Optimum conditions of autoclaving for hydrolysis of proteins and urinary peptides of prolyl and hydroxyprolyl residues and HPLC analysis

Heat denaturation enables multicolor X10-STED microscopy

Expansion microscopy (ExM) improves imaging quality by physically enlarging the biological specimens. In principle, combining a large expansion factor with optical super-resolution should provide extremely high imaging precision. However, large expansion factors imply that the expanded specimens are dim and are therefore poorly suited for optical super-resolution. To solve this problem, we present a protocol that ensures the expansion of the samples up to 10-fold, in a single expansion step, through high-temperature homogenization (X10ht). The resulting gels exhibit a higher fluorescence intensity than gels homogenized using enzymatic digestion (based on proteinase K). This enables the sample analysis by multicolor stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy, for a final resolution of 6-8 nm in neuronal cell cultures or isolated vesicles. X10ht also enables the expansion of 100-200 µm thick brain samples, up to 6-fold. The better epitope preservation also enables the use of nanobodies as labeling probes and the implementation of post-expansion signal amplification. We conclude that X10ht is a promising tool for nanoscale resolution in biological samples.

Determination of bisphenols and parabens in cow urine distillate from India: implication of human exposure and risk assessment

The exposures of a wide range of endocrine-disrupting chemicals to cows have been linked to diseases and are a major concern. In Indian scripts, cow urine is believed to be a treatment for many diseases. Nonetheless, exposure of bisphenols and parabens to cow urine distillates is unknown. Hence, in this study, we determined the concentration of bisphenols and parabens in commercially available cow urine distillate collected from India. The mean concentration of total bisphenols and parabens ranges from the limit of quantification (LOQ) to 149.3 ng/mL and 1479.88 ng/mL, respectively. Predominant bisphenol-F and bisphenol-A were accounted for 88.6% and 6% of total bisphenol concentration, respectively, in marketed cow urine distillate, whereas methyl and propyl parabens were dominant and accounted for 33% and 65%, respectively. The estimated mean daily intake (EDI) of bisphenol for males and females were 45.94 ng/kg-bw/day and 54.29 ng/kg-bw/day, respectively, while for parabens EDI was 455.35ng/kg-bw/day and 538.14 ng/kg-bw/day for males and females, respectively. Hazard quotient, to evaluate the potential risk of exposure, showed no risk in the studied samples. Even though the EDI results from the Monte-Carlo risk assessment analysis did not exceed the acceptable daily intake, their estrogenic actions cannot be ignored in general populations. The estrogenic activities contributed by parabens and bisphenol A measured by estradiol equivalency quotient (EEQ) ranged from 0.00033-42 pg/mL and 2.3 pg/mL, respectively. Our results revealed higher concentrations of bisphenols and parabens in cow urine distillates; hence, special attention should be given to the quality and safety of cow urine distillates. Moreover, strict guidelines should be enforced for the quality of cow urine distillates.

Synthesis and characterization of PCU@C-Ag/AgCl nanoparticles as an antimicrobial material for respiratory tract infection

The pregnant cow urine (PCU) is an active source of antimicrobial agents that is used for fabricating chitosan coated Ag/AgCl nanoparticles (NPs) in the present study. These PCU@C-Ag/AgCl NPs were physicochemically characterized and evaluated for antimicrobial activity against selected respiratory tract infection (RTI) pathogens. The absorption band around 420 nm in UV-Visible spectrum indicated the presence of Ag NPs. The spherical shape of NPs was observed using TEM. Also, the crystalline structure was confirmed using the XRD pattern. The PCU@C-Ag/AgCl NPs showed strong antimicrobial activity against all tested RTI pathogens. In addition, FESEM analysis showed morphological changes in RTI bacterial pathogens. Thereby, PCU@C-Ag/AgCl NPs may be used as an antimicrobial material to treat RTIs in near future at clinical level.

Identification of a novel antibacterial protein from hemolymph of freshwater zooplankton Mesocyclops leuckarti

Bacterial infections are the most important problem of health care worldwide. The hemolymph antibacterial proteins of Mesocyclops leuckarti was isolated for the first time and its antibacterial efficacy was evaluated against four different human pathogenic microbes viz., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia and Shigella flexneri. The antibacterial potential of the antimicrobial proteins of hemolymph samples from plankton cultured in water enriched with Cow Urine Distillate (CUD) was compared with normal ones. The results indicated that the hemolymph proteins were more potential against Gram negative bacteria than Gram positive bacteria. Klebsiella pneumonia was more susceptible to the hemolymph proteins exhibiting a zone of inhibition measuring 27 mm. The supplement of CUD to the culture media further enriched the antibacterial activity of the hemolymph proteins (29 mm). The SDS-PAGE analysis indicated two different types of clear bands representing proteins of 53 kDa and 19 kDa. Overall, this investigation signified that the microcrustaceans have a defence mechanism hemolymph of Mesocyclops leuckarti have a potential agent for novel antibiotics.

Development of a Fluorescent Labeling Reagent for Determination of Proline and Hydroxyproline in Myeloma Patient Plasma by HPLC-FLD

A fluorescent derivatization reagent, 3,6-dimethoxy-9-phenyl-9H-carbazole-1-sulfonyl chloride (DPCS-Cl), previously designed, synthesized and developed for amino acids labeling, is here employed. It was used as a pre-column derivatization reagent for the determination of proline (Pro) and hydroxyproline (Hyp) with high-performance liquid chromatography. Both of the analytes were labeled with DPCS-Cl at 60°C for 30 min. The optimized concentration of DPCS-Cl was 25 µg mL^-1 and the molar ratio of analytes to DPCS-Cl was 1:6. Excitation wavelength of 318 nm and emission wavelength of 440 nm were selected for the fluorescence detection. For Pro and Hyp, the linear correlation coefficients were all >0.999; the linear ranges of calibration curve were all 5.0 nmol L^-1 to 5.0 μmol L^-1; the detection limits were 20.0 and 10.0 fmol, respectively; the intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations were 2.6-3.3% and 3.5-4.6%, respectively. This reagent was applied to the determination of Pro and Hyp in plasma of myeloma patients with its merits of high efficiency of derivatization, stability of the derivatives and high sensitivity.

Chemotherapeutic potential of cow urine: A review

In the grim scenario where presently about 70% of pathogenic bacteria are resistant to at least one of the drugs for the treatment, cue is to be taken from traditional/indigenous medicine to tackle it urgently. The Indian traditional knowledge emanates from ayurveda, where Bos indicus is placed at a high pedestal for numerous uses of its various products. Urine is one of the products of a cow with many benefits and without toxicity. Various studies have found good antimicrobial activity of cow’s urine (CU) comparable with standard drugs such as ofloxacin, cefpodoxime, and gentamycin, against a vast number of pathogenic bacteria, more so against Gram-positive than negative bacteria. Interestingly antimicrobial activity has also been found against some resistant strains such as multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Antimicrobial action is enhanced still further by it being an immune-enhancer and bioenhancer of some antibiotic drugs. Antifungal activity was comparable to amphotericin B. CU also has anthelmintic and antineoplastic action. CU has, in addition, antioxidant properties, and it can prevent the damage to DNA caused by the environmental stress. In the management of infectious diseases, CU can be used alone or as an adjunctive to prevent the development of resistance and enhance the effect of standard antibiotics.

Selective Analysis of Secondary Amino Acids in Gelatin Using Pulsed Electrochemical Detection

A method was developed for selective analysis of the secondary amino acids proline and 4-hydroxyproline from gelatin hydrolysates using anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography followed by integrated pulsed amperometric detection (HPLC-IPAD). An extraction scheme was implemented prior to HPLC-IPAD analysis to isolate the secondary amino acids by the removal of primary amino acids through derivatization with o-phthalaldehyde followed by solid-phase extraction with C18 packed columns. The use of the IPAD technique eliminated the need for a second derivatization step to detect secondary amino acids. The removal of interfering primary amino acids prior to chromatographic analysis allowed the use of isocratic mobile-phase conditions to achieve effective and efficient separation of the amino acids. This led to a more precise and accurate quantitation of their content in gelatin hydrolysates. Detection limits approach 10 parts per billion ( approximately 2 pmol/injection) with a chromatographic analysis time under 8 min. The ratios of secondary amino acids, in addition to their abundances, were used to distinguish gelatin manufactured from bovine, porcine, and fish raw material sources.