Amino acids of Hymenolepis palmarum (Johri, 1956) and chemotaxonomic studies on hymenolepidid cestodes

Chemotaxonomic patterns in the distribution of amino acids of Hymenolepis palmarum (Johri, 1956) and other hymenolepidids revealed the common presence of beta-aminoisobutyric acid, lysine, phenylalanine and tyrosine but 3,4 dihydroxyphenylalanine and norleucine were exclusive to H. palmarum. Both qualitative and quantitative differences in amino acids have been recorded.     

Voltammetric detection of anti-HIV replication drug based on novel nanocomposite gold-nanoparticle–CaCO<Subscript>3</Subscript> hybrid material

A novel bionanocomposite, horse radish peroxidase- gold-nanoparticle–Calcium carbonate (HRP-AuNPs-CaCO₃), hybrid material was encapsulated by silica sol on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The fabricated modified electrode was used as a novel voltammetric sensor for electrochemical sensing of anti-HIV replication drug i.e. deferiprone. The surface morphology of the modified electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results obtained from the voltammetric measurements show that HRP-AuNPs-CaCO₃ modified GCE offers a selective and sensitive electrochemical sensor for the determination of deferiprone. Under experimental conditions, the proposed voltammetric sensor has a linear response range from 0.01 to 10,000 μM with a detection limit of 0.01 μM. Furthermore, the fabricated sensor was successfully applied to determine deferiprone level in spiked urine and serum samples.     

Metabolic engineering of chloroplasts for artemisinic acid biosynthesis and impact on plant growth

Chloroplasts offer high-level transgene expression and transgene containment due to maternal inheritance, and are ideal hosts for biopharmaceutical biosynthesis via multigene engineering. To exploit these advantages, we have expressed 12 enzymes in chloroplasts for the biosynthesis of artemisinic acid (precursor of artemisinin, antimalarial drug) in an alternative plant system. Integration of transgenes into the tobacco chloroplast genome via homologous recombination was confirmed by molecular analysis, and biosynthesis of artemisinic acid in plant leaf tissues was detected with the help of ¹³C NMR and ESI-mass spectrometry. The excess metabolic flux of isopentenyl pyrophosphate generated by an engineered mevalonate pathway was diverted for the biosynthesis of artemisinic acid. However, expression of megatransgenes impacted the growth of the transplastomic plantlets. By combining two exogenous pathways, artemisinic acid was produced in transplastomic plants, which can be improved further using better metabolic engineering strategies for commercially viable yield of desirable isoprenoid products.     

Studies on cold pressor response of subjects who suffered from frostbite at high altitude

Seven lowlander soldiers who had 1st to 3rd degree of frostbite and 8 lowlander soldiers who recovered from high altitude pulmonary oedema were tested for cold pressor response at 260 m, 26°C, 6.8°C and 4,085 m, 26°C, 6.8°C. 8 lowlander soldiers (Control subjects) of comparable age group were tested for their cold pressor response at 260 m, 26°C and 3,300 m, 26°C. Another group of control subjects from the laboratory were also tested at 2,121 m, 26°C. There was a highly significant decrease in cold pressor response of the frostbite subjects at 260 m, 26°C and a very significant increase at 260 m, 6.8°C as compared to non-frostbite subjects. The subjects who recovered from high altitude pulmonary oedema did not show significant differences as compared with the control subjects. The results suggest certain basic physiological differences in regulation of supply of blood to the extremities under condition of general and local cold exposure.     

Thoracic adaptation to high altitude

Growth in the thoracic region and its adaptation to higher altitude was investigated in boys between 5 to 18 years of Rajput origin at two altitudes, i. e. Rampur Bushahr (800 m above sea level) and Kinnaur (3,000 m above sea level). Both places are located in Himachal Pradesh. The sample includes 405 individuals From Bushahr and 676 individuals from Kinnaur. The results of this study reveal that as the higher altitudes are attained the vital capacity also increases relatively more, and these differences become more pronounced after adolescence, indicating longer time of apnoea. The population living at higher altitudes is also characterised by a significant greater chest length.