Thirty-Year Repeat Measures of Mangrove Above- and Below-Ground Biomass Reveals Unexpectedly High Carbon Sequestration

Ecosystems - Mangrove ecosystems store large quantities of organic carbon for long periods of time. This study explores organic carbon stock change through the first comparative study of...     

Production of corrinoids including vitamin B-12 byMethanosarcina barkeri growing on methanol

Summary A preliminary attempt was made for producing vitamin B-12 byMethanosarcina barkeri strain Fusaro in a fed-batch culture with a methanol minimum medium. After 11 days, total methanol consumption, cell density and corrinoid concentration were 145 g/l, 8.5 g(dry cell weight)/l, and 135 mg/l (73% in supernatant) respectively. Electrophoretic separation revealed that 33% of the total corrinoids was B-12 Factor III (5-hydroxybenzimidazolylcobamide) and the remaining corrinoids were cobinamide (Factor B) and its derivatives.     

Genetic polymorphism analysis among nine endogamous population groups of Maharashtra,India

The present paper reports results of analysis of 14 genetic marker systems-ABO, MN, Rh, Hp, Tf, Cp, Alb, AcPH, PGM, LDH, MDH, Est-D, Hb and G-6-PD studied on a number of subjects of 9 endogamous groups of Maharashtra: Bhils, Katkaris and Pawaras, (all tribal groups); Deshastha Rigvedi and Chitpavan (two Brahmin groups); Nava Budhas (a scheduled caste); Chandrasenya Kayastha Prabhu and Marathas (two middle caste groups); and Parsis a migrant group from west Asia. Analysis of heterogeneity of gene frequencies reveal considerable heterogeneity for most of the loci among these groups.     

Crystal Structure and Mode of Helicase Binding of the C-Terminal Domain of Primase from Helicobacter pylori

To better understand the poor conservation of the helicase binding domain of primases (DnaGs) among the eubacteria, we determined the crystal structure of the Helicobacter pylori DnaG C-terminal domain (HpDnaG-CTD) at 1.78 Å. The structure has a globular subdomain connected to a helical hairpin. Structural comparison has revealed that globular subdomains, despite the variation in number of helices, have broadly similar arrangements across the species, whereas helical hairpins show different orientations. Further, to study the helicase-primase interaction in H. pylori, a complex was modeled using the HpDnaG-CTD and HpDnaB-NTD (helicase) crystal structures using the Bacillus stearothermophilusBstDnaB-BstDnaG-CTD (helicase-primase) complex structure as a template. By using this model, a nonconserved critical residue Phe534 on helicase binding interface of DnaG-CTD was identified. Mutation guided by molecular dynamics, biophysical, and biochemical studies validated our model. We further concluded that species-specific helicase-primase interactions are influenced by electrostatic surface potentials apart from the critical hydrophobic surface residues.     

Bilirubin clearance and antioxidant activities of ethanol extract of Phyllanthus amarus root in phenylhydrazine-induced neonatal jaundice in mice

The ability of ethanol extract of Phyllanthus amarus root (EEPA) to decrease bilirubin level and oxidative stress in phenylhydrazine-induced neonatal jaundice in mice was investigated. Administration of phenylhydrazine (75 mg/kg b.w.) significantly elevated total and unconjugated serum bilirubin level compared to control mice. EEPA (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg b.w., oral) dose-dependently reduced the bilirubin level. EEPA treatment also upregulated hepatic CAR and CYP3A1, accounting for its ability to facilitate bilirubin clearance. A single dose of EEPA (20 mg/kg b.w.) induced higher level of bilirubin clearance than phototherapy, widely used for treating neonatal jaundice. Furthermore, phenylhydrazine administration significantly increased MDA, protein carbonyl, and total thiol content and lowered the GSH level along with superoxide dismutase and catalase activity in erythrocyte compared to the control group. Single administration of EEPA (20 mg/kg b.w.) significantly reversed the trend. Presence of gallic acid, gentisic acid, and ortho-coumaric acid in EEPA was identified by HPLC analysis. Amongst these, the major phenolic constituent, gallic acid, exhibited significant bilirubin-lowering effect. These results suggested that P. amarus may be beneficial in reducing bilirubin level as well as oxidative stress in neonatal jaundice.     

Study of laccase production by Pleurotus ostreatus in a 5 l bioreactor and application of the enzyme to determine the antioxidant concentration of human plasma

Aims: To achieve high laccase production from Pleurotus ostreatus in a bench top bioreactor and to utilize the enzyme for determination of the total antioxidant concentration (TAC) of human plasma. Methods and Results: Laccase production by P. ostreatus studied in a benchtop bioreactor was as high as, 874·0 U ml^?1 in presence of copper sulfate. The enzyme was used to replace metmyoglobin and hydrogen peroxide for the estimation of TAC in human plasma. The trolox equivalent antioxidant concentrations determined by the laccase‐based method and metmyoglobin method ranged from 1·63 ± 0·011 to 1·80 ± 0·006 mmol l^?1 and from 1·41 ± 0·004 to 1·51 ± 0·008 mmol l^?1 plasma, respectively. Conclusions: Pleurotus ostreatus produced high amount of extracellular laccase in a benchtop bioreactor. The enzyme can be used to assay TAC of blood plasma without the interference encountered with the hydrogen peroxide and metmyoglobin mediated assay method. Significance and Impact of the Study: Laccase production by P. ostreatus obtained in this study was the highest among all reported laccase producing white‐rot fungi. Moreover, an accurate laccase‐based assay method was developed for detection of TAC in human plasma.     

Deep learning-based image processing in optical microscopy

Optical microscopy has emerged as a key driver of fundamental research since it provides the ability to probe into imperceptible structures in the biomedical world. For the detailed investigation of samples, a high-resolution image with enhanced contrast and minimal damage is preferred. To achieve this, an automated image analysis method is preferable over manual analysis in terms of both speed of acquisition and reduced error accumulation. In this regard, deep learning (DL)-based image processing can be highly beneficial. The review summarises and critiques the use of DL in image processing for the data collected using various optical microscopic techniques. In tandem with optical microscopy, DL has already found applications in various problems related to image classification and segmentation. It has also performed well in enhancing image resolution in smartphone-based microscopy, which in turn enablse crucial medical assistance in remote places.Graphical abstract