| 1. |
- Crespo, Ana, et al.
(author)
-
Phylogenetic generic classification of parmelioid lichens (Parmeliaceae,Ascomycota) based on molecular, morphological and chemical evidence.
- 2010
-
In: Taxon. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0040-0262 .- 1996-8175. ; 59:6, s. 1735-1753
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Parmelioid lichens are a diverse and ubiquitous group of foliose lichens. Generic delimitation in parmelioid lichens has been in a state of flux since the late 1960s with the segregation of the large, heterogeneous genus Parmelia into numerous smaller genera. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies have demonstrated that some of these new genera were monophyletic, some were not, and others, previously believed to be unrelated, fell within single monophyletic groups, indicating the need for a revision of the generic delimitations. This study aims to give an overview of current knowledge of the major clades of all parmelioid lichens. For this, we assembled a dataset of 762 specimens, including 31 of 33 currently accepted parmelioid genera (and 63 of 84 accepted genera of Parmeliaceae). We performed maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses of combined datasets including two, three and four loci. Based on these phylogenies and the correlation of morphological and chemical characters that characterize monophyletic groups, we accept 27 genera within nine main clades. We re-circumscribe several genera and reduce Parmelaria to synonymy with Parmotrema. Emodomelanelia Divakar & A. Crespo is described as a new genus (type: E. masonii). Nipponoparmelia (Kurok.) K.H. Moon, Y. Ohmura & Kashiw. ex A. Crespo & al. is elevated to generic rank and 15 new combinations are proposed (in the genera Flavoparmelia, Parmotrema, Myelochroa, Melanelixia and Nipponoparmelia). A short discussion of the accepted genera is provided and remaining challenges and areas requiring additional taxon sampling are identified.
|
|
| 2. |
- Divakar, Pradeep K., et al.
(author)
-
Evolution of complex symbiotic relationships in a morphologically derived family of lichen-forming fungi
- 2015
-
In: New Phytologist. - : Wiley. - 0028-646X .- 1469-8137. ; 208:4, s. 1217-1226
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We studied the evolutionary history of the Parmeliaceae (Lecanoromycetes, Ascomycota), one of the largest families of lichen-forming fungi with complex and variable morphologies, also including several lichenicolous fungi. We assembled a six-locus data set including nuclear, mitochondrial and low-copy protein-coding genes from 293 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). The lichenicolous lifestyle originated independently three times in lichenized ancestors within Parmeliaceae, and a new generic name is introduced for one of these fungi. In all cases, the independent origins occurred c. 24 million yr ago. Further, we show that the Paleocene, Eocene and Oligocene were key periods when diversification of major lineages within Parmeliaceae occurred, with subsequent radiations occurring primarily during the Oligocene and Miocene. Our phylogenetic hypothesis supports the independent origin of lichenicolous fungi associated with climatic shifts at the Oligocene-Miocene boundary. Moreover, diversification bursts at different times may be crucial factors driving the diversification of Parmeliaceae. Additionally, our study provides novel insight into evolutionary relationships in this large and diverse family of lichen-forming ascomycetes.
|
|
| 3. |
- Kucuk, Mutlu, et al.
(author)
-
The Effects of Lipopolysaccharide on the Disrupted Blood-Brain Barrier in a Rat Model of Preeclampsia
- 2018
-
In: Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases. - : ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. - 1052-3057 .- 1532-8511. ; 27:12, s. 3411-3418
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Preeclampsia is a disorder characterized by high blood pressure and often proteinuria during pregnancy. It is known that a subseptic dose of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces production of proinflammatory cytokines, and possibly increasing the risk for developing preeclampsia. We investigated the effects of LPS on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity in pregnant rats with N (omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) induced preeclampsia.Methods: Starting from the 10th day of gestation, pregnant rats were given L-NAME for 10 days to produce hypertension and proteinuria. Animals were then treated with a single injection of LPS on the 19th day of pregnancy. Arterial blood pressure and proteinuria were measured on the day of the experiment, which was 24 hours after the LPS injection. The BBB integrity was assessed by using Evans blue (EB) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) tracers.Results: Proteinuria was observed in varying degrees, and the arterial blood pressure increased in L-NAME-treated pregnant rats (P < .01). The overall brain EB content did not increase in these preeclamptic rats when compared to pregnant animals, and LPS treatment also did not change EB content. Ultrastructurally, frequent vesicles containing HRP reaction products were observed in the capillary endothelial cells in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of pregnant rats treated with L-NAME (P < .01). However, LPS did not change the amounts of HRP that mainly accumulated in brain capillary endothelial cells of these animals.Conclusion: Our results suggest that, in this experimental setting, LPS does not change the severity of BBB disruption observed in preeclamptic animals.
|
|
| 4. |
- Taskiran, Emine, et al.
(author)
-
Changes in the Expression of c-fos and AQP4 in the Hippocampus and Amygdala Regions of Rats with Kainic Acid-Induced Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and Their Role in the Pathogenesis of Disease
- 2022
-
In: ARCHIVES OF EPILEPSY. - : AVES Publishing Co.. - 2792-0550. ; 28:2, s. 59-64
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Aquaporin4 is the main water channel in the brain that is associated with neurological disorders. The role and the expressive changes of aquaporin4 in epilepsy are still limited and controversial. The study aims to evaluate the expression of c-fos and aquaporin4 during epileptogenesis after systemic kainic acid-induced status epilepticus in the temporal lobe epilepsy animal model and to investigate their alterations in both hippocampus and amygdala.Methods: Intraperitoneal injections of kainic acid (5-15 mg/kg) by repeated low kainic acid protocol were given to young adult 32 Wistar albino rats for status epilepticus. Aquaporin4 and c-fos were investigated in the hippocampus and amygdala on days 1 and 60 after status epilepticus by immunostaining methods in brain slices.Results: The intensity of c-fos immunostaining rose considerably in the hippocampus CA1 area of rats during the acute period (P < 0.05) and in the amygdala during the chronic period. The immunostaining intensity of aquaporin4in the hippocampus of rats with acute kainic acid increased significantly (P <.05). It was also raised in the hippocampal region of the rats in the acute sham and chronic kainic acid groups.Discussion: The results of this study support a link between aquaporin4 and epilepsy. It can be speculated that aquaporin4 change is primarily a defense mechanism immediately after status epilepticus, and then, it can evolve into a causal factor with exhaustion as a result of overuse.
|
|
| 5. |
- Temizyürek, Arzu, et al.
(author)
-
Blood-brain barrier targeted delivery of lacosamide-conjugated gold nanoparticles : Improving outcomes in absence seizures
- 2022
-
In: Epilepsy Research. - : Elsevier. - 0920-1211 .- 1872-6844. ; 184
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Most currently available antiepileptics are not fully effective in the prevention of seizures in absence epilepsy owing to the presence of blood-brain barrier (BBB). We aimed to test whether binding an antiepileptic drug, lacosamide (LCM), to glucose-coated gold nanoparticles (GNPs) enables efficient brain drug delivery to suppress the epileptic activity in WAG/Rij rats with absence epilepsy.Methods: In these animals, intracranial-EEG recording, behavioral test, in vivo imaging of LCM and LCM-GNP conjugate distribution in the brain, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis, immunofluorescence staining of glucose transporter (Glut)- 1, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and p-glycoprotein (P-gp) and electron microscopy were performed.Results: Lacosamide-GNP conjugates decreased the amplitude and frequency of spike-wave-like discharges (SWDs) and alleviated the anxiety-like behavior as assessed by EEG and elevated plus-maze test, respectively (p < 0.01). The in vivo imaging system results showed higher levels of fluorescein dye tagged to LCM-GNP in the brain during the 5-day injection period (p < 0.01). Immunofluorescence staining displayed decreased P-gp, Glut1, and GFAP expression by LCM-GNP conjugate treatment predominantly in the cerebral cortex suggesting a potential functionality of this brain region in the modulation of neuronal activity in our experimental setting (p < 0.01).Significance: We suggest that the conjugation of LCM to GNPs may provide a novel approach for efficient brain drug delivery in light of the effectiveness of our strategy not only in suppressing the seizure activity but also in decreasing the need to use high dosages of the antiepileptics to reduce the frequently encountered side effects in drug-resistant epilepsy.
|
|
| 6. |
- Yilmaz, Canan Ugur, et al.
(author)
-
Targeted delivery of lacosamide-conjugated gold nanoparticles into the brain in temporal lobe epilepsy in rats
- 2020
-
In: Life Sciences. - : PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD. - 0024-3205 .- 1879-0631. ; 257
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common form of epilepsy with focal seizures, and currently available drugs may fail to provide a thorough treatment of the patients. The present study demonstrates the utility of glucose-coated gold nanoparticles (GNPs) as selective carriers of an antiepileptic drug, lacosamide (LCM), in developing a strategy to cross the blood-brain barrier to overcome drug resistance. Intravenous administration of LCM-loaded GNPs to epileptic animals yielded significantly higher nanoparticle levels in the hippocampus compared to the nanoparticle administration to intact animals. The amplitude and frequency of EEG-waves in both ictal and interictal stages decreased significantly after LCM-GNP administration to animals with TLE, while a decrease in the number of seizures was also observed though statistically insignificant. In these animals, malondialdehyde was unaffected, and glutathione levels were lower in the hippocampus compared to sham. Ultrastructurally, LCM-GNPs were observed in the brain parenchyma after intravenous injection to animals with TLE. We conclude that glucose-coated GNPs can be efficient in transferring effective doses of LCM into the brain enabling elimination of the need to administer high doses of the drug, and hence, may represent a new approach in the treatment of drug-resistant TLE.
|
|
