Genetic diversification and population structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Barbus cyri</Emphasis> De Filippi, 1865 (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) in northern Iran inferred from the mitochondrial D-loop gene sequence

A genetic survey of Barbus cyri populations from two biogeographical endorheic basins (Caspian Sea and Urmia Lake) was carried out using a mitochondrial marker (partial D-loop) in order to ascertain intra- and inter-population genetic diversity, population demography and to address their genetic structure which is the key to conservation action planning. Analyses were conducted on sequences obtained from 68 individuals collected from 10 sampling sites, from two basins. By means of morphological characteristics all specimens collected from the Caspian Sea basin were ascribed to Barbus cyri. Genetic diversity values (h and π) of sampling groups were all different from 0 (in Babolrud River population) to 0.857 (in Kalibar River population). Population connectivity and colonization patterns of the studied area were inferred from an analysis of molecular variance distribution and evolutionary relationships among haplotypes. The results point to different levels of isolation among sampling groups due to ecological and anthropogenic factors and the effect of an artificial barrier on genetic variability and conservation status of the population. Finally, this study confirms the uncertainty associated with systematic classification of Barbus spp. based on morphological characters due to the phenotypic plasticity of the species.     

Effect of plant extracts on the mortality of root-knot nematodes’ J2, Meloidogyne javanica

Root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne javanica, is a major problem confronting greenhouse’s productions, field crops, vegetables, grapevines and almond rootstocks in Kermanshah province, Iran. Nematicides are not affordable to control this nematode. In the search for alternatives to chemicals control of nematodes, this research has dealt with nematicidal effects of crude herbal extracts on the root-knot nematodes. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of 21 endemic and exotic herbal extracts belong to 12 families of flowering plants in comparison with chicken manure and chemical nematicide (Temik) to control root-knot nematodes in in vitro conditions. The nematodes were pured and mass multiplied on tomato in the soil at greenhouse conditions. In order to study the effect of herbal extracts on mortality of second-stage juveniles (J₂), a 6?mL of each extract was poured in sterilised Petri dish and 54?±?4 juveniles were added. Distilled water was used as control and treatments replicated four times and incubated at ambient temperature. The LC₅₀ value of each extract was determined by assessing the mortality of juveniles (in the range of 5–95%) after 24, 48 and 72 h. Comparison between LC₅₀ value of the extracts indicated that Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Eugenia caryophillata are the most effective crude extracts on the mortality of juveniles and they were 15.4 and 17.9?mg?mL^?1, respectively. Meanwhile, the extract of tobacco, ferulago, garlic, eucalyptus, persan lilac, rattle, oliveria, licorice, russian knapweed, turnsole, sicilian sumac and chicken manure did not have any antinematode activity against fresh second-stage juveniles of the root-knot nematode.     

HHEX gene polymorphisms and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A case-control report from Iran

Genome-wide association studies indicated that hematopoietically-expressed homeobox (HHEX) gene is a remarkable candidate for type 2 diabetes (T2D) mellitus susceptibility in spite of the fact that the results are ambiguous in some cases. So, this study aimed to evaluate the possible correlation between HHEX gene polymorphisms and T2D development in a sample of the Iranian population. The rs1111875G/A, rs7923837A/G, and rs5015480C/T HHEX gene polymorphisms were genotyped in 250 cases and 250 matched (age and sex) healthy controls using tetra-amplification-refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction method. The finding revealed the all measured inheritance models of rs1111875G/A and of rs5015480C/T variants dramatically increase the risk of T2D while another polymorphism (rs7923837A/G) was not associated with risk/protective role in T2D. The results indicated that rs1111875G/A and rs5015480C/T may contribute to the enhancement of T2D risk in a sample of the southeast Iranian population.     

Potential Antioxidative,Anti‐inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Effects of Ghrelin,an Endogenous Peptide from the Stomach in SARS-CoV2 Infection

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - The current COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most devastating events in recent history. The respiratory effects of this disease include...     

Genetic diversity of Persian shallot (Allium hirtifolium Boiss.) populations based on morphological traits and RAPD markers

Mooseer or Persian shallot (Allium hirtifolium Boiss.) is a bulbous perennial herb belonging to Alliaceae family. Genetic diversity of 16 mooseer populations collected from different parts of Iran were evaluated using 14 morphological traits as well as antioxidant activities and RAPD markers. Statistical analysis showed significant differences among populations for all morphological traits. In a principal component analysis, four components showed 77.5 % of the total morphological variation. Based on the morphological traits, populations were divided into five groups by clustering. Antioxidant capacities differed among all populations, with the Sahneh and Nahavand populations having the highest and the lowest activities, respectively. Genetic diversity of populations was also investigated through RAPD technique using 14 random primers. Cluster analysis based on RAPD markers plus 47 % coefficient of similarity divided the genotypes into six distinct groups. The highest and lowest similarities between populations were detected to be 0.63 and 0.21, respectively. These results indicated that the assessment of genetic diversity in Iranian mooseer populations could be appropriately carried out using RAPD technique which correlates with morphological traits.     

Phonon and thermoelectric properties of single- and double-walled carbon nanotubes from first principles

The phonon and thermal properties of different single- ((n,0) (n = 7,8,9,10,14,15)) and double-walled carbon nanotubes ((7, 0) @ (14, 0), (8, 0) @ (14, 0), (9, 0) @ (15, 0) and (10, 0) @ (15, 0),) were calculated using the combination of density functional theory and non-equilibrium Green’s function methods. It was found that the Seebeck and Peltier coefficients for some of the single- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes have negative values. Moreover, in sharp contrast to low ?T, the higher thermoelectric figure of merit is anticipated at the higher temperature. The effect of the atoms number per unit cell on the phonons energies outweighs the effect of the vacuum and the size of the tubes for DWCNTs. All in all, the electron–phonon coupling generates the roughly plethora of thermoelectric coefficients and thermal conductance.     

Probing the combination of erlotinib hydrochloride,an anticancer drug,and human serum albumin: Spectroscopic,molecular docking,and molecular dynamic analyses

Human serum albumin (HSA) is a globular and monomeric protein in plasma that transports many drugs and compounds. Binding of some drugs to HSA can lead to changes in its stability and biological function. We investigated the binding interactions between erlotinib hydrochloride (Erlo) and HSA. Erlo is used to treat lung, pancreatic, and some other cancers. Experimental data showed that the fluorescence emission of the protein was quenched by Erlo using a static quenching mechanism. The calculation of the binding constant, K_b (1.57 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ at 300 K), confirmed the existence of a moderate binding interaction between Erlo and HSA. The interaction was enthalpy driven, spontaneous, and exothermic. The calculated thermodynamic parameters in agreement with simulation and molecular docking data showed that van der Waals and hydrogen bond forces played an important role in the interaction process. Molecular docking results indicated that Erlo has more affinity to bind to subdomain IIA (site I) of HSA. Molecular dynamics simulation analysis showed that the protein is stable in the presence of Erlo under simulation conditions.