scholarly journals Application of DNA Shuffling as a Tool for Hydrolase Activity Improvement of Pseudomonas Strain

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 7735-7745
Keyword(s):  
Protein Engineering ◽  
Protoplast Fusion ◽  
Concentration Gradient ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Genome Shuffling ◽  
Dna Shuffling ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Mutant Strains ◽  
High Concentrations

Biotechnology is considered one of the most influential technologies in various areas of human life, including health, economics, and the environment. Protein engineering is one of the major biotechnology tools in the field of modification and advancement of biocatalysts capabilities. Among the most effective protein engineering methods, in particular, to improve the industrial strain capabilities, is the shuffling genome method. This study aimed to follow knowledge and biocatalysts engineering techniques based on DNA shuffling methods. In the first step, two procedures were followed (DES method and compatibility according to the concentration gradient of Diazinon) to obtain mutant strains. Acquired mutant strains from both methods were resistant to high concentrations of poison up to 3000 mg/L. The activity of these strains also demonstrated their elevated activity compared to parent samples. The highest activity was related to four strains IR1.G1, IR1.D8, IR1.D4, and IR1.D5, which were 0.234 U/ml, 0.1 U/ml, 0.098 U/ml, and 0.066 U/ml, respectively. The improved strain was obtained via the concentration gradient of the diazinon method (IRL1.G1 strain) in comparison with IRL1.D8 strain (owning highest activity through DES method) possesses excessive activity in 3000 mg/L concentration of Diazinon. The evaluated results of first-generation genome shuffling of strains (the first round of protoplast fusion) also indicated that those shuffled strains with the ability to grow in the vicinity of the toxin (3000 mg/L concentration of Diazinon) showed better activity than obtained mutated strains by both methods (concentration gradient of the toxin and the DES method). In the final stage, the best results were related to IRL1.F2, IRL1.F3, and IRL1.F1 shuffled strains with 0.541 mg/L, 0.523 mg/L, and 0.509 mg/L, respectively. The highest activity belonged to the IRL1.F2 genome shuffled strain (first round of protoplast fusion). This strain could grow in a high concentration of toxin, and also, the activity was increased 30, 3.6, and 2.3 times in comparison with the parent strain (IRL1), IRL.D8 mutant, and IRL1.G1, respectively.

Effects of antibiotics on feeding and development of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (Homoptera: Aphididae)

1976 ◽  
Vol 54 (7) ◽  
pp. 1025-1029 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. N. Srivastava ◽  
J. L. Auclair
Keyword(s):  
First Generation ◽  
Acyrthosiphon Pisum ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Pea Aphid ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Poor Growth ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Diet Intake ◽  
Partial Damage

Four antibiotics were individually incorporated into holidic diets that were fed to the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris). Streptomycin and penicillin at 0.01% had little effect on growth, but reduced fecundity and survival. Chloromycetin and neomycin at 0.01% greatly reduced growth and survival, and aphids did not reach the adult stage. Higher concentrations (0.1%) of streptomycin and penicillin significantly reduced growth and survival, and no adults were produced if continued on penicillin. However, such a high concentration did not seem to inflict irrecoverable damages, since when aphids that were fed for 7 days on 0.1% streptomycin and penicillin were returned to antibiotic-free (control) diets they gained weight, reached maturity, and reproduced, although progeny survival was very low.Streptomycin appeared to be phagostimulatory, whereas penicillin and chloromycetin acted as feeding deterrents. First-instar larvae on the control diet, and on diets containing 0.1% streptomycin, penicillin, and chloromycetin in 24 h ingested 95.4, 120.8, 45.4, and 35.7 μg per aphid, respectively. It is suggested that these three antibiotics caused only partial damage to the symbiotes of the aphid, and that the poor growth, survival, and fecundity associated in the first generation with high concentrations of either penicillin or chloromycetin resulted mainly from a lower rate of diet intake.

A possible mechanism of farnesol tolerance in C. albicans biofilms implemented by activating the PKC signalling pathway and stabilizing ROS levels

2022 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shengyan Chen ◽  
Zheng Xu ◽  
Siqi Liu ◽  
Wei Duan ◽  
Yun Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Signalling Pathway ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Growth State ◽  
Mutant Strains ◽  
Wild Strains ◽  
Multiple Cell ◽  
High Concentrations

Introduction. Biofilms are the natural growth state for most microorganisms. C. albicans biofilms are composed of multiple cell types (round budding yeast-form cells, oval pseudohyphal cells, and elongated hyphal cells) encased in an extracellular matrix. C. albicans biofilms are notorious for resistance to antimicrobial treatments, a property that might be determined by complex mechanisms. Exogenous farnesol exerts a certain antifungal activity against C. albicans with medical implications. Different from other microbes, C. albicans biofilms can tolerate exogenous farnesol at high concentration with some cells still surviving and even maintaining proliferation, but the mechanism is unclear. Hypothesis. The study hypothesizes that C. albicans resists farnesol by activating the PKC signalling pathway. Aim. The study aims to discuss the molecular mechanism of C. albicans resistance to farnesol. Methodology. The ROS levels, the genes and proteins of the PKC pathway were compared between the farnesol-tolerant and non-tolerant groups using ROS levels assay, q-RT PCR and Western blot, respectively. Further, the mutant strains (pkc1Δ/Δ and mkc1Δ/Δ) were constructed, then the survival rates and ROS levels of biofilms exposed to farnesol were compared between mutant and wild strains. The morphological changes were observed using TEM. Results. The survival rates of C. albicans biofilms decreased rapidly under the lower concentration of farnesol (P<0.05), and kept stable (P>0.05) as the concentration rose up to 200 µM. The gene expression of the PKC pathway increased, while ROS levels remained stable and even decreased in the farnesol-tolerant biofilms, compared with those in the farnesol-nontolerant biofilms after farnesol treatment (P<0.05); pkc1 and mkc1 were significantly upregulated by C. albicans during the development of biofilm tolerance to farnesol. The cell wall and cytoplasm of pkc1Δ/Δ and mkc1Δ/Δ were damaged, and the ROS level increased (P<0.05); meanwhile, the survival rate of biofilms decreased compared with that of wild-type strain under the same farnesol concentrations (P<0.05). ROS inhibitors reversed these changes in pkc1Δ/Δ and mkc1Δ/Δ when the mutant strains exposed to farnesol. Conclusion. C. albicans biofilms can tolerate high concentrations of farnesol by activating pkc1 and mkc1 of the PKC pathway and stabilizing ROS levels. The pkc1 and mkc1 are two key genes regulated by C. albicans in the process of biofilm tolerance to farnesol.

scholarly journals Eagle-Type Methicillin Resistance: New Phenotype of High Methicillin Resistance under mec Regulator Gene Control

2001 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 815-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noriko Kondo ◽  
Kyoko Kuwahara-Arai ◽  
Hiroko Kuroda-Murakami ◽  
Eiko Tateda-Suzuki ◽  
Keiichi Hiramatsu
Keyword(s):  
Gene Transcription ◽  
Genomic Library ◽  
Methicillin Resistance ◽  
Genetic Alteration ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
Mutant Strains ◽  
Multiple Copies ◽  
High Concentrations

ABSTRACT We report a novel phenotype of methicillin resistance, designated “Eagle-type” resistance, which is characteristic in its resistance to high concentrations of methicillin (64 to 512 μg/ml) and susceptibility to low concentrations of methicillin (2 to 16 μg/ml). The type of resistance was expressed in mutant strains selected with high concentrations (e.g., 128 to 512 μg/ml) of methicillin from the pre-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain N315, whose mecA gene transcription is strongly repressed by the mecI gene-encoded repressor protein MecI. The Eagle-type mutant strains harbored no mutation in themecI gene or in the operator region ofmecA gene to which MecI repressor is supposed to bind. In the representative Eagle-type strain h4, repression of mecAgene transcription and penicillin-binding protein 2′ production were found to be released by exposing the cells to a high concentration (128 μg/ml) of methicillin but not to lower concentrations (1 and 8 μg/ml) of methicillin. The strain h4 expressed paradoxical susceptibility (Eagle effect) to the cytokilling activity of methicillin. Experimental deletion of mecI gene from the chromosome of h4 by mecI-specific gene substitution converted its Eagle-type resistance to homogeneously high methicillin resistance. We cloned two novel genes, designated hmrA andhmrB, from genomic library of h4, which conferred Eagle-type resistance to N315 when introduced into the cell in multiple copies. The genes were shown to confer homogeneous methicillin resistance to the heterogeneously methicillin-resistant strain LR5 when they were introduced into on multicopy plasmids. This result strongly indicated that the genetic alteration responsible for the expression of the Eagle phenotype is identical, or equivalent in its effect, to the genetic alteration underlying heterogeneous-to-homogeneous conversion of methicillin resistance in S. aureus.

The Toxicity of Castor Beans and its Treatment with Doxycycline in Local Rabbits

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nael Mohammed Sarheed ◽  
Osamah Faisal Kokas ◽  
Doaa Abd Alabas Muhammed Ridh
Keyword(s):  
Castor Bean ◽  
The Body ◽  
Control Group ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Biochemical Tests ◽  
Doxycycline Treatment ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Physiological Tests ◽  
Animal House ◽  
Physiological And Biochemical

The plant of castor is widely spread in the Iraqi land, and characterized with containing ricin toxin, which has a very serious effects, and because the seeds of this plant scattered in the agricultural soil and rivers water, which increases the exposure of humans and animals to these beans. Objective: This experiment was designed to study the effect of high concentration of castor bean powder in some physiological and biochemical parameters and changes in some tissues of the body, as well as trying to use doxycycline to reduce the effects of ingestion of these seeds. Materials and Methods: In the experiment, 24 local rabbits were raised and fed in the Animal House of the Faculty of Medicine / Al-Muthanna University, then divided into four groups and treated for three weeks (21 days), Control group: treated with normal saline solution (0.9) orally throughout the experiment, G1: was treated orally with a concentration of 25 mg / kg of castor bean powder daily during the experiment, G2 : orally treated 25 mg / kg of castor bean and 25 mg / kg of doxycycline, G3: orally treated 25 mg / kg of castor powder with 50 mg / kg of doxycycline daily throughout the trial period. Results: The results of the experiment showed significant changes (P less than 0.05) in all physiological and biochemical blood tests when compared with control group. There was a significant decrease in PCV, Hb, RBC, T.protein and body weights, while demonstrated a significant increase in WBC, Urea, Creatinine, ALT, AST and ALP, with distortions in liver and kidney of animals that treated with Castor beans. In contrast, the treatment with doxycycline and caster beans showed significant improvement reflected by a normal proportion in physiological tests and biochemical tests with improvement in the tissues when compared to control group. Conclusions: It can be concluded from this study that castor bean has high toxic and pathogenic effects that may be dangerous to the life of the organism. Therefore, it is advisable to be cautious of these pills and avoid exposure to them, also recommended to take high concentrations of doxycycline treatment when infected with castor bean poisoning.

The Effects of Shock Vancomycin Concentrations on the Formation of Heteroresistance in Staphylococcus aureus

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 3-7
Author(s):  
V. V. Gostev ◽  
Yu. V. Sopova ◽  
O. S. Kalinogorskaya ◽  
M. E. Velizhanina ◽  
I. V. Lazareva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
In Vitro Selection ◽  
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Short Term ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Selection Of Resistance ◽  
Test Cultures

Glycopeptides are the basis of the treatment of infections caused by MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Previously, it was demonstrated that antibiotic tolerant phenotypes are formed during selection of resistance under the influence of high concentrations of antibiotics. The present study uses a similar in vitro selection model with vancomycin. Clinical isolates of MRSA belonging to genetic lines ST8 and ST239, as well as the MSSA (ATCC29213) strain, were included in the experiment. Test isolates were incubated for five hours in a medium with a high concentration of vancomycin (50 μg/ml). Test cultures were grown on the medium without antibiotic for 18 hours after each exposure. A total of ten exposure cycles were performed. Vancomycin was characterized by bacteriostatic action; the proportion of surviving cells after exposure was 70–100%. After selection, there was a slight increase in the MIC to vancomycin (MIC 2 μg/ml), teicoplanin (MIC 1.5–3 μg/ml) and daptomycin (MIC 0.25–2 μg/ml). According to the results of PAP analysis, all strains showed an increase in the area under curve depending on the concentration of vancomycin after selection, while a heteroresistant phenotype (with PAP/AUC 0.9) was detected in three isolates. All isolates showed walK mutations (T188S, D235N, E261V, V380I, and G223D). Exposure to short-term shock concentrations of vancomycin promotes the formation of heteroresistance in both MRSA and MSSA. Formation of VISA phenotypes is possible during therapy with vancomycin.

Growth responses of periphyton and chironomids exposed to biologically treated bleached kraft pulp mill effluent

1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 339-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. G. Dubé ◽  
J. M. Culp
Keyword(s):  
Kraft Pulp ◽  
Pulp Mill ◽  
Pulp Mill Effluent ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Wood Extractives ◽  
Kraft Pulp Mill ◽  
Bleached Kraft Pulp ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
High Concentrations

Experiments were conducted in artificial streams to determine the effects of increasing concentrations of biologically treated bleached kraft pulp mill effluent (BKPME) on periphyton and chironomid growth in the Thompson River, British Columbia. Periphyton growth, as determined by increases in chlorophyll a, was significantly stimulated at all effluent concentrations tested (0.25%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 5.0% and, 10.0%). Chironomid growth (individual weight) was also significantly stimulated at low effluent concentrations (≤1.0%). At higher concentrations (5.0% and 10.0%), chironomid growth was inhibited relative to the 1.0% treatment streams. Increases in growth were attributed to the effects of nutrient and organic enrichment from BKPME. The effluent contained high concentrations of phosphorus and appears to be an important source of carbon for benthic insects grazing on the biofilm. In high concentration effluent streams, chironomid growth decreased despite low levels of typical pulp mill contaminants. This suggests that other compounds in the effluent, such as wood extractives, may be inhibiting chironomid growth. These results support findings of field monitoring studies conducted in the Thompson River where changes in periphyton and chironomid abundance occurred downstream of the bleached kraft pulp mill.

Antifungal Activity Directed Toward the Cell Wall by 2-Cyclohexylidenhydrazo- 4-Phenyl-Thiazole Against Candida albicans

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 428-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nívea P. de Sá ◽  
Ana P. Pôssa ◽  
Pilar Perez ◽  
Jaqueline M.S. Ferreira ◽  
Nayara C. Fonseca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Antifungal Activity ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Buccal Epithelial Cells ◽  
Mutant Strains ◽  
Low Toxicity ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Mic Value

<p>Background: The increasing incidence of invasive forms of candidiasis and resistance to antifungal therapy leads us to seek new and more effective antifungal compounds. </P><P> Objective: To investigate the antifungal activity and toxicity as well as to evaluate the potential targets of 2- cyclohexylidenhydrazo-4-phenyl-thiazole (CPT) in Candida albicans. </P><P> Methods: The antifungal activity of CPT against the survival of C. albicans was investigated in Caenorhabditis elegans. Additionally, we determined the effect of CPT on the inhibition of C. albicans adhesion capacity to buccal epithelial cells (BECs), the toxicity of CPT in mammalian cells, and the potential targets of CPT in C. albicans. </P><P> Results: CPT exhibited a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 0.4-1.9 µg/mL. Furthermore, CPT at high concentrations (>60 x MIC) showed no or low toxicity in HepG2 cells and <1% haemolysis in human erythrocytes. In addition, CPT decreased the adhesion capacity of yeasts to the BECs and prolonged the survival of C. elegans infected with C. albicans. Analysis of CPT-treated cells showed that their cell wall was thinner than that of untreated cells, especially the glucan layer. We found that there was a significantly lower quantity of 1,3-β-D-glucan present in CPT-treated cells than that in untreated cells. Assays performed on several mutant strains showed that the MIC value of CPT was high for its antifungal activity on yeasts with defective 1,3-β-glucan synthase. </P><P> Conclusion: In conclusion, CPT appears to target the cell wall of C. albicans, exhibits low toxicity in mammalian cells, and prolongs the survival of C. elegans infected with C. albicans.</p>

scholarly journals Spatial Analysis (Measurements at Heights of 10 m and 20 m above Ground Level) of the Concentrations of Particulate Matter (PM10, PM2.5, and PM1.0) and Gaseous Pollutants (H2S) on the University Campus: A Case Study

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 62
Author(s):  
Robert Cichowicz ◽  
Maciej Dobrzański
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Hydrogen Sulfide ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Spatial Analysis ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Leeward Side ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Above Ground Level ◽  
High Concentrations

Spatial analysis of the distribution of particulate matter PM10, PM2.5, PM1.0, and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas pollution was performed in the area around a university library building. The reasons for the subject matter were reports related to the perceptible odor characteristic of hydrogen sulfide and a general poor assessment of air quality by employees and students. Due to the area of analysis, it was decided to perform measurements at two heights, 10 m and 20 m above ground level, using measuring equipment attached to a DJI Matrice 600 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The aim of the measurements was air quality assessment and investigate the convergence of the theory of air flow around the building with the spatial distribution of air pollutants. Considerable differences of up to 63% were observed in the concentrations of pollutants measured around the building, especially between opposite sides, depending on the direction of the wind. To explain these differences, the theory of aerodynamics was applied to visualize the probable airflow in the direction of the wind. A strong convergence was observed between the aerodynamic model and the spatial distribution of pollutants. This was evidenced by the high concentrations of dust in the areas of strong turbulence at the edges of the building and on the leeward side. The accumulation of pollutants was also clearly noticeable in these locations. A high concentration of H2S was recorded around the library building on the side of the car park. On the other hand, the air turbulence around the building dispersed the gas pollution, causing the concentration of H2S to drop on the leeward side. It was confirmed that in some analyzed areas the permissible concentration of H2S was exceeded.

scholarly journals Photocrosslinking and photopatterning of magneto-optical nanocomposite sol–gel thin film under deep-UV irradiation

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Bidaud ◽  
D. Berling ◽  
D. Jamon ◽  
E. Gamet ◽  
S. Neveu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Uv Irradiation ◽  
Cobalt Ferrite ◽  
Sol Gel ◽  
Optical Devices ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Nanocomposite Thin Films ◽  
Deep Uv ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
193 Nm ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThis paper is aimed at investigating the process of photocrosslinking under Deep-UV irradiation of nanocomposite thin films doped with cobalt ferrite magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). This material is composed of a hybrid sol–gel matrix in which MNP can be introduced with high concentrations up to 20 vol%. Deep-UV (193 nm) is not only interesting for high-resolution patterning but we also show an efficient photopolymerization pathway even in the presence of high concentration of MNPs. In this study, we demonstrate that the photocrosslinking is based on the free radical polymerization of the methacrylate functions of the hybrid precursor. This process is initiated by Titanium-oxo clusters. The impact of the nanoparticles on the photopolymerization kinetic and photopatterning is investigated. We finally show that the photosensitive nanocomposite is suitable to obtain micropatterns with sub-micron resolution, with a simple and versatile process, which opens many opportunities for fabrication of miniaturized magneto-optical devices for photonic applications.

scholarly journals Association of beta-cytoplasmic actin with high concentrations of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) in normal and anti-AChR-treated primary rat muscle cultures.

1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (9) ◽  
pp. 973-981 ◽  
Author(s):  
B W Lubit
Keyword(s):  
Acetylcholine Receptor ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Neuromuscular Junctions ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Rat Muscle ◽  
Cytoplasmic Actin ◽  
High Concentrations

Previous immunocytochemical studies in which an antibody specific for mammalian cytoplasmic actin was used showed that a high concentration of cytoplasmic actin exists at neuromuscular junctions of rat muscle fibers such that the distribution of actin corresponded exactly to that of the acetylcholine receptors. Although clusters of acetylcholine receptors also are present in noninnervated rat and chick muscle cells grown in vitro, neither the mechanism for the formation and maintenance of these clusters nor the relationship of these clusters to the high density of acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction in vivo are known. In the present study, a relationship between beta-cytoplasmic actin and acetylcholine receptors in vitro has been demonstrated immunocytochemically using an antibody specific for the beta-form of cytoplasmic actin. Networks of cytoplasmic actin-containing filaments were found in discrete regions of the myotube membrane that also contained high concentrations of acetylcholine receptors; such high concentrations of acetylcholine receptors have been described in regions of membrane-substrate contact. Moreover, when primary rat myotubes were exposed to human myasthenic serum, gross morphological changes, accompanied by an apparent rearrangement of the cytoplasmic actin-containing cytoskeleton, were produced. Although whether the distribution of cytoplasmic actin-containing structures was influenced by the organization of acetylcholine receptor or vice versa cannot be determined from these studies, these findings suggest that in primary rat muscle cells grown in vitro, acetylcholine receptors and beta-cytoplasmic actin-containing structures may be somehow connected.

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