Cultivable bacteria in the supraglacial lake formed after a glacial lake outburst flood in northern Pakistan

International Microbiology - Recently, a supraglacial lake formed as a result of a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in the Dook Pal Glacier. Lake debris and meltwater samples were collected from...     

Synthesis of methanesulphonamido-benzimidazole derivatives as gastro-sparing antiinflammatory agents with antioxidant effect

A series of 5-methanesulphonamido benzimidazole derivatives were designed by combining the structural features of clinically useful anti-inflammatory drugs (nimesulide and rofecoxib) and antiulcer drugs (lansoprazole, omeprazole, etc.) based on physicochemical and 3D similarity studies. The compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan induced rat paw edema model taking rofecoxib and indomethacin as standard drugs. In vitro antioxidant activity of the compounds was assessed by potassium ferricyanide reducing power (PFRAP) assay. The compounds 9, 10 and 11 showed anti-inflammatory activity comparable to the standard group and were also non-ulcerogenic at the test doses. Compounds 6–11 exhibited good antioxidant effect in the concentration range (1.0–50.0 µmol/ml. Preliminary theoretical ADME profiling of the compounds based on computation of selected physicochemical properties showed an excellent compliance with Lipinski’s rule.     

Growing Anisotropic Silver Nanostructures from Copper-Coated Fibrous Silica and Its Application as Plasmonic Photocatalyst

Plasmonics - Anisotropic silver nanostructures having complex morphologies are of immense importance due to its application in plasmon-enhanced photocatalysis, transparent conducting electrodes,...     

Molecular assessment of proteins encoded by the mitochondrial genome of Clarias batrachus and Clarias gariepinus

The population of catfish, Clarias batrachus has substantially diminished in various countries and studies show that another related species Clarias gariepinus is replacing it. The better adaptability and survivability of C. gariepinus over C. batrachus could be attributed to the metabolic differences between these two species, which is primarily regulated by mitochondrial activities. To understand the reasons behind this phenomenon, we performed in silico analyses to decipher the differences between the proteins encoded by the mitochondrial genome of these two related species. Our analysis revealed that out of thirteen, twelve proteins encoded by the mitochondrial genome of these two species have substantial variations between them. We characterised these variations by analysing their effect on secondary structure, intrinsic disorder predisposition, and functional impact on protein and stability parameters. Our data show that most of the parameters are changing between these two closely related species. Altogether, we demonstrate the molecular insights into the mitochondrial genome-encoded proteins of these two species and predict their effect on protein function and stability that might be helping C. gariepinus to gain survivability better than the C. batrachus.     

Theoretical Model of the Three-dimensional Structure of a Disease Resistance Gene Homolog Encoding Resistance Protein in Vigna mungo

Abstract

Plant disease resistance (R) genes, the key players of innate immunity system in plants encode ‘R’ proteins. ‘R’ protein recognizes product of avirulance gene from the pathogen and activate downstream signaling responses leading to disease resistance. No three dimensional (3D) structural information of any ‘R’ proteins is available as yet. We have reported a ‘R’ gene homolog, the 'VMYR1′, encoding ‘R’ protein in Vigna mungo. Here, we describe the homology modeling of the 'VMYR1′ protein. The model was created by using the 3D structure of an ATP-binding cassette transporter protein from Vibrio cholerae as a template. The strategy for homology modeling was based on the high structural conservation in the superfamily of P-loop containing nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase in which target and template proteins belong. This is the first report of theoretical model structure of any ‘R’ proteins.     

The influence of minerals on the formation of 2,3 butanediol by Aerobacter aerogenes

Summary The presence of a small concentration of nickel or zinc ions in the cultures ofAerobacter aerogenes increases the formation of 2,3 butanediol in the cultures. The presence of 1 per cent of milk increases the formation of 2,3 butanediol in the cultures and decreases the consumption of sugar. Copper ions inhibit the formation of 2,3 butanediol.The combination of zinc and nickel ions decrease the formation of 2,3 butanediol in the cultures ofAerobacter aerogenes and even with addition of milk this combination is not beneficial to the formation of the diol. Nickel in presence of milk increases the formation of 2,3 butanediol.     

Evidence that cutaneous antigen-presenting cells migrate to regional lymph nodes during contact sensitization

These studies address the hypothesis that Ag-bearing epidermal Langerhans cells migrate to the regional lymph node during contact sensitization and function as APC. Skin from C3H mice was grafted onto BALB/c nude mice, and 7 or 14 days later, the recipients were sensitized with FITC through the grafts. APC from lymph nodes draining the site of sensitization were capable of sensitizing C3H recipients to FITC. Because sensitization is MHC restricted, only cells reaching the lymph node from the grafted skin could have induced contact hypersensitivity in C3H mice. Examination of the FITC+ draining lymph node cells by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated that all were Ia+, most were F4/80+, and some contained Birbeck granules. These studies demonstrate that Ia+, FITC+ cells from the skin, at least some of which are Langerhans cells, leave the skin after epicutaneous sensitization with FITC and participate in the initiation of the contact hypersensitivity response within the regional lymph node.