Journal of Applied Biotechnology Reports
Volume:11 Issue: 2, Spring 2024

Chronic gastrointestinal inflammation, known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is associated with severe morbidity and mortality. According to recent research, microbiota composition, vitamin D level, and the immune system are the three most important elements that should have been taken into account in determining susceptibility to IBD disease. There is broad agreement that alterations in the composition and metabolism of the gut microbiota are related to IBD susceptibility (dysbiosis). In IBD disease, the composition of the gastrointestinal microbiome is changed and the beneficial ones are replaced by the pathogenic microbiome. Furthermore, a drop in serum vitamin D levels is noted in IBD patients. Vitamin D prevents the onset of IBD by reducing inflammatory cytokines and cells as well as limiting the expansion of pathogenic microbiota by inducing the release of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). However, more research is needed to completely comprehend the intricate relationships between the microbiota and vitamin D, it is suggested that modifying these factors could be an alternative treatment for IBD disorders. To restore dysbiosis, using FMT, probiotics, and vitamin D supplementation have been proposed as alternative treatments. The purpose of this article is to review the involvement of these key parameters and their interactions in the susceptibility and pathogenesis of IBD.

Many domestic and wild avian species are afflicted with Newcastle disease virus (NDV), an infectious bird illness. It is a zoonotic illness with a broad geographic prevalence. The avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 virus, together with viruses of the other eight serotypes (avian paramyxovirus 1–9), has been classified as belonging to the genus Avulavirus, subfamily paramyxovirinae, and family paramyxoviridae. Most of Asia, Africa, and certain North and South American nations have endemic outbreaks of the dangerous NDV virus in chickens. The clinical symptoms of Paramyxovirus, a virus with a global distribution that affects chickens of all ages, vary greatly depending on the viral strain, species and age of the bird, treatment, concomitant diseases, and pre-existing immunity. Respiratory aerosols, exposure to faeces and other excretions fromdiseased birds, recently introduced birds, selling and giving away ill birds, and contact with contaminated feed, water, equipment, cannibalism,and clothes are all ways that NDV is spread. The clinical manifestations of the illness include rales, tremors, paralyzed wings and legs, twistednecks, circling, colonic spasms, and total paralysis. When a human is exposed to high levels of the virus, Newcastle disease virus may result inconjunctivitis. Since the dawn of civilization, natural remedies derived from plants, animals, microorganisms, and marine sources have beenused to cure a variety of illnesses. The basis for contemporary drug research is information from our predecessors. This review aims to provide asuccinct overview of the effects of herbal medicines in treating the Newcastle disease virus.

The emergence of the new generation of orthopoxviruses has become as significant concern, including Mpox. With the widespread outbreak of the Mpox virus, various research was conducted on the use of native medicinal plants as medicinal supplements and available vitamins in the field of virus inhibition due to positive therapeutic effects. In this study, we docked and simulated using Molegro Virtual Docker v.6.0 (MVD) software and NAMD program to predict the most probable ligand-to-macromolecule binding combination. First, the sequences were retrieved based on the suitable receptor from the database and we modeled its three-dimensional structure to validate the receptor binding site, by docking three approved drugs, Tecovirimat, Cidofovir, and Brincidofovir as positive controls. Second, 3 candidate plant compounds (Gingerol, Rosmarinic acid, and Gallotannin) and 2 vitamins (vitamin K and vitamin B17) from PubChem were chosen. Eventually, the pharmacokinetic/ADMET properties of these compounds were analyzed. Our results revealed that the Docking scores of the candidate ligands compared to approve drugs possess higher binding energy with more hydrogen bonds. Based on our findings, the best compounds were chosen for ADMET properties, and these compounds reflected their good pharmacokinetic properties as Mpox inhibitors. Our results showed that vitamins K and B17 and several plant metabolites, such as gingerol in ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), rosmarinic acid in selfheal (Prunella vulgaris L.), rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), and oregano (Origanum vulgare), gallotannin in Aleppo oak (Quercus infectoria) and Chinese nutgall (Rhus chinensis) could possess a good effect in controlling the Mpox.

An optimal culture medium that can rapidly and efficiently proliferate cells ex vivo is very crucial for developing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-based tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. We developed a set of MSCs ex vivo proliferation medium, mscGOTM XF, which consists of a basal medium and a screened human platelet lysate. In this study, the developed mscGOTM XF medium was prepared, and then testified by human MSCs isolated from bone marrow, umbilical cord, and fat tissue. The proliferation, surface markers, differentiation, and chromosomal stability of MSCs cultured in mscGOTM XF medium were investigated. The mscGOTM XF medium could sustain MSCs at a high proliferation rate, with the population doubling time of 16 to 39 hours (depending on the type and passage number of MSCs). The proliferated MSCs could express CD105, CD90, and CD73, lack expression of CD34 and CD45; and maintain the capacity to differentiate into adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes. Additionally, G-Band karyotyping data confirmed chromosome stability in the duration of cell culture at passage 5 and passage 7. The mscGOTM XF medium could sustain MSCs proliferation ex vivo and exhibit the potential to be developed into a clinical-grade cell culture medium kit.

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) are bacteria causing severe foodborne diseases, with E. coli O157:H7 being a significant public health concern. Infection may occur following exposure to or drinking the contaminated water or the consumption of the contaminated food, especially meat and dairy products. We aimed to optimize a sandwich ELISA method using purified poly-IgG against HI chimera protein for E. coli O157:H7 detection. We induced the recombinant chimeric antigen (HI) in a prokaryotic host and purified it through a Ni-NTA column. After refolding the antigen, mice and rabbits were immunized and the poly-IgGs were purified from sera using a protein G column. Recombinant HI (60 kDa) was expressed in E. coli BL21 (yield: 1.2 mg/L) and purified via the Ni-NTA column. Antibodies were generated in mice and rabbits, serving as detection and capture antibodies. The optimized antibody concentrations were 1.25 μg/ml for capture and 0.312 μg/ml for detection. Our sandwich ELISA demonstrated high sensitivity (limit of detection: 104 CFU/ml) and specificity for E. coli O157:H7, confirmed by testing against different bacteria. Our developed sandwich ELISA has proven to be a highly sensitive method for the detection of E. coli O157:H7, capable of reliably detecting bacterial concentrations as low as 104 CFU/ml.

This study aimed at isolating and characterizing endophytic fungi from xerophytic plants collected from Egypt west deserts. Soil samples and different plant species were collected from Egypt west deserts. The pH and electrical conductivity of soil samples were measured. Endophytic fungi were then isolated from collected plants and identified. Salt and pH tolerance of fungal species were assessed. Antioxidant enzymes of the most tolerant fungi were screened. The collected soil samples were highly saline and alkaline compared to Nile shore soil. Czapak Doxʹs agar media was the most suitable tested media for catching the highest count of endophytes from the xerophytic plants Kochia indica, Zygophyllum coccineum, Amaranthus viridis L, and Dodonaea viscosa. Moreover, D. viscosa was colonized with a high count of endophytic fungi. Low diversity of indigenous fungi was detected, where the 36 endophytic isolates constituted only four species. The tolerance assay toward different concentrations of salt and pH values proved that A. terreus and A. flavus were halotolerant and alkali-tolerant species, where they tolerate up to 3 M NaCl and pH values up to 11. Molecular identification of the most tolerant isolates resulted in Aspergillus terreus and Aspergillus flavus with accession numbers OQ271446 and OQ271456, respectively. It was found that the two antioxidant enzymes catalase and peroxidase displayed significant increases in their activity under high salinity and alkalinity compared to the control. The isolated fungi were tolerant to salinity and alkalinity which significantly stimulate the antioxidant enzyme activities of these fungal species.

Aminoglycosides like gentamicin can cause nephrotoxicity by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reducing antioxidants. The transcription factor Nrf2 regulates antioxidant genes like NQO1 to combat oxidative stress. This study evaluated Nrf2/NQO1 involvement in gentamicin renal toxicity and vitamin E protection.

24 rats were divided into control, gentamicin, vitamin E, and gentamicin plus vitamin E groups. Gentamicin (100 mg/kg) and vitamin E (250 mg/kg) were given intraperitoneally for 8 days. Kidney function, oxidative stress, Nrf2/NQO1 expression, and histology were analyzed.

Gentamicin significantly increased serum creatinine by 1.98-fold (1.43 ± 0.49 vs 0.72 ± 0.16 mg/dl, p <0.01) and BUN by 5.58-fold (252.3 ± 78.13 vs 45.18 ± 7.26 mg/dl, p <0.0001) compared to control. Gentamicin also markedly suppressed renal Nrf2 mRNA expression by 83% and NQO1 by 79% versus control (p <0.0001). Vitamin E partially alleviated the functional impairment and downregulation of Nrf2 and NQO1 caused by gentamicin. The vitamin E group displayed the highest Nrf2 (2.8-fold vs control) and NQO1 (1.6-fold vs control) expression among all groups (p <0.0001).

Gentamicin appears to cause nephrotoxicity partly by suppressing Nrf2/NQO1 antioxidant defense. Vitamin E provided renoprotection by scavenging ROS and potentially reactivating Nrf2/NQO1. The study suggests oxidative stress is an important mechanism in aminoglycoside kidney toxicity that may be mitigated by appropriate antioxidants. Evaluating Nrf2/NQO1 modulation provides insights into gentamicin nephrotoxicity and related kidney injuries.

Lung carcinoma (LC) is a group of anomalies associated with abnormal respiratory cell divisions. Some studies reported the possible role of the miR-499 (rs3746444) polymorphism in LCs in various societies. In the current case-control study, we decided to investigate the role of miR-149C/T variant on LC occurrence in the Iranian population. In this case-control study, a total of 172 subjects (72 LC patients and 100 control) were genotyped by Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique, for this aim, 5 ml peripheral blood sample was obtained from each subject and the genomic DNA was extracted by the salting-out method. After genotyping and data collection, the frequency of alleles and genotypes were statistically analyzed (SPSS, v.20). Since the results showed, in the frequency of all types of genotypes (Dominant, Codominant, Over-dominant, and Recessive) and associated alleles (C and T) in miR149C/T no significant difference (p >0.05) was observed in comparison between the patient group and the control group. According to the findings of this study there is no significant relation between the miR-499C/T (rs3746444) polymorphism and lung cancer occurrence and this polymorphism is not a significant risk factor for lung cancer in the Iranian population.