An overview of malaria transmission from the perspective of Amazon Anopheles vectors

In the Americas, areas with a high risk of malaria transmission are mainly located in the Amazon Forest, which extends across nine countries. One keystone step to understanding the Plasmodium life cycle in Anopheles species from the Amazon Region is to obtain experimentally infected mosquito vectors. Several attempts to colonise Ano- pheles species have been conducted, but with only short-lived success or no success at all. In this review, we review the literature on malaria transmission from the perspective of its Amazon vectors. Currently, it is possible to develop experimental Plasmodium vivax infection of the colonised and field-captured vectors in laboratories located close to Amazonian endemic areas. We are also reviewing studies related to the immune response to P. vivax infection of Anopheles aquasalis, a coastal mosquito species. Finally, we discuss the importance of the modulation of Plasmodium infection by the vector microbiota and also consider the anopheline genomes. The establishment of experimental mosquito infections with Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium yoelii and Plasmodium berghei parasites that could provide interesting models for studying malaria in the Amazonian scenario is important. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the development of the parasites in New World vectors is crucial in order to better determine the interaction process and vectorial competence.     

Sequence analysis and homology modeling of laccase from Pycnoporus cinnabarinus

Industrial effluents of textile, paper, and leather industries contain various toxic dyes as one of the waste material. It imparts major impact on human health as well as environment. The white rot fungus Pycnoporus cinnabarinus Laccase is generally used to degrade these toxic dyes. In order to decipher the mechanism of process by which Laccase degrade dyes, it is essential to know its 3D structure. Homology modeling was performed in presented work, by satisfying Spatial restrains using Modeller Program, which is considered as standard in this field, to generate 3D structure of Laccase in unison, SWISSMODEL web server was also utilized to generate and verify the alternative models. We observed that models created using Modeller stands better on structure evaluation tests. This study can further be used in molecular docking techniques, to understand the interaction of enzyme with its mediators like 2, 2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) and Vanillin that are known to enhance the Laccase activity.     

Population-based modeling of the progression of apoptosis in mammalian cell culture

The production of biopharmaceuticals from mammalian cell culture is hindered by apoptosis, which is the primary cause of cell death in these cultures. As a tool for optimization of culture yield, this study presents a population-based model describing the progression of apoptosis in a monoclonal antibody (mAb)-producing Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell culture. Because mAb production does not cease when apoptosis begins, the model was designed to incorporate subpopulations at various stages in the progression of apoptosis. The model was validated against intracellular measurements of caspase activity as well as cell density, nutrient levels, and toxic metabolites. Since the specific details of apoptotic mechanisms have not been elucidated in this cell line, we employed a model comparison analysis that suggests the most plausible pathways of activation.     

Anti-microfilarial activity of methanolic extract of Vitex negundo and Aegle marmelos and their phytochemical analysis

In the present study, methanolic extracts of roots of Vitex negundo L. and extracts of leaves of Vitex negundo L., Ricinus communis L. and Aegle marmelos Corr. were explored for possible antifilarial effect against Brugia malayi microfilariae. It was observed that among the herbal extracts, root extract of Vitex negundo L. and leaves extract of Aegle marmelos Corr. at 100 ng/ml concentration showed complete loss of motility of microfilariae after 48 hr of incubation. Thin layer chromatography of the extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponin and flavonoids in the roots of Vitex negundo L. and coumarin in the leaves of Aegle marmelos Corr.     

Elevated levels of urinary 17-ketosteroids in central Indian children residing near sewage treatment plant and solid waste disposal plant: A preliminary study

Urinary excretion of 17-ketosteroid (17-KS) was assessed in male pre-pubertal subjects aged (8–11 years; n = 90). Children living near sewage treatment plant and solid waste disposal plant (Group P) showed significantly higher levels of urinary 17-KS (Group P: 3.27 ± 1.63 µg/mL/CRE; p < 0.01) than children living in cleaner area (0.50 ± 0.53 µg/mL/CRE; Group C). Occurrence of urinary dibutyl phthalate in representative subjects of Group P (odds ratio: 9; p < 0.05; 95% of Confidence interval (CI) 1.93–72.99) was higher compared to Group C. Urinary concentrations of Cd (0.85 µg/g CRE ± 0.11), Mn (24.25 µg/g CRE ± 6.11) and Pb (12.39 µg/g CRE ± 2.86) in Group P were significantly (p < 0.01) higher than those found in Group C (Cd (0.28 µg/g CRE ± 0.03), Mn (13.33 µg/g CRE ± 3.20) and Pb (5.67 µg/g CRE ± 0.53)). Analyses of ambient air samples (PM₁₀) in polluted area revealed major occurrence of phthalates, whereas derivatives of trifluoromethyl, dione, etc. were identified in PM_2.5 fraction. Metal (Cd, Co, Mn and Pb) concentrations in ambient air (24 h, PM₁₀) were higher in polluted area compared to cleaner area. We conclude that elevated levels of urinary 17-KS in Group P could be attributed to higher exposure of these subjects to Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) compared to Group C.     

EvaGreen-based Multiplex Real-time PCR Assay for Rapid Differentiation of Wild-Type and Glycoprotein E-Deleted Bovine Herpesvirus-1 Strains

Bovine herpesvirus-1 (BoHV-1) is an important viral pathogen causing significant economic losses to the cattle industry. Glycoprotein E-deleted marker vaccines form the basis for BoHV-1 control programs widely, wherein detection and differentiation of wild-type and gE-deleted vaccine strains is of crucial importance for proper disease management. In the present study, we report an EvaGreen-based multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (EGRT-PCR) assay for rapid differentiation of wild-type and glycoprotein E-deleted strains of BoHV-1. The EGRT-PCR assay could simultaneously detect two viral genes (glycoprotein B and E) and an internal positive control gene (bovine growth hormone- bGH), in a single-tube reaction. The analytical sensitivity of the EGRT-PCR assay was as little as 10 copies of the BoHV-1 DNA per reaction. The modified real-time PCR assay could successfully differentiate wild-type and gE-deleted BoHV-1 strains based on gene specific melting temperatures (T_m) peaks. Our results have shown that the EGRT-PCR developed in this study might prove to be a promising tool in disease management by enabling rapid differentiation of wild-type and gE-deleted strains of BoHV-1.     

Genetic diversity of chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium vivax parasites from the western Brazilian Amazon

The molecular basis of Plasmodium vivax chloroquine (CQ) resistance is still unknown. Elucidating the molecular background of parasites that are sensitive or resistant to CQ will help to identify and monitor the spread of resistance. By genotyping a panel of molecular markers, we demonstrate a similar genetic variability between in vitro CQ-resistant and sensitive phenotypes of P. vivax parasites. However, our studies identified two loci (MS8 and MSP1-B10) that could be used to discriminate between both CQ-susceptible phenotypes among P. vivax isolates in vitro. These preliminary data suggest that microsatellites may be used to identify and to monitor the spread of P. vivax-resistance around the world.     

Synthesis,Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity of Pyrazole Based Sulfonamide Derivatives

A series of new sulfonamides have been synthesized from Ampyrone with different benzene sulfonyl chlorides to yield the N-1,5-dimethyl-3-oxo-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl) benzenesulfonamides (4a–e). All synthesized compounds were characterized on the basis of FTIR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR, and also by the aid of mass spectral data. Further, all synthesized compounds have studied for their in vitro antimicrobial activities against selected bacterial as well as fungal strains by the agar well diffusion method. Free radical scavenging activity has been investigated by using DPPH method. Among all the synthesized compounds, 4b, 4d, and 4e exhibited significant antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.     

Xylarinase: a novel clot busting enzyme from an endophytic fungus Xylaria curta

Xylarinase is a bi-functional fibrinolytic metalloprotease isolated from the culture filtrate of endophytic fungus Xylaria curta which is monomeric with a molecular mass of ～33.76?kDa. The enzyme displayed both plasmin and tissue plasminogen activator like activity under in vitro conditions. It hydrolyses Aα and Bβ chains of the fibrinogen. Optimal fibrinolytic activity of xylarinase is observed at 35?°C, pH 8. Ca²⁺ stimulated the fibrinolytic activity of xylarinase while Fe²⁺ and Zn²⁺ inhibited suggesting it to be a metalloprotease. The K_m and V_max values of xylarinase were 240.9?μM and 1.10?U/ml for fibrinogen and 246?μM and 1.22?U/ml for fibrin, respectively. Xylarinase was found to prolong the activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time. The N-terminal sequence of xylarinase (SNGPLPGGVVWAG) did not show any homology with previously known fibrinolytic enzymes. Thus xylarinase is a novel fibrinolytic metalloprotease which could be possibly used as a new clot busting enzyme.