Dynamics of Polyphenol Biosynthesis by Calli Cultures, Suspension Cultures and Wild Specimens of the Medicinal Plant (Ruiz & Pav.) Tiegh. (Loranthaceae). Analysis of Their Biological Activity.

(R. et P.) Tiegh.

Characterization of the Bacteriophage vB_VorS-PVo5 Infection on A Model for Phage-Bacteria Adsorption in Aquatic Environments.

A mathematical first-order difference equation was designed to predict the dynamics of the phage-bacterium adsorption process in aquatic environments, under laboratory conditions. Our model requires knowledge of bacteria and bacteriophage concentrations and the measurements of bacterial size and velocity to predict both the number of bacteriophages adsorbed onto their bacterial host and the number of infected bacteria in a given specific time. It does not require data from previously performed adhesion experiments.

Expression of an scFv antibody fragment in Nicotiana benthamiana and in vitro assessment of its neutralizing potential against the snake venom metalloproteinase BaP1 from Bothrops asper.

Human accidents with venomous snakes represent an overwhelming public health problem, mainly in rural populations of underdeveloped countries. Their high incidence and the severity of the accidents result in 81,000 to 138,000 deaths per year. The treatment is based on the administration of purified antibodies, produced by hyper immunization of animals to generate immunoglobulins (Igs), and then obtained by fractionating hyper immune plasma.

Kemp Eliminase Activity of Ketosteroid Isomerase.

Kemp eliminases represent the most successful class of computationally designed enzymes, with rate accelerations of up to 10-fold relative to the rate of the same reaction in aqueous solution. Nevertheless, several other systems such as micelles, catalytic antibodies, and cavitands are known to accelerate the Kemp elimination by several orders of magnitude. We found that the naturally occurring enzyme ketosteroid isomerase (KSI) also catalyzes the Kemp elimination.

The expression of the 14D9 catalytic antibody in suspended cells of Nicotiana tabacum cultures increased by the addition of protein stabilizers and by transference from Erlenmeyer flasks to a 2-L bioreactor.

The effect of two protein stabilizers (polyvinylpyrrolidone [PVP] and gelatine) on growth and 14D9 yield of Nicotiana tabacum cell suspension cultures (Ab-KDEL and sec-Ab) was analyzed. The addition of PVP at a concentration of 1.0 g L(-1) produced the highest total 14D9 yield (biomass + culture medium) in the Ab-KDEL line (4.

Immunocompetent truncated E2 glycoprotein of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) expressed in Nicotiana tabacum plants: a candidate antigen for new generation of veterinary vaccines.

The bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is the etiological agent responsible for a wide spectrum of clinical diseases in cattle. The glycoprotein E2 is the major envelope protein of this virus and the strongest inductor of the immune response. There are several available commercial vaccines against bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), which show irregular performances.