Immobilization of fungal spores on synthetic polymers

Adsorption of fungal spores on a synthetic polymer - High Density Polyethylene was successfully achieved using different pretreatments. Sonication of beads followed by ferric nitrate treatment or use of 0.1% tributyrin gave adsorption upto 46%. Use of dichloromethane as a solvent for sonication is recommended for its better performance in reuse studies (upto 5 times without much decrease in activity). 100 g of immobilized biocatabyst in a 7 L Fluidized Bed Bioreactor was found to perform better than shaker flask at a much lower power input.     

Ethanol-dependent oxygen consumption and acetaldehyde formation during vanadyl oxidation by H2O2

Sequential addition of vanadyl sulfate to a phosphate-buffered solution of H₂O₂ released oxygen only after the second batch of vanadyl. Ethanol added to such reaction mixtures progressively decreased oxygen release and increased oxygen consumption during oxidation of vanadyl by H₂O₂. Inclusion of ethanol after any of the three batches of vanadyl resulted in varying amounts of oxygen consumption, a property also shared by other alcohols (methanol, propanol and octanol). On increasing the concentration of ethanol, vanadyl sulfate or H₂O₂, both oxygen consumption and acetaldehyde formation increased progressively. Formation of acetaldehyde decreased with increase in the ratio of vanadyl:H₂O₂ above 2:1 and was undetectable with ethanol at 0.1 mM. The reaction mixture which was acidic in the absence of phosphate buffer (pH 7.0), released oxygen immediately after the first addition of vanadyl and also in presence of ethanol soon after initial rapid consumption of oxygen, with no accompanying acetaldehyde formation. The results underscore the importance of some vanadium complexes formed during vanadyl oxidation in the accompanying oxygen-transfer reactions.     

Prestige,possessions, and progeny

It has been suggested by some that the acquisition of symbolic capital in terms of honor, prestige, and power translates into an accumulation of material capital in terms of tangible belongings, and that on the basis of these goods high reproductive success may be achieved. However, data on completed fertility rates over more than one generation in so-called traditional societies have been rare. Ethnographic and demographic data presented here on the pastoral Bakkarwal of northern India largely corroborate the hypothesis concerning the interdependence between the attainment of various cultural goals and differential reproduction rates and indicate that the numbers of (especially male) surviving offspring and siblings are crucial to a man’s position in society.     

Design of EGFR kinase inhibitors: a ligand-based approach and its confirmation with structure-based studies

Three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) models were developed for 100 anilinoquinazolines, inhibiting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase. The studies included molecular field analysis (MFA) and receptor surface analysis (RSA). The cross-validated r2 (r2cv) values are 0.81 and 0.79 for MFA and RSA, respectively. The predictive ability of these models was validated by 28 test set molecules. The results of the best QSAR model were further compared with structure-based investigations using docking studies with the crystal structure of EGFR kinase domain. The results helped to understand the nature of substituents at the 6- and 7-positions, thereby providing new guidelines for the design of novel inhibitors.     

Tunable luminescence of a synthesized furophenanthraquinone derivative: interactions with different solvents

The synthesis is described of a luminescent furophenanthraquinone derivative, 9‐methoxyphenanthro[4,3‐b]furan‐4,5‐dione (MPFD). The biological importance of tetracyclic furophenanthraquinones was considered and the tunable luminescence of MPFD in different solvents was studied to explore the nature of the specific interactions between MPFD and solvents. Observation of dual emission bands and identical nature of the fluorescence excitation spectra of MPFD monitored at the emission wavelength in polar solvents indicated the formation of two different types of species in the excited state, probably due to proton transfer from the solvent to MPFD. Luminescence intensity due to anionic species was found to be increased and the corresponding peak was red shifted with increase in the proton‐donating ability of the solvents, acting as an acid with respect to MPFD. Availability of more acidic protons in the solvent facilitated this phenomenon occurring in the excited state. MPFD also interacted with halogen‐containing solvents by forming electron donor–acceptor charge transfer (CT) complexes. This CT complex formation was dependent on the number of chlorine atoms; the position of the corresponding luminescence band varied with the polarity of the solvent. Extent of the CT increased with increase in the number of chlorine atoms in the dichloro, trichloro and tetrachloro solvents, whereas the luminescence peak due to the CT complex was found to be blue shifted with decrease in solvent polarity. Interaction of the synthesized bioactive MPFD with different solvents deserves biological importance as proton transfer and CT play pivotal roles in biology.     

MicroRNA profiles in Sorghum exposed to individual drought or heat or their combination

Sorghum is largely grown for food, fodder and for biofuel production in semi-arid regions where the drought or high temperature or their combination co-occur. Plant microRNAs (miRNAs) are integral to the gene regulatory networks that control almost all biological processes including adaptation to stress conditions. Thus far, plant miRNA profiles under separate drought or heat stresses have been reported but not under combined drought and heat. In this study, we report miRNA profiles in leaves of sorghum exposed to individual drought or heat or their combination. Approximately 29 conserved miRNA families represented by 80 individual miRNAs, 26 families represented by 47 members of less conserved or sorghum-specific miRNA families as well as 8 novel miRNA families have been identified. Of these, 25 miRNAs were found to be differentially regulated in response to stress treatments. The comparative profiling revealed that the miRNA regulation was stronger under heat or combination of heat and drought compared to the drought alone. Furthermore, using degradome sequencing, 48 genes were confirmed as targets for the miRNAs in sorghum. Overall, this study provides a framework for understanding of the miRNA-guided gene regulations under combined stresses.

     

Gastrointestinal stress as innate defence against microbial attack

The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract has been bestowed with the most difficult task of protecting the underlying biological compartments from the resident commensal flora and the potential pathogens in transit through the GI tract. It has a unique environment in which several defence tactics are at play while maintaining homeostasis and health. The GI tract shows myriad number of environmental extremes, which includes pH variations, anaerobic conditions, nutrient limitations, elevated osmolarity etc., which puts a check to colonization and growth of nonfriendly microbial strains. The GI tract acts as a highly selective barrier/platform for ingested food and is the primary playground for balance between the resident and uninvited organisms. This review focuses on antimicrobial defense mechanisms of different sections of human GI tract. In addition, the protective mechanisms used by microbes to combat the human GI defence systems are also discussed. The ability to survive this innate defence mechanism determines the capability of probiotic or pathogen strains to confer health benefits or induce clinical events respectively.