WOOD DECAY MACROFUNGI: STRAIN COLLECTION AND STUDIES ABOUT ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES

The study of wood decay macrofungi that naturally biodegrade lignocellulosic polymers has been steadily increasing due to their numerous and innovative applications. In the last decade, the researchers of Mycological Laboratory of Pavia University (Italy) isolated in pure culture wood decay macrofungi collected in their own country. A few species have been investigated as regards different aspects: the growth profile at different temperature and the capacity to secrete cell wall degrading enzymes growing on poplar wood chips and sawdust. The aim of the present study was to test four lignicolous species (Daedalea quercina, Fistulina hepatica, Lenzites warnieri, Schizophyllum commune) as regards their antioxidant activity. The two species poorly or not investigated till now for this activity, D. quercina and L. warnieri, revealed the most interesting results

Magnetic resonance imaging of MINOCA in underlying non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy: a case report

Миокардният инфаркт без обструктивна коронарна болест (MINOCA) е синдром с разнообразна етиология и непълно изяснена патогенеза, с честота на възникване 5-15% и варираща прогноза. Магнитно-резонансната томография (МРТ) на сърце намира все по-голяма роля в диагностиката на MINOCA и в разграничаването на причините, които са довели до него, като същевременно е и важен предиктор по отношение на прогнозата при тези пациенти. Представяме 40-годишен мъж с клинични, лабораторни и инструментални данни за остър коронарен синдром, усложнен с остра сърдечна недостатъчност. Проведената инвазивна оценка отхвърли обструктивна коронарна болест, както и Takotsubo кардиопатия. В диференциално-диагностичен план се обсъдиха MINOCA и миокардит. За разграничаването им се осъществи МРТ на сърце, което потвърди диагнозата „миокарден инфаркт без обструктивна коронарна болест“. Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is a syndrome of diverse etiology and unclear pathogenesis, with an incidence of 5-15% and varying prognosis. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is playing an increasing role in the diagnosis of MINOCA and in distinguishing the causes that led to it, while being at the same time an important predictor of prognosis in these patients. We present a 40-year-old man with clinical, laboratory and instrumental data for acute coronary syndrome complicated by acute heart failure. The invasive assessment ruled out obstructive coronary heart disease as well as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. MINOCA and myocarditis were discussed in the differential diagnostic plan. To differentiate them, cardiac MRI was performed, which confi rmed the diagnosis of „myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries“

Facile Synthesized Cu–RGO and Ag–RGO Nanocomposites with Potential Biomedical Applications

In the present study, we report on the facile prepared nanocomposites of reduced graphene oxide RGO with Cu and Ag. The synthesis was performed through an environmentally friendly and easy method by simultaneous reduction in solutions containing Cu2+ or Ag+ and graphene oxide (GO) using zinc powder as a reducing agent in aqueous acidic media. The composites are characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, X-ray photoelectron and FTIR and Raman spectroscopies, as well as Scanning and Transmission electron microscopies. The antibacterial activity of the composites was tested for Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and antifungal activity for Candida albicans. The cytotoxicity of the materials was studied towards two types of eukaryotic cells—MDCK II and A549 cell lines. The composites obtained consist of homogeneously distributed Cu and Ag nanoparticles on the surface of graphene sheets and manifest good antimicrobial activity and high cytotoxicity. The results clearly show that both metal–RGO composites can be successfully used as antimicrobial and anticancer agents

Myconoside Affects the Viability of Polarized Epithelial MDCKII Cell Line by Interacting with the Plasma Membrane and the Apical Junctional Complexes

The phenyl glycoside myconoside, extracted from Balkan endemic Haberlea rhodopensis, has a positive effect on human health, but the exact molecular mechanism of its action is still unknown. The cell membrane and its associated junctional complex are the first targets of exogenous compound action. We aimed to study the effect of myconoside on membrane organization and cytoskeleton components involved in the maintenance of cell polarity in the MDCKII cell line. By fluorescent spectroscopy and microscopy, we found that at low concentrations, myconoside increases the cell viability by enhancing membrane lipid order and adherent junctions. The opposite effect is observed in high myconoside doses. We hypothesized that the cell morphological and physicochemical changes of the analyzed cell compartments are directly related to cell viability and cell apical-basal polarity. Our finding contributes to a better understanding of the beneficial application of phytochemical myconoside in pharmacology and medicine

Resurrection Plants—A Valuable Source of Natural Bioactive Compounds: From Word-of-Mouth to Scientifically Proven Sustainable Use

Resurrection plant species are a group of higher plants whose vegetative tissues are able to withstand long periods of almost full desiccation and recover quickly upon rewatering. Apart from being a model system for studying desiccation tolerance, resurrection plant species appear to be a valuable source of metabolites, with various areas of application. A significant number of papers have been published in recent years with respect to the extraction and application of bioactive compounds from higher resurrection plant species in various test systems. Promising results have been obtained with respect to antioxidative and antiaging effects in various test systems, particularly regarding valuable anticancer effects in human cell lines. Here, we review the latest advances in the field and propose potential mechanisms of action of myconoside—a predominant secondary compound in the European members of the Gesneriaceae family. In addition, we shed light on the possibilities for the sustainable use of natural products derived from resurrection plants

Miscibility of hBest1 and sphingomyelin in surface films – a prerequisite for interaction with membrane domains

Human bestrophin-1 (hBest1) is a transmembrane Ca2+- dependent anion channel, associated with the transport of Cl−, HCO3- ions, γ-aminobutiric acid (GABA), glutamate (Glu), and regulation of retinal homeostasis. Its mutant forms cause retinal degenerative diseases, defined as Bestrophinopathies. Using both physicochemical - surface pressure/mean molecular area (π/A) isotherms, hysteresis, compressibility moduli of hBest1/sphingomyelin (SM) monolayers, Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) studies, and biological approaches - detergent membrane fractionation, Laurdan (6-dodecanoyl-N,N-dimethyl-2-naphthylamine) and immunofluorescence staining of stably transfected MDCK-hBest1 and MDCK II cells, we report: 1) Ca2+, Glu and GABA interact with binary hBest1/SM monolayers at 35 °C, resulting in changes in hBest1 surface conformation, structure, self-organization and surface dynamics. The process of mixing in hBest1/SM monolayers is spontaneous and the effect of protein on binary films was defined as “fluidizing”, hindering the phase-transition of monolayer from liquid-expanded to intermediate (LE-M) state; 2) in stably transfected MDCK-hBest1 cells, bestrophin-1 was distributed between detergent resistant (DRM) and detergent-soluble membranes (DSM) - up to 30 % and 70 %, respectively; in alive cells, hBest1 was visualized in both liquid-ordered (Lo) and liquid-disordered (Ld) fractions, quantifying protein association up to 35 % and 65 % with Lo and Ld. Our results indicate that the spontaneous miscibility of hBest1 and SM is a prerequisite to diverse protein interactions with membrane domains, different structural conformations and biological functions