Expression of Bcl2 and p53 in psoriasis

The aim of this study was to examine the level of the expression of two proteins [Bcl-2 and p53] that have a central role on the regulation of apoptosis and to find out their role in psoriasis as an inflammatory hyperproliferative skin disease. The study compromised 30 patients and 10 controls. 4-5 mm punch biopsy specimens were obtained from each patient and control. In addition, 4-5 mm punch biopsies were obtained from the normal looking skin of 10 patients. An immunohistochemical study was done using mouse anti-human monoclonal antibodies against p53 protein and Bcl-2 oncoprotein. The results showed a significant higher p53 expression in psoriatic lesional skin than the non-lesional one and a significantly lower expression of Bcl-2 in psoriatic lesions in comparison with the control normal skin. It was concluded that the elevated levels of p53 in psoriatic plaques suggested an important role exerted by this tumor suppressor gene on the development of the psoriatic plaque possibly through its regulatory effect on keratinocyte apoptosis

Role of cellulose decomposing fungi on azospirillum-maize association

A greenhouse pot experiment and sand cultures were used to examine the possible role of cellulose decomposing fungi in Azospirillum-maize association. Soil amendment with 0.2% straw and inoculation with Azospirillum lipoferum [strain Z 4/1] gave the highest densities of Azospirillum in the histosphere of maize plants and higher growth parameters. Other diazotrophic bacteria of plant free soils were stimulated with a straw amendment. Fifteen genera and 22 species of cellulose decomposing fungi were isolated on cellulose-Czapek's agar medium from pots amended with straw. The total count of these fungi increased significantly with straw amendment. The most common cellulose decomposers were Aspergillus niger, Penicillium funiculosum and Trichoderma harzianum. In sand cultures amended with straw, nitrogenase activity, total nitrogen, residual and straw utilized by co-cultures of Azospirillum brasilense [strain R6/1] and cellulose decomposing fungi were studied