Extraction and Partial Characterization of Proteolytic Activities from the Cell Surface of Lactobacillus helveticus Zuc2

Abstract Proteolytic activities were extracted from a dairy Lactobacillus helveticus strain and partially characterized. A first cell envelope proteinase (CEP) was extracted using a high ionic strength buffer, both in the presence and in the absence of Ca 2+ . Moreover, cell treatment by 5 M LiCl allowed for the selective removal of the S-layer protein and CEP, suggesting an enzyme ionic linkage to the cell envelope similar to that observed for the Slayer structure. The enzyme specificity against α s1 -CN (f1–23) showed unusual activity on the Lys 3 -His 4 bond compared with other proteinases of the same species. A second proteinase appeared to be linked to the cell membrane because it was extractable only after membrane disgregation by detergents. Its specificity against CN fractions and α s1 -CN (f1–23) was different from that of the first CEP; moreover, the measured activity was lower than that of CEP

Small interfering RNA for cancer treatment: overcoming hurdles in delivery

© 2020 Chinese Pharmaceutical Association and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences In many ways, cancer cells are different from healthy cells. A lot of tactical nano-based drug delivery systems are based on the difference between cancer and healthy cells. Currently, nanotechnology-based delivery systems are the most promising tool to deliver DNA-based products to cancer cells. This review aims to highlight the latest development in the lipids and polymeric nanocarrier for siRNA delivery to the cancer cells. It also provides the necessary information about siRNA development and its mechanism of action. Overall, this review gives us a clear picture of lipid and polymer-based drug delivery systems, which in the future could form the base to translate the basic siRNA biology into siRNA-based cancer therapies

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF): fuel for cancer progression

Hypoxia is an integral part of the tumor microenvironment, caused primarily due to rapidly multiplying tumor cells and a lack of proper blood supply. Among the major hypoxic pathways, HIF-1 transcription factor activation is one of the widely investigated pathways in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME). HIF-1 is known to activate several adaptive reactions in response to oxygen deficiency in tumor cells. HIF-1 has two subunits, HIF-1β (constitutive) and HIF-1α (inducible). The HIF-1α expression is largely regulated via various cytokines (through PI3K-ACT-mTOR signals), which involves the cascading of several growth factors and oncogenic cascades. These events lead to the loss of cellular tumor suppressant activity through changes in the level of oxygen via oxygen-dependent and oxygenindependent pathways. The significant and crucial role of HIF in cancer progression and its underlying mechanisms have gained much attention lately among the translational researchers in the fields of cancer and biological sciences, which have enabled them to correlate these mechanisms with various other disease modalities. In the present review, we have summarized the key findings related to the role of HIF in the progression of tumors

Channelling carbon flux through the meta-cleavage route for improved poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) production from benzoate and lignin-based aromatics in Pseudomonas putida H

Indexación: Scopus.Lignin-based aromatics are attractive raw materials to derive medium-chain length poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) (mcl-PHAs), biodegradable polymers of commercial value. So far, this conversion has exclusively used the ortho-cleavage route of Pseudomonas putida KT2440, which results in the secretion of toxic intermediates and limited performance. Pseudomonas putida H exhibits the ortho- and the meta-cleavage pathways where the latter appears promising because it stoichiometrically yields higher levels of acetyl-CoA. Here, we created a double-mutant H-ΔcatAΔA2 that utilizes the meta route exclusively and synthesized 30% more PHA on benzoate than the parental strain but suffered from catechol accumulation. The single deletion of the catA2 gene in the H strain provoked a slight attenuation on the enzymatic capacity of the ortho route (25%) and activation of the meta route by nearly 8-fold, producing twice as much mcl-PHAs compared to the wild type. Inline, the mutant H-ΔcatA2 showed a 2-fold increase in the intracellular malonyl-CoA abundance – the main precursor for mcl-PHAs synthesis. As inferred from flux simulation and enzyme activity assays, the superior performance of H-ΔcatA2 benefited from reduced flux through the TCA cycle and malic enzyme and diminished by-product formation. In a benzoate-based fed-batch, P. putida H-ΔcatA2 achieved a PHA titre of 6.1 g l‒1 and a volumetric productivity of 1.8 g l‒1 day‒1. Using Kraft lignin hydrolysate as feedstock, the engineered strain formed 1.4 g l- 1 PHA. The balancing of carbon flux between the parallel catechol-degrading routes emerges as an important strategy to prevent intermediate accumulation and elevate mcl-PHA production in P. putida H and, as shown here, sets the next level to derive this sustainable biopolymer from lignin hydrolysates and aromatics.https://sfamjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1751-7915.1370

Targeting eosinophils in respiratory diseases: Biological axis, emerging therapeutics and treatment modalities

Eosinophils are bi-lobed, multi-functional innate immune cells with diverse cell surface receptors that regulate local immune and inflammatory responses. Several inflammatory and infectious diseases are triggered with their build up in the blood and tissues. The mobilization of eosinophils into the lungs is regulated by a cascade of processes guided by Th2 cytokine generating T-cells. Recruitment of eosinophils essentially leads to a characteristic immune response followed by airway hyperresponsiveness and remodeling, which are hallmarks of chronic respiratory diseases. By analysing the dynamic interactions of eosinophils with their extracellular environment, which also involve signaling molecules and tissues, various therapies have been invented and developed to target respiratory diseases. Having entered clinical testing, several eosinophil targeting therapeutic agents have shown much promise and have further bridged the gap between theory and practice. Moreover, researchers now have a clearer understanding of the roles and mechanisms of eosinophils. These factors have successfully assisted molecular biologists to block specific pathways in the growth, migration and activation of eosinophils. The primary purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the eosinophil biology with a special emphasis on potential pharmacotherapeutic targets. The review also summarizes promising eosinophil-targeting agents, along with their mechanisms and rationale for use, including those in developmental pipeline, in clinical trials, or approved for other respiratory disorders

Modelos de combustibles para arbustales de la Región Andina de las provincias de Río Negro, Chubut y Santa Cruz

En este folleto de divulgación, se dan a conocer las principales herramientas para el modelado de los combustibles vegetales en relación con sus respuestas al fuego.  Está escrito de una manera sencilla para que pueda ser interpretado por jefes de cuadrillas o de brigadas de combatientes de incendios forestales.  En el mismo de describe una metodología común y replicable para la obtención de los llamados "modelos de combustible".   Se dan ejemplos de 6 de estos modelos desarrollados para arbustales del ecotono bosque-estepa de la Patagonia. en base a información científica y empírica.Fil: Rey, Marcelo A.. Provincia de Río Negro. Servicio Provincial de Lucha contra Incendios Forestales; ArgentinaFil: Cuevas, Jorge. Provincia de Río Negro. Servicio Provincial de Lucha contra Incendios Forestales; ArgentinaFil: Sales, Bruno. Provincia de Río Negro. Servicio Provincial de Lucha contra Incendios Forestales; ArgentinaFil: Muñoz, Miriam M.. Provincia de Santa Cruz. Consejo Agrario; ArgentinaFil: Méndez, Mario. Provincia de Santa Cruz. Consejo Agrario; ArgentinaFil: Antequera, Silvio. Provincia de Chubut. Dirección General de Bosques y Parques; ArgentinaFil: Casas, Ángel Leandro. Provincia de Chubut. Dirección General de Bosques y Parques; ArgentinaFil: Lencinas, José Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Provincia del Chubut. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Mohr Bell, Diego Alejandro. Provincia del Chubut. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Gómez, Mariano. Provincia del Chubut. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Defossé, Guillermo Emilio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ingeniería - Sede Esquel. Departamento de Ingeniería Forestal; ArgentinaFil: Bianchi, Lucas Osvaldo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rodríguez, Norberto. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco"; ArgentinaFil: Díaz, María Cecilia. Plan Nacional de Manejo del Fuego; ArgentinaFil: Dentoni, María del Carmen. Plan Nacional de Manejo del Fuego; ArgentinaFil: Zacconi, Gabriel. Plan Nacional de Manejo del Fuego; Argentin

Predicting needlestick and sharps injuries in nursing students: Development of the SNNIP scale

Aim: To develop an instrument to investigate knowledge and predictive factors of needlestick and sharps injuries (NSIs) in nursing students during clinical placements. Design: Instrument development and cross-sectional study for psychometric testing. Methods: A self-administered instrument including demographic data, injury epidemiology and predictive factors of NSIs was developed between October 2018–January 2019. Content validity was assessed by a panel of experts. The instrument's factor structure and discriminant validity were explored using principal components analysis. The STROBE guidelines were followed. Results: Evidence of content validity was found (S-CVI 0.75; I-CVI 0.50–1.00). A three-factor structure was shown by exploratory factor analysis. Of the 238 participants, 39% had been injured at least once, of which 67.3% in the second year. Higher perceptions of “personal exposure” (4.06, SD 3.78) were reported by third-year students. Higher scores for “perceived benefits” of preventive behaviours (13.6, SD 1.46) were reported by second-year students

Modelos de combustibles para arbustales de la Región Andina de las provincias de Río Negro, Chubut y Santa Cruz

En este folleto de divulgación, se dan a conocer las principales herramientas para el modelado de los combustibles vegetales en relación con sus respuestas al fuego.  Está escrito de una manera sencilla para que pueda ser interpretado por jefes de cuadrillas o de brigadas de combatientes de incendios forestales.  En el mismo de describe una metodología común y replicable para la obtención de los llamados "modelos de combustible".   Se dan ejemplos de 6 de estos modelos desarrollados para arbustales del ecotono bosque-estepa de la Patagonia. en base a información científica y empírica.Fil: Rey, Marcelo A.. Provincia de Río Negro. Servicio Provincial de Lucha contra Incendios Forestales; ArgentinaFil: Cuevas, Jorge. Provincia de Río Negro. Servicio Provincial de Lucha contra Incendios Forestales; ArgentinaFil: Sales, Bruno. Provincia de Río Negro. Servicio Provincial de Lucha contra Incendios Forestales; ArgentinaFil: Muñoz, Miriam M.. Provincia de Santa Cruz. Consejo Agrario; ArgentinaFil: Méndez, Mario. Provincia de Santa Cruz. Consejo Agrario; ArgentinaFil: Antequera, Silvio. Provincia de Chubut. Dirección General de Bosques y Parques; ArgentinaFil: Casas, Ángel Leandro. Provincia de Chubut. Dirección General de Bosques y Parques; ArgentinaFil: Lencinas, José Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Provincia del Chubut. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Mohr Bell, Diego Alejandro. Provincia del Chubut. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Gómez, Mariano. Provincia del Chubut. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Defossé, Guillermo Emilio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ingeniería - Sede Esquel. Departamento de Ingeniería Forestal; ArgentinaFil: Bianchi, Lucas Osvaldo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rodríguez, Norberto. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco"; ArgentinaFil: Díaz, María Cecilia. Plan Nacional de Manejo del Fuego; ArgentinaFil: Dentoni, María del Carmen. Plan Nacional de Manejo del Fuego; ArgentinaFil: Zacconi, Gabriel. Plan Nacional de Manejo del Fuego; Argentin