scholarly journals Soil-Associated Bacillus Species: A Reservoir of Bioactive Compounds with Potential Therapeutic Activity against Human Pathogens

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1131
Author(s):  
Galal Yahya ◽  
Asmaa Ebada ◽  
Eman M. Khalaf ◽  
Basem Mansour ◽  
Nehal A. Nouh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bioactive Compounds ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Antibiotic Production ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Bacillus Species ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Living Organisms

Soil hosts myriads of living organisms with the extensive potential to produce bioactive compounds. Bacteria are the major soil inhabitants that represent a rich reservoir for antibiotic production along with their role in recycling nutrients and maintenance of the soil ecosystem. Here, from 55 tested soil samples, we isolated and identified a novel antibiotic-producing bacterial strain with a phylogenetically closest match to Bacillus subtilis sp. based on BLASTN search of GenBank for the 16S rRNA gene sequence. We characterized this novel strain through microscopic, biochemical, and molecular techniques, combined with testing its potential antimicrobial activity. Chemical studies revealed that the antibiotic produced by this strain is a glycopeptide. It exhibited profound activity against both methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Candida albicans. The antibiotic is optimally produced at 37 °C after 28 h of growth. The biocompatibility of the extracted antibiotic was tested over a wide range of factors including temperature, pH, surfactants, and metal salts. To confirm its therapeutic potential, a sterile solution of the antibiotic was tested in vivo against bacteria-induced keratitis in rats where significant healing activity was recorded. Hence, this soil Bacillus strain may lead to the development of novel antibiotics for the treatment of human pathogens.

Medicinal Plants and Bioactive Compounds for Diabetes Management: Important Advances for Drug Discovery

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kondeti Ramudu Shanmugam ◽  
Bhasha Shanmugam ◽  
Gangigunta Venkatasubbaiah ◽  
Sahukari Ravi ◽  
Kesireddy Sathyavelu Reddy
Keyword(s):  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Bioactive Compounds ◽  
Diabetes Management ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Major Public Health Problem

Background : Diabetes is a major public health problem in the world. It affects each and every part of the human body and also leads to organ failure. Hence, great progress made in the field of herbal medicine and diabetic research. Objectives: Our review will focus on the effect of bioactive compounds of medicinal plants which are used to treat diabetes in India and other countries. Methods: Information regarding diabetes, oxidative stress, medicinal plants and bioactive compounds were collected from different search engines like Science direct, Springer, Wiley online library, Taylor and francis, Bentham Science, Pubmed and Google scholar. Data was analyzed and summarized in the review. Results and Conclusion: Anti-diabetic drugs that are in use have many side effects on vital organs like heart, liver, kidney and brain. There is an urgent need for alternative medicine to treat diabetes and their disorders. In India and other countries herbal medicine was used to treat diabetes. Many herbal plants have antidiabetic effects. The plants like ginger, phyllanthus, curcumin, aswagandha, aloe, hibiscus and curcuma showed significant anti-hyperglycemic activities in experimental models and humans. The bioactive compounds like Allicin, azadirachtin, cajanin, curcumin, querceitin, gingerol possesses anti-diabetic, antioxidant and other pharmacological properties. This review focuses on the role of bioactive compounds of medicinal plants in prevention and management of diabetes. Conclusion: Moreover, our review suggests that bioactive compounds have the potential therapeutic potential against diabetes. However, further in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to validate these findings.

Targeted chemical nucleases have a wide range of untapped applications in biological fields, including gene therapy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moataz Dowaidar
Keyword(s):  
Metal Complex ◽  
Dna Cleavage ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Chemical Reactivity ◽  
Major Groove ◽  
Sequence Recognition ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Chemical Nucleases

A feasible alternative to state-of-the-art enzymatic nucleases was created by regulating the cleavage activity of metal complexes using (covalent or non-covalent) homing agents. Targeted AMNs, unlike enzymatic nucleases, break DNA by an oxidative mechanism and can therefore permanently knock off genes. Compared to larger enzymatic nucleases, the modest size of the metal complex may aid cellular transfection. Furthermore, the painstaking construction of the sequence-specific probe permits a metal complex to be directed to dsDNA's minor or major groove. To direct the chemical reactivity of several small-molecule compounds to dsDNA's minor groove, covalently bonded polyamide samples were used. PNA and DNA were also used to construct antisense and antigen hybrids, with Watson–Crick or Hoogsteen base pairing with major groove nucleobases giving sequence recognition. Click chemistry created chimeric AMN-TFOs with desirable focused effects and negligible off-target cleavage. Clip-Phen-modified TFOs, 230 polypyridyl-modified TFOs, 232 and intercalating phenanthrene-modified TFOs are three contemporary instances of copper AMN–TFOs. All three systems have distinct advantages in maintaining the desired 2:1 phenthroline/copper ratio for DNA cleavage (clip-Phen TFOs), caging the copper center and facilitating efficient ROS-mediated strand scission (polypyridyl-modified TFO) and improving triplex stability (polypyridyl-modified TFO) (phenanthrene-TFOs). Cerium (IV)/EDTA complexes, recently shown to bind and hydrolytically cleave ssDNA/dsDNA junctions and used in conjunction with PNA to successfully introduce genome changes in vitro and in vivo, are another important class of targeted chemical nucleases. The chemical reactivity and wide flexibility of metal complex design, combined with their coupling to sequence specific samples for directed applications, show that these compounds have a wide range of untapped applications in biological fields such as chemotherapy, protein engineering, DNA footprinting, and gene editing. Parallel advancements in cell and tissue targeting will be essential to maximise their therapeutic potential, either by using specific ligands or creating new targeting modalities.

scholarly journals Stimulation of the mouse rRNA gene promoter by a distal spacer promoter.

1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 4648-4656 ◽  
Author(s):  
M H Paalman ◽  
S L Henderson ◽  
B Sollner-Webb
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Gene Promoter ◽  
Rna Polymerase I ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Transcriptional Terminator ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Polymerase I ◽  
Enhancer Sequences ◽  
Stimulation Of

We show that the mouse ribosomal DNA (rDNA) spacer promoter acts in vivo to stimulate transcription from a downstream rRNA gene promoter. This augmentation of mammalian RNA polymerase I transcription is observed in transient-transfection experiments with three different rodent cell lines, under noncompetitive as well as competitive transcription conditions, over a wide range of template concentrations, whether or not the enhancer repeats alone stimulate or repress expression from the downstream gene promoter. Stimulation of gene promoter transcription by the spacer promoter requires the rDNA enhancer sequences to be present between the spacer promoter and gene promoter and to be oriented as in native rDNA. Stimulation also requires that the spacer promoter be oriented toward the enhancer and gene promoter. However, stimulation does not correlate with transcription from the spacer promoter because the level of stimulation is not altered by either insertion of a functional mouse RNA polymerase I transcriptional terminator between the spacer promoter and enhancer or replacement with a much more active heterologous polymerase I promoter. Further analysis with a series of mutated spacer promoters indicates that the stimulatory activity does not reside in the major promoter domains but requires the central region of the promoter that has been correlated with enhancer responsiveness in vivo.

Immortalized neurons for the study of hypothalamic function

2011 ◽  
Vol 300 (5) ◽  
pp. R1030-R1052 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prasad S. Dalvi ◽  
Anaies Nazarians-Armavil ◽  
Stephanie Tung ◽  
Denise D. Belsham
Keyword(s):  
Neuronal Cell ◽  
Glucose Sensing ◽  
T Antigen ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Cell Models ◽  
Hypothalamic Neurons ◽  
In Vivo Models ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Hypothalamic Function

The hypothalamus is a vital part of the central nervous system: it harbors control systems implicated in regulation of a wide range of homeostatic processes, including energy balance and reproduction. Structurally, the hypothalamus is a complex neuroendocrine tissue composed of a multitude of unique neuronal cell types that express a number of neuromodulators, including hormones, classical neurotransmitters, and specific neuropeptides that play a critical role in mediating hypothalamic function. However, neuropeptide and receptor gene expression, second messenger activation, and electrophysiological and secretory properties of these hypothalamic neurons are not yet fully defined, primarily because the heterogeneity and complex neuronal architecture of the neuroendocrine hypothalamus make such studies challenging to perform in vivo. To circumvent this problem, our research group recently generated embryonic- and adult-derived hypothalamic neuronal cell models by utilizing the novel molecular techniques of ciliary neurotrophic factor-induced neurogenesis and SV40 T antigen transfer to primary hypothalamic neuronal cell cultures. Significant research with these cell lines has demonstrated their value as a potential tool for use in molecular genetic analysis of hypothalamic neuronal function. Insights gained from hypothalamic immortalized cells used in conjunction with in vivo models will enhance our understanding of hypothalamic functions such as neurogenesis, neuronal plasticity, glucose sensing, energy homeostasis, circadian rhythms, and reproduction. This review discusses the generation and use of hypothalamic cell models to study mechanisms underlying the function of individual hypothalamic neurons and to gain a more complete understanding of the overall physiology of the hypothalamus.

scholarly journals Novel Neuroprotective Formulations Based on St. John’s Wort Extract

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Vazzana ◽  
Ana S. Macedo ◽  
Antonello Santini ◽  
Caterina Faggio ◽  
Eliana B. Souto
Keyword(s):  
Bioactive Compounds ◽  
Drug Carrier ◽  
Chemical Characterization ◽  
Lipid Nanoparticles ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
St John’S Wort ◽  
St John's Wort ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Carrier Systems

<p>St. John’s Wort (SJW) has been intensively studied in the last years with respect to its pharmacological properties and to understand the mechanism of action of its bioactive compounds. In fact, it is currently used for the treatment of several disorders. Nevertheless, only recently nanotechnology has been applied for the delivery of SJW extract in vivo, to enhance its neuroprotective properties. In the present review, the advantages, the chemical characterization and the special biological features of SJW extract are discussed, underlining the potential use of nanotechnology in the development of drug carrier systems based on lipid nanoparticles. A special focus is given to solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and to nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) given their versatility for a wide range of bioactive compounds.</p>

scholarly journals The Therapeutic Potential of Apigenin

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bahare Salehi ◽  
Alessandro Venditti ◽  
Mehdi Sharifi-Rad ◽  
Dorota Kręgiel ◽  
Javad Sharifi-Rad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Dietary Assessment ◽  
Functional Activities ◽  
Formulated Diet ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Health Promoting

Several plant bioactive compounds have exhibited functional activities that suggest they could play a remarkable role in preventing a wide range of chronic diseases. The largest group of naturally-occurring polyphenols are the flavonoids, including apigenin. The present work is an updated overview of apigenin, focusing on its health-promoting effects/therapeutic functions and, in particular, results of in vivo research. In addition to an introduction to its chemistry, nutraceutical features have also been described. The main key findings from in vivo research, including animal models and human studies, are summarized. The beneficial indications are reported and discussed in detail, including effects in diabetes, amnesia and Alzheimer’s disease, depression and insomnia, cancer, etc. Finally, data on flavonoids from the main public databases are gathered to highlight the apigenin’s key role in dietary assessment and in the evaluation of a formulated diet, to determine exposure and to investigate its health effects in vivo.

scholarly journals A Comparative Study: Taxonomic Grouping of Alkaline Protease Producing Bacilli

2017 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-56
Author(s):  
Nilgun Tekin ◽  
Arzu Coleri Cihan ◽  
Basar Karaca ◽  
Cumhur Cokmus
Keyword(s):  
16S Rrna ◽  
Alkaline Protease ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
16S Rrna Genes ◽  
Rrna Genes ◽  
Protease Production ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Its Pcr

Alkaline proteases have biotechnological importance due to their activity and stability at alkaline pH. 56 bacteria, capable of growing under alkaline conditions were isolated and their alkaline protease activities were carried out at different parameters to determine their optimum alkaline protease production conditions. Seven isolates were showed higher alkaline protease production capacity than the reference strains. The highest alkaline protease producing isolates (103125 U/g), E114 and C265, were identified as Bacillus licheniformis with 99.4% and Bacillus mojavensis 99.8% based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, respectively. Interestingly, the isolates identified as Bacillus safensis were also found to be high alkaline protease producing strains. Genotypic characterizations of the isolates were also determined by using a wide range of molecular techniques (ARDRA, ITS-PCR, (GTG)5-PCR, BOX-PCR). These different techniques allowed us to differentiate the alkaliphilic isolates and the results were in concurrence with phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA genes. While ITS-PCR provided the highest correlation with 16S rRNA groups, (GTG)5-PCR showed the highest differentiation at species and intra-species level. In this study, each of the biotechnologically valuable alkaline protease producing isolates was grouped into their taxonomic positions with multi-genotypic analyses.

scholarly journals Characterization of Andean Blueberry in Bioactive Compounds, Evaluation of Biological Properties and in vitro Bioaccessibility

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nieves Baenas ◽  
Jenny Ruales ◽  
Diego A. Moreno ◽  
Daniel Alejandro Barrio ◽  
Carla M. Stinco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Capacity ◽  
Bioactive Compounds ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
In Vitro Digestion ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Zebrafish Embryogenesis

Andean blueberries are wild berries grown and consumed in Ecuador which contain high values of bioactive compounds, mainly anthocyanins, with powerful antioxidant activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the profile and contents of (poly)phenols and carotenoids in Andean blueberry by HPLC-DAD-MSn and determine a wide range of its biological activities. The antioxidant capacity of this fruit was evaluated in vitro by three different methods and in vivo using the zebrafish animal model, also the toxicity effect was determined by the zebrafish embryogenesis test. Besides, the antimicrobial activity and the capacity of Andean blueberry to produce hemagglutination in blood cells were evaluated. Finally, the bioaccessibility of (poly)phenols and related antioxidant capacity were determined in the different phases of an in vitro digestion. The global results indicated no toxicity of Andean blueberry, weakly bacteriostatic activity, and high contents of anthocyanins and antioxidant capacity, which were partially bioaccesible in vitro (~ 50 % at the final intestinal step), contributing to the knowledge of its health benefits for consumers and its potential use in the food and pharmaceutical industry as functional ingredient.

scholarly journals Phage Therapy as a Focused Management Strategy in Aquaculture

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (19) ◽  
pp. 10436
Author(s):  
José Ramos-Vivas ◽  
Joshua Superio ◽  
Jorge Galindo-Villegas ◽  
Félix Acosta
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Lytic Enzymes ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cultured Fish

Therapeutic bacteriophages, commonly called as phages, are a promising potential alternative to antibiotics in the management of bacterial infections of a wide range of organisms including cultured fish. Their natural immunogenicity often induces the modulation of a variated collection of immune responses within several types of immunocytes while promoting specific mechanisms of bacterial clearance. However, to achieve standardized treatments at the practical level and avoid possible side effects in cultivated fish, several improvements in the understanding of their biology and the associated genomes are required. Interestingly, a particular feature with therapeutic potential among all phages is the production of lytic enzymes. The use of such enzymes against human and livestock pathogens has already provided in vitro and in vivo promissory results. So far, the best-understood phages utilized to fight against either Gram-negative or Gram-positive bacterial species in fish culture are mainly restricted to the Myoviridae and Podoviridae, and the Siphoviridae, respectively. However, the current functional use of phages against bacterial pathogens of cultured fish is still in its infancy. Based on the available data, in this review, we summarize the current knowledge about phage, identify gaps, and provide insights into the possible bacterial control strategies they might represent for managing aquaculture-related bacterial diseases.

Validation of a High-Throughput Calcium Mobilization Assay for the Human Trace Amine-Associated Receptor 1

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 140-150
Author(s):  
Ann M. Decker ◽  
Kelly M. Mathews ◽  
Bruce E. Blough ◽  
Brian P. Gilmour
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Calcium Mobilization ◽  
Hit Rate ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Trace Amine ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Calcium Mobilization Assay

The human trace amine-associated receptor 1 (hTAAR1) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that is widely expressed in monoaminergic nuclei in the central nervous system and has therapeutic potential for multiple diseases, including drug addiction and schizophrenia. Thus, identification of novel hTAAR1 ligands is critical to advancing our knowledge of hTAAR1 function and to the development of therapeutics for a wide range of diseases. Herein we describe the development of a robust, 3-addition high-throughput screening (HTS) calcium mobilization assay using stable CHO-Gαq16-hTAAR1 cells, which functionally couple hTAAR1 to the promiscuous Gαq16 protein and thus allow signal transduction to occur through mobilization of internal calcium. Our previously established 96-well hTAAR1 assay was first miniaturized to the 384-well format and optimized to provide an assay with a Z′ factor of 0.84, which is indicative of a robust HTS assay. Using the 3-addition protocol, 22,000 compounds were screened and yielded a ~1% agonist hit rate and a ~0.2% antagonist hit rate. Of the antagonist hits, two confirmed hits are the most potent hTAAR1 antagonists identified to date (IC50 = 206 and 281 nM). While scientists have been studying hTAAR1 for years, the lack of suitable hTAAR1 antagonists has been a major roadblock for studying the basic pharmacology of hTAAR1. Thus, these new ligands will serve as valuable tools to study hTAAR1-mediated signaling mechanisms, therapeutic potential, and in vivo functions.

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