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Integrative Data Inform The Taxonomy Of Salix: A Case Study Of S. Purpurea L. Subsp. Leucodermis Yalt. (Salicaceae) From Türkiye, Peli̇n Acar, Yasi̇n Kaya, Dudu Özlem Mavi̇ İdman, Irina V. Belyaeva

Turkish Journal of Botany

The study of endemic species provides valuable perspectives on evolutionary history and future targets for their conservation. Salix purpurea L. subsp. leucodermis Yalt., which is endemic to Sandras Mountain in Türkiye, was analysed using morphological, anatomical, and genomic methods. This study presents the first draft short-read sequence of S. purpurea subsp. leucodermis, providing preliminary genomic evidence of differentiation from related taxa. This study also revealed a specific combination of anatomical features (prominent calcium oxalate crystals and amphistomatous leaves) and morphological characteristics (striated wood, glabrous buds, absence of stipules) that differentiate the taxon in question from the closely related species S. …

Water-Driven Reactivation Of Photosystem Ii In Plagiochasma Appendiculatum, Vineet Soni, Upma Bhatt, Yashwant Sompura

Turkish Journal of Botany

Plagiochasma appendiculatum, a desiccation-tolerant liverwort, offers a unique system for unraveling the biophysical dynamics of photosynthetic recovery upon rehydration. This study employed high-resolution chlorophyll a fluorescence (ChlF) kinetics to clarify the sequential reactivation of photosystem II (PSII) during the desiccation-to-rehydration transition. Upon desiccation, the OJIP transient collapsed into a linear trace, indicating complete photochemical arrest and inactivation of PSII reaction centers (RCs). Rehydration triggered a biphasic recovery, including an initial rapid phase (0–30 min) marked by sharp increases in F0 and Fm , indicative of PSII–LHCII supercomplex reassembly and thylakoid membrane restoration, followed by a stabilization phase (30–125 min) wherein …

Effects Of Calcium And Magnesium Ions On Wheat (Triticum Aestivum) Chromosome Structure Visualized Using Light And Scanning Elec​Tron Microscopes, Andi Salamah, Fitri Amalia Nurchasanah, Vycka Fikriyani Fairuz, Astari Dwiranti

Turkish Journal of Botany

Divalent cations, particularly calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+), are essential for maintaining chromosomal architecture, yet their roles in plants remain poorly characterized. This study investigated the effects of Ca2+ and Mg2+ on the chromosomal structure of wheat (Triticum aestivum, 2n = 6x = 42), a widely used model in plant cytogenetics. Root-tip chromosomes were isolated enzymatically and treated with BAPTA (a Ca2+-specific chelator), EDTA (a broad cation chelator), and buffer solutions containing either 5 mM Mg2+ (XBE5) or no Mg2+ (XBE). Chromosomes were stained with aceto-orcein for light microscopy and processed for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Microscopic observations revealed that …

Systematic Implications Of Seed Morphology In Oxytropis (Galegeae: Fabaceae) From Pakistan, Amjad Khan, Amir Sultan, Raees Khan, Rozina Rozina, Shahab Ali, Ali Bagheri, Rifat Ullah Khan, Abdul Samad Mumtaz, Tariq Ullah, Ghalia Saleem Aljeddani, Hasil Khan

Turkish Journal of Botany

Oxytropis is a taxonomically challenging genus within the tribe Galegeae of the family Fabaceae. Despite its systematic importance, the seed morphology of Oxytropis has been poorly investigated. In the present study, we examined the seed morphology of 18 Oxytropis species representing 10 sections from the Pakistan, with the aim of evaluating the diagnostic value of seed traits using both light and scanning electron microscopy. The current investigation revealed two distinct seed shapes, namely cordiform and prolonged reniform, across the studied taxa. Seed length ranged from 1.75 mm in O. crassiuscula to 2.3 mm in O. duthieana, while seed width varied …

Unveiling The Diversity Within Salvia Caespitosa Sensu Lato (Lamiaceae): Three New “Hidden” Endemic Species From Türkiye​, Ferhat Celep, Musa Doğan, Gali̇p Akaydin, Ahmet Kahraman, Ersi̇n Karabacak, Ömer Çeçen, Meti̇n Armağan, Chun-Lei Xiang, Bryan T. Drew

Turkish Journal of Botany

Documenting species, particularly those that are threatened or endangered, is fundamental to biodiversity conservation. However, many taxa remain scientifically unrecognized, being either undiscovered or unpublished. While some plants can be easily recognized as new species, other identifications are obscured by morphological, taxonomic, and nomenclatural complexity. Detecting cryptic or “hidden” species is therefore essential to understanding biodiversity and plant evolution. Our revisionary studies on Salvia demonstrate that the morphologically complex Salvia caespitosa is not a single species but instead comprises at least four distinct species, three with narrow distributions. This conclusion is supported by integrative evidence from extensive field studies, herbarium …

Evolutionary Neural Architecture Search: A Survey, Ferda Nur Özçeli̇k, Mehmet Önder Efe

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) have achieved remarkable success across diverse machine learning applications, yet designing effective architectures remains a laborious, expert-driven process. Neural Architecture Search (NAS) was introduced to automate this process, with Evolutionary NAS (ENAS) emerging as one of the most effective and widely adopted NAS paradigms. This survey provides a comprehensive and systematic review of 164 ENAS studies published between 2020 and 2024, categorized according to the specific evolutionary algorithm employed as the search strategy. Unlike prior surveys—which either treat evolutionary methods at a high level or focus on general NAS pipelines—this study is, to the best of …

Cnkg: Harnessing Large Language Models For Cognitive Neuroscience Knowledge Graph Construction, Ali Sarabadani, Kheirollah Rahsepar Fard, Hamid Dalvand

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

Textual resources are among the most valuable sources of information in cognitive neuroscience (CN) for understanding and investigating brain activity and cognitive processes. Extracting and constructing knowledge graphs (KGs) from these texts can facilitate medical research by providing deeper insights into neurological diseases and brain function. In recent years, the use of large language models (LLMs) in natural language processing (NLP) has become increasingly widespread, significantly enhancing the extraction of meaningful information from large volumes of text. This study proposes a novel approach for constructing and evaluating a specialized knowledge graph, termed the cognitive neuroscience knowledge graph (CNKG), from scientific …

Ameliorating Chromium-Induced Stress In Maize Through Phosphorus And Melatonin Application, Zunaira Zafar, Shoaib Ahmad, Muhammad Akhtar, Shafaqat Ali, Sarah Owdah Alomrani, Muhammad Ali Alshehri

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Chromium (Cr+6)  toxicity is a significant environmental stress factor that severely hampers plant growth and productivity. This study aimed to evaluate whether the combined application of phosphorus fertilizer and melatonin could alleviate chromium induced stress in maize  (Zea mays L.).  A foliar spray of melatonin (50 µM) was applied alongside two phosphorus sources—phosphoric acid (PA) and diammonium phosphate (DAP), each at 60% of the recommended rate. Two maize cultivars (FH-1046 and YH-1898) were grown under chromium stress (0, 15, and 30 mg kg–1) to assess treatment effects. The results demonstrated that FH-1046 plants treated with PA + melatonin under noncontaminated …

Unveiling Resistance Mechanisms To Fusarium Wilt Through Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Of Cicer Arietinum And Cicer Reticulatum, Özlem Tuna, Yasi̇n Kaymaz, Talap Talapov, Canan Can, Muhammed Bahatti̇n Tanyolaç, Duygu Ateş

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Developing resistant chickpea cultivars is essential for managing Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum, a major pathogen responsible for substatial yield losses. In this study, we conducted RNA-seq–based transcriptome analysis to characterize gene expression changes in resistant and susceptible genotypes of Cicer arietinum L. and C. reticulatum following inoculation with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris race 0. Susceptible genotypes exhibited markedly higher numbers of differentially expressed genes compared with resistant genotypes. Defense-related genes were induced in all plants upon infection; however, resistant genotypes specifically upregulated genes functioning in the apoplast or extracellular region while downregulating intracellular processes—a pattern not observed …

Ozonated Water Delays The Microbial Growth And Sensory Quality Loss Of Capia Pepper Fruit During Cold Storage, Yasi̇n Şi̇mşek, Mehmet Ali̇ Koyuncu, Derya Erbaş

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The aim of the present research was to evaluate, for the first time, the effect of ozonated water treatments on the postharvest quality of capia pepper (Capsicum annuum L. ‘Kaptan’). The peppers were harvested at the optimum time and transported to the laboratory immediately. Uniform and quality fruit was selected and precooled. After precooling, the fruit was divided into four groups. The first three groups were immersed in ozonated water at three different concentrations (1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 ppm) for 15 min. The last group (control) was immersed in distilled water for 15 min. The peppers were kept at room …

Plant Extract-Enriched Mineral Beverages: Effects Of Temperature And Ultrasound Processing On Bioactive Content, Eli̇f Feyza Topdaş, İsa Arslan Karakütük, Memnune Şengül

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Functional beverages derived from herbal extracts have potential health benefits. There is a growing interest in these beverages because they are a sustainable and health-promoting alternative to conventional flavored drinks. This study aimed to produce phenolic rich mineralized herbal beverages using lyophilized purple basil, lavender, and thyme extracts at two different concentrations (2% and 4%). Changes in the physicochemical properties (pH, electrical conductivity, color, and viscosity), total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total antioxidant capacity (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline 6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging assays), and individual phenolic compounds were determined for beverages stored at 4, 25, and …

Ecological Risk Assessment Of Heavy Metal-Microplastic Interactions In Agricultural Soils Irrigated With Secondary Treated Wastewater, Senar Aydin, Osman Mücevher, Arzu Ulvi̇, Fatma Bedük, Özen Merken, Ci̇han Uzun, Mehmet Emi̇n Aydin

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The increased reuse of treated wastewater (TWW) for irrigation in arid and semiarid regions raises environmental concerns regarding microplastics (MPs), specifically their capacity to adsorb and transport heavy metals. This study assesses the quantity of MPs and associated metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Co) in agricultural soils irrigated with TWW in the Konya region of Türkiye. To this end, a total of 202 soil samples were collected from TWW-irrigated (180) and nonirrigated control fields (22) at two depths (0–10 and 10–20 cm). MPs were extracted from the samples using a density separation technique, identified microscopically, and analyzed for …

The Core Microbiome Of Fluvisols From The Vistula River Valley: Relationships Between Bacteria And Basic Soil Properties, Karolina Furtak, Anna Marzec-Grządziel, Jarosław Grządziel, Jacek Niedźwiecki

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Fluvisols develop in river valleys through the accumulation of alluvial sediments. They are characterised by high fertility and are extensively used for agriculture. This study aimed to identify the core microbiome of fluvisols in the Vistula Valley and to examine its relationship with the basic physicochemical properties of the soils. Six types of fluvisol (very light, light, medium, and heavy) from four locations in Lublin province were analysed, with samples collected in 2018 and 2022. The microbiome structure was determined by sequencing the V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene and was compared with soil parameters such as pH, electrical …

Effects Of Fenugreek And Shatavari On Vasomotor And Hormonal Balance In Ovariectomized Rats, Füsun Erten, Beşi̇r Er, Cemal Orhan, Abhijeet A. Morde, Muralidhara Padigaru, Kazi̇m Şahi̇n

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek, TFG) and Asparagus racemosus Willd. (shatavari, AR) have been extensively used in Ayurvedic, Unani, and traditional folk medicine to support women’s health. TFG seeds are traditionally employed as galactagogues and hormonal modulators, while AR roots are valued as rejuvenating tonics with phytoestrogenic activity, prescribed for menopausal complaints and reproductive well-being. Both plants also exhibit antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects, suggesting their potential as safe, nonhormonal alternatives to conventional hormone replacement therapy. This study investigated the dose-dependent effects of TFG and AR, administered individually or in combination, on vasomotor symptoms, hormonal balance, oxidative stress, and neuroendocrine markers in …

Derived Smoke Solution Mitigates Drought Stress In Forage Pea By Enhancing Antioxidant Defense Mechanisms, Medi̇ne Çopur Doğrusöz

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study was conducted to enhance plant resilience against drought stress, a major threat to agricultural production, by utilizing an eco-friendly application derived from agricultural waste. We investigated the protective effect of a smoke solution, derived from poppy harvest residues, on the biometric and biochemical parameters of two forage pea (Pisum sativum spp. arvense L.) varieties (GAP Pembesi and Özkaynak). Seeds were primed with 1% and 10% smoke solutions and grown under three distinct conditions: normal irrigation (control), moderate drought, and severe drought. Parameters including biometric traits, chlorophyll pigments, secondary metabolites, and antioxidant enzyme activities were analyzed. The smoke solution …

Quantum Engineered Mxene–Graphene–Plasmonic Nanocomposites For Next-Generation Transparent And Flexible Space Photovoltaics, Arash Vaghef-Koodehi

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

This study presents a quantum‑engineered, tricomponent heterostructure comprising Ti3C2T MXene quantum dots (2–5 nm), single‑layer graphene, and plasmonic gold nanoparticles (15 ± 3 nm) uniformly embedded within electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibers. This integrated architecture demonstrates a remarkable combination of optical transparency (89.3 ± 1.1%) and power conversion efficiency (19.7 ± 0.4%) under AM0 solar illumination, representing 340% enhancement over state‑of‑the‑art transparent photovoltaic devices. A multiscale computational framework, bridging density functional theory and device‑level drift-diffusion modeling, identifies optimal interlayer spacing (3.4 ± 0.1 Å) as the key to achieving 89.3% charge‑transfer efficiency. Concurrently, localized surface plasmon resonances at 532 nm generate electromagnetic …

Efficient Heterogeneous Photo-Fenton Degradation Of Azo Dyes Using The Nanocomposite Mgfe2o4/Mos2, Zahra Zeinali, Leila Ershadi Afshar, Naz Chaibakhsh, Farnaz Isapour

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

In the present work, a facile hydrothermal route was employed to synthesize the nanocomposite MgFe2O4/MoS2, which acted as a heterogeneous photo-Fenton catalyst for the degradation of a synthetic diazo dye, Acid Blue 113 (AB113). The nanocatalyst produced underwent analysis using multiple characterization techniques. The parameters influencing the oxidative reaction were statistically modeled and optimized using response surface methodology. Optimal degradation efficiency for AB113 (94.92%) was attained at pH 8.79 using 10 mg of MgFe2O4/MoS2 nanocatalyst, 1.6 mL of H2O2, and a reaction duration of 27 min. The synergistic effect resulting from the formation of electron-hole pairs renders the combined photocatalysis …

Electrochemical Biosensing Of Alpha-Fetoprotein Based On Carboxylated Multi-Walled Nanotube-Polyazur A (In Des)-Gold Nanoparticles, Merve Yilmaz Çilçar, Meli̇ke Bi̇lgi̇ Kamaç

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

AFP, a cancer biomarker, is monitored during fetal development and in the serum of pregnant women. Sensitive and rapid monitoring of AFP is crucial for effective management. In this study, screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-COOH), polyAzur A (PAA), which was prepared in a deep eutectic solution (DES), and gold nanoparticles (AuNP) were fabricated. AFP biosensors were developed for practical, sensitive, low-cost, and rapid detection of AFP. Optimizations of nanostructures (MWCNT-COOH, AuNP) and polymers (PAADES) were performed. The MWCNT-COOH, PAADES, and AuNP-modified SPCEs were characterized by FE-SEM-EDX, FTIR, and XRD techniques. The amounts of 6-MOH, APTES, …

Alcohol-Based Microextraction Of Rhodamine 6g From Soft Drink, Food, And Cosmetic Samples, Mustafa Soylak, Esra Yamaner, Özgür Özalp

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

By using alcohol-based solvent extraction without tetrahydrofuran, a liquid–liquid microextraction technique was developed for the separation–enrichment of trace levels of Rhodamine 6G from complex matrices, including soft drinks, food, cosmetics, hygiene products, and natural waters. Numerous experimental parameters were tuned, including pH, alcohol volume, ultrasonication time, and sample and eluent volume. The enrichment factor (EF), limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantification (LOQ) were used to assess the analytical performance of the suggested approach. The LOD and LOQ were 6.92 ng mL−1 and 23 ng mL−1, respectively, and the EF was 14. Through the use of the standard addition …

Cover And Contents

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

No abstract provided.

The Change Of Yield, Growth, And Fruit Quality In Rubygem Strawberry Using Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Species, Selma Kuru Berk

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which exist symbiotically with plant roots, affect plant growth, yield, and fruit quality. The effects of AMF vary depending on the cultivar and mycorrhizal type. In this study, the effects of different AMF types on the Rubygem strawberry cultivar, widely grown in Türkiye, were examined. Gigaspora margarita and Funneliformis mosseae AMF species were applied to plant roots at seedling planting. Fruit quality criteria, including yield, acidity, soluble solid content, phenolic compounds, organic acids, crown and root development, and the number of daughter plants and stolons, were examined. The highest yield was 431.02 g in G. margarita. …

Influence Of Crop Diversification On Climate Change Mitigation And Business Profitability: A Study Of The Southern Marmara Region, Türkiye, Engi̇n Tolga Önder, Nuray Demi̇r

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Crop diversification strategies are being put forward to mitigate the negative effects of climate change associated with greenhouse gas emissions, and thus to ensure sustainable food production that is resilient to climate change and to reduce the risks faced by producers. By diversifying their agricultural products producers can insure themselves against the risks associated with climate variations, disease, and pests, contributing to both continuous food production and income flow. The present study investigates the effect of climate change on enterprise income in the Yenişehir district of Bursa province – a region noted for its intensive production of vegetables and other …

Multidimensional Scaling (Mds) Analysis Of Fire Blight Resistance In Apple Genotypes Selected From The Eastern Black Sea Region Of Türkiye, Kubi̇lay Kurtuluş Baştaş, Hati̇ce Dumanoğlu, Veli̇ Erdoğan, Ahmet Aygün, Rabi̇a Albayrak Deli̇ali̇oğlu, Sai̇d Efe Dost, Ümi̇t Serdar, Özgün Kalkişim, Sali̇h Maden, Zahi̇de Kocabaş

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Erwinia amylovora is the causal agent of fire blight, which is known as one of the most destructive diseases of apple. The use of fire blight-resistant cultivars/rootstocks is one of the most effective methods available to manage this disease. We previously selected 199 local apple cultivars that showed no clearly visible symptoms of fire blight on the plants from the coastline of the eastern Black Sea Region in Türkiye. The region is characterized by the highest rainfall and humidity levels in the country. In this research, young plants of these genotypes grafted onto MM.106 rootstock were screened for fire blight …

Small Rna Sequencing Identifies Tsrna-05020 As A Potential Regulator Of Cervical Cancer Progression, Cheng Peng, Cong Liang, Jie Liu, Yunlu Liu, Ping Liu

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Cervical cancer (CC) is a malignant gynecologic tumor. Small RNAs derived from tRNA (tsRNAs) have been reported to play regulatory roles in tumor progression and suppression. However, the functional role of tsRNAs in CC remains largely unclear.

Materials and methods: Small RNA sequencing was performed on normal, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), and CC clinical cell samples to identify differentially expressed tsRNAs (DEtsRNAs). qRT-PCR was used to validate the selected DEtsRNAs. The effects of tsRNA-05020 on HeLa cell proliferation, apoptosis, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition were assessed.

Results: Compared with the normal group, 215 tsRNAs were significantly differentially expressed in CIN tissues, …

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Turkish Journal of Biology

No abstract provided.

An In Vitro Mechanistic Study Of Cholinergic-Associated Mechanisms Relevant To Masld In Hepg2 Cells, Gamze Sönmez, Müslüm Gök, Suat Sari, Ebru Bodur

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and the hepatic cholinergic axis are critical regulators of lipid metabolism and inflammatory signaling; however, their time-dependent interplay in hepatocytes remains incompletely understood. Clarifying how n-6 and n-3 PUFAs interact with cholinergic pathways may provide mechanistic insight into metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).

Materials and methods: HepG2 cells were used to examine the combined effects of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) overexpression and PUFA exposure. Cells were treated with linoleic acid (LA; n-6) or α-linolenic acid (α-LA; n-3) for 24 or 48 h. Gene expression analyses were performed to assess pathways involved in de novo lipogenesis, β-oxidation, …

A Nonenzymatic Electrochemical Glucose Sensor Depending On A Ninps/Co3o4/Functionalized Graphene Oxide-Modified Working Electrode, Sümeyra Pekmez, Muhammet Güler

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

In the present research, the aim was to develop a novel electrochemical enzyme-free glucose sensor dependent upon a nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs)/cobalt (II, III) oxide (Co3O4)/carboxylated graphene oxide (GO-COOH)-modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode. The electrocatalytic performance of the electrode was tested using various electrochemical methods such as amperometry and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The NiNPs@Co3O4/GO-COOH/GC electrode showed noticeably superior electrocatalytic behavior for glucose oxidation in 0.1 M NaOH media, ascribed to the good synergistic impact between NiNPs, Co3O4, and GO-COOH. The amperometric response of the NiNPs@Co3O4/GO-COOH/GC electrode to glucose exhibited two linear determination ranges at +0.55 V potential. The first one was …

Production, Purification, And Crystallization Of The Recombinant Her2 Tyrosine Kinase Domain (Her2-Tkd), Edanur Topalan, Hali̇li̇brahi̇m Çi̇ftçi̇, Hasan Demi̇rci̇

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 tyrosine kinase domain (HER2-TKD) is an important therapeutic target in oncology. In this study, we developed a practical and cost-effective approach for producing soluble recombinant HER2-TKD in Escherichia coli as a basis for structure-based drug discovery. The gene encoding HER2-TKD was cloned into a pET28a(+) expression vector and expressed in E. coli. Since the protein was initially obtained as inclusion bodies, solubilization with 1.5% sarcosyl was applied to recover it in soluble form. The purified protein was obtained through size-exclusion chromatography, followed by tag removal using reverse affinity purification. Crystallization trials were performed …

Context-Dependent Regulation Of Six1 By Ets1 Within Emt-Associated Transcriptional Networks, İrem Yalim Camci

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a fundamental process driving tumor plasticity, metastasis, and therapy resistance. Although E26 transformation-specific transcription factor 1 (ETS1) and Sine oculis homeobox homolog 1 (SIX1) are individually implicated in EMT-related transcriptional programs, the regulatory interplay and functional coordination of these proteins across tumor states remain unclear. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the mechanistic and clinical behavior of the ETS1–SIX1 axis, with a focus on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and aggressive endothelial-like cancer phenotypes.

Materials and methods: ETS1–SIX1 expression patterns were analyzed using real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction in HCCderived cell lines and the endothelial-like SK-HEP-1 cell …

Retinoic Acid-Loaded Nanoparticles Enhance Macrophage-Mediated Control Of Leishmania Infantum, Zeynep İşlek, Merve Gündoğdu, Zeynep Di̇la Yüksel

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Visceral leishmaniasis, primarily caused by Leishmania infantum, remains a major global health challenge due to limitations in current chemotherapeutic options, including toxicity and emerging drug resistance. Host-directed therapeutic approaches are increasingly recognized as promising alternatives. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is an immunomodulatory molecule with host-dependent effects on macrophage function; however, its therapeutic use is hindered by instability and poor solubility. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) offer a controlled and biocompatible delivery platform capable of enhancing intracellular drug accumulation.

Materials and methods: ATRA-loaded SLNs were prepared and characterized for size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and morphology. Their antileishmanial activity was evaluated …