Plant sexual reproduction involves highly structured and specialized organs: stamens (male) and gynoecium (female, containing ovules). These organs synchronously develop within protective flower buds. Investigating ovules and pollen is crucial for understanding aspects of fertility and sterility in plants. Research on their development and embryogenesis plays a significant role in determining the taxonomic relationships of various species. Paraffin-embedding associated to examination with light microscope showed the development of ovules and pollen grains in Camelina sativa, a key oilseed crop. The findings indicated that the anthers exhibit tetrasporangiate characteristics, with the anther wall consisting of the epidermis, mechanical layer, transitional layer, and tapetum. The microsporogenesis type is simultaneous and microspore tetrads arrange in tetrahedral tetrads. Scanning electron microscope observations showed that mature pollen grains have a tricolporate aperture and are medium-sized, with microreticulate exine ornamentation on the pollen wall. The gynoecium is characterized as bicarpellate, and the ovule in its mature state is classified as amphitropous and bitegmic. The meiosis division of megasporocytes yields a linear tetrad formation. The eight-nucleate embryo sac following the Polygonum type pattern. With a broader systematic perspective, these embryological and palynological features demonstrate evolutionary conservatism within the Brassicaceae, with minor distinctions potentially representing adaptive changes.

Human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein B (gB) emerges as a viable candidate for eliciting neutralizing antibodies. This research specifically focused on exploring the immune reaction prompted by the nonglycosylated variant of the gB, with a comprehensive assessment of humoral immunity in mice. The gB coding sequence was optimized and expressed in pET-15b. Additionally, pcDNA3.1(+) vectors were also used for cloning the same gB sequence as the DNA vaccine. The gB was purified using a Ni-NTA chromatographic column. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting were used to confirm protein expression and purification. Using the prime-boost strategy, 8 different BALB/c mice were injected with DNA vaccine plus gB heterologous vaccine at 3 intervals. We evaluated the interferon (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL-4), immunoglobulin (Ig) G1, IgG2a, and IgG2b using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. It was shown that the mice administered with DNA vaccine plus gB had higher IFN- γ and IL-4 levels compared to controls. On the other hand, the mice that received 3 doses of gB showed the highest levels of IgG1 and IgG2a. However, IgG2b was at its highest in mice administrated with DNA vaccine plus gB. The total IgG was higher in mice that received gB than in other interventions. According to the findings, the DNA vaccine enhanced total IgG in immunized mice more effectively than the gB. This could be attributed to conformational changes owing to a lack of glycan moiety. Furthermore, combining nonglycosylated gB with DNA as a heterologous vaccine strategy enhances innate immunity by increasing the IFN- γ levels.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype lacking hormonal and HER2 receptors, making it highly resistant to treatment. Apo2L/TRAIL, a tumor necrosis factor-related ligand, induces apoptosis in cancer cells via the death receptor DR4. However, TNBC often develops resistance to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis, limiting its therapeutic potential. This study investigates whether arsenic trioxide (ATO) can overcome TRAIL resistance by modulating the Apo2L/TRAIL pathway and enhancing the effects of carboplatin (CP) and cyclophosphamide (CY). TNBC cell lines BT-20 and MDA-MB-231 were treated with ATO, CP, CY, and their combinations. Cell viability was measured using the MTT assay, while real-time PCR and Western blot analysis assessed Apo2L/TRAIL and DR4 expression. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA with Dunnett's post hoc test. ATO induced dose-dependent cytotoxicity in TNBC cells, which was significantly enhanced in combination treatments. The highest reductions in cell viability were observed with 3 mu M ATO plus 5000 mu M CP or 500 mu M CY (p < 0.0001). ATO markedly upregulated Apo2L/TRAIL and DR4 at both mRNA and protein levels, with the most pronounced effects seen in ATO-CY combinations. These findings indicate that ATO sensitizes TNBC cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis by upregulating DR4 and Apo2L/TRAIL, while also exhibiting strong synergistic cytotoxicity with CP and CY. This highlights ATO's potential as an adjuvant therapy to improve TNBC treatment efficacy and overcome chemoresistance, warranting further clinical exploration.

This study investigates the relationships between genetic diversity, environmental factors, and essential oil composition in Myrtus communis L., an evergreen medicinal shrub. Three populations in Lorestan Province, Iran (Cham Mord, Kaka Reza, Sepid Dasht) were analyzed using molecular and chemical techniques. Genetic diversity was assessed using Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) and Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) markers. ISSR (eight primers, 81 loci) showed highest diversity in Cham Mord (Shannon I = 0.26), while SCoT (eight primers, 71 loci) indicated Kaka Reza had highest diversity (I = 0.27). PCoA and cluster analysis under both markers showed Cham Mord was genetically distinct, with lowest genetic distance between Kaka Reza and Sepid Dasht (0.259) and highest between Cham Mord and Sepid Dasht (0.332). Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry identified 37 essential oil compounds with significant variation. Cham Mord had higher α-pinene (72.05%) than Kaka Reza (22.45%) and Sepid Dasht (6.56%). Sepid Dasht showed highest oil yield, linked to lower altitude, higher phosphorus (13.8%) and organic carbon (1.24%), and lower salinity (EC = 0.24 ds m-1). Kaka Reza, with higher salinity (EC = 0.41 ds m-1) and sodium (19 mg l-1), had the lowest yield. Essential oil-based clustering grouped Cham Mord and Kaka Reza, separating Sepid Dasht, matching SCoT patterns. Results reveal strong correlation between genetic diversity, oil profiles, and environmental factors including altitude, salinity, sodium, phosphorus, and organic carbon. Altitude inversely related to oil yield. Findings highlight local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity in M. communis chemodiversity, offering insights for conservation, sustainable use, and selection for medicinal and agricultural uses. Further studies on gene expression mechanisms of oil biosynthesis under varying environments are recommended.

Due to the limitation of freshwater resources and quality loss of soils, the use of halophyte plants is inevitable. Halophyte species such as purslane (Portulaca oleracea) are one of the important and rich sources of different metabolites, however, very few studies have been done in this regard. The application of metal nanoparticles in improving plant growth characteristics and also knowing the threshold of using these nanoparticles can lead to plant growth and development. Therefore, the present study is aimed at investigating the effect of manganese oxide (Mn2O3) and magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles (NPs) on biochemical attributes and plant growth of purslane in a controlled condition based on a balanced completely random design. The treatments included Mg and Mn nanoparticles in three concentrations: 10, 100, and 500 mg L-1, bulk metal Mg and Mn in three concentrations of 10, 100, and 500 mg L-1, and a control treatment. The results showed that nano treatments had a significant effect on the concentration of phenol, flavonoid, anthocyanin, quercetin, half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50), total fresh weight, and total dry weight. Except for quercetin, the results indicated a positive effect of Mg and Mn, especially in the form of nanoparticles, on the quality and quantity of purslane plants. Increasing the concentration of Mg and Mn metals in nanoparticle form did not increase IC50, however, it was associated with an increase in this index in bulk form, which indicates a decrease in the negative effect of metals in nanoparticle form. Considering the salinization of water and soil resources and the importance of preventing environmental pollution, the use of Mg and Mn nanoparticles on halophyte species is very important; which requires more research.

Purpose: Apoptosis and autophagy play critical roles in the survival and regulation of cancer cells, with key genes serving dual purposes in these processes. Arsenic trioxide (ATO), oxaliplatin (OXA), and docetaxel (DOC) are widely used in the treatment of various cancers. Specifically, ATO inhibits cellular proliferation and induces apoptosis in certain cancer cells, while OXA and DOC, common agents in cancer chemotherapy, continue to be actively studied for their potential therapeutic effects. Methods: This study investigated the effects of ATO, DOC, and OXA on AGS and MKN-45 gastric cancer cell lines in vitro. The MTT assay was utilized to determine the effective concentrations of these compounds, both individually and in combination. Apoptosis was assessed using Annexin V-FITC staining, and the mRNA levels of genes related to autophagy and apoptosis were analyzed via real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Our findings demonstrated that the combination of ATO with DOC and OXA significantly reduced the viability of AGS and MKN-45 cells compared to DOC or OXA therapy alone. Notably, the simultaneous administration of all three agents markedly enhanced apoptosis induction. Additionally, the combined use of two drugs showed a more pronounced impact on both cell necrosis and apoptosis compared to the effects of each drug used alone. Conclusion: The combination of two therapeutic agents represents a promising strategy for inducing autophagy and gene expression related to apoptosis in gastric cancer cells. This approach exerted a more substantial influence on cell apoptosis and necrosis than single-drug treatments, underscoring its potential as an effective therapeutic option.

ABSTRACT Background The activin A receptor type 2A gene (ACVR2A) plays an important role in normal gestation, particularly in decidualization, trophoblastic invasion, and placentation. Although several studies have investigated the association between ACVR2A maternal variants and preeclampsia (PE) susceptibility; however, controversial results were obtained. Moreover, in none of the previous studies, the role of ACVR2A fetal variants was explored. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of ACVR2A rs1424954 and rs1424941 polymorphisms in PE susceptibility considering the impact of both fetal and maternal genotypes. Methods For genotyping of ACVR2A rs1424954 and rs1424941, we performed TP‐ARMS‐PCR on 600 samples, including 400 peripheral blood samples from preeclamptic and normal women and 200 umbilical cord blood samples from each group of pregnant women. Results Regarding rs1424954, only the fetal genotypes were associated with an increased risk of PE in both dominant and recessive inheritance models (OR = 2.88, 95% CI: 1.58–5.25, p = 0.0005; and OR = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.21–4.87, p = 0.012; respectively). For ACVR2A rs1424941variant, both maternal and fetal heterozygote genotypes were associated with PE susceptibility (OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.02–2.04, p = 0.04; and OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.02–3.54, p = 0.04; respectively). Conclusion The present study confirmed the role of fetal ACVR2A polymorphisms in PE pathogenesis for the first time. However, replicated studies in diverse ethnicities are necessary to confirm the role of fetal genotype on susceptibility to PE.

Objectives: The identification and characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates is very time-consuming, which causes a delay in timely treatments. Apart from diagnosis, the classical culture-based antibiogram for the characterization of bacterial drug resistance is very time-consuming, resulting in the development of alternative rapid, easy, and reliable techniques. Materials and Methods: Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has been recently introduced as a novel technique for identifying microbial pathogens. However, the characterization of bacterial drug resistance by MALDI-TOF MS assay has rarely been studied. This work was performed to characterize drug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains using classical antibiogram, molecular, and MALDI-TOF MS assays. Pathogenic M. tuberculosis strains were isolated by culturing clinical specimens in L & ouml;wenstein-Jensen medium and identified by amplification of IS6110. Drug resistance was characterized using classical antibiogram, sequencing of the rpoB, gyrA, katG, and rrs genes, and analyzing the MALDI-TOF MS spectrograms of bacterial cell wall components. Results: The highest resistance was observed for capreomycin and ciprofloxacin (48%), followed by isoniazid (42%). Sequencing of drug target genes showed that point mutations at codons 507 of rpoB,315 of katG, 284 of gyrA, and 1260 of rrs genes were the major molecular causes of resistance to Rifampin, Ethambutol, Ciprofloxacin, and Kanamycin, respectively. Conclusions: The MALDI-TOF MS assay revealed that bacterial strains have different spectrograms based on their drug resistance phenotypes. Therefore, this work revealed that the MALDI-TOF MS assay could be considered a novel and rapid technique to characterize the drug resistance pattern of M. tuberculosis.

Camelina sativa stands out among oilseed crops due to its remarkable resilience to challenging environmental conditions and its significant potential for biodiesel production. The MADS-box transcription factors play a pivotal role in numerous biological processes within plants, encompassing growth, development, and responses to environmental stressors. In this research, by employing the BLAST, we have successfully identified 325 MADS-box genes within Camelina sativa genome. These genes were systematically categorized into two principal groups: type I (comprising Mα, Mβ, and Mγ) and type II (including MI-KCC and MIKC*) predicated upon their phylogenetic relationships, structural protein motifs, and exon-intron configurations. Our findings reveal that type II MADS-box genes have, in general, experienced a more profound expansion relative to type I genes. Specifically, the TM3 subgroup within type II MADS-box genes exhibited the highest degree of gene expansion, comprising 21 TM3 genes. The amino acid sequences encoded by these genes exhibited a length variation ranging from 150 to 820 aa. The predicted molecular weights (MW) of the CsMADS-box proteins displayed a range from 17.01 to 94.06 kDa, while the isoelectric points (pI) were observed to span from 4.13 to 10.09. Evolutionary analysis predicated on the Ka/Ks ratios indicates that the evolutionary pathway of MADS-box genes in Camelina sativa has been predominantly driven by the mechanisms of purifying selection. Moreover, an investigation of cis-acting elements has elucidated the participation of MADS-box genes in the adaptive responses to abiotic stressors. The expression profiles of six Type I and three MIKCC genes across diverse organs and under varying drought treatment conditions demonstrated that these genes are expressed in both reproductive and vegetative structures, displaying uniform expression patterns throughout several developmental phases of flowering. The expression levels of CsMADS035, CsMADS115, CsMADS131, and CsMADS181 were notably modified in reaction to drought stress conditions. The detailed annotation and comprehensive transcriptome profiling provided in this research yield essential insights into the functional roles that MADS-box genes perform in stress resistance, as well as their contributions to growth and developmental processes. This acquired understanding establishes a foundational framework for the functional characterization and potential genetic engineering initiatives pertaining to Camelina sativa, thereby augmenting the prospective application of these candidate genes.

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a significant global health burden, particularly in East Asia, where it is a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Despite advancements in chemotherapy, the development of chemoresistance continues to undermine the efficacy of standard treatments such as Docetaxel and Oxaliplatin. Arsenic trioxide (ATO) has emerged as a potential therapeutic agent capable of overcoming resistance by targeting DNA repair mechanisms, particularly through the downregulation of Checkpoint Kinase 1 (Chk1). This study investigates the cytotoxic effects of ATO and its capacity to enhance chemotherapy efficacy in GC cells. AGS and MKN-45 gastric cancer cell lines were exposed to ATO, Docetaxel, Oxaliplatin, and their combinations. Cell viability was assessed via the MTT assay, while Chk1 and CDC25 expressions at the mRNA and protein levels was analyzed using real-time PCR and Western blotting. Statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test. The MTT assay revealed significant dose- and time-dependent reductions in cell viability, with combination treatments achieving the most pronounced effects. The greatest cytotoxicity was observed with 4 µM ATO combined with 2500 µM Docetaxel or 100 µM Oxaliplatin, showing a high level of statistical significance (p < 0.0001). Additionally, ATO monotherapy significantly downregulated Chk1 and CDC25 expressions (p < 0.05), while its combination with chemotherapeutic agents further enhanced Chk1 and CDC25 suppressions, with ATO-Docetaxel demonstrating the most pronounced effect (p < 0.01). These findings highlight ATO’s potential to sensitize GC cells to chemotherapy by impairing DNA repair mechanisms and inducing synergistic cytotoxicity. ATO holds promise as an adjuvant therapeutic agent for overcoming chemoresistance in gastric cancer.

With the extensive utilization of nanotechnology, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are prevalent nanomaterials that may entail ecological risks by their potential translocation into plant systems. The present study investigated the physiological and molecular responses of basil seedlings (Ocimum basilicum) subjected to AgNPs or silver nitrate (AgNO3) for 7 days. The seedlings were treated with 0, 4, 10, or 40 mg/L of AgNO3 or AgNPs in Hoagland’s solution. Both treatments resulted in significant accumulation of Ag in the roots and shoots, with higher levels in the roots of AgNO3-treated seedlings. AgNPs increased plant biomass at 4 mg/L, while AgNO3 decreased it at all concentrations. Both treatments reduced the total chlorophyll, carotenoids, and carbohydrates, with more pronounced effects in AgNO3-treated seedlings. Both treatments also induced oxidative stress, as indicated by increased levels of H2O2, malondialdehyde (MDA), and proline, and enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). However, these responses were more evident in AgNO3-treated seedlings, especially at higher concentrations. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that both treatments induced the upregulation of genes encoding oxidative stress tolerance-related enzymes, such as FSD1, MSD1, CSD1, CATa, CATb, APXa and APXb, in the basil seedling shoots. These results suggest that AgNPs are less toxic to basil plants than AgNO3 and that basil plants can activate physiological and molecular mechanisms to cope with Ag-induced oxidative stress.

Nowadays, the development of novel bioactive-containing drug delivery systems (DDSs) plays a vital role in various fields of biomedical science. Therefore, a novel DDS based on gelatin (G)/poly epsilon-caprolactone (P) nanofibers was developed for efficient delivery of a new hexagonal ferrite (GdSrFe11O19) bioactive to human Wharton's jelly derived-mesenchymal stem cells (hWJ-MSCs). Practically, electrospun PG scaffolds were fabricated using various concentrations of GdSrFe11O19 (2 % w/w (PGH2), 5 % w/w (PGH5), 10 % w/w (PGH10), and 15 % w/w (PGH15)). Next, several analytical devices, including FT-IR, XRD, and FE-SEM, were applied to examine the quality and quantity of fabricated scaffolds. After verifying the quality of manufactured samples by FT-IR and XRD techniques, the size of 200 nm to 230 nm in diameters was ascertained for nanofibers using FE-SEM. The contact angle assay exhibited higher hydrophilicity with optimal nanocomposite concentration for PGH10 than other synthesized scaffolds. The cell viability assay demonstrated that PGH2, PGH5, and PGH10 scaffolds have shown a gradually increased in cell growth values after 3, 5, and 7 days on hWJ-MSCs than the control group, respectively. The cell growth of PGH10 compared to various concentrations of GdSrFe11O19 (including 7.5 mu g/ml, 75 mu g/m, 150 mu g/mL, 300 mu g/mL (similar to PGH10), and 450 mu g/mL) and PGH2, PGH5, PGH10, and PGH15 scaffolds was higher during the treatment period. These data have shown that the PGH10 scaffold would be an efficient platform for the delivery of GdSrFe11O19 bioactive to hWJ-MSCs.

Purpose: Autophagy, governed by genes with dual roles in cell death and survival, plays a crucial role in cancer persistence. Arsenic trioxide (ATO), carboplatin (CP), and cyclophosphamide (CY) are used to treat various cancers. ATO impedes cell proliferation and triggers apoptosis in cancer cells. CP, a platinum-based drug, damages cancer cell DNA, while CY acts as an alkylating agent, disrupting cell proliferation. This study investigates the combined effects of ATO, CP, and CY on inducing apoptosis and modulating autophagy in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines, BT-20 and MDA-MB-231. Methods: The cytotoxic effects of ATO, CP, and CY, alone and in combination, were evaluated using the MTT assay on BT-20 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Apoptosis and cell cycle progression were analyzed by annexin-V FITC/PI staining and flow cytometry. Gene expression of autophagy-and apoptosis-related markers, including Beclin 1, LC3, caspase 3, and BCL2, was quantified using RT-PCR. Data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism 4.0 with one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s test. Results: The combination of ATO, CP, and CY significantly reduced cell viability and enhanced apoptosis, evidenced by increased caspase-3 activity and reduced BCL2 expression. Cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase was observed, alongside elevated autophagy markers Beclin 1 and LC3. Conclusion: The combination of ATO, CP, and CY induces synergistic effects in promoting apoptosis and autophagy in TNBC cell lines. These findings suggest that this combination therapy could be a promising approach to enhancing treatment efficacy in aggressive breast cancers, offering new insights into potential therapeutic strategies.

Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine play a prominent role in the growth and proliferation of stem cells. Fabricating scaffold-based drug delivery systems (DDS) has opened a new gate for having efficient DDS and a platform for cell growth. The electrospun poly ε-caprolactone-gelatin (PCL-Gel or PG) nanofibers loaded with various concentrations of gallic acid (GA) (1

Lysozymes have gained attention for their antiseptic properties. In silico studies have shown that the enzyme containing lysM can act as an antibacterial agent. Binding of the lysM motif of rSELys to peptidoglycan and molecular dynamics simulations showed that the protein-ligand binding is very stable. rSELys (2016 bp) is a new recombinant glycoside hydrolase from the thermophilic bacterium Cohnella sp. A01 (PTCC number: 1921). Protein expression and purification, a single band with an apparent molecular weight of ∼74 kDa was observed by SDS-PAGE. The kinetic parameters were Km 1.163 mg/ml, Vmax 670.3 U/mg, kcat 1675.75 (S-1), and kcat/Km 1440.88 (M-1S-1). Its optimum temperature was 55 °C and pH 8. Temperature stability also showed that the temperature of 50-60 °C retained more than half of its activity after 90 min. Based on the results, rSELys demonstrated antibacterial effects on both Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains, with inhibition zones of 11 and 9 mm, respectively. SEM analysis confirmed hydrolysis activity, the MIC was determined to be 31.25 μg/ml and 3.9 μg/ml, and MBC 0.97 μg/ml, respectively. CD and fluorescence studies showed that up to a temperature of 85 °C and a pH value of 8-12 no structural changes occur, and thermal stability protein was confirmed.

This study attempts to address how bitter melon plants respond to the manipulation of culture medium with PVP-coated iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) under in vitro conditions. The bitter melon seeds were grown on the culture medium supplemented with different doses (0, 50, 250, and 500 mg/L) of nanoproduct or its bulk material. FeNPs at the concentrations of 50 and 250 mg/L proved to be effective in improving leaf area and biomass. The application of FeNPs contributed to an increase in the activity of nitrate reductase, an important index in nitrogen assimilation. The proline concentration exhibited a similar upward trend in response to FeNPs. The activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) linearly increased with the concentration of FeNPs. The biochemical analysis clearly revealed a significant increase in the activity of enzymatic antioxidants (peroxidase and catalase) following the application of FeNPs. The relative expression of 4CL gene was significantly higher in the seedlings grown in the medium containing FeNPs than the control. The expression of the PAL gene displayed a similar tendency. The expression of the WRKY1 transcription factor was significantly increased in the nFe-treated plants compared with control plants. The experimental evaluation clearly revealed a significant increase in the activity of antioxidative enzymes (peroxidase and catalase) in response to the FeNP treatments. The nano-supplement contributed to the anatomical changes, especially in terms of the differentiation of meta-xylems in the stem cross sections. The FeNP-supplemented seedlings displayed higher efficacy to trigger callogenesis and organogenesis. These biochemical and molecular findings may improve our understanding on the potential exploitation of nanomaterials, especially Fe-based nanoproducts, under in vitro culture of plant cell, tissue, and organ cultures.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has had a significant global impact since its declaration as a public health emergency in January 2020. Symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild to severe, including fever, cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath. This study aimed to investigate the clinical symptoms and proteomic differences between non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients and healthy individuals. Method: Clinical data of 6231 COVID-19 patients of different age groups and sexes were collected and analyzed. Proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE and identified by MALDI-TOF. 900 serum samples were collected, with 100 samples per patient group and one healthy control group. Result: In the control group of healthy individuals, five proteins (HAPTO, IGKC, FUT10, CO3, SESQ2) were expressed with a score of 1+, serving as a reference for the other groups. Group 9, consisting of individuals who had recovered (IgG positive), showed negative results for all five proteins due to anti-IgG antibody production in memory cells. The significant differences in protein expression compared to the control group indicated up-regulation and down-regulation of these proteins. Positive PCR or IgG and IgM results led to notable differences in protein expression across all studied groups. Conclusion: The altered protein expression in infected individuals compared to healthy controls may suggest the potential for these proteins to serve as biomarkers for disease diagnosis and prognosis.

This study explored the possible role of magnesium nanoparticles (nMg) on plant growth, metabolism, and gene regulation in pepper. The physiological and molecular responses of pepper plants in presence of different concentrations of nMg (75, 225, and 675 mg/L) or its bulk analog (bMg) in the culture medium were investigated. We focused on how supplementing the culture medium with nMg affected biomass accumulation, activities of several key enzymes (catalase, peroxidase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL)), and expression of two vital transcription factors, WRKY1 and bZIP. Our results demonstrate that nMg and bMg improved biomass accumulation in shoots and roots. The nMg treatments up-regulated the expression of two transcription factors, WRKY1 and bZIP, which are transcriptionally involved in regulating defense/stress responses and secondary metabolism. The nanomaterials enhanced the activity of nitrate reductase, a nitrogen assimilation index. The nano-supplement efficiently stimulated the activities of catalase and peroxidase. The applied treatments also induced the PAL activity, which catalyzes a checkpoint reaction in the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids. The supplementation of culture medium with nMg augmented the concentrations of proline and phenols. This study suggests the potential contributions of WRKY1 and bZIP transcription factors in regulating plant responses to nanomaterials. Nanomaterials, such as nMg, may improve the efficiency of plant tissue cultures.

This study aimed at investigating how treatment of basil seedlings with green synthesized AgNPs affects their Ag content, oxidative damage and antioxidant enzymes activity. This research was studied as a completely randomized design in four replications. Four levels of silver nanoparticles (0, 4, 10 and 40 mg L-1) were used. After germination, the seedlings were treated for 7 days and then seedlings were harvested for analysis. Findings showed that AgNP treatment increased Ag content O2•−, H2O2, MDA, and ion leakage in basil seedlings. The use of AgNPs caused a significant increase in the activities of SOD, APX, CAT, and GR enzymes in plants. However, at high levels (40 mg L-1) of AgNPs, enzymes activity decreased significantly. These findings suggest that the application of green synthesized AgNPs to basil seedlings led to oxidative stress. Moreover, the observed changes in radical scavenging enzyme activity indicate that synthetic green nanoparticles have a harmful effect on basil seedlings. This toxicity is more pronounced at higher concentrations.

Light is an important ecological signal that controls several biological processes in plants. Therefore, the goal of the present investigation was to quantify the impacts of three LED lighting treatments (red, blue, and white) on phytochemical yields production of Portulaca oleracea L. Red, blue, and white 9 W LED bulb (pack of 10, voltage 90 V) were used for the treatment of cultured seeds in the greenhouse and the distance between the light source and the plant was 40 cm. Then, the HPLC method was used to determine the flavonoid compounds in the obtained extract. Saponin content assay was performed using the vanillin-sulfuric acid procedure. The concentration of soluble tannin was calculated based on the standard curve of different concentrations of pure tannic acid. Chlorophylls and carotenoid contents and proteolysis were assessed by spectrophotometric methods. We suggest that the blue and white spectrums can be applied instead of sunlight for the increment of flavonoids in Portulaca oleracea. We also observed that the saponin and tannin contents increased in plants treated with red and blue diodes. Red spectrum could considerably increase the photosynthetic contents (Chl a, Chl b, and total Chl (a + b)) and carotenoid contents compared to other lights spectra. Red and white had a significant impact on the reduction of proteolysis in this plant. Understanding the molecular mechanism behind the flavonoid pathway, photosynthetic activity, and proteolysis process of the Portulaca oleracea plant will aid to select the ideal plant with the desired health and dietary requirements.