Effect of laundry detergent formulation on the performance of alkaline phytoproteases

Background: Proteases constitute the largest product segment in the global industrial enzymes market; they are used in food, pharmaceutical, leather, textile, wood and detergent industries. Alkaline proteases improve the cleaning efficiency of detergents and represent one of the most successful applications of modern industrial biotechnology. The aim of this work was to study the performance of two alkaline phytoproteases, araujiain (Araujia hortorum Fourn.) and asclepain (Asclepias curassavica L.), for their potential application as additive in laundry detergent formulations. Results: The effect of pure non-ionic and ionic surfactants on proteolytic activity of araujiain and asclepain was analyzed measuring the remaining activity after 1 hr of incubation of those enzymes in aqueous solutions of surfactants at different concentrations (0.1, 0.4 and 1% v/v) and temperatures (25, 40 and 60oC). Besides, the compatibility of the enzymes with six commercial laundry detergents was also studied measuring the remaining proteolytic activity at 37oC after 1 hr. Commercial detergent components influenced in different ways on araujiain and asclepain, in spite of the similar behaviour of the two enzymes in buffer. In commercial detergent solutions, araujiain expressed between 60% and 140% of its remaining proteolytic activity in buffer (pH 8.5) at 37oC after 1 hr, while asclepain, was practically inactivate in most of them at the same conditions. Conclusions: Proteolytic extract of Araujia hortorum fulfilled all the requirements for its application as additive for laundry detergents: high stability in a broad temperature range (25-70oC), high activity in alkaline pH (7.5-9.5) and very good compatibility with the commercial detergent additives. Nevertheless, in spite of its high stability and activity in buffer, the proteolytic extract of Asclepias curassavica did not show the same performance than araujiain.Centro de Investigación de Proteínas Vegetale

Effect of laundry detergent formulation on the performance of alkaline phytoproteases

Background: Proteases constitute the largest product segment in the global industrial enzymes market; they are used in food, pharmaceutical, leather, textile, wood and detergent industries. Alkaline proteases improve the cleaning efficiency of detergents and represent one of the most successful applications of modern industrial biotechnology. The aim of this work was to study the performance of two alkaline phytoproteases, araujiain (Araujia hortorum Fourn.) and asclepain (Asclepias curassavica L.), for their potential application as additive in laundry detergent formulations. Results: The effect of pure non-ionic and ionic surfactants on proteolytic activity of araujiain and asclepain was analyzed measuring the remaining activity after 1 hr of incubation of those enzymes in aqueous solutions of surfactants at different concentrations (0.1, 0.4 and 1% v/v) and temperatures (25, 40 and 60ºC). Besides, the compatibility of the enzymes with six commercial laundry detergents was also studied measuring the remaining proteolytic activity at 37ºC after 1 hr. Commercial detergent components influenced in different ways on araujiain and asclepain, in spite of the similar behaviour of the two enzymes in buffer. In commercial detergent solutions, araujiain expressed between 60% and 140% of its remaining proteolytic activity in buffer (pH 8.5) at 37ºC after 1 hr, while asclepain, was practically inactivate in most of them at the same conditions. Conclusions: Proteolytic extract of Araujia hortorum fulfilled all the requirements for its application as additive for laundry detergents: high stability in a broad temperature range (25-70ºC), high activity in alkaline pH (7.5-9.5) and very good compatibility with the commercial detergent additives. Nevertheless, in spite of its high stability and activity in buffer, the proteolytic extract of Asclepias curassavica did not show the same performance than araujiain.Fil: Barberis, Sonia Esther. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Quimica, Bioquimica y Farmacia. Departamento de Farmacia. Laboratorio de Bromatologia; ArgentinaFil: Quiroga, Evelina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - CONICET- San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Barcia, Cristina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Liggiere, Constanza. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas; Argentin

Prothymosin α is phosphorylated by casein kinase-2

AbstractProthymosin α (ProTα) is a 12.5 kDa acidic polypeptide that is considered to have a nuclear function related to cell proliferation. Inspection of its amino acid sequence revealed the presence of sequences that may serve as targets for phosphorylation by casein kinase-2 (CK-2). ProTα isolated from calf thymocytes was phosphorylated in vitro by CK-2. The phosphorylation sites are Ser and Thr residues located among the first 14 amino acid residues in the ProTα sequence. Another site that is theoretically suitable for phosphorylation by CK-2, at the C-terminus of the polypeptide, is not, in fact, phosphorylated. Thymosin α1 (Tα1), a peptide whose sequence corresponds to the first 28 amino acids of ProTα, is also phosphorylated by CK-2 at the same phosphorylation sites as ProTα. In cultured splenic lymphocytes ProTα was phosphorylated at Thr residues located at positions 7, 12 and/or 13. Based on these observations we conclude that CK-2, or another cellular kinase with similar sequence specifity, is responsible for phosphorylation of ProTα in vivo

Effect of laundry detergent formulation on the performance of alkaline phytoproteases

Background: Proteases constitute the largest product segment in the global industrial enzymes market; they are used in food, pharmaceutical, leather, textile, wood and detergent industries. Alkaline proteases improve the cleaning efficiency of detergents and represent one of the most successful applications of modern industrial biotechnology. The aim of this work was to study the performance of two alkaline phytoproteases, araujiain ( Araujia hortorum Fourn.) and asclepain ( Asclepias curassavica L.), for their potential application as additive in laundry detergent formulations. Results: The effect of pure non-ionic and ionic surfactants on proteolytic activity of araujiain and asclepain was analyzed measuring the remaining activity after 1 hr of incubation of those enzymes in aqueous solutions of surfactants at different concentrations (0.1, 0.4 and 1% v/v) and temperatures (25, 40 and 60\ubaC). Besides, the compatibility of the enzymes with six commercial laundry detergents was also studied measuring the remaining proteolytic activity at 37\ubaC after 1 hr. Commercial detergent components influenced in different ways on araujiain and asclepain, in spite of the similar behaviour of the two enzymes in buffer. In commercial detergent solutions, araujiain expressed between 60% and 140% of its remaining proteolytic activity in buffer (pH 8.5) at 37\ubaC after 1 hr, while asclepain, was practically inactivate in most of them at the same conditions. Conclusions: Proteolytic extract of Araujia hortorum fulfilled all the requirements for its application as additive for laundry detergents: high stability in a broad temperature range (25-70\ubaC), high activity in alkaline pH (7.5-9.5) and very good compatibility with the commercial detergent additives. Nevertheless, in spite of its high stability and activity in buffer, the proteolytic extract of Asclepias curassavica did not show the same performance than araujiain

Effect of laundry detergent formulation on the performance of alkaline phytoproteases

Background: Proteases constitute the largest product segment in the global industrial enzymes market; they are used in food, pharmaceutical, leather, textile, wood and detergent industries. Alkaline proteases improve the cleaning efficiency of detergents and represent one of the most successful applications of modern industrial biotechnology. The aim of this work was to study the performance of two alkaline phytoproteases, araujiain (Araujia hortorum Fourn.) and asclepain (Asclepias curassavica L.), for their potential application as additive in laundry detergent formulations. Results: The effect of pure non-ionic and ionic surfactants on proteolytic activity of araujiain and asclepain was analyzed measuring the remaining activity after 1 hr of incubation of those enzymes in aqueous solutions of surfactants at different concentrations (0.1, 0.4 and 1% v/v) and temperatures (25, 40 and 60oC). Besides, the compatibility of the enzymes with six commercial laundry detergents was also studied measuring the remaining proteolytic activity at 37oC after 1 hr. Commercial detergent components influenced in different ways on araujiain and asclepain, in spite of the similar behaviour of the two enzymes in buffer. In commercial detergent solutions, araujiain expressed between 60% and 140% of its remaining proteolytic activity in buffer (pH 8.5) at 37oC after 1 hr, while asclepain, was practically inactivate in most of them at the same conditions. Conclusions: Proteolytic extract of Araujia hortorum fulfilled all the requirements for its application as additive for laundry detergents: high stability in a broad temperature range (25-70oC), high activity in alkaline pH (7.5-9.5) and very good compatibility with the commercial detergent additives. Nevertheless, in spite of its high stability and activity in buffer, the proteolytic extract of Asclepias curassavica did not show the same performance than araujiain.Centro de Investigación de Proteínas Vegetale

Pollen-producing plants of allergenic interest

El incremento de la sensibilidad humana a los alergenos, en particular al polen, tiene relación con factores medioambientales y con el estilo de vida. La cantidad total de polen observado en el aire está creciendo debido a los cambios climáticos. En Europa la floración de muchos árboles y hierbas empieza antes y dura más que hace 10 años, debido a la interacción entre el aumento de la temperatura y la concentración de CO2. Además, los contaminantes químicos del aire pueden modificar las características de los alergenos, entre los que se incluye el polen, aumentando la sensibilidad y las respuestas alérgicas de la población. El tipo de alergia respiratoria más frecuente es causado por la presencia de polen en el aire y se denomina polinosis. Las plantas polinizan durante el día, pero el polen queda en suspensión muchas horas. La concentración de polen en el aire decrece con la distancia, por lo que un solo árbol en un jardín puede tener más repercusiones en la salud que un bosque a 10 km de distancia. Las redes aerobiológicas mundiales realizan observaciones sistemáticas de la concentración de polen en el aire, advirtiendo a las personas alérgicas para adaptar a corto plazo sus actividades al aire libre y la medicación preventiva, reduciendo los efectos adversos sobre su salud. La selección de plantas ornamentales no alergológicas en las calles y jardines podría reducir significativamente la exposición a los alergenos polínicos. El corte periódico de ciertas hierbas reduciría la emisión de polen y las alergias respiratorias estacionales, mejorando la calidad de vida de la población susceptible. El objetivo de este trabajo es revisar las especies mundiales productoras de pólenes de interés alergológico, clasificarlas por su abundancia en los diferentes continentes y vincularlas con su incidencia sobre la salud de la población.Increased sensitivity to allergens, particularly pollen, is related to environmental factors and lifestyle. The total amount of pollen found in the air is growing due to climate change. In Europe the flowering of many trees and grasses starts earlier and it is longer than 10 years ago, due to the interaction between increased temperature and CO2 concentration. In addition, air chemical contaminants can modify the allergens characteristics, such as pollens, increasing human sensitivity to them and allergic responses. The most widespread type of respiratory allergy is caused by the presence of pollen in the air and it is called hay fever. Plants pollinate during the day but pollen keep suspended for many hours. The air pollen concentration decreases with distance, so a single tree in a garden can have more impact on health than a large forest 10 km away. Aerobiological global networks make systematic observations of the concentration of pollen in the air in order to warning people with allergies to adapt their short-term outdoor activities and to use the preventive medication, reducing the effects of pollen on the population health. The selection of ornamental no allergenic plants in the streets and gardens could significantly reduce exposure to pollen allergens. The periodic cut of certain herbs would reduce the emission of pollen and seasonal respiratory allergies frequency, improving the quality of life of a significant portion of the world population. The aim of this paper is review pollen-producing plants all over the word, and classify them by their abundance in different continents, and their relationship with the incidence on the population respiratory health.Fil: Barcia, Cristina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Laboratorio de Bromatología; ArgentinaFil: Veríssimo Pires, Paula C.. Universidad de Coimbra. Facultad de Ciencias E Tecnología. Departamento de Ciencias Da Vida; PortugalFil: Barberis, Sonia Esther. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich". Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich"; Argentin

Neurorestoration approach by biomaterials in ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke (IS) is the leading cause of disability in the western world, assuming a high socio-economic cost. One of the most used strategies in the last decade has been biomaterials, which have been initially used with a structural support function. They have been perfected, different compounds have been combined, and they have been used together with cell therapy or controlled release chemical compounds. This double function has driven them as potential candidates for the chronic treatment of IS. In fact, the most developed are in different phases of clinical trial. In this review, we will show the ischemic scenario and address the most important criteria to achieve a successful neuroreparation from the point of view of biomaterials. The spontaneous processes that are activated and how to enhance them is one of the keys that contribute to the success of the therapeutic approach. In addition, the different routes of administration and how they affect the design of biomaterials are analyzed. Future perspectives show where this broad scientific field is heading, which advances every day with the help of technology and advanced therapies.We gratefully acknowledge funding from Institute Carlos III (EC11-121) which support our research using biohybrids in the treatment of ischemic stroke. NE-G is funded by a contract from the European Social Fund through the Operational Youth Guarantee Program of the Ministry of Science, Universities and Innovation of the Community of Madrid (PEJD-2019- PRE/BMD-15396). CN was funded by Boston Scientifi

Bridges of biomaterials promote nigrostriatal pathway regeneration

[EN] Repair of central nervous system (CNS) lesions is difficulted by the lack of ability of central axons to regrow, and the blocking by the brain astrocytes to axonal entry. We hypothesized that by using bridges made of porous biomaterial and permissive olfactory ensheathing glia (OEG), we could provide a scaffold to permit restoration of white matter tracts. We implanted porous polycaprolactone (PCL) bridges between the substantia nigra and the striatum in rats, both with and without OEG. We compared the number of tyrosine-hydroxylase positive (TH+) fibers crossing the striatal-graft interface, and the astrocytic and microglial reaction around the grafts, between animals grafted with and without OEG. Although TH+ fibers were found inside the grafts made of PCL alone, there was a greater fiber density inside the graft and at the striatal-graft interface when OEG was cografted. Also, there was less astrocytic and microglial reaction in those animals. These results show that these PCL grafts are able to promote axonal growth along the nigrostriatal pathway, and that cografting of OEG markedly enhances axonal entry inside the grafts, growth within them, and re-entry of axons into the CNS. These results may have implications in the treatment of diseases such as Parkinson's and others associated with lesions of central white matter tracts.Contract grant sponsor: Regional Government Health Department (Conselleria de Sanitat, Generalitat Valenciana) and Carlos III Health Institute of the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs (Spain) (Regenerative Medicine Programme) Contract grant sponsor: Spanish ministry of Education and Science; contract grant number: MAT 2006-13554-C02-02 Contract grant sponsor: Red de Terapia Celular TERCEL (RETICS), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (ISCIII); contract grant number: RD12/0019/0010 (to J.A.) Contract grant sponsor: Spanish Science & Innovation Ministery; contract grant number: MAT2008-06434 (to M.M.P.) Contract grant sponsor: "Convenio de Colaboracion para la Investigacion Basica y Traslacional en Medicina Regenerativa," Instituto Nacional de Salud Carlos III, the Conselleria de Sanidad of the Generalitat Valenciana, and the Foundation Centro de Investigacion Principe FelipeGómez Pinedo, U.; Sanchez-Rojas, L.; Vidueira, S.; Sancho, FJ.; Martínez-Ramos, C.; Lebourg, M.; Monleón Pradas, M.... (2019). Bridges of biomaterials promote nigrostriatal pathway regeneration. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B Applied Biomaterials. 107(1):190-196. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.b.34110S1901961071Pekny, M., Wilhelmsson, U., & Pekna, M. (2014). The dual role of astrocyte activation and reactive gliosis. Neuroscience Letters, 565, 30-38. doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2013.12.071Bliss, T. M., Andres, R. H., & Steinberg, G. K. (2010). Optimizing the success of cell transplantation therapy for stroke. Neurobiology of Disease, 37(2), 275-283. doi:10.1016/j.nbd.2009.10.003Tam, R. Y., Fuehrmann, T., Mitrousis, N., & Shoichet, M. S. (2013). Regenerative Therapies for Central Nervous System Diseases: a Biomaterials Approach. Neuropsychopharmacology, 39(1), 169-188. doi:10.1038/npp.2013.237Skop, N. B., Calderon, F., Cho, C. H., Gandhi, C. D., & Levison, S. W. (2014). Improvements in biomaterial matrices for neural precursor cell transplantation. Molecular and Cellular Therapies, 2(1), 19. doi:10.1186/2052-8426-2-19Yasuhara, T., Kameda, M., Sasaki, T., Tajiri, N., & Date, I. (2017). Cell Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease. Cell Transplantation, 26(9), 1551-1559. doi:10.1177/0963689717735411Orive, G., Anitua, E., Pedraz, J. L., & Emerich, D. F. (2009). Biomaterials for promoting brain protection, repair and regeneration. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 10(9), 682-692. doi:10.1038/nrn2685Walker, P. A., Aroom, K. R., Jimenez, F., Shah, S. K., Harting, M. T., Gill, B. S., & Cox, C. S. (2009). Advances in Progenitor Cell Therapy Using Scaffolding Constructs for Central Nervous System Injury. Stem Cell Reviews and Reports, 5(3), 283-300. doi:10.1007/s12015-009-9081-1Zhong, Y., & Bellamkonda, R. V. (2008). Biomaterials for the central nervous system. Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 5(26), 957-975. doi:10.1098/rsif.2008.0071Pérez‐GarnezM BarciaJA Gómez‐PinedoU Monleón‐PradasM Vallés‐LluchA.Materials for Central Nervous System Tissue Engineering Cells and Biomaterials in Regenerative Medicine. InTech;2014. Chap 7.Sinha, V. R., Bansal, K., Kaushik, R., Kumria, R., & Trehan, A. (2004). Poly-ϵ-caprolactone microspheres and nanospheres: an overview. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 278(1), 1-23. doi:10.1016/j.ijpharm.2004.01.044Raisman, G. (2001). Olfactory ensheathing cells — another miracle cure for spinal cord injury? Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2(5), 369-375. doi:10.1038/35072576Raisman, G., & Li, Y. (2007). Repair of neural pathways by olfactory ensheathing cells. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 8(4), 312-319. doi:10.1038/nrn2099Fairless, R., & Barnett, S. C. (2005). Olfactory ensheathing cells: their role in central nervous system repair. The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 37(4), 693-699. doi:10.1016/j.biocel.2004.10.010Collins, A., Li, D., Mcmahon, S. B., Raisman, G., & Li, Y. (2017). Transplantation of Cultured Olfactory Bulb Cells Prevents Abnormal Sensory Responses during Recovery from Dorsal Root Avulsion in the Rat. Cell Transplantation, 26(5), 913-924. doi:10.3727/096368917x695353Navarro, X., Valero, A., Gudi�o, G., For�s, J., Rodr�guez, F. J., Verd�, E., … Nieto-Sampedro, M. (1999). Ensheathing glia transplants promote dorsal root regeneration and spinal reflex restitution after multiple lumbar rhizotomy. Annals of Neurology, 45(2), 207-215. doi:10.1002/1531-8249(199902)45:23.0.co;2-kGómez-Pinedo, U., Félez, M. C., Sancho-Bielsa, F. J., Vidueira, S., Cabanes, C., Soriano, M., … Barcia, J. A. (2008). Improved technique for stereotactic placement of nerve grafts between two locations inside the rat brain. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 174(2), 194-201. doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2008.07.008HowardCV ReedMG.Unbiased Stereology: Three‐Dimensional Measurement in Microscopy. Oxford: Bioimaging Group;1998.Collier, T. J., & Springer, J. E. (1991). Co-grafts of embryonic dopamine neurons and adult sciatic nerve into the denervated striatum enhance behavioral and morphological recovery in rats. Experimental Neurology, 114(3), 343-350. doi:10.1016/0014-4886(91)90160-eBourke, J. L., Coleman, H. A., Pham, V., Forsythe, J. S., & Parkington, H. C. (2014). Neuronal Electrophysiological Function and Control of Neurite Outgrowth on Electrospun Polymer Nanofibers Are Cell Type Dependent. Tissue Engineering Part A, 20(5-6), 1089-1095. doi:10.1089/ten.tea.2013.0295Nga, V. D. W., Lim, J., Choy, D. K. S., Nyein, M. A., Lu, J., Chou, N., … Teoh, S.-H. (2015). Effects of Polycaprolactone-Based Scaffolds on the Blood–Brain Barrier and Cerebral Inflammation. Tissue Engineering Part A, 21(3-4), 647-653. doi:10.1089/ten.tea.2013.0779Pérez-Garnés, M., Martínez-Ramos, C., Barcia, J. A., Escobar Ivirico, J. L., Gómez-Pinedo, U., Vallés-Lluch, A., & Monleón Pradas, M. (2012). One-Dimensional Migration of Olfactory Ensheathing Cells on Synthetic Materials: Experimental and Numerical Characterization. Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics, 65(1), 21-36. doi:10.1007/s12013-012-9399-1Diban, N., Ramos-Vivas, J., Remuzgo-Martinez, S., Ortiz, I., & Urtiaga, A. (2015). Poly(ε-caprolactone) Films with Favourable Properties for Neural Cell Growth. Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry, 14(23), 2743-2749. doi:10.2174/156802661466614121515393

Are We Ready for Cell Therapy to Treat Stroke?

Clinical trials of cell therapies that target stroke started at the beginning of this century and they have experienced a significant boost in recent years as a result of promising data from basic research studies. The increase in the information available has paved the way to carry out more innovative and varied human studies. Efforts have focused on the search for a safe and effective treatment to stimulate neuro-regeneration in the brain and to reduce the sequelae of stroke in patients. Therefore, this review aims to evaluate the clinical trials using cell therapy to treat stroke published to date and assess their limitations. From 2000 to date, most of the published clinical trials have focused on phases I or II, and the vast majority of them demonstrate that stem cells are essentially safe to use when administered by different routes, with transient and mild adverse events that do not generally have severe consequences for health. In general, there is considerable variation in the trials in terms of statistical design, sample size, the cells used, the routes of administration, and the functional assessments (both at baseline and follow-up), making it difficult to compare the studies. From this general description, possibly the experimental protocol is the main element to improve in future studies. Establishing an adequate experimental and statistical design will be essential to obtain favorable and reliable results when conducting phase III clinical trials. Thus, it is necessary to standardize the criteria used in these clinical trials in order to aid comparison. Shortly, cell therapy will be a key approach in the treatment of stroke if adequate and comprehensive levels of recovery are to be achieved