First Report of bla CTX-M-15-Type ESBL-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in Wild Migratory Birds in Pakistan

EcoHealth - We investigated wild migratory birds faecal swabs for extended-spectrum β-lactamases-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-K. pneumoniae) from wetland habitats in Pakistan. ESBL-K....     

Frequency of genetic polymorphisms of ADAM33 and their association with allergic rhinitis among Jordanians

Allergic rhinitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is assumed to be due to an interaction between different genetic and/or environmental factors. A disintegrin and metalloprotease domain 33 (ADAM33) has been extensively studied as a susceptibility gene in asthma and has been linked to bronchial hyper-responsiveness. In this study, we investigated the association between ADAM33 single nucleotide polymorphisms and the incidence of allergic rhinitis among the Jordanian population. We conducted a case–control association study on 120 adult individuals diagnosed with allergic rhinitis and 128 normal healthy controls. 8 single-nucleotide polymorphisms in ADAM33 were genotyped using PCR-RFLP method. No significant differences in the allelic frequencies of all SNPs tested between AR patients and the control volunteers were found, although S2 C/G SNP showed a tendency toward significance with P = 0.06. On the genotype level significant association were found in the following genotypes: T1 AA, T1 AG, T2 GG, T2 AG, T + 1 GG, T + 1 AG, V4 CG, S2 CC, S2 CG, Q-1AA. Seven haplotypes were present only within AR patients and eight haplotypes were completely absent from the AR patients. Three haplotypes exhibited significant association with AR P ≤ 0.05, two of them were present only in AR patients. In conclusion, the polymorphisms in the ADAM33 gene are associated with susceptibility to AR in the Jordanian population. Furthermore, the haplotype of the tested SNPs were also associated with the risk of AR.     

Genetic diversity and population structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Litsea glutinosa</Emphasis> (Lour.) in Central India

Litsea glutinosa (Lour.), one of the most dwindling forest species in central India, is represented by highly fragmented populations that have been drastically reduced for the last 40 years, promulgating government ban on its extraction. For the first time with the help of ISSR markers, we investigated genetic variation and population structure of L. glutinosa in central Indian states. A total of 84 genotypes from 10 populations covering the entire potential pockets of the species in central India were collected. The percentage of polymorphic loci ranged from 44.79% (Rewa) to 94.79% (Marvahi) with a mean value of 70.10%. The sampled populations harbored high level of genetic diversity (mean h?=?0.294 and I?=?0.424) that was partitioned more within populations (73%) than between populations (27%). Bayesian structure analysis revealed the existence of four admixed genetic pools in L. glutinosa. The unsustainable extraction rather than genetic factor seems to be responsible for population fragmentation and dwindling status of this species. The dioecious nature of the species advocates an in-situ conservation to be the most suited approach for which Chhindwara, Jagdalpur, Balaghat and Jabalpur populations are appropriate.     

Successful phytoremediation of crude-oil contaminated soil at an oil exploration and production company by plants-bacterial synergism

Phytoremediation is a promising approach for the cleanup of soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. This study aimed to develop plant-bacterial synergism for the successful remediation of crude oil-contaminated soil. A consortia of three endophytic bacteria was augmented to two grasses, Leptochloa fusca and Brachiaria mutica, grown in oil-contaminated soil (46.8 g oil kg^?1 soil) in the vicinity of an oil exploration and production company. Endophytes augmentation improved plant growth, crude oil degradation, and soil health. Maximum oil degradation (80%) was achieved with B. mutica plants augmented with the endophytes and it was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the use of plants or bacteria individually. Moreover, endophytes showed more persistence, the abundance and expression of alkB gene in the rhizosphere as well as in the endosphere of the tested plants than in unvegetated soil. A positive relationship (r = 0.70) observed between gene expression and crude oil reduction indicates that catabolic gene expression is important for hydrocarbon mineralization. This investigation showed that the use of endophytes with appropriate plant is an effective strategy for the cleanup of oil-contaminated soil under field conditions.     

Biochemical Characterization of the Cytochrome P450 CYP107CB2 from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus lehensis</Emphasis> G1

The bioconversion of vitamin D3 catalyzed by cytochrome P450 (CYP) requires 25-hydroxylation and subsequent 1α-hydroxylation to produce the hormonal activated 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Vitamin D3 25-hydroxylase catalyses the first step in the vitamin D3 biosynthetic pathway, essential in the de novo activation of vitamin D3. A CYP known as CYP107CB2 has been identified as a novel vitamin D hydroxylase in Bacillus lehensis G1. In order to deepen the understanding of this bacterial origin CYP107CB2, its detailed biological functions as well as biochemical characteristics were defined. CYP107CB2 was characterized through the absorption spectral analysis and accordingly, the enzyme was assayed for vitamin D3 hydroxylation activity. CYP-ligand characterization and catalysis optimization were conducted to increase the turnover of hydroxylated products in an NADPH-regenerating system. Results revealed that the over-expressed CYP107CB2 protein was dominantly cytosolic and the purified fraction showed a protein band at approximately 62 kDa on SDS–PAGE, indicative of CYP107CB2. Spectral analysis indicated that CYP107CB2 protein was properly folded and it was in the active form to catalyze vitamin D3 reaction at C25. HPLC and MS analysis from a reconstituted enzymatic reaction confirmed the hydroxylated products were 25-hydroxyitamin D3 and 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 when the substrates vitamin D3 and 1α-hydroxyvitamin D3 were used. Biochemical characterization shows that CYP107CB2 performed hydroxylation activity at 25 °C in pH 8 and successfully increased the production of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 up to four fold. These findings show that CYP107CB2 has a biologically relevant vitamin D3 25-hydroxylase activity and further suggest the contribution of CYP family to the metabolism of vitamin D3.     

Excipient Stability in Oral Solid Dosage Forms: A Review

The choice of excipients constitutes a major part of preformulation and formulation studies during the preparation of pharmaceutical dosage forms. The physical, mechanical, and chemical properties of excipients affect various formulation parameters, such as disintegration, dissolution, and shelf life, and significantly influence the final product. Therefore, several studies have been performed to evaluate the effect of drug-excipient interactions on the overall formulation. This article reviews the information available on the physical and chemical instabilities of excipients and their incompatibilities with the active pharmaceutical ingredient in solid oral dosage forms, during various drug-manufacturing processes. The impact of these interactions on the drug formulation process has been discussed in detail. Examples of various excipients used in solid oral dosage forms have been included to elaborate on different drug-excipient interactions.     

Prevalence of exposure of heavy metals and their impact on health consequences

Even in the current era of growing technology, the concentration of heavy metals present in drinking water is still not within the recommended limits as set by the regulatory authorities in different countries of the world. Drinking water contaminated with heavy metals namely; arsenic, cadmium, nickel, mercury, chromium, zinc, and lead is becoming a major health concern for public and health care professionals. Occupational exposure to heavy metals is known to occur by the utilization of these metals in various industrial processes and/or contents including color pigments and alloys. However, the predominant source resulting in measurable human exposure to heavy metals is the consumption of contaminated drinking water and the resulting health issues may include cardiovascular disorders, neuronal damage, renal injuries, and risk of cancer and diabetes. The general mechanism involved in heavy metal‐induced toxicity is recognized to be the production of reactive oxygen species resulting oxidative damage and health related adverse effects. Thus utilization of heavy metal‐contaminated water is resulting in high morbidity and mortality rates all over the world. Thereby, feeling the need to raise the concerns about contribution of different heavy metals in various health related issues, this article has discussed the global contamination of drinking water with heavy metals to assess the health hazards associated with consumption of heavy metal‐contaminated water. A relationship between exposure limits and ultimate responses produced as well as the major organs affected have been reviewed. Acute and chronic poisoning symptoms and mechanisms responsible for such toxicities have also been discussed.