Moringa oleifera Seeds can clean water
Dr. Stephanie Velegol and colleagues recently published their work on explaining how a protein from the seeds of the Moringa oleifera tree can kill bacteria. It was known for some time that women in Egypt would use the seeds to clean dirty water. Since modern filtration systems are expensive and difficult to get to rural areas, understanding how the Moringa oleifera seeds work is important. Using cryo-TEM and simulations (among other techniques), they were able to demonstrate how the Moringa oleifera cationic protein (MOCP) kills bacteria. It fuses the inner and outer bacteria membranes.
☼ cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM)
Cryo-EM (transmission EM in this case) is a technique where the sample is cryogenically frozen and then sliced for the EM scope. There are two main types of EM: transmission and scanning. In transmission EM, the electrons go through the sample. In scanning EM the electrons go over the sample. Unlike optical (common) microscopes, EM, as you probably guessed, use electrons instead of light. You can read more here:
http://www.explainthatstuff.com/electronmicroscopes.html
☼ Simulations
Using data from multiple techniques, the researchers simulated what was going on with the MOCP and a test bacteria, E. coli. The data suggest that the MOCP cause flocculation and fusion of the inner and outer membranes. Within 50 seconds the MOCP cause flocculation (like aggregation) of the bacteria. The simulations also suggest how the structure of the MOCP functions during the fusion process.
You can read the news blurb from Penn State here:
The full article is here (behind a paywall).
The Flocculating Cationic Polypetide from Moringa oleifera Seeds Damages Bacterial Cell Membranes by Causing Membrane Fusion.
Shebek K, Schantz AB, Sines I, Lauser K, Velegol S, Kumar M.
Langmuir. 2015 Apr 21;31(15):4496-502. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b00015. Epub 2015 Apr 10.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25845029
#ScienceSunday
h/t Gnotic Pasta and rasha kamel
June 14, 2015
Sorry Gnotic Pasta and rasha kamel, I almost forgot the hat tip. Thanks.
June 14, 2015
Gnotic Pasta, I thought the TEM was pretty cool, along with the simulations.
June 14, 2015
Please, don’t worry Chad Haney, thanks for sharing and comment 🙂
May 13, 2016
Excelente.. muchas gracias
May 13, 2016
Magnifico.. gracias
June 22, 2016
Paa Kwesi Ansah, if you ask questions or leave meaningful comments, people are more likely to circle you.
June 25, 2016
You are sure Chad Haney
November 12, 2016
What do you job?
November 16, 2016
Absolutely true , actually I have to make sure about the name of the seeds in ancient Arab books like Albano on by I bending. But I am visiting USA now when I will be back to Jordan I will find out the name and compare it to the name used in the article and right to you again because I want to be 100% sure .I will be back by the end of this month
November 16, 2016
I am physician
November 22, 2016
Mornings is known in the far eastern world for its antibacterial and as antioxidant properties.
January 16, 2017
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May 6, 2017
elicruise.simplesite.com – Selamat datang di website kami
June 6, 2017
EXCELLENT..
September 16, 2017
Preethi Saju this is very exciting! Where does this seed come from? Where are the trees? Since I am from Florida, I am thinking about third world countries and hurricane response!
September 16, 2017
Carol Calfee it grows in many tropical and subtropical areas.
en.m.wikipedia.org – Moringa oleifera – Wikipedia
September 19, 2017
THANK YOU
September 19, 2017
HI carole calfee..these trees are very common in our place .but first time i heard about such a type of antibacterial property
September 24, 2017
HI I AM FOLLOWING YOU
October 13, 2017
so am going to check its antibacterial property
December 11, 2017
So do i Carol, this plant is also very common to our place. This is known to us as a medicinal plant and a vegetable (food).
March 15, 2018
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