ISSN 2736-1756
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 12 (12), pp. 001-008, December, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Production of cuticle - degrading proteases by Beauveria bassiana and their induction in different media
Priyanka Dhar and Gurvinder Kaur*
Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India.
Accepted 19 August, 2018
Abstract
The concern for the development of hyphomycete fungi as suitable biocontrol agents of insect pests leads to the isolation of various insect pathogenic fungi. Amongst them, one of the most studied entomopathogenic fungus is Beauveria bassiana. The conidia of mitosporic fungi adhere to the host cuticle and germinate to produce an infectious propagule, and produce a sequential release of extra cellular enzymes to breach the insect cuticle. Protease is one of the most important and earliest enzymes involved in the host invasion. Extracellular protease production by seventeen B. bassiana isolates was investigated in the present study. High protease activity was observed during four to six days of culture incubation. Induction mechanism of subtillisin type Pr1 and trypsin type Pr2 activity were investigated utilizing different media. Minimal medium supplemented with casein (1%) showed high protease production and minimal medium supplemented with colloidal chitin (2%) was also able to induce Pr1 activity. The pH, ammonia and oxalic acid production in in vitro conditions was also investigated and the alteration in pH for protease production was not significant irrespective of the medium used. The protease activity gel was also studied and a common 66 kDa protease was observed in all the seven isolates studied.
Key words: Ammonia, Beauveria bassiana, oxalic acid, subtillisin type Pr1, trypsin type Pr2, protease, pH.
Gurvinder Kaur*, Priyanka Dhar
Page: 1 - 8
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 12 (12), pp. 001-008, December, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Comparative osmotic fragility of three erythrocyte genotypes (HbAA, HbAS and HbSS) of male participants administered with five antimalarial drugs
P. C. Chikezie1*, A. A. Uwakwe2 and C. C. Monago2
1Department of Biochemistry, Imo State University, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
2Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Accepted 10 September, 2018
Abstract
IN VIVO study was carried out to ascertain the mean corpuscular fragility (MCF) index and corresponding stability of three erythrocyte genotypes (HbAA, HbAS and HbSS) before (control; t = 0 h) and after (tests; that is, at t = 3, 6 and 18 h) five (5) antimalarial drugs (FansidarTM, HalfanTM, Quinine, CoartemTM, and Chloroquine phosphate) were administered to male participants. Clinically confirmed healthy non-malarious and malarious male participants enrolled for this study. Erythrocytes obtained from these individuals were suspended in two separate sets of Phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution of decreasing concentrations in the following order: 0.9, 0.7, 0.6, 0.4, 0.3 and 0.2 g / 100 ml. Spectrophotometric method was used to determine the level of erythrocyte osmotic fragility. The mean (±S.D) MCF values of the three genotypes were in the order: HbAAP > 0.05) between the MCF values of HbAA and HbAS erythrocytes. Comparatively, parasitized erythrocytes exhibited significantly (P < 0.05) increased MCF values. The five antimalarial drugs were agents of erythrocyte destabilization in both categories of participants. However, the overall capacities of the drugs to disturb erythrocyte stability diminished as the experimental time progressed.
Key words: Antimalarials, erythrocytes, mean corpuscular fragility, genotypes, osmotic fragility.
P. C. Chikezie*, A. A. Uwakwe and C. C. Monago
Page: 1 - 8
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 12 (12), pp. 001-006, December, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Fermentation in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) pulp juice improves nutritive value of cassava peel
Naa Ayikailey Adamafio*, Maxwell Sakyiamah and Josephyne Tettey
Department of Biochemistry, University of Ghana, P. O. Box LG 54, Legon, Ghana.
Accepted 14 October, 2018
Abstract
A major challenge in using cassava peel as feed for animals is the presence of cyanogenic glycosides and the low concentration of protein. The present study investigated the possibility of upgrading cassava peels using fermented cassava pulp juice. Cassava pulp juice was squeezed out of grated cassava pulp and fermented for 3 days at ambient temperature. The microorganisms in the fermented pulp juice were identified as Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Lactobacillus spp. Non-sterile cassava peels were sun-dried, milled and inoculated with fermented cassava pulp juice over a 7-day period. Controls were treated with either sterile distilled water, autoclaved inoculum or phosphate buffer (pH 5) over the same period. After 7 days, the cyanogenic glycoside content of the peels, determined by the silver nitrate titration method, had decreased to 12.3% (p < 0.05) of the value for untreated peels while the cyanogenic glycoside content of the controls was 38.8 - 42.9%. Proximate analysis of 7-day inoculum-treated and untreated cassava peels showed that the protein content of the treated peels had increased 10-fold and significant decreases in starch and fat content were recorded. The fibre content remained unchanged. The present findings show that microorganisms present in fermented cassava pulp juice are capable of enhancing the nutritional value of cassava peels by increasing the protein content and reducing the cyanogenic glycoside content to levels safe for consumption by livestock.
Key words: Cassava peel, pulp juice, cyanogenic glycosides, microorganisms.
Naa Ayikailey Adamafio*, Maxwell Sakyiamah and Josephyne Tettey
Page: 1 - 6
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 12 (12), pp. 001-008, December, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Assessing the role of RecA protein in the radioresistant bacterium Deinococcus geothermalis
Haïtham Sghaier1*, Katsuya Satoh2, 3, Hirofumi Ohba2, 3 and Issay Narumi2, 3
1Research Unit UR04CNSTN01 "Medical and Agricultural Applications of Nuclear Techniques", National Center for Nuclear Sciences and Technology (CNSTN), Sidi Thabet Technopark, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia. 2DNA Repair Protein Group, Research Unit for Quantum Beam Life Science Initiative, Quantum Beam Science Directorate, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, 1233 Watanuki, Takasaki, Gunma 370-1292, Japan. 3Gene Resource Research Group, Radiation-Applied Biology Division, Quantum Beam Science Directorate, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, 1233 Watanuki, Takasaki, Gunma 370-1292, Japan.
Accepted 19 September, 2018
Abstract
The moderately thermophilic bacterium Deinococcus geothermalis exhibits extraordinary resistance to ionizing radiation. RecA protein is considered to be one of the most important participants in radioresistance. To assess the role of the RecA protein in D. geothermalis, the recA gene was isolated from D. geothermalis and over expressed in Escherichia coli. After the D. geothermalis RecA protein (GeoRecA) was purified, the recombination activity was investigated in vitro. GeoRecA efficiently promoted the strand exchange reaction between homologous linear double-stranded DNA and circular single-stranded DNA substrates at 50°C. Like Deinococcus radiodurans RecA protein (DraRecA), GeoRecA could promote DNA strand exchange reaction through normal and inverse pathways. Furthermore, GeoRecA complemented the RecA deficiency of D. radiodurans. These results indicate that GeoRecA is a functional homologue of DraRecA and plays an important role in radioresistance. However, unlike DraRecA, GeoRecA could not complement the RecA deficiency of E. coli, suggesting that GeoRecA require more strict intracellular conditions than DraRecA does to fulfill its function. This study provides new insights into the role of deinococcal RecA protein in radioresistance.
Key words: Deinococcus geothermalis, DNA repair, DNA strand exchange, radio resistance, RecA.
Haïtham Sghaier*, Katsuya Satoh, Hirofumi Ohba and Issay Narumi
Page: 1 - 8
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 12 (12), pp. 001-004, December, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Synergistic effects of glucan and resveratrol
Vaclav Vetvicka1* and Zuzana Vancikova2
1Department of Pathology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
21st Medical Faculty, Department of Pediatrics, Thomayer University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
Accepted 12 April, 2018
Abstract
Recent data showing that glucan stimulates defense reactions in plants through synthesis of resveratrol, led us to study the possible synergetic effects of a glucan-resveratrol complex on immune reactions in mice. We measured phagocytic activity, expression of CD4 marker on spleen cells, IL-2 secretion and antibody response. In all cases we confirmed the stimulatory effects of glucan. Resveratrol alone had either limit or has no effect. However, a combined preparation showed very strong synergetic effects. Our data support further studies of these two natural immunomodulators.
Key words: Glucan, resveratrol, phagocytosis, IL-2, immune reactions, macrophage, antibody.
Vaclav Vetvicka*, Zuzana Vancikova
Page: 1 - 4
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 12 (12), pp. 001-006, December, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Effect of ferric oxide nanoparticles on microtubules organization
Ali Khaleghian1, 2, Gholam Hossein Riazi2, Shahin Ahmadian2, Mahmoud Ghafari2, Marzieh Rezaie1, Akira Takahashi3, Yutaka Nakaya3 and Hossein Nazari1, 3*
1Department of Biochemistry and Hematology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
2Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, 13145-1384, Iran.
3Department of Nutrition and Metabolism, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
Accepted 14 July, 2018
Abstract
Nanoparticles (NPs) are widely used in several manufactured products. The small size of nanoparticles facilitates their uptake into cells as well as transcytosis across epithelial cells into blood and lymph circulation to reach different sites, such as the central nervous system. Studies have shown different risks of Fe2O3NPs in the neuronal system and other organs. They are membrane-bound layer aggregates or single particles that could not enter only cells, but also in mitochondria and nuclei. Therefore, these particles can interact with cytoplasmic proteins such as microtubules (MTs). MTs are cytoskeleton proteins that are essential in eukaryotic cells for a variety of functions, such as cellular transport, cell motility and mitosis. MTs play an important role in neurons and to act as a substances transport such as neurotransmitters. Single Fe2O3NPs in cytoplasm can interact with these proteins and affect their crucial functions in different tissues. In this study, we showed the effects of Fe2O3NPs on MTs organization and structure using ultraviolet spectrophotometer and fluorometry. The fluorescent spectroscopy showed a significant tubulin conformational change in the presence of Fe2O3NPs and the ultraviolet spectroscopy results showed that Fe2O3NPs causes MTs depolymerization and decrease turbidity intensity as well as increase spectra emission. The aim of this study was to find the potential risks that Fe2O3NPs pose to human organs and cells for cancer treatment.
Key words: Ferric oxide, tubulin, microtubule, protein interaction, nanoparticle.
Yutaka Nakaya and Hossein Nazari*, Ali Khaleghian, Marzieh Rezaie, Mahmoud Ghafari, Shahin Ahmadian, Gholam Hossein Riazi, Akira Takahashi
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