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Botezan S, Baci GM, Bagameri L, Pașca C, Dezmirean DS. Current Status of the Bioactive Properties of Royal Jelly: A Comprehensive Review with a Focus on Its Anticancer, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antioxidant Effects. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28031510. [PMID: 36771175 PMCID: PMC9921556 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28031510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Royal jelly (RJ) has been one of the most widely used natural products in alternative medicine for centuries. Being produced by both hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands, RJ exhibits an extraordinary complexity in terms of its composition, including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, polyphenols, vitamins, and hormones. Due to its heterogeneous structure, RJ displays various functional roles for honeybees, including being involved in nutrition, learning, memory, and social behavior. Furthermore, a wide range of studies reported its therapeutic properties, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities, to name a few. In this direction, there is a wide range of health-related problems for which the medical area specialists and researchers are continuously trying to find a cure, such as cancer, atherosclerosis, or infertility. For the mentioned diseases and more, it has been proven that RJ is a key player in finding a valuable treatment. In this review, the great impact of RJ as an alternative medicine agent is highlighted, with a focus on its anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. Moreover, we link it to its apitherapeutic potential by discussing its composition. Herein, we discuss a wide range of novel studies and present the latest research work.
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Iordache D, Baci GM, Căpriță O, Farkas A, Lup A, Butiuc-Keul A. Correlation between CRISPR Loci Diversity in Three Enterobacterial Taxa. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232112766. [PMID: 36361556 PMCID: PMC9658729 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232112766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas is an adaptive immunity system of prokaryotes, composed of CRISPR arrays and the associated proteins. The successive addition of spacer sequences in the CRISPR array has made the system a valuable molecular marker, with multiple applications. Due to the high degree of polymorphism of the CRISPR loci, their comparison in bacteria from various sources may provide insights into the evolution and spread of the CRISPR-Cas systems. The aim of this study was to establish a correlation between the enterobacterial CRISPR loci, the sequence of direct repeats (DR), and the number of spacer units, along with the geographical origin and collection source. For this purpose, 3474 genomes containing CRISPR loci from the CRISPRCasdb of Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were analyzed, and the information regarding the isolates was recorded from the NCBI database. The most prevalent was the I-E CRISPR-Cas system in all three studied taxa. E. coli also presents the I-F type, but in a much lesser percentage. The systems found in K. pneumoniae can be classified into I-E and I-E*. The I-E and I-F systems have two CRISPR loci, while I-E* has only one locus upstream of the Cas cluster. PCR primers have been developed in this study for each CRISPR locus. Distinct clustering was not evident, but statistically significant relationships occurred between the different CRISPR loci and the number of spacer units. For each of the queried taxa, the number of spacers was significantly different (p < 0.01) by origin (Africa, Asia, Australia and Oceania, Europe, North America, and South America) but was not linked to the isolation source type (human, animal, plant, food, or laboratory strains).
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Affiliation(s)
- Dumitrana Iordache
- Doctoral School of Integrative Biology, Babeș-Bolyai University, 44 Republicii street, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, 1 M. Kogalniceanu Street, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Centre for Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Babeș-Bolyai University, 5–7 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Gabriela-Maria Baci
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Oana Căpriță
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, 1 M. Kogalniceanu Street, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Anca Farkas
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, 1 M. Kogalniceanu Street, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Centre for Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Babeș-Bolyai University, 5–7 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Andreea Lup
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, 1 M. Kogalniceanu Street, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Anca Butiuc-Keul
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, 1 M. Kogalniceanu Street, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Centre for Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Babeș-Bolyai University, 5–7 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Lujerdean C, Baci GM, Cucu AA, Dezmirean DS. The Contribution of Silk Fibroin in Biomedical Engineering. Insects 2022; 13:286. [PMID: 35323584 PMCID: PMC8950689 DOI: 10.3390/insects13030286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Silk fibroin (SF) is a natural protein (biopolymer) extracted from the cocoons of Bombyx mori L. (silkworm). It has many properties of interest in the field of biotechnology, the most important being biodegradability, biocompatibility and robust mechanical strength with high tensile strength. SF is usually dissolved in water-based solvents and can be easily reconstructed into a variety of material formats, including films, mats, hydrogels, and sponges, by various fabrication techniques (spin coating, electrospinning, freeze-drying, and physical or chemical crosslinking). Furthermore, SF is a feasible material used in many biomedical applications, including tissue engineering (3D scaffolds, wounds dressing), cancer therapy (mimicking the tumor microenvironment), controlled drug delivery (SF-based complexes), and bone, eye and skin regeneration. In this review, we describe the structure, composition, general properties, and structure-properties relationship of SF. In addition, the main methods used for ecological extraction and processing of SF that make it a green material are discussed. Lastly, technological advances in the use of SF-based materials are addressed, especially in healthcare applications such as tissue engineering and cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Lujerdean
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.-A.C.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Gabriela-Maria Baci
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.-A.C.); (D.S.D.)
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Baci GM, Cucu AA, Giurgiu AI, Muscă AS, Bagameri L, Moise AR, Bobiș O, Rațiu AC, Dezmirean DS. Advances in Editing Silkworms ( Bombyx mori) Genome by Using the CRISPR-Cas System. Insects 2021; 13:28. [PMID: 35055871 PMCID: PMC8777690 DOI: 10.3390/insects13010028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas (CRISPR-associated) represents a powerful genome editing technology that revolutionized in a short period of time numerous natural sciences branches. Therefore, extraordinary progress was made in various fields, such as entomology or biotechnology. Bombyx mori is one of the most important insects, not only for the sericulture industry, but for numerous scientific areas. The silkworms play a key role as a model organism, but also as a bioreactor for the recombinant protein production. Nowadays, the CRISPR-Cas genome editing system is frequently used in order to perform gene analyses, to increase the resistance against certain pathogens or as an imaging tool in B. mori. Here, we provide an overview of various studies that made use of CRISPR-Cas for B. mori genome editing, with a focus on emphasizing the high applicability of this system in entomology and biological sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela-Maria Baci
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.-M.B.); (A.-A.C.); (A.-I.G.); (A.-S.M.); (L.B.); (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Alexandra-Antonia Cucu
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.-M.B.); (A.-A.C.); (A.-I.G.); (A.-S.M.); (L.B.); (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Alexandru-Ioan Giurgiu
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.-M.B.); (A.-A.C.); (A.-I.G.); (A.-S.M.); (L.B.); (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Adriana-Sebastiana Muscă
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.-M.B.); (A.-A.C.); (A.-I.G.); (A.-S.M.); (L.B.); (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Lilla Bagameri
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.-M.B.); (A.-A.C.); (A.-I.G.); (A.-S.M.); (L.B.); (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Adela Ramona Moise
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.-M.B.); (A.-A.C.); (A.-I.G.); (A.-S.M.); (L.B.); (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Otilia Bobiș
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.-M.B.); (A.-A.C.); (A.-I.G.); (A.-S.M.); (L.B.); (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | | | - Daniel Severus Dezmirean
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.-M.B.); (A.-A.C.); (A.-I.G.); (A.-S.M.); (L.B.); (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
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Cucu AA, Baci GM, Dezsi Ş, Nap ME, Beteg FI, Bonta V, Bobiş O, Caprio E, Dezmirean DS. New Approaches on Japanese Knotweed ( Fallopia japonica) Bioactive Compounds and Their Potential of Pharmacological and Beekeeping Activities: Challenges and Future Directions. Plants (Basel) 2021; 10:2621. [PMID: 34961091 PMCID: PMC8705504 DOI: 10.3390/plants10122621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Known especially for its negative ecological impact, Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed) is now considered one of the most invasive species. Nevertheless, its chemical composition has shown, beyond doubt, some high biological active compounds that can be a source of valuable pharmacological potential for the enhancement of human health. In this direction, resveratrol, emodin or polydatin, to name a few, have been extensively studied to demonstrate the beneficial effects on animals and humans. Thus, by taking into consideration the recent advances in the study of Japanese knotweed and its phytochemical constituents, the aim of this article is to provide an overview on the high therapeutic potential, underlining its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects, among the most important ones. Moreover, we describe some future directions for reducing the negative impact of Fallopia japonica by using the plant for its beekeeping properties in providing a distinct honey type that incorporates most of its bioactive compounds, with the same health-promoting properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra-Antonia Cucu
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.-A.C.); (G.-M.B.); (V.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Gabriela-Maria Baci
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.-A.C.); (G.-M.B.); (V.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Ştefan Dezsi
- Faculty of Geography, Babeş-Bolyai University, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Mircea-Emil Nap
- Faculty of Geodesy, Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest, 020396 Bucharest, Romania;
- Faculty of Horticulture, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Florin Ioan Beteg
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Victoriţa Bonta
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.-A.C.); (G.-M.B.); (V.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Otilia Bobiş
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.-A.C.); (G.-M.B.); (V.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Emilio Caprio
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Università, Portici, 100-80055 Naples, Italy;
| | - Daniel Severus Dezmirean
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.-A.C.); (G.-M.B.); (V.B.); (D.S.D.)
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