Development of Anti-idiotypic Monoclonal Antibody Mimicking SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain.

Using the hybridoma technique, we developed a panel of anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibodies (aId-mAb) that mimic The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Receptor-Binding Domain (RBD) molecule against Fragment antigen-binding (Fab) of anti-SARS-CoV-2 (S1, RBD) antibodies. Investigated the in vivo and in vitro effects of these aId-mAbs we developed and examined their antigenic mimicry abilities. Among these 12 antibodies, 6 aId-mAbs (designated FY1B4, FY2A6, H9F3, E6G7, FY7E11, and FY8H3) were selected for further characterization in a series of experiments. First, competitive receptor binding assay results confirmed that six aId-mAbs could specifically bind to the ACE2 receptor in target cells and block the interaction between the RBD molecule and the ACE receptor. Moreover, we examined the immunological activities of these aId-mAbs in female BALB/c and showed that E6G7, H7E11, and H8H3 aId-mAbs induce an antibody response by mimicking RBD and stimulating the immune system. It is considered that these three aId-mAbs will be evaluated as SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate molecules in future studies.

UV mutagenesis for lipase overproduction from Bacillus cereus ATA179, nutritional optimization, characterization and its usability in the detergent industry.

In this study, the wild-type Bacillus cereus ATA179 was mutagenized by random UV mutagenesis to increase lipase production. The mutant with maximum lipolytic activity was named Bacillus cereus EV4. The mutant strain (10.6 U/mL at 24 h) produced 60% more enzyme than the wild strain (6.6 U/mL at 48 h). Nutritional factors on lipase production were investigated. Sucrose was the best carbon source, (NH4)2HPO4 was the best nitrogen source and CuSO4 was the best metal ion source. Mutant EV4 showed a 32% increase in lipase production in the modified medium. The optimum temperature and pH were found to be 60 °C and 7.0, respectively. CuSO4, CaCl2, LiSO4, KCl, BaCl2, and Tween 20 had an activating effect on the enzyme. Vmax and Km values were found to be 17.36 U/mL and 0.036 mM, respectively. The molecular weight was determined as 28.2 kDa. The activity of lipase was found to be stable up to 60 days at 20 °C, 75 days at 4 °C, and 90 days at -20 °C. The potential of lipase in the detergent industry was investigated. The enzyme was not affected by detergent additives but was effective in removing stains in fabrics contaminated with oily substances.

Lipase from new isolate Bacillus cereus ATA179: optimization of production conditions, partial purification, characterization and its potential in the detergent industry.

In this study, 341 Bacillus sp. strains were isolated from agricultural soils of Turkey. The potent extracellular lipase producer was selected. It was identified by 16S rRNA, named as Bacillus cereus ATA179. Optimal nutritional and physical parameters for lipase production were determined. Sucrose as the carbon source, (NH4)2HPO4 as the nitrogen source, CaCl2 as the metal ion were obtained. The best results of physical parameters were stated at 45°C, pH 7.0, shaking rate 50 rpm, inoculation amount 7% and inoculum age 24 h. ATA179 strain showed a 51% increase in enzyme production in the modified medium created by optimizing nutritional and physical conditions. Optimum pH value and temperature were found as 6.0 and 55 °C, respectively. CaCl2, Tween 20, Triton X-100 had an activating effect on enzyme activity. Vmax and Km kinetic values were found as 18.28 U/mL and 0.11 mM, respectively. The molecular weight was determined as 47 kDa. Lipase was found to be stable up to 75 days at -20 ºC. The potential of the enzyme in detergent industry was also investigated. It was not affected by detergent additives, but was found to be effective in removing oils from contaminated fabrics. This new lipase may have potential to be used in detergent industry.

Synthesis and crystal structures of novel copper(II) complexes with glycine and substituted phenanthrolines: reactivity towards DNA/BSA and in vitro cytotoxic and antimicrobial evaluation.

New copper(II) complexes-dimeric-[Cu(nphen)(gly)(H2O)]+ (1) and [Cu(dmphen)(gly)(NO3)(H2O)] (2) (nphen = 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline, dmphen = 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, and gly = glycine)-have been synthesized and characterized by CHN analysis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques, FTIR, EPR spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. The CT-DNA-binding properties of these complexes have been investigated by thermal denaturation measurements and both absorption and emission spectroscopy. The DNA cleavage activity of these complexes has been studied on supercoiled pUC19 plasmid DNA by gel electrophoresis experiments in the absence and presence of H2O2. Furthermore, the interaction of these complexes with bovine serum albumin (BSA) has been investigated using absorption and emission spectroscopy. The thermodynamic parameters, free-energy change (ΔG), enthalpy change (ΔH), and entropy change (ΔS) for BSA + complexes 1 and 2 systems have been calculated by the van't Hoff equation at three different temperatures (293.2, 303.2, and 310.2 K). The distance between the BSA and these complexes has been determined using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Conformational changes of BSA have been observed using the synchronous fluorescence technique. In addition, in vitro cytotoxicities of these complexes on tumor cell lines (Caco-2, A549, and MCF-7) and healthy cells (BEAS-2B) have been examined. The antimicrobial activity of the complexes has also been tested on certain bacteria cells. The effect of mono and dimeric in the above complexes is presented and discussed. New copper(II) complexes-dimeric-[Cu(nphen)(gly)(H2O)]+ (1) and [Cu(dmphen)(gly) (NO3)(H2O)] (2) (nphen = 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline, dmphen = 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline and gly = glycine)-have been synthesized and characterized by CHN analysis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques, FTIR and EPR spectroscopy. They have been tested for their in vitro DNA/BSA interactions by the spectroscopic methods. These complexes exhibited higher cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities. Complex 1 shows better DNA / BSA interactions in comparison to complex 2.

Inhibition of quorum sensing-controlled virulence factors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by human serum paraoxonase.

The role of quorum sensing (QS) in the regulation of virulence factor production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is well established. Increased antibiotic resistance in this bacterium has led to the search for new treatment options, and inhibition of the QS system has been explored for potential therapeutic benefits. If the use of QS inhibitory agents were to lead to a reduction in bacterial virulence, new approaches in the treatment of P. aeruginosa infections could be further developed. Accordingly, we examined whether human serum paraoxonase 1 (hPON1), which uses lactonase activity to hydrolyse N-acyl homoserine lactones, could cleave P. aeruginosa-derived signalling molecules. hPON1 was purified using ammonium sulfate precipitation and hydrophobic interaction chromatography (Sepharose 4B-L-tyrosine-1-naphthylamine). Different concentrations of hPON1 were found to reduce various virulence factors including pyocyanin, rhamnolipid, elastase, staphylolytic LasA protease and alkaline protease. Although treatment with 0.1-10 mg hPON1 ml(-1) did not show a highly inhibitory effect on elastase and staphylolytic LasA protease production, it resulted in good inhibitory effects on alkaline protease production at concentrations as low as 0.1 mg ml(-1). hPON1 also reduced the production of pyocyanin and rhamnolipid at a concentration of 1.25 mg ml(-1 )(within a range of 0.312-5 mg ml(-1)). In addition, rhamnolipid, an effective biosurfactant reported to stimulate the biodegradation of hydrocarbons, was able to degrade oil only in the absence of hPON1.

Structural basis of a fungal galectin from Agrocybe cylindracea for recognizing sialoconjugate.

Galectin from an edible fungus Agrocybe cylindracea (ACG) has a strong preference for N-acetylneuraminyl lactose (NeuAcalpha2-3lactose). The sugar recognition mechanism of ACG was explored by the X-ray crystallographic analyses of ligand-free ACG, and its complex with lactose, 3'-sulfonyl lactose and NeuAcalpha2-3lactose. The refined structure shows that ACG is a "proto"-type galectin composed of a beta-sandwich of two antiparallel sheets, each with six strands, in contrast to the five and six strands in animal galectins. ACG dimer in solution was classified as being among the "layer"-type. The carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) of this galectin is common to those of animal galectins, except for substitution of one residue, Ala64, which corresponds to Asn46 in human galectin 1. A five-residue insertion in ACG at positions 42-46 involving Ser44 and Asn46 modified the architecture of the sugar binding site that contributes sialic acid specificity. Furthermore, it was found that the binding of a sulfate ion near the CRD in the ligand-free form led to a change in the conformation of the loop region caused by main-chain cis/trans transition between Ser44 and Pro45.