Natural killer activity against human K562 tumour cells during Plasmodium cynomolgi malarial infection of rhesus monkeys

This study assessed the natural killer (NK) cell activity profile during Plasmodium cynomolgi infection in rhesus monkeys. There was a significant decrease in the NK cell activity in the peripheral blood leukocytes of infected monkeys during the early, ascending phase of infection. However, as the parasite load decreased, NK cell activity returned to normal levels. This could be correlated with the peak increase in lymphocyte counts. This indicated that a decrease in NK cell activity observed at an earlier stage during an active P. vivax malarial infection was a temporary phenomenon.     

On the Estimation of Mean Infecundable Period Following Childbirth (Using Information on Lactation Period)—A Competing Risk Theory Approach

The methodological paper envisages to provide two measures of infecundable period following childbirth; one based on the lactation period when expiry period of amenorrhoea (P.P.A.) follows the same immediately. The other one is based on P.P.A. when expiry of P.P.A. precedes the lactation period. The weighted average of the two measures (duly weighted by the probabilities of both the events) has been given as the estimate of the mean infecundable period. A competing risk oriented approach is adopted to evolve the methodology.     

An exact solution for the modified nonlinear Schrödinger’s equation for Davydov solitons in α-helix proteins

The solitons in α-helix proteins that are governed by the nonlinear Schrödinger’s equation is investigated in presence of perturbation terms in this paper. The integration of this perturbed nonlinear Schrödinger’s equation is carried out. The solitary wave ansatz is used to carry out the integration and the parameter domain is identified.     

Antifungal activity of Syzygium samarangense leaf extracts against Candida

Candida species are opportunistic human fungal pathogens that cause acute and chronic infections against which only few antifungal agents are available. Here we have elucidated the antifungal effect of Syzygium samarangense leaf extracts (SSLE). Antifungal activity of SSLE was studied against Candida albicans, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, C. glabrata, C. auris and C. tropicalis. Following experiments were performed: minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) determination, agar well disc diffusion assays, fungal morphology analysis using scanning electron microscope (SEM), ex vivo fungal survival assays on porcine tongue and skin and in vivo fungal survival assays using Drosophila melanogaster fly model. Results demonstrated MFC of SSLE ranges between 100 and 125 mg ml⁻¹. SEM images showed cell wall degradation of C. albicans when treated with SSLE. Around 75% decrease in C. albicans viability was observed when infected porcine tongue and skin were treated using SSLE. The C. albicans infected D. melanogaster when fed with SSLE showed significant decrease (around 80%) of fungal count than the infected control. Furthermore, agar plate disc diffusion assays demonstrated that the antifungal activity of SSLE could be due to chalcone, which is one of the active constituents in SSLE. Our study demonstrated that SSLE could be used for the topical treatment of Candida infections.     

Anemia in experimental visceral leishmaniasis in hamsters.

Experimental infection of hamsters with Leishmania donovani caused visceral leishmaniasis in which hematological changes occurred. The infected hamsters were anemic and reticulocyte counts were high. No significant change in the serum erythropoietin level was noted. Red cell membrane Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and acetylcholinesterase activities increased. Osmotic fragility of the erythrocytes from infected animals increased. The level of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate of the red cells increased with the degree of anemia.     

Immunochemical identification of mung bean actin like protein and its cellular involvement during germination

Actin like protein, extracted and purified fromVigna radiata (mung bean) seedling, has been found to give positive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with mouse monoclonal antiactin antibody. In vivo studies show that cytochalasin B at sublethal dose inhibits the chromosomal movement at metaphase stage during germination. Fromin vitro studies it is found that the actin like protein isolated from mung bean seedling has a cytochalasin B binding property with a Kd value 1.2 × 10⁻⁵ M. From these two specific observations it appears probable that the biological function of mung bean actin like protein is to take part in cell division process directly or indirectly during the time of seedling development.     

Murine splenocyte proliferation by porin of Shigella dysenteriae type 1 and inhibition of bacterial invasion of HeLa cell by anti-porin antibody

Abstract A highly sensitive nested polymerase chain reaction method was designed for the detection of a wide spectrum of strains from Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. This technique allows the detection of as little as 3 fg of total genomic DNA extracted and purified from pure cultures of the organism, this amount corresponds to less than 10 organisms. Two sets of primers homologous to conserved spots in the coding region of the hbb gene, encoding a conserved histone-like protein, were constructed. These were based on a multiple sequence alignment of 39 strains representing all the genomic groups described in B. burgdorferi sensu lato.