Molecular Identification of varieties of Capsicum annuum L. by RAPD

In Mexico there is a great diversity of species and varieties of chili with great cultural, culinary and economic importance. The domesticated species of Capsicum annuum gathered most of cultivated types of chili and is very important in Mexico and around the world; the importance relapse in the it’s genetic richness, for this reason, is necessary a study using molecular genetic analysis techniques, including molecular markers RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphism of DNA), which provides a genetic information quickly and a relatively low cost. Six varieties of C. annuum, facilitated by INIFAP (National Forestry, Agriculture and Poultry Research Institute) from Zacatecas Experimental Station (CEZAC) were used, considering “Ancho” and “Mirasol” types as classified pollinated varieties and as landraces respectively, according to their technological level. An RAPD analysis was used in order to evaluate the genetic variability and to identify the molecular variabilities of C. annuum from a dendrogram. The results showed a little variability among the six varieties of C. annuum, the resulting dendrogram showed two main groupings, identified according to their technological level. RAPD demonstrated to be a useful tool to detect variations and have great power for estimate genetic similarities in C. annuum.En México existe una gran diversidad de especies y variedades de chile con gran importancia cultural, gastronómica y económica. La especie domesticada Capsicum annuum agrupa la mayoría de los tipos cultivados y es de gran importancia en México y el mundo; gran parte de esta importancia radica en la riqueza genética que posee; por ende, existe la necesidad de su estudio mediante técnicas moleculares de análisis genético, entre ellas los marcadores moleculares RAPD (Polimorfismo del ADN Amplificado al Azar), los cuales arrojan información genética de manera rápida y relativamente económica. Se utilizaron seis variedades de C. annuum, facilitadas por el INIFAP (Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias), en el Campo Experimental Zacatecas (CEZAC), siendo de tipo “ancho” y “mirasol”, clasificadas en variedades de polinización libre y variedades criollas, de acuerdo a su nivel tecnológico. Se realizó un análisis RAPD con el objetivo de evaluar la variabilidad genética e identificar molecularmente las variedades de C. annuum a partir de un dendrograma. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron poca variabilidad entre las seis variedades de C. annuum, el dendrograma resultante mostró dos agrupaciones principales, identificándose de acuerdo a su nivel tecnológico, demostrando que los RAPD son una herramienta útil en la detección de variación y poseen gran poder para la estimación de las similitudes genéticas en C. annuum

The Cytocidal Spectrum of Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins: From Insects to Human Cancer Cells

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a ubiquitous bacterium in soils, insect cadavers, phylloplane, water, and stored grain, that produces several proteins, each one toxic to different biological targets such as insects, nematodes, mites, protozoa, and mammalian cells. Most Bt toxins identify their particular target through the recognition of specific cell membrane receptors. Cry proteins are the best-known toxins from Bt and a great amount of research has been published. Cry are cytotoxic to insect larvae that affect important crops recognizing specific cell membrane receptors such as cadherin, aminopeptidase-N, and alkaline phosphatase. Furthermore, some Cry toxins such as Cry4A, Cry4B, and Cry11A act synergistically with Cyt toxins against dipteran larvae vectors of human disease. Research developed with Cry proteins revealed that these toxins also could kill human cancer cells through the interaction with specific receptors. Parasporins are a small group of patented toxins that may or may not have insecticidal activity. These proteins could kill a wide variety of mammalian cancer cells by recognizing specific membrane receptors, just like Cry toxins do. Surface layer proteins (SLP), unlike the other proteins produced by Bt, are also produced by most bacteria and archaebacteria. It was recently demonstrated that SLP produced by Bt could interact with membrane receptors of insect and human cancer cells to kill them. Cyt toxins have a structure that is mostly unrelated to Cry toxins; thereby, other mechanisms of action have been reported to them. These toxins affect mainly mosquitoes that are vectors of human diseases like Anopheles spp (malaria), Aedes spp (dengue, zika, and chikungunya), and Culex spp (Nile fever and Rift Valley fever), respectively. In addition to the Cry, Cyt, and parasporins toxins produced during spore formation as inclusion bodies, Bt strains also produce Vip (Vegetative insecticidal toxins) and Sip (Secreted insecticidal proteins) toxins with insecticidal activity during their vegetative growth phase

Detección de anticuerpos séricos IgG, IgM e IgA de pacientes con Enfermedad Periodontal

Periodontal disease (PD) is a chronic inflammatory response resulting in the destruction of tooth-supporting tissues. Chronic inflammation triggers loss of immune tolerance and autoimmune phenomenon. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence of serum IgG, IgM and IgA of 18 patients with PD against protein components of rabbit periodontal tissue by Western Blot. Recognition was observed for IgG, IgM and IgA in the different patient sera. The presence of autoreactive antibodies does not necessarily determine the existence of autoimmunity, however, may be the result of a synergistic effect between the stimulation of periodontal pathogens and genetic susceptibility.La enfermedad periodontal (EP) es una respuesta inflamatoria crónica que resulta en la destrucción de los tejidos de sostén del diente. La inflamación crónica desencadena pérdida de la tolerancia inmunológica y fenómeno autoinmune. El propósito de este estudio fue evaluar la presencia de anticuerpos séricos IgG, IgM e IgA de 18 pacientes con EP contra componentes proteicos de tejido periodontal de conejo mediante Western Blot. Se observó reconocimiento por anticuerpos IgG, IgM e IgA en los distintos sueros de pacientes. La presencia de anticuerpos autorreactivos no necesariamente determina la existencia de autoinmunidad, sin embargo puede ser consecuencia de un efecto sinérgico entre el estímulo de los patógenos periodontales y la susceptibilidad genética

Platelet Membrane: An Outstanding Factor in Cancer Metastasis

In addition to being biological barriers where the internalization or release of biomolecules is decided, cell membranes are contact structures between the interior and exterior of the cell. Here, the processes of cell signaling mediated by receptors, ions, hormones, cytokines, enzymes, growth factors, extracellular matrix (ECM), and vesicles begin. They triggering several responses from the cell membrane that include rearranging its components according to the immediate needs of the cell, for example, in the membrane of platelets, the formation of filopodia and lamellipodia as a tissue repair response. In cancer, the cancer cells must adapt to the new tumor microenvironment (TME) and acquire capacities in the cell membrane to transform their shape, such as in the case of epithelial−mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the metastatic process. The cancer cells must also attract allies in this challenging process, such as platelets, fibroblasts associated with cancer (CAF), stromal cells, adipocytes, and the extracellular matrix itself, which limits tumor growth. The platelets are enucleated cells with fairly interesting growth factors, proangiogenic factors, cytokines, mRNA, and proteins, which support the development of a tumor microenvironment and support the metastatic process. This review will discuss the different actions that platelet membranes and cancer cell membranes carry out during their relationship in the tumor microenvironment and metastasis