High-efficiency decomposition of eggshell membrane by a keratinase from Meiothermus taiwanensis.

Eggshell membrane (ESM), a plentiful biological waste, consists of collagen-like proteins and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) such as hyaluronic acid (HA). Here we used a keratinase (oeMtaker)-mediated system to decompose ESM. The best reaction condition was established by incubating the solution containing oeMtaker, sodium sulfite, and ESM with a weight ratio of 1:120:600.

A novel fluorescent nanoprobe that based on poly(thymine) single strand DNA-templated copper nanocluster for the detection of hydrogen peroxide.

In this paper, a label-free fluorescence nanoprobe is constructed based on poly(thymine) single strand DNA-templated Copper nanocluster (denote as: T-CuNCs) for the detection of hydrogen peroxide. In the assay, the fluorescent T-CuNCs will generate though the reaction of Cu, poly(thymine) and sodium ascorbate. However, the hydroxyl radical (OH) will generated in the presence of HO, which is able to induced the oxidative lesions of poly(thymine) single chain DNA and lead to the poly(thymine) being splitted into shorter or single oligonucleotide fragments and lose the ability to template the fluorescent T-CuNCs again.

Capsular Polysaccharide Is Involved in NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation by Klebsiella pneumoniae Serotype K1.

Klebsiella pneumoniae (strain 43816, K2 serotype) induces interleukin-1β (IL-1β) secretion, but neither the bacterial factor triggering the activation of these inflammasome-dependent responses nor whether they are mediated by NLRP3 or NLRC4 is known. In this study, we identified a capsular polysaccharide (K1-CPS) in K. pneumoniae (NTUH-K2044, K1 serotype), isolated from a primary pyogenic liver abscess (PLA K.

Bamboo vinegar decreases inflammatory mediator expression and NLRP3 inflammasome activation by inhibiting reactive oxygen species generation and protein kinase C-α/δ activation.

Bamboo vinegar (BV), a natural liquid derived from the condensation produced during bamboo charcoal production, has been used in agriculture and as a food additive, but its application to immune modulation has not been reported. Here, we demonstrated that BV has anti-inflammatory activities both in vitro and in vivo. BV reduced inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and nitric oxide levels in, and interleukin-6 secretion by, lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages without affecting tumor necrosis factor-α secretion and cyclooxygenase-2 expression.

Lipopolysaccharide/adenosine triphosphate-mediated signal transduction in the regulation of NLRP3 protein expression and caspase-1-mediated interleukin-1β secretion.

Objective: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a critical role in the regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome activation. However, the ROS-mediated signaling pathways controlling NLRP3 inflammasome activation are not well defined.

Methods: Using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) activated murine macrophages as the testing model, cytokine release and protein expression were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot, respectively.

Application of power plant flue gas in a photobioreactor to grow Spirulina algae, and a bioactivity analysis of the algal water-soluble polysaccharides.

A novel photobioreactor was developed with a total volume of 30 m(3) which required merely 100 m(3) of land footprint. The bioreactor was capable of utilizing CO(2) in the flue gas of a power plant as the carbon source for the growth of a freshwater alga, Spirulina platensis, mitigating the greenhouse effect caused by the same amount of CO(2) discharge. Results of the study indicated that the photobioreactor was capable of fixing 2,234 kg of CO(2) per annum.

High glucose increases nitric oxide generation in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages by enhancing activity of protein kinase C-α/δ and NF-κB.

Objective: Although several mechanisms by which hyperglycemia modulate inflammation have been proposed, it remains unclear how hyperglycemia regulates inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Methods: We hypothesized that hyperglycemia might interplay with LPS to modulate the generation of an inflammatory mediator. RAW 264.

Composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of leaf and twig essential oils of Litsea akoensis from Taiwan.

This study analyzed the hydrodistilled essential oils in the leaves and twigs of Litsea akoensis to determine composition and yield. Seventy-one and 40 compounds were identified in the leaf and twig oils, respectively. The main components of leaf oil were limonene (18.

Composition and anti-wood-decay fungal activities of the leaf essential oil of Machilus philippinensis from Taiwan.

The hydrodistilled leaf essential oil of Machilus philippinensis was analyzed to determine its composition and yield. Seventy compounds were identified, the main ones being beta-caryophyllene (13.6%), alpha-pinene (12.

n-Butylidenephthalide induced apoptosis in the A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cell line by coupled down-regulation of AP-2alpha and telomerase activity.

Aim: To investigate the role of hTERT gene expression and AP-2alpha in n-butylidenephthalide (n-BP)-induced apoptosis in A549 lung cancer cells.

Methods: Viability of A549 cells was measured by MTT assay. Protein expression was determined by Western blot.