Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) act as vectors of medical and veterinary importance, due to their ability to transmit many pathogens and parasites. Renewed interest has been recently devoted to the potential of sterile insect technique (SIT) for mosquito suppression. However, the success of the SIT is mostly dependent on the ability of sterile males to compete for mates with the wild ones in the field. Nevertheless, little is known on the sexual chemical ecology of mosquitoes, with special reference to the role of chemical signals in males. We reviewed the current knowledge on mosquito sexual chemical ecology and other key cues affecting courtship and mating behavior. The information available on the aggregation and sex pheromones in mosquito males is rather limited. To the best of our knowledge, the components of the aggregation pheromone stimulating swarming mechanisms have been fully characterized only for Aedes aegypti, while evidence for aggregation pheromones in other mosquito species remains elusive. Further research on this issue is needed, as well as to dissect the relative importance of visual (with special reference to swarming landmarks), vibrational, olfactory and tactile cues perceived during swarming and mate. On the other hand, more knowledge is available for cuticular hydrocarbons, which modulate mating behavior in several species of economic importance. These compounds, coupled with volatile aggregation components, have potential interest for the development of monitoring and trapping systems. In addition, the analyses of cuticular hydrocarbons are essential for discrimination between closely related mosquito species and/or populations.
- MeSH
- Aedes fyziologie MeSH
- biologická kontrola škůdců metody MeSH
- Culicidae fyziologie MeSH
- feromony fyziologie MeSH
- infertilita MeSH
- komáří přenašeči * MeSH
- moskyti - kontrola metody MeSH
- rozmnožování MeSH
- sexuální chování zvířat * MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
Arsenic compounds belong to the most controversial agents concerning human health. Arsenic (As) is considered as a top environmental element influencing human health due to its adverse effects including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and reproductive or developmental problems. Despite the proven mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic effects, the arsenic compounds are used for centuries to treat infectious diseases. In our work, we focused on studying of interactions of As(III) and/or As(V) with DNA. Interactions between arsenic ions and DNA were monitored by UV/vis spectrophotometry by measuring absorption and fluorescence spectra, atomic absorption spectrometry, electrochemical measurements (square wave voltammetry) and agarose gel electrophoresis. Using these methods, we observed a stable structure of DNA with As(III) within the concentration range 0.4-6.25 μg mL(-1). Higher As(III) concentration caused degradation of DNA. However, similar effects were not observed for As(V).
- MeSH
- antitumorózní látky chemie terapeutické užití MeSH
- arsen škodlivé účinky terapeutické užití MeSH
- DNA chemie účinky léků genetika MeSH
- fragmentace DNA účinky léků MeSH
- infekční nemoci farmakoterapie patologie MeSH
- ionty chemie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- metalothionein chemie genetika MeSH
- spektrofotometrie atomová MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
In this study, we focused on the effect of heavy metal ions in resistant strains of gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus using biochemical methods and mass spectrometry. Five nitrate solutions of heavy metals (Ag(+), Cu(2+), Cd(2+), Zn(2+) and Pb(2+)) were used to create S. aureus resistant strains. Biochemical changes of resistant strains in comparison with the non-resistant control strain of S. aureus were observed by microbiological (measuring - growth curves and inhibition zones) and spectrophotometric methods (antioxidant activity and alaninaminotransferase, aspartateaminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyltransferase activities). Mass spectrometry was employed for the qualitative analysis of the samples (changes in S. aureus protein composition) and for the identification of the strains database MALDI Biotyper was employed. Alterations, in terms of biochemical properties and protein composition, were observed in resistant strains compared to non-resistant control strain. Our results describe the possible option for the analysis of S. aureus resistant strains and may thus serve as a support for monitoring of changes in genetic information caused by the forming of resistance to heavy metals.
- MeSH
- hmotnostní spektrometrie MeSH
- ionty metabolismus farmakologie MeSH
- kovy metabolismus farmakologie MeSH
- metabolom MeSH
- metabolomika metody MeSH
- metalothionein chemie metabolismus MeSH
- mikrobiální viabilita účinky léků MeSH
- RNA ribozomální genetika MeSH
- spektrometrie hmotnostní - ionizace laserem za účasti matrice MeSH
- Staphylococcus aureus účinky léků genetika růst a vývoj metabolismus MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Nanoscale copper particles (nano-Cu) are used in many antimicrobial formulations and products for their antimicrobial activity. They may enter deliberately and/or accidentally into terrestrial environments including soils. Being the major 'eco-receptors' of nanoscale particles in the terrestrial ecosystem, soil-microbiota and plants (the soil-plant system) have been used as a model to dissect the potential impact of these particles on the environmental and human health. In the soil-plant system, the plant can be an indirect non-target organism of the soil-associated nano-Cu that may in turn affect plant-based products and their consumers. By all accounts, information pertaining to nano-Cu toxicity and the underlying potential mechanisms in the soil-plant system remains scanty, deficient and little discussed. Therefore, based on some recent reports from (bio)chemical, molecular and genetic studies of nano-Cu versus soil-plant system, this article: (i) overviews the status, chemistry and toxicity of nano-Cu in soil and plants, (ii) discusses critically the poorly understood potential mechanisms of nano-Cu toxicity and tolerance both in soil-microbiota and plants, and (iii) proposes future research directions. It appears from studies hitherto made that the uncontrolled generation and inefficient metabolism of reactive oxygen species through different reactions are the major factors underpinning the overall nano-Cu consequences in both the systems. However, it is not clear whether the nano-Cu or the ion released from it is the cause of the toxicity. We advocate to intensify the multi-approach studies focused at a complete characterization of the nano-Cu, its toxicity (during life cycles of the least-explored soil-microbiota and plants), and behavior in an environmentally relevant terrestrial exposure setting. Such studies may help to obtain a deeper insight into nano-Cu actions and address adequately the nano-Cu-associated safety concerns in the 'soil-plant system'.
The requirements for early diagnostics as well as effective treatment of cancer diseases have increased the pressure on development of efficient methods for targeted drug delivery as well as imaging of the treatment success. One of the most recent approaches covering the drug delivery aspects is benefitting from the unique properties of nanomaterials. Ellipticine and its derivatives are efficient anticancer compounds that function through multiple mechanisms. Formation of covalent DNA adducts after ellipticine enzymatic activation is one of the most important mechanisms of its pharmacological action. In this study, we investigated whether ellipticine might be released from its micellar (encapsulated) form to generate covalent adducts analogous to those formed by free ellipticine. The (32)P-postlabeling technique was used as a useful imaging method to detect and quantify covalent ellipticine-derived DNA adducts. We compared the efficiencies of free ellipticine and its micellar form (the poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(allyl glycidyl ether) (PAGE-PEO) block copolymer, P 119 nanoparticles) to form ellipticine-DNA adducts in rats in vivo. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that treatment of rats with ellipticine in micelles resulted in formation of ellipticine-derived DNA adducts in vivo and suggest that a gradual release of ellipticine from its micellar form might produce the enhanced permeation and retention effect of this ellipticine-micellar delivery system.
- MeSH
- adukty DNA chemie metabolismus MeSH
- antitumorózní látky aplikace a dávkování chemie farmakokinetika MeSH
- elipticiny aplikace a dávkování chemie farmakokinetika MeSH
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- metabolická clearance MeSH
- micely MeSH
- orgánová specificita MeSH
- potkani Wistar MeSH
- příprava léků metody MeSH
- tkáňová distribuce MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Nanomedicine as a continuously evolving discipline is still looking for a structure with perfect properties that is usable as a multifunctional transporter. Great potential is attributed to synthetic materials such as fullerenes, porous hollow silica nanoparticles and single-wall nanotubes, among others. However, materials that are natural to the human body are more acceptable by the organism, and thus become an attractive approach in this field of research. Ferritins are proteins that naturally occur in most living organisms throughout evolution and may be a possible transporter choice. Numerous applications have demonstrated the possibilities of iron-free ferritins, called apoferritins, serving as platforms for various nanomedical purposes This article summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of these proteins and discusses their practical applications and future perspectives.
Beyond the role of 17β-estradiol (E2) in reproduction and during the menstrual cycle, it has been shown to modulate numerous physiological processes such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation and ion transport in many tissues. The pathways in which estrogens affect an organism have been partially described, although many questions still exist regarding estrogens' interaction with biomacromolecules. Hence, the present study showed the interaction of four oligonucleotides (17, 20, 24 and/or 38-mer) with E2. The strength of these interactions was evaluated using optical methods, showing that the interaction is influenced by three major factors, namely: oligonucleotide length, E2 concentration and interaction time. In addition, the denaturation phenomenon of DNA revealed that the binding of E2 leads to destabilization of hydrogen bonds between the nitrogenous bases of DNA strands resulting in a decrease of their melting temperatures (Tm). To obtain a more detailed insight into these interactions, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry was employed. This study revealed that E2 with DNA forms non-covalent physical complexes, observed as the mass shifts for app. 270 Da (Mr of E2) to higher molecular masses. Taken together, our results indicate that E2 can affect biomacromolecules, as circulating oligonucleotides, which can trigger mutations, leading to various unwanted effects.
Recent developments in mass spectrometry have introduced clinical proteomics to the forefront of diseases diagnosis, offering reliable, robust and efficient analytical method for biomarker discovery and monitoring. MALDI-TOF is a powerful tool for surveying proteins and peptides comprising the realm for clinical analysis. MALDI-TOF has the potential to revolutionize cancer diagnostics by facilitating biomarker discovery, enabling tissue imaging and quantifying biomarker levels. Healthy (control) and cancerous tissues can be analyzed on the basis of mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) imaging to identify cancer-specific changes that may prove to be clinically useful. We review MALDI-TOF profiling techniques as tools for detection of cancer biomarkers in various cancers. We mainly discuss recent advances including period from 2011 to 2013.
Platinum-based cytostatics, such as cisplatin, carboplatin or oxaliplatin are widely used agents in the treatment of various types of tumors. Large amounts of these drugs are excreted through the urine of patients into wastewaters in unmetabolised forms. This phenomenon leads to increased amounts of platinum ions in the water environment. The impacts of these pollutants on the water ecosystem are not sufficiently investigated as well as their content in water sources. In order to facilitate the detection of various types of platinum, we have developed a new, rapid, screening flow injection analysis method with electrochemical detection (FIA-ED). Our method, based on monitoring of the changes in electrochemical behavior of analytes, maintained by various pH buffers (Britton-Robinson and phosphate buffer) and potential changes (1,000, 1,100 and 1,200 mV) offers rapid and cheap selective determination of platinum-based cytostatics and platinum chlorides, which can also be present as contaminants in water environments.
The complexes of Fe(II), Mn(II) and Ni(II) with a combination of a Schiff base, nitrogen-donor ligand or macrocyclic ligand and trithiocyanuric acid (ttcH3) were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopies. Crystal and molecular structures of the iron complex of composition [Fe(L1)](ttcH2)(ClO4)·EtOH·H2O (1), where L1 is Schiff base derived from tris(2-aminoethyl)amine and 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde, were solved. It was found that the Schiff base is coordinated to the central iron atom by six nitrogens forming deformed octahedral arrangement, whereas trithiocyanurate(1-) anion, perchlorate and solvent molecules are not coordinated. The X-ray structure of the Schiff base sodium salt is also presented and compared with the iron complex. The anticholinesterase activity of the complexes was also studied.
- MeSH
- cholinesterasové inhibitory chemická syntéza chemie farmakologie MeSH
- cholinesterasy metabolismus MeSH
- enzymatické testy MeSH
- ethylendiaminy chemie MeSH
- komplexní sloučeniny chemická syntéza chemie farmakologie MeSH
- komplexní směsi chemie MeSH
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- krystalografie rentgenová MeSH
- ligandy MeSH
- mangan chemie MeSH
- mozek účinky léků enzymologie MeSH
- nikl chemie MeSH
- pyridiny chemie MeSH
- Schiffovy báze chemie MeSH
- triaziny chemie MeSH
- železo chemie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
