Jentashapir Journal of Cellular and Molecular Biology
Volume:14 Issue: 1, Mar 2023

Context: 

The relationship between polymorphisms in the location of the cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and lung cancer has been investigated in many studies. Accordingly, the present meta-analysis study focused on the relationship between the TNF-α-238 gene polymorphisms and lung cancer.

 Articles were collected from Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed electronic databases until 2022. The articles were searched based on the keywords “Lung cancer,” “238 Gene”, and “tumor necrosis factor.” The articles were selected based on the PRISMA flow diagram.

 There was no bias in this study research. Two except for two studies were significantly different, while no significant difference was found in the other studies. However, the results of the final Overall OR with a value of (0.66; 1.88) OR = 1.11 indicate that the additive model in the TNF-α-238 (rs361525) SNP increases the risk of lung cancer in the random model (P < 0.01).

 The results of this meta-analysis study show the relationship between TNF-a-238 and lung cancer. The TNF-a-238 polymorphism increases the risk allele, and TNF-a-238 with an OR = 1.11 has an additive effect on lung cancer development and increases the risk of lung cancer.

The flavonoid 2′,4′-dihydroxy-5′-(1′′′,1′′′-dimethylalil)-8-prenylpinocembrin (8PP), obtained from Dalea elegans roots has demonstrated antifungal activities. It also overcomes the resistance to azoles in azole-resistant Candida albicans (RCa). It collaborates with fluconazole to decrease cell growth and viability and inhibits ABC cdr transporters at the carrying site and associated ATPase. In addition, 8PP reduces cell viability dependent on oxidoreductase activity in planktonic cultures. It shows a dual oxidant-antioxidant activity with accumulating endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) in RCa biofilms.

This work evaluated the effects of 8PP, fluconazole, and their combination on RCa viability, which is dependent on cell permeability.

RCa 12 - 99 strain of oral origin was used. Its viability was assessed through propidium iodide (PI) cell uptake and observing yeast morphology by fluorescence microscopy.

RCa 12 - 99 strain cells, collected in the mid-exponential phase, incorporated PI and completely stained red after incubation with 8PP or fluconazole at concentrations that inhibit cell growth and viability. When combined at 125 µM of each, 8PP and fluconazole appeared more effective than separately. The results indicated that the compounds tested impaired cell permeability directly or indirectly.

8PP and fluconazole and their combination caused alterations in cell permeability in azole-resistant Candida albicans. They were effective both individually and in combination.

 When sutures are removed, bacteriemia and infections of odontological origin may cause bacterial endocarditis and other diseases.

 This study aimed to investigate the colonization by Candida species in sutures after extraction of retained third molars as well as to examine the influence of the position of the dental piece and the material used in sutures.

 A total of 56 male and female patients aged 21 - 55 years and with retained lower third molars were examined. Suture threads were removed a week later, and yeasts were isolated and grown in differential chromogenic medium and in Sabouraud dextrose agar.

 Out of 56 patients, 16 (28.57%) were found to carry some species of the yeast of genus Candida. The predominant species was C. albicans (23.20%), followed by C. parapsilosis complex (5.40%). Although 19 out of 33 patients (57,58%) tested negative, the yeasts were detected in the vertical position of the teeth of 14 patients (42.42%). The horizontal and mesioangular position carried the yeasts in 12.50, and 8.33% of the patients, respectively, while the distoangular position was yeast-negative. No significant difference was observed among the different positions. Yeasts were detected in 9 out of 26 patients (34.61%) with nylon threads and in 7 out of 30 patients (23.33%) with silk threads. According to the results from statistical analysis, no significant difference was found between the materials.

 The post-extraction suture threads of retained third molars were found to carry some species of the genus Candida. Candida albicans was the predominant species, followed by C. parapsilosis. The vertical position of the molar tended to carry yeasts to a greater degree than the horizontal and mesiangular one, although it was not statistically significant. No significant differences were detected between nylon and silk suture threads either.

 Nannorrhops baluchestanica Khodash is a recently introduced shrubby species belonging to the family Arecaceae, distributed in Southeast Iran.

 The antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials of this endemic plant were studied.

 The seeds and fruits of N. baluchestanica were collected from a natural population in Shark village, and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity of their hydroethanolic extracts was evaluated to determine potential antioxidant properties. In addition, inhibitory, bactericidal, and fungicidal effects of seed and fruit hydroalcoholic extracts were studied against a variety of pathogens, including three fungal strains (Aspergillus fumigatus, Fusarium oxysporum, and Candida albicans), three Gram-negative (klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli), and three Gram-positive bacterial strains (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Streptococcus pyogenes) via broth microdilution and streak plate methods.

 The IC50 values of 26.20 and 33.90 µg.mL-1 were calculated for the fruit and seed extracts, respectively, using vitamin E with IC50 of 10.40 as standard. The MIC, MBC, and MFC values ranged from 128 to 2048 μg.mL-1. The fruit extract inhibited the growth of all microbial strains except for B. cereus and S. epidermidis, while P. aeruginosa and F. oxysporum were the only strains inhibited by the seed extract. In agreement with antioxidant properties, more broad-spectrum antimicrobial effects were observed in the fruit extract.

 Excellent antioxidant capacities of N. baluchestanica extracts indicate their great potential for treatment or prevention of oxidative stress-related diseases, but only slight effectiveness against infectious agents was observed.

Border disease virus (BDV) is a serious pathogen of sheep and goats worldwide. The virus causes considerable economic losses in animal husbandry. Therefore, developing effective and genetic-based therapies to control viral infections, such as BDV, has been remarkable over recent years. A common way to evaluate such therapeutic strategies is by cloning the desired fragment into appropriate vectors to develop cell lines expressing it. Due to the required duties of the NS3 gene for BDV proliferation, this gene's HELICc and nucleotide binding site domain was synthesized and cloned in a lentiviral vector upstream of the GFP gene. The cloning accuracy was verified by digestion with restriction enzymes and sequencing. Thus, the BDV-NS3 HELICc and nucleotide binding site carrying plasmid was prepared successfully and will be applied in a second or third lentiviral packaging system for stable expression of the desired gene.

Cyanobacteria is an excellent candidate for discovering bioactive compounds with applications in pharmaceutical industries. Nowadays, the major bioactive metabolites isolated from cyanobacteria are polymerized, nonribosomal peptides (NRPS), or hybrids of both. Despite numerous studies on the gene distribution of bioactive compounds, no studies have been conducted on the cyanobacteria strains found in the Tehran cascade.

This monitoring study aimed to study the secondary structure of the protein and molecular phylogeny of polypeptides synthase genes and nonribosomal peptides along with the 16S rRNA gene.

In this study, 20 strains of cyanobacteria found in the Tehran Cascade were identified based on a 16rRNA gene sequence. The PCR of the nonribosomal peptides (NRPS) and polyketide synthase (PKS) genes was performed using molecular techniques to analyze the phylogenetic genes responsible for secondary metabolite production. Bioinformatics software was used to predict the composition of peptides, activated amino acids, and signature sequences of the NRPS adenylation module. Finally, the strains studied in the Alborz Herbarium Microbial Culture Collection (CCC) were kept at the Azad Islamic University, Science and Research Unit.

The NRPS and PKS genes were found in some strains. Furthermore, the bioinformatics analyses revealed the type of natural compound, the signature sequences, and the predication of the activated amino acid. Clustering of NRPS and PKS protein sequences showed no clear phylogenetic correlation between adenylation domains and the type of activated amino acid, indicating wide diversity within adenylation domains.

The biological analysis of polypeptide synthase and nonribosomal peptide synthetases genes may help estimate species that produce natural products and the possible role of these enzymatic complexes in the bio-synthesis of bioactive compounds in the pharmaceutical industry.

Bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) is the causative agent of a domestic and wild cow disease namely infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR). Severe economic damage due to IBR is possible to occur and vaccines are not completely effective against the disease. Therefore, over the recent years, the development of effective and genetic-based therapies to control viral infections, such as IBR has been remarkable. A common way to evaluate such therapeutic strategies is cloning of the viral target sequence into appropriate vectors for the preparation of cell lines expressing viral subgenomic replicons. Due to the required duties of UL25 gene, serine protease substrate domain of this gene was cloned in pCDH-CMV-MCS-EF1-cGFP-T2A-Puro lentiviral vector at the upstream of GFP gene. The cloning accuracy was verified by restriction of enzyme digestion and sequencing. Thus, this recombinant plasmid will be available to produce lentiviral vectors with the desired gene; after infection of eukaryotic cells with such lentiviral vectors the target gene will be expressed.

 Inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell death are major contributors to kidney injury following ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Acacetin (ACA) is a natural flavonoid that many studies have shown can prevent I/R-induced damaging effects.

 In the current attempt, we sought to search for the mechanisms through which ACA attenuates renal I/R.

 Male Balb/c mice were divided into four groups (n = 7): sham-operated group, I/R group, I/R treated with 50 mg/kg ACA group, and control group. Following 60 min ischemia, reperfusion was performed for 24 h. Administrations were done intraperitoneally daily for four consecutive days. Renal function was evaluated by measurement of creatinine. Changes in antioxidant capacity were evaluated by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities. The expression of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interleukin-18 (IL-18), heme oxygenase-1 (Ho-1), nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf-2), and thioredoxin 1 (Trx1) was detected by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR). The levels of IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay.

 Creatinine level showed a decreased value after ACA treatment; however, declined SOD and GPx activities were elevated by ACA. The increased expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-18 in the I/R group was declined in ACA-receiving mice. The expression levels of genes involved in anti-oxidative response Nrf-2, Ho-1, and Trx1 were decreased remarkably in the I/R group, and it reversed in ACA-treated mice. The secretion of IL-10 was elevated in the ACA-administrated group compared to untreated animals, while the COX-2 and TNF-α proteins were decreased following ACA treatment.

 These beneficial effects of ACA suggest that oxidative stress response participates in the protective effect of ACA against renal I/R.