1H, 13C, 15N assignments of the dimeric regulatory subunit (ilvN) of the E. coli AHAS I

Acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) is an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of the branched chain amino acids viz, valine, leucine and isoleucine. The activity of this enzyme is regulated through feedback inhibition by the end products of the pathway. Here we report the backbone and side-chain assignments of ilvN, the 22 kDa dimeric regulatory subunit of E. coli AHAS isoenzyme I, in the valine bound form. Detailed analysis of the structure of ilvN and its interactions with the catalytic subunit of E. coli AHAS I will help in understanding the mechanism of activation and regulation of the branched chain amino acid biosynthesis.     

Augmented Dried versus Cryopreserved Amniotic Membrane as an Ocular Surface Dressing

Purpose

Dried amniotic membrane (AM) can be a useful therapeutic adjunct in ophthalmic surgery and possesses logistical advantages over cryopreserved AM. Differences in preservation techniques can significantly influence the biochemical composition and physical properties of AM, potentially affecting clinical efficacy. This study was established to investigate the biochemical and structural effects of drying AM in the absence and presence of saccharide lyoprotectants and its biocompatibility compared to cryopreserved material.

Methods

AM was cryopreserved or dried with and without pre-treatment with trehalose or raffinose and the antioxidant epigallocatechin (EGCG). Structural and visual comparisons were assessed using electron microscopy. Localisation, expression and release of AM biological factors were determined using immunoassays and immunofluorescence. The biocompatibility of the AM preparations co-cultured with corneal epithelial cell (CEC) or keratocyte monolayers were assessed using cell proliferation, cytotoxicity, apoptosis and migration assays.

Results

Drying devitalised AM epithelium, but less than cryopreservation and cellular damage was reduced in dried AM pre-treated with trehalose or raffinose. Dried AM alone, and with trehalose or raffinose showed greater factor retention efficiencies and bioavailability compared to cryopreserved AM and demonstrated a more sustained biochemical factor time release in vitro. Cellular health assays showed that dried AM with trehalose or raffinose are compatible and superior substrates compared to cryopreserved AM for primary CEC expansion, with increased proliferation and reduced LDH and caspase-3 levels. This concept was supported by improved wound healing in an immortalised human CEC line (hiCEC) co-cultured with dried and trehalose or raffinose membranes, compared to cryopreserved and fresh AM.

Conclusions

Our modified preservation process and our resultant optimised dried AM has enhanced structural properties and biochemical stability and is a superior substrate to conventional cryopreserved AM. In addition this product is stable and easily transportable allowing it to be globally wide reaching for use in clinical and military sectors.     

Molecular and genomic studies of IMMP2L and mutation screening in autism and Tourette syndrome

We recently reported the disruption of the inner mitochondrial membrane peptidase 2-like (IMMP2L) gene by a chromosomal breakpoint in a patient with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS). In the present study we sought to identify genetic variation in IMMP2L, which, through alteration of protein function or level of expression might contribute to the manifestation of GTS. We screened 39 GTS patients, and, due to the localization of IMMP2L in the critical region for the autistic disorder (AD) locus on chromosome 7q (AUTS1), 95 multiplex AD families; however, no coding mutations were found in either GTS or AD patients. In addition, no parental-specific expression of IMMP2L was detected in somatic cell hybrids containing human chromosome 7 and human cell lines carrying a maternal uniparental disomy for chromosome 7 (mUPD7). Despite the fact that no deleterious mutations in IMMPL2 (other than the inverted duplication identified previously) were identified in either GTS or AD, this gene cannot be excluded as a possible rare cause of either disorder.     

Influence of malaria parasite (P. vivax) on erythrocyte aggregation: a study based on dynamic imaging and analysis

Malaria due to P. vivax (PV) is prevalent in many countries. The present work is aimed to determine the cell-cell interaction through formation of aggregates under dynamic conditions. Blood samples are obtained from patients (n=11) suffering from PV malaria, and the normal subjects (n=10) in test tubes containing citrate phosphate dextrose (10:1.4), as an anticoagulant. The signature analysis of infected erythrocytes shows significant alterations in their shape and membrane. For aggregation analysis, erythrocyte suspension in plasma at hematocrit 5%, was placed in a glass chamber and mounted vertically on the stage of the video-microscope system. The aggregate images thus acquired show erythrocytes adhering with each other to form mash-like structures. With increase in parasitaemia, the erythrocytes show hyper-aggregation compared to that of normal cells. By processing of the sequence of recorded images during sedimentation, the various aggregation parameters are obtained. These parameters show that the formed aggregates are compact which produce distinct changes in sedimentation pattern with significantly higher sedimentation velocity compared to that in healthy blood samples. These changes in malaria could partly be responsible for alteration in blood flow through microcirculatory system.     

Utilization of alkyne bioconjugations to modulate protein function

The ability to introduce or modify protein function has widespread application to multiple scientific disciplines. The introduction of unique unnatural amino acids represents an excellent mechanism to incorporate new functionality; however, this approach is limited by ability of the translational machinery to recognize and incorporate the chemical moiety. To overcome this potential limitation, we aimed to exploit the functionality of existing unnatural amino acids to perform bioorthogonal reactions to introduce the desired protein modification, altering its function. Specifically, via the introduction of a terminal alkyne containing unnatural amino acid, we demonstrated chemically programmable protein modification through the Glaser-Hay coupling to other terminal alkynes, altering the function of a protein. In a proof-of-concept experiment, this approach has been utilized to modify the fluorescence spectrum of green fluorescent protein.     

Bim-mediated apoptosis and PD-1/PD-L1 pathway impair reactivity of PD1(+)/CD127(-) HCV-specific CD8(+) cells targeting the virus in chronic hepatitis C virus infection

PD-1 molecule promotes anergy and IL-7 receptor (CD127) induces an anti-apoptotic effect on T cells. Correlation between PD-1/CD127 phenotype and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific CD8⁺ cell reactivity in resolved infection (RI) after treatment and persistent HCV-infection (PI) was analysed. Directly ex vivo, PD-1 and CD127 expression on HCV-specific CD8⁺ cells displayed a positive and negative correlation, respectively with viraemia. Proliferation after stimulation on PD-1⁻/CD127⁺ cells from RI cases was preserved, while it was impaired on PD-1⁺/CD127⁻ cells from PI patients. PD1⁺/CD127⁺ population was observed in PI, and these maintained expansion ability but they did not target the virus. Frequency of PI cases with HCV-specific CD8⁺ cell proliferation increased after anti-PD-L1 and anti-apoptotic treatment. Bim expression on HCV-specific CD8⁺ cells from PI patients was enhanced. In conclusion, during chronic HCV infection non-reactive HCV-specific CD8⁺ cells targeting the virus are PD-1⁺/CD127⁻/Bim⁺ and, blocking apoptosis and PD-1/PD-L1 pathway on them enhances in vitro reactivity.     

Global Spectrum of Copy Number Variations Reveals Genome Organizational Plasticity and Proposes New Migration Routes

Global spectrum of CNVs is required to catalog variations to provide a high-resolution on the dynamics of genome-organization and human migration. In this study, we performed genome-wide genotyping using high-resolution arrays and identified 44,109 CNVs from 1,715 genomes across 12 populations. The study unraveled the force of independent evolutionary dynamics on genome-organizational plasticity across populations. We demonstrated the use of CNV tool to study human migration and identified a second major settlement establishing new migration routes in addition to existing ones.     

Staff Perception on Biomedical or Health Care Waste Management: A Qualitative Study in a Rural Tertiary Care Hospital in India

Background

Health care or biomedical waste, if not managed properly, can be of high risk to the hospital staff, the patients, the community, public health and the environment, especially in low and middle income settings where proper disposal norms are often not followed. Our aim was to explore perceptions of staff of an Indian rural tertiary care teaching hospital on hospital waste management.

Method

A qualitative study was conducted using 10 focus group discussions (FGDs), with different professional groups, cleaning staff, nurses, medical students, doctors and administrators. The FGD guide included the following topics: (i) role of Health Care Waste Management (HCWM) in prevention of health care associated infections, (ii) awareness of and views about HCWM-related guidelines/legislation, (iii) current HCWM practices, (iv) perception and preparedness related to improvements of the current practices, and (v) proper implementation of the available guidelines/legislation. The FGDs were recorded, transcribed verbatim, translated to English (when conducted in Hindi) and analysed using content analysis.

Results

Two themes were identified: Theme (A), ‘Challenges in integration of HCWM in organizational practice,’ with the categories (I) Awareness and views about HCWM, (II) Organizational practices regarding HCWM, and (III) Challenges in Implementation of HCWM; and Theme (B), ‘Interventions to improve HCWM,’ with three categories, (I) Educational and motivational interventions, (II) Organizational culture change, and (III) Policy-related interventions.

Conclusion

A gap between knowledge and actual practice regarding HCWM was highlighted in the perception of the hospital staff. The participants suggested organizational changes, training and monitoring to address this. The information generated is relevant not merely to the microsystem studied but to other institutions in similar settings.