Implen Journal Club
Implen Journal Club
Welcome to the Implen NanoPhotometer® Journal Club. Here we will highlight relevant publications where the Implen NanoPhotometer® helped researchers to unravel the mysteries of modern molecular biology.
Current Month Journal Club Issue
May 2024| Full Newsletter (html) (pdf)
Exploring How Suvarna Bhasma Could Help Fight Parkinson's Symptoms
The first issue of the Implen NanoPhotometer® Journal Club is highlighting research recently published by Biswas et. al. in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine which investigated the neuroprotective potential of Suvarna Bhasma (SB), a traditional Ayurvedic nanogold-based medicine known for its brain-supporting properties, on zebrafish exposed to rotenone, a pesticide that induces Parkinson’s-like symptoms by inhibiting mitochondrial function and leading to dopamine neuron degeneration. This study was designed to explore whether pre-treatment with SB could mitigate the motor dysfunctions and neurochemical alterations caused by rotenone pesticide exposure.
Behavioral assessments revealed that rotenone exposure significantly reduced movement and increased freezing behavior, but these symptoms were less severe in the SB-rotenone group compared to the rotenone-only group.
Proteomic analysis identified differentially expressed proteins linked to Parkinson’s disease pathways, with SB preventing significant alterations in these proteins. The results of this study support the neuroprotective properties of SB, suggesting its potential in managing Parkinson’s-like neurodegenerative disorders.
The Implen NanoPhotometer® was used in this work to determine peptide concentrations.
Decoding Marine eDNA: Oxford Nanopore Technology Sheds Light on Invasive Species Detection
How Circadian Genes Influence Obesity and Metabolic Health in Pregnant Women: New Insights
Our next issue is highlighting a study that looked at how certain genes related to our body’s internal clock can influence weight gain in pregnant women. Overweight and obesity are complicated conditions influenced by both genetics and lifestyle. This research focused on specific genes, CLOCK and BMAL1, which are connected to health issues like heart disease, metabolic problems, and sleep disorders. In addition, it also investigated the CD36 gene, which affects how we metabolize fats and perceive fat in foods.
A detailed analysis showed that carrying this CLOCK gene variant is a strong risk factor for obesity. However, following a Mediterranean diet and having higher HDL (good cholesterol) levels reduced this risk. Interestingly, this gene variant was also associated with lower birth weight in babies, indicating it might affect the baby’s health as well. These findings suggest that our internal body clock genes could play a significant role in obesity and metabolic health during pregnancy. This study emphasized the importance of genetics and lifestyle in managing weight and health during pregnancy.
The Implen NanoPhotometer® NP80 was used in this work to quantify nucleic acids by measuring UV absorption.
As summer approaches and flowers bloom, this issue is highlighting a groundbreaking study published by Cassone et. al. in the Journal of Insect Science that explored the natural plant-feeding behaviors of mosquitoes. Conducted over two years in Manitoba, researchers collected nectar-fed female mosquitoes and used DNA barcoding to identify the plant species they fed on. This study found that mosquitoes foraged from various plant families, with a preference for soybean and Kentucky bluegrass. This research highlighted that these preferences varied depending on mosquito species, collection date, landscape, and region.
Female mosquitoes need vertebrate blood for egg production but also consume sugary plant nectar for energy. This dual feeding behavior had been primarily studied in laboratory settings. This study provided insights into the natural foraging behaviors of mosquitoes in North America with noted significant differences in nectar preferences between urban and rural areas and between eastern and western Manitoba. This research represents some of the first DNA-based evidence of nectar feeding behaviors of mosquitoes in Canada, contributing valuable knowledge to the understanding of mosquito ecology and behavior.
The Implen Nanophotometer® NP80 was used in this work to assess DNA quantity and quality.
Exploring Mosquito Nectar Foraging: DNA Barcoding Reveals Plant Preferences in Canadian Prairies
Unlocking the Potential of Blue-Light-Activated Sn(IV)-Porphyrins in Combatting Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria: A Promising Advance in Photodynamic Therapy
The last issue is highlighting a study by Nagarajan et. al. that investigated the effectiveness of blue-light-activated water-soluble Sn(IV)-porphyrins as antibacterial agents for photodynamic therapy (aPDT) against drug-resistant pathogens. These compounds, when excited by a 427 nm LED, were shown to produce reactive oxygen species that effectively killed both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
Significant findings of this study included the porphyrins’ ability to cause extensive damage to bacterial DNA and membranes, crucial for their potent antibacterial action. This study provided detailed insights into the mechanisms of cell death induced by these porphyrins, emphasizing their potential as alternative treatments to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. This could be particularly beneficial in treating skin infections that are unresponsive to standard antibiotics, offering a promising solution to the escalating problem of antimicrobial resistance.
The Implen NanoPhotometer® NP80 was used in this study to quantify isolated genomic DNA from the E. coli-K12 strain. The NanoPhotometer facilitated accurate dosage calculations of the porphyrins, ensuring that each reaction mixture had a consistent amount of DNA (250 ng per reaction).