Biobased technologies for the efficient extraction of biopolymers from waste biomass

Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering - Regardless of considerable progress in synthetic plastic or polymer-based industry, its low biodegradability is a critical issue. Nevertheless, natural...     

Subtractive Proteome Analysis of Candida albicans Divulges Promising Antifungal Targets

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Candida albicans is the most common nosocomial systemic fungal infections causing high mortality/morbidity. Existing antifungal...     

Host phospholipase C-γ1 impairs phagocytosis and killing of mycobacteria by J774A.1 murine macrophages

Macrophages represent the first line of defense against invading Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). In order to enhance intracellular survival, Mtb targets various components of the host signaling pathways to limit macrophage functions. The outcome of Mtb infection depends on various factors derived from both host and pathogen. A detailed understanding of such factors operating during interaction of the pathogen with the host is a prerequisite for designing new approaches for combating mycobacterial infections. This work analyzed the role of host phospholipase C-γ1 (PLC-γ1) in regulating mycobacterial uptake and killing by J774A.1 murine macrophages. Small interfering RNA mediated knockdown of PLC-γ1 increased internalization and reduced the intracellular survival of both Mtb and Mycobacterium smegmatis (MS) by macrophages. Down-regulation of the host PLC-γ1 was observed during the course of mycobacterial infection within these macrophages. Finally, Mtb infection also suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 (RANTES) which was restored by knocking down PLC-γ1 in J774A.1 cells. These observations suggest a role of host PLC-γ1 in the uptake and killing of mycobacteria by murine macrophages.     

A computational modeling for the detection of diabetic retinopathy severity

Prolonged diabetes ultimately leads to Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) which is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness in theworld. Through advanced image analysis techniques are used for abnormalities detection in retina that define and correlate theseverity of DR. A thorough study is done in this area in recent past years and on the basis of these studies we have developed acomputer based prediction model that is used to determine the severity of DR. To identify severity DR, we have analyzed thehuman eye image. We have extracted some important features from human eye image i.e. Blood Artery, Optical disc, Exudates.Based on these image and data we have designed an automated system for the determination of DR severity. This automated DRseverity assessment methods can be used to predict the clinical case and conditions when young clinicians would agree or disagreewith their more experienced fellow members. The algorithms described in this study may be used in clinical practice to validate orinvalidate the diagnoses. Algorithms or method developed here may also be used for pooling diagnostic knowledge for servingmankind. Here we have described a computational based low cost retinal diagnostic approach which can aid an ophthalmologist toquickly diagnose the various stages of DR. This system can accept retinal images and can successfully detect any pathologicalcondition associated with DR.     

Inhibitors of CPH1-MAP Kinase Pathway: Ascertaining Potential Ligands as Multi-Target Drug Candidate in Candida albicans

A number of proteins contributing in pathogen’s virulence mechanisms offer a potential target for anticandidal therapeutics. CPH1 and its regulatory proteins Cst20, Hst7, Cek1 (MAPK cascade) administers filamentation and morphogenesis in human pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. These proteins are essential targets for their involvement in the successful establishment of the fungi within the host. In silico drug design using virtual screening, docking and (ADME)/Tox analysis for identification of lead compounds is an economic strategy for the development of potent anticandidal agent. The study divulged five persuasive ligands (2-O-prenyl coumaric acid, 2-nitro-4-methyl-cinnamaldehyde, 3,5-diprenyl-4-coumaric acid, VT1161, T-2307) out of 25, which collectively inhibited Cst20, Hst7, Cek1 in C. albicans. They can hence be used as natural drug leads for designing more effective inhibitors of multiple targets for C. albicans survival and progression of the disease. This study will enhance our understanding of the phenomenon “multiple targeting” and multi-target drug discovery further accelerating efficient broad-spectrum antifungal therapeutics development in near future. This study provides a good platform to eradicate the issue of “target shortage” that might facilitate the discovery of novel drugs in near future because the prolonged use of antibiotics over the years has transformed pathogenic fungus into resistant to many drugs.

     

Psychoneurochemical Investigations to Reveal Neurobiology of Memory Deficit in Epilepsy

Pentylenetetrazole-kindling induced memory deficit has been validated in our previous study. The present study attempts a neurochemical investigation to reveal possible targets for treatment of memory deficit associated with pentylenetetrazole-kindling. Kindling was induced by administering subconvulsive dose of pentylenetetrazole (35 mg/kg; i.p.) at an interval of 48 ± 2 h. Successfully kindled animals were divided into two groups (interictal and postictal group), while non-kindled (naive) animals served as naïve group. In postictal group, animals were challenged with pentylenetetrazole (35 mg/kg) on days 5, 10, 15 and 20. Learning and memory were evaluated in all experimental groups using elevated plus maze and passive shock avoidance paradigm on days 5, 10, 15 and 20. After behavioral evaluations on day 20, all animals were sacrificed to remove their brains. Neurochemical (glutamate, GABA, norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin) changes and acetylcholinesterase activity and total nitrite level were estimated using HPLC-FD methods and microplate reader method respectively, in discrete brain parts. The results of the neurochemical estimation demonstrated the imbalance in excitatory/inhibitory tone, reduction in monoamine level, elevated nitrosative and acetylcholinesterase activity in the cortex and hippocampus, as responsible factors for the pathobiology of learning and memory deficit in epilepsy. Restoration of these changes may be targeted for the management of memory deficit in epileptic patients.     

Rifampicin Increases Expression of Plant Codon-Optimized Bacillus thuringiensis δ-Endotoxin Genes in Escherichia coli

The Protein Journal - Transgenic crops expressing Cry δ-endotoxins of Bacillus thuringiensis for insect resistance have been commercialized worldwide with increased crop productivity and...