD63, previously shown to associate with beta(1)-integrin and implicated in cell adhesion. CD63 immunoreactivity, using antibody to the extracellular domain, was highest in the differentiated cell clusters of the hBRIE 380i cells. The hBRIE 380i cells transfected with antisense CD63 cDNA lost these differentiated clusters. These studies suggest a new role for NPY and PYY in modulating differentiation through cytoskeletal associated proteins.