ISSN 2736-1756
Research Article
Thermodynamics investigation of Ca2+ effect on Troponin-C (TnC): A QM/MM study
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 13 (3), pp. 001-007, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Thermodynamics investigation of Ca2+ effect on Troponin-C (TnC): A QM/MM study
Mahmoud Raouf1 and Leila Mahdavian2*
1Department of Physical Education, Doroud Branch, Islamic Azad University, P. O. Box: 133, Doroud, Iran.
2Department of Chemistry, Doroud Branch, Islamic Azad University, P. O. Box: 133, Doroud, Iran.
Accepted 03 January, 2019
Abstract
Troponin (Tn) is an essential protein in calcium ion settings of skeletal and heart muscle contractions. It has three subcategories (TnC, TnI, TnT) which are connected to filament actin by tropomyosin. TnC controls the calcium in muscle contraction and is the Ca2+-binding subunit of the troponin complex. ATP facilitates separation of myosin from actin filament, eventually making thick filament to slip off thin filament. This results in short sarcomere. In this study, it is investigated that thermodynamics properties increase concentrations of Ca2+ and temperature present in lactic acid. Quantum mechanical and molecular dynamics methods were used to analyze the structure and stability of TnC-Ca2+ configuration. TnC-Ca2+ mutated active site in lactic acid and water solvent. Calcium ions approaching TnC caused twisting movement of TnC, so TnI-TnT eventually released the head of Myozin to actin. Increased lactic acid can increase calcium ion connection around TnC and decrease Ca to SR; increased temperature can increase metabolism and fatigue of skeletal muscles, emptying glycolysis and reducing muscle activity.
Key words: Troponin C (TnC), calcium ion (Ca2+), lactic acid, fatigue of skeletal muscles, QM/MM.
Leila Mahdavian*, Mahmoud Raouf
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 13 (3), pp. 001-006, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction conditions using orthogonal matrix design to enhance the antimicrobial activity of extracts from Cichorium intybus root
Quanzhen Wang1*, Haitao Liu1, Jinhong Du1, Jian Cui2, Guo Chen1 and Yuyan Liu1
1Department of Grassland Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, 712100 Yangling, Shanxi Province, P. R. China.
2Department of Plant Science, College of Life Science, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, 712100, Yangling, Shanxi Province, P. R. China.
Accepted 10 January, 2019
Abstract
Plant-derived compounds used as alternatives to chemical preservatives have been extensively researched for use as natural medical ingredients or food preservatives. Conditions for the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of chicory (Cichorium intybus) root (including type of solvent, impregnation time, number of sonication steps and ultrasonic power) were optimized to determine the best extract antibacterial activity by using orthogonal matrix design [L16 (45)]. The combination of 70% ethanol v/v, a 36 h impregnation time, three sonication rounds and 300 W ultrasonic power input provided the best antimicrobial activity results. Our results demonstrate that solvent composition has the largest effect on antimicrobial activity. Several extracts demonstrated antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus thuringiensis and Salmonella typhi, and all extracts exhibited weak activity against Bacillus subtilis. To our knowledge, these results represent the first example of ultrasound-assisted chicory extracts aimed at increasing its potential for use in food industry.
Key words: Cichorium intybus, antibacterial, ultrasound-assistant extract, optimal conditions, orthogonal matrix design.
Guo Chen and Yuyan Liu, Jinhong Du, Quanzhen Wang*, Haitao Liu, Jian Cui
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 13 (3), pp. 001-003, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Anti-fungal activity of Ardisia crispa (Thunb.) A.DC. against several fungi responsible for athlete’s foot
M. N. Somchit1,2*, Y. Adam2, H. C. Yee1, A. Zuraini1, A. K. Arifah3 and Z. A. Zakaria1
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
2Sports Academy, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
3Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Accepted 23 January, 2019
Abstract
The body normally hosts a variety of saprotrophic micro-organisms that may cause infection. Athlete©s foot causes scaling, flaking and itching of the affected skin. Blisters and cracked skin may also occur, leading to exposed raw tissue, pain, swelling and inflammation. Secondary bacterial infection can accompany the fungal infection. This work examined the anti-fungal activity of Ardisia crispa (AC) against common fungi that cause Athlete’s foot and several other pathogenic fungi. The antimicrobial activity of water, ethanol and chloroform extracts of AC was tested against fungal strains using the disc diffusion method. This antimicrobial activity was compared to standard antifungal drugs (griseofulvin, fluconazole and itraconazole). Results revealed that chloroform extract of AC had potent anti-fungal activity against Trichophyton rubrum ATCC 40051 and Trichophyton mentagrophytes ATCC 40004 which are the two most commonly cause of Athlete’s foot. Moderate activity was observed against Candida albicans ATCC 14053, Candida tropicalis ATCC 14056, Microsporum canis (clinical isolates and identified at the Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Universiti Putra Malaysia) and Aspergillus fumigatus ATCC 14109. The ethanol extract only had mild activity against the Candidia spp and the water extract was devoid of any activity. The anti-fungal activity of chloroform extract was statistically more potent than griseofulvin but less potent than fluconazole and itraconazole. Findings from current study support the use of AC in traditional medicine for the treatment of various fungal infections and may potentially be used in the treatment of athlete’s foot.
Key words: Ardisia crispa, anti-fungal, athlete’s foot.
A. Zuraini, H. C. Yee, M. N. Somchit*, A. K. Arifah and Z. A. Zakaria, Y. Adam
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 13 (3), pp. 001-009, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Assessment of the knowledge of prevention of HIV transmission from mother-to-child in an African community
O. O. Oguntibeju1*, M. Kayinda2 and M. Mokgatle-Nthabu2
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville Campus 7535 South Africa.
2School of Public Health, MEDUNSA, University of Limpopo, South Africa.
Accepted 27 January, 2019
Abstract
Women living with HIV are faced with lack of adequate information about HIV prevention. This study assessed the level of knowledge of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) in Serowe, Botswana. The objectives of this study were to assess the level of knowledge of the PMTCT programme and vertical transmission among HIV-positive women in Serowe, Botswana and as well as describe the practices of family planning among the participants. The study was a cross-sectional descriptive survey using qualitative method. Twenty six (26) participants attending PMTCT clinics at Serowe clinic, Nutrition clinic, and Kadimo clinic participated in the study between October and December 2008 after consenting to participate. In-depth interviews were conducted to collect socio-demographic data of the participants. Qualitative methods were used to collect data about the women’s level of understanding of the PMTCT programme and family planning practices. The interviews were conducted in the local language (Setswana) and translated into English by bilingual experts and participants’ responses were audio taped. Although all 26 participants had good knowledge and understanding of the family planning practices, but only 18 (69.2%) had used the family planning methods. The findings in this study revealed good social support from the family members and the disclosure of HIV status was not a big issue to the participants. Majority of respondents (66.6%) had good knowledge and understanding of the PMTCT programme. One-third of the participants were single, 96% of participants were unemployed and about one-third of them live on less than 50 U$ dollars per month. The use of family planning by participants was poor despite their good knowledge about prevention of mother-to-child transmission.
Key words: Knowledge, family planning, prevention, mother-to-child transmission, HIV.
O. O. Oguntibeju*, M. Kayinda and M. Mokgatle-Nthabu
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 13 (3), pp. 001-007, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Highly virulent Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida isolated from Taiwan paradise fish, Macropodus opercularis (L.), in Taiwan
Pan-Chen Liu1, Ching-Fu Cheng1, Chen-Hsuan Chang1, Shiun-Long Lin1, Way-Shyan Wang1*, Shao-Wen Hung2, Ming-Hui Chen1,5, Cheng-Chung Lin3, Ching-Yu Tu4, and Yu-Hsing Lin6
1Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung City 402, Taiwan.
2Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan.
3Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung City 402, Taiwan.
4Residue Control Division, Taiwan Agricultural Chemicals and Toxic Substances Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Taiwan.
5The Livestock Disease Control Center of Taichung City, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
6Nursing Department of Yuanpei University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan.
Accepted 15 January, 2019
Abstract
In Taiwan, a fish conservation farm had about 6,250 Taiwan paradise fishes, Macropodus opercularis (L.), which were separately cultivated in an outdoor tank containing 3,250 fishes, and an indoor tank containing the rest. The water supplying both tanks was the same running water source from the adjacent hills. Following a change in the fish feed (the commercial aquaculture feed became eel’s feed) to all fishes in May 2010, rotten body surfaces were only found in diseased and dead fishes in the outdoor tank. Interestingly, no sick fishes were found in the indoor tank. The clinical findings of the diseased fishes were bleeding at basal fins, peripheral site of genital pore, and bilateral surface of the abdomen. Additionally, we discovered whitish-mucus gills, edema of the intestines, and multi-focal white tubercles in infected fishes during gross examination. The results of the histopathology study showed that there were numerous multi-focal granulomas in the spleen, posterior kidney, and liver. Furthermore, Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida was isolated from lesions of the ailing fishes. We conducted an experimental animal virulence test, and our data revealed that P. damselae subsp. piscicida was a highly virulent pathogen. Fortunately, P. damselae subsp. piscicida appeared to be susceptible to most commonly used antimicrobial agents, according to the results of the antibiotic sensitivity study. We recommended a treatment with oxolinic acid (20 mg/kg/day) in the feed for 7 days for all Taiwan paradise fishes. The fishes’ condition significantly improved and the disease appeared to be controlled.
Key words: Conservation, photobacteriosis, Taiwan paradise fish, virulence.
and Yu-Hsing Lin, Ming-Hui Chen, Ching-Yu Tu, Shiun-Long Lin, Chen-Hsuan Chang, Ching-Fu Cheng, Shao-Wen Hung, Pan-Chen Liu, Way-Shyan Wang*, Cheng-Chung Lin
Research Article
In search of enteroviruses in water media in Marrakech
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 13 (3), pp. 001-005, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
In search of enteroviruses in water media in Marrakech
Amina Hssaine1, Jawhar Gharbi2, Rafik Harrath2, Rajae Harrak3, Abderrahman Chait4, Mahjoub Aouni2 and Jamal Hafid1*
1Equipe Immuno-Parasitologie et Physiologie, Laboratoire Aliments, Environnement et Santé, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Gueliz, Marrakech, Morocco.
2Laboratoire des maladies transmissibles et substances biologiquement actives (MDT-01), Faculté de Pharmacie, 5000 Monastir, Tunisie.
3Laboratoire régional du diagnostic épidémiologique et de l’hygiène du Milieu, Marrakech Morocco.
4Laboratoire d’Ecophysiologie, Faculté des Sciences Semlalia, Marrakech, Morocco.
Accepted 7 February, 2019
Abstract
Enteroviruses are among the most common viruses infecting the human intestine; they are very widespread in nature and resistant to external agents. They are eliminated in the faeces and contaminate water and food. These viruses cause various clinical syndromes and constitute a big public health problem. The aim of our study was to search for enteroviruses in the water samples. For this, a total of 225 L of tap water coming from the national network office for drinking water (ONEP) and 18 samples of waste water originating from Marrakech city were studied. These samples were concentrated, treated with polyethylene glycol 6000 and then analyzed by RT-PCR. Only two samples were found to be positive for enteroviruses by RT- PCR among the 18 waste water samples analyzed, which gave a rate of 11.11%. On the other hand, no positive samples were found in the tap water. This study made it possible on the one hand to apply for the first time RT-PCR for the detection of enteroviruses in water samples originating from Marrakech city, and on the other hand to show that tap water of this city does not present any risk of contamination by this type of germ.
Key words: Drinking water, waste water, enterovirus, RT-PCR, Marrakech.
Rajae Harrak, Mahjoub Aouni and Jamal Hafid*, Abderrahman Chait, Amina Hssaine, Jawhar Gharbi, Rafik Harrath