Journal of Applied Biotechnology Reports
Volume:1 Issue: 2, Spring 2014

Application of plants to remove heavy metals from soil (phytoremediation) is expanding due to its cost-effectiveness as compared to conventional methods and it has shown a great potential. Since contaminants such as Pb have a limited bioavailability in the soil, methods to facilitate their translocation to the shoots and roots of plants are required for efficient phytoremediation. The present pots experiment were to investigate the effect of Dimercaprolchelator with different concentration (0, 1.5, 3 mmol Dimercaprolchelator kg-1). Also different ranges of Pb (100, 200 mg Pb kg-1) and a control group were investigated for the amount of Pb accumulation, by corn (Zea mays), sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and mustard (Sinapis arvensis). The results showed that the amount of Pb accumulation increased as the Pb concentration was increased. Also the results of this experiment showed that the addition of Dimercaprolchelatoris most likely to increase the bioavailability of Pb and consequently the accumulation of this heavy metal in the shoots. The highest accumulation of Pb was noticed with the highest does of Dimercaprolchelator (3 mmol Dimercaprolchelator kg-1) and Pb (200 mg Pb kg-1) in the shoots of Helianthus annuus.

Coenzyme Q10 is a promising agent for neuroprotection in neurodegenerative diseases. Neuroprotective effects of Coenzyme Q10 demonstrated in some neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson, Alzheimer and etc. Hippocampus is home of these diseases. We assayed Coenzyme Q10 effects on Hippocampal injury model and our hypothesis is that Coenzyme Q10 has Neuroprotective effects in some neurodegenerative diseases via hippocampus. For this purpose 24 Balb/c mouse took in 4 groups: Control (Without any treatment), Vehicle (Treated with sesame oil as Coenzyme Q10 vehicle), Hyppocampal injury model (Treated with Trimethyltin chlorideneurotoxin, 2.5 mg per kg IP), and test (Treated with Coenzyme Q10 after Trimethyltin chloride injection, 10 mg per kg IP for 2 weeks). After two weeks brain harvested and hippocampus tissue assayed by Nissl and Tunnel staining. Hystological study showed significantly increase of normal cells and decrease of apoptotic cells in test group after Coenzyme Q10 treatment in hippocampus. This study showed Coenzyme Q10 has protective effects in hippocampus after injury and it seems that Neuroprotective effects of Coenzyme Q10 in some neurodegenerative diseases com from that.

Quick identification of Vibrio Cholerae in epidemics is important, on the other hand; conventional methods are time-consuming and costly. The aim of this study was to develop a rapid, inexpensive and high sensitivity method for quick identification of Vibrio Cholerae. For this purpose we designed a PCR detection based on magnetic nanoparticles for identification of bacterial DNA by PCR Dynabead. So we used the biotinylated Probe for binding to DNA extracted from Vibrio Cholerae and other bacterial species (Salmonella, Shigella, Pseudomonas, E.coli) Using magnetic bead isolated with magnetic field, the Vibrio genome-specific primers (HlyA) for pathogen detection (PCR) was used. The results showed specific band was just for Vibrio Cholera (PCR positive); therefore designed probe was specific for Vibrio Cholerae. According to the findings, this study is characterized the high sensitivity of PCR using biotin-containing probes for DNA of Vibrio Cholera in contrast to the traditional methods.

Melanin pigment plays a critical role in camouflage and protection against harmful effects of solar radiation. Melanogenesis is under complex regulatory control by multiple agents. Tyrosinase is a multifunctional, which catalyzes the first two steps in mammalian melanogenesis. In this study, inhibitory effects of Astragalus fasciculifolius and Astragalus gypsicolus on diphenolase activity of mushroom tyrosinase were evaluated.. Ethanol 80% extracts were prepared for screening tests. The IC50, Ki, Km and Vm values of Astragalus fasciculifolius and Astragalus gypsicolus were measured then compared them. We found that Both extracts show mixed type inhibition on mushroom tyrosinase when L-DOPA was used as a substrate.

Diphtheria is a fatal disease caused by exotoxin of Corynebacterium diphtheria. This toxin consists of two chains, catalytic chain (A) and binding (B) chain. By binding chain (B), the toxin binds to its receptor on numerous body cells such as myocardial, kidney and peripheral nerve cells. After entering, catalytic chain (A) inhibits protein synthesis and finally can cause cell death. At this time, the toxoid form of diphtheria toxin is used as vaccine. The aim of this study was the immunological analysis of the mutated synthetic catalytic subunit of diphtheria toxin in laboratory animals as a vaccine candidate, in addition to polyclonal antibody production and purification against diphtheria toxin. For this purpose the Dtx recombinant protein (with two mutant: A158G and G52E) was expressed using pET28a/DtxA plasmid in E. coli Bl21DE3 host. Then, recombinant protein, as a candidate vaccine, was extracted and purified. After evaluating and confirming the protein by SDS-PAGE and western blotting, immunization carried out in laboratory animals. Finally, followed by antibody titration by ELISA, antibody purification performed as well.The mutated recombinant protein prepared from an optimized expression was extracted and purified. Then, this protein was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and western blotting. ELISA results showed a satisfactory immunization of animals by this protein. Polyclonal antibody production and purification against diphtheria toxin was performed by G protein column and confirmed by ELISA. ELISA results showed a high titer of polyclonal antibody against diphtheria toxin in animal''s serum after immunization by recombinant DTx protein.

The use of an inorganic phase in water-in-oil (w/o) microemulsion has received considerable attention recently for preparing metal oxide nanoparticles. This is a technique, which allows preparation of ultrafine metal oxide nanoparticles within the size range 40 to 80 nm. Preparation of nano ZnO and Cr2O3 studied, investigated in the inverse microemulsion system. Therefore the nucleation of metal particles proceeds in the water capsules of the microemulsion. Zinc oxide and Chromium (III) oxide nanoparticles powder has traditionally been used as a pigment and diverse physiological properties. Physiologically important nanoparticles are currently under investigation for their bio-medical applications as well as for therapeutics.

Common yew Taxus baccata L. is an evergreen, slow growing tree, indigenous of hyrcanian forests in Iran. Discovery of Paclitaxel as an anti tumor agent in the bark of Taxus has increased importance of this plant for treatment of breast and ovary cancer, especially 7000 women die annually due to breast cancer in Iran. Regarding destructive method of Paclitaxel production and protection of the yew as an endangered tree in Iran, micropropagation using embryo culture can be considered as an efficient method to increase Taxus resources in Iran. In this regard, effects of different culture medium compositions, active charcoal concentrations and gibberellic acid on embryo culture of Taxus baccata L. were studied. Murashig and Skoog culture medium at half and complete strengths of macronutrients and active charcoal at concentrations of 0, 2, 4 and 6 g/L were used. Based on experimental data MS/2 + 2 g/L active charcoal appeared to be the most effective treatment for successful embryo culture.

Human serum paraoxonase (HuPON1: EC 3.1.8.1), a calcium-dependent esterase, is synthesized in the liver and widely distributed in tissues including liver, kidney, intestine, and serum, where it is associated exclusively with high-density lipoprotein. Human paraoxonase-1 plays an important role in prevention of atherosclerosis and also protection against organophosphate-induced neurotoxicity. Paraoxonase-1 shows 2 common polymorphisms: Q/R at position 192 and M/L at position 55. In this study, paraoxonase-1 192 and 55 polymorphisms were investigated in 64 healthy Iranian individuals. Genomic DNA was isolated from whole blood by the Bartlett method, and paraoxonase-1 genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction amplification followed by restriction isotyping and gel electrophoresis. The chi-square test was used to evaluate the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The genotype frequencies for paraoxonase 1-Q192R­ were approximately 47% (QQ), 41% (QR) and 12% (RR) and for paraoxonase-1 M55L, 44% (LL), 44% (ML) and 12% (MM). Thus, the frequency of alleles R, L, Q, and M were 0.33, 0.66, 0.67, and 0.34 respectively. In conclusion, the frequencies of paraoxonase-1 192 and 55 polymorphisms in this group of Iranian population were different from those seen in other Asian populations from Japan and China but similar to European (Caucasians).

Direct electron transferring of glucose oxidase was investigated on reduced graphene and graphene oxide templates. The direct electrochemistry glucose oxidase on graphene showed a cyclic voltammograms corresponding to the FAD/FADH2 redox couple with an anodic, cathodic and formal potential of -430, -460 and -445 mV, respectively in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution and air saturated condition for similarity of in vivo usage. The cyclic voltammograms of glucose oxidase on graphene is reversible. Also, the voltammograms results show, the current intensity of glucose oxidase on graphene is high, due to fast electron transferring. Moreover, the linear rang concentration of glucose on graphene are 0.4–9 µM. These studies make useful insight into the enzyme immobilization on nanoparticles for biosensors and bio-fuel cell preparation.