Rapid and Facile Purification of Apolipoprotein A-I from Human Plasma Using Thermoresponsive Nanoparticles

Nanoparticles can be used to purify proteins from plasma. We report here the purification of apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) with high specificity from human plasma using copolymeric nanoparticles. We present an optimized protocol using 50:50 NiPAM:BAM copolymer nanoparticles with thermo-responsive properties as an affinity resin. Repeated pelleting and washing of nanoparticle-captured apoA-I is achieved through temperature cycling. The protein is then eluted using urea followed by an ion exchange step for protein concentration and depletion of nanoparticles.

Ameliorated effects of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis DSM 20076 and Pediococcus acidilactici NNRL B-5627 on Fumonisin B1-induced Hepatotoxicity and Nephrotoxicity in rats

Oxidative stress has been implicated in a number of human regeneration and disease processes including atherosclerosis, pulmonary fibrosis, cancer, and different neurodegenerative diseases.The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis DSM 20076 (LL-DSM) and Pediococcus acidilactici NNRL B-5627 (PA-NNRL) against the hepatic-and nephro-toxicity of fumonisin B1 (FB1) in FB1-treated rats for an experimental period of 4-weeks. Eighty mature male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided to 12 groups: 1 untreated group;3 groups fed by a FB1-contaminated diet (50, 100 and 200 mg FB1/kg diet,respectively);1 group fed orally by LL-DSM(1 ml/d);1 group fed orally by PA-NNRL (1 ml/d);3 groups co-administered by FB1-contaminated diet and LL-DSM (1 ml/d), and 3 groups coadministered by FB1-contaminated diet and PA-NNRL(1 ml/d). Malonaldehyde (MDA) nitric oxide, glutathione content, SOD activity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) were determined. DPA assay was used to assess apoptosis in liver and kidney tissues.The animals fed with FB1-contaminated diet showed a significant increase in oxidative stress markers and DNA fragmentation accompanied with significant decrease in GSH content, SOD activity, and TAC in liver and kidney tissues, especially at highdosage of FB1 (T200). Probiotics antioxidant strains (LL-DSM and PA-NNRL) relatively succeeded to restore almost all parameters investigated as well as to reduce DNA fragmentation in liver and kidney tissues. As a conclusion, probiotics may induce its protective role via increasing the antioxidant capacity, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, scavenging of free radicals and decreasing DNA lesions in liver and kidney of experimental animals tested.

The 4th Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Natural Products and Drug Discovery: Back to Mother Nature (BioNat-IV), Cairo/Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, March 3–7, 2015

The 4 th Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Natural Products and Drug Discovery: Back to Mother Nature (Bio Nat-IV) was recently (from March 3 rd through 7 th, 2015) convened in Cairo and Sharm El-Sheikh along the Red Sea coast of Egypt. Overall, the meeting provided a platform for scientists from different nations to discuss emerging ideas that focused on cell signaling in cancer;the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases;the identification and use of natural products as well as novel drug delivery approaches for the treatment of cancer,arthritis, diabetes, tuberculosis, fungal infection, etc.;and untapped or unconventional sources for natural products. This fourth in a row conference tried to bridge the gap not only between basic research and clinical applications, but also between developed nations and developing countries. With the continuing success of these past meetings, the fifth EuroMediterranean Conference of Natural Products and Drug Discovery(BioNat-V) is slated to be in February 2017.