Purification and Characterization of DT 389 GCSF Fusion Protein: A Unique Immunotoxin Against the Human Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor Receptor

Immunotoxin is a recombinant fusion toxin which has been developed to kill cancer cells selectively. DT389GCSF as a new immunotoxin consists of a truncated     

In Silico Design of a New Multi-Epitope Peptide-Based Vaccine Candidate Against Q Fever

Molecular Biology - Novel types of the vaccines with high immunogenicity and low risks, including epitope-based vaccines, are sought. Among zoonotic disease, Q fever caused by Coxiella burnetii is...     

Design of Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) Biosensor for Immunodiagnostic of E. coli O157:H7 Using Gold Nanoparticles Conjugated to the Chicken Antibody

E. coli O157:H7 is one of the most important pathogens in food-borne diseases and is the main cause of the pseudo pandemic development of hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Also E. coli O157:H7 is the most common serotype of Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli. Traditional methods for detecting E. coli O157:H7 are expensive, time-consuming, and less sensitive. A method with high sensitivity and high-resolution optical detection is utilizes the LSPR property of spherical gold nanoparticles (GNP). In this work, we constructed a novel nano-bio probe to detect E. coli O157:H7 by synthesizing citrate gold nanoparticle conjugated (non-covalent bond) with specific chicken anti-E. coli O157:H7 antibody (IgY) by changing the pH of the nanoparticles’ environment. UV-visible and DLS methods were used to confirm the bonding between the antibody and nanoparticles and the LSPR sensitivity of the nano-bio probe was evaluated by ELISA method. We could optically detect this bacterium in less than 2 h by measuring the LSPR band λ max shifts of GNPs. The sensitivity of this novel biosensor was determined by about 10 CFU/ml, using the LSPR property of spherical gold nanoparticles. So that, the LSPR λ max red shifted from 530 to 543 nm in presence of 10 CFU bacterium. In conclusion, this nano biosensor can be used to detect this important pathogen among the clinical specimens.

     

Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) Detection of Diphtheria Toxoid Using Gold Nanoparticle-Monoclonal Antibody Conjugates

Plasmonics - Detection of diphtheria toxin (DT) which is produced by Corynebacterium diphtheria, a zoonotic pathogen and a leading cause of diphtheria, is the critical step in the clinical...     

The Role of the Possible Receptors and Intracellular Pathways in Protective Effect of Exogenous Anandamide in Kindling Model of Epilepsy

In this research, the involvement of CB1 and TRPV1 receptors in the possible protective effects of anandamide were investigated in the kindling model of epilepsy. The basolateral amygdala of the rat brain was chosen to put stimulating electrodes. Semi-rapid kindling was induced by a repetitive sub-threshold stimulation for 5–9 consecutive days. There were seven groups, six of which were kindled and used for drug testing by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) microinjection. (i) Sham, (ii) control group received vehicles, (iii) anandamide (AEA; 100 ng/rat), (iv) capsazepine (TRPV1 antagonist; 100 ng/rat), (v) AM251 (CB1 antagonist; 100 ng/rat), (vi) AM251?+?anandamide, and (vii) capsazepine?+?anandamide. The after-discharge duration, seizure duration, and stage five duration were measured in rats. Moreover, the expressions of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and the cAMP responsive element binding (CREB) proteins in the hippocampus were also studied. The anandamide-treated group showed a significant decrease in seizure scores, while no change was shown in seizure scores in the capsazepine- and AM251-treated groups compared with the control group. Co-administrations of either capsazepine?+?AEA or AM251?+?AEA attenuated the protective effect of AEA against seizure. Furthermore, the group received AEA showed a decrease in the expressions of CREB and p-CREB possibly through the activation of the CB1 and TRPV1 receptors. Activation of CB1 and TRPV1 receptors might be involved in AEA anticonvulsant effect in kindling model of epilepsy. This effect could be due to suppression of CREB phosphorylation in hippocampal neurons.

     

Wave–flow coupling effects on spatiotemporal variations of flow and salinity in a large hypersaline marine system: Lake Urmia, Iran

On many occasions, the effects of wind-induced waves and currents on flow and salinity fields in water bodies are evaluated separately. Some coupling mechanisms of the two phenomena, however, can have a significant impact on the flow and salinity conditions, in particular in sensitive aquatic ecosystems. This article attempts to quantify the wave contributions to the flow and salinity regimes in Lake Urmia, Iran. The salinity conditions in the lake have become an environmentally important subject, partly because this shallow hypersaline aquatic ecosystem is considered to be one of the largest natural habitats of a unique multicellular organism, Artemia urmiana. This brine shrimp is the major food source for many of the protected and rare shorebirds that visit the lake and can grow and survive in only certain ranges of salinity. The lake has also experienced considerable man-made changes during the past three decades. Previous studies that have modeled the flow and salinity regimes in the lake have overlooked the wave-coupling effects, and some have concluded that major remedial actions are necessary to restore the lake ecosystem. The wave-coupling effects were found to have significant impacts on the spatiotemporal variations of flow and salinity in the lake. Wave actions were intensifying vertical stratification, considerably influencing the flow and salinity regimes. It was found that improvements in the lake salinity conditions provided by the wave actions were comparable to potential improvements that expensive mitigation scenarios may offer. The relative magnitude of the wave coupling was found to be the highest in shallow/large water bodies, and it increased as the wave height and the initial salinity increased, suggesting that these wave-coupling effects are substantial, especially in large, shallow, hypersaline lakes.     

Continuous biodegradation of parathion by immobilized Sphingomonas sp. in magnetically fixed-bed bioreactors and evaluation of the enzyme stability of immobilized bacteria

Magnetically-modified Sphingomonas sp. was prepared using covalent binding of magnetic nanoparticles on to the cell surface. The magnetic modified bacteria were immobilized in the fixed-bed bioreactors (FBR) by internal and external magnetic fields for the biodetoxification of a model organophosphate, parathion: 93 % of substrate (50 mg parathion/l) was hydrolyzed at 0.5 ml/min in internal magnetic field fixed-bed bioreactor. The deactivation rate constants (at 1 ml/min) were 0.97 × 10^?3, 1.24 × 10^?3 and 4.17 × 10^?3 h^?1 for immobilized bacteria in external and internal magnetic field fixed-bed bioreactor and FBR, respectively. The deactivation rate constant for immobilized magnetically modified bacteria in external magnetic field fixed-bed bioreactor (EMFFBR) was 77 % lower than that of immobilized cells by entrapping method on porous basalt beads in FBR at 1 ml/min. Immobilized magnetic modified bacteria exhibited maximum enzyme stability in EMFFBR.     

Towards an understanding of marine fouling effects on the vortex-induced vibrations of circular cylinders: partial coverage issue

The results of in-water vortex-induced vibration (VIV) experiments on circular cylinders artificially covered with barnacles are reported. The paper focusses on the effects of the partial coverage and the shape of the fouling elements. An artificial barnacle typical of marine fouling was synthesised using 3-D printing. Coverage ratios of 80, 50 and 30% were examined and the results compared with those from a smooth cylinder. The Reynolds number ranged from 5.8 × 10³ to 6.6 × 10⁴. The experimental results show that the fouling reduced the peak VIV amplitude, narrowed the synchronisation region and lowered the hydrodynamic force coefficients such as the coefficients of lift force RMS, the mean drag force and the fluctuating drag force RMS. The shape of the artificial barnacles had little effect on the maximum oscillation amplitude. The coverage ratio appeared to have a lower impact on the lift force than those on the amplitude and the frequency responses.