Journal of Cell and Molecular Research
Volume:15 Issue: 1, Summer and Autumn 2023

Salvia is the largest genus in the Lamiaceae family in the world and Iran contains 58 species. This genus contains over 900 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants and differs from other lamias in the unusual structure of their plumage. Information on important medicinal plants' genetic diversity and population structure is well documented in the literature. Increased genetic diversity can reduce the negative effects of inbreeding on populations. We investigated genetic variation among eight Salvia species using ISSR molecular markers. ISSR is a molecular marker amplified by PCR using microsatellite primers. Samples were gathered from various locations in Iran. Most samples were assigned to Ardabil city. Twenty randomized ISSR primers were used, generating different polymorphic bands. The 20 ISSR primers generated 225 valuable bands and 221 bands were polymorphic (98/2%). Pairwise genetic distances ranged from 0.083 to 0.577. Dendrograms were generated using the UPGMA method using NTSYSpc 2.02i software to identify seven major groups from eight Salvia species. The polymorphism levels observed in the present study represent a high degree of genetic diversity among Salvia species. Following the first study on the genetic relationships of eight species of Salvia in Iran using RAPD and ISSR molecular markers, this study was performed using the ISSR molecular marker to investigate the genetic relationships of eight other species of Salvia. The results of this research represented that the molecular markers of the ISSR are suitable for assessing genetic variation and evolutionary relationships among Salvia species, showing a wide range of dispersal.

DNA-based approaches can now be utilized as low-risk methods to change gene expression. It appears that this approach has the ability to partially replace RNA-based approaches for altering gene expression, which in the majority of cases leads to immunological responses in patients. When utilized as a technique to silence target gene expression, DNA interference (DNAi) is a single-stranded DNA created to complement the upstream region of a gene. This DNAi molecule is stabilized using a variety of chemical changes, including phosphorothioates, methylphosphonate setC, etc. Several studies of the efficient application of DNA-based methods both in eukaryotic cell lines and the therapy of various disorders, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, cancer, etc., have been mentioned. Understanding the DNAi process, its transfer carriers, stabilization techniques, and their limitations is crucial for advancing these applications and predicting the future of DNAi both in basic science and the treatment of disorders brought on by abnormal gene expression. The main purpose of this review is introducing benefits of using DNAi in gene silencing. this review has discussed about different applications of DNAi in drug discovery and treatment, criteria of designing DNAi, possible modifications, introducing different types of carriers and limitations of DNAi administration.

Esophageal cancer is one of the most aggressive gastrointestinal malignancies, and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the most prevalent esophagus neoplastic disease with high mortality rates in some Asian countries. Nonetheless, the etiology of ESCC continues to be vaguely comprehended, and the role of long noncoding RNAs in different clinical stages of this type of malignancy remains to be clarified. Here, we aimed to investigate the crucial genes corresponding to various clinical stages of ESCC, determine the hub lncRNAs in these stages, and predict patients’ overall survival time. In the current study, the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) RNA-seq public data was analyzed in order to discover novel biomarkers or therapeutic targets implicated in the progression of ESCC. Stage-related genes were analyzed, the protein-protein interaction network for any stage was constructed and the top 5 genes with the most Maximal Clique Centrality score in each network were selected as the hub mRNAs. LncRNAs interacting with each stage hub mRNA were also determined as stage-related hub lncRNAs. Gene set enrichment analysis on stage-associated modules was also carried out. Finally, Cox regression analysis was performed to assess the prognostic significance of identified hub lncRNAs in the survival of patients with ESCC. Finally, hub mRNAs and hub lncRNAs associated with ESCC progression were identified, which may have implications as biomarkers and targets for therapeutic interventions. Six lncRNAs, including AC013391.2, AC104088.1, AC026341.3, AL139023.1, AL583808.1, and LINC01707 were also identified to be significantly correlated with ESCC patients’ overall survival time, which could be potential predictors for the survival rate of patients, however, more research is required in order to confirm the results experimentally.

Salmonella is a gram-negative bacillus that lives in the intestinal tract of human and animals and causes diarrhea. Salmonella could be found in undercooked products of poultry with no impact on the taste, smell, or appearance. Since poultry eggs and meat might be sources of Salmonella and pose a hazard to public health, it is important to accurately detect Salmonella infection. In this regard, the present study aimed to develop a rapid and sensitive method for the diagnosis of Salmonella spp. in samples from the poultry industry. To do so, the sensitivity of S. enterica serotype Enteritidis detection was assessed with ten-fold serial dilutions in peptone water to give suspensions containing 100 to 105 CFU/mL. For artificial inoculation, skin samples were sequentially inoculated with the serial dilutions, while a control sample was included to ensure that the skin was not naturally contaminated with Salmonella. 53 commercial chicken skin samples were obtained from different local shops. Then, DNA was extracted from all samples, and the quality of extracted DNAs was checked by spectrophotometry and confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis. For PCR, a pair of oligonucleotide primers, INVA, was designed to amplify the invA gene. Results revealed a band of 796 bp in samples artificially contaminated with S. Enteritidis. Likewise, the 796 bp band was detected in 38 samples (71%) with deferent intensities, which presented different amounts of contamination. Accordingly, the present study provided a valuable method for the detection and control of Salmonella infection in the poultry industry, since results would be available in less time than with the conventional cultural method.