Abstract Alkaline stress has been considered a major environmental threat to plant growth and agricultural production. Even though the mechanisms have been characterized in some plants, the information about the alkaline stress-induced defense responses in soybean is insufficient. To identify defense related genes, the transcriptional profiles of soybean seedlings were examined using RNA sequencing

Abstract Antibodies are key elements in routine immunological tests, having a long history in detection of plant pathogens due to their specificity, reliability and fast performance. Heavy chain-only antibodies (HCAbs), circulating in the blood of camels are IgG isotypes that lack the light (L) chains and the heavy (H) chain is depleted of the first constant domain (CH1). The HCAbs interact with the

Abstract To isolate nitrite-oxidizing bacteria to control the nitrite concentration in freshwater aquaculture systems, a Nitrobacter enrichment culture was obtained from a freshwater shrimp pond using a continuous enrichment and gradient dilution method. There was only one species of Nitrobacter in the enrichment culture, with an abundance of more than 99%. The Nitrobacter strain was identified as

Abstract Colorectal cancers are one of the most common types of cancer. Gastric intestinal metaplasia is considered a precancerous lesion that can progress into gastric cancer. Even though there are previous reports that Helicobacter pylori and intestinal metaplasia are related to colorectal adenomas, there are also studies stating the opposite. This study aimed explored the relationship between gastric

Abstract Einkorn (Triticum monococcum L. ssp. monococcum) is an ancient diploid wheat species with many useful traits and used as a wheat gene discovery model. In this research, a total of 41 diploid and tetraploid wheat accessions were tested using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. A total of 33 genotypes of T. monococcum along with four genotypes each of tetraploid wheat (T. dicoccon and T. durum)

Abstract Drug resistance and toxicity are the most widespread limitations in the pursuit of sufficient antitumor effectiveness and successful control of oncological diseases, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Herein the objective was to investigate some hematological side effects of the chemotherapeutic regimen FOLFOX-4, their relation to dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) levels and the associated

Abstract Contemporary genetic methods have not yet solved the ‘missing heritability’ problem of complex diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The impact of rare or less common variation on human complex diseases and traits remains to date barely investigated. In this study rare population variants detected using whole-exome sequencing were employed to examine how molecular pathways are prioritized

Abstract The purpose of this study was to experimentally measure and simulate thermal diffusion in the surrounding of specific dental drills with cylindrical and conical drills. The investigation was performed under different drilling conditions, with and without cooling and at different revolution speeds. During the experimental investigation, drilling into a polyurethane (PUR) foam block, was performed

Abstract Zinc deficiency in human body has gradually become a major challenge to public health in modern society. In our previous work, a novel polysaccharide from Inonotus obliquus IP3a was successfully isolated and purified. The preparation process of IP3a-Zn was optimized by response surface methodology based on single factor experiments. Characterization and antioxidant activities of IP3a-Zn were

Abstract The progress in next-generation sequencing (NGS) has transformed the discovery and development of microsatellite markers, particularly for understudied species. In this study, one of the NGS platforms adopted was restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) to identify and develop microsatellite markers for taro. A total of 8,490,604 clean reads were generated and assembled into 222

Abstract This study aimed to characterize and compare the latest generation multi-force Bio-active™ orthodontic archwires to determine if there is a change in their physicochemical and mechanical properties during orthodontic treatment. The physicochemical characterization of the archwires was done by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and laser-induced

Abstract Soybean plants have high protein content and can be used as a supplementary source of high-protein feed. To map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for the content of crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and dry weight of plant (DWP) in R2 stage of soybean, two recombinant inbred lines, RIL3613 and RIL6013, containing 134 and 156 RILs, derived from the cross

Abstract Dendrobium catenatum, which grows on the semi humid rocks in the mountains, has been at the top of the ‘Nine Immortals of China’ since ancient times. It is a kind of yin tonic medicine and its main active component is polysaccharide. Cellulose synthase-like D(CslD) genes were predicted to catalyse the biosynthesis of 1,4-β-d-glycan backbone of hemicelluloses, which plays fundamental roles

Abstract Bone loss is caused by inflammation and is mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines that control bone formation and bone resorption. The study aimed to determine the effect of secreted factors from human bone marrow-derived stromal cells (hBMSC) of no-heterotopic bone-forming capacity (hBMSC–Bone) cells on the differentiation potential of hBMSC which capable of creating bone in-vivo (hBMSC+Bone)

Abstract The use of different biotechnological applications has grown immensely over the previous years to almost double the industry’s size. There has been significant attention directed to the potential of the biotechnology industry and its imminent role in ensuring a country’s development. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is one of many countries planning to employ biotechnologies as a means of

Abstract Synthetic Biology, which began in the 1970s, is a rapidly growing, multidisciplinary field that aims at improving our capacity to design, assemble or develop biological molecules. Nowadays, instead of mapping a particular gene and transferring it to a deficient cell, scientists are building life from scratch in the absence of societal debate and regulatory oversight. This mini-review outlines

Abstract With CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology, human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSCs) were directionally induced to differentiate into parathyroid cells. The study provides the theoretical and experimental basis for the application of HUMSCs in the clinical treatment of parathyroid hypofunction. In this study the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology was used to introduce the PTH gene

Abstract Flower color is one of the most important qualitative characteristics of ornamental horticultural plants, which mainly depends on anthocyanins and carotenoids. Modification of flower color in ornamental plants involves many aspects, including complicated structural gens, transcription factors and metabolic pathways. Anthocyanins are important secondary metabolites in the flavonoid biosynthesis

Abstract Centaurea is a value-ultimate genus of medicinal plants showing high diversification levels, especially within the Mediterranean basin, and is still traditionally recognized as a complicated taxon. So far, few studies utilizing molecular markers have been done on Centaurea spp. towards a better dissection of its phylogeny and accurate assessment of genetic diversity. Here, two functional marker

Abstract Ochradenus arabicus is a significant therapeutic plant which grows in desert zones of Saudi Arabia. It has antimicrobial, anticancer, cancer prevention, antidiabetic, allopathic and pabulum properties. The present study evaluated the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) utilizing the leaf concentrate of plant O. arabicus having novel ethnomedicinal potential. The incorporated AgNPs

Abstract In this study, actinobacteria isolated from Sarıkum Lake sediment were characterized (Sinop-Turkey). A total of 48 actinobacteria were isolated using ten selective media with the dilution-plating method. The phylogenetic analysis according to 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that 40% of the isolated strains belong to the widely distributed genus of Streptomyces, 36% belong to genus of Micromonospora

Abstract Methods for prediction of fluid responsiveness are needed during shock resuscitation. Fluid therapy remains a cornerstone in the treatment of shock and influences the outcomes directly. Excess or insufficient fluid administration is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Prediction of fluid responsiveness means that a hemodynamic variable is used to determine how likely a patient

Abstract Yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae, like other microbes in nature, respond to the unavailability of nutrients with entrance in quiescent/G0 state. These cells exist in non-dividing, latent form by maintaining the cellular metabolism at a low level but still able to sense and adapt to environmental stresses. Their quiescent status characteristics are likely close to those of tissues and organs

Abstract The evaluation of climate plasticity and content of free amino acids, sugars and fatty acids in Bulgarian soybean cultivars were used as an innovative approach. The field performance, expression and metabolomic profiles of leaves, green seeds and mature seeds of plants grown from low temperature pre-treated and not-treated seeds were assessed by real-time quantitative reverse transcription

Abstract Fatty acids (FAs) in oilseeds are important for human health. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is a popular analytical technology for FAs measurement. FAs need to be derivatized into fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), which is essential for GC-MS analysis. The previous methods for methylation of FAs usually include reaction at high temperature and need specific vessels, for which

Abstract Diclofenac is one of the most prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for acute and chronic inflammatory conditions. Taking into consideration the extensive use of diclofenac, the crucial role of inflammation in tumorigenesis and data on the effects of NSAIDs on cancer cell lines, we investigated the cytotoxic potential of diclofenac on a panel of human cell lines originating

Abstract In our previous study, we firstly cloned the gene of a novel ReNHase (NHase from Rhodococcus erythropolis CCM2595), and the strain was shown to degrade only phenol, hydroxybenzoate, p-chlorophenol, aniline and other aromatic compounds. Here in, we further purified the ReNHase from R. erythropolis CCM2595 and detected its properties of biodegradation. We constructed a plasmid with the gene

Abstract CO2 application is one of the important ways to promote crop growth and increase yield, especially for facility crop cultivation. Since carrot is a widespread vegetable, the area of off-season facility cultivation has been increasing in recent years. Jasmonic acid (JA) is a signal molecule that responds quickly to external stimulation in plants, so it is very important to study the JA metabolism

Abstract Salt stress is an important factor restricting crop growth. Thus, genes related to plant responses to high salinity at the sprout stage of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) should be identified and characterized. In this study, on the basis of the common bean germination index, 0.4% NaCl and day 5 of the incubation period were selected as the optimal salt concentration and sampling time, respectively

Abstract Antibiotics (ATBs) induce dysbiosis of the gut microbiota by altering the diversity and composition of the microbiota, which mediates the efficacy and toxicity of cancer therapy. The influence of dysbiosis induced by ATB administration on primary resistance to chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer (GC) has been rarely studied. We evaluated the effect of ATB administration on

Abstract In previous study, we identified a novel protein elicitor AMEP412 from Bacillus subtilis BU412, which could trigger plant defense response and induce systemic acquired resistance against diseases. In this paper, the production of the new elicitor was optimised. First, optimal carbon source and nitrogen source were determined as glucose and yeast extract by single factor test. Then, effects

Abstract Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is one of the most important vegetable crops worldwide. The Balkans, including Bulgaria, are considered as the secondary centre of pepper diversity especially for C. annuum, where local forms with diverse phenotypes and qualities have formed due to the specific agro-climatic conditions and breeding traditions. Evaluation of the genetic diversity and structure of

Abstract The main challenge in bioreactor scale-up is maintaining the bioprocess productivity. The aim of the present work was to scale-up the protein production with enhanced proteolytic activity by phosphate addition in Jacaratia mexicana cell culture, by using the shear rate as scale-up criterion. The volumetric proteolytic activity in the J. mexicana cell culture in shake flask increased 1.9 times

Abstract As an essential micronutrient, manganese (Mn) participates in diverse processes during plant growth and development. Excess accumulation of Mn in plants is toxic, and soybean (Glycine max) growth and production are severely limited by Mn toxicity. However, the molecular basis in adaptation to Mn toxicity for soybean remains largely unknown. In this study, RNA-seq analysis on soybean leaves

Abstract Cell senescence is a continuous irreversible process, ending with cell death. Long-term in vitro cultivation leads to decreased proliferation ability, disruption in cellular morphology and function in somatic cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the markers of cell cycle arrest and senescence after long-term cultivation of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSC). The cells

Abstract Here we report the discovery and identification of antibacterial substances from the secondary metabolites of a new strain Bacillus velezensis BA-26. The whole genome of B. velezensis BA-26 was sequenced. Its genome data were annotated, and four potentially unknown gene clusters and nine known secondary metabolite synthetic gene clusters were analyzed and excavated by antiSMASH software. Based

Abstract Sugar metabolism is among the most important metabolic processes in soybean; it not only affects growth and development, but also plays a role in drought resistance. As a plant biological regulator, exogenous melatonin is assumed to regulate sugar metabolism. Here, physiological and transcriptomic approaches were used to determine the effects of melatonin on physiological indices and key genes

Abstract The aim of the present investigation was to develop a basic methodological scheme for distinguishing organic, biodynamic and conventional areas of winter wheat cultivation, based on the satellite images from Sentinel-2. The target areas are located in the experimental field of the Institute of Agriculture in Karnobat, Bulgaria. The plant condition was determined on a three-point rating scale

Abstract Pretreated waste Streptomyces fradiae biomass was used as biosorbent to remove tetracycline (TC) from model aqueous solutions. The biosorption study was conducted in a batch system to evaluate the impact of initial pH, biosorbent dosage, initial TC concentration and contact time. Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) models were applied to describe the biosorption isotherm equilibrium

Abstract Anion-exchange chromatography (Hamilton, PRP-X100) with hydride-generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS) is commonly used for selenium (Se) speciation analysis in environmental and biological samples. However, retentions of Se species are often different with different mobile phases. To address it, this study systematically investigated mobile phases based on ammonium salts to

Abstract The polyphenol quercetin is associated with numerous beneficial health effects in various pathologies such as oxidative stress, neurodegenerative disorders, inflammation, neoplastic processes, age-related diseases, and so on. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of quercetin and its implication in the pharmaceutical practice require additional clarification. In this study

Abstract Cannabis sativa L. (cannabis) is a medicinal plant and has been used for many years for the treatment of epilepsy (EP), which is a common neurological disease. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of cannabis action in EP, with emphasis on the leading compounds, targets and pathways. In this study, systematic pharmacology and bioinformatics approaches were employed to identify the

Abstract In the recent years, the application of new antitumor drugs has focused on the replacement of conventional chemotherapeutics with compounds derived from natural products. Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the 113 cannabinoids derived from the plant Cannabis sativa and is characterized with complex and not entirely understood biological function. Unlike the other most abundant cannabinoid in Cannabis

Abstract Sanghuangporus baumii, a macrofungus belonging to the Hymenochaetaceae family, has been widely used as a traditional medicine in Asia for centuries. Triterpenoids in S. baumii contribute to the pharmacological activities, however, their content is low in the fruiting body. Phosphomevalonate kinase (PMK) is an important rate-limiting enzyme in the triterpenoids synthesis pathway. In this study

Abstract This study explored the nematicidal activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), ascorbic (AA) and salicylic acid (SA) compared with Mycorrihizin (Myco) against Meloidogyne javanica infecting eggplants. The characterization and size confirmation of the AgNPs was done by ultraviolet–visual (UV–vis) spectrophotometry, surface zeta-potential and transmission electron microscopy. The results illustrated

Abstract Among eukaryotic transcription factors, the basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor is the most widely distributed and the most conserved protein. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is the largest forage crop in the world. However, few studies have evaluated the bZIP family in Alfalfa. In this study, bZIP genes in Alfalfa were identified, with 57 MsbZIPs being distributed into 11 sub-families

Abstract The study was focussed on the inhibitory mechanism associated with the ability of an endophytic bacterium - Bacillus altitudinis Q7, obtained from Ginkgo biloba, to inhibit the growth of Alternaria alternata in vitro. A fungus, identified as Alternaria alternata was isolated from the rotten part of an apple. One of the endophytes was identified as Bacillus altitudinis Q7. Effect of Bacillus

Abstract Sanghuangporus baumii (Pilát) (Zhou and Dai), a traditional Chinese medicinal fungus, has been confirmed to produce triterpenoids, which possess a good anti-cancer effect. However, the triterpenoids yield of S. baumii is low and its biosynthetic mechanism is not clearly understood. To investigate the triterpenoids biosynthetic mechanism, the whole cDNA sequence of the HMG-CoA reductase (HMGR)

Abstract The tree Cryptomeria japonica var. sinensis is native to China and is an important forest species widely used for wood production. Here, we sequenced the complete chloroplast (cp) genomes of six wild and six cultivated accessions of this tree. The 12 cp genomes ranged from 131,379 to 131,528 bp. The GC content was 35.4%, similar to other gymnosperm species. The cp genomes lacked typical inverted

Abstract In this study, we present initial data for the potential anti-cancer effects of standardized Bulgarian Petasites hybridus root extract against breast cancer cells. The results showed that Butterbur extract (BE) caused a dose-dependent selective reduction in viability with concomitant increase of apoptosis in human breast cancer cells after 72 h treatment. We found the highest cytotoxicity

Abstract With the advance of sequencing technology, the number of sequenced genomes has been rapidly increasing. However, the functions of a large number of genes, including gene families with domains of unknown functions (DUF), still remain unclear. In this study, we analysed eight members of OsDUF617 (OsDUF617.1-OsDUF617.8) in rice Nipponbare. By phylogenetic analysis, all these OsDUF617 proteins

Abstract The functions of a large number of genes, including gene families with domains of unknown functions (DUF), still remain unclear. In this study, we analyzed four members of OsDUF1664 (OsDUF1664.1-OsDUF1664.4) in rice Nipponbare. By phylogenetic analysis, DUF1664 members in rice and Arabidopsis were classified into three major groups (I, II, III). Under drought conditions, the expression level

Abstract Different feeding patterns exhibit completely different and heritable growth properties in livestock, but the underlying epigenetic mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we investigated genome-wide DNA-methylation and gene expression under grazing and confinement regimen feeding strategies with Lvliang Black goat. We identified 102 differently expressed genes and 7,833 differentially methylated

Abstract Melatonin has been approved as a sleep medication in Europe since 2007. The pharmacological dosages of this substance are much higher than the physiological ones, so it is no surprise that it has potential for many adverse effects. In children melatonin has been used for many years off-label, but in 2018 the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) granted paediatric-use marketing

Abstract The coronavirus pandemic affects the lifestyle, mental and physical health of people, especially those at direct risk of becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2. In the period from November 2020 to February 2021, data were collected from 296 healthcare workers through the GAD-7 generalized anxiety questionnaire, as well as through self-assessment of their physical and mental health status, and the

Abstract Spinosad (spinosyn A and spinosyn D), the secondary metabolite produced by Saccharopolyspora spinosa, is a potent insecticide with low effects on the environment and mammals. Strategies such as metabolic engineering, mutagenesis and fermentation process optimization have been employed for its production enhancement. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR) is one of the preferred

Abstract Glioma is the most prevalent and lethal type of primary tumor of central nervous system. The regulatory role of calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D3, has been determined in various cellular processes including cell survival and apoptosis. To study the impact of AKT-pathway inhibition with or without calcitriol combination on glioma cell viability, the effects of AT7867 (AKT-pathway inhibitor)

Abstract Peel colour is an important economic trait in blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) and is determined by the composition and concentration of anthocyanins. Anthocyanin accumulation within the blueberry peel is significantly affected by light. In the present study, the response mechanism of blueberry anthocyanin synthesis to various light intensities was explored in an effort to identify candidate genes

Abstract Common bean is an important legume crop having high quality protein, micronutrients, vitamins and antioxidants, which makes it a “grain of hope” for poor communities. Hence, a good number of breeding activities have been performed on the improvement of various key traits for years. However, recent advancements in molecular markers, sequencing technologies and the completion of the common bean

Abstract This study compared the clinical outcomes of amniotic membrane transplantation with and without cultured limbal epithelium for persistent corneal ulcers. The study included 30 patients that were assigned to either human amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) only or a two-step cultured limbal epithelial transplant (CLET) with amniotic membrane carrier. The patients underwent a comprehensive