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Simultaneous Isolation and Purification of Transferrin and Immunoglobulin G from Human Serum—A New Biotech Solution
No full textA fast and simple biotech method is presented for the simultaneous isolation and
purification of transferrin (Tf) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) from the same pool-sample of
human serum, yielding >98% pure proteins. Serum sample preparation was achieved by
precipitation with ethacridine lactate (rivanol). Protein purification was performed with
AKTA Avant 150 FPLC, using a Resource Q column. Three different buffers at pH 6.2 (MES,
phosphate, and Bis-Tris) were tested. Isolated and purified proteins retained their native 3D
structure, as shown by spectrofluorimetric measurements. Tf functionality was preserved,
as confirmed by the retention of both the iron binding capacity and its ability to interact
with the transferrin receptor (immunofluorescent staining), as well as the immunogenicity
of IgG, as shown byWestern blot analysis with immunodetection. The formation of IgG
aggregates was avoided. This biotech method is a rapid, simple, and time-saving alternative
to other methods for the isolation of extremely pure IgG and Tf, while it is also the only
method so far described for their simultaneous isolation
The hidden biodiversity of diatoms (Bacillariophyceae) of Stara planina Mountain waterfalls (Serbia)
No full textThrough a combination of biotic and abiotic environmental factors, waterfalls create unique habitats supporting species
diversity. Thanks to their adaptable characteristics, diatoms are well-adjusted to life in wet microhabitats of waterfalls such
as rock, stone, gravel, or mosses. This research aimed to assess the epiphytic and epilithic diatom compositions, ecological
groups, and Shannon's diversity index in five waterfalls of Stara planina Mountain. In 2019 and 2021, the study revealed
diverse diatom flora, with the highest diversity in the Bigar Waterfall (99 taxa). Dominant genera such as Eunotia, Gomphonema,
Navicula, and Nitzschia were recorded. Among the 189 identified taxa, 18 are new to Serbia's diatom flora, including
the first European documentation of Hannaea yalaensis. According to ecological groups, water in the investigated waterfalls
was oxygen-rich, neutral to alkaline, and oligo to ß-mesosaprobic. Generally, the diatom communities in the examined
waterfalls were oligohalophobic, aquatic to aerophilic, and sensitive or tolerant N-autotrophic
Some features of methanol electrooxidation on electrodeposited Pd coatings
No full textSmall alcohols like methanol are viewed as promising fuels for two reasons. Firstly, they can be chemically transformed into hydrogen, which is then utilized in fuel cells to generate electrical energy, or alternatively, they can be utilized directly in fuel cells without any prior treatments. This work deals with the electrooxidation of methanol on electrodeposited Pd coating samples of different thicknesses obtained galvanostatically on the rotating GC disc electrode from the plating bath containing 5*10-3 M PdCl2 + 2 MNH4Cl. Electrochemical characterization indicates that the electrochemical properties of the Pd coatings were strongly dependent on the surface morphology obtained under different deposition conditions. The prepared Pd coatings show good catalytic activity and stability, with mass activity up to 100 A g-1 and electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) up to 2 m2 gPd−1. The oxidation of methanol in alkaline media demonstrated that a rise in surface roughness elevates the concentration of methanol on the surface, which in turn prevents the formation of palladium oxides at higher potentials, compounds that are recognized for hindering subsequent methanol oxidation activity. This research is crucial for enhancing our understanding of the characteristics of alcohol electrocatalysis on palladium catalysts
Microbiological degradation of polylactic acid
No full textPolylactic acid (PLA) is an aliphatic polyester and a potential biopolymer that could replace petroleum-based synthetic polymers. It can be produced by fermenting renewable resources such as corn, cassava, and potatoes, among others. PLA has high mechanical strength, biocompatibility, low toxicity, and is easy to process. However, despite being a biomaterial, it takes several years to fully degrade in the environment. The biodegradability of PLA has primarily been investigated through chemical hydrolysis, thermolysis, and photodegradation. Microbial degradation presents a potential solution for the effective, eco-friendly degradation of PLA polymer
Selenium-Related Gene Activation in Fetal Growth Restriction Placentas: A Bioinformatics Analysis
No full textSelenium is a crucial trace element of significant importance for human health,
encompassing muscle function, male reproductive biology, cardiovascular health, endocrine
regulation, nervous system function, and particularly immune system efficacy. It is a
fundamental structural element of numerous enzymes, including glutathione peroxidase,
thioredoxin reductase, and deiodinases. These enzymes are crucial for antioxidation,
reproduction, muscular function, and tumor prevention. Finally, regarding pregnancy, studies
have shown that both excess and shortage of selenium are linked to spontaneous abortion, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, fetal growth restriction, and preterm birth. We used publicly
available RNA-seq datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO): GSE203507 and
GSE114691. We analyzed differentially expressed genes between fetal growth restriction (FGR)
and term birth (TB) placental villous in GEO2R. In GSE203507 dataset we selected villous tissue
samples (FGR: n = 5, TB: n = 5), along with the genes of interest and further analyzed gene
expression using Mann–Whitney U tests and violin plots. Functional pathway enrichment was
evaluated using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) with Reactome gene sets. We used the
independent GSE114691 dataset for validation of key genes expression and pathway signals. The
results of our study revealed the significantly higher expression of essential antioxidant
selenoproteins in placental tissue affected by FGR, specifically Glutathione Peroxidase 1 (GPX1)
and Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase B1 (MSRB1). Mann–Whitney U test validated the mentioned
increase with p-values of 0.0317 and 0.0079, respectively. Furthermore, we conducted a Gene Set
Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). The pathway related to “Selenoamino Acid Metabolism”
(REACTOME) showed significant enrichment in FGR tissue samples compared term birth
placentas (NES = 1.84, FDR q = 0.019). These results could indicate the activation of the molecular
mechanisms involved in biosynthesis and incorporation of selenocysteine. The GSE114691
dataset confirmed these results, revealing significantly altered expression of both GPX1 and
MSRB1 in placental villous tissues impacted by FGR. MSRB1 exhibited significant upregulation
(log₂FC = +0.41, FDR = 0.00294). Additionally, GSEA conducted on the validation set confirmed
the enrichment of the selenoamino acid metabolism pathway, confirming the resilience and
reproducibility of the transcriptome signature across diverse cohorts. The results of our study
indicated the potential significance of selenium and selenoproteins, as well as the molecular
pathways in which they are involved, in the development of fetal growth restriction. Given the
known role of oxidative stress in the development of disorders such as FGR, as well as the
A.Rakić et al., Selenium-Related Gene Activation in Fetal Growth Restriction Placentas: A Bioinformatics Analysis
www.iccbikg.kg.ac.rs| |448
antioxidant properties of selenium itself and the signaling pathways it configures, this study
could have an impact on future research on diagnostic knowledge, as well as selenium
supplementation in these high-risk pregnancies
Automatic Device for Spectroscopic Diagnostics of Benign and Malignant Diseases
No full textThere are a great number of diseases which required a lot of diagnostic techniques that can be used in a diagnostic procedure to find out the diagnosis with high rate of confidence. Therefore, there is a constant need to find an increasing number of more selective diagnostic techniques by which we would be able to determine an altered substrate characteristic of the suspected
disease.
The most important results of the already realized and submitted European Eureka projects treating medical diagnostics will be presented. The main purpose is the invention and construction of diagnostic device for diagnosis of numerous diseases by automatization of UV-vis signals of different body fluids. In the invention and the construction of diagnostic system clinical work is
included, accompanied with spectroscopic part, the software and hardware realization and design of the diagnostic device, i.e. prototype construction. In the area of intellectual property protection, at first the domestic and international bases of patent documentations were searched and analyzed as well as the patent information’s. Finally, as the one of the projects results the patent application were submitted for the selected diseases as a part of project goals.Za dijagnozu velikog broja bolesti je neophodno mnogo dijagnostičkih procedura da bi se došlo do finalne dijagnoze sa velikim procentom tačnosti. Zato postoji konstantna potreba za invenciju većeg broja selektivnijih dijagnostičkih procedura sa drukčijim pristupom karakteristikama koje
određuju i odgovorne su za bolest na koju se sumnja. Najvažniji rezultati realizovanih, kao i podnetog, Evropskih Eureka projekata čiji je cilj medicinska dijagnostika će biti ukratko predstavljeni. Glavni cilj projekata je invencija i konstrukcija dijagnostičkog uređaja za dijagnostiku
različitih bolesti koji se bazira na automatizaciji UV-vis signala izabranih telesnih tečnosti. U invenciju i konstrukciju dijagnostičkog sistema je uključen klinički rad sa spektroskopskim delom, realizacija softvera i hardvera, dizajn kao i konstrukcija prototipa dijagnostičkog uređaja.
U oblasti zaštite intelektualne svojine posle detaljnog pretraživanja i analize domaće i međunarodne patentne dokumentacije i baze podataka, kao rezultat projekata su podnete patentne prijave u cilju zaštite dijagnostičke metode i dijagnostičkog uređaja za selektovane bolesti koje su bile cilj projekta
Challenges in the investigation of the diatom community of saline habitats: A case study of Plava Banja (Serbia)
No full textPlava Banja is an artificial saline lake in Vojvodina province (Serbia). It was formed during clay excavation by a local company, later abandoned and covered with gravel. In 2023, 12 diatom samples were collected during three seasons of sampling (spring, summer, and autumn) from reeds and artificial bricks. Two approaches were used to analyze the samples: traditional microscopic analysis and high-throughput sequencing (HTS) of the rbcL gene. This study aimed to see a difference in diatom diversity between these two approaches. In parallel with the analysis of the diatom community, physicochemical analyses of the water were also carried out. Plava Banja is characterized by elevated concentrations of sulfates, chlorides, alkaline pH, and high conductivity values. Around 55 taxa are recorded by microscope, and 82 taxa with molecular analysis. According to both analyses, Nitzschia was one of the most represented genera across the samples, but with mostly unassigned sequences. Traditional microscopic analysis showed higher diversity within the genus Craticula than molecular analysis. Out of 7 Craticula taxa identified by a microscope, two were recorded as dominant through seasons: Craticula aff. simplex (relative abundance 2.66 – 90.68%) and Craticula aff. halophila (relative abundance 0.24 – 36.65%). According to molecular data, only one Craticula ASV is noticed. The second significant discrepancy in diversity was observed among the genus Navicymbula. Three Navicymbula taxa (N. pusilla, N pusilla var. lata, and Navicymbula sp.) were recorded in Plava Banja by microscope. However, none of the obtained sequences were assigned to the genus Navicymbula because this genus is not included in any rbcL reference database. All three Navicymbula identified under the microscope were noticed in the same samples with different relative abundance (N. pusilla 1.24–24.34%, N pusilla var. lata 0.49–10.87% and Navicymbula sp. 0.25–14.80%).Map published in the paper: [https://cer.ihtm.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/8678
Si/Pyrex glass and poly(dimethylsiloxane)-based microfluidic devices with integrated heating elements for TiO2 nanoparticle synthesis
No full textThis paper presents two microreactors used to synthesize titanium(IV) oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles. The microreactors under investigation incorporate integrated heaters and possess distinct microchannel dimensions. The first microreactor comprises silicon and Pyrex glass, with its integrated heater produced through p-type diffusion. Conversely, the second microreactor is constructed from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and features a wire-based integrated heater. Recognizing the significance of temperature control in the synthesis process, both experimental and simulation results pertaining to the behavior of the microreactor heaters are provided. The synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles serves as a means to validate the efficacy of the microreactors. Comparative analysis reveals that the PDMS microreactor exhibits superior functionality when compared to the silicon/Pyrex glass counterpart. It has been demonstrated that upon a reaction time of 2 min within the microreactors, amorphous nanoparticles are formed, accompanied by partially developed crystallites corresponding to the anatase and rutile phases. Subsequent heating facilitates the complete conversion of the amorphous phase into the anatase phase. The utilization of a PDMS microreactor exhibits a heightened suitability for the synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles with good photocatalytic efficiency, achieving 93.59 % methylene blue (MB) degradation after 90 min. This suitability arises from several key factors: enhanced production speed, the cost-effectiveness inherent in the material, and the prevention of channel blockage attributed to calcification during the reaction process
Development of the experimental setup for investigations of the low frequency alternating electromagnetic field effects on plant growth and phytoremediation properties
No full textThe electromagnetic field application is emerging as an additional physical strategy to rise the yield of agricultural
production. In addition, the application of physical methods, in comparison to conventional chemical treatments, offers
reduced use of harmful fertilizers and thus decrease pollution. Our recent experimental study in which wheat seed
samples were treated for 48 hours with alternating electromagnetic field (AEF), in the frequency range up to 1 MHz,
indicated that low frequency AEF may not only enhance seed germination and its growth, but also revealed statistically
significant differences between AEF treated and control samples in chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll content as
well as in some vegetation indices used to monitor plant health. [1] Moreover, our other recent study [2] confirmed that
use of AEF for seed treatment increased the rate of seed germination, but no difference in accumulation of PFAS
compounds was found between wheat plants developed from AEF treated and untreated seeds. In order to emphasize
effects of AEF on already developed plants (instead of 48 hours of only seed treatment) a 2.5 times longer AEF treatment
was conducted. To conduct such experiments in the present research we worked on developing a six-well plant growing
tray reactor, where every well was equipped with pair of stainless steel electrodes between which AEF was generated.
Schematic view of our experimental design is given at Figure 1
Evaluation of Aronia Pomace Extract as a Green Corrosion Inhibitor
No full textIn this study, the effectiveness of Aronia pomace extract as an environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in 1 M HCl was investigated. Electrochemical measurements, including electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and polarization studies, revealed a significant reduction in the corrosion rate in the presence of the extract, with a maximum inhibition efficiency of 96.7% at the optimal concentration of 100 ppm after 24 hours. EIS results indicated an increase in charge transfer resistance over time for all tested concentrations and the formation of a stable protective film on the steel surface. Polarization measurements suggested that the extract acts as a mixed-type inhibitor, with a predominant effect on the cathodic reaction. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed a smooth and compact surface for the inhibited samples, while contact angle measurements confirmed increased compaction of the organic protective layer over time. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) identified the presence of organic functional groups from phytochemicals in the extract on the steel surface, confirming the adsorptive protection mechanism. These results demonstrate that aronia extract is an efficient, environmentally friendly inhibitor of carbon steel corrosion in acidic media, with potential applications in industrial processes and green metal protection technologies