Role of the support surface on the loading and the activity of Pseudomonas fluorescens lipase used for biodiesel synthesis

The present work investigates the influence of the support surface on the loading and the enzymatic activity of the immobilized Pseudomonas fluorescens lipase. Different porous materials, polypropylene (Accurel), polymethacrylate (Sepabeads EC-EP), silica (SBA-15 and surface modified SBA-15), and an organosilicate (MSE), were used as supports. The immobilized biocatalysts were compared towards sunflower oil ethanolysis for the sustainable production of biodiesel. Since the supports have very different structural (ordered hexagonal and disordered) and textural features (surface area, pore size, and total pore volume), in order to consider only the effect of the support surface, experiments were performed at low surface coverage. The different functional groups occurring on the support surface allowed either physical (Accurel, MSE, and SBA-15) or chemical adsorption (Sepabeads EC-EP and SBA-15–R-CHO). The surface-modified SBA-15 (SBA-15–R-CHO) allowed the highest loading. The lipase immobilized on the MSE was the most active biocatalyst. However, in terms of catalytic efficiency (activity/loading) the lipase immobilized on the SBA-15, the support that allowed the lowest loading, was the most efficient.     

Elucidating Raw Material Variability—Importance of Surface Properties and Functionality in Pharmaceutical Powders

The purpose of this study is to illustrate, with a controlled example, the influence of raw material variability on the excipient’s functionality during processing. Soluble starch was used as model raw material to investigate the effect of variability on its compaction properties. Soluble starch used in pharmaceutical applications has undergone a purification procedure including washing steps. In this study, a lot of commercially available starch was divided into two parts. One was left intact and the other was subjected to an extra washing step. The two resulting lots were subjected to a series of physical characterization tests typical of those used to qualify raw materials. The two resulting lots gave virtually identical results from the tests. From the physical testing point of view, the two lots can be considered as two equivalent lots of the same excipient. However, when tested for their functionality when subjected to a compaction process, the two lots were found to be completely different. The compaction properties of the two lots were distinctly different under all environmental and processing conditions tested. From the functionality point of view, the two lots are two very different materials. The similar physical testing results but different functionality can be reconciled by considering the surface properties of the powders. It was found that the washing step significantly altered the surface energetic properties of the excipient. The washed lot consistently produced stronger compacts. These results are attributable to the measurably higher surface energy of induced by the additional washing step.     

Establishment of an efficient shoot regeneration system in vitro in Brassica rapa

In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant - To improve the genetic transformation system for Brassica rapa L., we established a high-efficiency shoot regeneration protocol. A double...     

A combined vaccine against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brucella abortus</Emphasis> and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis

The present study was undertaken to study the immune response in calves vaccinated with Brucella abortus strain 19, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) vaccines in monovalent form and combined vaccine containing both antigen. The seroconversion of monovalent and combined vaccines was tested in seronegative cattle calves. IBR vaccine alone and combination with live Brucella abortus S19 vaccine elicited an anamnestic response on day 60 post booster but started declining from day 90 onwards against IBR. B. abortus S19 alone and in combination with IBR vaccine gave more than 2 log protection in mice two weeks post challenge. Fluorescence polarization assay analysis with sera samples of calves vaccinated with B. abortus S19 monovalent vaccine alone and in combination with IBR vaccine revealed the presence of B. abortus antibodies. The components of the combined vaccine did not show any evidence of interference in the development of immunity. This combined vaccine may provide economical and affordable biological for the control of brucellosis and IBR.     

Exploration of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Csp</Emphasis> Genes from Temperate and Glacier Soils of the Indian Himalayas and <Emphasis Type="Italic">In Silico</Emphasis> Analysis of Encoding Proteins

The metagenomic Csp library was constructed from the temperate and glacier soils of central Himalaya, India followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. The library was further screened for low-temperature adaptation, and the positive recombinants were sorted out by determining changes in the melting temperature (Tm). A homology search of cloned sequence showed their identity with the Csp genes of Pseudomonas fluorescens, Psychrobacter cryohalolentis K5, and Shewanella spp MR-4. Amino acid sequence analysis annotated the presence of conserved aromatic and basic amino acids as well as RNA binding motifs from the cold shock domain. Furthermore, a PROSITE scan showed a moderate identity of less than 60% with the known cold shock-inducible proteins (ribosomal proteins, rbfA, DEAD-box helicases), cold acclimation protein, and temperature-induced protein (SRP1/TIP1). This study highlighted the prevalence of Csp genes from cold Himalayan environments that can be explored for tailor-made crop constructions in future.     

First stereoselective total synthesis and anticancer activity of new amide alkaloids of roots of pepper

The first stereoselective total synthesis of new natural amide alkaloids 1–3 have been achieved from commercially available starting materials. Wittig olefination, Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, epoxidation, a trans regioselective opening of 2,3-epoxy alcohol, Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) olefination and amide coupling are the key steps. The amide alkaloids 1–3 are evaluated for their anticancer activity against colon (HT-29), breast (MCF-7) and lung (A-549) human cancer cell lines for the first time.     

Abyssinones and related flavonoids as potential steroidogenesis modulators

Abyssinones and related flavonoids were screened against 3 enzymes (3βHSD, 17βHSD and Aromatase) of steroidogenesis pathway. The virtual screening experiment shows high affinity for flavonones than their respective chalcones. A 4'' ­OH blocked prenylated flavonone 2b (2­(2'', 2''­dimethyl chroman­6''­yl)­7­hydroxy chroman­4­one) had consistent binding affinity to all the three enzymes used in this study showing higher binding affinity to aromatase. A good correlation was observed between cytotoxic data (MCF­7, breast cancer cell line) and docking results indicating flavonone as a better steroidogenesis modulator in hormone dependent cancer.     

Design,synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular modelling studies of novel quinoline derivatives against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

We herein describe the synthesis and antimycobacterial activity of a series of 27 different derivatives of 3-benzyl-6-bromo-2-methoxy-quinolines and amides of 2-[(6-bromo-2-methoxy-quinolin-3-yl)-phenyl-methyl]-malonic acid monomethyl ester. The antimycobacterial activity of these compounds was evaluated in vitro against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv for nine consecutive days upon a fixed concentration (6.25 μg/mL) at day one in Bactec assay and compared to untreated TB cell culture as well as one with isoniazide treated counterpart, under identical experimental conditions. The compounds 3, 8, 17 and 18 have shown 92–100% growth inhibition of mycobacterial activity, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 6.25 μg/mL. Based on our molecular modelling and docking studies on well-known diarylquinoline antitubercular drug R207910, the presence of phenyl, naphthyl and halogen moieties seem critical. Comparison of docking studies on different stereoisomers of R207910 as well as compounds from our data set, suggests importance of electrostatic interactions. Further structural analysis of docking studies on our compounds suggests attractive starting point to find new lead compounds with potential improvements.