Chemical composition and mutagenic assessment of petrochemical effluents on onion (Allium cepa) root tip mitosis

The continous production and release of chemicals into the environment have led to the need to assess their chemical composition and genotoxic effects on cell reproduction. Two petrochemicals, air liquid and polyester resin effluents were assessed. The common onion of the purple variety was used as the test organism. The results of the chemical analysis of the wastewaters showed high concentration of some potentially mutagenic heavy metals. The effects of the wastewaters and their dilutions on root tip mitosis were mitodepressive. The mitotic index (MI%) were 14.0, 5.3 and 4.1 in control, air liquid and polyester resin effluents, respectively. The MI (%) values estimated across concentrations ranged from 15.1 in control to 5.5 in undiluted effluent. Percent abnormal dividing cells increased with increase in wastewater concentration. Abnormal dividing cells observed ranged from C-mitotic effects to precocious chromosomes and anaphase bridges. These findings indicate the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of these wastewaters on Allium cepa chromosomes. Positive results on Allium chromosomes could serve as indicator of the deleterious effects of these wastewaters on other organisms at the point of discharge – either on land or water bodies. The need for sound sewerage system that would protect flora and fauna in the ecosystem is advocated.Key words: Chromosome, ecosystem, heavy metal, mitosis, mutation

Effect of temperature and fermentation time on protease production using decapterus macarellus fish waste

The fish processing industries generate huge amounts of by-products which cause serious environmental and health problems. The environmental problems related to waste disposal can be reduced as the low cost of fish by-products contains nutrients that can enhance microbial growth and are useful for enzyme production. This research aims to investigate the effect of temperature and fermentation time on protease production from fish waste hydrolysate by using the Bacillus strain (Bacillus cereus). The pre-treatment and fish waste hydrolysate were carried out and continued with the production of protease. The effect of fermentation time was studied every 4 h for 72 h while the effect of temperature was investigated at temperatures ranging from 30 °C to 60 °C. The results showed the maximum protease production of 45.63 U/mL at 48 h of fermentation time and 44.908 ± 6.14 U/mL at a temperature of 50 °C. The current study provides insight into the effects of cultivation conditions on protease production from local fish waste industries for further optimization study to enhance protease production

Effect of temperature and fermentation time on protease production using decapterus macarellus fish waste

The fish processing industries generate huge amounts of by-products which cause serious environmental and health problems. The environmental problems related to waste disposal can be reduced as the low cost of fish by-products contains nutrients that can enhance microbial growth and are useful for enzyme production. This research aims to investigate the effect of temperature and fermentation time on protease production from fish waste hydrolysate by using the Bacillus strain (Bacillus cereus). The pre-treatment and fish waste hydrolysate were carried out and continued with the production of protease. The effect of fermentation time was studied every 4 h for 72 h while the effect of temperature was investigated at temperatures ranging from 30 °C to 60 °C. The results showed the maximum protease production of 45.63 U/mL at 48 h of fermentation time and 44.908 ± 6.14 U/mL at a temperature of 50 °C. The current study provides insight into the effects of cultivation conditions on protease production from local fish waste industries for further optimization study to enhance protease production

A module-based analytical strategy to identify novel disease-associated genes shows an inhibitory role for interleukin 7 Receptor in allergic inflammation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The identification of novel genes by high-throughput studies of complex diseases is complicated by the large number of potential genes. However, since disease-associated genes tend to interact, one solution is to arrange them in modules based on co-expression data and known gene interactions. The hypothesis of this study was that such a module could be a) found and validated in allergic disease and b) used to find and validate one ore more novel disease-associated genes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To test these hypotheses integrated analysis of a large number of gene expression microarray experiments from different forms of allergy was performed. This led to the identification of an experimentally validated reference gene that was used to construct a module of co-expressed and interacting genes. This module was validated in an independent material, by replicating the expression changes in allergen-challenged CD4⁺cells. Moreover, the changes were reversed following treatment with corticosteroids. The module contained several novel disease-associated genes, of which the one with the highest number of interactions with known disease genes, <it>IL7R</it>, was selected for further validation. The expression levels of <it>IL7R </it>in allergen challenged CD4⁺cells decreased following challenge but increased after treatment. This suggested an inhibitory role, which was confirmed by functional studies.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We propose that a module-based analytical strategy is generally applicable to find novel genes in complex diseases.</p

Phagocytosis depends on TRPV2-mediated calcium influx and requires TRPV2 in lipids rafts: alteration in macrophages from patients with cystic fibrosis.

Whereas many phagocytosis steps involve ionic fluxes, the underlying ion channels remain poorly defined. As reported in mice, the calcium conducting TRPV2 channel impacts the phagocytic process. Macrophage phagocytosis is critical for defense against pathogens. In cystic fibrosis (CF), macrophages have lost their capacity to act as suppressor cells and thus play a significant role in the initiating stages leading to chronic inflammation/infection. In a previous study, we demonstrated that impaired function of CF macrophages is due to a deficient phagocytosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate TRPV2 role in the phagocytosis capacity of healthy primary human macrophage by studying its activity, its membrane localization and its recruitment in lipid rafts. In primary human macrophages, we showed that P. aeruginosa recruits TRPV2 channels at the cell surface and induced a calcium influx required for bacterial phagocytosis. We presently demonstrate that to be functional and play a role in phagocytosis, TRPV2 might require a preferential localization in lipid rafts. Furthermore, CF macrophage displays a perturbed calcium homeostasis due to a defect in TRPV2. In this context, deregulated TRPV2-signaling in CF macrophages could explain their defective phagocytosis capacity that contribute to the maintenance of chronic infection

Glutamate Induces the Elongation of Early Dendritic Protrusions via mGluRs in Wild Type Mice, but Not in Fragile X Mice

Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common inherited from of autism and mental impairment, is caused by transcriptional silencing of the Fmr1 gene, resulting in the loss of the RNA-binding protein FMRP. Dendritic spines of cortical pyramidal neurons in affected individuals are abnormally immature and in Fmr1 knockout (KO) mice they are also abnormally unstable. This could result in defects in synaptogenesis, because spine dynamics are critical for synapse formation. We have previously shown that the earliest dendritic protrusions, which are highly dynamic and might serve an exploratory role to reach out for axons, elongate in response to glutamate. Here, we tested the hypothesis that this process is mediated by metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) and that it is defective in Fmr1 KO mice. Using time-lapse imaging with two-photon microscopy in acute brain slices from early postnatal mice, we find that early dendritic protrusions in layer 2/3 neurons become longer in response to application of glutamate or DHPG, a Group 1 mGluR agonist. Blockade of mGluR5 signaling, which reverses some adult phenotypes of KO mice, prevented the glutamate-mediated elongation of early protrusions. In contrast, dendritic protrusions from KO mice failed to respond to glutamate. Thus, absence of FMRP may impair the ability of cortical pyramidal neurons to respond to glutamate released from nearby pre-synaptic terminals, which may be a critical step to initiate synaptogenesis and stabilize spines

Spermidine Promotes Human Hair Growth and Is a Novel Modulator of Human Epithelial Stem Cell Functions

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Genomic microsatellites identify shared Jewish ancestry intermediate between Middle Eastern and European populations

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Genetic studies have often produced conflicting results on the question of whether distant Jewish populations in different geographic locations share greater genetic similarity to each other or instead, to nearby non-Jewish populations. We perform a genome-wide population-genetic study of Jewish populations, analyzing 678 autosomal microsatellite loci in 78 individuals from four Jewish groups together with similar data on 321 individuals from 12 non-Jewish Middle Eastern and European populations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We find that the Jewish populations show a high level of genetic similarity to each other, clustering together in several types of analysis of population structure. Further, Bayesian clustering, neighbor-joining trees, and multidimensional scaling place the Jewish populations as intermediate between the non-Jewish Middle Eastern and European populations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results support the view that the Jewish populations largely share a common Middle Eastern ancestry and that over their history they have undergone varying degrees of admixture with non-Jewish populations of European descent.</p