Nur Izzati Mohamad, T. Adrian, Wen-Si Tan, Nina Yusrina Muhamad Yunos, P. Tan, Wai-Fong Yin, Kok-Gan Chan
{"title":"Vibrio variabilis T01: A tropical marine bacterium exhibiting unique N-acyl homoserine lactone production","authors":"Nur Izzati Mohamad, T. Adrian, Wen-Si Tan, Nina Yusrina Muhamad Yunos, P. Tan, Wai-Fong Yin, Kok-Gan Chan","doi":"10.1080/21553769.2015.1066716","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21553769.2015.1066716","url":null,"abstract":"Vibrio spp. have been widely studied for their unique properties such as pathogenicity and quorum sensing (QS) abilities. This article presents the identification of Vibrio variabilis strain T01 isolated from Malaysian coastal waters. Strain T01 of V. variabilis was identified to produce QS molecules as tested using a biosensor. High-resolution tandem mass spectrometry was used to identify N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) profiles of strain T01. Three AHLs, viz. N-hexanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C6-HSL), N-(3-oxodecanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C10-HSL) and N-dodecanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C12-HSL), were confirmed. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first documentation of AHL profiles from V. variabilis strain T01, which expands the number of QS members in Vibrio spp.","PeriodicalId":12756,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Life Science","volume":"9 1","pages":"17 - 23"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21553769.2015.1066716","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60090376","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The distribution of profilin in root-tip cells of wheat seedlings exposed to enhanced UV-B radiation","authors":"Jiayu Liu, Hailong Tie, Huize Chen, R. Han","doi":"10.1080/21553769.2015.1075434","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21553769.2015.1075434","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Actin filaments play a significant role in regulating the cell cycle. The dynamic rearrangement of actin filaments are regulated by actin-binding proteins profilin (PFN). However, the distribution of PFN in root-tip cells and the role of PFN in the UV response have been unknown. Here, we observed the distribution of PFN during every stage of wheat cell mitosis in the control and UV-B treatment group, and found that PFN showed a punctuate pattern of localization around the periphery of nuclear envelopes in interphase and gathered toward the cell bipolar in prophase in the control treatment group. During metaphase, PFN presented a cage shape that is formed around the chromosomes, then appeared in the equator during anaphase, and re-distributed around the periphery of nuclear envelopes during cytokinesis. But PFN localization had changed under enhanced UV-B radiation (10.08 kJm–2 h–1), PFN displayed an annular distribution in interphase and, during metaphase, relatively large number of PFN distributed in one of the four corners or gathered in the four corners in the cell. However, two corners of PFN moved to the other two corners along the direction perpendicular to the cell-elongating axis during telophase. And these aberrant distributions of PFN were often associated with abnormal chromosome distribution.","PeriodicalId":12756,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Life Science","volume":"9 1","pages":"44 - 51"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21553769.2015.1075434","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60090470","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exploring diet-dependent shifts in methanogen and methanotroph diversity in the rumen of Mehsani buffalo by a metagenomics approach","authors":"N. Parmar, J. I. N. Kumar, Chaitanya G. Joshi","doi":"10.1080/21553769.2015.1063550","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21553769.2015.1063550","url":null,"abstract":"In this study, metagenomics was applied to characterize microbial communities, specifically methanogens and methanotrophs, and to discover their functional activities under two different dietary treatments. To retrieve an overall rumen microbial community profile and to check the abundance of methanogenic and methanotrophic bacteria therein, semiconductor shotgun sequencing of DNA isolated from the rumen fluid of Mehsani buffalo treated with two different diets, i.e. 50% green roughage/50% concentrate (M50GL) and 100% green roughage (M100GL), was carried out. The study revealed that the M50GL group harboured more Proteobacteria than the M100GL group, which harboured more Bacteroidetes. The classes of Proteobacteria (methanotrophs) differed significantly in response to the change in diet. α-Proteobacteria and β-proteobacteria were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the M100GL group, whereas γ-proteobacteria were significantly more abundant in the M50GL group than in the M100GL group. Different species of methanogens were more abundant in the M100GL group than in the M50GL group. The enzymes involved in the serine pathway (glycine hydroxyl methyltransferase) carried out by type II methanotrophs, i.e. α-proteobacteria and β-proteobacteria, were found in higher abundance in the M100GL group, which correlates with the taxonomic abundance of the same classes in the M100GL group.","PeriodicalId":12756,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Life Science","volume":"8 1","pages":"371 - 378"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21553769.2015.1063550","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60090239","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Antidiabetic effect of combined spices of Allium sativum, Zingiber officinale and Capsicum frutescens in alloxan-induced diabetic rats","authors":"G. Otunola, A. Afolayan","doi":"10.1080/21553769.2015.1053628","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21553769.2015.1053628","url":null,"abstract":"Allium sativum (garlic), Zingiber officinale (ginger) and Capsicum frutescens (cayenne pepper) are common dietary spices also traditionally used in the treatment of various diseases including diabetes mellitus. The antidiabetic activity of each individual spice is well documented, but their effect when combined is unknown. Polyherbalism is of current interest because polyherbal formulations enhance therapeutic action and reduce the concentrations of single herbs, thereby reducing adverse events. This study evaluated the hypoglycaemic activity of aqueous extract of combined garlic, ginger and cayenne pepper (GGCP) at different doses in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Diabetic rats were treated with GGCP at 200 mg and 500 mg/kg body weight/day, or glibenclamide (5 mg/kg body weight/day) for 7 days. GGCP extract significantly (p < 0.05) lowered the elevated fasting blood glucose, lipid and haematological indices. The mixture markedly attenuated cellular toxicity, and reduced tubular degeneration and necrosis in the kidney, fatty degeneration and necrosis in the liver and pancreatic hyperplasia in diabetic rats. These effects were more pronounced at 500 mg/kg and equipotent with glibenclamide, suggesting that in addition to its hypoglycaemic activity, GGCP protects the blood, kidney, liver and pancreas against diabetic injury. This is the first pilot study to evaluate a possible role for this spice mixture in the treatment of diabetes.","PeriodicalId":12756,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Life Science","volume":"8 1","pages":"314 - 323"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21553769.2015.1053628","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60089796","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
N. M. Al-Namnam, K.H. Kim, W. Chai, K. O. Ha, C. Siar, W. Ngeow
{"title":"A biocompatibility study of injectable poly(caprolactone-trifumarate) for use as a bone substitute material","authors":"N. M. Al-Namnam, K.H. Kim, W. Chai, K. O. Ha, C. Siar, W. Ngeow","doi":"10.1080/21553769.2015.1051240","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21553769.2015.1051240","url":null,"abstract":"The need for bone graft alternatives has led to the development of numerous bone graft substitutes. Here, the authors have synthesized a biodegradable poly(caprolactone-trifumarate) (PCLTF) polymer solution that could be injected into any bony defect. This polymer solution was synthesized using polycaprolactone-triol and fumaryl chloride (FCl). PCLTF is a multiple-branching, unsaturated and cross-linkable in situ material. The surface microstructure of PCLTF was investigated using a field emission scanning electron microscope. The incorporation of double bonds originating from FCl into the poly(caprolactone) backbone was confirmed in the Fourier transform infrared spectra. The in vitro cytotoxic effects of PCLTF, its leachable extracts and degradation products were evaluated in direct and indirect contact tests against human oral fibroblasts. Cell viability was evaluated using the microculture tetrazolium assay and cytotoxicity evaluations of PCLTF were tested in accordance with ISO 10993-5 standards. The results showed that there was evidence of reasonable cell growth, good cell viability and intact cell morphology after exposure to PCLTF, its extracts and degradation products. There was no evidence of critical cytotoxic effects.","PeriodicalId":12756,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Life Science","volume":"8 1","pages":"215 - 222"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21553769.2015.1051240","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60089573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
B. Latifah-Munirah, W. H. Himratul-Aznita, N. M. Mohd Zain
{"title":"Eugenol, an essential oil of clove, causes disruption to the cell wall of Candida albicans (ATCC 14053)","authors":"B. Latifah-Munirah, W. H. Himratul-Aznita, N. M. Mohd Zain","doi":"10.1080/21553769.2015.1045628","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21553769.2015.1045628","url":null,"abstract":"The aim of this study was to determine the effect of eugenol on the integrity of the cell wall of Candida albicans. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) and percentage inhibition of diameter growth (PIDG) of eugenol on C. albicans (ATCC 14053) were determined. The effect of eugenol on the growth profile was also evaluated. The release of cellular material and changes in cell permeability, including ultrastructural alterations to the morphology, were assessed using scanning electron microscopy, and surface disruption to the cell wall structure of C. albicans by atomic force microscopy. The MIC and MFC values of eugenol were found to be 1.0% v/v, while the PIDG was dose dependent. Eugenol influenced cell growth and was fungicidal towards C. albicans. Eugenol was also found to encourage cell leakage, causing the release of cellular material, and to increase cell permeability. The ultrastructure and cell surface morphology were also altered by the presence of eugenol. Thus, eugenol was found to disrupt the cell wall of C. albicans.","PeriodicalId":12756,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Life Science","volume":"8 1","pages":"231 - 240"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21553769.2015.1045628","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60089979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"In vitro characteristics of an insulin suppository developed using palm oil base (HAMIN®) and its hypoglycaemic effect on rabbits","authors":"Sritharan Nair, Z. Chik, M. I. Noordin","doi":"10.1080/21553769.2015.1063549","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21553769.2015.1063549","url":null,"abstract":"The long-term administration of insulin requires the development of new delivery routes. Using a base developed in-house, called HAMIN®, an insulin suppository containing 100 units (U) of insulin was formulated. The suppository was subjected to stability testing at various temperatures and the assay value was monitored. Other physical factors such as hardness, disintegration time, thermal analysis and dissolution were also tested. The suppository released more than 80% of its drug content in 30 min, and was stable for up to 11 months at −20°C. The suppository effect was studied on 11 New Zealand white rabbits, with body weight ranging from 1.6 to 2.1 kg. The results show that there was a marked reduction in glucose content when the suppository was inserted. The average drop in glucose content was 2.7 mmol/L in 15 min from the time of insertion. The maximum drop in glucose content reached 3.9 mmol/L in 2 h. Plasma insulin level, quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, showed a value of more than 100 µIU insulin/ml blood after 30 min. Although the insulin bioavailability was expectedly low, the rate at which the hypoglycaemic effect took place and the percentage of glucose reduction were comparable to results after subcutaneous injection.","PeriodicalId":12756,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Life Science","volume":"21 1","pages":"256 - 263"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21553769.2015.1063549","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60089945","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
R. Ng, Nurhayati Zainal Abidin, A. Shuib, Daud Ahmad Israf Ali
{"title":"Inhibition of nitric oxide production by Solanum melongena and Solanum macrocarpon on RAW 264.7 cells","authors":"R. Ng, Nurhayati Zainal Abidin, A. Shuib, Daud Ahmad Israf Ali","doi":"10.1080/21553769.2015.1051241","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21553769.2015.1051241","url":null,"abstract":"Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in the physiology and pathophysiology of disease. Overproduction of NO is associated with chronic inflammatory diseases and cancers. Several species of Solanaceae have been used traditionally to treat inflammatory-related diseases. To analyse the possible anti-inflammatory properties of these species, the Griess assay was used to evaluate the effects of various Solanum melongena and Solanum macrocarpon extracts on NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The cytotoxicity of the extracts on the cell line was tested using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Extracts that significantly inhibited NO production were further evaluated for inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression by Western blot. Thin-layer chromatography was used to determine the major compounds in the extracts. All extracts significantly inhibited NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. At 200 µg/ml, ethyl acetate extract of S. macrocarpon showed the highest NO inhibition of 81%, with a median inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 44.78 ± 0.04 µg/ml. The viability of cells treated with the extracts was greater than 80%. Ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of S. melongena, together with ethanol, hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of S. macrocarpon, reduced iNOS expression significantly. At 200 µg/ml, ethyl acetate extract of S. macrocarpon inhibited iNOS protein expression by 79%. Phytochemical analysis of the extracts showed that fluorescent, double-bond compounds, phenols, flavonoids and terpenoids were mainly present in the extracts. Taken together, the results show the potential of ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of S. melongena, and hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of S. macrocarpon, as agents for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory-related diseases.","PeriodicalId":12756,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Life Science","volume":"8 1","pages":"241 - 248"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21553769.2015.1051241","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60089612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S. Wong, Fatin Iffah Rasyiqah Mohamad Zoolkefli, R. Karim, B. Tan, J. Harikrishna, N. Khalid
{"title":"Stable integration of mgfp5 transgenes following Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in Boesenbergia rotunda cell suspension culture","authors":"S. Wong, Fatin Iffah Rasyiqah Mohamad Zoolkefli, R. Karim, B. Tan, J. Harikrishna, N. Khalid","doi":"10.1080/21553769.2015.1051242","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21553769.2015.1051242","url":null,"abstract":"Boesenbergia rotunda, a herb in the ginger family, contains numerous beneficial compounds, such as flavonoids, flavones and cyclohexenyl chalcone derivatives, that have great potential for pharmaceutical applications. However, the low concentration of the bioactive compounds limits their commercial application. In this study, a simple and reliable Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocol for B. rotunda cell suspension culture was successfully developed. The minimal inhibitory concentration and natural tolerance of the selective agent, hygromycin, against the cells were 20 mg l−l and 30 mg l−l in liquid media and solid media, respectively. The highest number of transformed regenerants (18 ± 0.00 per ml settled cell volume) was recorded when cells were infected with Agrobacterium tumefaciens harbouring pCAMBIA1304 for 10 min and co-cultivated for 2 days. Prolonged infection time (> 10 min) and co-cultivation period (> 2 days), however, did not increase the transformation efficiencies. The results clearly show that infection and co-cultivation periods strongly influenced the transformation efficiency in ginger. The transformed cells were recovered and showed green fluorescent signals under ultraviolet excitation. An intense blue colour was observed in the transformed cells after β-glucuronidase (GUS) histochemical staining, further confirming the functionality of the GUS enzymes in the regenerants. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of 3-, 6-, 9- and 12-month-old transformed cells confirmed that the protocol enabled stable integration of the mgfp5 gene. Moreover, the comparatively high number of transformed regenerants in this study made it possible to generate a large number of transgenic cells in a short period, which would be useful for high-throughput functional screening of enzymes involved in the biosynthetic pathways of bioactive compounds.","PeriodicalId":12756,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Life Science","volume":"8 1","pages":"249 - 255"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21553769.2015.1051242","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60089648","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Ozen, Naşit Iğci, H. T. Yalcin, Bayram Goçmen, A. Nalbantsoy
{"title":"Screening of cytotoxic and antimicrobial activity potential of Anatolian Macrovipera lebetina obtusa (Ophidia: Viperidae) crude venom","authors":"M. Ozen, Naşit Iğci, H. T. Yalcin, Bayram Goçmen, A. Nalbantsoy","doi":"10.1080/21553769.2015.1055862","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21553769.2015.1055862","url":null,"abstract":"The effects of snake venoms have been well known since ancient times. They contain a variety of biologically active proteins which have therapeutic potential. This study investigated the cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of Anatolian Macrovipera lebetina obtusa venom against various cancer cells, Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, and a fungal species. A549, HeLa, CaCo-2, U-87 MG and MCF-7 cancer cell lines and a normal cell line (Vero) were screened by the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using the broth dilution method. The species included were Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, E. coli 0157:H7, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium DSM 13590, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, Salmonella typhimurium CCM 5445, Proteus vulgaris ATCC 6957, Bacillus cereus ATCC 7064 and Candida albicans ATCC 10239. Half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of M. l. obtusa venom on cultured cells varied from 1.18 ± 0.11 to 12.80 ± 0.22 µg/ml, with the most potent activities against Vero, U-87 MG, MCF-7 and CaCo-2 cells. Venom showed moderate antifungal activity against C. albicans, with an MIC of 62.50 µg/ml. In short, the venom of Anatolian M. l. obtusa showed promising results as a potential source of alternative therapeutics, cytotoxic and antifungal agent prototypes.","PeriodicalId":12756,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Life Science","volume":"8 1","pages":"363 - 370"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21553769.2015.1055862","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60089808","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}