Vyacheslav Dushenkov | Hostos Community College (original) (raw)

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Papers by Vyacheslav Dushenkov

Alternative agriculture, which expands the uses of plants well beyond food and fiber, is beginnin... more Alternative agriculture, which expands the uses of plants well beyond food and fiber, is beginning to change plant biology. Two plant-based biotechnologies were recently developed that take advantage of the ability of plant roots to absorb or secrete various substances. They are (i) phytoextraction, the use of plants to remove pollutants from the environment and (ii) rhizosecretion, a subset of molecular farming, designed to produce and secrete valuable natural products and recombinant proteins from roots. Here we discuss recent advances in these technologies and assess their potential in soil remediation, drug discovery, and molecular farming.

VirusDisease, 2015

Respiratory viruses are a major public health problem because of their prevalence and high morbid... more Respiratory viruses are a major public health problem because of their prevalence and high morbidity rate leading to considerable social and economic implications. Cranberry has therapeutic potential attributed to a comprehensive list of phytochemicals including anthocyanins, flavonols, and unique A-type proanthocyanidins. Soy flavonoids, including isoflavones, have demonstrated anti-viral effects in vitro and in vivo. Recently, it was demonstrated that edible proteins can efficiently sorb and concentrate cranberry polyphenols, including anthocyanins and proanthocyanins, providing greatly stabilized matrices suitable for food products. The combination of cranberry and soy phytoactives may be an effective dietary anti-viral resource. Anti-viral properties of both cranberry juice-enriched and cranberry pomace polyphenol-enriched soy protein isolate (CB-SPI and CBP-SPI) were tested against influenza viruses (H7N1, H5N3, H3N2), Newcastle disease virus and Sendai virus in vitro and in ovo. In our experiments, preincubation with CB-SPI or CBP-SPI resulted in inhibition of virus adsorption to chicken red blood cells and reduction in virus nucleic acid content up to 16-fold, however, CB-SPI and CBP-SPI did not affect hemagglutination. Additionally, CB-SPI and CBP-SPI inhibited viral replication and infectivity more effectively than the commercially available anti-viral drug Amizon. Results suggest CB-SPI and CBP-SPI may have preventative and therapeutic potential against viral infections that cause diseases of the respiratory and gastro-intestinal tract.

The present invention provides methods by which hyperaccumulation of metals in plant shoots is in... more The present invention provides methods by which hyperaccumulation of metals in plant shoots is induced by exposure to inducing agents. Hyperaccumulation occurs as part of a two-step process in which metals are first accumulated into plant roots; subsequent transport to plant shoots is induced by exposure to the agent. In preferred embodiments, manipulations that increase availability of metals to the plant are employed prior to application of the inducing agent. Effective inducing agents include conditions of low pH, chelators, herbicides, and high levels of heavy metals. Other phytotoxic agents are also useful. Application of multiple inducing agents results in synergistic effects.

The invention provides methods by which hyperaccumulation of metals in plant shoots, esp. of Bras... more The invention provides methods by which hyperaccumulation of metals in plant shoots, esp. of Brassica, is induced by exposure to inducing agents. In preferred embodiments, manipulations that increase availability of metals to the plant are employed prior to application of the inducing agent. Effective inducing agents include conditions of low pH, chelators, herbicides, and high levels of heavy metals. Other phytotoxic agents are also useful. Application of multiple inducing agents results in synergistic effects. The hyperaccumulating plants remove heavy metals from polluted soils. [on SciFinder (R)]

A no. of different chem. compds. were used to study the 137Cs leaching from soil of the Chernobyl... more A no. of different chem. compds. were used to study the 137Cs leaching from soil of the Chernobyl zone. Substances and their different combinations, which were put to the test, have demonstrated different efficiencies as to radiocesium bioavailability. The possibility of soil decontamination from radionuclides by the way of purifn. of water media was considered. This approach can open addnl. means of manipulation with radionuclides solns., which became accessible to subsequent rhizofiltration by ground plants under hydroponic conditions.

A biotechnol., phytoextn., uses high-cumulative plant species to ext. pollutants from soil using ... more A biotechnol., phytoextn., uses high-cumulative plant species to ext. pollutants from soil using crops. Plant species used, termed hypo-accumulators, may accumulate up to 100 times more metals than regular plants. The described project, a collaborative effort between the Institute for Ecol. of Industrial Areas of Florida State University and Phytotech, Inc., was to successfully implement phytoremediation at full-scale, documenting technol. costs and efficiency. Costs (man-hours, supplies, services) were assocd. with conducting a full growing season of phytoextn. while quantifying metal removal. Pb and Cd removal from soil near a Pb and Zn smelter in Katowice, Poland, was tested. Following application of soil amendments, heavy metals uptake by plants was rapid and ended quickly with plant senescence. The timing of amendment application and harvesting was crit. to optimize heavy metal removal. [on SciFinder (R)]

A key component of successful phytoremediation is achieving high rates of metal uptake and transl... more A key component of successful phytoremediation is achieving high rates of metal uptake and translocation by plants. Because many metals have limited soly. in the soil and rhizosphere, uptake and translocation to the shoots can hinder the effectiveness of phytoremediation. The application of soil amendments that complex and increase metal soly. has dramatically increased the ability to remove metals from soil through plant uptake. Recent advances in evaluating soil amendments for enhancing uptake of metals from soils will be presented. [on SciFinder (R)]

The stomaral apel1ltre was increased in the plants sprayed with FC compared to the commI. Stomata... more The stomaral apel1ltre was increased in the plants sprayed with FC compared to the commI. Stomatal closllre was caused hy the ABA application, The addiliDn of EDTA to the contamina ted SOIl resulted ill a surge of Ph concentration in the shoots. Olle week after the EDTA applica tiOIl, the s/zoots Ph concentration was increased fmm 2--6 mglkg DW in the plants grown on the soi/l1'itho/lt EDTA to ahollt 500--600 mg/kg DW in the plants grml'll 011 the EDTA treated soil. A(,CII!I1l1latioll of Cd in s/zoots was also enhanced hy chelate application hut Dilly 2 to 4jold The spraying ahol'e-glVlllld pans of plants with FC or ABA had no effect Oil Ph and Cd accllmulation ill spinach and hrachinia shoots.

Ambio, Jan 7, 2015

Increasing anthropogenic pressure on the largest remaining tracts of old-growth boreal forest in ... more Increasing anthropogenic pressure on the largest remaining tracts of old-growth boreal forest in Europe necessitates additional conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity in northeastern European Russia. In a regional network comprising 8 % of the Nenets Autonomous District and 13.5 % of the Komi Republic, 248 areas have varying protected statuses as state nature reserves (zapovedniks), national parks, reserves/sanctuaries (zakazniks), or natural monuments. Due to increased natural resource extraction in this relatively pristine area, designation of additional protected areas is critical for the protection of key ecological sites. The history of ecological preservation in these regions is herein described, and recent recommendations for incorporating additional ecologically representative areas into the regional network are presented. If the protected area network can be expanded, the overall environmental stability in these globally significant ecosystems may remain intact, and ca...

Journal of Nutraceuticals, Functional & Medical Foods, 2000

The fatty acid and natural product content of hemp seed oil was analyzed by GC-MS and LC-MS. The ... more The fatty acid and natural product content of hemp seed oil was analyzed by GC-MS and LC-MS. The presence of linoleic acid (LA) and a-linolenic acid (LNA) were confirmed in their previously reported ratio of 3:1 LA:LNA. The presence of b-caryophyllene (740 mg/L), myrcene (160 mg/L), b-sitosterol (100-148 g/L) and trace amounts of methyl salicylate was observed in the oil which had not been previously reported. Trace amounts of cannabidiol (CBD) were also detected. Bioassays were performed with the oil to determine its effectiveness as an antimicrobial agent. Some bioactivity was observed during the primary screening.

ABSTRACT Phytoremediation is a new technology that uses specially selected metal‐accumulating pla... more ABSTRACT Phytoremediation is a new technology that uses specially selected metal‐accumulating plants as an attractive and economical method to clean up soils contaminated with heavy metals and radionuclides. The integration of specially selected metal‐accumulating crop plants (Brassica juncea (L) Czern.) with innovative soil amendments allows plants to achieve high biomass and metal accumulation rates. In a recent study conducted at a lead‐contaminated site in Trenton, New Jersey, the soil was treated with phytoremediation using successive crops of B. juncea combined with soil amendments. Through phytoremediation, the average surface soil lead concentration was reduced by 13 percent. In addition, the target soil concentration of 400 mg/kg was achieved in approximately 72 percent of the treated area in one cropping season.

Phytoremediation is a technology that exploits a plant&am... more Phytoremediation is a technology that exploits a plant's ability to remove contaminants from the environment or render toxic compounds harmless. An efficient metal phytoremediating plant must combine high biomass production and established cultivation methods with high tolerance to a specific contaminant and ability for root uptake, translocation, and compartmentalization of contaminants in the above-ground biomass. Symmetric and asymmetric somatic hybridizations were used to introduce toxic metal-resistant traits from Thlaspi caerulescens into Brassica juncea. B. juncea hypocotyl protoplasts were fused with T. caerulescens mesophyll protoplasts. The hypocotyl protoplasts of B. juncea were stained with CFDA before fusion and thus fluoresced green under UV, whereas the mesophyll protoplasts of T. caerulescens had red autofluorescense. Heteroplasmic fusion products were identified and selected by flow cytometry and cell sorting. All putative hybrids grown in the greenhouse had morphological characteristics of B. juncea. A Thlaspi-specific repetitive sequence was hybridized to total DNA of plants, including the parental species. All plants from both symmetric and asymmetric fusions showed Thlaspi-specific hybridization patterns while B. juncea did not exhibit any hybridization signal. Hybrid plants, produced by asymmetric somatic hybridization between the two species, demonstrated high metal accumulation potential, tolerance to toxic metals, and good biomass production.

Alternative agriculture, which expands the uses of plants well beyond food and fiber, is beginnin... more Alternative agriculture, which expands the uses of plants well beyond food and fiber, is beginning to change plant biology. Two plant-based biotechnologies were recently developed that take advantage of the ability of plant roots to absorb or secrete various substances. They are (i) phytoextraction, the use of plants to remove pollutants from the environment and (ii) rhizosecretion, a subset of molecular farming, designed to produce and secrete valuable natural products and recombinant proteins from roots. Here we discuss recent advances in these technologies and assess their potential in soil remediation, drug discovery, and molecular farming.

VirusDisease, 2015

Respiratory viruses are a major public health problem because of their prevalence and high morbid... more Respiratory viruses are a major public health problem because of their prevalence and high morbidity rate leading to considerable social and economic implications. Cranberry has therapeutic potential attributed to a comprehensive list of phytochemicals including anthocyanins, flavonols, and unique A-type proanthocyanidins. Soy flavonoids, including isoflavones, have demonstrated anti-viral effects in vitro and in vivo. Recently, it was demonstrated that edible proteins can efficiently sorb and concentrate cranberry polyphenols, including anthocyanins and proanthocyanins, providing greatly stabilized matrices suitable for food products. The combination of cranberry and soy phytoactives may be an effective dietary anti-viral resource. Anti-viral properties of both cranberry juice-enriched and cranberry pomace polyphenol-enriched soy protein isolate (CB-SPI and CBP-SPI) were tested against influenza viruses (H7N1, H5N3, H3N2), Newcastle disease virus and Sendai virus in vitro and in ovo. In our experiments, preincubation with CB-SPI or CBP-SPI resulted in inhibition of virus adsorption to chicken red blood cells and reduction in virus nucleic acid content up to 16-fold, however, CB-SPI and CBP-SPI did not affect hemagglutination. Additionally, CB-SPI and CBP-SPI inhibited viral replication and infectivity more effectively than the commercially available anti-viral drug Amizon. Results suggest CB-SPI and CBP-SPI may have preventative and therapeutic potential against viral infections that cause diseases of the respiratory and gastro-intestinal tract.

The present invention provides methods by which hyperaccumulation of metals in plant shoots is in... more The present invention provides methods by which hyperaccumulation of metals in plant shoots is induced by exposure to inducing agents. Hyperaccumulation occurs as part of a two-step process in which metals are first accumulated into plant roots; subsequent transport to plant shoots is induced by exposure to the agent. In preferred embodiments, manipulations that increase availability of metals to the plant are employed prior to application of the inducing agent. Effective inducing agents include conditions of low pH, chelators, herbicides, and high levels of heavy metals. Other phytotoxic agents are also useful. Application of multiple inducing agents results in synergistic effects.

The invention provides methods by which hyperaccumulation of metals in plant shoots, esp. of Bras... more The invention provides methods by which hyperaccumulation of metals in plant shoots, esp. of Brassica, is induced by exposure to inducing agents. In preferred embodiments, manipulations that increase availability of metals to the plant are employed prior to application of the inducing agent. Effective inducing agents include conditions of low pH, chelators, herbicides, and high levels of heavy metals. Other phytotoxic agents are also useful. Application of multiple inducing agents results in synergistic effects. The hyperaccumulating plants remove heavy metals from polluted soils. [on SciFinder (R)]

A no. of different chem. compds. were used to study the 137Cs leaching from soil of the Chernobyl... more A no. of different chem. compds. were used to study the 137Cs leaching from soil of the Chernobyl zone. Substances and their different combinations, which were put to the test, have demonstrated different efficiencies as to radiocesium bioavailability. The possibility of soil decontamination from radionuclides by the way of purifn. of water media was considered. This approach can open addnl. means of manipulation with radionuclides solns., which became accessible to subsequent rhizofiltration by ground plants under hydroponic conditions.

A biotechnol., phytoextn., uses high-cumulative plant species to ext. pollutants from soil using ... more A biotechnol., phytoextn., uses high-cumulative plant species to ext. pollutants from soil using crops. Plant species used, termed hypo-accumulators, may accumulate up to 100 times more metals than regular plants. The described project, a collaborative effort between the Institute for Ecol. of Industrial Areas of Florida State University and Phytotech, Inc., was to successfully implement phytoremediation at full-scale, documenting technol. costs and efficiency. Costs (man-hours, supplies, services) were assocd. with conducting a full growing season of phytoextn. while quantifying metal removal. Pb and Cd removal from soil near a Pb and Zn smelter in Katowice, Poland, was tested. Following application of soil amendments, heavy metals uptake by plants was rapid and ended quickly with plant senescence. The timing of amendment application and harvesting was crit. to optimize heavy metal removal. [on SciFinder (R)]

A key component of successful phytoremediation is achieving high rates of metal uptake and transl... more A key component of successful phytoremediation is achieving high rates of metal uptake and translocation by plants. Because many metals have limited soly. in the soil and rhizosphere, uptake and translocation to the shoots can hinder the effectiveness of phytoremediation. The application of soil amendments that complex and increase metal soly. has dramatically increased the ability to remove metals from soil through plant uptake. Recent advances in evaluating soil amendments for enhancing uptake of metals from soils will be presented. [on SciFinder (R)]

The stomaral apel1ltre was increased in the plants sprayed with FC compared to the commI. Stomata... more The stomaral apel1ltre was increased in the plants sprayed with FC compared to the commI. Stomatal closllre was caused hy the ABA application, The addiliDn of EDTA to the contamina ted SOIl resulted ill a surge of Ph concentration in the shoots. Olle week after the EDTA applica tiOIl, the s/zoots Ph concentration was increased fmm 2--6 mglkg DW in the plants grown on the soi/l1'itho/lt EDTA to ahollt 500--600 mg/kg DW in the plants grml'll 011 the EDTA treated soil. A(,CII!I1l1latioll of Cd in s/zoots was also enhanced hy chelate application hut Dilly 2 to 4jold The spraying ahol'e-glVlllld pans of plants with FC or ABA had no effect Oil Ph and Cd accllmulation ill spinach and hrachinia shoots.

Ambio, Jan 7, 2015

Increasing anthropogenic pressure on the largest remaining tracts of old-growth boreal forest in ... more Increasing anthropogenic pressure on the largest remaining tracts of old-growth boreal forest in Europe necessitates additional conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity in northeastern European Russia. In a regional network comprising 8 % of the Nenets Autonomous District and 13.5 % of the Komi Republic, 248 areas have varying protected statuses as state nature reserves (zapovedniks), national parks, reserves/sanctuaries (zakazniks), or natural monuments. Due to increased natural resource extraction in this relatively pristine area, designation of additional protected areas is critical for the protection of key ecological sites. The history of ecological preservation in these regions is herein described, and recent recommendations for incorporating additional ecologically representative areas into the regional network are presented. If the protected area network can be expanded, the overall environmental stability in these globally significant ecosystems may remain intact, and ca...

Journal of Nutraceuticals, Functional & Medical Foods, 2000

The fatty acid and natural product content of hemp seed oil was analyzed by GC-MS and LC-MS. The ... more The fatty acid and natural product content of hemp seed oil was analyzed by GC-MS and LC-MS. The presence of linoleic acid (LA) and a-linolenic acid (LNA) were confirmed in their previously reported ratio of 3:1 LA:LNA. The presence of b-caryophyllene (740 mg/L), myrcene (160 mg/L), b-sitosterol (100-148 g/L) and trace amounts of methyl salicylate was observed in the oil which had not been previously reported. Trace amounts of cannabidiol (CBD) were also detected. Bioassays were performed with the oil to determine its effectiveness as an antimicrobial agent. Some bioactivity was observed during the primary screening.

ABSTRACT Phytoremediation is a new technology that uses specially selected metal‐accumulating pla... more ABSTRACT Phytoremediation is a new technology that uses specially selected metal‐accumulating plants as an attractive and economical method to clean up soils contaminated with heavy metals and radionuclides. The integration of specially selected metal‐accumulating crop plants (Brassica juncea (L) Czern.) with innovative soil amendments allows plants to achieve high biomass and metal accumulation rates. In a recent study conducted at a lead‐contaminated site in Trenton, New Jersey, the soil was treated with phytoremediation using successive crops of B. juncea combined with soil amendments. Through phytoremediation, the average surface soil lead concentration was reduced by 13 percent. In addition, the target soil concentration of 400 mg/kg was achieved in approximately 72 percent of the treated area in one cropping season.

Phytoremediation is a technology that exploits a plant&am... more Phytoremediation is a technology that exploits a plant's ability to remove contaminants from the environment or render toxic compounds harmless. An efficient metal phytoremediating plant must combine high biomass production and established cultivation methods with high tolerance to a specific contaminant and ability for root uptake, translocation, and compartmentalization of contaminants in the above-ground biomass. Symmetric and asymmetric somatic hybridizations were used to introduce toxic metal-resistant traits from Thlaspi caerulescens into Brassica juncea. B. juncea hypocotyl protoplasts were fused with T. caerulescens mesophyll protoplasts. The hypocotyl protoplasts of B. juncea were stained with CFDA before fusion and thus fluoresced green under UV, whereas the mesophyll protoplasts of T. caerulescens had red autofluorescense. Heteroplasmic fusion products were identified and selected by flow cytometry and cell sorting. All putative hybrids grown in the greenhouse had morphological characteristics of B. juncea. A Thlaspi-specific repetitive sequence was hybridized to total DNA of plants, including the parental species. All plants from both symmetric and asymmetric fusions showed Thlaspi-specific hybridization patterns while B. juncea did not exhibit any hybridization signal. Hybrid plants, produced by asymmetric somatic hybridization between the two species, demonstrated high metal accumulation potential, tolerance to toxic metals, and good biomass production.