Mapping the current and future distributions of Onosma species endemic to Iran

Climate change may cause shifts in the natural range of species especially for those that are geographically restricted and/or endemic species. In this study, the spatial distribution of five endemic and threatened species belonging to the genus Onosma (including O. asperrima, O. bisotunensis, O. kotschyi, O. platyphylla, and O. straussii) was investigated under present and future climate change scenarios: RCP2.6 (RCP, representative concentration pathway; optimistic scenario) and RCP8.5 (pessimistic scenario) for the years 2050 and 2080 in Iran. Analysis was conducted using the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model to provide a basis for the protection and conservation of these species. Seven environmental variables including aspect, depth of soil, silt content, slope, annual precipitation, minimum temperature of the coldest month, and annual temperature range were used as main predictors in this study. The model output for the potential habitat suitability of the studied species showed acceptable performance for all species (i.e., the area under the curve (AUC)>0.800). According to the models generated by MaxEnt, the potential current patterns of the species were consistent with the observed areas of distributions. The projected climate maps under optimistic and pessimistic scenarios (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5, respectively) of 2050 and 2080 resulted in reductions and expansions as well as positive range changes for all species in comparison to their current predicted distributions. Among all species, O. bisotunensis showed the most significant and highest increase under the pessimistic scenario of 2050 and 2080. Finally, the results of this study revealed that the studied plant species have shown an acute adaptability to environmental changes. The results can provide useful information to managers to apply appropriate strategies for the management and conservation of these valuable Iranian medicinal and threatened plant species in the future.     

Fucoidan and Cancer: A Multifunctional Molecule with Anti-Tumor Potential

There is a wide variety of cancer types yet, all share some common cellular and molecular behaviors. Most of the chemotherapeutic agents used in cancer treatment are designed to target common deregulated mechanisms within cancer cells. Many healthy tissues are also affected by the cytotoxic effects of these chemical agents. Fucoidan, a natural component of brown seaweed, has anti-cancer activity against various cancer types by targeting key apoptotic molecules. It also has beneficial effects as it can protect against toxicity associated with chemotherapeutic agents and radiation. Thus the synergistic effect of fucoidan with current anti-cancer agents is of considerable interest. This review discusses the mechanisms by which fucoidan retards tumor development, eradicates tumor cells and synergizes with anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Challenges to the development of fucoidan as an anti-cancer agent will also be discussed.     

Polymorphism of P53‐Ets/AP1 transactivation region of MDM2 oncogene and its immunohistochemical analysis in canine tumours

Mouse Double Minute‐2 (MDM2) is an ubiquitin ligase which is overexpressed or its promoter polymorphism has been reported in different tumours. The objective of this study was to examine the MDM2 protein expression and its promoter polymorphism in some canine tumours. Twenty specimens were collected from 20 dogs with 15 mammary gland carcinomas, 3 lymphomas, 1 transmissible venereal tumour and 1 trichoblastoma. Samples were analysed immunohistochemically using human antibody against MDM2 protein. PCR and DNA sequencing were carried out to identify MDM2 promoter polymorphism. MDM2 gene was expressed in 13 of 20 samples including 11 mammary carcinomas, 1 lymphoma and 1 trichoblastoma. We found 94% homology between canine and human sequences. Four mutations including G169C, A177G, G291T and A177G were identified in different types of breast carcinomas. An extra p53 response element was found in a mixed mammary carcinoma.     

Immune responses to oral and IM administration of M2e-Hsp70 construct

The eukaryotic expression plasmid of M2e-Hsp70 is a candidate M2e-based DNA vaccine. In order to evaluate the immunization potential of this construct, Specific Pathogen Free chickens were immunized either intramuscularly or orally. Mutant Salmonella typhimurium was used as carrier for oral delivery of the M2e-Hsp70 construct. M2e-specific humoral and cellular responses were tested by ELISA and Lymphocyte Proliferation Assay, respectively. Our results indicate that both humoral and cellular immune responses are conferred against M2e-Hsp70 plasmid in either of the intramuscular or oral routes of administration; however, these responses are significantly higher in intramuscular injection in contrast to oral administration. When it comes to mass vaccination of commercial chicken flocks oral administration is preferred due to the ease of application as well as its capability of eliciting mucosal, humoral and cellular immune responses; so measurements should be taken to improve the immunization potency of our orally delivered DNA vaccine.     

Na+ Retention in the Root is a Key Adaptive Mechanism to Low and High Salinity in the Glycophyte,Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn. (Portulacaceae)

Talinum paniculatum is an important leafy vegetable and medicinal plant, used in many parts of South America, Africa and Asia. Its adaptation to abiotic stress has received little attention and therefore worthy of interest, especially as environmental conditions are rendering arable lands increasingly unfavourable for agriculture. Therefore, this study was undertaken to examine the influence of salt stress on the vegetative growth of the plant by subjecting seedlings to 0, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 300 mm NaCl stress for 10 days. The dry weight, ion concentrations, relative water content, oxidative damage, proline, osmotic potential and some antioxidants were determined. The plants were found to retain Na⁺ mainly in the root, with less affected leaf K⁺ concentration, and consequently very low shoot Na⁺/K⁺ ratios (<0.2) under all the stress treatments. The proline content significantly increased under the 100–300 mm treatments (18‐ to 244‐fold), with a corresponding significant reduction in osmotic potential and hence high osmotic adjustment. The antioxidant enzyme activities and non‐enzyme antioxidants showed significant increase only under the highest salinity. Taken together, these results suggest that shoot Na⁺ exclusion is characteristic of this plant and is mainly responsible for its adaptation to low salinity.     

Synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline CoWO4@silk fibers with antibacterial activity under ultrasound irradiation

The present investigation reports the novel synthesis of CoWO₄ nanoparticles@silk fiber under ultrasound irradiation. The effect of temperature, power of ultrasound irradiation and sequential dipping steps in growth of the CoWO₄ particles were studied. Results show a decrease in the particles size as the temperature and power of irradiation decreased. The fibers containing CoWO₄ nanoparticles were tested for their antibacterial efficacy against E. coli and S. aureus and were found to possess significant antibacterial activity. The results show the CoWO₄ nanoparticles@silk with strongest fluorescence characteristics can be obtained in this method. The physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fluorescence spectroscopy.     

Production of an Antibody Fragment (scFv) Targeting PcrV Protein of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Fed-Batch Cultivation Mode

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the opportunistic pathogens causing frequent hospital-acquired life-threatening infections in mechanically ventilated patients. The most significant virulence factor of P. aeruginosa is T3SS. PcrV is an important structural protein of the T3SS. Methods:In the current investigation, a recombinant scFv mAb against the PcrV protein was expressed in EnBase® (fed-batch) cultivation mode. The pETiteTM N-His SUMO Kan vector, including anti-PcrV scFv gene, was transformed into Escherichia coli (BL21) cells. The expression and solubility of anti-PcrV scFv protein were investigated at two different temperatures (25 °C and 30 °C) and at different induction times (4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours). Results:Increased efficiency was achieved by EnBase® compared to LB broth; owing to the slow release of glucose, the maximum level of solubility and total protein expression was observed in EnBase® cultivation system at 30 °C and 24 h post induction. Furthermore, IC₅₀ for anti-PcrV scFv protein was determined to be approximately 7 μg/mL. Conclusion:Anti-PcrV scFv produced in this study showed promising in vitro results, protecting RBC from lysis by P. aeruginosa (exoU+). Key Words: Fed Batch, recombinant protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, scFv     

Effect of apple peel extract as natural antioxidant on lipid and protein oxidation of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) mince

International Aquatic Research - The aim of this study was to use apple peel extract (APE) as antioxidant for inhibition of lipid and protein oxidation in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) mince...     

The effect of pod elimination on water stress in relation to antioxidant enzymes activity and proline in three annual medics species

Despite the importance of pod removal in the seeds of annual medics, there have been few studies carried out in this area. In this research, the role of pod removal in growth and biochemical enzyme activities was examined in three annual medic species during drought stress and subsequent recovery. This study was carried out as a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design. The treatments were carried out on annual medic species of three levels: Medicago rigidula, M. scutellata, M. polymorpha, presence or removal of the pod and water stress. Water stress was split into the following four levels: 100%, 80%, 60%, and 40% field capacity (FC) during the stress period. The results showed that drought stress and subsequent recovery increased proline content and antioxidant enzyme activity. The highest proline content and antioxidant enzyme activity was observed in M. Scutellata. However, the rate at which proline increased, decreased at 40% FC whereas the antioxidant enzyme reached their highest activity at 40% FC. The antioxidant enzymes’ activity and proline content without the pod experiment were significantly higher than with the pod experiment. Since the activation of an antioxidant system and the increasing of the proline content helps the plants with stress induced damages, our results indicated that elimination of pods of annual medics before sowing helps seedlings to perform better under drought stress. This data is useful to gain a better understanding of the physiological basis of the changes in drought resistance as well as the crop breeding projects.