Molecular Markers Reveal Only Two Mud Crab Species of Genus Scylla (Brachyura: Portunidae) in Indian Coastal Waters

The taxonomic ambiguity of the Indian mud crab (genus Scylla de Hann 1833) is still a cause of concern as several papers have been published with misleading identification. This is the first attempt to resolve the taxonomic uncertainty of the mud crab commonly available in Indian coastal waters using molecular genetic markers (ITS-1 and sequencing of COI gene) combined with traditional morphometry. Additionally, we developed a PCR method by which Indian mud crab species can be identified rapidly and effectively. The results clearly indicate that the green morph of the Indian mud crab is Scylla serrata and the brown morph is S. olivacea. The S. serrata commonly mentioned in the literature from India is S. olivacea; the S. tranquebarica noted by many Indian researchers should belong to S. serrata. Caution should be taken when interpreting or implementing the biological, molecular, and aquaculture data in the literature.     

Genetic relatedness among fish species of Genus Channa using mitochondrial DNA genes

The family Channidae is represented by 26 species, out of which 23 species are found in Asia. However, the taxonomy and phylogeny of the Channid fishes found in India are poorly understood. In the present study, eight species of Channa (Channa striata, Channa punctatus, Channa marulius, Channa gachua, Channa stewartii, Channa aurantimaculata, Channa barca and Channa bleheri) were investigated using partial sequences of 16S rRNA and Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit I (COI) of mitochondrial genes to differentiate among the eight species and study their relationships. The sequence analysis of the genes revealed two distinct groups, which are genetically distant from each other and exhibit identical phylogenetic resolution. The partial sequences of both the genes provided sufficient phylogenetic information to distinguish all the eight species of Channa.     

Synthesis,spectral analysis and in vitro microbiological evaluation of 3-(3-alkyl-2,6-diarylpiperin-4-ylidene)-2-thioxoimidazolidin-4-ones as a new class of antibacterial and antifungal agents

In the present work, a new series of bis hybrid heterocycle comprising both piperidine and thiohydantoin nuclei together namely 3-(3-alkyl-2,6-diarylpiperin-4-ylidene)-2-thioxoimidazolidin-4-ones 46–60 was synthesized by the treatment of the respective thiosemicarbazones 31–45 with chloroethyl acetate and anhydrous sodium acetate in refluxing ethanol for 4 h and were characterized by melting point, elemental analysis, MS, FT-IR, one-dimensional NMR (¹H, D₂O exchanged ¹H and ¹³C), two dimensional HOMOCOSY and NOESY spectroscopic data. In addition, the title compounds were screened for their antimicrobial activities against a spectrum of clinically isolated microbial organisms. Compounds 47–50, 52–55 and 57–60 with fluoro, chloro, methoxy or methyl functions at the para position of phenyl rings attached to C-2 and C-6 carbons of piperidine moiety along with and without methyl substituent at position C-3 of the piperidine ring exerted potent biological activities against Staphylococcus aureus, β-Hemolytic streptococcus, Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus flavus, Candida albicans, Candida 6 and Candida 51 at a minimum inhibitory concentration.     

A database for medicinal plants used in treatment of asthma

The knowledge of most plants used in the treatment of asthma, the plant part which is effective in treatment is confined to very few persons who are engaged in folklore medicine. However, this form of medicine is not very popular. Therefore, it is of considerable interest to ethno-botanical community to understand the plants and the parts used for treatment. Here, we describe AsthmaPlantBase, a database containing information of medicinal plants for treatment of asthma.

Availability     

Utility of large-scale transiently transfected cells for cell-based high-throughput screens to identify transient receptor potential channel A1 (TRPA1) antagonists

Despite increasing use of cell-based assays in high-throughput screening (HTS) and lead optimization, one challenge is the adequate supply of high-quality cells expressing the target of interest. To this end, cell lines stably expressing targets are often established, maintained, and scaled up by cell culture. These steps require large investments of time and resources. Moreover, significant variability invariably occurs in cell yield, viability, expression levels, and target activities. In particular, stable expression of targets such as transient receptor potential A1 (TRPA1) causes toxicity, cell line degeneration, and loss of functional activity. Therefore, in an effort to identify TRPA1 antagonists, the authors used large-scale transiently transfected (LSTT) cells, enabling rapid establishment of assays suitable for HTS. LSTT cells, which could- be stored frozen for a long period of time (e.g., at least 42 weeks), retained TRPA1 protein expression and could be easily revived to produce robust and consistent signals in calcium influx and electrophysiological assays. Using cells from a single transfection, a chemical library of 700,000 compounds was screened, and TRPA1 antagonists were identified. The use of LSTT circumvented issues associated with stable TRPA1 expression, increased flexibility and consistency, and greatly reduced labor and cost. This approach will also be applicable to other pharmaceutical targets.     

Ramachandran plot on the web (2.0)

The Ramachandran plot displays the main chain conformation angles (Phi and Psi) of the polypeptide chain of a protein molecule. The paper reports the updated version of the Ramachandran plot web server and has several improved options for displaying the conformation angles in various regions. In addition, options are provided to display the conformation angles in various secondary structural elements and regions within the user specified Phi and Psi values in the plot. The updated version is accessible at the following URL: http://dicsoft1.physics.iisc.ernet.in/rp/.     

Ability to use the diazo dye, C.I. Acid Black 1 as a nitrogen source by the marine cyanobacterium Oscillatoria curviceps BDU92191

Ten different strains of marine cyanobacteria were tested for their ability to decolourise and degrade a recalcitrant diazo dye, C.I. Acid Black 1. Of them, Oscillatoria curvicepsBDU92191 was able to grow up to a tested concentration of 500 mG L⁻¹. The organism degraded 84% of the dye at 100 mG L⁻¹ in 8 days in a medium free of combined nitrogen. The dye degrading ability is attributed to the activities of the enzymes: laccase, polyphenol oxidase and azoreductase. The absence of the doublet amine peak in addition to the overall reduction of absorption in the IR spectra confirmed the mineralisation of the tested azo dye. The nitrogen assimilating enzyme studies along with nitrogenase assay strongly suggested the ability of the non-heterocystous, filamentous marine cyanobacterium, O. curvicepsBDU92191 to use C.I. Acid Black 1 as a nitrogen source in an oligotrophic environment.