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Analysis of Environmental Pollution in Sundarbans
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 5, October 2014
Pages:
98-107
Received:
25 June 2014
Accepted:
9 July 2014
Published:
30 September 2014
Abstract: The Sundarbans is the largest, biologically richest, and most extensive mangrove forest in the world, which is also a world heritage site. Heritiera fomes (Sundri) tree is the most important ecologically dominant and economically valuable tree species and there are 3.5 million in Sundarbans. However, heavy metal contamination is affecting millions of the trees & people in Sundarbans (Awal, 2007). 45.2 million of Sundri trees have been affected in Sundarbans (Chaffey et, al., 1985). Heavy metals are natural constituents of the earth's crust, and accumulation of heavy metals in soil is responsible for pharmacological activity in plants. Prolonged exposure to heavy metals such as Al, As, B, Ba, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, In, K, Mg, Mo, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Si, Sn, Sr, Ti, V, Y, Zn, can cause deleterious health effects in humans & plants. Excessive levels can be damaging to the organism. Heavy metals disrupt metabolic functions and they accumulate and thereby disrupt function in vital organs and glands such as the heart, brain, kidneys, bone, liver, etc. They displace the vital nutritional minerals from their original place, thereby, hindering their biological function. There are many ways by which these toxins can be introduced into the body such as consumption of foods, skin exposure, and the inhaled air. Plants experience oxidative stress upon exposure to heavy metals that leads to cellular damage and disturbance of cellular ionic homeostasis. So, the loss of H. fomes & loss of surrounding people will have a major impact on the Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem, as well as lead to economic losses. Despite various hypotheses as to the causes of this top-dying, the underlying causes are still not well understood. The present work has explored some of the possible factors involved, focussing particularly on the relationship between the amount of top-dying in different places and the concentrations of a number of chemical elements present in the soil and water and human bodies, in order to test the hypothesis that chemical pollution might be responsible.
Abstract: The Sundarbans is the largest, biologically richest, and most extensive mangrove forest in the world, which is also a world heritage site. Heritiera fomes (Sundri) tree is the most important ecologically dominant and economically valuable tree species and there are 3.5 million in Sundarbans. However, heavy metal contamination is affecting millions ...
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Analysis of Advantages of Gold (Au) Wash Solution for Chemical Analysis of Soil and Water Samples in Sundarbans by IPC-MS
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 5, October 2014
Pages:
108-118
Received:
28 June 2014
Accepted:
7 August 2014
Published:
30 September 2014
Abstract: The Sundarbans is the largest, biologically richest, and most extensive mangrove forest in the world. Heritiera fomes (Sundri) tree is the most important ecologically dominant and economically valuable tree species in the Sundarbans. However, a serious disease (top dying) of H. fomes in Sundarbans is affecting millions of the trees. The loss of H. fomes will have a major impact on the Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem, as well as lead to economic losses. Despite various hypotheses as to the causes of this top-dying, the underlying causes are still not well understood. The present work has explored some of the possible factors involved, focusing particularly on the relationship between the amount of top-dying in different places and the concentrations of a number of chemical elements present in the soil and water, in order to test the hypothesis that chemical pollution might be responsible. Nine plots were selected for sampling of soil, water, and vegetation in order to categorize different areas in terms of their intensity of top-dying. 63 soil samples and 9 water samples were tested, mainly by ICPMS, to investigate certain parameters of the soil and water, such as Sn, Exchangeable K, Soil pH, Pb, Zn, Ni, soil pH, CEC, soil nutrients, soil moisture content, and elemental concentrations of 32 other elements. Most of the elements studied had no significant correlation with the top dying of Heritiera fomes. However, Sn, Exchangeable K, and soil pH were significantly related, and three elements, namely Pb, Zn, Ni, were also close to significance. Sn concentration is negatively associated with top dying. Soil pH varied significantly in the different plots. Exchangeable K was positively associated with the tree diameter whether the top dying was severe or mild. Of the hypotheses previously put forward to explain top-dying, the present results do not support enhanced salinity as the cause. It is likely that several of the above-mentioned environmental factors interact with each other to induce top dying in Sundri. However, the present results have showed that Sn, Exchangeable K, soil pH, Pb , Zn and Ni could be directly linked with top-dying of Heritiera fomes (Sundri) in Sundarbans, probably particularly by weakening the vigor of the trees and allowing other factors such as pathological agents to attack the plants.
Abstract: The Sundarbans is the largest, biologically richest, and most extensive mangrove forest in the world. Heritiera fomes (Sundri) tree is the most important ecologically dominant and economically valuable tree species in the Sundarbans. However, a serious disease (top dying) of H. fomes in Sundarbans is affecting millions of the trees. The loss of H. ...
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Purification and Gene Cloning of a Novel Antibacterial Phospholipase A2 from the Sponge Agelas Clathroides In Kapoposang Island Indonesia Terrestrial
Ahyar Ahmad,
Hasnah Natsir,
Harningsih Karim
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 5, October 2014
Pages:
119-126
Received:
6 October 2014
Accepted:
16 October 2014
Published:
30 October 2014
Abstract: A new phospholipase A2 enzyme (PLA2) has been purified from the sponge of Agelas clathroides by using ammonium sulphate fractionation, column chromatography and reversed-phase HPLC. It behaves as a single-band on SDS-PAGE with molecular weight of 39 kDa. Based on amino acids partial sequence, we cloned and sequenced cDNA encoding PLA2. It consists of 474 nucleotides encoding 157 amino acid residues including a putative initiation Met. To obtain it in large amounts, the coding sequence of PLA2 was cloned into pGEX-2TK vector and expressed as a PLA2 fusion protein in Escherichia coli BL21 strain. The soluble fusion protein collected from the supernatant of the cell lysate with induction by 50 M isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) was purified in a single-step on glutathione agarose bead chromatography. The purified native PLA2 protein and recombinant PLA2 fusion protein were determinated for novel antibacterial activity. Recombinant PLA2 fusion protein exhibited a similar antibacterial activity to the native PLA2. The recombinant PLA2 had stronger antibacterial activity toward Salmonella typhy and Staphylococus aureus (G+) with the inhibition zone diameters of 2.0 times higher than that toward Echerichia coli and Vibrio cholerae (G-). These works might provide a significant foundation for following research on the antibacterial action of PLA2 protein from marine sponges.
Abstract: A new phospholipase A2 enzyme (PLA2) has been purified from the sponge of Agelas clathroides by using ammonium sulphate fractionation, column chromatography and reversed-phase HPLC. It behaves as a single-band on SDS-PAGE with molecular weight of 39 kDa. Based on amino acids partial sequence, we cloned and sequenced cDNA encoding PLA2. It consists ...
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Phylogenetic Grouping and Virulence Characterization of ESBL-Producing and Non-Producing Vaginal Escherichia Coli
Sareaa Maseer Gatya Al-Mayahie
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 5, October 2014
Pages:
127-133
Received:
30 September 2014
Accepted:
16 October 2014
Published:
30 October 2014
Abstract: The initial colonization of the vaginal mucosa with Escherichia coli is considered as a critical step toward urinary tract and neonatal infections. This study was conducted to characterize ESBL-producing (n=40) vaginal E. coli isolates from pregnant and non-pregnant women. These isolates were compared with corresponding ESBL-non-producing E. coli isolates (n=21). Both groups were investigated using PCR-based protocols for their phylogenetic origin and virulence genotype. High numbers of ESBL producers and non-producers were from group B2 (47.5% vs. 42.8%, respectively). None of ESBL non-producers clustered in group D, whereas significant numbers (P ≤ 0.05) of them belonged to group B1 (33.3%) in comparison with 20.0% and 7.5% of ESBL producers, respectively. Significant differences in the prevalence of this study included virulence factors were not observed between these two groups. In both high rates of multiple virulence factors possession were demonstrated among isolates belonged to groups B2 and D. Comparison of CTX-M-producers with non-CTX-M-ESBL-producers and ESBL-non-producers revealed no significant differences among these three groups. In total, 60.8%, 17.3%, 17.3% and 4.3% of multidrug resistant (MDR) isolates clustered in groups B2, D, A and B1, respectively. All MDR-ESBL-non producers (100%) belonged to phylogroup B2 compared with 50% of MDR ESBL-producers and their virulence was much more higher. This study indicates that significant differences are not present between ESBL-producing and non-producing vaginal E. coli for both phylogenetic group distribution and virulence genes possession. Also, ESBL-producing vaginal E. coli, especially CTX-M producers, tend to be more dominant among the highly virulent phylogroup B2 and to a lesser extent group D. These data reveal the importance of vaginal colonization by these highly virulent, MDR, ESBL-producing E. coli as a source of extraintestinal E. coli infections.
Abstract: The initial colonization of the vaginal mucosa with Escherichia coli is considered as a critical step toward urinary tract and neonatal infections. This study was conducted to characterize ESBL-producing (n=40) vaginal E. coli isolates from pregnant and non-pregnant women. These isolates were compared with corresponding ESBL-non-producing E. coli i...
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Isolation and Characterization of Bioactive Protein from Green Algae Halimeda macrobola Acting as Antioxidant and Anticancer Agent
Ahyar Ahmad,
Hanapi Usman,
Hasnah Natsir,
Abdul Karim
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 5, October 2014
Pages:
134-140
Received:
6 October 2014
Accepted:
21 October 2014
Published:
30 October 2014
Abstract: A protein fraction isolated from green algae Halimeda macrobola taken from the sea of Selayar and Kapoposang Island in South Sulawesi was tested for antioxidant and anticancer properties. The protein was isolated using buffer Tris (hydroxymethyl) amino methane. Initial purification of protein was conducted by using the fractionation method with ammonium sulphate, followed by dialysis process. Protein concentration was determined by Lowry method. Antioxidant assay was done by using DPPH method and anticancer activity test by Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BSLT) method. Anticancer activity was further confirmed by antimitotic test using urchin zygote cells. The results showed that the protein concentration of the crude extract was 0.920 mg/mL. The highest concentration of protein fractions was indicated by the fraction 40-60%, with 1.015 mg/mL. The strong antioxidant activity was shown in the protein fraction of 0-20% saturation with IC50 values of 0.110 mg/mL.The highest activity in the anticancer tests was shown in fractions 0-20% saturation with LC50 values of 0.29 µg/mL and IC50 value of 53.80 µg/mL. The protein fraction 0-20% saturation had a potential to be developed as antioxidant and anticancer agent. These results demonstrate that inexpensive green algae Halimeda macrobola could be a new alternative to produce antioxidant and anticancer proteins.
Abstract: A protein fraction isolated from green algae Halimeda macrobola taken from the sea of Selayar and Kapoposang Island in South Sulawesi was tested for antioxidant and anticancer properties. The protein was isolated using buffer Tris (hydroxymethyl) amino methane. Initial purification of protein was conducted by using the fractionation method with amm...
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