Secondary Metabolites from Marine-Derived Fungi and Actinobacteria as Potential Sources of Novel Colorectal Cancer Drugs

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in the world. Chemotheraphy is one of the most common methods used for the pharmacological treatment of this cancer patients. Nevertheless, the adverse effect of chemotherapy is not optimized for improving the quality of life of people who are older, who are the most vulnerable subpopulation. This review presents recent updates regarding secondary metabolites derived from marine fungi and actinobacteria as novel alternatives for cytotoxic agents against colorectal cancer cell lines HCT116, HT29, HCT15, RKO, Caco-2, and SW480. The observed marine-derived fungi were from the species Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., Neosartorya sp., Dichotomomyces sp., Paradendryphiella sp., and Westerdykella sp. Additionally, Streptomyces sp. and Nocardiopsis sp. are actinobacteria discussed in this study. Seventy one compounds reviewed in this study were grouped on the basis of their chemical structures. Indole alkaloids and diketopiperazines made up most compounds with higher potencies when compared with other groups. The potency of indole alkaloids and diketopiperazines was most probably due to halogen-based functional groups and sulfide groups, respectively.     

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) is nodulated by unexpected wide diversity of Mesorhizobium species in Eastern Algeria

Using a local Algerian cultivar of chickpea, from 9 sites in Eastern Algeria, along a sub-humid to arid gradient, we isolated 60 nodulating isolates, among which 19 were assigned to Mesorhizobium species and 41 to Ensifer meliloti. Trapping revealed great differences among sites for their ability to induce nodules on plant, but no correlation with chemical and physical characterizations of soil samples could be found. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, 16S-23S IGS, recA, nodC and nifH sequences, Mesorhizobium isolates were assigned to at least 5 different species, among which one had never been described as nodulating chickpea before. The symbiotic diversity is conversely low, and shared by several species, reflecting horizontal gene transfer. The ability of Mesorhizobium genus to recombine and exchange symbiotic clusters among different species must play a great role in this ability to be associated with chickpea. The question to what extent the symbiotic species would end in this genus is discussed.     

Physiological and Molecular Characterization of Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) Genotypes for Adaptation to Drought Stress

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is one of the most important and drought sensitive grain legumes. Drought stress is thus one of major constraints in global faba bean production. In this study, twenty local and exotic faba bean genotypes were characterized on physiological and molecular basis. Seeds of faba bean genotypes (six per pot) were sown in poly venyl chloride pots. After seedling emergence, soil moisture was maintained at 100%, 50% and 25% of field capacity designated as well watered, moderate drought and severe drought, respectively. Drought stress significantly influenced the leaf area, leaf temperature, stomatal conductance, relative leaf water contents, grain yield and water‐use efficiency. Faba bean genotypes also differed for the leaf area, leaf temperature, relative leaf water contents, grain yield and water‐use efficiency. Faba bean genotypes Kamline and L.4 were better equipped to curtail water loss, maintain tissue water status, produce stable grain yield and had better water‐use efficiency under mild and severe drought stress, and may be used in breeding programmes. Amplified fragment length polymorphism markers showed high potential in detecting polymorphism and estimating genetic diversity among faba bean genotypes. Unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean cluster analysis of the genotypes illustrated considerable association between molecular diversity, genetic background and geographic origin. In crux, high polymorphic rate and polymorphism information content values, together with the low genetic similarity observed among tested genotypes suggests a high level of heterogeneity, which may be used in breeding programmes to assemble different drought tolerance mechanisms in one genotype.     

Can Mediterranean durum wheat landraces contribute to improved grain quality attributes in modern cultivars?

The variability for quality attributes existing in a collection of 154 durum landraces from 20 Mediterranean countries and 18 modern cultivars was determined with the ultimate goal of identifying potential quality-enhancing genotypes for use in breeding programs. Field experiments were conducted during 3 years under rainfed conditions in northeastern Spain. Environmental effects were the most important in determining protein content, grain yield and yellow color index of the endosperm (grain flour), and the least important in determining EU quality index (QI), gluten strength and grain filling rate. QI is a weighed composite index determined from protein content, gluten strength, yellow color index and thousand kernel weight. Multivariate analysis detected four groups; three including landraces and one comprising modern cultivars. Landraces from the eastern Mediterranean countries had the highest mean QI and the widest variability for individual quality traits, but were characterized by relatively small grains. Landraces from the western Mediterranean countries had greater grain filling rates and heavier grains. Protein content, gluten strength and yellow color index were similar between eastern and western groups. The low QI and reduced variability characterizing the landrace group from the north Balkan Peninsula support the hypothesis of a different origin for this group. Modern cultivars, as a group, were the most productive and showed high QI, but they had the lowest grain protein content and phenotypic variability. Landraces that could be used as sources of quality-improving attributes and/or those that could be used in breeding programs without substantial quality handicaps were identified from different groups. Landraces can be particularly useful in breeding programs to improve gluten strength, grain weight and accelerate grain filling rate.     

First report of <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Chalaropsis punctulata</Emphasis> on date palm in Egypt,comparison with other <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Ceratocystis</Emphasis> anamorphs and evaluation of its biological control

Morphological studies of Chalaropsis punctulata and Thielaviopsis paradoxa revealed that the two fungi are similar to each other and produce endoconidia from phialidic conidiophores and thick dark-walled and pigmented aleuroconidia from conidiophores. There are minor morphological characters which separate the fungus Ch. punctulata from T. paradoxa: the latter form aleuroconidia in chains at the tip of specialized hyphae, whereas the former produce aleuroconidia singly. The percent inhibition of mycelial growth and the total count of conidia showed good inhibitory effects in all biocontrol methods used. The antagonist activity of Trichoderma harzianum against Ch. punctulata was due mainly to coil formation and hyphae grew alongside of the pathogen hyphae. Both hyphae and conidia of Ch. punctulata were malformed and swelled abnormally in the case of Bacillus isolates. This is the first report of Ch. punctulata on date palm in Egypt.     

Whey protein polymorphisms in Sudanese goat breeds

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The aim of the present study was to assess genetic variation that is characteristic for Sudanese goat breeds in the milk whey protein genes (LALBA and BLG)....     

Persistence of insect growth regulators against the rice weevil,sitophilus oryzae,in grain commodities

Ten insect growth regulators (IGRs): four juvenile hormone analogs (JHAs) — fenoxycarb, MV-678, R-20458 and dofenapyn, and six molt inhibitors (MIs) — triflumuron, chlorfluazuron, hexaflumuron, teflubenzuron, Dowco 439 and flufenoxuron; and the organophosphate malathion, were evaluated for residual activity in stored grain for 2 years against the rice weevil,Sitophilus oryzae (L.). Triflumuron, flufenoxuron, teflubenzuron, chlorfluazuron, hexaflumuron and fenoxycarb, each at a concentration as low as 1 ppm a.i., were superior to 10 ppm malathion throughout the experiment. The six MIs, each tested at 50 and 100 ppm a.i., gave complete control for 2 years. Moreover, a concentration as low as 1 ppm a.i. of triflumuron, teflubenzuron, flufenoxuron and chlorfluazuron had good residual activity for 1 year post-treatment and provided almost complete grain protection during this period. Among the JHAs, fenoxycarb had the best residual activity. It gave almost complete control (96.6%) ofS. oryzae at 10 ppm for 18 months post-treatment. The other JHAs at the four test concentrations failed to produce this level of control. The viability of the wheat grain was not affected by any of the insecticidal treatments, with 90% germination recorded in treated and control, grains at all intervals tested.     

Effects of dietary sodium selenite and selenium yeast on antioxidant enzyme activities and oxidative stability of chicken breast meat

The effects of sodium selenite (SS) and selenium yeast (SY) alone and in combination (MS) on the selenium (Se) content, antioxidant enzyme activities (AEA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and oxidative stability of chicken breast meat were investigated. The results showed that the highest (p < 0.05) glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was found in the SS-supplemented chicken breast meat; however, SY and MS treatments significantly increased (p < 0.05) the Se content and the activities of catalase (CAT), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), and TAC, but decreased (p < 0.05) the malondialdehyde (MDA) content at 42 days of age. Twelve days of storage at 4 °C decreased (p < 0.05) the activity of the GSH-Px, but CAT, T-SOD, and TAC remained stable. SY decreased the lipid oxidation more effectively in chicken breast meat. It was concluded that SY and MS are more effective than SS in increasing the AEA, TAC, and oxidative stability of chicken breast meat.     

Composition of the essential oil of leaves, galls, and ripe and unripe fruits of Jordanian Pistacia palaestina Boiss

Pistacia palaestina Boiss. (Pistacia terebinthus L. var. palaestina (Boiss.) Engl.) is a medicinal and foodstuff plant. The ripe fruits are used largely in the Middle East as a component of the so-called Zaatar, a mix of aromatic and food plants. Results of GC and GC-MS analyses of the essential oils of leaves, galls produced by Baizongia pistaciae (L.), and ripe and unripe fruits of Pistacia palaestinaBoiss. collected in Jordan are reported. Both qualitative and quantitative differences between different parts of the plant were observed. The oil was rich in monoterpenes, and the main constituents were alpha-pinene (63.1%) and myrcene (13.3%) in the leaves and alpha-pinene (49.4%), sabinene (22.8%), and limonene (8.1%) in the galls. (E)-Ocimene (33.8-41.3%), sabinene (20.3-24.1%), and (Z)-ocimene (3.8-13.0%) were the main ones in both unripe and ripe fruits. Sesquiterpenes have been detected in small quantities in leaves and fruits and in trace amounts in galls.