World Congress on
Novel Trends and Advances in Biotechnology

Biography:

Ana Martínez has passion in science to improving today's society health and wellbeing. She has a bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and a Master's degree in Drugs Research, Development and Innovation at the Universidad de Navarra. She has carried out this study at the Hospital Puerta de Hierro de Madrid in the Liquid Biopsy Laboratory of the Medical Oncology Service during her curricular internships. She is a young researcher with the desire to continue learning and contribute to improving the quality of life of society.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Lung cancer is the one with the highest mortality rate in the world. There are two main types: small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). The discovery of tyrosin kinase inhibitors (TKI) that target anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements have achieved a huge success in the management of patients with ALK-positive NSCLC. Although a great advance in the treatment of these patients has been achieved, the initial diagnosis remains a challenge since it is confirmed by a tissue biopsy, which requires an invasive procedure. Liquid biopsy testing is a new, non-invasive technique, suitable to identify NSCLC patients that can benefit from ALK-targeted therapies. The objective of the study is to focus on liquid biopsy using a specific blood component, known as Tumor-educated blood platelets (TEPs), and how they may assist in ALK gene rearrangements detection.

Methodology: Firstly, different methods for platelet RNA extraction were tested from blood of healthy donors. The chosen method was used to extract the mutated RNA from the TEPs of patients with NSCLC. The RNA profile of both populations was compared. Secondly, we determined the optimal digital PCR  (dPCR) conditions to detect the presence of variant 3 of the EML4-ALK fusion gene in a positive control (cell line H2228). Finally, we used dPCR  to analyze EML4-ALK rearrangements in TEPs from the blood of NSCLC patients.

Findings: Platelets are a valuable source for the non-invasive detection of EML4-ALK rearrangements. The type of RNA population present in platelets varies depending on the extraction method used.dPCR is a useful technique for the detection and quantification of EML4-ALK rearrangements.

Conclusion: In this study we present a standardized method to extract platelet RNA  and detect EML4-ALK rearrangements using dPCR, for which there was no previous data on yields or optimization conditions. This will mean an improvement in the application of liquid biopsy as an alternative protocol in the search for biomarkers in patients with NSCLC

Biography:

Eqbal M.A. Dauqan received her Ph.D in Biochemistry from the School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia, sponsored by the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), Italy. Her main research interest is biochemistry, food antioxidants, and nutrition. She was selected as one of five winners of the 2014 Elsevier Foundation Award for Early Career Women Scientists in the developing countries (Chemical Sciences). In 2014 Eqbal established a new program entitled Therapeutic Nutrition Department in AlSaeed University, Taiz, Yemen. On 18-3-2015 she organized the 1st Healthy Nutrition Exhibition in Yemen and her students made and presented Healthy products. In March 2018, she was appointed as an associate professor at University of Agder (UIA), Kristiansand-Norway through the Scholar at Risk (SAR) Network, USA

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Antioxidant compounds play an important role in our body due to favorable effects on human health. Consumption of food containing phytochemical with potential antioxidant properties can reduce the risk of human disease. Vegetable oils contain natural antioxidants. Chain breaking antioxidants are highly reactive with free radicals and form stable compounds that do not contribute to the oxidation chain reaction. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the Medicinal and functional values of natural antioxidants in some vegetable oils. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: 168 Sprague Dawley male rats were divided into three groups. The first group contains 72 rats were divided into 12 groups of 6 rats per group. The rats were fed ad libitum with commercial rat’s pellet containing different concentrations of red palm olein (RPO) for 2, 4 and 8 weeks. The second group contains 60 Sprague Dawley male rats which were randomly divided into 10 groups of 6 rats per group and were treated with 15% of RPO, palm olein (PO), corn oil (CO), coconut oil (COC) and control groups for 4 and 8 weeks. The third group contains 36 Sprague Dawley male rats which were randomly divided into six groups of 6 rats per group (3 normal groups and 3 stressed groups) and were treated with 15% of RPO and PO for 4 weeks. Findings: The HDL-C increased in RPO and PO of normal group, but it was within normal range under stress condition. These results could be due to the high content of vitamin E (tocopherols and tocotrienols) and β-carotene in red palm olein. Treatment with 15% RPO and PO diets did not affect the CAT level after 4 weeks of treatment under normal condition while there was decreased in CAT level with RPO and increased with PO under stress conditions. Additionally, the results in RPO group showed that higher SOD activity compared to PO and control groups under normal conditions while there was no significant difference (p≤0.05) in SOD between the control group and treated groups under stress conditions. Conclusion & Significance: Red palm olein contains high amount of antioxidant (vitamin E and β-carotene) give satisfactory results in lipid profile and antioxidant enzymes in normal and stressed conditions. Recommendations are Suggested to carry out the experiments on the stress rats using other vegetable oils and to do the experiments for longer period of treatment with the same vegetable oils to confirm the results of this work.

Biography:

Pablo Zubiaur is a first year Predoctoral Researcher in Hospital Universitario de la Princesa (HUP), Madrid, Spain. He is Pharmacist (MPharm) and Biotechnologist (BSc), for what he is keen on Research, always tightly linked to the clinical praxis. He is specialized in Pharmacogenomics. His PhD thesis tries to assess the consequences of several polymorphisms in ABCB1 (P-glycoprotein) on the transporter’s function in a cell culture-based approach. Additionally, he participates in several retrospective pharmacogenetic studies based on Phase I Bioequivalence Clinical trials, like the one presented in this abstract.

Abstract:

Background: Efavirenz (EFV) is a Human Immunodeficiency Virus non-nucleotidic reverse transcriptase inhibitor(1). CYP2B6 has been described as its main metabolizing enzyme whereas CYP3A or CYP2A6 have been identified as secondary enzymes (2). In this study, we evaluated the influence of polymorphisms in these enzymes and P-glycoprotein (3)(ABCB1) on the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics sand safety of EFV.

Methods: Forty-seven healthy volunteers that received a 600 mg single oral dose of EFV were genotyped (with TaqMan™ probes in a StepOne RealTime PCR System®) for eleven polymorphisms in the following genes: CYP2B6, CYP2A6, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and ABCB1.

Results: we have detected significant associations between CYP2B6 G516T G/T and T/T genotypes and higher Area Under the Curve (AUC) as well as lower clearance (Cl) as compared to the wildtype T/T genotype.  Although this SNP accounts for the majority of EFV pharmacokinetic variability, CYP2B6 rs4803419 and rs3211371 could explain some of the variability detected in AUC and Cl (Table 1). Individuals with the CYP2B6 G516T G/T and rs4803419 heterozygote genotype exhibited noteworthy high AUC, as well as extremely low Cl. This result was similar in CYP2B6 G516T T/T carriers. Additionally, carriers of the combined CYP2B6 G516T G/G + CYP2B6 rs3211371 heterozygote genotyped showed an impaired AUC and an enhanced Cl.

Conclusion: CYP2B6 is recognized to mainly alter EFV disposal. PGx guidelines consider CYP2B6 G516T for EFV dosage adjustment with high levels of evidence (4,5). However, we have demonstrated that other SNPs in CYP2B6 can explain a non-insignificant percentage of variability in EFV exposure. For this reason, CYP2B6 G516T, rs4803419 and rs3211371 should be considered together to propose EFV metabolizing phenotypes in base to which perform dosage adjustment.he function of CYP2B6 should not be assessed with a unique SNP since other can condition EFV disposal. Here, not only have we confirmed the importance of G516T, also of rs4803419 and rs3211371, which are two variants that had been reported previously. This study enhances the evidence of the latter as EFV pharmacokinetic predictos.

Biography:

Dr. Jai Shanker Pillai H P currently positioned as Faculty of Public Health at St Theresa International College, Thailand since 2017. He was an Assistant Professor in the department of Life Sciences, Kristu Jayanti College, Bangalore University, Karnataka, India.  His doctorate was in Microbiology from Gulbarga University, Karnataka, India in 2016. He has several publications of research articles, Book chapters and Books. He is a Life member of professional bodies and editorial board member for many of the life science research journals. He also has several research awards and recognition to his credit. His research interests are Environmental Microbiology, Agricultural Microbiology, Antimicrobial properties of medicinal plants and Medical Microbiology. He has his expertise in Bioremediation and Biodegradation of environmental xenobiotic pollutants through microorganisms. His innovative ideas and novel approaches in exploring microorganisms for plethora of environmental applications open up a new rational vent for environmental conservation, protection and sustainability.

Abstract:

Background:

Recently the acceptance of traditional medicine as an alternative source for human health care and the improvement of microbial resistance to the available antibiotics have reaffirmed the need to probe the antimicrobial activity of herbal plants. Acalypha fruticosa is one such plant commonly known as “Chinnichedi” and “Birch leaved acalypha” is a shrub belonging to thefamily of euphorbiaceae.The Paliyar and Irula tribes in Western Ghats of South India used the leaves and roots of A. fruticosa to treat skin diseases, wounds,stomach ache and poisonous bites.

Objectives:

Nevertheless until today, there were no reports to justify its ethnobotanical claim. The objectives of our study were to evaluate the pharmacognostic characters, qualitative phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of A. fruticosa.

Material and methods:

The qualitative phytochemical analysis was performed by standard procedure. The antimicrobial activity of selected medicinal plant was carried out by using disk diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) was tested by using tube dilution method.

 Results & Conclusion:

The results of the qualitative phytochemical analysis and fluorescence analysis confirm that this plant is the plentiful source of phytoconstituents. The antimicrobial activity of selected medicinal plants A.fruticosa explicate that it has an effective antimicrobial activity. In bacteria E.coli showed more sensitivity against acetone extract (21 ± 0.3 mm). In fungi the T.simii showed more sensitivity against chloroform extract (22 ± 0.3 mm). Moreover the acetone extract had more antimicrobial activity than other extracts. In conclusion, we recommend that the plant Acalypha fruticosa apprised here can be used as promising antimicrobial agent in infectious disease treatment.

Biography:

Berhane Gebreslassie Gebreegziabher, Department of Biology, College of Science, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia

Abstract:

Dekoko (Pisum sativum var. abyssinicum) is one of the most important food legumes grown in south Tigray and north Wollo, northern Ethiopia. It is one among the most important food legumes in terms of price and protein content. It grows alone and mixed with many cereal crops growing in north Ethiopia.  This study was conducted with the objective of selecting tolerant and relatively high yielding P. sativum var. abyssinicum collections under different salt (NaCl) concentrations at laboratory conditions. The seeds of the six collections were obtained from four districts; two regional states of north Ethiopia with different attitudinal ranges 1868 m a.s.l. being the lowest and 2457 m a.s.l. the highest. The six on farm vigorously growing local collections, three from Ofla (T-001/08OF, T-002/08OF and, T-003/08OF), one from Sirinka (T-025/08Sr), one from Emba-Alaje (TA-026/15E/A), and one from Endamohoni (T-023/15MW) were studied for salt stress tolerances in controlled condition by priming in four salt treatment levels (5 dS/m, 7 dS/m, 9 dS/m, and 15 dS/m). Distilled water (0 dS/m) was used as control. Fifty (50) surface sterilized seeds per petri dish were sown for the four salt treatments and the control. Collections T-001/08 from Ofla and T-023/08 from Endamohoni showed good growth performance at 5 dS/m. However, T-025/08Sr from Sirinka and TA-026/15E/A from Emba-Alaje responded positively up to 7dS/m. At higher salinity level (9dS/m) growth features decreased with increasing salinity stress. But, T-023/15MW, T-001/08OF, T-025/08Sr followed by TA-026/15E/A from lower to the higher resistances, respectively, could withstand lower (5dS/m) to medium (7dS/m) concentrations of salinity as compared to the other collections.

Biography:

Dr Akinneye, J.O is an associate professor and has his expertise in the field of applied entomology and in the evaluation of medicinal plant for the control of stored product pest. He has provided new strategies for local farmers for the control of stored product pests. His research interest is focused on the biology and control of lepidopterous pest of stored products. He has 15 years of research, teaching and administration at the Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria, where he has supervised many undergraduate and postgraduate students. 

Abstract:

Cocoa bean is a raw material used for the production of chocolate and other confectionaries. Ephestia cautella is the major pest of dried cocoa beans in storage and synthetic insecticide like organochlorides and organophosphates are the major insecticides used to control this pest in storage which further post health hazard to man and his environment. This then necessitate the search for insecticide of plant origins which are bio-degradable and non-toxic to man. This study investigates the contact and fumigant efficacy of the powder and oil extract of Ephestia aromatica on the developmental stages of E. cautella. Powders of E. aromatica were administered at different concentrations (0.5g, 1.0g, 1.5g, 2.0g, and 2.5g). The oil from E. aromatica was extracted with ethanol using soxhlet extractor and redistilled using rotary evaporator and tested as fumigant insecticidal against development stages of E. cautella at 0.5ml, 1.0ml, 1.5ml, 2.0ml, and 2.5ml. Egg hatchability, adult emergence, larvae and adult mortality of E. cautella were used as indices of insecticidal activities at 24hrs, 48hrs, 72hrs, and 96hrs post-treatment. Essential oil obtained from the plant was purified using thin layer chromatography and analysed by Gas Chromatography -Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS). Result obtained shown that E. aromatica powder and oil completely inhibited egg hatchability and adult emergence both as contact and fumigant. Except the 0.5g of E. aromatica powder that recorded 50.00% larva mortality and 51.67% adult mortality, other treatment concentrations recorded 90-100% larva and adult mortality. At 2.5ml oil extract tested as contact and fumigant larvicides after 96hrs recorded 92.98% and 98.23% mortality respectively.  Results from phytochemical analysis of the oil showed that the major components were eugenol (82.044%) and Caryophyllene (11.716%). These findings suggested that E aromatica extract could be a potential source of insecticide which may be used for the production of biopesticide.

Biography:

Sonali Bhakta Ph.D. Student, , Department of  Bioscience and Biotechnology, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Japan

Abstract:

Editing of mutated gene can be a possible means of treatment for genetic diseases caused by mutations in the normal codons. Here, I have tried to engineer deaminase domain of AID (Activated Induced Deaminase, a family member of APOBEC) and MS2 system to target specific Cytosine (C) to restore Thymine (T) that has been caused by the T to C mutations. For this catalytic domain of AID deaminase has been fused with RNA binding protein MS2, which binds to MS2-RNA. Guide RNA was designed complementary to target RNAs. Thus AID deaminase domain was carried out to desired editing site to convert C to U. As a target, Blue Fluorescence Protein (BFP) gene was prepared by mutating at 199 nucleotide of GFP. MS2 system has the ability to convert mutated codon (CCA) to normal codon (CTA) in cellular system (e.g., HEK 293). The system converted CCA to CTA (conversion of cytidine to uridine transforms the BFP gene into the GFP gene) and turned on green fluorescence. cDNA was synthesized from positive cells followed by RNA extraction and PCR-RFLP was done by using BtgI restriction enzyme. The unedited BFP gave the fluorescence in the microscopic observation, remained uncut and edited were cut, also provide the green fluorescence expression by microscopic observation. Final confirmation was done by the Sanger’s sequencing analysis where the restored one also gave the peak as the wild type “CTACGG” which was “CCACGG” in case of the mutated one (BFP).

Successful artificial editing of RNA in vivo by MS2 system can pioneer genetic code restoration therapy including stop-codon read through therapy for various genetic diseases.

Biography:

Daniela Lopez Betancur received her MSc degree in engineering sciences from the Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas (UAZ), México, in 2016. She is currently pursuing her PhD in engineering sciences at the UAZ. Her research interests include optical techniques, holography techniques, LED lighting, aquaculture and biofloc systems.

Abstract:

The present research evaluates the effect of wavelengths of the light on growth rates and survival of Nile tilapia fry with the purpose of improving sustainability in aquaculture production. For this, four  treatments were used, three tanks were illuminated with LEDs lamps with the following wavelengths: Blue (BT) with λ=451.67 nm, Green (GT) with λ=513.33 nm and Red (RT) with λ=627.27 nm. Light intensity was kept constant at 0.832 mW/〖cm〗^2 and they had a photoperiod of 18L:6D throughout the study. Besides, a four tank was illuminated only by the natural light (NT), which had the function of witness tank. Each treatment included four one, were randomly assigned 150L tanks that were stocked with 100 Nile tilapia fry. The Nile tilapia fry had an initial average weight of 0.27±0.01 g and were grown for 76 days. The average final weight for BT, GT, RT and NT treatments were 11.54 g,16.84 g,17.27 g 11.54g and 16.22 g, respectively. Feed conversion ratio was better in RT and NT treatments. Survival for BT, GT, RT and NT treatments were 84.68%, 59.85%, 95.48% and 74.33%, respectively.

The results suggest that Nile tilapia fry was positively affected by the Red wavelength, which was represented in a greater mass gain and a remarkable percentage of survival.