Controlling pathogenesis in Candida albicans by targeting Efg1 and Glyoxylate pathway through naturally occurring polyphenols

Molecular Biology Reports - Candida albicans has frequently shown resistance to azoles, the commonly used antifungal drugs. Efg1 has dual role under normoxia and hypoxia supporting infection. It is...     

Elicitation Enhanced the Yield of Glycyrrhizin and Antioxidant Activities in Hairy Root Cultures of Glycyrrhiza glabra L.

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Glycyrrhiza glabra L. has become an endangered medicinal plant due to the unabated extraction of glycyrrhizin. Glycyrrhizin is a triterpenoid saponin that is a...     

Large-scale production and efficient recovery of PHB with desirable material properties, from the newly characterised Bacillus cereus SPV

A newly characterised Bacillus strain, Bacillus cereus SPV was found to produce PHB at a concentration of 38% of its dry cell weight in shaken flask cultures, using glucose as the main carbon source. Polymer production was then scaled up to 20 L batch fermentations where 29% dry cell weight of PHB was obtained within 48 h. Following this, a simple glucose feeding strategy was developed and the cells accumulated 38% dry cell weight of PHB, an increase in the overall volumetric yield by 31% compared to the batch fermentation. Sporulation is the cause of low PHB productivity from the genus Bacillus [Wu, Q., Huang, H., Hu, G.H., Chen, J., Ho, K.P., Chen, G.Q., 2001. Production of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate by Bacillus sp. JMa5 cultivated in molasses media. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 80, 111-118]. However, in this study, acidic pH conditions (4.5-5.8) completely suppress sporulation, in accordance with Kominek and Halvorson [Kominek, L.A., Halvorson, H.O., 1965. Metabolism of poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate and acetoin in Bacillus cereus. J. Bacteriol. 90, 1251-1259], and result in an increase in the yield of PHB production. This observation emphasises the potential of the use of Bacillus in the commercial production of PHB and other PHAs. The recovery of the PHB produced was optimised and the isolated polymer characterised to identify its material properties. The polymer extracted, was found to have similar molecular weight, polydispersity index and lower crystallinity index than others reported in literature. Also, the extracted polymer was found to have desirable material properties for potential tissue engineering applications.     

Analysis of conformational changes in WASP using a split YFP

WASP (Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein) has been proposed to adopt a closed conformation (autoinhibited conformation) due to interaction between the carboxy terminal and the GTPase binding domain. Various WASP-interacting proteins have been suggested to relieve this autoinhibition. We have used the split YFP (Yellow Fluorescent Protein) to analyze the conformation of WASP. Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells expressing YFP1-154-WASP-YFP155-238 were found to exhibit YFP fluorescence while cells expressing of YFP1-154-WASP and WASP-YFP155-238 did not suggesting an intramolecular complementation of the YFP molecule. The fluorescence signal of YFP1-154-WASP-YFP155-238 was enhanced in the presence of WIP (WASP-interacting protein) however this is not due to the increased stability of YFP1-154-WASP-YFP155-238. Expression of Toca-1 and Nck1 reduced the YFP fluorescence from YFP1-154-WASP-YFP155-238 even in the presence of WIP suggesting that binding of Toca-1 or Nck1 altered the conformation of YFP1-154-WASP-YFP155-238. Thus both Nck1 and Toca-1 can relieve the autoinhibition of the WASP molecule.     

Effect of Bradykinin on Murrah buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) semen cryopreservation

Keeping in view the poor freezability of bubaline semen in conventionally used extenders, this study was conducted on three Murrah bulls to improve semen cryopreservation with the incorporation of Bradykinin (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 ng ml(-1)) in routinely used egg yolk tris-glycerol (EYTG) extender. Bradykinin (2.0 ng ml(-1)) had significant (P<0.05) beneficial effect on live sperm % (81.6+/-1.8) and hypo osmotic swelling (HOS) % (63.0+/-1.3) as compared to their respective control values of 73.4+/-2.1 and 56.3+/-2.0 at 0 h post freezing. The post-thaw progressive sperm motility in semen samples diluted with EYTG containing 2.0 ng ml(-1) Bradykinin (65.5+/-1.4) was also significantly (P<0.01) higher than control (60.3+/-1.9) at 0 h post freezing. Thus incorporation of 2 ng ml(-1) Bradykinin in buffalo semen diluted in EYTG extender may be useful in improving the quality of cryopreserved bubaline semen.     

Genetic transformation of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) with insecticidal crystal protein gene using particle gun bombardment

Here, we report the establishment of an efficient particle gun bombardment mediated genetic transformation in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) using cryIAc gene of Bacillus thuringiensis. Explants were bombarded with recombinant plasmids engineered for the expression of cryIAc transgene in plants and stable transformants regenerated in presence of benzyladenine, kinetin and kanamycin. Transformation frequency showed dependence on explant type, cultivars, plasmids, helium pressure and microcarrier type used. Integration of transgenes was demonstrated using polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot hybridization approaches in T ₀ plants. The expression of CryIA(c) delta-endotoxin and GUS enzyme was ascertained by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and histochemical assays, respectively. These transgenic plants (T ₀) showed more protection and high mortality for Heliothis armigera and Spodoptera litura larvae as compared to control plants. The results of the present study indicate that highest transformation frequency (18%) could be achieved by use of gold as a microcarrier in combination with helium pressure of 900 psi. Among the other factors tested, plasmid pHS 102 was the most efficient plasmid, while epicotyl explant was the best explant source for particle gun bombardment. Among the different cultivars of chickpea tested, cultivar ICCC37 and PG-12 produced higher frequency of transformation frequency compared to others.     

Effect of inclusion of tree leaves in feed on nutrient utilization and rumen fermentation in sheep

The effect of inclusion of tree leaves in mustard (Brassica campestris) straw (MS) based complete feed blocks (CFB) on nutrient utilization and rumen fermentation was studied in adult male sheep. Four types of CFB diets (Roughage:Concentrate:Molasses, 70:25:5) were prepared. The compaction process increased bulk density (g/cm(3)) of MSB, MSNL, MSSL and MSAL by 2.9, 1.79, 2.40 and 2.26 times, respectively. The dry matter intake (g/day) was higher (P<0.05) in MSSL and MSAL than in MSB. Digestibility coefficients of crude protein and hemicellulose increased (P<0.05) due to inclusion of tree leaves, while digestibility of dry matter and organic matter showed small improvement. However, inclusion of tree leaves did not affect digestibility of neutral detergent fibre, cellulose and energy. The concentration of total volatile fatty acids in rumen was significantly higher in MSAL than in MSB or MSSL. Blood bio-chemical parameters were within the normal physiological range in all the groups.