Biogenic copper oxide nanoparticles from Bacillus coagulans induced reactive oxygen species generation and apoptotic and anti-metastatic activities in breast cancer cells

The present study examined the anticancer capabilities of Bacillus coagulans supernatant-produced copper oxide nanoparticles (BC-CuONPs) on MCF-7 and SKBR3 cancer cells. The X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential techniques were used to characterize BC-CuONPs. This study also investigated the cellular and molecular processes of NPs' anti-proliferative and apoptotic properties on human breast cancer cells and compared them to the commercial pharmaceutical tamoxifen. The size of the spherical NP was from 5 to 47 nm with negative zeta potential. The MTT results showed the great cytotoxic effect of BC-CuONPs against breast cancer cells. The BC-CuONPs inhibited the growth of breast cancer cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The up-regulation of BCL2-associated X (BAX), cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (P21), Caspase 3 (CASP3), and Caspase 9 (CASP9), the down-regulation of BCL2 apoptosis regulator (BCL2), Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation results suggested that BC-CuONPs had a significant apoptotic impact when compared to the control. Scratch tests and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor gene (VEGF) down-regulation demonstrated that BC-CuONPs had anti-metastatic activity. The cell cycle analysis and down-regulation of Cyclin D1 (CCND1) and cyclin dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) revealed that cancer cells were arrested in the sub-G1 phase. Finally, the results showed that the secondary metabolites in the supernatant of Bacillus coagulans could form CuONPs, and biogenic BC-CuONPs showed anti-metastasis and anticancer properties on breast cancer cells while having less adverse effects on normal cells. Therefore, the synthesized CuONPs using B. coagulans supernatant can be shown as a potential candidate for a new therapeutic strategy in cancer management.

Inhibitory effects of probiotic Bacillus coagulans against MCF7 breast cancer cells

Background and Objectives:

Secondary metabolites in the supernatants of probiotic microorganisms have shown anticancer effects. The present study was aimed to investigate the cytotoxicity of Bacillus coagulans supernatants and their role in apoptosis induction in MCF7 cancer cells.

Materials and Methods:

The inhibition of MCF7 cancer cells by Bacillus coagulans supernatants was assessed by MTT assay at three exposure times of 24, 48, and 72 h. Apoptosis induction was explored by flow cytometry while the expression levels of bax, caspase 3, caspase 9, and bcl2 were examined by real-time PCR and compared with normal HFF cells.

Results:

Bacillus coagulans supernatants exhibited inhibitory effects on MCF7 cells in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner; while lower cytotoxic effects were observed in normal HFF cells. The increase in the expression of bax, caspase 3, and caspase 9 genes and the decrease in the anti-apoptotic gene of bcl2, along with the flow cytometry results, confirmed the induction of apoptosis in the cancer cells.

Conclusion:

Regarding the cytotoxic influence of Bacillus coagulans supernatants against breast cancer cells, this bacterium can be considered as a potential candidate for a novel therapeutic strategy with lower side effects which of course requires further investigations.

Genital infections and reproductive complications associated with Trichomonas vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Streptococcus agalactiae in women of Qom, central Iran

BACKGROUND

Trichomonas vaginalis (T.vaginalis) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N.gonorrhoeae) are two most common non-viral sexually transmitted infections in the world. No data are available regarding the epidemiology of genital infections in women of Qom, central Iran.

OBJECTIVE

Epidemiological investigation of sexually transmitted infections in genital specimens of women referred to the referral gynecology hospital in Qom, central Iran.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Genital swab specimens were collected from women volunteers and used for identification of bacterial and protozoal infections by conventional microbial diagnostics, porA pseudo gene LightCycler^® real-time PCR (for N.gonorrhoeae) and ITS-PCR (for T.vaginalis).

RESULTS

Of 420 volunteers, 277 (65.9%) had genital signs/symptoms, including 38.3% malodorous discharge, 37.9% dyspareunia, and 54.8% abdominal pain. Totally, 2 isolates of Streptococcus agalactiae were identified. Five specimens (1.2%) in Thayer-Martin culture and 17 (4.1%) in real-time PCR were identified as N.gonorrhoeae. Fifty-four specimens (12.9%) in wet mount, 64 (15.2%) in Dorset's culture, and 81 (19.3%) in ITS-PCR showed positive results for T.vaginalis. Five mixed infections of T.vaginalis+ N.gonorrhoeae were found. The risk of T.vaginalis infection was increased in women with low-birth-weight (p=0.00; OR=43.29), history of abortion (p=0.00; OR=91.84), and premature rupture of membranes (PROM) (p=0.00; OR=21.75). The probability of finding nuclear leukocytes (p=0.00; OR=43.34) in vaginal smear was higher in T.vaginalis infection.

CONCLUSION

The significant prevalence of trichomoniasis and gonorrhea emphasizes the need for accurate diagnosis and effective surveillance to prevent serious reproductive complications in women.

High carrier frequency of the GJB2 mutation (35delG) in the north of Iran

OBJECTIVE

Mutations in the GJB2 gene are a major cause of autosomal recessive and sporadic non-syndromic hearing loss in many populations. A single mutation of this gene (35delG) accounts for approximately 70% of mutations in Caucasians with a carrier frequency of 2-4% in Europe. This study aims to determine the rate of 35delG carrier frequency in Iran.

METHODS

Genomic DNA was extracted from a total of 550 unaffected unrelated subjects from 4 provinces of Iran following the standard phenol chloroform procedure. The one base pair deletion (35delG) was analysed using a nested PCR procedure; 35delG mutation carriers were subsequently confirmed by sequence analysis. Moreover, using the Binomial probability distribution, we compared the 35delG carrier frequency of Iranian population with the various Middle Eastern and overall European populations.

RESULTS

Of the four populations studied, we found a high carrier frequency of 2.8% in Gilan province in the north of Iran. The overall 35delG carrier frequency was found to be 1.25% in the populations studied (our present and previous data) which is similar to the overall 35delG carrier frequency detected in Middle Eastern populations, but Significantly lower than that identified in European populations.