DNA-Launched Alphavirus Replicons Encoding a Fusion of Mycobacterial Antigens Acr and Ag85B Are Immunogenic and Protective in a Murine Model of TB Infection

There is an urgent need for effective prophylactic measures against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection, particularly given the highly variable efficacy of Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG), the only licensed vaccine against tuberculosis (TB). Most studies indicate that cell-mediated immune responses involving both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are necessary for effective immunity against Mtb. Genetic vaccination induces humoral and cellular immune responses, including CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses, against a variety of bacterial, viral, parasitic and tumor antigens, and this strategy may therefore hold promise for the development of more effective TB vaccines. Novel formulations and delivery strategies to improve the immunogenicity of DNA-based vaccines have recently been evaluated, and have shown varying degrees of success. In the present study, we evaluated DNA-launched Venezuelan equine encephalitis replicons (Vrep) encoding a novel fusion of the mycobacterial antigens α-crystallin (Acr) and antigen 85B (Ag85B), termed Vrep-Acr/Ag85B, for their immunogenicity and protective efficacy in a murine model of pulmonary TB. Vrep-Acr/Ag85B generated antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses that persisted for at least 10 wk post-immunization. Interestingly, parenterally administered Vrep-Acr/Ag85B also induced T cell responses in the lung tissues, the primary site of infection, and inhibited bacterial growth in both the lungs and spleens following aerosol challenge with Mtb. DNA-launched Vrep may, therefore, represent an effective approach to the development of gene-based vaccines against TB, particularly as components of heterologous prime-boost strategies or as BCG boosters.     

Tryptophan as an endogenous photosensitizer to elicit harmful effects of ultraviolet B.

Owing to stratospheric ozone depletion (SOD) the natural flux of ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation (290-320 nm) is likely to increase on the earth surface. In our efforts to identify endogenous chromophores which may absorb significantly in the UVB range and subsequently induce phototoxic reactions, we have observed that tryptophan (Trp) was quite photoreactive under UVB. It enhanced considerably the oxygen-dependent photooxidation of tyrosine (Tyr) to dopachrome, a precursor of melanin. Our data suggest that UVB-sensitized Trp produces singlet oxygen (1O2) and superoxide radicals (O2-.), and these reactive forms of oxygen may contribute to membrane-, cytoplasm- and DNA-damaging effects. In the event of an increasing SOD level, other UVB chromophores may also exhibit similar phototoxic properties to lead to a definitive imbalance between cell life, injury and death.     

Assessment of genetic fidelity of micropropagated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Swertia chirayita</Emphasis> plantlets by ISSR marker assay

Inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) marker assay was employed to validate the genetic fidelity of Swertia chirayita plantlets multiplied in vitro by axillary multiplication upto forty-two passages. Sixteen ISSR primers generated a total of 102 amplicons among the tissue-cultured plants. Forty-eight amplicons were amplified in the outlier (a Swertia species). The outlier (negative control) was employed to rule out the possibility that the invariant fingerprint was due to chance alone and that the ISSR technique employed was not discriminatory enough to detect the off-types. A homogenous amplification profile was observed for all the micropropagated plants. The results confirmed the clonal fidelity of the tissue culture-raised S. chirayita plantlets and corroborated the fact that axillary multiplication is the safest mode for multiplication of true to type plants.     

Occurrence of Horizontal Gene Transfer of PIB-type ATPase Genes among Bacteria Isolated from the Uranium Rich Deposit of Domiasiat in North East India

Uranium (U) tolerant aerobic heterotrophs were isolated from the subsurface soils of one of the pre-mined U-rich deposits at Domiasiat located in the north-eastern part of India. On screening of genomic DNA from 62 isolates exhibiting superior U and heavy metal tolerance, 32 isolates were found to be positive for P_IB-type ATPase genes. Phylogenetic incongruence and anomalous DNA base compositions revealed the acquisition of P_IB-type ATPase genes by six isolates through horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Three of these instances of HGT appeared to have occurred at inter-phylum level and the other three instances indicated to have taken place at intra-phylum level. This study provides an insight into one of the possible survival strategies that bacteria might employ to adapt to environments rich in uranium and heavy metals.     

Effect of high-pressure steam treatment on chemical composition and digestibility in vitro of roughages

Effect of high-pressure steam (5, 7 and 9 kg cm^?2 for 30 and 60 min) on chemical composition and digestibility in vitro of sugarcane bagasse, paddy straw and sorghum straw was studied. The treatment brought about significant falls in the neutral detergent fibre (NDF), specifically the hemicellulose content, and in pH. Soluble carbohydrates and volatile acids (VA) increased with treatment, while acid detergent fibre (ADF) remained constant. The increments in true dry-matter digestibility in vitro (IVTDMD) compared to untreated were 23–64% (sugarcane bagasse), 19–36% (paddy straw) and 31–42% (sorghum straw) with increasing steam pressures and period. The digestibility of cell-wall constituents (CWC) improved with steam treatment in all three roughages. The dry-matter losses resulting from the treatment were 0.9–20%, 17–39% and 1–22% for sugarcane bagasse, paddy straw and sorghum straw, respectively.     

Impaired Surfactant Production by Alveolar Epithelial Cells in a SCID-hu Lung Mouse Model of Congenital Human Cytomegalovirus Infection

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the leading viral cause of birth defects and life-threatening lung-associated diseases in premature infants and immunocompromised children. Although the fetal lung is a major target organ of the virus, HCMV lung pathogenesis has remained unexplored, possibly as a result of extreme host range restriction. To overcome this hurdle, we generated a SCID-hu lung mouse model that closely recapitulates the discrete stages of human lung development in utero. Human fetal lung tissue was implanted into severe combined immunodeficient (CB17-scid) mice and inoculated by direct injection with the VR1814 clinical isolate of HCMV. Virus replication in the fetal lung was assessed by the quantification of infectious virus titers and HCMV genome copies and the detection of HCMV proteins by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. We show that HCMV efficiently replicated in the lung implants during a 2-week period, forming large viral lesions. The virus productively infected alveolar epithelial and mesenchymal cells, imitating congenital infection of the fetal lung. HCMV replication triggered apoptosis near and within the viral lesions and impaired the production of surfactant proteins in the alveolar epithelium. Our findings highlight that congenital and neonatal HCMV infection can adversely impact lung development, leading to pneumonia and acute lung injury. We have successfully developed a small-animal model that closely recapitulates fetal and neonatal lung development and provides a valuable, biologically relevant tool for an understanding of the lung pathogenesis of HCMV as well as other human respiratory viruses. Additionally, this model would greatly facilitate the development and testing of new antiviral therapies for HCMV along with select human pulmonary pathogens.     

Synthesis of pyrazole encompassing 2-pyridone derivatives as antibacterial agents

A series of novel compounds 6-amino-1-((1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-yl)methyleneamino)-4-(aryl)-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarbonitriles (4a–t) were synthesized and characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and mass spectral data. These compounds were screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes (Gram positive), Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram negative) by serial broth dilution and cytotoxic activity (NIH 3T3 & HeLa) by MTT assay. The results indicated that compounds 4g, 4i, 4m, 4o, 4r and 4t exhibit potent antibacterial activity against bacterial strains at non-cytotoxic concentrations.