Shima Mahmoudi¹, Babak Pourakbari¹, Setareh Mamishi^1,2

European Cytokine Network, Vol.28, No.1, pp. 36-40, 2017, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2017.0391

Abstract Tuberculosis control relies on the identification and preventive treatment of people who are latently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). PE/PPE proteins have been reported to elicit CD4 and/or CD8 responses either in the form of whole recombinant proteins or as individual peptides. Very few of the PE and PPE proteins have been previously tested for responses in patients with TB and healthy donors. This is the first study to evaluate the Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) after stimulation with PE35 and PPE68. The antigen-specific levels of IFN-γ following stimulation with QuantiFERON-TB gold in-tube (QFT-G-IT) antigens,… More >

Wenzhang Zhang^*1, Xin Wu^†1, Liang Hu^*, Yuefan Ma^*, Zihan Xiu^*, Bingyu Huang^*, Yun Feng^*, Xudong Tang^*†‡

Oncology Research, Vol.25, No.5, pp. 843-852, 2017, DOI:10.3727/096504016X14813880882288

Abstract The human papillomavirus (HPV) infection may be associated with the development and progression of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the role of HPV-16 oncoproteins in the development and progression of NSCLC is not completely clear. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), a crucial step for invasion and metastasis, plays a key role in the development and progression of NSCLC. Here we explored the effect of HPV-16 oncoproteins on EMT and the underlying mechanisms. NSCLC cell lines, A549 and NCI-H460, were transiently transfected with the EGFP-N1-HPV-16 E6 or E7 plasmid. Real-time PCR and Western blot analysis were performed… More >

Zhou C^1,2, CA Busso³, YG Yang², Z Zhang⁴, ZW Wang¹, YF Yang⁵, XG Han¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.86, pp. 205-213, 2017, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2017.86.205

Abstract The mixed salt stress is common in nature. Salt stress always affects plant growth. Different plant species have different adaptive capacity to salty soils. Leymus chinensis is an herbaceous plant with different leaf colors. However, little research was conducted to explore the different tolerance mechanisms to salt stress among the three different leaf colour genotypes of Leymus chinensis (grey green, transitional color, yellow green). Pot experiments for Leymus chinensis in three leaf colors were conducted under mixed salt treatments in 2010. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein concentrations, and the activity of various antioxidant enzymes [i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase… More >

Hernández-Camacho S¹, E Pérez-Molphe-Balch¹, AG Alpuche-Solís², JF Morales-Domínguez¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.86, pp. 151-162, 2017, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2017.86.151

Abstract Dehydrins or Group 2 Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) proteins play an important role in the response and adaptation to different types of abiotic stresses such as droughts, high salinity and low temperatures. Using PCR techniques, we identified three gene fragments that encoded dehydrin-like proteins in three cactispecies Opuntia ficus-indica (OpfiDHN-like), Leuchtenbergia principis (LepDHN-like) and Mammillaria bombycina (MabDHN-like). Bioinformatic sequence analysis showed an identity between 96 and 97% with the Opuntia streptacantha dehydrin 1 (OpsDHN1) gene, demonstrating that the amplified fragments corresponded to dehydrin-like gene sequences, and that the designed oligonucleotides were effective for similar gene amplification in different cacti… More >

M. Rodríguez, B. Buchholz, V. D’Annuzio, M. Donato, G.E. González, M. A. Goyeneche, T. Mazo, V. Pérez, L. Wilensky, R.J. Gelpi^*

BIOCELL, Vol.40, No.1, pp. 43-46, 2016, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2016.40.043

Abstract Dystrophin is a membrane-associated protein responsible for structural stability of the sarcolemma in cardiac myocytes and is very sensitive to ischemic damage. The goal of our study was to determine if ischemic preconditioning could prevent dystrophin breakdown through inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity. Isolated rabbit hearts were subjected to global ischemia with or without reperfusion in order to evaluate if dystrophin is preserved by ischemic preconditioning through MMP-2 inhibition. Ischemic preconditioning significantly reduced the infarct size induced by 30 min of ischemia and 180 min of reperfusion. Importantly, it also diminished dystrophin proteolysis and More >

Evelien Uitterhaegen^1,2, Quang Hung Nguyen^1,2, Othmane Merah^1,2, Christian V. Stevens³, Thierry Talou^1,2, Luc Rigal^1,2, Philippe Evon^1,2*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.3, pp. 225-238, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2015.634120

Abstract New fiberboards were manufactured from a coriander cake through thermo-pressing, and the influence of thermo-pressing conditions (temperature, pressure and time) on the boards’ mechanical properties, their thickness swelling and their water absorption was evaluated. Because the protein glass transition systematically occurred during molding, this resulted in effective wetting of the fibers. Consequently, all boards were cohesive, with proteins and fibers acting as binder and reinforcing fillers, respectively. Flexural properties were influenced by all tested conditions, and the optimal board was molded at 200 °C temperature, 36.8 MPa pressure and 180 s time. Its flexural strength More >

Nuria Burgos, Arantzazu Valdés, Alfonso Jiménez^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.3, pp. 165-177, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634108

Abstract In this study we provide an overview of the latest developments on the extraction, production, modification and applications of fruit residues and by-products in the formation of protein-based biopolymers, in particular for the formulation of edible films. Our aim was mainly to demonstrate the highly transdisciplinary character of these topics by giving an overview of the main developments and research topics in the chemistry and engineering aspects of protein-based biopolymers. These innovative raw materials have been evaluated for the production of biomaterials to be used in some key sectors, such as food packaging. More >

Encieh Choghaei^*, Gholamreza Khamisipour^†, Mojtaba Falahati^*, Behrooz Naeimi^†, Majid Mossahebi-Mohammadi^‡, Rahim Tahmasebi^†, Mojtaba Hasanpour^†, Shakib Shamsian^†, Zahra Sadat Hashemi^§

Oncology Research, Vol.23, No.1-2, pp. 69-78, 2015, DOI:10.3727/096504015X14478843952906

Abstract Breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer among women. MicroRNAs as noncoding small RNA molecules play pivotal roles in cancer-related biological processes. Increased levels of microRNA-29a in the serum of breast cancer patients have been reported. Since heat shock proteins (HSPs) play important roles in cell events, the quantitative fluctuations in their cellular levels could be deemed as key indicators of how the exerted treatment alters cell behavior. In this regard, using an antisense small RNA, we attempted to investigate the effects of miR-29a knockdown on the expression of HSPs genes in the MCF-7… More >

Sinagawa-García SR¹, A Gutiérrez-Díez¹, A Mora-Olivo², MC Juárez-Aragón², JA Torres-Castillo²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 358-367, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.358

Abstract A general biochemical description of an aqueous extract obtained from Ibervillea sonorae root was reported; furthermore, a histological description for the root is included. A bromatological analysis was carried out, and it indicated that the study nutritional variables were similar to those reported in other edible tuberous roots including sweet potatoe, mandioca, bean yam and arracacha. For the first time, the presence of an active proteinase at alkaline pH and the inhibitory activity of trypsin were reported for this root. Several medical and bioactive properties have been attributed to the wereke root. Nevertheless, deeper studies are More >

López-Elías JA, R González-Vega, E Márquez-Ríos, W Torres-Arreola

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 331-337, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.331

Abstract Proteins are one of the major metabolites in biomass from microalgae that constitute the diet of marine organisms grown in aquaculture, and are essential for their growth. The quantity of this component is influenced by nutrients, temperature and light intensity, among others. We examined the growth, biomass production and protein of Chaetoceros muelleri with two sources of nitrogen (nitrate and urea) at three concentrations, using the medium f/2 (0.88 mol/L) (nitrates) as control. The treatments were the medium 2f (3.53 mol/L) and 4f (7.05 mol/L) with NO_3^-, and the medium f/2 (0.88 mol/L), 2f (3.53mol/L) and 4f More >