This study investigates the Chaetomorpha antennina (CA) seaweed-mediated biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The synthesis process of silver nanoparticles was monitored over time with the ...help of an Ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer and further characterisation studies were also performed. Differential Light Scattering (DLS) measurements revealed a mean particle size of approximately 103.5nm and a mean zeta potential value of -57.5mV for AgNPs. The spherical shape and size of the AgNPs were confirmed through High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM) imaging, while Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDAX) analysis provided insights into the elemental composition. The concentration of AgNPs was estimated using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). The antibacterial potential of AgNPs was evaluated against both gram-positive (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and gram-negative bacterial strains (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Shigella dysentriae, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis) using the agar well diffusion method. From the results, AgNPs exhibited significant antibacterial activity against B. subtilis and S. typhi among all the tested concentration levels (25, 50, 75 and 100μl).
The purpose of this study was to improve the entrapment efficiency of the water-soluble drug metronidazole using internal cross-linking agents. Calcium pectinate beads containing metronidazole were ...prepared by dropping a drug-pectin solution in 1% and 5% (m/V) calcium chloride for surface cross-linked beads. For the core cross-linked beads calcium carbonate was dispersed in the drug-pectin solution. The beads were characterized by particle size, swelling ratio, SEM, DSC, and in vitro drug release. It was found that the beads obtained by core cross-linking produced more drug entrapped beads than the surface cross-linked beads. Beads obtained using 1% (m/V) calcium chloride showed more drug entrapment than these obtained using 5% calcium chloride. The core cross-linking of pectin beads reduced drug loss by about 10--20%. The water lodging capacity of beads depended upon gel strength which is a function of the internal gelling agent and pectin concentration. Complete drug release was observed within 30--60 min in the acidic dissolution medium. This work has showed that the core cross-linking agent increases the water-soluble drug entrapment in calcium pectinate beads.
Svrha istraživanja bila je poboljšati udio vodotopljive ljekovite tvari metronidazola u pripravcima s pektinskim zrncima koristeći sredstva za umrežavnje poput kalcijevog karbonata. Površinski umrežena zrnca kalcijevog pektinata s metronidazolom pripravljena su dokapavanjem otopine lijeka i pektina u 1 i 5% (m/V) otopinu kalcijevog klorida. Zrnca s umreženom jezgrom pripravljena su dispergiranjem kalcijevog karbonata u otopinu ljekovite tvari i pektina. Zrncima su određeni sljedeći parametri: veličina čestica, sposobnost bubrenja, SEM, DSC i oslobađanje ljekovite tvari in vitro. Zrnca dobivena umrežavanjem jezgre sadržavala su veći udio lijeka (10--20%) od površinski umreženih zrnaca. Zrnca dobivena s 1% (m/V) otopinom kalcijevog klorida sadržavala su veći udio lijeka od onih dobivenih s 5% otopinom. Kapacitet vezanja vode zrnaca ovisio je o jakosti gela, a jakost gela ovisila je internom agensu za geliranje i koncentraciji pektina. U kiselom mediju ljekovita tvar se u potpunosti oslobodila unutar 30--60 minuta.
Svrha istraživanja bila je poboljšati udio vodotopljive ljekovite tvari metronidazola u pripravcima s pektinskim zrncima koristeći sredstva za umrežavnje poput kalcijevog karbonata. Površinski ...umrežena zrnca kalcijevog pektinata s metronidazolom pripravljena su dokapavanjem otopine lijeka i pektina u 1% i 5% (w/V) otopinu kalcijevog klorida. Zrnca s umreženom jezgrom pripravljena su dispergiranjem kalcijevog karbonata u otopinu ljekovite tvari i pektina. Zrncima su određeni sljedeći parametri: veličina čestica, sposobnost bubrenja, SEM, DSC i oslobađanje ljekovite tvari in vitro. Zrnca dobivena umrežavanjem jezgre sadržavala su veći udio lijeka (1020%) od površinski umreženih zrnaca. Zrnca dobivena s 1% (w/V) otopinom kalcijevog klorida sadržavala su veći udio lijeka od onih dobivenih s 5% otopinom. Kapacitet vezanja vode zrnaca ovisio je o jakosti gela, a jakost gela ovisila je internom agensu za geliranje i koncentraciji pektina. U kiselom mediju ljekovita tvar se u potpunosti oslobodila unutar 3060 minuta.
Avian influenza A H7N7/NL/219/03 virus creates a serious pandemic threat to human health because it can transmit directly from domestic poultry to humans and from human to human. Our previous vaccine ...study reported that mice when immunized intranasally (i.n) with live Bac-HA were protected from lethal H7N7/NL/219/03 challenge, whereas incomplete protection was obtained when administered subcutaneously (s.c) due to the fact that H7N7 is a poor inducer of neutralizing antibodies. Interestingly, our recent vaccine studies reported that mice when vaccinated subcutaneously with Bac-HA (H7N9) was protected against both H7N9 (A/Sh2/2013) and H7N7 virus challenge. HA1 region of both H7N7 and H7N9 viruses are differ at 15 amino acid positions. Among those, we selected three amino acid positions (T143, T198 and I211) in HA1 region of H7N7. These amino acids are located within or near the receptor binding site. Following the selection, we substituted the amino acid at these three positions with amino acids found on H7N9HA wild-type. In this study, we evaluate the impact of amino acid substitutions in the H7N7 HA-protein on the immunogenicity. We generated six mutant constructs from wild-type influenza H7N7HA cDNA by site directed mutagenesis, and individually expressed mutant HA protein on the surface of baculovirus (Bac-HAm) and compared their protective efficacy of the vaccines with Bac-H7N7HA wild-type (Bac-HA) by lethal H7N7 viral challenge in a mouse model. We found that mice immunized subcutaneously with Bac-HAm constructs T143A or T198A-I211V or I211V-T143A serum showed significantly higher hemagglutination inhibition and neutralization titer against H7N7 and H7N9 viruses when compared to Bac-HA vaccinated mice groups. We also observed low level of lung viral titer, negligible weight loss and complete protection against lethal H7N7 viral challenge. Our results indicated that amino acid substitution at position 143 or 211 improve immunogenicity of H7N7HA vaccine against H7N7/NL/219/03 virus.
The chromodomain helicase DNA-binding proteins (CHDs) are known to affect transcription through their ability to remodel chromatin and modulate histone deacetylation. In an effort to understand the ...functional role of the CHD2 in mammals, we have generated a Chd2 mutant mouse model. Remarkably, the Chd2 protein appears to play a critical role in the development, hematopoiesis and tumor suppression. The Chd2 heterozygous mutant mice exhibit increased extramedullary hematopoiesis and susceptibility to lymphomas. At the cellular level, Chd2 mutants are defective in hematopoietic stem cell differentiation, accumulate higher levels of the chromatin-associated DNA damage response mediator, gamma H2AX, and exhibit an aberrant DNA damage response after X-ray irradiation. Our data suggest a direct role for the chromatin remodeling protein in DNA damage signaling and genome stability maintenance.
Aneuploidy, the most common chromosomal abnormality at birth and the main ascertained cause of pregnancy loss in humans, originates primarily from chromosome segregation errors during oogenesis. ...Here, we report that heterozygosity for a mutation in the mitotic checkpoint kinase gene, Bub1, induces aneuploidy in female germ cells of mice and that the effect increases with advancing maternal age. Analysis of Bub1 heterozygous oocytes showed that aneuploidy occurred primarily during the first meiotic division and involved premature sister chromatid separation. Furthermore, aneuploidy was inherited in zygotes and resulted in the loss of embryos after implantation. The incidence of aneuploidy in zygotes was sufficient to explain the reduced litter size in matings with Bub1 heterozygous females. No effects were seen in germ cells from heterozygous males. These findings show that Bub1 dysfunction is linked to inherited aneuploidy in female germ cells and may contribute to the maternal age-related increase in aneuploidy and pregnancy loss.
•Construction of baculovirus displayed HA of H7N9 (BacHA).•Antigenic conformation of HA0 displayed on the baculovirus surface.•Intranasal immunization of BacHA vaccine induced humoral and mucosal ...immunity.•Cross-protective efficacy of BacHA vaccine against influenza H7 subtypes.
The outbreak of human infections with avian-origin H7N9 influenza has raised global concerns about a potential human pandemic. Therefore, the generation of simple and reliable newer vaccines is high priority for pandemic preparedness. In this study, we aimed to develop a recombinant vaccine by expressing HA of H7N9 (A/Shanghai/2/2013) on the surface of baculovirus (BacHA). Further, live or inactive form of BacHA (H7N9) vaccine was immunized twice either intranasally or subcutaneously into mice. The immunogenicity and cross-protective efficacy of the BacHA (H7N9) vaccine was assessed against H7N9 or H7N7 subtype challenge. The results showed that mice immunized subcutaneously with adjuvanted inactive BacHA (H7N9) induced robust cross-neutralizing antibody responses against H7 subtypes (H7N9, H7N7 and H7N3) compared to subcutaneous or intranasal immunization of live BacHA. In contrast, mice immunized intranasally with live BacHA stimulated higher HA-specific mucosal IgA levels in the upper airways, the port of virus entry. Also, intranasal immunization of BacHA of either H7N9 or H7N7 completely protected against 5 MLD50 of both H7N9 and H7N7 infections. An overall study revealed that intranasal administration of HA expressed on the baculovirus envelope is alternative way to prime the immune system against influenza infection during a pandemic situation.
Herein we characterize an apparently balanced de novo translocation, t(X;15)(p22.2;q26.1)dn, in a female patient with scoliosis, hirsutism, learning problems, and developmental delay (DGAP025). Other ...clinical findings include a high-arched palate, 2-3 syndactyly of the toes, and mildly elevated serum testosterone. No known or predicted genes are disrupted by the Xp22.2 breakpoint. The 15q26.1 breakpoint disrupts chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 2 (CHD2). Another member of the chromatin-remodeling gene family, CHD7, has been associated with a defined constellation of congenital anomalies known as coloboma, heart anomaly, choanal atresia, mental retardation, genital and ear anomalies syndrome (CHARGE) and idiopathic scoliosis. Monosomy of 15q26 also has been associated with a spectrum of congenital abnormalities and growth retardation that overlaps with those of DGAP025. To provide a biological correlate, we characterized a mutant mouse model with Chd2 disruption that is associated with embryonic and perinatal lethality. Expression analysis indicated that Chd2 is expressed in the heart, forebrain, extremities, facial and dorsal regions during specific times of embryonic development. Chd2(+/m) mice showed pronounced lordokyphosis, reduced body fat, postnatal runting, and growth retardation. These data suggest that haploinsufficiency for CHD2 could result in a complex of abnormal human phenotypes that includes scoliosis and possibly features similar to CHARGE syndrome.
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