The plasmid-encoded quinolone resistance gene qnrS1 was recently found to be commonly associated with ciprofloxacin resistance in Nigeria. We mapped the qnrS1 gene from an Escherichia coli isolate obtained in Nigeria to a 43.5 Kb IncX2 plasmid. The plasmid, pEBG1, was sufficient to confer ciprofloxacin non-susceptibility, as well as tetracycline and trimethoprim resistance, on E. coli K-12. Del...

A new genetic study has shown that the phagocytic ability of Drosophila blood cells, the hemocytes, may be important for the further induction of an antibacterial response in other tissues.

Background and Objectives Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia among older persons. Thymoquinone (TQ) has anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant and antioxidant activity. A novel α7 nicotinic acetyl choline receptor (α7 nAChR ) agonist (PNU- 282987) have been identified to enhance the cognitive performance. An alternative treatment strategy via compounds known as nicotinic "p...

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of the volatile oil from Thymus vulgaris L. aerial flowering parts was performed under different conditions of pressure, temperature, mean particle size and CO(2) flow rate and the correspondent yield and composition were compared with those of the essential oil isolated by hydrodistillation (HD). Both the oils were analyzed by GC and GC-MS and 52 components...

OBJECTIVE To investigate potential mechanisms mediating the neuroprotective effect of thymoquinone (TQ) on dopaminergic neurons. METHODS This study was conducted in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria between June and August 2013. Primary cultures were prepared from embryonic mouse mesencephala (OFI/SPF) at gestation day 14. Four sets o...

This study aims to explore the cytotoxic, apoptotic and autophagic effects of thymoquinone on human acute myeloid leukemia. The cytotoxic were determined with 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) tests. B-cell lymphoma 2 associated X protein (Bax), (Bcl-2), caspase 3, mammalian target rapamycin (mTOR), phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), kinase B (AKT) gene expr...

This study assessed the functional importance of residues located at the i(-2) position of face 4 of the tandem repeat loops of the quinolone resistance protein QnrVC7 through mutagenesis studies. The i(-2) position of face 4 on different coils required residues with different natures. Some substitutions reduced the protective activity of QnrVC7, while some of them increased it. These findings ...

Pseudomonas Quinolone Signal Modulates Cystic Fibrosis Epithelial Cell Response through the TollLike Receptor 4 Patricia R. Wardwell1,2, David R. Wilson1,2, Dewayne L. Garner1,2 and Rebecca A. Bader1,2* 1Department of Biomedical & Chemical Engineering, Syracuse Biomaterials Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA 2Onondaga Community College, Syracuse, NY, USA SOJ Immunology Open Acces...

black seed (nigella sativa) is considered as a biological response modifier. thymoquinone (tq) is the bioactive and the most abundant constituent of the volatile oil of this seed which has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-neoplastic effects. in this study, the effect of tq on hepg2 cell line was investigated in an attempt to identify its potential mechanism of actio...

Black cumin (Nigella sativa) is a spice having medicinal properties with pungent and bitter odour. It is used since thousands of years to treat various ailments, including cancer mainly in South Asia and Middle Eastern regions. Substantial evidence in multiple research studies emphasizes about the therapeutic importance of bioactive principles of N. sativa in cancer bioassays; however, the exac...