Biology and biotechnology of Trichoderma

Fungi of the genus Trichoderma are soilborne, green-spored ascomycetes that can be found all over the world. They have been studied with respect to various characteristics and applications and are known as successful colonizers of their habitats, efficiently fighting their competitors. Once established, they launch their potent degradative machinery for decomposition of the often heterogeneous substrate at hand. Therefore, distribution and phylogeny, defense mechanisms, beneficial as well as deleterious interaction with hosts, enzyme production and secretion, sexual development, and response to environmental conditions such as nutrients and light have been studied in great detail with many species of this genus, thus rendering Trichoderma one of the best studied fungi with the genome of three species currently available. Efficient biocontrol strains of the genus are being developed as promising biological fungicides, and their weaponry for this function also includes secondary metabolites with potential applications as novel antibiotics. The cellulases produced by Trichoderma reesei, the biotechnological workhorse of the genus, are important industrial products, especially with respect to production of second generation biofuels from cellulosic waste. Genetic engineering not only led to significant improvements in industrial processes but also to intriguing insights into the biology of these fungi and is now complemented by the availability of a sexual cycle in T. reesei/Hypocrea jecorina, which significantly facilitates both industrial and basic research. This review aims to give a broad overview on the qualities and versatility of the best studied Trichoderma species and to highlight intriguing findings as well as promising applications

Polyethylene Glycol Conjugated Polymeric Nanocapsules for Targeted Delivery of Quercetin to Folate-Expressing Cancer Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

In this work we describe the formulation and characterization of chemically modified polymeric nanocapsules incorporating the anticancer drug, quercetin, for the passive and active targeting to tumors. Folic acid was conjugated to poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) polymer to facilitate active targeting to cancer cells. Two different methods for the conjugation of PLGA to folic acid were employed utilising polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a spacer. Characterisation of the conjugates was performed using FTIR and 1H-NMR studies. The PEG and Folic acid content was independent on the conjugation methodology employed. PEGylation has shown to reduce the size of the nanocapsule, moreover, Zeta potential was shown to be polymer-type dependent. Comparative studies on the cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of the different formulations by HeLa cells, in the presence and absence of excess folic acid, were carried out using MTT assay and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy, respectively. Both results confirmed the selective uptake and cytotoxicity of the folic acid targeted nanocapsules to the folate enriched cancer cells in a folate-dependent manner. Finally the passive tumor accumulation and the active targeting of the nanocapsules to folate-expressing cells were confirmed upon intravenous administration in HeLa or IGROV-1 tumor-bearing mice. The developed nanocapsules provide a system for targeted delivery of a range of hydrophobic anti-cancer drugs in vivo

Effects of supplementary choline on quail meat and fatty liver

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of supplementary choline on amount of choline passing to quail meat and reduction of fat deposition in liver. A hundred and thirty-six one-day-old Japanese quails were divided into eight equal groups of 17 quails each. The experiment was designed based on completely randomized design in two controls and six treatment groups: high stocking density, basal diet, control group (HSD; control 1); normal stocking density, basal diet, control group (NSD; control 2); HSD, basal diet + 900 mg kg-1 choline (A); NSD, basal diet + 900 mg kg-1 choline (B); HSD, basal diet + 1800 mg kg-1 choline (C); NSD, basal diet + 1800 mg kg-1 choline (D); HSD, basal diet + 3600 mg kg-1 choline (E); and NSD, basal diet + 3600 mg kg-1 choline (F). Feeds and water were supplied ad libitum. Continuous light was provided. Quails were kept in cages of 50 × 100 cm in size. The choline content of quail meat increased with increasing amount of added choline to feed. The highest choline content (439.2 and 561.2 mg kg-1) in quail meat was detected in E and F groups which fed the 3600 mg kg-1 choline supplemented diet. The total lipid content of liver in E and F groups was reduced by 42% compared with the control groups. We recommend the use of supplementary choline that can improve the amount of choline passing to quail meat and reduction of fat deposition in liver. © 2017 Sociedade Brasileira de Zootecnia.Firat University Scientific Research Projects Management UnitThis research (13541) was supported by the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Mustafa Kemal University