Transition of recombinant allergens from bench to clinical application

The cloning and production of an increasing number of allergens through the use of DNA technology has provided the opportunity to use these proteins instead of natural allergen extracts for the diagnosis and therapy of IgE-mediated allergic disease. For diagnostic purposes, it is essential that the molecules exhibit IgE-reactivity comparable with that of the natural wild-type molecules, whereas T cell reactivity and immunogenic activity may be more important for allergen-specific immunotherapy. In relation to the latter, the development of hypoallergenic recombinant allergen variants is an approach which shows great promise. Clinical application of the proteins requires that they must be produced under conditions of Good Manufacturing Practice and meet the specifications set down in the appropriate Regulatory Guidelines, principally the ICH-Guidelines. Special consideration has to be given to the choice of expression system, the design of the expression vectors, and the purification strategy to obtain a pure product free from toxins and contamination. The availability of the pure recombinant molecules provides the opportunity to formulate preparations that are free from the non-allergenic ballast proteins present in natural allergen extracts and which contain relative concentrations of the allergens in clinically appropriate proportions.     

RAPD and ISSR marker mediated genetic polymorphism of two mangroves Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and Heritiera fomes from Indian Sundarbans in relation to their sustainability

Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants - Increased salinity distresses some key species severely in Indian Sundarbans. Geomorphic characteristics coupled with demographic obligations have...     

Epstein-Barr Virus-Induced Expression of a Novel Human Vault RNA

Non-protein-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have recently emerged on the scene of genomic research as prominent players in the regulation of gene expression. Many functionally characterized ncRNAs have been shown to be differentially expressed in various organisms during specific environmental or developmental conditions, thus establishing regulatory networks crucial for shaping cellular life. Here, we show that the expression of vault RNAs (vtRNAs) is specifically up-regulated in human lymphocytes upon infection by γ-herpesviruses, such as the Epstein-Barr virus and Kaposi's sarcoma virus. vtRNAs are ncRNAs that are integral to the vault complex, a gigantic (13 MDa) hollow ribonucleoprotein particle with a thus far elusive biological role. Stimulation of vtRNA expression by the Epstein-Barr virus was evident for all three canonical vtRNAs (hvg1-hvg3) and also for a novel ncRNA candidate, initially termed CBL-3. This ncRNA shares clear primary- and secondary-structure similarities with the three known vtRNAs. Importantly, CBL-3 co-sediments with intact vault particles in density gradients of various human cell lines, thus strongly indicating this ncRNA as a novel, fourth vault-complex-associated RNA.     

Lipid biosynthesis monitored at the single-cell level in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

There is increasing interest in bioengineering of lipids for use in functional foods, pharmaceuticals, and biofuels. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a widely utilized cell factory for biotechnological production, thus a tempting alternative. Herein, we show how its neutral lipid accumulation varies throughout metabolic phases under nutritional conditions relevant for large-scale fermentation. Population-averaged metabolic data were correlated with lipid storage at the single-cell level monitored at submicron resolution by label-free coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy. While lipid droplet sizes are fairly constant, the number of droplets is a dynamic parameter determined by glucose and ethanol levels. The lowest number of lipid droplets is observed in the transition phase between glucose and ethanol fermentation. It is followed by a buildup during the ethanol phase. The surplus of accumulated lipids is then mobilized at concurrent glucose and ethanol starvation in the subsequent stationary phase. Thus, the highest amount of lipids is found in the ethanol phase, which is about 0.3 fL/cell. Our results indicate that the budding yeast, S. cerevisiae, can be used for the biosynthesis of lipids and demonstrate the strength of CARS microscopy for monitoring the dynamics of lipid metabolism at the single-cell level of importance for optimized lipid production.     

Serotonin and benzylamine oxidation by type A and type B MAO of rat brain in presence of organophosphate pesticides

Organophosphate (OP) pesticides, monocrotophos (MCP), dichlorvos (DDVP) and phosphamidon significantly inhibit both MAO-A and MAO-B activities in rat brain mitochondria. The inhibition of MAO-A by MCP is reversible whereas the inhibition by DDVP and phosphamidon is irreversible. MAO-B is inhibited irreversibly by all these organophosphates suggesting that the mechanism of action of OP pesticides is through phosphorylation of serine residue present in active centre of MAO.     

Flush-mounted hot film anemometer accuracy in pulsatile flow

The accuracy of a flush-mounted hot film anemometer probe for wall shear stress measurements in physiological pulsatile flows was evaluated in fully developed pulsatile flow in a rigid straight tube. Measured wall shear stress waveform based on steady flow anemometer probe calibrations were compared to theoretical wall shear stress waveforms based on well-established theory and measured flow rate waveforms. The measured and theoretical waveforms were in close agreement during systole (average deviation of 14 percent at peak systole). As expected, agreement was poor during diastole because of flow reversal and diminished frequency response at low shear rate.