Remediation of the effect of adding cyanides on an algal/bacterial treatment of a mixture of organic pollutants in a continuous photobioreactor

The effect of inorganic pollutants on the treatment of organic pollutants using algal/bacterial microcosm was investigated in a continuous photobioreactor. The microcosm was composed of Chlorella vulgaris MM1 and Pseudomonas MT1 and was able to efficiently treat artificial waste-water contaminated with 6.4 salicylate and 2.2 mM phenol at a hydraulic retention time of 4 days. No negative effect was recorded when the waste-water was supplemented with 1.6 mM thiocyanate; however, the treatment efficiency severely deteriorated when the system was challenged with 0.74 mM cyanide. Addition of 2 g NaHCO₃ l^?1 did not improve the efficiency of the treatment. Toxicity of the pollutants to the alga was cyanide > thiocyanate > phenol > salicylate. The high toxicity of the waste-water was eliminated either by a 25-fold dilution or by photocatalytic pre-treatment which allowed the subsequent efficient biological treatment.     

Apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism and the risk of left ventricular dysfunction among Egyptian β-thalassemia major

In Egypt, β-thalassemia is the most common hereditary hemolytic anemia. Cardiac dysfunction, secondary to iron overload with formation of oxygen free radicals, is the most common cause of death in β-thalassemia patients. This study was designed to determine whether the allelic genotype of apolipoprotein E (Apo E), which exhibits antioxidant properties, could represent a genetic risk factor for the development of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in β-thalassemia major. Fifty Egyptian β-thalassemia major patients were subjected to echocardiography to assess LV function. Apo E genotyping by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was done for all patients in addition to 50 age and sex matched healthy control subjects. Patients were classified into three groups. Group I and II were clinically asymptomatic. Group II subjects had evidence of LV dilatation, while Group III patients had clinical and echocardiographic findings of LV failure. Apo E4 allele was significantly higher among Group II and III than in controls. In conclusion, Apo E4 allele can be considered as a genetic risk factor for LV dysfunctions in β-thalassemic patients. It could be used as predictive indicator for additional risk of LV failure, particularly in asymptomatic patients with LV dilatation, requiring a closer follow-up, to prevent further disease progression.     

16S rDNA sequence analysis of culturable marine biofilm forming bacteria from a ship's hull

Marine bacteria from the hull of a ship in the form of biofilms or microfouling were isolated, cultured, and identified by phylogenetic analysis using 16S rDNA sequences. With an average length of 946 bp, all the 16 sequences were classified using the Ribosomal database project (RDP) and were submitted to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rDNA sequences indicated that the 16 strains belonged to the Firmicutes (IK-MB6 Exiguobacterium aurantiacum, IK-MB7 Exiguobacterium arabatum, IK-MB8 Exiguobacterium arabatum, IK-MB9 Jeotgalibacillus alimentarius, IK-MB10 Bacillus megaterium, IK-MB11 Bacillus pumilus, IK-MB12 Bacillus pumilus, IK-MB13 Bacillus pumilus, IK-MB14 Bacillus megaterium), High GC, Gram-positive bacteria (IK-MB2 Micrococcus luteus, IK-MB5 Micrococcus luteus, IK-MB16 Arthrobacter mysorens), G-Proteobacteria (IK-MB3 Halomonas aquamarina, IK-MB15 Halotalea alkalilenta), CFB group bacteria (IK-MB1 Myroides odoratimimus), and Enterobacteria (IK-MB4 Proteus mirabilis). Among the 16 strains, representatives of the Firmicutes were dominant (56.25%) compared to the high GC, Gram-positive bacteria (18.75%), G-Proteobacteria (12.5%), CFB group bacteria (6.25%), and Enterobacteria (6.25%). Analysis revealed that majority of marine species found in marine biofilm are of anthropogenic origin.     

Molecular authentication of Anthemis deserti Boiss. (Asteraceae) based on ITS2 region of nrDNA gene sequence

The dried plant material of medicinally important Anthemis deserti Boiss. (family: Asteraceae) especially when it remains in the powdered form often look similar to Anthemis melampodina Del.; and therefore, difficult to distinguish, finally lead to chances of adulteration. The adulteration in medicinal plants effects on the efficacy of the drugs. The molecular authentication of herbal plant materials such as based on the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) is considered as more reliable method compared to other the biochemical or histological methods. The present study aims to molecular authentication ofA. deserti based on molecular phylogenetic analyses of ITS2 gene sequence of nrDNA region. The ITS2 region of nrDNA of A. deserti were sequenced, and the molecular phylogenetic analyses were performed together with the GenBank sequences. The Maximum Parsimony tree revealed the close relationships of A. deserti with A. melampodina; however, the Neighbor-Joining and Maximum Likelihood tree clearly revealed that A. deserti is distinct from A. melampodina, which is also supported by the differences in nucleotides at five diffident positions (i.e. 22, 28, 87, 175 and 198) in the DNA sequence alignment.     

A volatile producing endophytic Bacillus siamensis YC7012 promotes root development independent on auxin or ethylene/jasmonic acid pathway

Plant and Soil - In many mixed grass-shrub ecosystems, increased shrub biomass tends to promote overall carbon storage, but the distribution of carbon pools may be complicated by disturbances such...     

The unipolar Shigella surface protein IcsA is targeted directly to the bacterial old pole: IcsP cleavage of IcsA occurs over the entire bacterial surface

Shigella flexneri is an intracellular pathogen that is able to move within the cytoplasm of infected cells by the continual assembly of actin onto one pole of the bacterium. IcsA, an outer membrane protein, is localized to the old pole of the bacterium and is both necessary and sufficient for actin assembly. IcsA is slowly cleaved from the bacterial surface by the protease IcsP (SopA). Absence of IcsP leads to an alteration in the distribution of surface IcsA, such that the polar cap is maintained and some IcsA is distributed along the lateral walls of the bacillus. The mechanism of unipolar localization of IcsA and the role of IcsP in its unipolar localization are incompletely understood. Here, we demonstrate that cleavage of IcsA occurs exclusively in the outer membrane and that IcsP is localized to the outer membrane. In addition, we show that IcsA at the old pole is susceptible to cleavage by IcsP and that native IcsP is active at the pole. Taken together, these data indicate that IcsP cleaves IcsA over the entire bacterial surface. Finally, we show that, immediately after induction from a tightly regulated promoter, IcsA is expressed exclusively at the old pole in both the icsP- icsA- and the icsA- background. These data demonstrate that unipolar localization of IcsA results from its direct targeting to the pole, followed by its diffusion laterally in the outer membrane.     

Prophylactic effect of aqueous propolis extract against acute experimental hepatotoxicity in vivo

Propolis has been extensively used in folk medicine for the management of a wide spectrum of disorders. In a previous study, we demonstrated the protective effect of the aqueous propolis extract (APE) against the injurious effects of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) on hepatocytes in vitro. The present investigation was carried out to show whether the hepatoprotective effect of the extract could also be manifested in vivo. Rats were given APE orally for 14 consecutive days, before being subjected to a single intraperitoneal injection of CCl4. One day after the CCl4 injection, the animals were sacrificed, hepatocytes were isolated and liver homogenates were prepared for the assessment of liver injury. In isolated hepatocytes, APE afforded protection against CCl4-induced injury as manifested by a decrease in the leakage of the cytosolic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), decreased generation of lipid peroxide and maintenance of cellular reduced glutathione (GSH) content. In principle, similar findings were observed in liver homogenates. The present findings show that APE has in vivo hepatoprotective potential which could be attributed at least in part to the maintenance of cellular GSH content. The latter effect seems to play an important role in conserving the integrity of biomembranes as it was associated with a decrease in lipid peroxidation and reduced leakage of cytosolic LDH.