Physiological Compatibility Research Articles

Extraction and Quality Control of Chitin and Chitosan from Shrimp (Vanami) Litophenause Vanamei Shells Wastes

Objective/Background: The biological value of chitin and chitosan obtained from shrimp, such as physiological compatibility, non-toxicity, bio digestibility, absorption and chelating capacity, depends on qualitative parameters that are directly related to raw material source. This study was carried out to investigate extraction and characterization of chitin and chitosan from shrimp Litophenause vanamei shells wastes. Methods: Chitin and chitosan was extracted and characterized from shrimp L. vanamei shells found in Iran, using conventional methods of pretreatment, demineralization, and deacetylation. In this study, commercial shrimp L. vanamei shell was used to extract chitin and chitosan. Results: The degree of deacetylation of shrimp chitosan (49%) is directly related to solubility of chitosan. Chitosan is considered to have excellent biological value with these qualitative parameters. The yield of shrimp chitosan was 13.96%. Conclusion: These results showed that use of shrimp shell waste to produce chitin and chitosan will have more economic and biological value along with reducing environmental pollution.

Titanium Carbide (Ti3C2Tx) MXene for Sequestration of Aquatic Pollutants.

The rapid expansion of industrialization has resulted in the release of multiple ecological contaminants in gaseous, liquid, and solid forms, which pose significant environmental risks to many different ecosystems. The efficient and cost-effective removal of these environmental pollutants has attracted global attention. This growing concern has prompted the synthesis and optimization of nanomaterials and their application as potential pollutant removal. In this context, MXene is considered an outstanding photocatalytic candidate due to its unique physicochemical and mechanical properties, which include high specific surface area, physiological compatibility, and robust electrodynamics. This review highlights recent advances in shaping titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx) MXenes, emphasizing the importance of termination groups to boost photoactivity and product selectivity, with a primary focus on engineering aspects. First, a broad overview of Ti3C2Tx MXene is provided, delving into its catalytic properties and the formation of surface termination groups to establish a comprehensive understanding of its fundamental catalytic structure. Subsequently, the effects of engineering the morphology of Ti3C2Tx MXene into different structures, such as two-dimensional (2D) accordion-like forms, monolayers, hierarchies, quantum dots, and nanotubes. Finally, a concise overview of the removal of different environmental pollutants is presented, and the forthcoming challenges, along with their prospective outlooks, are delineated.

Construction and synergistic anti-tumor study of a tumor microenvironment-based multifunctional nano-drug delivery system

To solve the problems existing in the clinical application of hypericin (Hyp) and tirapazamine (TPZ), a nano-drug delivery system with synergistic anti-tumor functions was constructed using mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) and sodium alginate (SA). The system exhibited excellent stability, physiological compatibility and targeted drug release performance in tumor tissues. In the in vitro and in vivo experiments, Hyp released from MSN killed tumor cells through photodynamic therapy (PDT). The degree of hypoxia in the tumor tissue site was exacerbated, enabling TPZ to fully exert its anti-tumor activity. Our studies suggested that the synergistic effects between the components of the nano-drug delivery system significantly improve the anti-tumor properties of Hyp and TPZ.

CaCO3-Encapsulated polydopamine with an adsorbed TLR7 agonist for improved tumor photothermal immunotherapy

Because of the tumor's recurrence and significant metastasis, the standard single-therapy paradigm has failed to meet clinical requirements. Recently, researchers have focused their emphasis on phototherapy and immunogenic cell death (ICD) techniques. In response to the current problems of immunotherapy, a multifunctional drug delivery nanosystem (PDA-IMQ@CaCO3-blinatumomab, PICB) was constructed by using high physiological compatibility of polydopamine (PDA) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonist imiquimod (IMQ) and bispecific antibody (BsAb) blinatumomab were loaded onto PDA-CaCO3 nanoparticles (NPs). The findings revealed that the system exhibited the advantages of good dispersion, high stability, excellent physiological compatibility, low toxicity, and high drug loading rate. Compared to the control group, it resulted in a 2.4-fold decrease in FOXP3+ regulatory T-cells within the tumor and a 5.0-fold increase in CD4+ effector T-cells, and promoted the production of damage-related molecular patterns to reinvigorate the ICD effect. PICB had a strong inhibitory effect on tumor growth in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice, and has no toxicity to other organs. Therefore, the multifunctional drug delivery nanosystem constructed in this study could effectively exert the properties of various components in vivo, fully demonstrate the synergistic effect between immunotherapy and photothermal therapy, thus significantly improving the tumor therapeutic efficacy, and has a promising clinical application.

Hydrogels composite optimized for low resistance and loading–unloading hysteresis for flexible biosensors

With the advancement of wearable and implantable medical devices, hydrogel flexible bioelectronic devices have attracted significant interest due to exhibiting tissue-like mechanical compliance, biocompatibility, and low electrical resistance. In this study, the development and comprehensive performance evaluation of poly(acrylic acid)/ N,N′-bis(acryloyl) cystamine/ 1-butyl-3-ethenylimidazol-1-ium:bromide (PAA/NB/IL) hydrogels designed for flexible sensor applications are introduced. Engineered through a combination of physical and chemical cross-linking strategies, these hydrogels exhibit strong mechanical properties, high biocompatibility, and effective sensing capabilities. At 95 % strain, the compressive modulus of PAA/NB/IL 100 reach up to 3.66 MPa, with the loading–unloading process showing no significant hysteresis loop, indicating strong mechanical stability and elasticity. An increase in the IL content was observed to enlarge the porosity of the hydrogels, thereby influencing their swelling behavior and sensing functionality. Biocompatibility assessments revealed that the hemolysis rate was below 5 %, ensuring their suitability for biomedical applications. Upon implantation in rats, a minimal acute inflammatory response was observed, comparable to that of the biocompatibility control poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA). These results suggest that PAA/NB/IL hydrogels hold promise as biomaterials for biosensors, offering a balance of mechanical integrity, physiological compatibility, and sensing sensitivity, thereby facilitating advanced healthcare monitoring solutions.

Functional and morphological evaluation of the dentofacial system in patients with distal occlusion using ultrasonic diagnostic methods

Relevance. The integrity of the dentofacial system, significantly influenced by the functional condition of the masseter muscles (MM) and the morphological alterations in the alveolar bone, plays a crucial role in the outcome and duration of orthodontic treatment for distal occlusion. Ultrasonic diagnostic methods, due to their physiological compatibility, high information content, and ergonomic design, offer a preferable alternative for assessing and tracking these changes throughout orthodontic treatment.Materials and methods. This study included 55 individuals of both genders, aged 9-12, with either normal occlusions (NO) or distal occlusions (DO). Ultrasound examinations of the MM at rest and during maximum voluntary teeth clenching were conducted to evaluate MM thickness and echotexture. Ultrasonic densitometry measurements were conducted through the assessment of ultrasound transit velocity (UTV). This was carried out across the interalveolar bone with probes positioned on the buccal and oral sides between two neighboring teeth roots.Results. The findings indicated that DO patients had a notably thicker MM compared to their NO counterparts. Variations in MM echotexture were observed, with differences in the anechogenic and hyper echogenic zones. Recorded UTV values illustrated that the highest alveolar bone density in DO subjects was predominantly in the frontal regions of both jaws on the left side, whereas the lowest density was observed in the right lateral regions. For NO subjects, the highest density values were identified in the frontal region of the mandibular bone, with the lowest in the maxillary bone's lateral regions on both sides.Conclusion. The application of advanced ultrasonic diagnostic methods in this study facilitated a detailed functional and morphological analysis of the MM, as well as an evaluation of alveolar bone density in individuals with both distal and normal occlusions. The development of ultrasonic alveolar bone density chart from this research provides a valuable addition to dental examination protocols for patients undergoing orthodontic treatment.

The role of adaptive resistance in a widespread freshwater mussel species

Abstract Organism features, such as size, weight, sex and age, among others, can influence the success of parasitism. For species that depend on a host to complete their life cycle, such as freshwater mussels (Bivalvia, Unionida), understanding how these traits influence parasitism can help guide management actions aimed at improving their reproductive success, ultimately benefitting their conservation. In this study, the physiological compatibility between the duck mussel Anodonta anatina and its host fish was investigated in a simultaneous infestation experiment on four (three native and one non‐native) fish species using sympatric and allopatric host strains. The success of glochidia metamorphosis in juvenile mussels was evaluated as a function of host species, strain and fish length. Successful metamorphosis was achieved in almost all fish species tested and differences were detected between allopatric and sympatric strains, with higher values found in allopatric hosts. Allopatric strains of primary hosts produce more juveniles than marginal hosts and non‐native species. In addition, larger fish have lower rates of metamorphosis. The results confirm recent findings showing high variation in the metamorphosis success of A. anatina glochidia among different native and non‐native hosts, both in the natural environment and in artificial laboratory infestations. Allopatric hosts were more suitable for encystment, demonstrating potential adaptive immunity, not yet observed in A. anatina. Nevertheless, A. anatina may temporarily exploit the naivety of smaller fish regardless of strain. Overall, the results suggest that mussel propagation, reproduction and reintroduction efforts should consider the mechanisms that influence adaptive immunity in fish, including differences in compatibility within and between populations of sympatric and allopatric host strains. This situation should be taken into account, as successful metamorphosis is an important factor in the selection of hosts for juvenile development, especially in efforts to propagate endangered mussel species.

Computer-aided identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis resuscitation-promoting factor B (RpfB) inhibitors from Gymnema sylvestre natural products

Tuberculosis (TB), an infectious disease caused by multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), has been a global health concern. Mtb affects over a third of the world’s population, causing two million deaths annually due to its dormancy and propensity to spread infection during this period. Resuscitation-promoting factor B (RpfB) plays a pivotal role in the growth of Mtb during dormant periods, making it a critical target for eliminating Mtb and curing TB. Gymnema sylvestre is a famous medicinal plant with several medicinal properties, including antimicrobial activity; however, the therapeutic potential of the various reported metabolites of this plant against Mtb has not yet been explored. The aim of this study was to explore the reported natural products of G. sylvestre against the RpfB of the Mtb. A total of 131 reported secondary metabolites of this plant were collected and virtually screened against the RpfB. We particularly targeted the Glu292 residue of RpfB as it is crucial for the catalysis of this protein. From our in-house library, 114 compounds showed a binding affinity higher than the standard drug. The binding stability of the top three lead compounds was further confirmed through MD simulation analysis. Drug likeness analyses indicated that the ten hits had zero violations of the Lipinski rule of five. In addition, analyses of pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and target prediction revealed that the top compounds are devoid of toxicity and do not affect human proteins. Additionally, they reflect multifaceted approach as anti-TB agents. Our selected hits not only exhibit molecular properties favoring physiological compatibility but also exhibit properties enhancing their potential efficacy as therapeutic candidates. The compounds investigated here are worthy of experimental validation for the discovery of novel treatments against TB. Further, this study also provides a promising avenue for research on the pharmacological potential of G. sylvestre.

Regulatory response to a hybrid ancestral nitrogenase in Azotobacter vinelandii.

Biological nitrogen fixation, the microbial reduction of atmospheric nitrogen to bioavailable ammonia, represents both a major limitation on biological productivity and a highly desirable engineering target for synthetic biology. However, the engineering of nitrogen fixation requires an integrated understanding of how the gene regulatory dynamics of host diazotrophs respond across sequence-function space of its central catalytic metalloenzyme, nitrogenase. Here, we interrogate this relationship by analyzing the transcriptome of Azotobacter vinelandii engineered with a phylogenetically inferred ancestral nitrogenase protein variant. The engineered strain exhibits reduced cellular nitrogenase activity but recovers wild-type growth rates following an extended lag period. We find that expression of genes within the immediate nitrogen fixation network is resilient to the introduced nitrogenase sequence-level perturbations. Rather the sustained physiological compatibility with the ancestral nitrogenase variant is accompanied by reduced expression of genes that support trace metal and electron resource allocation to nitrogenase. Our results spotlight gene expression changes in cellular processes adjacent to nitrogen fixation as productive engineering considerations to improve compatibility between remodeled nitrogenase proteins and engineered host diazotrophs. IMPORTANCE Azotobacter vinelandii is a key model bacterium for the study of biological nitrogen fixation, an important metabolic process catalyzed by nitrogenase enzymes. Here, we demonstrate that compatibilities between engineered A. vinelandii strains and nitrogenase variants can be modulated at the regulatory level. The engineered strain studied here responds by adjusting the expression of proteins involved in cellular processes adjacent to nitrogen fixation, rather than that of nitrogenase proteins themselves. These insights can inform future strategies to transfer nitrogenase variants to non-native hosts.

Driving Polymer Brushes from Synthesis to Functioning.

The great success of controlled radical polymerizations has encouraged researchers to develop more facile and robust approaches for surface-initiated polymerizations (SIPs) to fabricate polymer brushes, even for non-experts. In recent years, external-stimuli-mediated radical polymerization methods have come to the fore as SIPs because of their less rigorous synthetic procedures and high controllability, which expand the opportunities for synthesizing macromolecules with desired chemical compositions and structures, as well as tailor-made polymers and bioconjugates that show broad applicability and physiological compatibility. This review discusses the latest developments in surface-initiated polymerization methods, in particular, external-stimuli mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), photo-induced polymerizations, and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, as well as other methods and their combination for the application in surface grafting. The implementation of these methods is of great interest due to their unique possibilities to temporally control a polymerization process, fast and straightforward polymerization, and environmentally benign features, which lead to established and emerging applications in biolubrication, antifouling, and biosensing.

Driving Polymer Brushes from Synthesis to Functioning

AbstractThe great success of controlled radical polymerizations has encouraged researchers to develop more facile and robust approaches for surface‐initiated polymerizations (SIPs) to fabricate polymer brushes, even for non‐experts. In recent years, external‐stimuli‐mediated radical polymerization methods have come to the fore as SIPs because of their less rigorous synthetic procedures and high controllability, which expand the opportunities for synthesizing macromolecules with desired chemical compositions and structures, as well as tailor‐made polymers and bioconjugates that show broad applicability and physiological compatibility. This review discusses the latest developments in surface‐initiated polymerization methods, in particular, external‐stimuli mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), photo‐induced polymerizations, and reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, as well as other methods and their combination for the application in surface grafting. The implementation of these methods is of great interest due to their unique possibilities to temporally control a polymerization process, fast and straightforward polymerization, and environmentally benign features, which lead to established and emerging applications in biolubrication, antifouling, and biosensing.

Ocular Delivery of Metformin for Sustained Release and in Vivo Efficacy

Metformin is known to lower inflammation, independent of its anti-diabetic action. Thus, topical metformin can be a therapeutic strategy for managing ocular inflammation associated with diabetes. To achieve this and address the issues of ocular retention and controlled release an in situ gel of metformin was developed. The formulations were prepared using sodium hyaluronate, hypromellose, and gellan gum. The composition was optimized by monitoring gelling time/capacity, viscosity, and mucoadhesion. MF5 was selected as the optimized formulation. It showed both chemical and physiological compatibility. It was found to be sterile and stable. MF5 exhibited sustained release of metformin for 8h that fitted best with zero-order kinetics. Further, the release mode was found to be close to the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Supported by an ex vivo permeation study, it showed potential for prolonged action. It showed a significant reduction in ocular inflammation that was comparable to that of the standard drug. MF5 shows translational potential as a safe alternative to steroids for managing ocular inflammation.

Recent Approaches and Success of Liposome-Based Nano Drug Carriers for the Treatment of Brain Tumor.

Brain tumors are nothing but a collection of neoplasms that originate either from areas within the brain or from systemic metastasized tumors of other organs spread to the brain. It is a leading cause of death worldwide. The presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), blood-brain tumor barrier (BBTB), and some other factors may limit the entry of many potential therapeutics into the brain tissues in the tumor area at the therapeutic concentration required for satisfying effectiveness. Liposomes play an active role in delivering many drugs through BBB into the tumor due to their nanosize and physiological compatibility. The surface of the liposomes can be modified with various ligands that are very specific to the numerous receptors overexpressed onto the BBB as well as onto the diseased tumor surface site (i.e., BBTB) to deliver selective drugs into the tumor site. Further, this colloidal carrier can encapsulate both lipophilic and hydrophilic drugs due to its unique structure. Moreover, the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect can be an added advantage for nanosize liposomes to concentrate into the tumor microenvironment through relatively leaky vasculature of solid tumor in the brain where no penetration restriction applies compared to normal BBB. Here in this review, we have tried to compile the recent advancement along with the associated challenges of liposomes containing different anti-cancer chemotherapeutics across the BBB/BBTB for the treatment of gliomas that will be very helpful for the readers for better understanding of different trends of brain tumor targeted liposomes-based drug delivery and for pursuing fruitful research on the similar research domain.

Herbonanoceuticals: A Newer approach for Delivering Herbal Drugs-A Review

Herbs and herbal compounds are of tremendous research interest due to their numerous therapeutic applications. Several folk evidences have been documented in the formulations of the ancient world's pharmaceutical system, which have drawn researchers for scientific validation. Several herbal substances have been found and demonstrated therapeutic efficacy against pathophysiological diseases. Recently, attempts have been made to use these herbal components to synthesize nanoparticles for biomedical uses. Green synthesis is the method of creating nanoparticles using herbal/biogenic materials, and it has produced numerous metallic nanoparticles. The metal nanoparticle-herb combination may show better efficacy against different pathophysiological conditions. This review tries to put forward the different metal nanoparticles formed from different herbal resources and their role in health and diseases. Although green synthesis of nanoparticle is an emerging area of research but very few data are available regarding their physiological effects, compatibility and toxicity. This review is an effort to elaborate in detail the role of medicinally important herbs in synthesizing metal nanoparticles, their physiological compatibility and therapeutic efficacy. Further, considerations and discussions are also made on limitations (toxicity) of the green synthesis of nanoparticles along with their future prospects in health and diseases. This review opens door to a completely new dimension in medicinal plant research combining the nanotechnology with herbs i.e., Herbonanoceuticals.

Research status and prospect of ceramic crucibles for induction melting of titanium alloys

<p indent="0mm">Titanium alloys possess high specific strength, superior heat resistance, excellent corrosion resistance, outstanding physiological compatibility, etc., and thus being considered as the most ideal lightweight structural materials as well as potent biomedical materials. Generally, Ti alloys are manufactured via the technique of ingot metallurgy; however, it suffers from critical issues of high energy consumption and high cost, which desperately need to be well addressed. According to previous research, the crucible vacuum induction melting technology has high superheat and strong electromagnetic stirring, with which titanium alloy ingots with uniform composition can be achieved without applying multiple remelting. The crucible vacuum induction melting not only benefits the removal of low melting point impurities, but also significantly improves the energy consumption efficiency as the forced water cooling becomes not indispensable during the processing. As a result, the crucible vacuum induction melting has been the most potential method to overcome the problems of high energy consumption and low material yield existed in conventional melting technology. However, titanium alloys can react with almost all the refractories because of their high chemical activity, resulting in the pollution of titanium ingot and thus seriously restricting the development and application of this technology in titanium alloy production. For this reason, preparation special crucibles with corrosion resistance to titanium liquid is crucial to realizing low-cost, high-quality, and high-efficiency smelting of titanium alloys. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of the research status of ceramic crucibles for titanium alloys including the selection of materials (thermodynamic criterion, corrosion resistance mechanism, composition optimization) and the promising processes to improve the durability of these crucibles. Usually, the thermodynamic criterion is used as the first-step to pick ceramic materials with high chemical stability, which involves a comparison of the free energies of formation of ceramic materials with their corresponding titanium compounds. It is necessary to further evaluate the interface reaction mechanism between candidate ceramic materials and titanium melts under induction melting conditions to compensate for the neglect of disregarding physical and chemical erosion in thermodynamic approach. Based on a systematically comparison of the interface reaction mechanism between titanium melts and various common refractory materials involving oxide ceramics (Y₂O₃ and CaO), zirconate ceramics (BaZrO₃ and (Ca,Sr,Ba)ZrO₃) and non-oxide ceramics, AlN and TiN show promising properties for melting titanium alloys due to their relatively smaller oxygen contamination. In addition to corrosion resistance of ceramics against titanium melts, the thermal shock resistance is the other critical criterion to realize a long service life of the crucibles under repeated induction melting conditions. Scholars attempted many methods, such as porosity optimization, doping modification, surface coating, to solve the imbalance between the corrosion resistance of titanium liquid and thermal shock resistance of materials. Currently, the crucibles can only be prepared at laboratory size, how to realize the production of large-size crucibles with balancing the cost, corrosion resistance and thermal shock resistance is full of serious challenges. On the basis of the recent research progress of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, innovative thinking in terms of the future development of ceramic crucibles for titanium alloy induction melting is suggested: (1) the optimization of refractories: how to reap the advantages of computer technology to speed up the development of new crucible materials; (2) higher demands for thermal shock resistance and high temperature strength: figuring out the relationship between the preparation parameters and the surface quality of the crucibles; (3) the preparation of the special crucibles with large size, high durability: addition of ultra-high temperature reinforcements being a promising route for the fabrication of industrial grade crucibles for titanium alloys induction melting.

Intensification of supercritical fluid in the extraction of flavonoids: A comprehensive review

The utilization of highly toxic, expensive, and eco-unfriendly organic solvents for the extraction process has been replaced by carbon dioxide (CO2) in its supercritical state. The most significant advantage of supercritical CO2 extraction is after the extraction process there was no trace amount of solvent present in extracted compounds since the residual CO2 can be easily depressurized and vented. Supercritical CO2 attracts interest because of its high compressibility, non-toxic, non-flammable, and physiological compatibility. This insight is a compilation of research works related to flavonoids extraction using a supercritical fluid. The significant parameters that affect the extraction process are temperature, pressure, solvent flow rate, and extraction time. These are the adjustable parameters that were optimized predominantly to improve the yield of the flavonoids extraction. The density of supercritical CO2 is attained by tuning temperature and pressure. The addition of co-solvents enhances the extraction of polar compounds. The residence time of CO2 in the extractor should be sufficient such that the solute reaches the saturation conditions in the fluid phase. This review article will give immense knowledge on the insights about the parameter that needs to be determined to scale up the extraction process.

“A PROSPECTIVE COMPARATIVE STUDY OF LOCAL STEROID INJECTION VS DRY NEEDLING FOR PLANTAR FASCIITIS”

BACKGROUND: Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common conditions of heel pain among adults. Most common affected age group being 40-60 years and it is a leading cause of occupational impairment. Non-invasive and invasive modalities are the two basic types of treatment. Invasive treatment modalilities like local injections, surgical treatment are advised for patients non-responding to non-invasive conservative treatment modalities. Local Steroid Injection (LSI) is the most common invasive treatment used whereas Dry Needling (DN) is proposed as a new modality of treatment recently. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Dry Needling versus Local Steroid Injection for Plantar Fasciitis using short form of Foot Function Index Revised (FFI-R). METHODS:This is prospective randomized, single blind, controlled study. Fifty patients who were clinically and radiologically (USG) conrmed to have idiopathic plantar fasciitis were enrolled in the study after informed consent. Patients were randomized and assigned into 2 groups of 25 patients each. Group I was managed by Local Steroid Injection (LSI) and Group II was managed by Dry Needling (DN). Patients were followed every 4 weeks up to 12 weeks. They were assessed clinically and functionally based on short form of FFI-R CONCLUSION: Short form of Foot Function Index Revised (FFI-R) is a quick, reliable and patient friendly outcome measurement tool for plantar fasciitis. Both Local Corticosteroid Injection and Dry Needling are effective treatment in refractory cases of Plantar Fasciitis in adjunct to non-invasive conservative treatment modalities. Dry Needling is a safe and reliable procedure for treating refractory cases of Plantar Fasciitis. Even though corticosteroid injection is the most effective treatment for short term symptomatic relief (at 4 weeks), it is found that outcomes of Dry Needling are comparable with the efcacy of corticosteroid injection in the medium term follow-up (12 weeks). Dry Needling has greater physiological compatibility than corticosteroid injection in terms of ability to induce possible healing process in plantar fasciitis and devoid of any long term complication associated with corticosteroid injection.

Analysis of Cucurbita ficifolia (Cucurbitaceae) chloroplast genome and its phylogenetic implications

The figleaf gourd (Cucurbita ficifolia Bouché), is a member of the Cucurbitaceae. Figleaf gourd genotypes are exclusively used as a rootstock for cucumber owing to their high physiological compatibility with cucumber. In this study, the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of C. ficifolia was assembled. The cp genome of C. ficifolia was 157,631 bp in length, it consists of a pair of inverted repeats (IRa and IRb) regions (25,638 bp) separated by the large single-copy (LSC, 88,211 bp) and small single-copy (SSC, 18,144 bp) regions. The cp genome encodes 111 unique genes, including 80 protein-coding genes, 27 transfer RNA genes, and four ribosomal RNA genes. The overall GC content of C. ficifolia cp genome was 37.2%. The phylogenetic tree of Cucurbitaceae showed that C. ficifolia was clustered into genus Cucurbita and the bootstrap value is 100%.

Evaluation on In Vitro Blood Clot Dissolving Potential of Aqueous Extract of Sida acuta Burm. F. Leaves

Clotting of blood is the vital processes and a perplexing interaction of various mechanisms of circulatory system due of failure of which is sometimes considered as a concern within the circulatory system causing acute myocardial or cerebral infarction which might cause demise. Sida acuta burm. f (Malvaceae) is abundantly growing small perennial shrub utilized by natives for diuretic, anthelmintic, calmative and wound healing properties, and are utilized in treating disorders like blood, bile, liver, nervous, urinary diseases and rheumatism. The present study was intended to evaluate the blood clot dissolving potential of Sida acuta leaf aqueous extract in vitro. The plant material as leaves were locally collected and subjected to phytochemical extraction with distilled water. The preliminary phytochemical tests total phenolic content was estimated by Folin-Ciocalteu’s method. In vitro thrombolytic activity of 3 different concentrations of aqueous extract was estimated on goat blood clot compared to the activity of streptokinase. The aqueous extract of S. acuta leaves are reported to be rich in alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids and glycosides while the total phenolic content was estimated to be 17.48 % in extract which are mostly responsible for any pharmacological activity. Compared to the thrombolytic activity of standard streptokinase which was 73 %, the aqueous leaf extract of S. acuta displayed considerable blood clot dissolving activity at concentration 10 mg/100µl, 5.0 mg/100µl, and 2.5 mg/100µl as 41 %, 34 % and 12 % respectively. This property of plant extract is promising which could be could be exploited in development of new biopharmaceutical and therapeutic agents after stringent further physiological compatibility and in vivo pharmacological studies.&#x0D; Keywords: Sida acuta, phytochemical extract, thrombolytic activity, streptokinase

A fine-scale map of genome-wide recombination in divergent Escherichia coli population.

Recombination is one of the most important molecular mechanisms of prokaryotic genome evolution, but its exact roles are still in debate. Here we try to infer genome-wide recombination within a species, utilizing a dataset of 149 complete genomes of Escherichia coli from diverse animal hosts and geographic origins, including 45 in-house sequenced with the single-molecular real-time platform. Two major clades identified based on physiological, clinical and ecological characteristics form distinct genetic lineages based on scarcity of interclade gene exchanges. By defining gene-based syntenies for genomic segments within and between the two clades, we build a fine-scale recombination map for this representative global E. coli population. The map suggests extensive within-clade recombination that often breaks physical linkages among individual genes but seldom interrupts the structure of genome organizational frameworks as well as primary metabolic portfolios supported by the framework integrity, possibly due to strong natural selection for both physiological compatibility and ecological fitness. In contrast, the between-clade recombination declines drastically when phylogenetic distance increases to the extent where a 10-fold reduction can be observed, establishing a firm genetic barrier between clades. Our empirical data suggest a critical role for such recombination events in the early stage of speciation where recombination rate is associated with phylogenetic distance in addition to sequence and gene variations. The extensive intraclade recombination binds sister strains into a quasisexual group and optimizes genes or alleles to streamline physiological activities, whereas the sharply declined interclade recombination split the population into clades adaptive to divergent ecological niches.