Gynura procumbens Adventitious Root Extract Altered Expression of Antioxidant Genes and Exert Hepatoprotective Effects Against Cadmium-Induced Oxidative Stress in Mice

Exposure to cadmium (Cd) could increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and changes in  expression of antioxidant genes. Gynura procumbens is a medicinal plant that is rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds. The aimed of study to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of G. procumbens adventitious root (GAR) extract against Cd toxicity, especially expression rate of hepatic antioxidant genes. Twenty-five male mice were treated as follows: P1 (control), P2 (Cd100mg/L), P3 (GAR100mg/L + Cd100mg/L), P4 (GAR200mg/L + Cd100mg/L), and P5 (GAR300mg/L + Cd100mg/L). The samples (blood and liver) were collected for analysis of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, and their relative gene expression were determined. The hematological assay showed Cd-treated administered with GAR extract increased the number of red blood cells (RBC), haemoglobin concentration (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), but reduced the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). In addition, the GAR extract decreased the MDA production, but increased the activities of SOD and CAT. These enzymatic activities were positively correlated with their respective gene transcripts. Our study revealed that GAR extract administration showed marked hepatoprotective effects against Cd-induced oxidative stress

INDIGENOUS BACILLUS SPECIES ISOLATED FROM AEDES AEGYPTI LARVAE: ISOLATION, LARVICIDAL TOXICITY SCREENING, PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION, AND MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION

Vector-borne diseases transmitted by mosquitoes are considered a significant public health problem worldwide. Aedes aegypti is one of the mosquito species responsible for transmitting these diseases. One environmentally friendly method of vector control is the use of microbial agents such as Bacillus species. This study aimed to explore investigate indigenous entomopathogenic bacteria of Bacillus species isolated from A. aegypti larvae. Larvae samples were collected from breeding sites of A. aegypti. All isolates underwent screening and affirmation confirmation tests to assess their larvicidal toxicity against A. aegypti larvae. Phenotypic characterizations and molecular identifications were conducted to determine the species of the Bacillus isolates based on similarity index and percent identity (%ID). Phylogenetic trees were used to compare the isolates with other Bacillus species. The results revealed 120 isolates of Bacillus species from A. aegypti larvae samples. Among them, three isolates (LS3.3, LS9.1, and LSD4.2) exhibited the highest larvicidal toxicity in the confirmation test, resulting in larval mortality rates of 100%, 96.7%, and 100%, respectively, after 48 hours of exposure. Molecular identifications, showed that LSD4.2 had a 99.16% ID with Bacillus velezensis, LS3.3 had a 98.22% ID with Bacillus mojavensis, and LS9.1 had a 99.93% ID with Bacillus subtilis. These three bacteria from the Bacillus genus have been reported to offer significant benefits to humans

KAJIAN TAKSONOMI MOLEKULER SPESIMEN Taphozous melanopogon DAN Taphozous saccolaimus DARI GUA PUCAKWANGI KECAMATAN BABAT, LAMONGAN

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui identitas dua jenis spesimen dari Genus Taphozous yang berasal dari Gua Pucakwangi, Kecamatan Babat, Lamongan dan tersimpan di Laboratorium Biosistematika Departemen Biologi Universitas Airlangga. Terdapat lima ekor spesimen T. melanopogon dan tiga ekor spesimen T. Saccolaimus. Kedua spesies ini sulit dibedakan akibat karakter morfologinya sangat mirip sehingga sering menimbulkan kerancuan. Dua metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah pencandraan karakter morfologi pembeda antar kedua jenis spesimen tersebut dan DNA Barcoding menggunakan gen COI pada mtDNA. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa secara morfologi, seluruh spesimen tidak memiliki karakter morfologi yang berbeda. Karakter khas yang dimiliki oleh seluruh spesimen adalah adanya kantung pada sayap, sehingga keseluruhan spesimen memiliki kemiripan yang sangat tinggi dengan T. melanopogon. Hasil DNA Barcoding dengan gen COI juga menunjukkan kesamaan sekuens yang sangat tinggi antar spesimen, hanya terdapat satu variasi basa saja yaitu pada basa ke-320 (A/G), namun perbedaan ini tidak menimbulkan perbedaan asam amino yaitu tetap mengkode glutamat. Hasil BLAST juga menunjukkan bahwa sekuens sampel memiliki kemiripan 97-98% dengan spesies Taphozous melanopogon voucher ROM MAM 111014 dengan E value 0,0. Sehingga dapat dikonfirmasi bahwa seluruh spesimen merupakan satu spesies yang sama, yaitu Taphozous melanopogon

The Increasing Level of DKK-1 as a New Bone Formation Factor in Patients with Early Spondyloarthritis

The role of dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK-1) in radiographic development may become a robust marker for early spondyloarthritis (SpA) diagnosis. This study aimed at determining the serum DKK-1 profile in patients with SpA and investigating its relationship with SpA progression. Supported by analyzing the BMD data which aims to affirm the potential of DKK-1 as a biomarker for early diagnosis of SpA, this research may become the early study to produce a robust tool to diminish the fatal impacts in SpA. This cross-sectional study included patients with SpA using ASAS 2010 criteria from Dr. Soetomo General Hospital, Indonesia. Collected data included patients’ general characteristics, disease duration, disease activity using ASDAS-CRP and ASDAS-ESR, serum DKK-1 levels, and BMD. The patients were classified as early SpA if the disease duration was ≤5 years and established SpA if the disease duration was >5 years, while the low BMD was indicated by Z score ≤ −2.00. The correlation was tested using the Spearman or Pearson test. The differences in patients’ characteristics among early and established SpA and also between low and normal BMD were tested using the unpaired T-test or the Mann–Whitney test. The serum DKK-1 levels in early SpA (7365 ± 2067 pg/dL) were significantly higher than those in established SpA (5360 ± 1054 pg/dL). Serum DKK-1 levels were also associated with disease duration (r = −0.370, p=0.040) and BMD at the total hip (r = 0.467, p=0.028). The differences in all patients’ clinical parameters were not found between patients with low BMD at any site and patients with normal BMD unless in the BMI (p=0.019). Our findings found DKK-1 as a potential diagnostic marker for early SpA. Early diagnosis may lead to rapid treatment to delay disease progression and prevent future impairment

Biosurfactant production of entomopathogenic Bacillus subtilis BK7.1, as potential biocontrol bacteria, isolated from Baluran National Park, East Java, Indonesia

Salamun, Susetyo RD, Ni’matuzahroh, Fatimah, Geraldi A, Supriyanto A, Nurhariyati T, Nafidiastri FA, Nisa’ N, Endarto. 2023. Biosurfactant production of entomopathogenic Bacillus subtilis BK7.1, as potential biocontrol bacteria, isolated from Baluran National Park, East Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 24: 1785-1792. Biosurfactants as biocontrol agents have received much attention for pest control and disease vectors. The research aimed to identify the species and genetic relationship, hemolytic activity, detect coding genes, and trial production of biosurfactants on various substrates of entomopathogenic Bacillus sp. BK7.1 isolated from natural soil in Baluran National Park, East Java, Indonesia. Biosurfactant screening was carried out by testing hemolytic activity, surface tension, and emulsification activities, detecting coding genes of biosurfactant biosynthesis, and testing biosurfactant production in various substrates. The results of the molecular identification by amplifying the 16S rRNA gene using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method for Bacillus sp. BK7.1 has a genetic similarity of 98.68% with B. subtilis subsp. inaquosorum strain BGSC 3A28. Screening showed positive hemolytic activity results, reduced surface tension, increased emulsification activities, and the production of biosurfactant in glucose, glycerol, and molasses substrates. The PCR results showed that Bacillus sp. BK7.1 had srfAA and srfAD genes encoding surfactin biosynthesis, giving it the potential to produce bioinsecticide compounds. Based on these studies, the indigenous entomopathogenic B. subtilis BK7.1 can be developed as environmentally friendly microbial bioinsecticides for pest control and disease vectors

Biodiversity of Edible Macrofungi from Alas Purwo National Park

This research aimed to invent edible macrofungi in Alas Purwo National Park that can be used as alternative food sources. The method that was used in this research was the explorative method with descriptive analysis. The sampling proccess took place along the side trail of the tropical rainforest ecosystem of Alas Purwo National Park. The tropical rainforest ecosystem that was reached from Triangulasi Resort with geographics coordinates 8° 39' 20.9" S 114° 21' 39.2" E then going to northwest for around three kilometres until Sadengan Track with geographics coordinates 8° 39' 13.1" S 114° 22' 18.2" E. The other track was from Trangulasi Resort with geographics coordinates 8° 39' 20.9" S 114° 21' 39.2" E then going to east for around five kilometres until Pancur Track with geographics coordinates 8° 40' 38.91" S 114° 22' 25.90" E. The collections of macrofungi samples were limited until five metres left and five metres right of the track. The result of this research showed there were 40 different genera and 22 of them are edible. Those 22 genera are Auricularia, Cantharellus, Clavulina, Collybia, Coltricia, Coprinus, Crepidotus, Dictyophora, Flammulina, Geastrum, Hydnellum, Inocybe, Leucocoprinus, Marasmius, Meripilus, Mycena, Oligoporus, Peziza, Pleurotus, Polyporus, Psathyrella, and Tremella