Ecology and biogeochemistry of the microbial underworld in two sister soda lakes.

Background: Approximately 3.7 billion years ago, microbial life may have emerged in phosphate-rich salty ponds. Surprisingly, analogs of these environments are present in alkaline lake systems, recognized as highly productive biological ecosystems.

Chitosan-Functionalized Lithium Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Magnetic Hyperthermia Applications.

In this study, various compositions of α-FeO, LiFeO, where = 0.1, 0.3, and 0.

Coordinated proteome change precedes cell lysis and death in a mat-forming cyanobacterium.

Cyanobacteria form dense multicellular communities that experience transient conditions in terms of access to light and oxygen. These systems are productive but also undergo substantial biomass turnover through cell death, supplementing heightened heterotrophic respiration. Here we use metagenomics and metaproteomics to survey the molecular response of a mat-forming cyanobacterium undergoing mass cell lysis after exposure to dark and anoxic conditions.

Viral diversity and dynamics and CRISPR-Cas-mediated immunity in a robust alkaliphilic cyanobacterial consortium.

Biotechnology applications utilizing the function of microbial communities have become increasingly important solutions as we strive for sustainable applications. Although viral infections are known to have a significant impact on microbial turnover and nutrient cycling, viral dynamics have remained largely overlooked in these engineered communities. Predatory perturbations to the functional stability of these microbial biotechnology applications must be investigated in order to design more robust applications.

Functionalized manganese iron oxide nanoparticles: a dual potential magneto-chemotherapeutic cargo in a 3D breast cancer model.

Localized heat generation from manganese iron oxide nanoparticles (MIONPs) conjugated with chemotherapeutics under the exposure of an alternating magnetic field (magneto-chemotherapy) can revolutionize targeted breast cancer therapy. On the other hand, the lack of precise control of local temperature and adequate MIONP distribution in laboratory settings using the conventional two-dimensional (2D) cellular models has limited its further translation in tumor sites. Our current study explored advanced 3D tumor models as a promising alternative to replicate the complete range of tumor characteristics.

Application of Mn Fe FeO ( = 0-1) Nanoparticles in Magnetic Fluid Hyperthermia: Correlation with Cation Distribution and Magnetostructural Properties.

Optimization of manganese-substituted iron oxide nanoferrites having the composition Mn Fe FeO ( = 0-1) has been achieved by the chemical co-precipitation method. The crystallite size and phase purity were analyzed from X-ray diffraction. With increases in Mn concentration, the crystallite size varies from 5.

Single-step antibiotic-mediated synthesis of kanamycin-conjugated gold nanoparticles for broad-spectrum antibacterial applications.

Widespread and irrational use of antibiotics results in the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Thus, there is a need to develop novel antibacterial agents in order to replace conventional antibiotics and to increase the efficacy of already existing antibiotics by combining them with other materials. Herein, a single-step antibiotic-mediated synthesis of antibiotic-conjugated gold nanoparticles is reported.

CANT-HYD: A Curated Database of Phylogeny-Derived Hidden Markov Models for Annotation of Marker Genes Involved in Hydrocarbon Degradation.

Many pathways for hydrocarbon degradation have been discovered, yet there are no dedicated tools to identify and predict the hydrocarbon degradation potential of microbial genomes and metagenomes. Here we present the Calgary approach to ANnoTating HYDrocarbon degradation genes (CANT-HYD), a database of 37 HMMs of marker genes involved in anaerobic and aerobic degradation pathways of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. Using this database, we identify understudied or overlooked hydrocarbon degradation potential in many phyla.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Polyethylene Glycol-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Radiotherapy Application.

Background: Treatment methods for cancer that are widely being utilized affect both normal and cancerous cells. We report synthesis polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated FeO nanoparticles (NPs) and its characteristic properties and appraise its potential as a promising radiation sensitizer candidate in radiotherapy that improves cancer treatment and reduces side effects of radiation.

Materials And Methods: PEG-coated FeO NPs were synthesized by chemical coprecipitation method and characterized by studying their size, structure, functional group, stability, magnetization, and cytotoxicity using different techniques.

Nanomedicine-driven molecular targeting, drug delivery, and therapeutic approaches to cancer chemoresistance.

Cancer cell resistance to chemotherapeutics (chemoresistance) poses a significant clinical challenge that oncology research seeks to understand and overcome. Multiple anticancer drugs and targeting agents can be incorporated in nanomedicines, in addition to different treatment modalities, forming a single nanoplatform that can be used to address tumor chemoresistance. Nanomedicine-driven molecular assemblies using nucleic acids, small interfering (si)RNAs, miRNAs, and aptamers in combination with stimuli-responsive therapy improve the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of the drugs and enhance their accumulation in tumors and, thus, therapeutic outcomes.

Computational approaches in viral ecology.

Dynamic virus-host interactions play a critical role in regulating microbial community structure and function. Yet for decades prior to the genomics era, viruses were largely overlooked in microbial ecology research, as only low-throughput culture-based methods of discovering viruses were available. With the advent of metagenomics, culture-independent techniques have provided exciting opportunities to discover and study new viruses.

MRI Guided Magneto-chemotherapy with High-Magnetic-Moment Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Cancer Theranostics.

Elevating and monitoring the temperature of tumors using magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) still presents a challenge in magnetic hyperthermia therapy. The efficient heating of tumor volume can be achieved by preparing MNPs with high magnetization values. The next-generation approach to magnetic resonance image (MRI)-guided magneto-chemotherapy of cancer based on high-magnetic-moment iron oxide nanoparticles is proposed.

Hypermethylated CpG sites in the MTR gene promoter in preterm placenta.

Aim: Altered maternal one-carbon metabolism influences placental DNA methylation patterns and 'programs' the fetus for noncommunicable diseases in adult life.

Experimental Procedures: Levels of plasma folate, vitamin B, homocysteine, mRNA and protein levels of MTHFR and MTR enzymes in placenta were compared among women delivering preterm (n = 83) and term (n = 75). MTR promoter CpG methylation was undertaken.

Variable Methylation Potential in Preterm Placenta: Implication for Epigenetic Programming of the Offspring.

Children born preterm are reported to be at increased risk of developing noncommunicable diseases in later life. Altered placental DNA methylation patterns are implicated in fetal programming of adult diseases. Our earlier animal studies focus on micronutrients (folic acid, vitamin B) and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) that interact in the 1 carbon cycle, thereby influencing methylation reactions.

Evaluation and synthesis of polar aryl- and heteroaryl spiroazetidine-piperidine acetamides as ghrelin inverse agonists.

Several polar heteroaromatic acetic acids and their piperidine amides were synthesized and evaluated as ghrelin or type 1a growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a) inverse agonists. Efforts to improve pharmacokinetic and safety profile was achieved by modulating physicochemical properties and, more specifically, emphasizing increased polarity of our chemical series. ortho-Carboxamide containing compounds provided optimal physicochemical, pharmacologic, and safety profile.

Superparamagnetic MFe2O 4 (M = Ni, Co, Zn, Mn) nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, induction heating and cell viability studies for cancer hyperthermia applications.

Superparamagnetic nanoferrites are prepared by simple and one step refluxing in polyol synthesis. The ferrite nanoparticles prepared by this method exhibit particle sizes below 10 nm and high degree of crystallinity. These ferrite nanoparticles are compared by means of their magnetic properties, induction heating and cell viability studies for its application in magnetic fluid hyperthermia.

Proposing interactions between maternal phospholipids and the one carbon cycle: A novel mechanism influencing the risk for cardiovascular diseases in the offspring in later life.

Studies have adequately demonstrated the importance of maternal nutrition, particularly, micronutrients (folic acid, vitamin B12) and long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) in determining pregnancy outcome. Reports indicate that children born preterm or to mothers with preeclampsia are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in later life although mechanisms are unclear. Our earlier studies have established that micronutrients (folic acid, vitamin B12) and LCPUFAs are interlinked in the one carbon cycle and influence methylation reactions.

Structured superparamagnetic nanoparticles for high performance mediator of magnetic fluid hyperthermia: synthesis, colloidal stability and biocompatibility evaluation.

Core-shell structures with magnetic core and metal/polymer shell provide a new opportunity for constructing highly efficient mediator for magnetic fluid hyperthermia. Herein, a facile method is described for the synthesis of superparamagnetic LSMO@Pluronic F127 core-shell nanoparticles. Initially, the surface of the LSMO nanoparticles is functionalized with oleic acid and the polymeric shell formation is achieved through hydrophobic interactions with oleic acid.

Expression of genes encoding enzymes involved in the one carbon cycle in rat placenta is determined by maternal micronutrients (folic acid, vitamin B12) and omega-3 fatty acids.

We have reported that folic acid, vitamin B12, and omega-3 fatty acids are interlinked in the one carbon cycle and have implications for fetal programming. Our earlier studies demonstrate that an imbalance in maternal micronutrients influence long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism and global methylation in rat placenta. We hypothesize that these changes are mediated through micronutrient dependent regulation of enzymes in one carbon cycle.

Discovery of PF-5190457, a Potent, Selective, and Orally Bioavailable Ghrelin Receptor Inverse Agonist Clinical Candidate.

The identification of potent, highly selective orally bioavailable ghrelin receptor inverse agonists from a spiro-azetidino-piperidine series is described. Examples from this series have promising in vivo pharmacokinetics and increase glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in human whole and dispersed islets. A physicochemistry-based strategy to increase lipophilic efficiency for ghrelin receptor potency and retain low clearance and satisfactory permeability while reducing off-target pharmacology led to the discovery of 16h.

Magnetic hyperthermia with magnetic nanoparticles: a status review.

Recent advances in development of potential magnetic nanoparticles for magnetic fluid hyperthermia are summarized. This review covers relation between various size dependent physical properties and their applications subject to modification in synthesis methods. Brief discussion on different heating mechanism of magnetic nanoparticles is provided.

Enhanced colloidal stability of polymer coated La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 nanoparticles in physiological media for hyperthermia application.

Surface of La(0.7)Sr(0.3)MnO3 (LSMO) magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) is functionalized with polymer (dextran) and their colloidal stability in various mediums is carried out.

Gestation dependant changes in angiogenic factors and their associations with fetal growth measures in normotensive pregnancy.

Background: Earlier studies indicate that altered angiogenesis at birth is associated with poor birth outcome in women with preeclampsia. Now, we hypothesize that the progressive gestation dependant changes in markers of angiogenesis will be more useful to predict birth weight early even in a normotensive pregnancy. This study for the first time examines the association of gestation dependant changes in the levels of maternal angiogenic factors in addition to their levels in cord with birth weight.

Functionalization of La(0.7)Sr(0.3)MnO3 nanoparticles with polymer: studies on enhanced hyperthermia and biocompatibility properties for biomedical applications.

Now-a-days surface functionalized La(0.7)Sr(0.3)MnO(3) (LSMO) nanoparticles by different biocompatible polymers are attracted considerable interest in various biomedical applications in general and magnetic fluid hyperthermia treatment of cancer in particular.

Induction heating studies of dextran coated MgFe2O4 nanoparticles for magnetic hyperthermia.

MgFe(2)O(4) nanoparticles with sizes around 20 nm have been prepared by a combustion method and functionalized with dextran for their possible applications in magnetic particle hyperthermia. The induction heating study of these nanoparticles at different magnetic field amplitudes, from 6.7 kA m(-1) to 26.