Search results for "agricultural and biological sciences"
showing 10 items of 1704 documents
Overview and Update on Extracellular Vesicles: Considerations on Exosomes and their Application in Modern Medicine
2022
In recent years, there has been a rapid growth in the knowledge of cell-secreted extracellular vesicle functions. They are membrane enclosed and loaded with proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and other biomolecules. After being released into the extracellular environment, some of these vesicles are delivered to recipient cells; consequently, the target cell may undergo physiological or pathological changes. Thus, extracellular vesicles as biological nano-carriers, have a pivotal role in facilitating long-distance intercellular communication. Understanding the mechanisms that mediate this communication process is important not only for basic science but also in medicine. Indeed, extracellular …
Anther culture in Citrus clementina: a way to regenerate tri-haploids
2005
Abstract. Regenerants from anther culture of Citrus clementina Hort. ex Tan. cvv. Nules, SRA 63, and Monreal were obtained in different experiments from 1994 to 2002. Genetic analysis of 37 such regenerants was carried out using 4 microsatellite markers that were heterozygous in the parental genotypes. The results showed that in all cases but one the regenerants carried only one or the other allele of the parental genotype, and were therefore homozygous and produced through a process of gametophytic embryogenesis. Ploidy analysis by flow cytometry of 94 regenerants showed that as many as 82% of them were tri-haploids, rather than haploids or doubled-haploids as expected, with other ploidy …
Recovery from Food Waste-Biscuit Doughs Enriched with Pomegranate Peel Powder as a Model of Fortified Aliment
2022
This research was funded by the "IEV Programme de Cooperation Italie-Tunisie 2014-2020, Re-lancer une nouvelle economie (Re-Ne)". EU project code C-5-3.1-39.
Diversity of Pharmacological Properties in Chinese and European Medicinal Plants: Cytotoxicity, Antiviral and Antitrypanosomal Screening of 82 Herbal…
2011
In an extensive screening, the antiviral, antitrypanosomal and anticancer properties of extracts from 82 plants used in traditional Chinese medicine and European phytomedicine were determined. Several promising plants that were highly effective against hepatitis B virus (HBV), bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV)—a flavivirus used here as a surrogate in vitro model of hepatitis C virus, trypanosomes (Trypanosoma brucei brucei) and several cancer cell lines were identified. Six aqueous extracts from Celosia cristata, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Houttuynia cordata, Selaginella tamariscina, Alpinia galanga and Alpinia oxyphylla showed significant antiviral effects against BVDV without toxic effects …
New Method of DNA Isolation from Two Food Additives Suitable for Authentication in Polymerase Chain Reaction Assays
2005
Locust bean gum and guar gum are galactomannans used as additives (E 410 and E 412, respectively) in the food industry as stabilizing agents. Analytical discrimination between the two additives in gums and foods is now feasible by molecular techniques. However, only complex and time-consuming DNA isolation protocols are available to date. We have developed simple improved protocols to obtain enough DNA suitable for PCR amplification from a few milligrams of commercial E 410 and E 412 additives (containing more than 75% polysaccharides). The suspension of additives in water or 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.5, efficiently recovers DNA suitable for authentication in PCR assays. However, the Tris method…
Iron Bioavailability in Fortified Fruit Beverages Using Ferritin Synthesis by Caco-2 Cells
2008
The bioavailability of iron from fortified fruit beverages was estimated by an in vitro system including enzymatic digestion, iron uptake by Caco-2 cells, and ferritin formation determined via an enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess iron bioavailability as influenced by the presence of known dietary promoter and inhibitory factors in fortified fruit beverages containing iron and/or zinc and/or skimmed milk. No negative effect (p > 0.05) derived from micronutrient interaction can be ascribed to zinc supplementation on iron availability. Besides, the presence of caseinophosphopeptides derived from casein hydrolysis during digestion may confer enhancing …
Bioavailability of calcium from milk-based formulas and fruit juices containing milk and cereals estimated by in vitro methods (solubility, dialyzabi…
2005
An adequate calcium intake during the first years of life is needed for normal growth and development and to prevent rickets. The bioavailability of calcium from infant foods (milk-based formulas and fruit juices containing milk and cereals, FMC), the dietary sources of calcium in these stages of life, has been estimated on the basis of simulated gastrointestinal digestion and calcium solubility and dialyzability values and on the efficiency of transport and uptake by Caco-2 cells. The ranking of samples according to calcium bioavailability depends on the use of solubility or dialyzability as criterion. On the basis of the former, the highest value corresponded to adapted formulas and the l…
BOTH MALE AND FEMALE SEXUAL ORNAMENTS REFLECT OFFSPRING PERFORMANCE IN A FISH
2010
Secondary sexual characters are often expressed in both sexes (mutual ornamentation), but are less often studied simultaneously. We studied the adaptive signaling function of male and female ornamentation in a mutually ornamented fish, the whitefish Coregonus lavaretus. In an experimental design in which nongenetic environmental effects were minimized, we found that highly ornamented females, males, and their parental combinations had offspring with better swimming performance and predator-avoidance ability than less ornamented individuals or combinations. Furthermore, highly ornamented females had larger offspring that also had higher yolk volume than less ornamented individuals. Offspring…
Spent Coffee Grounds Extract, Rich in Mannooligosaccharides, Promotes a Healthier Gut Microbial Community in a Dose-Dependent Manner.
2019
Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages around the world, and as a consequence, spent coffee grounds are a massively produced residue that is causing environmental problems. Reusing them is a major focus of interest presently. We extracted mannooligosaccharides (MOS) from spent coffee grounds and submitted them to an in vitro fermentation with human feces. Results obtained suggest that MOS are able to exert a prebiotic effect on gut microbiota by stimulating the growth of some beneficial genera, such as Barnesiella, Odoribacter, Coprococcus, Butyricicoccus, Intestinimonas, Pseudoflavonifractor, and Veillonella. Moreover, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) production also increased in a dos…
Effects of anthropogenic stress on hosts and their microbiomes: Treated wastewater alters performance and gut microbiome of a key detritivore ( Asell…
2023
Human activity is a major driver of ecological and evolutionary change in wild populations and can have diverse effects on eukaryotic organisms as well as on environmental and host-associated microbial communities. Although host-microbiome interactions can be a major determinant of host fitness, few studies consider the joint responses of hosts and their microbiomes to anthropogenic changes. In freshwater ecosystems, wastewater is a widespread anthropogenic stressor that represents a multifarious environmental perturbation. Here, we experimentally tested the impact of treated wastewater on a keystone host (the freshwater isopod Asellus aquaticus) and its gut microbiome. We used a semi-natur…