Antiviral activity of chitosan nanoparticles for controlling plant-infecting viruses

Chitosan nanoparticles (ChiNPs) are a potentially effective means for controlling numerous plant diseases. This study firstly describes the antiviral capabilities of ChiNPs to control plant viral diseases compared to its bulk form. Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) was used as a model plant virus affecting faba bean plants and many other legumes. The antiviral effectiveness of ChiNPs and chitosan were evaluated as a curative application method, using six dosage rates (50, 100, 200, 250, 300 and 400 mg/L). Results indicated that ChiNPs curatively applied 48 h post virus inoculation entirely inhibit the disease infectivity and viral accumulation content at 300 mg/L and 400 mg/L. The virus titre was greatly alleviated within the plant tissues by 7.71% up to100% depending on ChiNP dosage rates. However, chitosan used in its bulk-based material form revealed a relatively low to an intermediate reduction in virus infectivity by 6.67% up to 48.86%. Interestingly, ChiNPs affect the virus particle’s integrity by producing defective and incomplete BYMV viral particles, defeating their replication and accumulation content within the plant tissues. Simultaneously, ChiNP applications were appreciably shown to promote the pathogenesis-related (PR-1) gene and other defence-related factors. The mRNA of the PR-1 gene was markedly accumulated in treated plants, reaching its maximum at 400 mg/L with 16.22-fold relative expression change over the untreated control. Further, the total phenol dynamic curve was remarkably promoted for 30 days in response to ChiNP application, as compared to the untreated control. Our results provide the first report that chitosan-based nanomaterials have a superior effect in controlling plant viruses as an antiviral curing agent, suggesting that they may feasibly be involved in viral disease management strategies under field conditions without serious health concerns and environmental costs. Significance: • Our findings show that chitosan nanoparticles have a powerful curing antiviral activity against BYMV disease. These findings open the door for the use of eco-friendly nano-based tools in controlling numerous plant viruses. The use of eco-friendly nano-based materials could result in a successful integrative control strategy for plant viruses under field conditions, negating the need for the conventional measure used to control most of the insect-transmitted plant viruses, that is insecticide application against vector insects

Using HHsearch to tackle proteins of unknown function: A pilot study with PH domains

Advances in membrane cell biology are hampered by the relatively high proportion of proteins with no known function. Such proteins are largely or entirely devoid of structurally significant domain annotations. Structural bioinformaticians have developed profile-profile tools such as HHsearch (online version called HHpred), which can detect remote homologies that are missed by tools used to annotate databases. Here we have applied HHsearch to study a single structural fold in a single model organism as proof of principle. In the entire clan of protein domains sharing the pleckstrin homology domain fold in yeast, systematic application of HHsearch accurately identified known PH-like domains. It also predicted 16 new domains in 13 yeast proteins many of which are implicated in intracellular traffic. One of these was Vps13p, where we confirmed the functional importance of the predicted PH-like domain. Even though such predictions require considerable work to be corroborated, they are useful first steps. HHsearch should be applied more widely, particularly across entire proteomes of model organisms, to significantly improve database annotations

Antiviral activity of chitosan nanoparticles for controlling plant-infecting viruses

Chitosan nanoparticles (ChiNPs) are a potentially effective means for controlling numerous plant diseases. This study firstly describes the antiviral capabilities of ChiNPs to control plant viral diseases compared to its bulk form. Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) was used as a model plant virus affecting faba bean plants and many other legumes. The antiviral effectiveness of ChiNPs and chitosan were evaluated as a curative application method, using six dosage rates (50, 100, 200, 250, 300 and 400 mg/L). Results indicated that ChiNPs curatively applied 48 h post virus inoculation entirely inhibit the disease infectivity and viral accumulation content at 300 mg/L and 400 mg/L. The virus titre was greatly alleviated within the plant tissues by 7.71% up to100% depending on ChiNP dosage rates. However, chitosan used in its bulk-based material form revealed a relatively low to an intermediate reduction in virus infectivity by 6.67% up to 48.86%. Interestingly, ChiNPs affect the virus particle’s integrity by producing defective and incomplete BYMV viral particles, defeating their replication and accumulation content within the plant tissues. Simultaneously, ChiNP applications were appreciably shown to promote the pathogenesis-related (PR-1) gene and other defence-related factors. The mRNA of the PR-1 gene was markedly accumulated in treated plants, reaching its maximum at 400 mg/L with 16.22-fold relative expression change over the untreated control. Further, the total phenol dynamic curve was remarkably promoted for 30 days in response to ChiNP application, as compared to the untreated control. Our results provide the first report that chitosan-based nanomaterials have a superior effect in controlling plant viruses as an antiviral curing agent, suggesting that they may feasibly be involved in viral disease management strategies under field conditions without serious health concerns and environmental costs.Significance: Our findings show that chitosan nanoparticles have a powerful curing antiviral activity against BYMV disease. These findings open the door for the use of eco-friendly nano-based tools in controlling numerous plant viruses. The use of eco-friendly nano-based materials could result in a successful integrative control strategy for plant viruses under field conditions, negating the need for the conventional measure used to control most of the insect-transmitted plant viruses, that is insecticide application against vector insects

Relationship between breast feeding duration and risk of overweight/obesity among Egyptian children

Background and aim: Breast feeding (BF); as risk factor for/or protective against childhood overweight/obesity; remains matter of debate. This study assesses relationship between BF duration, and development of overweight/obesity among Egyptian children, with respect for wide range of potentially confounding variables. Subjects and methods: Cross sectional-retrospective study included 154 children of both sexes; aged 6–18 years. Data was collected about child birth weight, breast feeding duration, and start of weaning, family size, parental ages, education, occupation and place of residence. Anthropometric measurements and body composition were conducted. Children were classified into 3 age groups (6–9, 9.1–12 and 12.1–18 years) and 4 groups according to BF duration (Never BF, BF for 6, 7–12, and more than 12 months). Results: Children who never BF were12.8%, while those BF for more than 12 months were 59.7%. Start of weaning was more common at 5–6 months of age (58.4%). Overweight/Obesity was detected among 30.5% of children. It was more prominent among children who BF for more than 12 months in ages 6–12 years (64.3% and 71.4%), while in those aged 12–18 years it was equivalent in those never BF (33.3%) and who BF for more than 12 months (38.9%). BF duration had insignificant correlations with parental education or occupation, or with any of the child's anthropometric measurements. Conclusion: Childhood overweight/obesity were less prominent among children who Bf for <12 months; However, there was no effect of breast feeding duration on any of the child anthropometric measures

Anatase-cellulose acetate for reinforced desalination membrane with antibacterial properties

Abstract This study aimed to prepare antifouling and highly mechanical strengthening membranes for brackish and underground water desalination. It was designed from cellulose acetate (CA) loaded anatase. Anatase was prepared from tetra-iso-propylorthotitanate and carboxymethyl cellulose. Different concentrations of anatase (0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, and 0.8)% were loaded onto CA during the inversion phase preparation of the membranes. The prepared membranes were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM & EDX), mechanical properties, swelling ratio, porosity determination, and ion release. The analysis confirmed the formation of anatase on the surface and inside the macro-voids of the membrane. Furthermore, anatase loading improved the CA membrane’s mechanical properties and decreased its swelling and porosity rate. Also, CA-loaded anatase membranes displayed a significant antibacterial potential against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The results showed that the salt rejection of the CA/anatase films as-prepared varies considerably with the addition of nanomaterial, rising from 46%:92% with the prepared membranes under the 10-bar operation condition and 5 g/L NaCl input concentration. It can be concluded that the prepared CA-loaded anatase membranes have high mechanical properties that are safe, economical, available, and can stop membrane biofouling

Spectrum of epilepsy &ndash; prevalence, impact, and treatment gap: an epidemiological study from Al-Quseir, Egypt

Hamdy N El-Tallawy,1 Wafaa M Farghaly,1 Tarek A Rageh,1 Ghaydaa A Shehata,1 Nabil A Metwally,2 Reda Badry,1 Mohammed A Sayed,3 Ahmed M Abdelwarith,2 Mahmoud R Kandil,1 Mohamed A Hamed,1 Khaled O Mohamed,1 Amal M Tohamy11Department of Neurology, Assiut University, Assiut, 2Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University &ndash; Assiut Branch, Assiut, 3Department of Neurology, Sohag University, Sohag, EgyptBackground: Epidemiology continues to be an important research tool in the study of epilepsy and related disorders, providing a better understanding of the frequency, causes, and natural history of the disorder.Objective: To estimate the prevalence of epilepsy in Al-Quseir, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt, and its magnitude of treatment gap.Methods: The study was part of a door-to-door study, including every door, to screen all inhabitants in Al-Quseir (33,818 inhabitants) by three specialists of neurology and 15 female social workers (for demographic data collection) using a standardized screening questionnaire. All suspected cases were subjected to detailed history, clinical examination, and electroencephalogram. Neuroimaging studies and estimation of serum drug level were done in select cases if needed.Results: The study revealed that the lifetime prevalence rate of epilepsy in Al-Quseir is 5.5/1,000, with the highest peak during early childhood, while that of active epilepsy is 3.3/1,000 population. The annual incidence rate is 48/100,000, and the age-specific incidence rate has a U-shaped pattern with two peaks of incidence in early infancy and elderly life. Localization-related epilepsy is the most frequently encountered type (58.8%). The treatment gap of epilepsy in Al-Quseir is 83.8%.Conclusion: The lifetime prevalence of epilepsy in Al-Quseir city, Red Sea Governorate, was 5.5/1000. Keywords: epidemiology, epilepsy, treatment gap, Egypt, Al-Quseir, epidemiolog

Neuroprotective Effects of Some Nutraceuticals against Manganese-Induced Parkinson&rsquo;s Disease in Rats: Possible Modulatory Effects on TLR4/NLRP3/NF-&kappa;B, GSK-3&beta;, Nrf2/HO-1, and Apoptotic Pathways

Parkinson&rsquo;s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting the substantia nigra where functions controlling body movement take place. Manganese (Mn) overexposure is linked to a neurologic syndrome resembling PD. Sesamol, thymol, wheat grass (WG), and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) are potent antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic nutraceuticals. We investigated the potential protective effects of these nutraceuticals alone or in combinations against MnCl2-induced PD in rats. Seven groups of adult male Sprague Dawley rats were categorized as follows: group (I) was the control, while groups 2&ndash;7 received MnCl2 either alone (Group II) or in conjunction with oral doses of sesamol (Group III), thymol (Group IV), CoQ10 (Group V), WG (Group VI), or their combination (Group VII). All rats were subjected to four behavioral tests (open-field, swimming, Y-maze, and catalepsy tests). Biochemical changes in brain levels of monoamines, ACHE, BDNF, GSK-3&beta;, GABA/glutamate, as well as oxidative stress, and apoptotic and neuroinflammatory biomarkers were evaluated, together with histopathological examinations of different brain regions. Mn increased catalepsy scores, while decreasing neuromuscular co-ordination, and locomotor and exploratory activity. It also impaired vigilance, spatial memory, and decision making. Most behavioral impairments induced by Mn were improved by sesamol, thymol, WG, or CoQ10, with prominent effect by sesamol and thymol. Notably, the combination group showed more pronounced improvements, which were confirmed by biochemical, molecular, as well as histopathological findings. Sesamol or thymol showed better protection against neuronal degeneration and some behavioral impairments induced by Mn than WG or CoQ10, partly via interplay between Nrf2/HO-1, TLR4/NLRP3/NF-&kappa;B, GSK-3&beta; and Bax/Bcl2 pathways

Sentinel behaviour and the watchman\'s call in the Chukar at St Katherine Protectorate, Sinai, Egypt

Foraging in a group potentially allows individuals to reduce anti-predator vigilance without increasing predation risk. Individual vigilance may be further reduced if group members take turns at watching for predators, acting as sentinels or guards. Because the presence or absence of sentinels must be monitored to ensure that the group is guarded at all times, the conditions favouring the evolution of coordinated vigilance are probably very specific. We studied groups of chukars, Alectoris chukar (Gray, 1830) (Phasianidae), a desert species reported to adopt a sentinel system, to see whether this was the case. Individuals identified as sentinels behaved significantly differently from other group members, occupying prominent positions and being vigilant significantly more than foraging group members. The largest individuals became sentinels most frequently, yet were not more vigilant than smaller individuals while they were on guard. Sentinels that ended a bout of vigilance were usually replaced quickly; a soft call was heard during a significant number of exchanges. We conclude that chukars do have a sentinel system of vigilance. A vocalisation, similar to the watchman\'s call seen in other species, seems to play a role in coordinating vigilance behaviour. Keywords: anti-predator vigilance, flocking, Egyptian Journal of Biology Vol. 10 2008: pp. 42-5