Biological minerals formed from strontium and barium sulphates. II. Crystallography and control of mineral morphology in desmids

1989 ◽  
Vol 238 (1292) ◽  
pp. 203-221 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Biological Control ◽  
Crystal Morphology ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Barium Sulphate ◽  
Crystal Habit ◽  
Crystal Formation ◽  
Hexagonal Crystals

The crystallography and morphology of barium sulphate crystals produced by a range of desmid species have been examined by electron microscopy and electron diffraction. The morphology of the BaSO 4 crystals varies between desmid species and water chemistry. Tabular, rhombic crystals are commonly produced by Closterium lunula and hexagonal or elliptical crystals by Micrasterias thomasiana . High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (hrtem) has confirmed the single-crystal nature of the biological precipitates. The crystals all lie with their tabular faces perpendicular to the [001] zone axis and are comparable with the typical crystal habit of geological and synthetic barium sulphates, suggesting a limited degree of biological control over precipitation. M 2+ (Ba 2+ or Sr 2+ ) : SO 2- 4 ion ratios in vivo and in vitro have been shown to affect the morphology of the crystals produced. For Closterium lunula an M 2+ : SO 2- 4 ion ratio of less than 1:1 produces rhombic crystals and an ion ratio of more than 10:1 produces hexagonal crystals. For Micrasterias thomasiana , an ion ratio of 0.01:1 produces hexagonal crystals; an ion ratio of 1:1 produces a mixture of hexagonal and elliptical crystals, and an ion ratio of more than 10:1 produces elliptical crystals. Crystal morphologies produced by desmids have been compared with those of synthetic crystals produced at similar ion ratios. The apparently limited extent of biological control and the importance of the ionic environment on the development of crystal morphology are discussed. It is proposed that desmid crystal morphology may provide a diagnostic for the local environment of crystal formation in the cell.

scholarly journals Assessment of SnFe2O4 Nanoparticles for Potential Application in Theranostics: Synthesis, Characterization, In Vitro, and In Vivo Toxicity

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 825
Author(s):  
Saman Sargazi ◽  
Mohammad Reza Hajinezhad ◽  
Abbas Rahdar ◽  
Muhammad Nadeem Zafar ◽  
Aneesa Awan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
A549 Cells ◽  
In Vitro Cytotoxicity ◽  
Hek293 Cells ◽  
Hydrothermal Route ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Tin Chloride ◽  
Bet Analysis

In this research, tin ferrite (SnFe2O4) NPs were synthesized via hydrothermal route using ferric chloride and tin chloride as precursors and were then characterized in terms of morphology and structure using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray power diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method. The obtained UV-Vis spectra was used to measure band gap energy of as-prepared SnFe2O4 NPs. XRD confirmed the spinel structure of NPs, while SEM and TEM analyses disclosed the size of NPs in the range of 15–50 nm and revealed the spherical shape of NPs. Moreover, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and BET analysis was carried out to estimate elemental composition and specific surface area, respectively. In vitro cytotoxicity of the synthesized NPs were studied on normal (HUVEC, HEK293) and cancerous (A549) human cell lines. HUVEC cells were resistant to SnFe2O4 NPs; while a significant decrease in the viability of HEK293 cells was observed when treated with higher concentrations of SnFe2O4 NPs. Furthermore, SnFe2O4 NPs induced dramatic cytotoxicity against A549 cells. For in vivo study, rats received SnFe2O4 NPs at dosages of 0, 0.1, 1, and 10 mg/kg. The 10 mg/kg dose increased serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine compared to the controls (P < 0.05). The pathology showed necrosis in the liver, heart, and lungs, and the greatest damages were related to the kidneys. Overall, the in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that SnFe2O4 NPs at high doses had toxic effects on lung, liver and kidney cells without inducing toxicity to HUVECs. Further studies are warranted to fully elucidate the side effects of SnFe2O4 NPs for their application in theranostics.

scholarly journals Cemp1-p3 Peptide Promotes the Transformation of Octacalcium Phosphate into Hydroxyapatite Crystals

Crystals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1131
Author(s):  
Maricela Santana ◽  
Gonzalo Montoya ◽  
Raúl Herrera ◽  
Lía Hoz ◽  
Enrique Romo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Octacalcium Phosphate ◽  
Sequence Motifs ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Precursor Phase ◽  
Mineralized Tissues ◽  
Potent Growth

Dental cementum contains unique molecules that regulate the mineralization process in vitro and in vivo, such as cementum protein 1 (CEMP1). This protein possesses amino acid sequence motifs like the human recombinant CEMP1 with biological activity. This novel cementum protein 1-derived peptide (CEMP1-p3, from the CEMP1’s N-terminal domain: (QPLPKGCAAVKAEVGIPAPH), consists of 20 amino acids. Hydroxyapatite (HA) crystals could be obtained through the combination of the amorphous precursor phase and macromolecules such as proteins and peptides. We used a simple method to synthesize peptide/hydroxyapatite nanocomposites using OCP and CEMP1-p3. The characterization of the crystals through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), high--resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and Raman spectroscopy revealed that CEMP1-p3 transformed OCP into hydroxyapatite (HA) under constant ionic strength and in a buffered solution. CEMP1-p3 binds and highly adsorbs to OCP and is a potent growth stimulator of OCP crystals. CEMP1-p3 fosters the transformation of OCP into HA crystals with crystalline planes (300) and (004) that correspond to the cell of hexagonal HA. Octacalcium phosphate crystals treated with CEMP1-p3 grown in simulated physiological buffer acquired hexagonal arrangement corresponding to HA. These findings provide new insights into the potential application of CEMP1-p3 on possible biomimetic approaches to generate materials for the repair and regeneration of mineralized tissues, or restorative materials in the orthopedic field.

scholarly journals Thrombus Imaging Using 3D Printed Middle Cerebral Artery Model and Preclinical Imaging Techniques: Application to Thrombus Targeting and Thrombolytic Studies

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1207
Author(s):  
Andrea Vítečková Wünschová ◽  
Adam Novobilský ◽  
Jana Hložková ◽  
Peter Scheer ◽  
Hana Petroková ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle Cerebral Artery ◽  
Cerebral Artery ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Barium Sulphate ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Preclinical Imaging ◽  
Blood Clots ◽  
3D Printed

Diseases with the highest burden for society such as stroke, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, and others are due to blood clots. Preclinical and clinical techniques to study blood clots are important tools for translational research of new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities that target blood clots. In this study, we employed a three-dimensional (3D) printed middle cerebral artery model to image clots under flow conditions using preclinical imaging techniques including fluorescent whole-body imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed X-ray microtomography (microCT). Both liposome-based, fibrin-targeted, and non-targeted contrast agents were proven to provide a sufficient signal for clot imaging within the model under flow conditions. The application of the model for clot targeting studies and thrombolytic studies using preclinical imaging techniques is shown here. For the first time, a novel method of thrombus labeling utilizing barium sulphate (Micropaque®) is presented here as an example of successfully employed contrast agents for in vitro experiments evaluating the time-course of thrombolysis and thus the efficacy of a thrombolytic drug, recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA). Finally, the proof-of-concept of in vivo clot imaging in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model using barium sulphate-labelled clots is presented, confirming the great potential of such an approach to make experiments comparable between in vitro and in vivo models, finally leading to a reduction in animals needed.

Reepithelialization of Orthotopic Tracheal Allografts Prevents Rejection after Withdrawal of Immunosuppression

2005 ◽  
Vol 114 (4) ◽  
pp. 279-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satish Govindaraj ◽  
Elena Fedorova ◽  
Eric M. Genden ◽  
Houtan Chaboki ◽  
Jonathan S. Bromberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Cyclosporine A ◽  
Allograft Rejection ◽  
Lymphocyte Subpopulation ◽  
Ciliated Epithelium ◽  
Prior Work ◽  
Cellular Infiltrate ◽  
Tracheal Transplantation

Prior work has demonstrated that immunosuppressed orthotopic tracheal allografts undergo progressive reepithelialization over a 48-day period with recipient-derived tracheal epithelium. We hypothesized that reepithelialization of tracheal allografts would prevent rejection after withdrawal of immunosuppression. BALB/c murine tracheal grafts were transplanted orthotopically into either syngeneic or allogeneic C57/BL6 recipients. The recipients were either not immunosuppressed, immunosuppressed with cyclosporine A (10 mg/kg per day) continuously, or immunosuppressed for 48 days and then withdrawn from immunosuppression. The grafts were assessed for acute and chronic rejection 10 days and 50 days after immunosuppression withdrawal. The immunosuppressed allograft recipients maintained a ciliated epithelium acutely and chronically after immunosuppression withdrawal. Ten days after immunosuppression withdrawal, there was a mild cellular infiltrate, which resolved 50 days after withdrawal. Electron microscopy, lymphocyte subpopulation assays, and lamina propria analysis demonstrated that immunosuppression withdrawal did not result in tracheal allograft rejection. In vitro and in vivo assessments did not demonstrate evidence of systemic or local immune tolerance. We conclude that reepithelialization of orthotopic tracheal allografts with recipient-derived mucosa prevents rejection of allograft segments. Tracheal transplantation may require only transient immunosuppression, which can be withdrawn after tracheal reepithelialization.

Virulence and Genetic Characterization of Six Baculovirus Strains Isolated From Different Populations of Spodoptera Frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid Zanella-Saenz ◽  
Elisabeth A. Herniou ◽  
Jorge E. Ibarra ◽  
Ma.Cristina Del Rincón-Castro ◽  
Ilse Alejandra Huerta-Arredondo
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Cell Cultures ◽  
Spodoptera Frugiperda ◽  
Fall Armyworm ◽  
The United States ◽  
Infection Mechanisms ◽  
Different Populations

Abstract Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith, 1797), is a polyphagous, voracious, and economically important agricultural pest. Biological control of FAW is a strategy that must be further explored. This study evaluated six baculovirus strains isolated from infected FAW larvae from Mexico, Argentina, Honduras, and the United States. Five alphabaculoviruses (SfNPV-An2, SfNPV-Arg, SfNPV-Fx, SfNPV-Ho and SfNPV-Sin) and one betabaculovirus (SfGV-RV), were tested against FAW larvae, showing a wide diversity of virulence levels among strains when their estimated LC50s were compared, being SfNPVArg, SfNPV-Ho and SfNPV-Fx more virulent than SfNPV-An 2 , SfNPV-Sin and SfGV-RV. To determine any virulence difference in vitro studies of these isolates, Sf9 cell cultures were used. Interestingly, only ODVs from four of the test SfNPV strains showed infectivity on Sf9 cell cultures, and some differences in virulence were observed. Genomic restriction analyses and partial sequences of lef-8, lef-9 , and polh/granulin genes showed little variability among alphabaculoviruses, both, among them and with previously reported sequences. However, sequences from SfGV-RV were closer to previously reported sequences from the SfGVVG008 strain than the SfGV-Arg and SfGV-VG014 strains. The great difference in the in vivo virulence was not correlated with great similarity among the isolates. The characterization of these six baculoviruses isolates offers the basis for exploring their potential as biological control agents against S. frugiperda, as well the initial studies on their specific infection mechanisms, evolution, and ecology.

scholarly journals In vitro and in vivo Assay for Assessment of the Biological Control Potential of Streptomyces sp. KT

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Tatsuya Ohike ◽  
Minori Maeda ◽  
Tetsuya Matsukawa ◽  
Masahiro Okanami ◽  
Shin’ichiro Kajiyama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Suppressive Effect ◽  
Phytopathogenic Fungi ◽  
Dual Culture ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Bipolaris Oryzae ◽  
Biological Control Potential ◽  
Dual Culture Assay

Rhizoctonia solani is fungal plant pathogen that infects many different host plants. Recently, biological control agents that are friendly to the environment and ecosystems have attracted much attention as an alternative to the use of chemical fungicide which have been used worldwide to control soil borne pathogens including R. solani. In this study, 53 strains of actinomycetes isolated from environmental soils, and antifungal activities of them were assessed by the dual culture assay. Strain KT showed strong inhibitory activities against 8 phytopathogenic fungi. A great suppressive effect on R. solani growth was observed in the inoculation test of plants using cucumber and chin-geng-sai. In addition, infection of Bipolaris oryzae also could be suppressed in the detached leaf assay using oats. As a result of genetic analysis, it was shown that KT was a species closely related to Streptomyces lavenduligriseus NRRL B-3173T. However, as far as we know, there is no report for biological control agents using S. lavenduligriseus. This study suggests that the strain KT may useful as biological control agents to suppress various crop diseases.

scholarly journals ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF PLASMA-CELL TUMORS OF THE MOUSE

1961 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 369-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. F. Parsons ◽  
M. A. Bender ◽  
E. B. Darden ◽  
Guthrie T. Pratt ◽  
D. L. Lindsley
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Tissue Culture ◽  
Complex Structure ◽  
Granular Body ◽  
Virus Particles ◽  
Culture Cells ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Tumor Agent

The X5563 tumor has been grown in tissue culture. Cells similar to those of the original tumor migrated from the explant and attached to the glass walls of the culture vessels. Electron microscopy showed that large numbers of particles, similar in morphology to virus particles, were associated with these cells after 7 days of culture. The two principal types of particles found in the tumor in vivo appear to be present in vitro. Many more of these particles, however, were larger and showed a more complex structure. Whereas the particles were mainly localized inside endoplasmic reticulum or the Golgi zone in the tumors in vivo, in the tissue culture the majority of the particles were associated with the plasma membrane and were found outside of the cells. The relation of the particles to the granular body is discussed as well as a possible relation to the mammary tumor agent.

scholarly journals Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide Fibril Binding to Catalase: A Transmission Electron Microscopy and Microplate Study

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 879-893 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathaniel G. N. Milton ◽  
J. Robin Harris
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Transmission Electron Microscopy ◽  
Islet Amyloid Polypeptide ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Human Islet ◽  
Islet Amyloid ◽  
Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide ◽  
Transmission Electron

The diabetes-associated human islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) is a 37-amino-acid peptide that forms fibrilsin vitroandin vivo. Human IAPP fibrils are toxic in a similar manner to Alzheimer's amyloid-β (Aβ) and prion protein (PrP) fibrils. Previous studies have shown that catalase binds to Aβ fibrils and appears to recognize a region containing the Gly-Ala-Ile-Ile sequence that is similar to the Gly-Ala-Ile-Leu sequence found in human IAPP residues 24-27. This study presents a transmission electron microscopy (TEM)—based analysis of fibril formation and the binding of human erythrocyte catalase to IAPP fibrils. The results show that human IAPP 1-37, 8-37, and 20-29 peptides form fibrils with diverse and polymorphic structures. All three forms of IAPP bound catalase, and complexes of IAPP 1-37 or 8-37 with catalase were identified by immunoassay. The binding of biotinylated IAPP to catalase was high affinity with a KDof 0.77nM, and could be inhibited by either human or rat IAPP 1-37 and 8-37 forms. Fibrils formed by the PrP 118-135 peptide with a Gly-Ala-Val-Val sequence also bound catalase. These results suggest that catalase recognizes a Gly-Ala-Ile-Leu—like sequence in amyloid fibril-forming peptides. For IAPP 1-37 and 8-37, the catalase binding was primarily directed towards fibrillar rather than ribbon-like structures, suggesting differences in the accessibility of the human IAPP 24-27 Gly-Ala-Ile-Leu region. This suggests that catalase may be able to discriminate between different structural forms of IAPP fibrils. The ability of catalase to bind IAPP, Aβ, and PrP fibrils demonstrates the presence of similar accessible structural motifs that may be targets for antiamyloid therapeutic development.

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