THE PROTEIN PROFILING OF ASIAN GIANT TOAD SKIN SECRETIONS AND THEIR ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY

Objective: The skin secretions of toads are a rich source of bioactive peptides and proteins, which offer a wide range of therapeutic application. The current study was designed to elucidate the antimicrobial activity of Bufo asper skin secretions.Methods: Proteomic analysis of electrically stimulated skin secretions were mapped using SDS-PAGE followed by LC-MS/MS. In total,>50 proteins were identified with a molecular weight ranging from 20 to 250 KDa. The antimicrobial activity was performed by an agar-well diffusion method to measure the diameter of inhibition zone (DIZ) as well as microdilution technique to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).Results: Toad's skin secretion (TSS) exhibited broad spectrum growth inhibitory activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria; with more pronounce activity towards Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, with MIC 12.25±0.4 and 25±1.3 μg/ml, respectively. Moreover, the proteomic profile of Bufo asper skin secretion has revealed the presence of interesting proteins such as, actin, histone H4 and heat shock proteins (HSP90, HSP70 and HSC70).Conclusion: we anticipate that the collective functions of proteins and peptides with a wide range of diversity may contribute to the TSS antimicrobial activity.Keywords: Bufo asper, Skin secretion, Antimicrobial, Proteomics

Metabolic adaptation via regulated enzyme degradation in the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans

The virulence of Candida albicans is dependent upon fitness attributes as well as virulence factors. These attributes include robust stress responses and metabolic flexibility. The assimilation of carbon sources is important for growth and essential for the establishment of infections by C. albicans. Previous studies showed that the C. albicans ICL1 genes, which encode the glyoxylate cycle enzymes isocitratelyase are required for growth on non-fermentable carbon sources such as lactate and oleic acid and were repressed by 2% glucose. In contrast to S. cerevsiae, the enzyme CaIcl1 was not destabilised by glucose, resulting with its metabolite remaining at high levels. Further glucose addition has caused CaIcl1 to lose its signal and mechanisms that trigger destabilization in response to glucose. Another purpose of this study was to test the stability of the Icl1 enzyme in response to the dietary sugars, fructose, and galactose. In the present study, the ICL1 mRNAs expression was quantified using Quantitative Real Time PCR, whereby the stability of protein was measured and quantified using Western blot and phosphoimager, and the replacing and cloning of ICL1 ORF by gene recombination and ubiquitin binding was conducted via co-immuno-precipitation. Following an analogous experimental approach, the analysis was repeated using S. cerevisiaeas a control. Both galactose and fructose were found to trigger the degradation of the ICL1 transcript in C. albicans. The Icl1 enzyme was stable following galactose addition but was degraded in response to fructose. C. albicans Icl1 (CaIcl1) was also subjected to fructose-accelerated degradation when expressed in S. cerevisiae, indicating that, although it lacks a ubiquitination site, CaIcl1 is sensitive to fructose-accelerated protein degradation. The addition of an ubiquitination site to CaIcl1 resulted in this enzyme becoming sensitive to galactose-accelerated degradation and increases its rate of degradation in the presence of fructose. It can be concluded that ubiquitin-independent pathways of fructose-accelerated enzyme degradation exist in C. albicans

Thermal properties of ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA)/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites for biomedical applications

The viability of nanocomposites comprising Ethyl Vinyl Acetate (EVA) filled montmorillonite (MMT) nanoclay as candidate materials of biomedical devices was investigated. EVA/MMT nanocomposites were prepared by incorporating the ratios 0, 1, 3 and 5% of organoclay MMT to EVA copolymer. In vitro biostability of the neat EVA and EVA nanocomposites was compared and assessed by exposing the materials to oxidizing and hydrolytic agents for 4 weeks at 37°C. The thermal properties of the neat EVA and EVA nanocomposites nanoclay filled were studied by using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). TGA results indicate that the EVA nanocomposite sample containing 1 wt% MMT exhibits higher Tonset and significant reduction in the rate of mass loss as compared to the neat EVA and other nanocomposites

Thermal properties of ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA)/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites for biomedical applications

The viability of nanocomposites comprising Ethyl Vinyl Acetate (EVA) filled montmorillonite (MMT) nanoclay as candidate materials of biomedical devices was investigated. EVA/MMT nanocomposites were prepared by incorporating the ratios 0, 1, 3 and 5% of organoclay MMT to EVA copolymer. In vitro biostability of the neat EVA and EVA nanocomposites was compared and assessed by exposing the materials to oxidizing and hydrolytic agents for 4 weeks at 37°C. The thermal properties of the neat EVA and EVA nanocomposites nanoclay filled were studied by using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). TGA results indicate that the EVA nanocomposite sample containing 1 wt% MMT exhibits higher Tonset and significant reduction in the rate of mass loss as compared to the neat EVA and other nanocomposites

The societal costs of multiple sclerosis in Lebanon: a cross-sectional study

IntroductionThis study assessed the societal costs of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Lebanon, categorized by disease severity.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional, prevalence-based, bottom-up study using a face-to-face questionnaire. Patients were stratified by disease severity using the expanded disability status scale (EDSS); EDSS scores of 0-3, 4-6.5, and 7-9 indicating respectively mild, moderate, and severe MS. All direct medical, nonmedical, and indirect costs related to reduced productivity were accounted for regardless of who bore them. Costs, collected from various sources, were presented in international US dollars (US$) using the purchasing power parity (PPP) conversion rate.ResultsWe included 210 Lebanese patients (mean age: 43.3 years; 65.7$ 33,117 for 2021, 12.4 times higher than the nominal GDP per capita. Direct costs represented 52% (US$17,185), direct nonmedical costs 8$ 2,722), and indirect costs 40% (US$13, 211) of the mean annual costs. The total annual costs per patient increased with disease severity and were PPP US$ 29,979, PPP US$36,125, PPP US$ 39,136 for mild, moderate, and severe MS, respectively.ConclusionThis study reveals the huge economic burden of MS on the Lebanese healthcare system and society

The Economic and societal burden of multiple sclerosis on lebanese society: a cost-of-illness and quality of life study protocol

This protocol describes the estimation of the societal costs and quality-of-life (QOL) burden of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Lebanon. This cross-sectional, prevalence-based burden-of-illness study was carried out in a premier MS center in Lebanon. We enrolled Lebanese patients aged 18 years and older who had been diagnosed with MS more than 6 months. The study uses a bottom-up approach to estimate the cost-of-illness (COI) and QOL using a retrospective face-to-face interview questionnaire. This resource utilization questionnaire was adapted to the Lebanese context by clinical and health economics experts. The methodologies used to estimate the consumption of healthcare resources, informal care, and productivity losses are well-defined and aligned with the Lebanese healthcare system. Costs are presented overall and by MS severity levels. QOL is measured using the EuroQOL (EQ-5D-5 L) and Multiple Sclerosis International Quality of Life (MusiQoL) instrument. This protocol pioneers in informing the design of future COI and QOL studies in low - and middle-income countries (LMICs), as the methods used could be applied in similar LMICs. Furthermore, we provide recommendations and discuss the challenges of conducting a high-quality burden-of-illness study in LMICs and the steps taken to meet them, using the case of Lebanon

The influence of Rice Husk Fiber on The Properties of Epoxidized Natural Rubber/Rice Husk Compounds

In this work, curing characteristics, tensile and physical properties of epoxidized natural rubber/rice husk (ENR-50/RH) compounds were investigated. Different RH loading (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 Phr) and size (fine size at 100-300 μm and coarse size at 5-10 mm) were prepared and used. Results indicated that the scorch time (t2) and cure time (t90) became shorter with increasing RH content. In contrast, minimum torque (ML) and maximum torque (MH) increased with increasing RH content in the rubber compounds. Hardness and crosslink density showed improvement with increasing RH content. Tensile strength (Ts) and elongation at break (Eb) decreased slightly as RH content increased. However, the fine size of RH recorded better overall properties compared to the RH coarse size at same loading the rubber compound

The influence of Rice Husk Fiber on The Properties of Epoxidized Natural Rubber/Rice Husk Compounds

In this work, curing characteristics, tensile and physical properties of epoxidized natural rubber/rice husk (ENR-50/RH) compounds were investigated. Different RH loading (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 Phr) and size (fine size at 100-300 μm and coarse size at 5-10 mm) were prepared and used. Results indicated that the scorch time (t2) and cure time (t90) became shorter with increasing RH content. In contrast, minimum torque (ML) and maximum torque (MH) increased with increasing RH content in the rubber compounds. Hardness and crosslink density showed improvement with increasing RH content. Tensile strength (Ts) and elongation at break (Eb) decreased slightly as RH content increased. However, the fine size of RH recorded better overall properties compared to the RH coarse size at same loading the rubber compound

Antioxidant, anticancer, apoptosis properties and chemical composition of black truffle Terfezia claveryi

Desert truffles are seasonal and important edible fungi that grow wild in many countries around the world. Truffles are natural food sources that have significant compositions. In this work, the antioxidant, chemical composition, anticancer, and antiangiogenesis properties of the Terfezia claveryi truffle were investigated. Solvent extractions of the T. claveryi were evaluated for antioxidant activities using (DPPH, FRAP and ABTS methods). The extracts cytotoxicity on the cancer cell lines (HT29, MCF-7, PC3 and U-87 MG) was determined by MTT assay, while the anti-angiogenic efficacy was tested using ex-vivo assay. All extracts showed moderate anticancer activities against all cancer cells (p < 0.05). The hexane extract inhibited the brain cell line (U-87 MG) with an IC50 of 50 μg/ml and significantly promoted cell apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway and DNA fragmentation p < 0.001. The ethanol extract demonstrated potent antioxidants; DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS with an IC50 value of 52, 48.5 and 64.7 μg/ml, respectively. In addition, the hexane and ethyl acetate extract significantly (p < 0.001) inhibited the sprouting of microvessels by 100% and 81.2%, at 100 μg/ml, respectively. The GC analysis of the most active extract (hexane) showed the presence of several potent phytochemicals such as stigmasterol, beta-Sitosterol, squalene, lupeol, octadecadienoic acid, and oleic acid. Keywords: Black truffle, Antioxidant, Cancer, Angiogenesis, T. clavery