Phytophthora palmivora has a broad range of host plants. The expression of its pathogenicity-related genes in causing black pod rot disease on cacao in Indonesia has not been studied yet. This research was conducted to recognize relative expression of those genes using qPCR analysis. In planta experiment was carried out by inoculating representative three isolates on model plant (Nicotiana benthamiana) at the incubation periods of 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. The expressed genes were reconfirmed using conventional PCR and quantitatively analyzed using qPCR technique. The results showed that among eight target genes, four genes were actively expressed on the inoculated N. benthamiana, including CRN1, Pec1, Pec3, and RXLR5. Furthermore, qPCR analysis revealed that those genes were upregulated on the inoculated plants during incubation periods. In WNO1 and WAT1 isolates, the optimum expression was documented on the first day of incubation time, and then it was decreasing on the following days. However, the delay expression was exhibited by the pathogenicity-related genes in isolate BTG1. We assumed it as the general pathway of pathogenicity mechanisms in P. palmivora, since prior screening pathogenicity assay categorized that isolate BTG1 into moderate pathogenic, isolate WAT1 into high pathogenic, and isolate WNO1 into less pathogenic.

Understanding the interactions between cellular proteins and compounds from agarwood (Gyrinops versteegii) could lead to effective approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. In this study, we aimed to identify the interaction between lauric acid, a compound derived from agarwood (G. versteegii) and its target proteins using String database analysis. String analysis showed that lauric acid affects cellular proliferation through interactions with the Androgen Receptor (AR) and binds to Aldo-Keto Reductase (AKR1C3). Lauric acid also interacted with mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) and other proteins such as matrix metalloprotein (MMP2), chemokine (CXCL8), B-cell lymphoma protein (BCL2). Retinoid Acid Receptor (RARG) and Androgen Receptor (AR) sub network are bridging system of regulation in breast cancer molecular process. These results show that lauric acid may interact with many proteins by AR sub network to increase apoptosis and reduce cancer cell proliferation. These results show that lauric acid may interact with many proteins to increase apoptosis and reduce cancer cell proliferation.

No abstract

Microbial contamination on contact lens surfaces can occur during handling, storage, and even cleaning with contaminated solutions. Several severe consequences of this event include microbial keratitis, contact lens-induced peripheral ulcer, and inflitrative keratitis. In this study we used SiO2 as a model substrate for silicon-based contact lenses. The antimicrobial activities of two polymers, poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) (PMOXA) and antimicrobial peptide GKHKNKGKKNGKHNGWK (GKH17), on surfaces, were tested against two types of bacteria, Gram-positive Staphlyococcus sp. and Gram-negative Neisseria sp., isolated from used contact lenses. The inhibition activity of the polymers was first tested using the Kirby-Bauer method, and the properties of the polymers immobilized on SiO2 surface were investigated by means of viable plate count and DNA absorbance measurements. Our results show that both types of bacteria are susceptible to both PMOXA and GKH17, however with a different degree of susceptibility. Both polymers are thus potential antimicrobial coatings for contact lenses.

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui nilai daya hambat, potensi relatif dan nilai kadar hambat minimum dari polimer Poli L-Lisin (PLL), Peptida Antimikroba (PAM), Poli L-Lisin-graft- Poli Etilen Glikol (PLL-g-PEG), dan Poli L-Lisin-graft-Poli 2-Metil-2-Oxazolin (PLL-g-PMOXA) terhadap bakteri yang telah diisolasi dari lensa kontak. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian eksperimen rancangan acak lengkap (RAL) 2 faktor dengan 5 ulangan. bakteri yang diujikan adalah Staphylococcus sp., Neisseria sp., Aeromonas sp, dan Enterobacter sp. Data dianalisis secara deskriptif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan PLL dan AMP kadar lebih rendah (50 ppm-250 ppm) dibandingkan dengan PLL-g-PEG dan PLL-g-PMOXA (250 ppm-500 ppm) pada berbagai bakteri yang diujikan. PLL dan AMP memiliki potensi relatif yang lebih tinggi dibandingkan dengan PLL-g-PEG dan PLL-g-PMOXA jika dibandingkan dengan kloramfenikol. Terdapat kebocoran sel pada membran plasma dari sel bakteri yang diujikan dari perlakuan polimer PLL, AMP dan PLL-g-PEG, PLL-g-PMOXA sedangkan kerusakan dinding sel dari nilai N-Ag memiliki perbedaan hasil perlakuan PLL dan AMP cenderung menyebabkan kerusakan dinding sel namun polimer PLL-g-PEG dan PLL-g-PMOXA cenderung tidak menyebabkan kerusakan peptidoglikan.Kata kunci: Antibakteri, AMP, daya hambat, Lensa Kontak.