979 research outputs found
Trichoderma harzianum cerato-platanin enhances hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials
Considering its worldwide abundance, cellulose can be a suitable candidate to replace the fossil oil-based materials, even if its potential is still untapped, due to some scientific and technical gaps. This work offers new possibilities demonstrating for the first time the ability of a cerato-platanin, a small fungal protein, to valorize lignocellulosic Agri-food Wastes. Indeed, cerato-platanins can loosen cellulose rendering it more accessible to hydrolytic attack. The cerato-platanin ThCP from a marine strain of Trichoderma harzianum, characterized as an efficient biosurfactant protein, has proven able to efficiently pre-treat apple pomace, obtaining a sugar conversion yield of 65%. Moreover, when used in combination with a laccase enzyme, a notable increase in the sugar conversion yield was measured. Similar results were also obtained when other wastes, coffee silverskin and potato peel, were pre-treated. With respect to the widespread laccase pre-treatments, this new pre-treatment approach minimizes process time, increasing energy efficiency
Screening of fungal strains for cellulolytic and xylanolytic activities production and evaluation of brewersâ spent grain as substrate for enzyme production by selected fungi
Brewerâs spent grain (BSG), the solid residue of beer production, is attracting significant
attention as raw material for the production of added value substances, since until recently it was
mainly used as animal feed or deposited in landfills, causing serious environmental problems.
Therefore, this work aimed at developing a bioprocess using BSG as a substrate for the production of
cellulases and xylanases for waste saccharification and bioenergy production. Different fungi were
analyzed for their cellulolytic and xylanolytic abilities, through a first screening on solid media by
assessment of fungal growth and enzyme production on agar containing carboxylmethylcellulose or
xylan as the sole carbon source, respectively. The best cellulase and xylanase producers were subjected
to quantitative evaluation of enzyme production in liquid cultures. Aspergillus niger LPB-334 was
selected for its ability to produce cellulase and xylanase at high levels and it was cultivated on BSG
by solid state fermentation. The cellulase production reached a maximum of 118.04 8.4 U/g of dry
substrate after 10 days of fermentation, while a maximum xylanase production of 1315.15 37.5 U/g
of dry substrate was reached after 4 days. Preliminary characterization of cellulase and xylanase
activities and identification of the enzymes responsible were carried out
Artificial Intelligence in Acute Ischemic Stroke Subtypes According to Toast Classification: A Comprehensive Narrative Review
The correct recognition of the etiology of ischemic stroke (IS) allows tempestive interventions in therapy with the aim of treating the cause and preventing a new cerebral ischemic event. Nevertheless, the identification of the cause is often challenging and is based on clinical features and data obtained by imaging techniques and other diagnostic exams. TOAST classification system describes the different etiologies of ischemic stroke and includes five subtypes: LAAS (large-artery atherosclerosis), CEI (cardio embolism), SVD (small vessel disease), ODE (stroke of other determined etiology), and UDE (stroke of undetermined etiology). AI models, providing computational methodologies for quantitative and objective evaluations, seem to increase the sensitivity of main IS causes, such as tomographic diagnosis of carotid stenosis, electrocardiographic recognition of atrial fibrillation, and identification of small vessel disease in magnetic resonance images. The aim of this review is to provide overall knowledge about the most effective AI models used in the differential diagnosis of ischemic stroke etiology according to the TOAST classification. According to our results, AI has proven to be a useful tool for identifying predictive factors capable of subtyping acute stroke patients in large heterogeneous populations and, in particular, clarifying the etiology of UDE IS especially detecting cardioembolic sources
Response to comment on "Human-specific gain of function in a developmental enhancer"
Duret and Galtier argue that human-specific sequence divergence and gain of function in the HACNS1 enhancer result from deleterious biased gene conversion (BGC) with no contribution from positive selection. We reinforce our previous conclusion by analyzing hypothesized BGC
events genomewide and assessing the effect of recombination rates on human-accelerated conserved noncoding sequence ascertainment. We also provide evidence that AT â GC substitution bias can coexist with positive selection
Genome resequencing reveals multiscale geographic structure and extensive linkage disequilibrium in the forest tree Populus trichocarpa
This is the publisherâs final pdf. The article is copyrighted by the New Phytologist Trust and published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. It can be found at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/%28ISSN%291469-8137. To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work.âąPlant population genomics informs evolutionary biology, breeding, conservation and bioenergy feedstock development. For example, the detection of reliable phenotypeâgenotype associations and molecular signatures of selection requires a detailed knowledge about genome-wide patterns of allele frequency variation, linkage disequilibrium and recombination.\ud
âąWe resequenced 16 genomes of the model tree Populus trichocarpa and genotyped 120 trees from 10 subpopulations using 29 213 single-nucleotide polymorphisms.\ud
âąSignificant geographic differentiation was present at multiple spatial scales, and range-wide latitudinal allele frequency gradients were strikingly common across the genome. The decay of linkage disequilibrium with physical distance was slower than expected from previous studies in Populus, with rÂČ dropping below 0.2 within 3â6 kb. Consistent with this, estimates of recent effective population size from linkage disequilibrium (N[subscript e] â 4000â6000) were remarkably low relative to the large census sizes of P. trichocarpa stands. Fine-scale rates of recombination varied widely across the genome, but were largely predictable on the basis of DNA sequence and methylation features.\ud
âąOur results suggest that genetic drift has played a significant role in the recent evolutionary history of P. trichocarpa. Most importantly, the extensive linkage disequilibrium detected suggests that genome-wide association studies and genomic selection in undomesticated populations may be more feasible in Populus than previously assumed
Electron Microscopy for 3D ScaffoldsâCell Biointerface Characterization
Cell fate is largely determined by interactions that occur at the interface between cells and their surrounding microenvironment. For this reason, especially in the field of tissue-engineering, there is a growing interest in developing techniques that allow evaluating cellâmaterial interaction at the nanoscale, particularly focusing on cell adhesion processes. While for 2D culturing systems a consolidated series of tools already satisfy this need, in 3D environments, more closely recapitulating complex in vivo structures, there is still a lack of procedures furthering the comprehension of cellâmaterial interactions. Here, the use of scanning electron microscopy coupled with a focused ion beam (SEM/FIB) for the characterization of cell interactions with 3D scaffolds obtained by different fabrication techniques is reported for the first time. The results clearly show the capability of the developed approach to preserve and finely resolve scaffoldâcell interfaces highlighting details such as plasma membrane arrangement, extracellular matrix architecture and composition, and cellular structures playing a role in cell adhesion to the surface. It is anticipated that the developed approach will be relevant for the design of efficient cell-instructive platforms in the study of cellular guidance strategies for tissue-engineering applications as well as for in vitro 3D models
A viral chitinase enhances oral activity of TMOF
In this study we investigate the combined effect on Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) larvae of Aedes aegypti-Trypsin Modulating Oostatic Factor (. Aea-TMOF), a peptide that inhibits trypsin synthesis by the gut, impairing insect digestive function, and Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus Chitinase A (AcMNPV ChiA), an enzyme that is able to alter the permeability of the peritrophic membrane (PM). Aea-TMOF and AcMNPV ChiA were provided to the larvae by administering transgenic tobacco plants, co-expressing both molecules. Experimental larvae feeding on these plants, compared to those alimented on plants expressing only one of the two molecules considered, showed significantly stronger negative effects on growth rate, developmental time and mortality. The impact of AcMNPV ChiA on the PM of H. virescens larvae, measured as increased permeability to molecules, was evident after five days of feeding on transgenic plants expressing ChiA. This result was confirmed by in vitro treatment of PM with recombinant ChiA, extracted from the transgenic plants used for the feeding experiments. Collectively, these data indicate the occurrence of a positive interaction between the two transgenes concurrently expressed in the same plant. The hydrolytic activity of ChiA on the PM of tobacco budworm larvae enhances the permeation of TMOF molecules to the ectoperitrophic space, and its subsequent absorption. The permeation through the paracellular route of Aea-TMOF resulted in a spotted accumulation on the basolateral domain of enterocytes, which suggests the occurrence of a receptor on the gut side facing the haemocoel. The binding of the peptide, permeating at increased rates due to the ChiA activity, is considered responsible for the enhanced insecticide activity of the transgenic plants expressing both molecules. These data corroborate the idea that ChiA can be effectively used as gut permeation enhancer in oral delivery strategies of bioinsecticides targeting haemocoelic receptors
Cancer drug related cardiotoxicity during breast cancer treatment
Introduction: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women. Although therapeutic armamentarium like chemotherapy, endocrine and target agents have increased survival, cardiovascular side effects have been observed. A comprehensive risk assessment, early detection and management of cardiac adverse events is therefore needed. Areas covered: In this review we focus on cardiotoxicity data deriving from Phase III randomized trials, systematic reviews and meta-analysis in BC patients. We provide insight into advances that have been made in the molecular mechanisms, clinical presentation and management of such adverse event. Expert opinion: Despite the large number of data from Phase III trials about cardiac events incidence, there are poor evidences for detection, monitoring and management of cardiotoxicity during BC treatment. Future cardiotoxicity-oriented clinical cancer research can help to predict the risk of cardiac adverse events and improve patientsâ outcome. Multidisciplinary approach as well as integration of blood biomarkers with imaging will be desirable
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