Leishmania Specific CD4 T Cells Release IFNγ That Limits Parasite Replication in Patients with Visceral Leishmaniasis

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is associated with increased circulating levels of multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, including IL-12, IFNγ, and TNFα, and elevated expression of IFNγ mRNA in lesional tissue such as the spleen and bone marrow. However, an immunological feature of VL patients is that their peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) typically fail to respond to stimulation with leishmanial antigen. Unexpectedly, it was recently shown that Leishmania specific IFNγ, can readily be detected when a whole blood stimulation assay (WBA) is used. We sought to define the conditions that permit whole blood cells to respond to antigen stimulation, and clarify the biological role of the IFNγ found to be released by cells from VL patients. CD4+ T cells were found to be crucial for and the main source of the IFNγ production in Leishmania stimulated whole blood (WB) cultures. Complement, antibodies and red blood cells present in whole blood do not play a significant role in the IFNγ response. The IFNγ production was reduced by blockade of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR, indicating that the response to leishmanial antigens observed in WB of active VL patients is a classical HLA- T cell receptor (TCR) driven reaction. Most importantly, blockade of IFNγ in ex-vivo splenic aspirate cultures demonstrated that despite the progressive nature of their disease, the endogenous IFNγ produced in patients with active VL serves to limit parasite growth.     

RAPD, SCAR and conserved 18S rDNA markers for a red-listed and endemic medicinal plant species, Knema andamanica (Myristicaceae)

Knema andamanica is a red-listed endemic medicinal species of Myristicaceae restricted to Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) Islands, India. This species is used in tribal medicines and has immense bioprospective potential. With a view to generate suitable genomic markers for classification and identification, we have generated RAPD, SCAR and conserved 18S rDNA markers from K. andamanica. A unique 585 bp fragment, that distinguished it from seven other related species of Myristicaceae was first amplified using the random primer OPE 06 and converted to SCAR marker (GenBank accession # JN228256). The conserved sequences of 18S rDNA loci from K. andamanica were also amplified and sequenced (GenBank accession #JN228265). The sequence revealed deviations including 18 variable regions and 15 indels that were unique to K. andamanica. These markers can help in definite identification of K. andamanica even at the juvenile stages.     

Structural and functional diversity of Entamoeba histolytica calcium-binding proteins

Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica) is an etiological agent of human amoebic colitis, and it causes a high level of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in developing countries. Ca²⁺ plays a pivotal role in amoebic pathogenesis, and Ca²⁺-binding proteins (CaBPs) of E. histolytica appear to be a major determinant in this process. E. histolytica has 27-EF-hand containing CaBPs, suggesting that this organism has complex Ca²⁺ signaling cascade. E. histolytica CaBPs share (29–47%) sequence identity with ubiquitous Ca²⁺-binding protein calmodulin (CaM); however, they do not show any significant structural similarity, indicating lack of a typical CaM in this organism. Structurally, these CaBPs are very diverse among themselves, and perhaps such diversity allows them to recognize different cellular targets, thereby enabling them to perform a range of cellular functions. The presence of such varied signaling molecules helps parasites to invade host cells and advance in disease progression. In the past two decades, tremendous progress has been made in understanding the structure of E. histolytica CaBPs by using the X-ray or NMR method. To gain greater insight into the structural and functional diversity of these amoebic CaBPs, we analyzed and compiled all the available literature. Most of the CaBPs has about 150 amino acids with 4-EF hand or EF-hand-like sequences, similar to CaM. In a few cases, all the EF-hand motifs are not capable of binding Ca²⁺, suggesting them to be pseudo EF-hand motifs. The CaBPs perform diverse cellular signaling that includes cytoskeleton remodeling, phagocytosis, cell proliferation, migration of trophozoites, and GTPase activity. Overall, the structural and functional diversity of E. histolytica CaBPs compiled here may offer a basis to develop an efficient drug to counter its pathogenesis.     

Antioxidant and Anti-hypertensive Bioactive Peptides from Indian Mackerel Fish Waste

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - India ranks second in the harvesting and production of fish. The discard of fish is near about 20–40% of total fish weight....     

Influence of Residue 22 on the Folding, Aggregation Profile, and Toxicity of the Alzheimer's Amyloid β Peptide

Several biophysical techniques have been used to determine differences in the aggregation profile (i.e., the secondary structure, aggregation propensity, dynamics, and morphology of amyloid structures) and the effects on cell viability of three variants of the amyloid β peptide involved in Alzheimer's disease. We focused our study on the Glu²² residue, comparing the effects of freshly prepared samples and samples aged for at least 20 days. In the aged samples, a high propensity for aggregation and β-sheet secondary structure appears when residue 22 is capable of establishing polar (Glu²² in wild-type) or hydrophobic (Val²² in E22V) interactions. The Arctic variant (E22G) presents a mixture of mostly disordered and α-helix structures (with low β-sheet contribution). Analysis of transmission electron micrographs and atomic force microscopy images of the peptide variants after aging showed significant quantitative and qualitative differences in the morphology of the formed aggregates. The effect on human neuroblastoma cells of these Aβ_12-28 variants does not correlate with the amount of β-sheet of the aggregates. In samples allowed to age, the native sequence was found to have an insignificant effect on cell viability, whereas the Arctic variant (E22G), the E22V variant, and the slightly-aggregating control (F19G-F20G) had more prominent effects.     

Near-infrared spiroximetry: noninvasive measurements of venous saturation in piglets and human subjects.

We present a noninvasive method to measure the venous oxygen saturation (Sv(O(2))) in tissues using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). This method is based on the respiration-induced oscillations of the near-infrared absorption in tissues, and we call it spiroximetry (the prefix spiro means respiration). We have tested this method in three piglets (hind leg) and in eight human subjects (vastus medialis and vastus lateralis muscles). In the piglet study, we compared our NIRS measurements of the Sv(O(2)) (Sv(O(2))-NIRS(resp)) with the Sv(O(2)) of blood samples. Sv(O(2))-NIRS(resp) and Sv(O(2)) of blood samples agreed well over the whole range of Sv(O(2)) considered (20-95%). The two measurements showed an average difference of 1.0% and a standard deviation of the difference of 5.8%. In the human study, we found a good agreement between Sv(O(2))-NIRS(resp) and the Sv(O(2)) values measured with the NIRS venous occlusion method. Finally, in a preliminary test involving muscle exercise, Sv(O(2))-NIRS(resp) showed an expected postexercise decrease from the initial baseline value and a subsequent recovery to baseline.