Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ksika abstraktw
Lublin, 24 kwietnia 2015 r.
Patronat
Patronat medialny
Sponsorzy
Komitet naukowy
prof. dr hab. Grayna Biaa
prof. dr hab. Sylwia Fidecka
prof. dr hab. Wiesaw Gruszecki
prof. dr hab. Krzysztof Jwiak
prof. dr hab. Anna Tukiendorf
prof. dr hab. Monika Wujec
dr hab. Janusz Kocki
dr hab. Roman Paduch
dr hab. Ireneusz Sowa
dr hab. Katarzyna Tyszczuk-Rotko
dr hab. Magdalena Wjciak-Kosior
dr hab. Anna Bogucka-Kocka
dr Sawomir Dresler
dr Grayna Szymczak
Komitet organizacyjny
Przewodniczca: Agnieszka Michalak
Jolanta Baszczak
Pawe Chruciel
Marcin Czop
Katarzyna Klimek
Lidia Kotua
Tomasz Kubrak
Marta Marszaek-Grabska
Natalia Nowacka
Karolina Pkaa
Kamila Pucek
Ewelina Rutkowska
Wojciech Szwerc
Aleksandra Wla
Artur Wnorowski
Karolina Zapaa
Program Sympozjum
08:30 09:00
09:00 09:10
Otwarcie Sympozjum
09:10 10:20
10:20 10:40
Przerwa kawowa
10:40 12:00
12:00 12:30
Sesja posterowa
12:30 13:20
Przerwa obiadowa
13:20 14:50
14:50 15:10
Przerwa kawowa
15:10 16:30
16:30 17:00
Zakooczenie konferencji
Prezentacje ustne
10:40 10:50
Leszek Borkowski
10:50 11:00
Marcin Czop
11:00 11:10
Marzena Furtak
11:10 11:20
Joanna Gbura
11:20 11:30
Ewelina Goembiewska
11:30 11:40
Katarzyna Klimek
11:40 11:50
Lidia Kotua
11:50 12:00
Tomasz Kubrak
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Prezentacje ustne
13:20 13:30
Agnieszka Michalak
13:30 13:40
Piotr Pawowski
13:40 13:50
Karolina Pkaa
13:50 14:00
Agata Pietraszek
14:00 14:10
14:10 14:20
Emilia Reszczyoska
14:30 14:40
Magdalena Rogowska
14:40 14:50
Ewelina Rutkowska
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kluczowe:
fobie,
zaburzenia
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depresyjne,
nowotwory
sutka
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Prezentacje ustne
15:10 15:20
Jan Sawicki
15:20 15:30
Karol Sowioski
15:30 15:40
Joanna Starzyk
15:40 15:50
Radosaw Szlzak
15:50 16:00
Wojciech Szwerc
16:00 16:10
Artur Wnorowski
16:10 16:20
Karolina A. Wojtunik
16:20 16:30
Karolina Zapaa
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Autor jest stypendyst w projekcie realizowanym w programie Team Fundacji na rzecz Nauki
Polskiej, wspfinansowany przez Uni Europejsk w ramach Europejskiego Funduszu
Rozwoju Regionalnego
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Autor jest stypendyst w projekcie realizowanym w programie Team Fundacji na rzecz Nauki
Polskiej, wspfinansowany przez Uni Europejsk w ramach Europejskiego Funduszu
Rozwoju Regionalnego.
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Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA
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Department of Biopharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
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Current Address: Food and Drug Administration, White Oak, MD, USA
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Flow Cytometry Unit, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA
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Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore,
Maryland 21224, USA
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Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health,
Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA
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Current Address: Mitchell Woods Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Shelton, CT, USA
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Sesja posterowa
12:00 12:30
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Lukrecja gadka (Glycyrrhiza glabra; gr. glyks sodki, rhiza korze) jest rolin
nalec do rodziny bobowatych, naturalnie wystpujc w poudniowej Europie oraz Azji,
uprawian w wielu regionach wiata. Lukrecja naley do grupy rolin stosowanych od tysicy
lat w lecznictwie. Wykorzystywali j m.in. Staroytni Egipcjanie (zapiski o lukrecji
znaleziono w grobowcu Tutenchamona), Grecy i Rzymianie, Chiczycy czy te
redniowieczni Europejczycy. Greccy i rzymscy lekarze stosowali korze lukrecji, jako
rodek leczniczy na kaszel, przezibienie i katar sienny. Oprcz waciwoci leczniczych
wykorzystywano rwnie korze tej roliny, jako rodek gaszcy pragnienie (wspomina ju
o tym Teofrast ojciec botaniki) m.in. wojska Aleksandra Wielkiego miay przetrwa dugie
marsze bez dostpu do wody pitnej dziki posilaniu si lukrecj.
Lukrecja jest szczeglnie znana ze swojego zastosowania w przemyle cukierniczym.
Korze tej roliny swj sodki smak zawdzicza duej zawartoci glicyryzyny, czyli kwasu
glicyryzynowego, zwizku, ktry jest pidziesit razy sodszy od cukru.
Aktualnie wycigi z korzenia lukrecji stosowane s wspomagajco w leczeniu
niektrych chorb m.in. choroby Simmonds'a, stwardnienia rozsianego, choroby Addisona,
reumatyzmu i czci chorb alergicznych, wrzodw odka i przeyku, zapaleniu odka.
Wycigi z lukrecji s te czstym skadnikiem zioowych suplementw agodzcych bl
garda i kaszel.
W ostatnim czasie szczeglnym zainteresowaniem naukowcw jest skupione na
wykorzystaniu substancji z lukrecji w walce z rakiem skry. Wyniki bada naukowcw
z Uniwersytetu Minnesoty wskazuj, e zwizki organiczne z korzenia lukrecji mog
hamowa rozwj czerniaka. Jednym z takich zwizkw jest ju wspomniana glicyryzyna,
ktra jednak w nadmiarze moe powodowa niepodane efekty takie jak zaburzenia rytmu
serca, skoki cinienia czy obrzk mzgu. Kolejn substancj wyizolowan z korzenia tej
roliny, o aktywnoci przeciwnowotworowej jest izoanguston A, ktry w odrnieniu od
glicyryzyny, jest bezpieczny w stosowaniu. Badania na myszach potwierdzaj, e komrki
czerniaka zoliwego, traktowane izoangustonem A wolniej si rozprzestrzeniaj.
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selektywna dla badanego leku wobec produktw rozkadu oraz wzorca wewntrznego
precyzyjna
dokadna.
Badania kinetyczne przeprowadzono w 0,1 mol/l i 1 mol/l HCl, 0,1 mol/l i 1 mol/l
NaOH oraz w roztworach buforowych o pH 4, 7 i 10, w dwch temperaturach 40C i 80C.
Ponadto dihydralazyn w postaci staej, roztworach oraz tabletkach (Dihydralazinum, 25 mg)
poddano dziaaniu promieniowania UV-Vis w dawce 3-krotnie i 6-krotnie przekraczajcej
podstawowe badanie fotostabilnoci wg ICH (wiato UV o energii nie mniejszej ni 200
watogodzin/m2 i wiato Vis w dawce nie mniejszej ni 1,2 miliona luksogodzin). Badanie
prowadzono w temperaturze nie wyszej ni 35C.
Dihydralazyna wykazuje du trwao w rodowisku 1 mol/l HCl w temperaturze
80C. Rozkad leku zaobserwowano za w buforze o pH 7 i 10 oraz w 0,1 mol/l i 1 mol/l
NaOH,o czym wiadcz dodatkowe piki na chromatogramach badanej substancji.
Najmniejsz trwao uzyskano w 1 mol/l NaOH w temperaturze 80C, gdzie wystpi ok.
80% rozkad leku (w buforze boranowym 70%, w buforze fosforanowym 40%).
Przeprowadzone badania wykazay wiksz trwao dihydralazyny w postaci staej
i w tabletkach ni w roztworach.
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1
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Intensywny rozwj wielu gazi nauki oraz medycyny, a co za tym idzie coraz wiksza
ingerencja czowieka w rodowisko naturalne, przyczynia si do alarmujcego wzrostu
stenia wielu farmaceutykw w wodach podziemnych i gruntowych. W zwizku
z powyszym, niezwykle istotne staje si opracowywanie coraz lepszych metod,
pozwalajcych usuwa ich nadmiar ze rodowiska naturalnego. Jedn z takich metod jest
adsorpcja z fazy wodnej przy wykorzystaniu materiaw krzemionkowych. Materiay te s
jedn z najlepiej poznanych, a co za tym idzie, najchtniej wykorzystywan grup
adsorbentw, nie tylko ze wzgldu na ich biodegradowalno, ale rwnie prostot
otrzymywania i moliwo funkcjonalizacji ich powierzchni ju na etapie syntezy.
Jednym z przedstawicieli tej szerokiej grupy materiaw s kseroele krzemionkowe. Synteza
tych materiaw oparta jest o powszechnie znan reakcj zol-el, polegajc na hydrolizie
i kondensacji prekursorw krzemoorganicznych, takich jak tetraetoksysilan [1] w rodowisku
wodno-etanolowym, w obecnoci katalizatora. Starzenie elu, a nastpnie jego powolne
suszenie na powietrzu prowadzi do otrzymania kseroelu, ktry charakteryzuje
si nieuporzdkowan, lecz dobrze rozwinit struktur porowat.
W celu zbadania sorpcji ibuprofenu na kseroelach krzemionkowych przetestowano
sorbenty funkcjonalizowane grupami aminowymi. Zbadano wpyw pH rodowiska
reakcyjnego na ilo zaadsorbowanego ibuprofenu oraz wykrelono izotermy adsorpcji tego
farmaceutyku na wybranych kseroelach krzemionkowych. Otrzymane wyniki bada
doprowadziy do nastpujcych wnioskw:
efektywno procesu adsorpcji ibuprofenu na kseroelach krzemionkowych jest
determinowana przez pH rodowiska reakcyjnego,
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Pharm.
Bull.
2002;
50(2),
199-202.
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poonictwie.
Protok
dostpu:
rozdzielczo 4,0
liczba skanw 32
pomiar ta co 20 min
oraz metod DSC (DSC Q200, TA Instruments) o nastpujcych parametrach:
zakres temperaturowy 5 - 390C
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Studenckie Koo Naukowe przy Zakadzie Genetyki Klinicznej, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie,
Lublin, Polska
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Zakad Genetyki Klinicznej, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie, Lublin, Polska
Jednym z najbardziej chronionych przez prawo dobrem jest ycie ludzkie. Celem niniejszego
opracowania jest ustalenie czy dziecko poczte a nienarodzone stanowi samodzielny przedmiot
ochrony w prawie karnym.
Na wstpie naley wskaza, i przestpstwa przeciwko yciu zostay okrelone
w Rozdziale XIX ustawy z dnia 06 czerwca 1997 r. - Kodeks Karny. yciu dziecka pocztego
a nienarodzonego powicone zostay artykuy 152 i 153 w/w ustawy. Zgodnie z ich treci:
Art. 152. 1. Kto za zgod kobiety przerywa jej ci z naruszeniem przepisw ustawy, podlega
karze pozbawienia wolnoci do lat 3.
2. Tej samej karze podlega, kto udziela kobiecie ciarnej pomocy
w przerwaniu ciy z naruszeniem przepisw ustawy lub j do tego nakania.
3. Kto dopuszcza si czynu okrelonego w 1 lub 2, gdy dziecko poczte osigno
zdolno do samodzielnego ycia poza organizmem kobiety ciarnej, podlega karze pozbawienia
wolnoci od 6 miesicy do lat 8.
Art. 153. 1. Kto stosujc przemoc wobec kobiety ciarnej lub w inny sposb bez jej zgody
przerywa ci albo przemoc, grob bezprawn lub podstpem doprowadza kobiet ciarn do
przerwania ciy,podlega karze pozbawienia wolnoci od 6 miesicy do lat 8.
2. Kto dopuszcza si czynu okrelonego w 1, gdy dziecko poczte osigno zdolno
do samodzielnego ycia poza organizmem kobiety ciarnej,
podlega karze pozbawienia wolnoci od roku do lat 10.
Warunki dopuszczalnoci przerywania ciy zostay okrelone w artykule 4a ustawy z dnia 7
stycznia 1993 r. o planowaniu rodziny, ochronie podu ludzkiego i warunkach dopuszczalnoci
przerywania ciy (Dz. U. Nr 17, poz. 78 z pn. zm.). Przerwanie ciy moe by dokonane
wycznie przez lekarza po spenieniu jednej z przesanek jakimi s: zagroenie dla ycia lub zdrowia
kobiety ciarnej; badania prenatalne lub inne przesanki medyczne wskazuj na due
prawdopodobiestwo cikiego i nieodwracalnego upoledzenia podu albo nieuleczalnej choroby
zagraajcej jego yciu, zachodzi uzasadnione podejrzenie, e cia powstaa w wyniku czynu
zabronionego.
Wtpliwoci interpretacyjne zwizane s z zdefiniowaniem pojcia zdolno do
samodzielnego ycia poza organizmem kobiety ciarnej. Jedynie jako wskazwk naley uzna
ustalenia wiatowej Organizacji Zdrowia, wedug ktrych za pd zdolny do samodzielnego ycia
poza organizmem matki uznaje si pd majcy co najmniej 22 tygodnie lub wacy co najmniej 500
g. Stay rozwj medycyny i techniki sprawia jednak, e przy zastosowaniu odpowiedniej aparatury
powstaj moliwoci utrzymywania przy yciu podw coraz to modszych i coraz to lejszych.
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w immunoterapii przeciwnowotworowej
w leczeniu infekcji
jako antyoksydanty
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Metale szlachetne takie jak zoto, srebro, platyna czy ruten kojarz nam si przede
wszystkim z ich zastosowaniem do wyrobu biuterii, tymczasem coraz czciej metale te lub
ich kompleksy s coraz czciej stosowane w medycynie, jaki i farmacji. Leczenie chorb
nowotworowych naley do jednego z najtrudniejszych wyzwa wspczesnej medycyny
klinicznej i farmakologii. Du grup lekw stanowi kompleksowe zwizki platyny. Nale
do niej m.in. cis platyna, karboplatyna, oksaliplatyna, nedaplatyna oraz wiele innych. Zwizki
te wykazuj nie tylko rne dziaanie lecznicze, ale rwnie rne skutki uboczne.
W ostatnich latach trwaj liczne badania naukowe na zastosowaniem zwizkw rutenu
w leczeniu nowotworw. Zainteresowanie tymi zwizkami wynika gwnie z mniejszej ich
toksycznoci w porwnaniu ze zwizkami platyny. Zastosowanie zota czy srebra
w medycynie i farmacji w ostatnich latach rozpowszechnio si tak bardzo, e rozwina
si nowa dziedzina zwana metaloterapi. Zoto ma szczeglne zasugi w tym zakresie
i uwaane jest do dzi jako wany czynnik leczniczy i upikszajcy. Picie pynu z dodatkiem
zotego proszku, uwaano dawniej, za moc leczc i przywracajc modo i dajc dugie
i zdrowe ycie. Zoto towarzyszy przecie czowiekowi od niepamitnych czasw. Przede
wszystkim zawsze suyo jako pienidz, wykonywano z niego liczne ozdoby, a nawet
przedmioty kultu religijnego. Jednak wielu wielkich medykw stosowao zoto w celach
leczniczych. Uwaali, e pomaga ono na dolegliwoci serca, dziaa przeciw posocznicy,
odrze, a nawet wzmacnia ludzk skr. Srebro ma z kolei dziaanie bakteriobjcze,
antyseptyczne, przeciwzapalne i cigajce. Jak wykazuj badania jest skuteczne
w zwalczaniu wielu rodzajw bakterii, nawet tych lekoopornych. Srebro koloidalne posiada
dziaanie antyreumatyczne i przeciwzapalne.
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Pesticides are natural or synthetic substances that are used to control or kill pests.
They include herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and molluscicides. Moreover they also
include wood preservatives, plant growth regulators and treatments to protect food during
storage. During the production of food, pesticides may be used in different ways. In the
course of cultivation they are used by farmers to control weeds and to protect fields against
rodents, insects and molds, after harvest to prolong the storage time of food. Small amounts of
pesticides can be found on or in food products and they can get into the food chain. Pesticide
residues must be regulated to ensure that they do not dangerous to humans, animals and the
environment. In order to regulate pesticide residues in food has been established a maximum
residue level (MRL) that is legally tolerated on or in food and feed. The residue should be as
low as possible. Pesticide has negative consequences for human due to their ability to
bioaccumulation, durability and mobility in the environment. This substances entered to the
human body mainly through the gastrointestinal tract. Single excess the safety limits does not
pose a health risk to human. However, even small doses accumulate in the body and can
become dangerous. Consumers can take care of their health by choosing a variety of foods,
washing fruits and vegetables before eating, avoiding fish and game from unknown areas and
the interior of the meat.
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Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of many fungi including species from the
genera Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium. These compounds are toxic to humans,
animals, and plants and therefore, care should be taken to avoid contamination of food with
these toxins. Humans have long been exposed to mycotoxins by several different routes:
directly, via foods of plant origin, by air, or indirectly, through foods of animal origin.
Mycotoxins can be found in almost 25% of the world's agricultural commodities. Chemicals
are often the first defensive line against mycotoxigenic fungi. The indiscriminate use of
fungicides are awakening the public perception due to their noxious effects on the
environment and human or animal health. Thus, there is an increasing public pressure for
a safer and eco-friendly alternative to control these toxinogenic fungi. In this context, the use
of biological control microbial antagonists, such as bacteria, fungi and yeast have been shown
to be a feasible substitute to reduce the use of chemical compounds. Special attention was
paid to Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast and lactic acid bacteria. These are microorganisms
which, in addition beneficial health characteristics have the ability to remove toxins. With the
use of these microorganisms involves high hopes because they can contribute to the
production of high quality food free of mycotoxins.
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The food fortification is defined as the addition of one or more components, whether
or not it is normally contained in the food, for the purpose of correcting and/or improving
a potential biological activity of newly designed foods. Carob flour is widely used in the
Mediterranean region as a cocoa substitute due to sweetness, chocolate flavor and low price.
It is characterized by high soluble sugars and dietary fiber contents, and low proteins and
lipids concentration. Moreover, it is a good source of polyphenols (about 20%), especially
condensed tannins. Polyphenols as a natural antioxidants prevent some important
biomolecules like DNA, proteins and lipids against oxidative damage, which is considered to
be one of the main factor favoring the occurrence of such diseases as cancer, diabetes,
inflammatory, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. In order to enhance phenolics
content and antioxidant activity of wheat pasta, carob flour was introduced into its formula
(from 1% - 5%; w/w). Pasta samples were cooked, lyophilised, grounded and subjected to
extraction with 20 mM hydrochloric acid in methanol: acetone: water solution (30:30:40;
v/v/v). The amount of total phenolics was determined using Folin-Ciocalteau method.
Antioxidant activity of extracts were evaluated based on in vitro assays free radicals
scavenging ability and reducing power. Phenolics content and antioxidant activity of fortified
pasta were positively correlated with the percentage addition of supplement. In comparison to
control, a significant increase in total phenolics content from about 50 % to 245% for pasta
fortified with 1% to 5% of carob flour was observed. Additionally, pasta supplementation
from 1% to 5% resulted in a elevation of antiradical activity (from about 2.6 to 18.3 fold) and
ability to reduce Fe3+ ions (from 1.3 to 3.2 fold). In conclusion, the addition of carob flour to
wheat pasta was successful a approach improving phenolics content and antioxidant activity.
Furthermore, it may be speculated that consumption of such product may provide health
benefits associated with the action of bioactive compounds derived from carob flour.
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Effect of wheat pasta fortification with carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) flour
on relative digestibility of nutrients
ukasz Sczyk 1, Damian Zieliski 2, Monika Wjcik 3, Izabela Podgrska 3,
Marcelina Olszak 3, Ewelina Zieliska 1
1
Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is a evergreen tree belongs to the Leguminosae family,
widely cultivated in the Mediterranean region. Carob flour is a product obtained by milling
seedless pods of carob fruit. Beyond the low proteins and lipids concentration carob flour is
regarded as a rich source of soluble sugar, dietary fiber, phenolic compounds, minerals (Fe,
Ca, Na, K, P and S) and vitamins (E, D, C, Niacin, B6 and folic acid).
The food fortification is defined as the addition of one or more components, whether or not it
is normally contained in the food, for the purpose of correcting and/or improving a potential
biological activity of newly designed products. Previous studies show that carob flour may be
valuable supplement used to improve nutritional value of cereal products such as bread,
biscuits and cakes. Nevertheless, so far there is a little known about its effect on pasta quality.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of carob flour addition on relative nutrients
(proteins, starch) digestibility. In fortified products wheat flour was replaced with carob flour
during pasta preparation from 1% to 5%. Pasta samples were cooked, lyophilised, grounded
and subjected to in vitro digestion. Relative digestibility of proteins and starch was evaluated
based on level of free amino groups and free reducing sugars content before and after
digestion process. Compared to control, only in case of pasta fortified with 5% of carob flour
a significant decrease about of 9% in relative starch digestibility was determined. Protein
digestibility was inversely proportional to the percentage addition of carob flour. In respect to
control, digestibility of protein was lower from 5% up to 9% for pasta enriched with 1% - 5%
of supplement, respectively. In the sum, wheat pasta fortification with carob flour, may
negatively affected on nutritional quality of wheat pasta, however this effect seems to be
marginal in consumers point of view.
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3D printing is one of the fastest growing areas of new technologies. It has a great
potential of application in various industries, medicine and the military. In recent years, this
technique has began to be used to create a 3D food. The process for producing 3D food
involves application of a particular food product, layer on layer, thereby creating a unique
shape or pattern. In other words, with the help of a 3D printer does not create a new quality in
taste, but uses a 3D product for aesthetic purposes. Confectionery industry uses 3D printers
for finishing pies and cakes. The material is the sugar mass with the addition of selected
flavor and dye or properly prepared chocolate. Currently, 3D printer is created, which will be
able to create an easily digestible meals for the elderly and suffering from swallowing
disorders. This food will both shape and taste reminiscent of real food, in addition it will be
able to be enriched with specific nutrients. The food printers may also have potential use in
creating nutritious meals for soldiers or astronauts. The use of 3D printers will lower the cost
of producing food and nutrition at any time and place through the use of powdered
ingredients. Printing of food could also be associated with the program against hunger on the
world. Proteins extracted from insects are indicated as an alternative to proteins of animal and
vegetables. However it is not a popular way of eating, many people do not opt for grilled
cricket or silkworm caterpillars with pasta, due to cultural habits. 3D printing allows the
production of protein-rich meals at affordable and appetizing way. With each passing year,
the number of supporters of 3D printing of food and financial expenditures on the
development and improvement of existing printers are increased.
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The use of yeast for the production of natural food coloring astaxanthin
Monika Wjcik 1, ukasz Sczyk 2, Marcelina Olszak 1, Izabela Podgrska 1,
Ewelina Zieliska 2, Damian Zieliski 3
1
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Currently, one of the biggest economic problems of the world and the challenges of
food producers is to get the new and the minimization of use of existing resources protein.
According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in 2050 earth will be
inhabited by around 9 billion people. Entomophagy is the practice of eating insects. Most
people in our culture consider insects simply to be pests. But when you consider the logic of
bugs as food, from an ecological, financial, and global perspective, they start to seem a lot
more palatable. There are a several reasons why we should eat insects.
A United Nations report found that the livestock industry is responsible for generating more
greenhouse gas emissions than transport. Insects require such fewer resources in terms of
food, water, and land space. For example, to produce 1kg of insects should be used 1 kg of
bran, 1 kg of greens and 0.5 l of water. To produce 1 kg of beef should be used even 9 kg of
feed. Moreover, insects are high in protein, vitamins and minerals. Insects are also rich in
unsaturated fatty acids. The composition of unsaturated fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 in
mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) is comparable to the essential fatty acids present in fish fats,
and the content of proteins, vitamins and minerals is comparable to the ingredients contained
in meat and fish. Futhermore, insects are a source of bioactive compounds such as
antioxidative peptides. But how to breed insects? Lepsis is a concept terrarium that you can
use to grow grasshoppers in an urban home. The designer believes that this is a practical
solution to our food problem in the future. It can generally be concluded that insects are
a potential source for food and feed since they have a well-balanced nutrient profile, meet
amino acid requirements for humans and livestock, are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids and
generally rich in micronutrients and vitamins. In addition to their nutritional benefits, insects
need to be examined for their functional properties and their potential application as
texturizing food ingredients as well as ingredients of protein-rich meat replacing products.
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Insects from the genus Phasmatodea are herbivores, which are part of the diet of many
animals. This implies the need for the Phasmatodea to have defense mechanisms. For the
protection against predators, these insects have evolved in the course of evolution many
morphological features, as well as have the ability to use the toxins contained in plants. Many
phasmids became similar to the surrounding plants, branches (mimetism), to thereby become
invisible to predators, and some of them conformed to other animals (mimicry) with features
repellent (eg. to the scorpions). Phasmatodea are also able to defend themselves actively using
chemical weapons. Some of them in a stressful situation can emit odorous substances, other
firing in the direction of the enemy chemical that can cause short-term blindness. One of the
chemicals secreted by Phasmatodea eg. by Graeffea crouani is nepetalactone which repels
mosquitoes and cockroaches. Chemical substances may get into the body of phasmids through
the plant, which they feed. With consumption of pandanus leaf (Panadanus tectorius) walking
stick Megacrania tsudai accumulates significant amounts of iridoids in a defense glands. It is
noteworthy that the substances secreted by these insects could have potential importance in
medicine. Discovery of the structure of these compounds improves our understanding of the
insects chemical ecology, and many naturally occurring biological chemicals also have
important applications in agriculture or human health. Dossey et al. discovered a new
monoterpene, parectadial, (4S)-(3-oxoprop-1-en-2-yl)cyclohex-1-enecarbaldehyde. This
substance was isolated from Parectatosoma mocquerysi - a rare walkingstick found in
Madagascar, and its spray causes reddening and blistering when it hits exposed skin.
Parectadial is similar in structure to perillyl alcohol and perillaldehyde, two natural products
produced in plants that have multiple activities including the ability to kill or inhibit the
growth of cancer cells. The preliminary experiments on parectadial shows that it also kill two
different human cancer cell lines.
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Many chameleons have the remarkable ability to exhibit complex and rapid color
changes during social interactions. Biologists have now unveiled the mechanisms that
regulate this phenomenon. They have demonstrated that the changes take place via the active
tuning of a lattice of nanocrystals present in a superficial layer of dermal cells called
iridophores. The researchers also reveal the existence of a deeper population of iridophores
with larger and less ordered crystals that reflect the infrared light. The organisation of
iridophores into two superimposed layers constitutes an evolutionary novelty and it allows the
chameleons to rapidly shift between efficient camouflage and spectacular display, while
providing passive thermal protection. Besides brown, red and yellow pigments, chameleons
and other reptiles display so-called structural colors. These colors are generated without
pigments, via a physical phenomenon of optical interference. They result from interactions
between certain wavelengths and nanoscopic structures, such as tiny crystals present in the
skin of the reptiles. These nanocrystals are arranged in layers that alternate with cytoplasm,
within cells called iridophores. The structure thus formed allows a selective reflection of
certain wavelengths, which contributes to the vivid colors of numerous reptiles. To determine
how the transition from one flashy color to another one is carried out in the panther
chameleon, the researchers worked hand in hand, combining their expertise in both quantum
physics and in evolutionary biology. They discovered that the animal changes its colors via
the active tuning of a lattice of nanocrystals. When the chameleon is calm, the latter are
organised into a dense network and reflect the blue wavelengths. In contrast, when excited, it
loosens its lattice of nanocrystals, which allows the reflection of other colors, such as yellows
or reds. This constitutes a unique example of an auto-organised intracellular optical system
controlled by the chameleon.
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