Search results for "uci"
showing 10 items of 5317 documents
The Extracellular Vesicles of the Helminth Pathogen, Fasciola hepatica : Biogenesis Pathways and Cargo Molecules Involved in Parasite Pathogenesis
2015
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by parasites have important roles in establishing and maintaining infection. Analysis of the soluble and vesicular secretions of adult Fasciola hepatica has established a definitive characterisation of the total secretome of this zoonotic parasite. Fasciola secretes at least two sub-populations of EVs that differ according to size, cargo molecules and site of release from the parasite. The larger EVs are released from the specialised cells that line the parasite gastrodermus and contain the zymogen of the 37 kDa cathepsin L peptidase that performs a digestive function. The smaller exosome-like vesicle population originate from multivesicular bodies with…
Polyhydroxyethylaspartamide-spermine copolymers: Efficient vectors for gene delivery
2008
Abstract Aim of this paper was that to prepare biocompatible, polyaspartamide based copolymers containing spermine or spermine/hydrophobic side chains able to condense nucleic acids and to transfect mammalian cells. Copolymers were prepared starting from α,β-poly-(N-2-hydroxyethyl)- d , l -aspartamide (PHEA) and exploiting the reactive hydroxyl groups in the polymeric side chains by subsequent activation reactions to obtain PHEA-Spermine (PHEA-Spm) and PHEA-Spermine-Butyramide (PHEA-Spm-C4). Molecular, physico-chemical and biological characterization of copolymers and interpolyelectrolyte complexes with plasmid DNA was performed. Experimental results evidenced that these copolymers are able…
Hemoglobin loaded polymeric nanoparticles: preparation and characterizations.
2011
In the present work polymeric nanoparticles based on Poly (maleic anhydride-alt-butyl vinyl ether) 5% grafted with m-PEG (2000) and 95% grafted with 2-methoxyethanol (VAM41-PEG) were loaded with human hemoglobin (Hb) and characterized from a physicochemical point of view. The assessment of structural and functional features of the loaded Hb was performed and the effect of the introduction of different reducing agents as aimed at minimizing Hb oxidation during the nanoparticles formulation process, was also investigated. Nanoparticles possessing an average diameter of 138 ± 10 nm and physicochemical features suitable for this kind of application were successfully obtained. Although the oxida…
Measurement of lean body mass using bioelectrical impedance analysis: a consideration of the pros and cons
2017
The assessment of body composition has important applications in the evaluation of nutritional status and estimating potential health risks. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a valid method for the assessment of body composition. BIA is an alternative to more invasive and expensive methods like dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, computerized tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Bioelectrical impedance analysis is an easy-to-use and low-cost method for the estimation of fat-free mass (FFM) in physiological and pathological conditions. The reliability of BIA measurements is influenced by various factors related to the instrument itself, including electrodes, operator, subject, a…
Discrimination between Single Protein Conformations Using Dynamic SERS
2016
In biomedicine and biophysics, the discrimination of protein conformations is of critical importance for identifying the unfolding states in the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. We develop a dynamic Raman spectroscopic approach based on a statistical analysis of the time series of spectral fingerprints of single protein. We show that the unfolded state of bovine serum albumin can be identified in the time series using the fluctuations of the Raman bands of some amino acids, tryptophan, tyrosine, leucine, and histidine, acting as biomarkers. The statistical analysis induces also the sorting between physisorption and chemisorption events. This is confirmed by the spectral analysis of …
Biogenic amines in fermented foods
2010
Food-fermenting lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are generally considered to be non-toxic and non-pathogenic. Some species of LAB, however, can produce biogenic amines (BAs). BAs are organic, basic, nitrogenous compounds, mainly formed through decarboxylation of amino acids. BAs are present in a wide range of foods, including dairy products, and can occasionally accumulate in high concentrations. The consumption of food containing large amounts of these amines can have toxicological consequences. Although there is no specific legislation regarding BA content in many fermented products, it is generally assumed that they should not be allowed to accumulate. The ability of microorganisms to decarbox…
Towards the development of a fossil bone geochemical standard: An inter-laboratory study
2007
Ten international laboratories participated in an inter-laboratory comparison of a fossil bone composite with the objective of producing a matrix and structure-matched reference material for studies of the bio-mineralization of ancient fossil bone. We report the major and trace element compositions of the fossil bone composite, using in-situ method as well as various wet chemical digestion techniques. For major element concentrations, the intra-laboratory analytical precision (%RSDr) ranges from 7 to 18%, with higher percentages for Ti and K. The %RSDr are smaller than the inter-laboratory analytical precision (%RSDR; 100% was found for the high field strength elements (Hf, Th, Zr, Nb). The…
La evolución del creacionismo: del mito cosmogónico a la pseudociencia biológica
2013
El artículo intenta analizar la evolución histórica del creacionismo, describiendo las distintas fases que ha atravesado como relato o explicación sobre el origen del universo y la vida. Enfatiza la diferencia entre el discurso creacionista anterior a El origen de las especies y el posterior, al cual denomina ¿neocreacionismo¿ por su carácter antidarwinista o antievolucionista. También señala en su evolución dos transformaciones epistemológicas; la primera, de mero creacionismo a ciencia de la creación o creacionismo científico, y la segunda, de creacionismo científico a diseño inteligente. Con ello, completa un desarrollo histórico general en el cual el creacionismo, en su origen un mito c…
A new selenosteid placoderm from the Late Devonian of the eastern Anti-Atlas (Morocco) with preserved body outline and its ecomorphology
2022
Placoderms are an extinct group of early jawed vertebrates that play a key role in understanding the evolution of the gnathostome body plan, including the origin of novelties such as jaws, teeth, and pelvic fins. As placoderms have a poorly ossified axial skeleton, preservation of the mainly cartilaginous axial and fin elements is extremely rare, contrary to the heavily mineralized bones of the skull and thoracic armor. Therefore, the gross anatomy of the animals and body shape is only known from a few taxa, and reconstructions of the swimming function and ecology are speculative. Here, we describe articulated specimens preserving skull roofs, shoulder girdles, most fins, and body outlines …