More is Not Always Better in Hair Growth Factors. Epidermal Growth Factor: Hair Growth Factor Involved in Alopecia Areata Pathogenesis.

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is the second most frequent nonscarring alopecia after androgenetic alopecia; the trigger factor induces changes in the growth plate of hair bulb and leads to premature termination of anagen phase. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) can be the key molecule that participates in initiation and suppression of normal hair growth cycle. The role of EGF in the pathogenesis of AA is still uncertain.

Comparison of Free and Immobilized L-asparaginase Synthesized by Gamma-Irradiated Penicillium cyclopium.

Gamma irradiation is used on Penicillium cyclopium in order to obtain mutant cells of high L-asparaginase productivity. Using gamma irradiation dose of 4 KGy, P. cyclopium cells yielded L-asparaginase with extracellular enzyme activity of 210.

Effect of an oxygen-tolerant bifurcating butyryl coenzyme A dehydrogenase/electron-transferring flavoprotein complex from Clostridium difficile on butyrate production in Escherichia coli.

The butyrogenic genes from Clostridium difficile DSM 1296(T) have been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The enzymes acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) C-acetyltransferase, 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase, crotonase, phosphate butyryltransferase, and butyrate kinase and the butyryl-CoA dehydrogenase complex composed of the dehydrogenase and two electron-transferring flavoprotein subunits were individually produced in E. coli and kinetically characterized in vitro.

Detection of myxovirus resistance protein A in lichen planus lesions and its relationship to hepatitis C virus.

Background: Lichen planus (LP) is an inflammatory disease of the skin and oral mucosa. Studies suggested that type I interferons (IFNs) could play an important role in the cytotoxic inflammation in LP. Type I IFNs stimulate the production of several IFN-induced proteins including myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA protein).

Studies on the application of immobilization technique for the production of cyclosporin A by a local strain of Aspergillus terreus.

The formation of cyclosporin A (Cy A) by immobilized spores and mycelia of Aspergillus terreus was investigated. Different carriers were tested as immobilizing carriers, whereby Ca-alginate was selected for further experimentation. The role of alginate concentration, biomass weight, pH value of the cultivation medium, repeated utilization of the immobilized fungus as well as the supplementation of different amino acid precursors were studied.

Role of some fermentation parameters on cyclosporin A production by a new isolate of Aspergillus terreus.

A local isolate of Aspergillus terreus was selected among different microorganisms as a new cyclosporin A (Cy A) producing culture. The formation of Cy A was investigated under different fermentation conditions (including selection of the cultivation medium, fermentation time course, inoculum nature, medium volume, agitation rate, pH value). Relatively high Cy A productivities were maintained when the fermentation process was carried out using a medium composed of (g/L): glucose, 50; bactopeptone, 10; KH(2)PO(4), 5; KCl, 2.

Protein-enriched feedstuff from beet pulp.

Of five moulds that were cultivated in a medium containing beet pulp, Trichoderma reesel was superior in protein production (34%) and in conversion of pulp to proteins (18% w/w). Protein ylelds were improved by up to 49% by pre-treatment of the beet pulp, adjustment of the solld/llquid and liquld/solid ratios, the incubation period, nitrogen level and addition of some trace elements as well as with inoculum size. The protein obtained contained all essential amino acids and compared favourably with those of the FAO guldeline and of soy bean oll meal.

Utilization of beet molasses for sterol production by some moulds.

Different moulds were cultivated in beet molasses (BM)-containing medium. Penicillium crustosum Thom was superior to the other moulds in total sterols production (4% on dry weight basis), efficiency of convertibility of the BM sugars to sterols (2%), total lipids (19.4%) and unsaponified lipids (13.

Production of riboflavin (vitamin B2) by hydrocarbon-utilizing yeasts.

Candida guilliermondii Wickerham was found to be superior to the other yeasts tested for growth yields and riboflavin production when cultivated on different carbohydrate and hydrocarbon-containing media. Among the refined petroleum fractions and cheap hydrocarbons tested, solar was selected as a carbon source best suited for the fermentation process. The highest growth yield and riboflavin output (10.

Riboflavin formation by mould fungi cultivated on hydrocarbon-containing media.

The potentiality of some mould fungi, isolated from petroleum sludge to produce riboflavin when grown on hydrocarbon-containing media was tested. Aspergillus terreus was found to be distinguished by its capacity to produce riboflavin when cultivated on the different culture media tested. It was able to grow more luxuriantly and produce good riboflavin output on solar-containing medium.

Some biochemical aspects of the enzymic transformation of cortisol with Bacillus cereus.

The role of a variety of compounds including organic acids, vitamins, growth promoting substances, purines and pyrimidines in the bioconversion of cortisol with Bacillus cereus was investigated. The transformation of cortisol to prednisolone and pregn-4-en-11beta, 17alpha,20beta, 21-tetrol-3-one was affected by these compounds in different manners. The enzymatic delta1-dehydrogenation reaction was greatly induced with fumarate, menadione, and xanthine treatments.

Formation and some factors influencing the activity of progesterone hydroxylases by Aspergillus niger.

The formation of progesterone hydroxylases by Aspergillus niger 173 was investigated. The constitution of the fermentation medium influenced both the yield and the type of enzymes catalyzing the transformation of progesterone. The enzyme yield also varied with the pH value at which induction was performed as well as with the buffer used.