• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.44.1-44.17
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• 2023

Background: Antibiotic resistance is a significant public health concern around the globe. Antimicrobial peptides exhibit broad-spectrum and efficient antibacterial activity with an added advantage of low drug resistance. The higher water content and 3D network structure of the hydrogels are beneficial for maintaining antimicrobial peptide activity and help to prevent degradation. The antimicrobial peptide released from hydrogels also hasten the local wound healing by promoting epithelial tissue regeneration and granulation tissue formation. Objective: This study aimed at developing sodium alginate based hydrogel loaded with a novel antimicrobial peptide Chol-37(F34-R) and to investigate the characteristics in vitro and in vivo as an alternative antibacterial wound dressing to treat infectious wounds. Methods: Hydrogels were developed and optimized by varying the concentrations of crosslinkers and subjected to various characterization tests like cross-sectional morphology, swelling index, percent water contents, water retention ratio, drug release and antibacterial activity in vitro, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infected wound mice model in vivo. Results: The results indicated that the hydrogel C proved superior in terms of cross-sectional morphology having uniformly sized interconnected pores, a good swelling index, with the capacity to retain a higher quantity of water. Furthermore, the optimized hydrogel has been found to exert a significant antimicrobial activity against bacteria and was also found to prevent bacterial infiltration into the wound site due to forming an impermeable barrier between the wound bed and external environment. The optimized hydrogel was found to significantly hasten skin regeneration in animal models when compared to other treatments in addition to strong inhibitory effect on the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α). Conclusions: Our results suggest that sodium alginate -based hydrogels loaded with Chol-37(F34-R) hold the potential to be used as an alternative to conventional antibiotics in treating infectious skin wounds.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.261-266
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• 2009

Rhabdomyolysis, the clinical syndrome caused by the injury to skeletal muscle resulting in the release of muscle cell contents into the systemic circulation, has been described in association with various factors. The causes include crush injury, skeletal muscle overuse, heat, drug, abuse of alcohols and metabolic disorders as well as several types of viral and bacterial infections. We report two cases of rhabdomyolysis, which were complicated by uncommon causes, parainfluenza virus type I infection and hypernatremia.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.137-141
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• 2008

We previously isolated and cloned a cDNA of abaecin from the Bombus ignitus. In an effort to produce a large amount of soluble abaecin at low cost, we successfully expressed the peptide in Escherichia coli that are highly sensitive to its mature form. For this, we fused the peptide encoding 39 amino acids of mature B. ignitus abaecin to the thioredoxin gene together with a C-terminal 6xHis tag. An enterokinase cleavage site was introduced between the 6xHis tag and mature abaecin to allow final release of the recombinant peptide. A high yield of 9.6 mg soluble fusion protein from 200 ml of bacterial culture was purified by $Ni^{2+}$-charged His-Bind resin affinity column, and 1.4 mg of pure active recombinant abaecin was readily obtained by enterokinase cleavage, followed by affinity chromatograph. The molecular mass of recombinant abaecin peptide was determined by Tricin-SDS-PAGE analysis. The recombinant abaecin exhibited antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2009

Lactoferrin was first identified 60 years ago as a "red protein" in bovine milk. Lactoferrin, one of the transferrin family proteins, is an iron-binding glycoprotein found in milk and various mucosal secretions; it is also released from activated neutrophils. Human lactoferrin has a molecular weight of 82.4 kDa and is composed of 702 or 692 amino acid residues. Bovine lactoferrin has a molecular weight of 83.1 kDa and is composed of 689 amino acid residues. Both lactoferrin and transferrin have the ability to bind two $Fe^{3+}$ ions, together with two ${CO_3}^{2-}$ ions with extremely high affinity; these proteins also have the ability to release this iron at low pH levels. The polypeptide chain in lactoferrin is folded into two globular lobes, representing the N-terminal and C-terminal halves. Both lobes have similar folding and 40% sequence identity. This protein is capable of multiple functions as described in various review papers, including antimicrobial, antiviral, antiinflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant, and cell growth-promoting activities. Lactoferrin also exhibits immunomodulating effects and plays an active role in the regulation of myelopoiesis and the inhibition of bacterial translocation.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.217-225
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• 2020

Background: This study was performed to provide a long-term bacterial seal through the formation of reparative dentin bridge, calcium silicate-based pulp capping materials have been used at sites of pulpal exposure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mineralization-inducing potentials of calcium silicate-based pulp capping materials (ProRoot MTA [PR], Biodentine [BD], and TheraCal LC [TC]) in human dental pulp cells (HDPCs). Methods: Specimens of test materials were placed in deionized water for various incubation times to measure the pH variation and the concentration of calcium released. The morphology of HDPCs cultured on the specimens was examined using a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). Alizarin red S staining and alkaline phosphatase assays were used to evaluate mineralization-inducing potentials of the capping materials. Results: BD showed the highest calcium release in all test periods, followed by PR and TC. (p<0.05). All experimental groups showed high alkalinity after 1 day, except at 14 days. BD showed the highest cell viability compared with PR and TC after 1 and 3 days, while TC showed the lowest value (p<0.05). The CLSM analysis showed that cells were well adhered and expressed actin filaments for all pulp capping materials. Mineralization by PR and BD groups was higher than that by TC group based on alizarin red S staining. BD showed significantly higher alkaline phosphatase activity than PR and TC, while TC showed the lowest value (p<0.05). Conclusion: Within the limitations of the in vitro study, BD had higher mineralization-inducing potential than PR and TC.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2012

Although there are many potential cytotoxic molecules released from bacteria, the role of these molecules on the apoptosis of various cancer cells is not well understood. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a Gram-negative, aerobic and rod-shaped bacterium, and has a number of virulence factors. To understand the cytotoxic effect of bacterial extracts on the colorectal cancer cell line, HCT 116 cells, we examined alteration of the cell viability, proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of HCT 116 cells after treatment with extract of P. aeruginosa (PaE). These cytotoxicity of PaE occurred in a time- and a dose-dependent manners. In addition, PaE arrested the cell cycle of HCT 116 cell in a time-dependent manner. PaE inhibited the protein levels of Bcl-2 and induced the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria of HCT 116 cells. The decrease of procaspase-3 was induced by the treatment of PaE. These results indicate that PaE has a cytotoxicity in HCT 116 cells via the induction of apoptosis associated with mitochondrial pathway. Therefore, PaE may used as the potential target for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.133-140
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• 2012

The overall performance of BNR-MBR, so-called Anoxic-Anaerobic-Aerobic Membrane Bioreactor ($A^3$-MBR), developed for nutrient removal was studied to determine the efficiencies and mechanisms under different solid retention time (SRT). The reactor was fed by synthetic high-rise building wastewater with a COD:N:P ratio of 100:10:2.5. The results showed that TKN, TN and phosphorus removal by the system was higher than 95%, 93% and 80%, respectively. Nitrogen removal in the system was related to the simultaneous nitrification-denitrification (SND) reaction which removed all nitrogen forms in aerobic condition. SND reaction in the system occurred because of the large floc size formation. Phosphorus removal in the system related to the high phosphorus content in bacterial cells and the little effects of nitrate nitrogen on phosphorus release in the anaerobic condition. Therefore, high quality of treated effluent could be achieved with the $A^3$-MBR system for various water reuse purposes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.279-285
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• 2002

Phytase (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate phospho-hydrolase, EC 3.1.3.8) catalyzes the hydrolysis of phytate (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate) to release inorganic phosphate. A bacterial strain producing phytase was isolated from soil around a cattle shed. To identify the strain, cellular fatty acids profiles, the GC contents, a quinine-type analysis, and physiological test using an API 20NE kit were carried out. The strain was identified to be a genus of Pseudomonas sp. and named as Pseudomonas sp. YH40. The optimum culture condition for the maximum productivity of phytase by Pseudomonas sp. YH40 were attained in a culture medium composed of $1.0\%$ (w/v) glycerol, $2.0\%$ (w/v) peptone, and $0.2\%$ (w/v) $FeSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$. Within the optimal medium condition, the production of phytase became highest after 10 h of incubation, and the maximal phytase production by Pseudomonas sp. YH40 was observed at $37^{\circ}C$ and pH 6.0.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.1373-1382
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• 2021

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are a group of bacteria that can increase plant growth; but due to unfavorable environmental conditions, PGPR are biologically unstable and their survival rates in soil are limited. Therefore, the suitable application of PGPR as a plant growth stimulation is one of the significant challenges in agriculture. This study presents an intelligent formulation based on Bacillus velezensis VRU1 encapsulation enriched with nanoparticles that was able to control Rhizoctonia solani on the bean. The spherical structure of the capsule was observed based on the Scanning Electron Microscope image. Results indicated that with increasing gelatin concentration, the swelling ratio and moisture content were increased; and since the highest encapsulation efficiency and bacterial release were observed at a gelatin concentration of 1.5%, this concentration was considered in mixture with alginate for encapsulation. The application of this formulation which is based on encapsulation and nanotechnology appears to be a promising technique to deliver PGPR in soil and is more effective for plants.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1434-1443
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• 2019

Although chemical oxygen demand (COD) is an important issue for wastewater treatment, COD reduction with microalgae has been less studied compared to nitrogen or phosphorus removal. COD removal is not efficient in conventional wastewater treatment using microalgae, because the algae release organic compounds, thereby finally increasing the COD level. This study focused on enhancing COD removal and meeting the effluent standard for discharge by optimizing sludge inoculation timing, which was an important factor in forming a desirable algae/bacteria consortium for more efficient COD removal and higher biomass productivity. Activated sludge has been added to reduce COD in many studies, but its inoculation was done at the start of cultivation. However, when the sludge was added after 3 days of cultivation, at which point the COD concentration started to increase again, the algal growth and biomass productivity were higher than those of the initial sludge inoculation and control (without sludge). Algal and bacterial cell numbers measured by qPCR were also higher with sludge inoculation at 3 days later. In a semi-continuous cultivation system, a hydraulic retention time of 5 days with sludge inoculation resulted in the highest biomass productivity and N/P removal. This study achieved a further improved COD removal than the conventional microalgal wastewater treatment, by introducing bacteria in activated sludge at optimized timing.