RDIS: The Rabies Disease Information System

Rabies is a deadly viral disease causing acute inflammation or encephalitis of the brain in human beings and other mammals. Therefore, it is of interest to collect information related to the disease from several sources including known literature databases for further analysis and interpretation. Hence, we describe the development of a database called the Rabies Disease Information System (RDIS) for this purpose. The online database describes the etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis and pathology of the disease using diagrammatic representations. It provides information on several carriers of the rabies viruses like dog, bat, fox and civet, and their distributions around the world. Information related to the urban and sylvatic cycles of transmission of the virus is also made available. The database also contains information related to available diagnostic methods and vaccines for human and other animals. This information is of use to medical, veterinary and paramedical practitioners, students, researchers, pet owners, animal lovers, livestock handlers, travelers and many others.

Availability

The database is available for free http://rabies.mscwbif.org/home.html     

Molecular characterization of some Indian Aloe vera populations through RAPD and ITS markers

The most important and well-known medicinal plant among ~400 species of the genus Aloe is Aloe vera. It is widely used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. Identification and assessment of genetic relationship among the populations and cultivars is needed for conservation and sustainable utilization of this commercially important plant. DNA fingerprinting with random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker and Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS1 and ITS2) of ribosomal DNA sequence analysis were carried out to assess the genetic diversity among populations of Aloe vera collected from geographically different four districts of West Bengal and Jodhpur, Rajasthan. RAPD profiles yielded 158 amplicons showing ~87.34% polymorphism. Analyses of ITS sequences showed that in contrast to ITS2, the length and %GC content (53.6–77.3%) of ITS1 varied within populations. Multiple sequence alignment data reveal that substitutions, insertions, and deletions have arisen at various positions in the ITS regions suggesting polymorphism. A 5′-GGCGCGATGGGCGCCAAGGAA-3′ sequence in ITS1 is conserved in all populations, except AvS4. RAPD dendrogram and topologies of the NJ, Parsimony and ML tree generated from ITS1 sequence revealed that there is a close genetic similarity among AvS1, AvS4, and AvS7 populations. These genetic studies may contribute to plant improvement programs of A. vera.     

Mitochondriogenesis in synchronous cultures of yeast. I. Oscillatory pattern of respiration

Synchronised cultures of yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae provide ideal material for the study of mitochondria. While studying the oxygen uptake capacity of synchronously growing cultures, it was noticed that oxygen uptake increased and decreased in an oscillatory pattern. Such a pattern was repeated up to four cycles. This observed behavior is entirely different from the results reported earlier by others.     

Functional characterization of a small heat shock protein from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium leprae</Emphasis>

Background  

Small heat shock proteins are ubiquitous family of stress proteins, having a role in virulence and survival of the pathogen. M. leprae, the causative agent of leprosy is an uncultivable organism in defined media, hence the biology and function of proteins were examined by cloning M. leprae genes in heterologous hosts. The study on sHsp18 was carried out as the knowledge about the functions of this major immunodominant antigen of M. leprae is scanty.     

Transposon mutagenesis and genetic mapping of the rglA and rglB loci of Escherichia coli

Summary The rglA and rglB genes code for two different proteins which cleave the hydroxymethylated cytosine residues of T-even phages. We isolated Tn10 and Tn5 insertion mutants of the above genes and of the genes in and around the rglA and rglB loci. These insertions were used to construct a detailed genetic map. Our results show that the rglA gene maps at 25.24 min and the rglB gene at 98.39 min on the standard Escherichia coli K12 genetic map.     

Identification of B- and T-cell epitopes on HtrA protein of Orientia tsutsugamushi

Orientia tsutsugamushi, a cause of scrub typhus is emerging as an important pathogen in several parts of the tropics. The control of this infection relies on rapid diagnosis, specific treatment, and prevention through vector control. Development of a vaccine for human use would be very important as a public health measure. Antibody and T-cell response have been found to be important in the protection against scrub typhus. This study was undertaken to predict the peptide vaccine that elicits both B- and T-cell immunity. The outer-membrane protein, 47-kDa high-temperature requirement A was used as the target protein for the identification of protective antigen(s). Using BepiPred2 program, the potential B-cell epitope PNSSWGRYGLKMGLR with high conservation among O. tsutsugamushi and the maximum surface exposed residues was identified. Using IEDB, NetMHCpan, and NetCTL programs, T-cell epitopes MLNELTPEL and VTNGIISSK were identified. These peptides were found to have promiscuous class-I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) binding affinity to MHC supertypes and high proteasomal cleavage, transporter associated with antigen processing prediction, and antigenicity scores. In the I-TASSER generated model, the C-score was −0.69 and the estimated TM-score was 0.63 ± 0.14. The location of the epitope in the 3D model was external. Therefore, an antibody to this outer-membrane protein epitope could opsonize the bacterium for clearance by the reticuloendothelial system. The T-cell epitopes would generate T-helper function. The B-cell epitope(s) identified could be evaluated as antigen(s) in immunodiagnostic assays. This cocktail of three peptides would elicit both B- and T-cell immune response with a suitable adjuvant and serve as a vaccine candidate.     

An appraisal of PCR-based technology in the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is an under-recognized yet catastrophic health problem, particularly in developing countries. The HIV pandemic has served to increase the number of susceptible individuals, and multidrug-resistance and poor socioeconomic conditions also augment the prevalence and the consequences of the disease. To control the disease and its spread, it is vital that tuberculosis diagnostics are accurate and rapid. Whereas microscopy and culture have several limitations (low sensitivity is a problem for the former, while the latter has a delayed turnaround time), PCR-based techniques targeting regions of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome such as IS6110 have proved to be useful. The purpose of this review is to assess the use of PCR-RFLP, nested PCR and real-time PCR protocols and the choice of target regions for the detection of M. tuberculosis. Real-time PCR for the detection of M. tuberculosis target genes in clinical specimens has contributed to improving diagnosis and epidemiologic surveillance in the past decade. However, targeting one genome sequence such as IS6110 may not by itself be sufficiently sensitive to reach 100% diagnosis, especially in the case of pulmonary tuberculosis. Additional testing for target genome sequences such as hsp65 seems encouraging. An interesting approach would be a multiplex real-time PCR targeting both IS6110 and hsp65 to achieve comprehensive and specific molecular diagnosis. This technology needs development and adequate field testing before it becomes the acceptable gold standard for diagnosis.     

Combinatorial guidance by CCR7 ligands for T lymphocytes migration in co-existing chemokine fields

Chemokines mediate the trafficking and positioning of lymphocytes in lymphoid tissues that is crucial for immune surveillance and immune responses. In particular, a CCR7 ligand, CCL21, plays important roles in recruiting T cells to secondary lymphoid tissues (SLT). Furthermore, CCL21 together with another CCR7 ligand, CCL19, direct the navigation and compartmentation of T cells within SLT. However, the distinct roles of these two chemokines for regulating cell trafficking and positioning are not clear. In this study, we explore the effect of co-existing CCL19 and CCL21 concentration fields on guiding T cell migration. Using microfluidic devices that can configure single and superimposed chemokine fields we show that under physiological gradient conditions, human peripheral blood T cells chemotax to CCL21 but not CCL19. Furthermore, T cells migrate away from the CCL19 gradient in a uniform background of CCL21. This repulsive migratory response is predicted by mathematical modeling based on the competition of CCL19 and CCL21 for CCR7 signaling and the differential ability of the two chemokines for desensitizing CCR7. These results suggest a new combinatorial guiding mechanism by CCL19 and CCL21 for the migration and trafficking of CCR7 expressing leukocytes.