Circadian variations in peripheral levels of growth hormone and testosterone in male Murrah buffaloes

The aim of this study was to investigate the endocrine profiles of growth hormone (GH), testosterone and their interrelationship in prepubertal, pubertal and orchiectomised male Murrah buffaloes under starving conditions. The prepubertal and pubertal buffaloes were subjected to frequent blood sampling over 24 h at an interval of 1 h, whereas in orchiectomised buffaloes, the blood samples were collected over 18 h. Irrespective of group, the GH concentrations fluctuated in an episodic manner over 24 h and the fluctuations did not exhibit a consistent pattern between the animals of each group. The mean basal and peak concentrations of GH did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) among the groups. A significant (p > 0.0001) difference in testosterone concentrations was observed between prepubertal and pubertal groups. The differences in mean basal and peak testosterone concentrations between the prepubertal and pubertal groups were also significant (p < 0.01). The associations between testosterone and GH levels in both prepubertal (r = 0.15; p > 0.05) and pubertal (r = ?0.37; p > 0.05) buffaloes were non-significant. The possible reasons for erratic episodic pattern of GH secretion will be discussed.     

Effect of tannery sludge amendments on the activity of soil enzymes and phytoremediation potential of two economically important cultivars of geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)

A field experiment was conducted to observe the effect of TS amendments on soil enzymes and phytoremediation potential of two economically important cultivars of geranium. Different doses of TS were applied in soil to examine threshold limit of HMs where geranium cultivars can be grown successfully in contaminated sites. Treatment variation significantly affected pH, EC, OC, N, P, K and HM content in soil after 50 days of incubation. After harvest, both cultivars were examined to assess the impact of various treatments on their fresh herb, dry matter, essential oil yield and HM accumulation. C/G ratio close to 1 was observed at 50 tha^?1 sludge treatment in both cultivars. Urease and β-glucosidase activities in soil were maximum at 50 tha^?1 whereas dehydrogenase and phosphatase activities were maximum at 100 tha^?1 in both cultivars. β-glucosidase, acid and alkaline phosphatase, urease and dehydrogenase activities were relatively high after 85 days over 45 days in both cultivars. Maximum metal uptake was found in roots of cv. Bourbon followed by leaves. Geranium was observed to be a good candidate for phytoremediation as it mitigates metal toxicity by root absorption and cv. Bourbon is better candidate for the same.     

Virulence and pathogenicity of a Candida albicans mutant with reduced filamentation

Deletion of DNA polymerase eta (Rad30/Polη) in pathogenic yeast Candida albicans is known to reduce filamentation induced by serum, ultraviolet, and cisplatin. Because nonfilamentous C. albicans is widely accepted as avirulent form, here we explored the virulence and pathogenicity of a rad30Δ strain of C. albicans in cell‐based and animal systems. Flow cytometry of cocultured fungal and differentiated macrophage cells revealed that comparatively higher percentage of macrophages was associated with the wild‐type than rad30Δ cells. In contrast, higher number of Polη‐deficient C. albicans adhered per macrophage membrane. Imaging flow cytometry showed that the wild‐type C. albicans developed hyphae after phagocytosis that caused necrotic death of macrophages to evade their clearance. Conversely, phagosomes kill the fungal cells as estimated by increased metacaspase activity in wild‐type C. albicans. Despite the morphological differences, both wild‐type and rad30? C. albicans were virulent with a varying degree of pathogenicity in mice models. Notably, mice with Th1 immunity were comparatively less susceptible to systemic fungal infection than Th2 type. Thus, our study clearly suggests that the modes of interaction of morphologically different C. albicans strains with the host immune cells are diverged, and host genetic background and several other attributing factors of the fungus could additionally determine their virulence.     

Bovicins: The Bacteriocins of Streptococci and Their Potential in Methane Mitigation

Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins - Bovicin is a type AII lantibiotic, possessing two β-methyllanthionine and a disulfide bridge encoded by bovA gene hitherto unknown a couple of decades...     

CD1d degradation in Chlamydia trachomatis-infected epithelial cells is the result of both cellular and chlamydial proteasomal activity

Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular pathogen that can persist in the urogenital tract. Mechanisms by which C. trachomatis evades clearance by host innate immune responses are poorly described. CD1d is MHC-like, is expressed by epithelial cells, and can signal innate immune responses by NK and NKT cells. Here we demonstrate that C. trachomatis infection down-regulates surface-expressed CD1d in human penile urethral epithelial cells through proteasomal degradation. A chlamydial proteasome-like activity factor (CPAF) interacts with the CD1d heavy chain, and CPAF-associated CD1d heavy chain is then ubiquitinated and directed along two distinct proteolytic pathways. The degradation of immature glycosylated CD1d was blocked by the proteasome inhibitor lactacystin but not by MG132, indicating that degradation was not via the conventional proteasome. In contrast, the degradation of non-glycosylated CD1d was blocked by lactacystin and MG132, consistent with conventional cellular cytosolic degradation of N-linked glycoproteins. Immunofluorescent microscopy confirmed the interruption of CD1d trafficking to the cell surface, and the dislocation of CD1d heavy chains into both the cellular cytosol and the chlamydial inclusion along with cytosolic CPAF. C. trachomatis targeted CD1d toward two distinct proteolytic pathways. Decreased CD1d surface expression may help C. trachomatis evade detection by innate immune cells and may promote C. trachomatis persistence.     

High-frequency shoot multiplication in Artemisia vulgaris L. using thidiazuron

An in vitro propagation system for Artemisia vulgaris L., a traditional medicinal plant, has been developed. The best organogenic response, including adventitious shoot number and elongation, was obtained when hypocotyl segments were cultured onto MS medium supplemented with 4.54 μM TDZ (N-phenyl-N′-(1,2,3-thidiazol-yl) urea). Up to 28 shoots formed per explant for an optimal duration of exposure of 48 days. Regenerated shoots formed roots when subcultured onto a medium containing 8.56 μM IAA (indole-3-acetic acid). Healthy plantlets were transferred to a garden soil:farmyard soil:sand (2:1:1) mixture for acclimatization, which was successful, and subsequent maturity was achieved under greenhouse conditions over a six-month period. The survival rate of the plantlets varied under acclimatization. The regeneration protocol developed in this study provides a basis for germplasm conservation and for further investigation of medicinally active constituents of A. vulgaris. This optimized protocol has been successfully employed for genetic transformation studies in A. vulgaris, which are currently underway in our laboratory.     

Proteomic approach for identification and characterization of novel immunostimulatory proteins from soluble antigens of Leishmania donovani promastigotes

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania donovani is a major parasitic disease prevalent in endemic regions of Bihar in India. In the absence of good chemotherapeutic options, there is a need to develop an effective vaccine against VL which should be dependent on the generation of a T helper type 1 (Th1) immune response. We have shown that soluble proteins from promastigote of a new clinical isolate of L. donovani (2001) ranging from 68 to 97.4 kDa (F2 fraction), induce Th1 responses in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of cured Leishmania patients and hamsters and also showed significant prophylactic potential. To understand the nature of F2 proteins, it was further characterized using 2-DE, MALDI-TOF and MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS. In all, 63 spots were cut from a CBB stained gel for analysis and data was retrieved for 52 spots. A total of 33 proteins were identified including six hypothetical/unknown proteins. Major immunostimulatory proteins were identified as elongation factor-2, p45, heat shock protein (HSP)70, HSP83, aldolase, enolase, triosephosphate isomerase, protein disulfideisomerase and calreticulin. This study substantiates the usefulness of proteomics in characterizing a complex protein fraction (F2) map of soluble L. donovani promastigote antigen identified as Th1 stimulatory for its potential as vaccine targets against VL.     

Correction to: A review on the genus Populus: a potential source of biologically active compounds

Phytochemistry Reviews -