Ion specificity of cardiac sarcolemmal Na+/H+ antiporter

In bovine cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles, an outward H+ gradient stimulated the initial rate of amiloride-sensitive uptake of 22Na+, 42K+, or 86Rb+. Release of H+ from the vesicles was stimulated by extravesicular Na+, K+, Rb+, or Li+ but not by choline or N-methylglucamine. Uptakes of Na+ and Rb+ were half-saturated at 3 mM Na+ and 3 mM Rb+, but the maximal velocity of Na+ uptake was 1.5 times that of Rb+ uptake. Na+ uptake was inhibited by extravesicular K+, Rb+, or Li+, and Rb+ uptake was inhibited by extravesicular Na+ or Li+. Amiloride-sensitive uptake of Na+ or Rb+ increased with increase in extravesicular pH and decrease in intravesicular pH. In the absence of pH gradient, there were stimulations of Na+ uptake by intravesicular Na+ and K+ and of Rb+ uptake by intravesicular Rb+ and Na+. Similarly, there were trans stimulations of Na+ and Rb+ efflux by extravesicular alkali cations. The data suggest the existence of a nonselective antiporter catalyzing either alkali cation/H+ exchange or alkali cation/alkali cation exchange. Since increasing Na+ caused complete inhibition of Rb+/H+ exchange, but saturating K+ caused partial inhibitions of Na+/H+ exchange and Na+/Na+ exchange, the presence of a Na(+)-selective antiporter is also indicated. Although both antiporters may be involved in pH homeostasis, a role of the nonselective antiporter may be in the control of Na+/K+ exchange across the cardiac sarcolemma.     

Molecular docking analysis of beta-catenin with compounds derived from Lycopersicon esculentum

Beta-catenin is linked with colorectal cancer (CRC). Therefore, it is of interest to design and develop novel compounds to combat CRC. Hence, we document compounds (chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, quercetin and vanillic acid) from Lycopersicon esculentum with optimal binding features for further consideration.     

Antifungal activity of nanoemulsion from Cleome viscosa essential oil against food-borne pathogenic Candida albicans

Pathogenic and spoilage fungi cause enormous challenges to food related fatal infections. Plant essential oil based classical emulsions can functions as antifungal agents. To investigate the antifungal spectrum, that is the scope of the nanoemulsion composed of Cleome viscosa essential oil and Triton-x-100 fabricated by ultrasonication method. Minimum inhibitory and fungicidal concentration of essential oil nanoemulsion (EONE) was tested against food borne pathogenic C. albicans. The MIC and MFC values ranged from 16.5 to 33 µl/ml with significant reduction on biofilm of C. albicans isolates. The alteration of molecular fingerprints was confirmed by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy and subsequent reduction of chitin levels in cell walls was noted by spectroscopic analysis. The EONE and their bioactive compounds cause collateral damage on C. albicans cells.     

Genome Wide Host Gene Expression Analysis in Chicken Lungs Infected with Avian Influenza Viruses

The molecular pathogenesis of avian influenza infection varies greatly with individual bird species and virus strain. The molecular pathogenesis of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) or the low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) infection in avian species remains poorly understood. Thus, global immune response of chickens infected with HPAI H5N1 (A/duck/India/02CA10/2011) and LPAI H9N2 (A/duck/India/249800/2010) viruses was studied using microarray to identify crucial host genetic components responsive to these infection. HPAI H5N1 virus induced excessive expression of type I IFNs (IFNA and IFNG), cytokines (IL1B, IL18, IL22, IL13, and IL12B), chemokines (CCL4, CCL19, CCL10, and CX3CL1) and IFN stimulated genes (OASL, MX1, RSAD2, IFITM5, IFIT5, GBP 1, and EIF2AK) in lung tissues. This dysregulation of host innate immune genes may be the critical determinant of the severity and the outcome of the influenza infection in chickens. In contrast, the expression levels of most of these genes was not induced in the lungs of LPAI H9N2 virus infected chickens. This study indicated the relationship between host immune genes and their roles in pathogenesis of HPAIV infection in chickens.     

1064 nm acoustic resolution photoacoustic microscopy

Photoacoustic imaging is a noninvasive imaging technique having the advantages of high‐optical contrast and good acoustic resolution at improved imaging depths. Light transport in biological tissues is mainly characterized by strong optical scattering and absorption. Photoacoustic microscopy is capable of achieving high‐resolution images at greater depth compared to conventional optical microscopy methods. In this work, we have developed a high‐resolution, acoustic resolution photoacoustic microscopy (AR‐PAM) system in the near infra‐red (NIR) window II (NIR‐II, eg, 1064 nm) for deep tissue imaging. Higher imaging depth is achieved as the tissue scattering at 1064 nm is lesser compared to visible or near infrared window‐I (NIR‐I). Our developed system can provide a lateral resolution of 130 μm, axial resolution of 57 μm, and image up to 11 mm deep in biological tissues. This 1064‐AR‐PAM system was used for imaging sentinel lymph node and the lymph vessel in rat. Urinary bladder of rat filled with black ink was also imaged to validate the feasibility of the developed system to study deeply seated organs.      

Mitochondrial DNA haplogroup ‘R’ is associated with Noonan syndrome of South India

Mutations in PTPN11 gene was responsible for ～50% of the Noonan syndrome (NS), however, we did not find any mutation in PTPN11 in any of seven NS patients analysed. Whereas, the complete mtDNA sequencing revealed 146 mutations, of which five, including one heteroplasmic (A11144R; Thr → Ala) non-synonymous mutation, were novel and exclusively observed in NS patients. Interestingly all the seven probands and their maternal relatives were clustered under a major haplogroup R and its novel sub-haplogroups (R7b1b, R30a1, R30c, T2b7, U9a1) exclusive in NS, therefore we strongly suggest that these haplogroups may influence NS in South Indian populations.     

Molecular docking of potential inhibitors with the mTOR protein

The mTOR (mammalian or mechanistic Target of Rapamycin) is linked with oral cancer. Therefore, it is of interest to study the molecular docking-based binding of paclitaxel (a FDA approved drug for oral cancer) and its analogues with mTOR. Hence, we report the binding features of 10-Deacetyltaxol, 7-Epi-10-deacetyltaxol, 7-Epi-Taxol and 6alpha-Hydroxypaclitaxel with mTOR for further consideration.