Chlorella biomass as a potential source of algal oil: Investigations on optimization of ultrasonic assisted extraction, kinetics and characterization of algal oil

The creation of renewable and affordable alternative energy is required due to the growing need for sustainable energy. In this present research work, algal oil has been extracted from microalgae biomass of Chlorella vulgaris using the Soxhlet apparatus. The algal biomass is ultrasonically pretreated to disrupt the cell walls of Chlorella sp. A total of five homogeneous solvent extractions are performed. As a result, the use of chloroform and isopropanol showed higher algal oil yields of 10.8% and 9.1%, respectively. Therefore, heterogeneous solvent approaches have been used in different volume ratios (5:1 to 1:5) to improve the yield of algal oil. Accordingly, the findings demonstrated that as compared to homogeneous solvents, the use of heterogeneous solvents shows better yield of algal oil from Chlorella sp. biomass. A maximum bio-oil yield of 12.3% was obtained using chloroform and isopropanol at a ratio of 3:3. To improve the extraction yields of algal oil, various parameters were optimized. The optimized parameters include 20 min of ultrasonication time, 3:1 ratio of solvent to biomass, temperature of 50℃, and an extraction period of 90 min. Further, extracted algal oil is characterised using GC-MS, and the results shows the presence of octadecanoic acid in the extracted algal oil. GC-MS analysis of the extracted edalgal oil has shown the suitability of the oil for transesterification reaction for the production of fatty acid methyl esters

Antibacterial and Morphological Studies of Electrospun Silver-Impregnated Polyacrylonitrile Nanofibre

Silver-impregnated polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibre was prepared through electrospinning process. Infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Thermo gravimetric analyses (TGA/DTA) were used to characterize PAN and PAN/Ag composites. The XRD results reflects decrease in the crystallinity of PAN as it is been modified with Ag. Antibacterial activity of PAN/Ag was also investigated

SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL EVALUATION OF POLYESTERAMIDE RESIN FROM MORINGA OLEIFERA SEED OIL (MOSO) FOR SURFACE COATING APPLICATION

This paper describes the antimicrobial and corrosion inhibitive properties of synthesized polyesteramide resin from Moringa oleifera seed oil (MOSO). N,N'-bis (2-hydroxyethyl) Moringa oleifera oil fatty amide (HEMA) was synthesized via aminolysis from MOSO. The fatty amide obtained from aminolysis (HEMA) undergoes polycondensation reaction with adipic acid to form polyesteramide (MOPEA). The synthesized polyesteramide resin was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), Carbon 13 nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR) spectroscopic analyses and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Selected physico-chemical parameters of MOSO, HEMA and MOPEA were examined. Coating performance, thermal stability and antimicrobial properties of the cured resin (MOPEA) were evaluated

SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTIMJCROBJAL E\ALUATION OF POLYESTERAMIDE RESIN BASED ON Moringa oleifera SEED OIL (MOSO)

The depletion of world's petroleum reservoir coupled with global economy and environmental issues surrounding the complete dependence on petroleum have led researchers to develop alternate resource materials for industrial uses. This paper describes the antimicrobial and corrosion inhibitive properties of polyesteramide resin from Moringa oleifera seed oil (MOSO). N,N'-bis (2- hydroxyethyl) Moringa oleifera oil fatty amide (HEMA) was synthesized via aminolysis. The amide obtained from aminolysis (HEMA) undergoes condensation reaction with adipic acid to form polyesteramide (MOPEA). The synthesized polyesteramide resin was characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopic analyses. Selected physico-chemical parameters ofMOSO, HEMA and MOPEA were measured. Coating performance, thennal stability and antimicrobial properties of the cured resin were evaluated

Effects of local infiltration of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with phonophoresis on wound healing in dogs

A total of six dogs with extensive wounds of 5×5 cm2 size and above were taken with the objective of evaluating the efficacy of autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with phonophoresis on wound healing in dogs. Autologous PBMCs were isolated freshly on 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28th day from blood by using density gradient centrifugation. Obtained PBMC was infiltrated around the wounds. Phonophoresis was done using therapeutic ultrasound massage at 0.5 watts/cm2 for 10 min for all the six animals. Clinical evaluation and wound planimetry was performed during post treatment period. Most affected breed was mongrel and main aetiology was automobile accident. The wounds were mostly located on limbs, neck and abdominal region. PBMC was noticed to be compatible to the tissues. No signs of infection were noticed in the wounds after administration of PBMC, rather healthy granulation tissue-formation, increasing values of wound contraction, epithelization and healing were noticed. PBMC-phonophoresis in wound healing of canines in present study was found to be effective in extensive wounds

The Sec1/Munc18 protein Vps45 regulates cellular levels of its SNARE binding partners Tlg2 and Snc2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Intracellular membrane trafficking pathways must be tightly regulated to ensure proper functioning of all eukaryotic cells. Central to membrane trafficking is the formation of specific SNARE (soluble N-ethylmeleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) complexes between proteins on opposing lipid bilayers. The Sec1/Munc18 (SM) family of proteins play an essential role in SNARE-mediated membrane fusion, and like the SNAREs are conserved through evolution from yeast to humans. The SM protein Vps45 is required for the formation of yeast endosomal SNARE complexes and is thus essential for traffic through the endosomal system. Here we report that, in addition to its role in regulating SNARE complex assembly, Vps45 regulates cellular levels of its SNARE binding partners: the syntaxin Tlg2 and the v-SNARE Snc2: Cells lacking Vps45 have reduced cellular levels of Tlg2 and Snc2; and elevation of Vps45 levels results in concomitant increases in the levels of both Tlg2 and Snc2. As well as regulating traffic through the endosomal system, the Snc v-SNAREs are also required for exocytosis. Unlike most vps mutants, cells lacking Vps45 display multiple growth phenotypes. Here we report that these can be reversed by selectively restoring Snc2 levels in vps45 mutant cells. Our data indicate that as well as functioning as part of the machinery that controls SNARE complex assembly, Vps45 also plays a key role in determining the levels of its cognate SNARE proteins; another key factor in regulation of membrane traffic

Campylobacter jejuni genotypes are associated with post-infection irritable bowel syndrome in humans

Campylobacter enterocolitis may lead to post-infection irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) and while some C. jejuni strains are more likely than others to cause human disease, genomic and virulence characteristics promoting PI-IBS development remain uncharacterized. We combined pangenome-wide association studies and phenotypic assays to compare C. jejuni isolates from patients who developed PI-IBS with those who did not. We show that variation in bacterial stress response (Cj0145_phoX), adhesion protein (Cj0628_CapA), and core biosynthetic pathway genes (biotin: Cj0308_bioD; purine: Cj0514_purQ; isoprenoid: Cj0894c_ispH) were associated with PI-IBS development. In vitro assays demonstrated greater adhesion, invasion, IL-8 and TNFα secretion on colonocytes with PI-IBS compared to PI-no-IBS strains. A risk-score for PI-IBS development was generated using 22 genomic markers, four of which were from Cj1631c, a putative heme oxidase gene linked to virulence. Our finding that specific Campylobacter genotypes confer greater in vitro virulence and increased risk of PI-IBS has potential to improve understanding of the complex host-pathogen interactions underlying this condition

Degradability of cross-linked polyurethanes based on synthetic polyhydroxybutyrate and modified with polylactide

In many areas of application of conventional non-degradable cross-linked polyurethanes (PUR), there is a need for their degradation under the influence of specific environmental factors. It is practiced by incorporation of sensitive to degradation compounds (usually of natural origin) into the polyurethane structure, or by mixing them with polyurethanes. Cross-linked polyurethanes (with 10 and 30%wt amount of synthetic poly([R,S]-3-hydroxybutyrate) (R,S-PHB) in soft segments) and their physical blends with poly([d,l]-lactide) (PDLLA) were investigated and then degraded under hydrolytic (phosphate buffer solution) and oxidative (CoCl2/H2O2) conditions. The rate of degradation was monitored by changes of samples mass, morphology of surface and their thermal properties. Despite the small weight losses of samples, the changes of thermal properties of polymers and topography of their surface indicated that they were susceptible to gradual degradation under oxidative and hydrolytic conditions. Blends of PDLLA and polyurethane with 30 wt% of R,S-PHB in soft segments and PUR/PDLLA blends absorbed more water and degraded faster than polyurethane with low amount of R,S-PHB

Induction of Protective CD4+ T Cell-Mediated Immunity by a Leishmania Peptide Delivered in Recombinant Influenza Viruses

The available evidence suggests that protective immunity to Leishmania is achieved by priming the CD4+ Th1 response. Therefore, we utilised a reverse genetics strategy to generate influenza A viruses to deliver an immunogenic Leishmania peptide. The single, immunodominant Leishmania-specific LACK158–173 CD4+ peptide was engineered into the neuraminidase stalk of H1N1 and H3N2 influenza A viruses. These recombinant viruses were used to vaccinate susceptible BALB/c mice to determine whether the resultant LACK158–173-specific CD4+ T cell responses protected against live L. major infection. We show that vaccination with influenza-LACK158–173 triggers LACK158–173-specific Th1-biased CD4+ T cell responses within an appropriate cytokine milieu (IFN-γ, IL-12), essential for the magnitude and quality of the Th1 response. A single intraperitoneal exposure (non-replicative route of immunisation) to recombinant influenza delivers immunogenic peptides, leading to a marked reduction (2–4 log) in parasite burden, albeit without reduction in lesion size. This correlated with increased numbers of IFN-γ-producing CD4+ T cells in vaccinated mice compared to controls. Importantly, the subsequent prime-boost approach with a serologically distinct strain of influenza (H1N1->H3N2) expressing LACK158–173 led to a marked reduction in both lesion size and parasite burdens in vaccination trials. This protection correlated with high levels of IFN-γ producing cells in the spleen, which were maintained for 6 weeks post-challenge indicating the longevity of this protective effector response. Thus, these experiments show that Leishmania-derived peptides delivered in the context of recombinant influenza viruses are immunogenic in vivo, and warrant investigation of similar vaccine strategies to generate parasite-specific immunity

Dendritic cell-mediated vaccination relies on interleukin-4 receptor signaling to avoid tissue damage after Leishmania major infection of BALB/c mice

Prevention of tissue damages at the site of Leishmania major inoculation can be achieved if the BALB/c mice are systemically given L. major antigen (LmAg)-loaded bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DC) that had been exposed to CpG-containing oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODN). As previous studies allowed establishing that interleukin-4 (IL-4) is involved in the redirection of the immune response towards a type 1 profile, we were interested in further exploring the role of IL-4. Thus, wild-type (wt) BALB/c mice or DC-specific IL-4 receptor alpha (IL-4Rα)-deficient (CD11ccreIL-4Rα−/lox) BALB/c mice were given either wt or IL-4Rα-deficient LmAg-loaded bone marrow-derived DC exposed or not to CpG ODN prior to inoculation of 2×105 stationary-phase L. major promastigotes into the BALB/c footpad. The results provide evidence that IL4/IL-4Rα-mediated signaling in the vaccinating DC is required to prevent tissue damage at the site of L. major inoculation, as properly conditioned wt DC but not IL-4Rα-deficient DC were able to confer resistance. Furthermore, uncontrolled L. major population size expansion was observed in the footpad and the footpad draining lymph nodes of CD11ccreIL-4Rα−/lox mice immunized with CpG ODN-exposed LmAg-loaded IL-4Rα-deficient DC, indicating the influence of IL-4Rα-mediated signaling in host DC to control parasite replication. In addition, no footpad damage occurred in BALB/c mice that were systemically immunized with LmAg-loaded wt DC doubly exposed to CpG ODN and recombinant IL-4. We discuss these findings and suggest that the IL4/IL4Rα signaling pathway could be a key pathway to trigger when designing vaccines aimed to prevent damaging processes in tissues hosting intracellular microorganisms