The highly sensitive impedimetric biosensor in label free approach for hepatitis B virus DNA (HPV DNA) detection based on tellurium doped ZnO nanowires was fabricated. The NWs were grown by hybrid thin film oxidation in the physical vapor deposition (PVD) mechanism. The morphology characterization of the synthesized NWs was performed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and the images demonstrated that the diameter and the length of the materialized NWs were around 50 nm and several micrometers, respectively. The high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) image indicated that the fabricated NWs were crystalline and their phase characterization was validated by the X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD pattern). The single-stranded DNA (ss DNA) probe was immobilized on the surface of the Te-ZnO NWs. The electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) measurements showed high response sensitivity after hybridization with complementary oligonucleotides. The biosensor could distinguish complementary target from non-complementary and mismatch oligonucleotides. The HBV biosensor could respond to complementary target in the concentrations range from 1 pM to 1 μM. The limit of detection (LOD) of the biosensor was 0.1 pM. The stability of the HBV DNA biosensor was investigated and biosensor could show 95% of its initial responses after 8 weeks maintenance.

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Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), a popular vegetable crop of the family Cucurbitaceae, is cultivated in different parts of the world and is of great economic importance. Ultrasound is known as a physical stimulus that can affect living systems. At the right frequency and exposure period, these waves have desired effects. In the present study, 2-week-old plants, were put in an ultrasonic bath with a nominal frequency of 40 kHz, a central frequency of 34/722 kHz and a bandwidth of 320 Hz for 0, 5, 10 and 15 minutes. Hypocotyl pieces were used as explants and cultured in Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 0/5 mg/l each of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 1-Naphthalene acetic acid, kinetin and 6-benzylaminopurine. The use of ultrasonication at a nominal frequency of 40 kHz for 10 minutes showed better results as compared with the samples treated for 0, 5 and 15 minutes, in terms of the shape, maturity of the embryos, and also the germination of artificial seeds and maturing to flowering stage. Since the cucumber of Esfahan is very famous for its aroma and taste and it is somewhat at risk of extinction, we studied the production of artificial seeds of this valuable plant using somatic embryos and apical buds. This research is the first report on investigation of the positive effect of ultrasound on somatic embryogenesis and artificial seed production. our results clearly showed that this method is a practical method to accelerate seed germination and flowering stage.

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Ficus carica L. (Moraceae) is one of the most important crop plants widely cultivated in different parts of the world. Several wild or cultivated populations of it grow in various regions of Iran. In the current research, we evaluated morphological and molecular SSR methods in order to investigate infraspecific variations in this species and introduce possible phenotypes/genotypes among its populations. For this, 14 populations were selected from different parts of the country. We evaluated 27 qualitative and quantitative morphological traits of both reproductive and vegetative organs. The ANOVA test revealed significant variations for most of the quantitative variables; moreover, qualitative features differed among populations. Significant correlations were found between some morphological characteristics with ecological factors of habitats. According to the UPGMA tree, four morphotypes existed among these populations. CA-joined plot revealed that each group was identified by some morphological variables. In addition, parameters of genetic diversity varied among the studied populations, while the AMOVA test showed significant variations, most of which belonged to the variations within the population. According to the UPGMA tree, MDS and PCoA plots, the studied populations were divided into four distinct genotypes. In addition, the UPGMA tree based on Nei genetic diversity and Structure analyses confirmed these groups. Three groups were monotypic and the fourth was composed of eleven populations. Patterns of population clustering based on the morphological traits were not similar to those of SSR data. Therefore we concluded that environmental factors had strong effects on the population’s phenotype and genotypes were not recognized by their phenotypes.

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies, and like most cancers, most cases are caused by somatic mutations. Due to estrogen's role in the growth, differentiation, and division of breast and endometrial cancer cells, tamoxifen is used as an estrogen receptor antagonist in breast cancer cells with estrogen receptor (ER +) has a special place, which unfortunately in one-third of the Cases are resisted. This study aimed to investigate the effect of tamoxifen-treated tumor-derived exosomes on the expression pattern of Twist and Bcl-2 oncogenic genes in fibroblast cells. MCF-7 breast cancer cell line and fibroblast cells were purchased and cultured in a complete culture medium. After the appropriate number of cells was reached, they were treated with the appropriate concentration of tamoxifen. Cellular supernatant was then gathered in flasks, and exosomes were extracted from them. After extracting RNA from exosomes and cDNA synthesis, the expression level of miR-206, Twist-1, and Bcl-2 genes were evaluated using the Real-Time PCR method. The electronic microscope results confirmed the correctness of the exosomes isolated from the tumor cell culture medium. It has also been shown that tamoxifen treatment increases the expression of miR-206 in exosomes derived from breast tumor cells. The control group which has been kept untreated induced the expression level of Twist-1 and Bcl-2 genes time-dependently. However, when tamoxifen-treated tumor-derived exosomes treated the target cells, the expression level of oncogenic miRs Twist-1 and Bcl-2 were declined over time. Overall, this study showed that tamoxifen treatment on breast cancer cells could apply its antioncogenic effects on tumor stromal cells, such as fibroblasts, by altering the expression levels of exosomal microRNAs in tumor cells.

Cota tinctoria is a medicinal plant which has been used for management of cancer in folk medicine of various regions. The aim of present study is to investigate cytotoxic activity of different concentrations of hydroalcoholic extract of C. tinctoria flowers on gastric (AGS) and liver (Hep-G2) cancer cell lines as well as Human Natural GUM fibroblast (HUGU) cells. Cell mortality rates were examined after 24, 48 and 72 h incubations using the MTT assay. IC50 of extract on AGS cells after 24, 48 and 72h was 1.46, 1.29 and 1.14 µg/mL respectively. The extract demonstrated IC50 of 5.15, 3.92 and 2.89 µg/mL on Hep-G2 cells after 24, 48 and 72 h respectively. No cytotoxic effect was detected on HUGU (Human Natural GUM fibroblast) cells. C. tinctoria seems to have a promising potential to be considered as a source for anticancer drug discovery. However, more experimental and clinical studies are required.

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