Application of Co-Culture Technology to Enhance Protease Production by Two Halophilic Bacteria,Marinirhabdus sp. and Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus

Although axenic microbial cultures form the basis of many large successful industrial biotechnologies, the production of single commercial microbial strains for use in large environmental biotechnologies such as wastewater treatment has proved less successful. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of the co-culture of two halophilic bacteria, Marinirhabdus sp. and Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus for enhanced protease activity. The co-culture was significantly more productive than monoculture (1.6–2.0 times more growth), with Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus being predominant (64%). In terms of protease activity, enhanced total activity (1.8–2.4 times) was observed in the co-culture. Importantly, protease activity in the co-culture was found to remain active over a much broader range of environmental conditions (temperature 25 °C to 60 °C, pH 4–12, and 10–30% salinity, respectively). This study confirms that the co-culturing of halophilic bacteria represents an economical approach as it resulted in both increased biomass and protease production, the latter which showed activity over arange of environmental conditions.     

Ultrasensitive aptasensing of lysozyme by exploiting the synergistic effect of gold nanoparticle-modified reduced graphene oxide and MWCNTs in a chitosan matrix

Microchimica Acta - The authors describe a lysozyme aptasensor based on the use of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) assembled on the carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide and chitosan. An electrochemical...     

Nanoformulation of Polyphenol Curcumin Enhances Cisplatin-Induced Apoptosis in Drug-Resistant MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells

Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is the aggressive and lethal type of breast malignancy that develops resistance to current therapies. Combination therapy has proven to be an effective strategy on TNBC. We aimed to study whether the nano-formulation of polyphenolic curcumin (Gemini-Cur) would affect the cisplatin-induced toxicity in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with Gemini-Cur, cisplatin and combination of Gemini-Cur/Cisplatin in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Cell viability was studied by using MTT, fluorescence microscopy and cell cycle assays. The mode of death was also determined by Hoechst staining and annexin V-FITC. Real-time PCR and western blotting were employed to detect the expression of BAX and BCL-2 genes. Our data demonstrated that Gemini-Cur significantly sensitizes cancer cells to cisplatin (combination index ≤ 1) and decreases IC50 values in comparison with Gemini-cur or cisplatin. Further studies confirmed that Gemini-Cur/Cisplatin suppresses cancer cell growth through induction of apoptosis (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the data confirm the synergistic effect of polyphenolic curcumin on cisplatin toxicity and provide attractive strategy to attain its apoptotic effect on TNBC.     

Transcriptome Profiling of HCT-116 Colorectal Cancer Cells with RNA Sequencing Reveals Novel Targets for Polyphenol Nano Curcumin

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The gemini nanoparticle formulation of polyphenolic curcumin significantly inhibits the viability of cancer cells. However, the molecular mechanisms and pathways underlying its toxicity in colon cancer are unclear. Here, we aimed to uncover the possible novel targets of gemini curcumin (Gemini-Cur) on colorectal cancer and related cellular pathways. After confirming the cytotoxic effect of Gemini-Cur by MTT and apoptotic assays, RNA sequencing was employed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HCT-116 cells. On a total of 3892 DEGs (padj < 0.01), 442 genes showed a log2 FC >|2| (including 244 upregulated and 198 downregulated). Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis was performed. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) and gene-pathway networks were constructed by using STRING and Cytoscape. The pathway analysis showed that Gemini-Cur predominantly modulates pathways related to the cell cycle. The gene network analysis revealed five central genes, namely GADD45G, ATF3, BUB1B, CCNA2 and CDK1. Real-time PCR and Western blotting analysis confirmed the significant modulation of these genes in Gemini-Cur-treated compared to non-treated cells. In conclusion, RNA sequencing revealed novel potential targets of curcumin on cancer cells. Further studies are required to elucidate the molecular mechanism of action of Gemini-Cur regarding the modulation of the expression of hub genes.     

On Almost Norden Statistical Manifolds

We consider a statistical connection ∇ on an almost complex manifold with (pseudo-) Riemannian metric, in particular the Norden metric. We investigate almost Norden (statistical) manifolds under the condition that the almost complex structure J is ∇-recurrent. We provide one example of a complex statistical connection.     

Immobilized Pd on a NHC functionalized metal–organic framework MIL-101(Cr): an efficient heterogeneous catalyst in Suzuki−Miyaura coupling reaction in water

A novel Pd−NHC functionalized metal–organic framework (MOF) based on MIL-101(Cr) was synthesized and used as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst in the C-C bond formation reactions. Using this heterogeneous Pd catalyst system, the Suzuki−Miyaura coupling reaction was accomplished well in water, and coupling products were obtained in good to excellent yields in short reaction time. The Pd−NHC−MIL-101(Cr) was characterized using some different techniques, including Fourier transform-infrared, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma and elemental analysis. The microscopic techniques showed the discrete octahedron structure of MIL-101(Cr), which is also stable after chemical modification process to prepare the catalyst system. The TEM images of the catalyst showed the existence of palladium nanoparticles immobilized in the structure of the catalyst, while no reducing agent was used. It seems that the NHC groups and imidazolium moieties in the structure of the MOF can reduce Pd (II) to Pd (0) species. This modified MOF substrate can also prevent aggregation of Pd nanoparticles, resulting in high stability of them in organic transformation. The Pd−NHC−MIL-101(Cr) catalyst system could be simply extracted from the reaction mixture, providing an efficient synthetic method for the synthesis of biaryls derivatives using the aforementioned coupling reaction. The Pd−NHC−MIL-101(Cr) catalyst could be recycled in this organic reaction with almost consistent catalytic efficiency.     

Novel (thio)barbituric-phenoxy-N-phenylacetamide derivatives as potent urease inhibitors: synthesis,in vitro urease inhibition,and in silico evaluations

Structural Chemistry - A novel series of (thio)barbituric-phenoxy-N-phenylacetamide derivatives 7a-l was synthesized and evaluated against Helicobacter pylori urease. The latter assay revealed that...