Relative Abundance and Plasmodium Infection Rates of Malaria Vectors in and around Jabalpur,a Malaria Endemic Region in Madhya Pradesh State,Central India

BackgroundThis study was undertaken in two Primary Health Centers (PHCs) of malaria endemic district Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh (Central India).MethodsIn this study we had investigated the relative frequencies of the different anopheline species collected within the study areas by using indoor resting catches, CDC light trap and human landing methods. Sibling species of malaria vectors were identified by cytogenetic and molecular techniques. The role of each vector and its sibling species in the transmission of the different Plasmodium species was ascertained by using sporozoite ELISA.ResultsA total of 52,857 specimens comprising of 17 anopheline species were collected by three different methods (39,964 by indoor resting collections, 1059 by human landing and 11,834 by CDC light trap). Anopheles culicifacies was most predominant species in all collections (55, 71 and 32% in indoor resting, human landing and light trap collections respectively) followed by An. subpictus and An. annularis. All five sibling species of An. culicifacies viz. species A, B, C, D and E were found while only species T and S of An. fluviatilis were collected. The overall sporozoite rate in An. culicifacies and An. fluviatilis were 0.42% (0.25% for P. falciparum and 0.17% for P. vivax) and 0.90% (0.45% for P. falciparum and 0.45% for P. vivax) respectively. An. culicifacies and An. fluviatilis were found harbouring both P. vivax variants VK-210 and VK-247, and P. falciparum. An. culicifacies sibling species C and D were incriminated as vectors during most part of the year while sibling species T of An. fluviatilis was identified as potential vector in monsoon and post monsoon season.ConclusionsAn. culicifacies species C (59%) was the most abundant species followed by An. culicifacies D (24%), B (8.7%), E (6.7%) and A (1.5%). Among An. fluviatilis sibling species, species T was common (99%) and only few specimens of S were found. Our study provides crucial information on the prevalence of An. culicifacies and An. fluviatilis sibling species and their potential in malaria transmission which will assist in developing strategic control measures against these vectors.     

Development of Novel Docetaxel Phospholipid Nanoparticles for Intravenous Administration: Quality by Design Approach

The objective of this study was to develop novel docetaxel phospholipid nanoparticles (NDPNs) for intravenous administration. Modified solvent diffusion-evaporation method was adopted in the NDPN preparation. Central composite design (CCD) was employed in the optimization of the critical formulation factor (drug content) and process variable (stirring rate) to obtain NDPNs with 215.53 ± 1.9-nm particle size, 0.329 ± 0.02 polydispersity index (PDI), and 75.41 ± 4.81% entrapment efficiency. The morphological examination by transmission electron microscopy revealed spherical structure composed of a drug core stabilized within the phospholipid shell. Enhanced cell uptake of coumarin-6-loaded phospholipid nanoparticles by MCF-7 cell line indicated NDPN-efficient cell uptake. In vitro hemolysis test confirmed the safety of the phospholipid nanoparticles. NDPNs exhibited increased area under the curve (AUC) and mean residence time (MRT) by 3.0- and 3.3-fold, respectively, in comparison with the existing docetaxel parenteral formulation (Taxotere®), indicating a potential for sustained action. Thus, the novel NDPNs exhibit an ability to be an intravenous docetaxel formulation with enhanced uptake, decreased toxicity, and prolonged activity.KEY WORDS: cancer, delivery vehicle, docetaxel phospholipid nanoparticles, nanoparticles, pharmacokinetics     

Global Spectrum of Copy Number Variations Reveals Genome Organizational Plasticity and Proposes New Migration Routes

Global spectrum of CNVs is required to catalog variations to provide a high-resolution on the dynamics of genome-organization and human migration. In this study, we performed genome-wide genotyping using high-resolution arrays and identified 44,109 CNVs from 1,715 genomes across 12 populations. The study unraveled the force of independent evolutionary dynamics on genome-organizational plasticity across populations. We demonstrated the use of CNV tool to study human migration and identified a second major settlement establishing new migration routes in addition to existing ones.     

Genetic Diversity in Lens Species Revealed by EST and Genomic Simple Sequence Repeat Analysis

Low productivity of pilosae type lentils grown in South Asia is attributed to narrow genetic base of the released cultivars which results in susceptibility to biotic and abiotic stresses. For enhancement of productivity and production, broadening of genetic base is essentially required. The genetic base of released cultivars can be broadened by using diverse types including bold seeded and early maturing lentils from Mediterranean region and related wild species. Genetic diversity in eighty six accessions of three species of genus Lens was assessed based on twelve genomic and thirty one EST-SSR markers. The evaluated set of genotypes included diverse lentil varieties and advanced breeding lines from Indian programme, two early maturing ICARDA lines and five related wild subspecies/species endemic to the Mediterranean region. Genomic SSRs exhibited higher polymorphism in comparison to EST SSRs. GLLC 598 produced 5 alleles with highest gene diversity value of 0.80. Among the studied subspecies/species 43 SSRs detected maximum number of alleles in L. orientalis. Based on Nei’s genetic distance cultivated lentil L. culinaris subsp. culinaris was found to be close to its wild progenitor L. culinaris subsp. orientalis. The Prichard’s structure of 86 genotypes distinguished different subspecies/species. Higher variability was recorded among individuals within population than among populations.     

Enzymatic attributes of an l-isoaspartyl methyltransferase from Candida utilis and its role in cell survival

BackgroundsSpontaneous deamidation and isoaspartate (IsoAsp) formation contributes to aging and reduced longevity in cells. A protein-l-isoaspartate (d-aspartate) O-methyltransferase (PCMT) is responsible for minimizing IsoAsp moieties in most organisms.MethodsPCMT was purified in its native form from yeast Candida utilis. The role of the native PCMT in cell survival and protein repair was investigated by manipulating intracellular PCMT levels with Oxidized Adenosine (AdOx) and Lithium Chloride (LiCl). Proteomic Identification of possible cellular targets was carried out using 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis, followed by on-Blot methylation and mass spectrometric analysis.ResultsThe 25.4 kDa native PCMT from C. utilis was found to have a K_m of 3.5 µM for AdoMet and 33.36 µM for IsoAsp containing Delta Sleep Inducing Peptide (DSIP) at pH 7.0. Native PCMT comprises of 232 amino acids which is coded by a 698 bp long nucleotide sequence. Phylogenetic comparison revealed the PCMT to be related more closely with the prokaryotic homologs. Increase in PCMT levels in vivo correlated with increased cell survival under physiological stresses. PCMT expression was seen to be linked with increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration. Proteomic identification of possible cellular substrates revealed that PCMT interacts with proteins mainly involved with cellular housekeeping. PCMT effected both functional and structural repair in aged proteins in vitro.General significanceIdentification of PCMT in unicellular eukaryotes like C. utilis promises to make investigations into its control machinery easier owing to the familiarity and flexibility of the system.     

Health Insurance Status as a Barrier to Ideal Cardiovascular Health for U.S. Adults: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

Background

Little is known about the association between cardiovascular (CV) health and health insurance status. We hypothesized that U.S. adults without health insurance coverage would have a lower likelihood of ideal cardiovascular health.

Methods and Results

Using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2007–2010, we examined the relationship between health insurance status and ideal CV health in U.S. adults aged ≥19 years and <65 (N = 3304). Ideal CV health was defined by the American Heart Association (AHA) as the absence of clinically manifested CV disease and the simultaneous presence of 6–7 “ideal” CV health factors and behaviors. Logistic regression modeling was used to determine the relationship between health insurance status and the odds of ideal CV health. Of the U.S. adult population, 5.4% attained ideal CV health, and 23.5% were without health insurance coverage. Those without health insurance coverage were more likely to be young (p<0.0001), male (p<0.0001), non-white (p<0.0001), with less than a high school degree (p<0.0001), have a poverty-to-income ratio less than 1 (p<0.0001) and unemployed (p<0.0001) compared to those with coverage. Lack of health insurance coverage was associated with a lower likelihood of ideal CV health; however, this relationship was attenuated by socioeconomic status.

Conclusions

U.S. adults without health insurance coverage are less likely to have ideal CV health. Population-based strategies and interventions directed at the community-level may be one way to improve overall CV health and reach this at-risk group.     

De Novo Generated Human Red Blood Cells in Humanized Mice Support Plasmodium falciparum Infection

Immunodeficient mouse–human chimeras provide a powerful approach to study host specific pathogens like Plasmodium (P.) falciparum that causes human malaria. Existing mouse models of P. falciparum infection require repeated injections of human red blood cells (RBCs). In addition, clodronate lipsomes and anti-neutrophil antibodies are injected to suppress the clearance of human RBCs by the residual immune system of the immunodeficient mice. Engraftment of NOD-scid Il2rg^-/- mice with human hematopoietic stem cells leads to reconstitution of human immune cells. Although human B cell reconstitution is robust and T cell reconstitution is reasonable in the recipient mice, human RBC reconstitution is generally poor or undetectable. The poor reconstitution is mainly the result of a deficiency of appropriate human cytokines that are necessary for the development and maintenance of these cell lineages. Delivery of plasmid DNA encoding human erythropoietin and interleukin-3 into humanized mice by hydrodynamic tail-vein injection resulted in significantly enhanced reconstitution of erythrocytes. With this improved humanized mouse, here we show that P. falciparum infects de novo generated human RBCs, develops into schizonts and causes successive reinvasion. We also show that different parasite strains exhibit variation in their ability to infect these humanized mice. Parasites could be detected by nested PCR in the blood samples of humanized mice infected with P. falciparum K1 and HB3 strains for 3 cycles, whereas in other strains such as 3D7, DD2, 7G8, FCR3 and W2mef parasites could only be detected for 1 cycle. In vivo adaptation of K1 strain further improves the infection efficiency and parasites can be detected by microscopy for 3 cycles. The parasitemia ranges between 0.13 and 0.25% at the first cycle of infection, falls between 0.08 and 0.15% at the second cycle, and drops to barely detectable levels at the third cycle of infection. Compared to existing mouse models, our model generates human RBCs de novo and does not require the treatment of mice with immunomodulators.