Chemodiversity and α-Glucosidase Activity of Eucalyptus Species from Northwestern Himalaya,India

The aim of current work was to determine essential oils (EOs) composition from three Eucalyptus species, including E. citriodora, E. camaldulensis and E. globulus and assess their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. The EOs were collected using the hydrodistillation technique and characterized by GC/MS, GC-FID and NMR. The isolated EOs from leaves parts of Eucalyptus species varied from 0.56 to 1.0 % on fresh weight basis. The content of the EOs was distinct according to the species. The most abundant metabolites were identified as citronellal (0–83.0 %), 1,8-cineole (0.2–44.8 %), spathulenol (0.4–16.1 %) α-pinene (0.4–15.9 %), p-cymene (3.7–11.9 %), citronellol (0–8.6 %), β-eudesmol (5.3–8.6 %) and β-pinene (0–7.1 %). The EOs obtained from targeted samples exhibited strong α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. These results are encouraging and underline that the EOs of Eucalyptus species may be a promising alternative source of natural antidiabetic.     

Factors affecting the survival of Neospora caninum bradyzoites in murine tissues.

Studies were conducted to determine factors that influence the survival of bradyzoites of Neospora caninum within tissue cysts in the brains of experimentally inoculated mice. Viable tissue cysts were detected in the brains of mice inoculated 13 mo previously with either of 2 isolates (NC-1 or NC-2) of N. caninum. Bradyzoites within tissue cysts of the NC-2 isolate survived for at least 14 days at 4 C in refrigerated brain homogenates. Bradyzoites within tissue cysts of the NC-2 isolate also survived in the intact brain of a mouse carcass refrigerated at 4 C for 7 days. Bradyzoites within tissue cysts of the NC-3 isolate were killed by freezing at -20 C for 1 day.     

Metabolic burden as reflected by maintenance coefficient of recombinant Escherichia coli overexpressing target gene

Metabolic burden as a consequence of overexpression of target gene in a recombinant strain of E. coli 1727 has been analyzed with respect to maintenance energy coefficient (m). The values of m for the host, uninduced recombinant and IPTG induced recombinant were determined to be 0.12, 0.17 and 0.32 g.g^-1.h^-1 respectively. Transient plasmid instability and nearly 33% fall in maximum specific growth rate were observed under conditions of enhanced requirements for maintenance energy.     

Kraft black liquor for improving the productivity of Spirulina biomass

Summary Mass cultivation of Spirulina for commercial application suffers from poor productivity when measured against laboratory results or theoretical projections. Wider applications of algal products require that this gap be reduced. Addition of eucalyptus kraft black liquor at a maximum of 0.1% to Spirulina cultures enhanced biomass productivity by at least 40%. The factors enhancing Spirulina biomass productivity were insoluble at low pH, of low molecular mass and stable to high temperature. Single addition of kraft black liquor in outdoor continuous cultures afforded sustained enhancement in biomass productivity for at least eight weeks.     

Prevalence and isolation of Toxoplasma gondii from white-tailed deer in Alabama

Nineteen white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from 5 counties in Alabama were examined for infection with Toxoplasma gondii. Twenty-gram samples of heart tissue were bioassayed in mice, serum was examined for T. gondii antibodies using the direct agglutination test, and sections of heart muscle were examined histologically for tissue cysts. Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from 4 of 19 (21%) white-tailed deer hearts. Antibody titers of greater than or equal to 1:50 were found in sera from 7 of 16 (44%) white-tailed deer. Histological examinations of tissue sections from white-tailed deer hearts were negative for T. gondii.     

In vitro cultivation of Sarcocystis neurona from the spinal cord of a horse with equine protozoal myelitis

Asexual stages of Sarcocystis neurona were seen in cultured bovine monocytes (M617) inoculated with tissue homogenates from the spinal cord of a horse with naturally acquired protozoal myelitis. Organisms first were observed as intracytoplasmic schizonts and later as motile extracellular zoites capable of infecting surrounding M617 cells. Parasites most often occurred as clusters of merozoites dispersed throughout the host cell cytoplasm; however, schizonts also contained merozoites arranged in a radial fashion surrounding a prominent residual body. Schizonts divided by endopolygeny. The parasite has been maintained beyond 280 days in the laboratory by serial passage of infected M617 cells.     

Examination of tissue cyst formation by Toxoplasma gondii in cell cultures using bradyzoites, tachyzoites, and sporozoites

Tissue cyst formation by a goat isolate (GT-1) of Toxoplasma gondii was examined in bovine monocyte, human fetal lung, and Madin-Darby bovine kidney cell cultures. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and cat feeding studies indicated that tissue cysts were present in all 3 cell lines examined. Tissue cysts were first seen 3 days postinoculation (PI) using TEM. Standard cell culture procedures were used and no additional condition was needed to induce tissue cyst formation. Cats fed cell cultures excreted T. gondii oocysts in their feces 5-7 days PI. These oocysts caused lethal infections in mice. Tissue cysts were produced in cell cultures regardless if the initiating inoculum consisted of bradyzoites, sporozoites, or a mixture of bradyzoites and tachyzoites. Tissue cyst formation has been followed through 40 subpassages of infected cells. By TEM tissue cysts still were present after 40 passages, but when 40th-passaged cultures were fed to cats, oocytsts were not excreted. This indicates that the parasite had become oocystless after repeated passage in vitro.     

Sarcocystis neurona n. sp. (Protozoa: Apicomplexa), the etiologic agent of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis

Sarcocystis neuronan n. sp. is proposed for the apicomplexan taxon associated with myeloencephalitis in horses. Only asexual stages of this parasite presently are known, and they are found within neuronal cells and leukocytes of the brain and spinal cord. The parasite is located in the host cell cytoplasm, does not have a parasitophorous vacuole, and divides by endopolygeny. Schizonts are 5-35 microns x 5-20 microns and contain 4-40 merozoites arranged in a rosette around a prominent residual body. Merozoites are approximately 4 x 1 micron, have a central nucleus, and lack rhoptries. Schizonts and merozoites react with Sarcocystis cruzi antiserum but not with Caryospora bigenetica. Toxoplasma gondii, Hammondia hammondi, or Neospora caninum antisera in an immunohistochemical test.     

Post-transfusion malaria in thalassaemia patients

A total of 125 beta-thalassaemia patients receiving repeated blood transfusions were screened by Giemsa stain, Acridine-orange stain and antigen detection for evidence of malaria infection on each visit. A total of 8 (6.4%) of the patients developed post-transfusion malaria (PMT) as confirmed by tracing the infected blood donors. A high incidence of PTM in thalassaemia patients appears to be due to the use of fresh blood and the high frequency of blood transfusions required by these patients. Antigen detection using monoclonal antibody was found to be more sensitive for diagnosis of PTM and for screening suspected donors than the conventional blood smear examination methods and is therefore recommended for routine blood donor screening to rule out malaria infection.     

Mechanical Signaling on the Single Protein Level Studied Using Steered Molecular Dynamics

Efficient communication between the cell and its external environment is of the utmost importance to the function of multicellular organisms. While signaling events can be generally characterized as information exchange by means of controlled energy conversion, research efforts have hitherto mainly been concerned with mechanisms involving chemical and electrical energy transfer. Here, we review recent computational efforts addressing the function of mechanical force in signal transduction. Specifically, we focus on the role of steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations in providing details at the atomic level on a group of protein domains, which play a fundamental role in signal exchange by responding properly to mechanical strain. We start by giving a brief introduction to the SMD technique and general properties of mechanically stable protein folds, followed by specific examples illustrating three general regimes of signal transfer utilizing mechanical energy: purely mechanical, mechanical to chemical, and chemical to mechanical. Whenever possible the physiological importance of the example at hand is stressed to highlight the diversity of the processes in which mechanical signaling plays a key role. We also provide an overview of future challenges and perspectives for this rapidly developing field.