Agustín César MÖHLINGER^a, Virginia Paula SIFFREDI^a, Serenela CHULIBERT^a, Adriana PONESSA^b, Rodolfo David NOTARIO^b, Diana Graciela DLUGOVITZKY^a

BIOCELL, Vol.37, No.3, pp. 63-69, 2013, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2013.37.063

Abstract Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus) is frequently involved in a wide range of human diseases. Here we evaluated polymorphonuclear neutrophils and mononuclear cells from healthy subjects for their bactericidal function after stimulation with live and inactivated Streptococcus pyogenes (Streptococcus Group A). Mononuclear cells and Neutrophils were isolated from heparinized blood samples (n=18) using a Ficoll-Hypaque gradient and cultured in RPMI 1640 for 18 hours with a suspension of either live or inactivated Streptococcus pyogenes. Both the respiratory burst (flow cytometry) and nitrite, TNF and IL17 production (ELISA) were measured in the cell culture supernatants. An increased respiratory burst (expressed as… More >

MIROSLAV VAŘECHA^1*, DANIELA PÁCLOVÁ², JIŘINA PROCHÁZKOVÁ², PAVEL MATULA¹, DUŠAN CMARKO³, AND MICHAL KOZUBEK¹

BIOCELL, Vol.36, No.3, pp. 121-126, 2012, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2012.36.121

Abstract Recent findings suggest that apoptotic protein apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) may also play an important non-apoptotic function inside mitochondria. AIF was proposed to be an important component of respiratory chain complex I that is the major producer of superoxide radical. The possible role of AIF is still controversial. Superoxide production could be used as a valuable measure of complex I function, because the majority of superoxide is produced there. Therefore, we employed superoxide-specific mitochondrial fluorescence dye for detection of superoxide production. We studied an impact of AIF knockdown on function of mitochondrial complex I by analyzing superoxide production in selected cell… More >

CLAUDIA NOME^1*, PAULO CÉSAR MAGALHÃES², ELIZABETH OLIVEIRA², SERGIO NOME, IRMA GRACIELA LAGUNA¹

BIOCELL, Vol.33, No.2, pp. 133-136, 2009, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2009.33.133

Abstract Maize plants infected with Spiroplasma kunkelii show symptoms similar to that of plants in a magnesium-deficient soil, and it has been shown that the spiroplasma alters the plants’ magnesium absorption. In the current study we compared changes associated to either spiroplasma infection, two soil magnesium levels and their combinations. Plant symptoms were recorded and correlated with transmission electron microscopy observations. Plants grown on a high magnesium treatment showed no macroscopical alterations nor organelle ultrastructural alterations, while plants on a low magnesium treatment showed macroscopical vein yellowing and, ultrastructurally, they had most chloroplasts and mitochondrial membranes altered. Infected plants on a… More >

VIJAY L. KUMAR*, ABHISHEK SINGHAL

BIOCELL, Vol.33, No.1, pp. 19-24, 2009, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2009.33.019

Abstract Cytotoxic properties of plant extracts and drugs being developed for cancer treatment are usually evaluated by a variety of in vivo and in vitro tests carried out in animal or plant based models. In the present study we have evaluated the possibility of using the germinating mung beans (Vigna radiata), for rapid and inexpensive screening of drugs exhibiting cytotoxic properties. Mung beans were allowed to germinate either in tap water or in different drug solutions, and parameters like percent germination, increase in radicle length, change in seedling weight and mitotic index of apical root meristems were determined at two time… More >

Müller FL^1,2, LF Cyster¹, LM Raitt¹, J Aalbers¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 461-465, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.461

Abstract An increase in bioavailable tin in the environment could result in bioaccumulation thereof in agricultural crops, and therefore, have adverse health consequences on humans that eat these crops. The aims of the current study were thus to assess the uptake of Sn by spinach plants, and the subsequent effects this will have on the uptake of Na, Zn, K, Ca, and Mg as well as the growth of spinach plants. Spinach plants were grown in sand culture and received tin at concentrations of 0.02, 0.2, 2 and 20 mg/L along with a nutrient solution. The uptake of tin at detectible… More >

Yescas CP¹, MA Segura C¹, L Martínez C², VP Álvarez R¹, JA Montemayor T¹, JA Orozco V¹, JE Frías R¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 272-279, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.272

Abstract The scarcity of water in arid and semiarid regions of the world is a problem that every day increases by climate change. The subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) and changes in population density of plants are alternatives that can be used to make a sustainable use of water. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the combination that allows for an increased corn performance and efficient use of water without losing the quality of forage. Three different irrigation levels were applied through a system of a SDI at three different densities of forage maize plants in an arid region.… More >

Lira-Saldivar RH¹, A Hernández¹, LA Valdez², A Cárdenas¹, L Ibarra¹, M Hernández³, N Ruiz⁴

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.83, pp. 133-138, 2014, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2014.83.133

Abstract The response of cherry tomato to biofertilization with beneficial microorganisms was evaluated under shadehouse conditions. Seeds were inoculated and/or co-inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense (Az) and/or Glomus intraradices (Gi). Thereafter, seedlings of six treatments received two applications of a suspension containing Az + Gi at 15 and 30 days after the transplant, and were compared against a non-inoculated treatment which only received conventional inorganic fertilization. Seed co-inoculation with A. brasilense and G. intraradices plus two applications of Az + Gi at 15 and 30 days after transplant increased on average 6% plant height, 11% leaf area, 10.5% dry biomass and 16%… More >

Ferrante D^1,2, A Cesa^1,2, S Lewis², G Jaurena³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.83, pp. 127-131, 2014, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2014.83.127

Abstract In plants, compensatory growth takes place when the positive effects of defoliation compensate the negative ones, and defoliated plants show a similar or increased production in relation to non-defoliated plants. Our objective was to evaluate the ability to compensate defoliation of Poa spiciformis, a forage perennial tussock grass in southern Patagonia (Argentina). The experiment was performed in potted plants that grew under controlled conditions of watering and fertilization. Three defoliation frequencies were imposed (zero, three or five) using 20-25 day intervals among them. Harvest intensity was always equivalent to 50% of the aerial biomass. Fifteen plants were sampled per treatment,… More >

Pérez Castañeda LM, MA Cruz Hernández, A Mendoza Herrera

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.80, pp. 27-34, 2011, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2011.80.027

Abstract Various studies have shown the symbiotic association of Azospirillum brasilense with different grasses of nutritional importance. A high variability among the isolated strains has been observed. This is consistent with the genetic diversity that Azospirillum has shown in sugarcane isolates. However, if this is also the case in maize and sorghum isolates is unknown. In addition, it has also been reported that most of the isolates come from tropical regions where water is not limiting for maize and sorghum production. We analyzed the genetic variability of Azospirillum brasilense isolates obtained from arid zones of Northeast Mexico in maize and sorghum.… More >

Cerna¹ E, Y Ochoa², R Mendoza¹, MH Badii³, G Gallegos¹, J Landeros¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.79, pp. 147-152, 2010, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2010.79.147

Abstract Protein assays were conducted on Tetranychus urticae Koch, as potential resistance detection tools to plaguicides. This is a phytophagous mite that feeds on a large variety of plants. Experiments were carried out using a pesticide susceptible and three field crop strains of T. urticae. Protein was measured by colorimetric assays, using Kit-II from Bio-Rad, with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as standard. Homogenates were prepared using 10, 30, 50, 100, 300, 500 and 800 mites, with 30 replicates each. Linearity was obtained for the standard curve of the different methods, and r² values ranged from 0.877 to 0.985. The Bradford method… More >