Wastewater: A Potential Bioenergy Resource

Wastewaters are a rich source of nutrients for microorganisms. However, if left unattended the biodegradation may lead to severe environmental hazards. The wastewaters can thus be utilized for the production of various value added products including bioenergy (H₂ and CH₄). A number of studies have reported utilization of various wastewaters for energy production. Depending on the nature of the wastewater, different reactor configurations, wastewater and inoculum pretreatments, co-substrate utilizations along with other process parameters have been studied for efficient product formation. Only a few studies have reported sequential utilization of wastewaters for H₂ and CH₄ production despite its huge potential for complete waste degradation.     

Formative effects of morphactin on the shoot apical meristem of flax (linum usitatissimum L.).

The effect of a morphactin -- CF1 -- (2-chloro-9-hydroxyfluorene-9-carbocylic acid-methyl ester) on the morphogenesis of shoot apical meristem was studied on L. usitatissimum L. at three levels of supply. CF1 at 10 and 100 parts/10(6) induced repeated gamophylly resembling a concentric cupulate structure. GA3 superimposed at two levels viz. 10 and 100 parts/10(6) did not reverse this effect. The effect of CF1 is dose-dependent and reversal to normal behaviour occurs when the effect of CF1 wears off.     

Lignans of Piper clusii

From the petrol extract of Piper clusii five lignans were isolated. One of the lignans (?)-clusin is assigned the structure (?)-2-furanol-4(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl) tetrahydro-3(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl) methyl. This is the first report of this compound from a natural source. Asaronaldehyde and sitosterol were also present.     

Molecular and cellular remodeling of HepG2 cells upon treatment with antitubercular drugs

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is an adverse outcome of the currently used tuberculosis treatment regimen, which results in patient noncompliance, poor treatment outcomes, and the emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis. DILI is primarily caused by the toxicity of the drugs and their metabolites, which affect liver cells, biliary epithelial cells, and liver vasculature. However, the precise mechanism behind the cellular damage attributable to first-line antitubercular drugs (ATDs), as well as the effect of toxicity on the cell survival strategies, is yet to be elucidated. In the current study, HepG2 cells upon treatment with a high concentration of ATDs showed increased perforation within the cell, cuboidal shape, and membrane blebbing as compared with control/untreated cells. It was observed that ATD-induced toxicity in HepG2 cells leads to altered mitochondrial membrane permeability, which was depicted by the decreased fluorescence intensity of the MitoRed tracker dye at higher drug concentrations. In addition, high doses of ATDs caused cell damage through an increase in reactive oxygen species production in HepG2 cells and a simultaneous reduction in glutathione levels. Further, high dose of isoniazid (50–200 mM), pyrazinamide (50–200 mM), and rifampicin (20–100 µM) causes cell apoptosis and affects cell survival during toxic conditions by decreasing the expression of potent autophagy markers Atg5, Atg7, and LC3B. Thus, ATD-mediated toxicity contributes to the reduced ability of hepatocytes to tolerate cellular damage caused by altered mitochondrial membrane permeability, increased apoptosis, and decreased autophagy. These findings further emphasize the need to develop adjuvant therapies that can mitigate ATD-induced toxicity for the effective treatment of tuberculosis.     

A peptide containing a novel FPGN CD40-binding sequence enhances adenoviral infection of murine and human dendritic cells.

CD40 is a receptor with numerous functions in the activation of antigen presenting cells (APCs), particularly dendritic cells (DC). Using phage display technology, we identified linear peptides containing a novel FPGN/S consensus sequence that enhances the binding of phage to a purified murine CD40-immunoglobulin (Ig) fusion protein (CD40-Ig), but not to Ig alone. To examine the ability the FPGN/S peptides to enhance adenoviral infection of CD40-positive cells, we used bifunctional peptides consisting of an FPGN-containing peptide covalently linked to an adenoviral knob-binding peptide (KBP). One of these, FPGN2-KBP, was able to enhance adenoviral infection of both murine and human DCs in a dose-dependent manner. FPGN2-KBP also improved infection of murine B cell blasts, a murine B lymphoma cell line (L10A), and immortalized human B cells. To demonstrate that enhancement of adenoviral infection depended on the presence of CD40, we analyzed infection of the breast cancer line, SKBR3, that does not express CD40 or the adenovirus cellular receptor, CAR. Infection of SKBR3 cells was enhanced by FPGN2-KBP following transient transfection with a plasmid vector that expresses murine CD40, but not when the cells were mock-transfected. In conclusion, we have isolated a peptide that binds to murine CD40, and promotes the uptake of adenoviruses into CD40-expressing cells of both murine and human origin, suggesting that it may have potential applications for antigen delivery to CD40-positive antigen-presenting cells.     

Germinating pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) seeds secrete factor(s) having antiethylene-like effects

Germinating pigeonpea seeds were found to release factor(s), which dramatically altered the growth pattern of rice seedlings. This included an increased sensitivity of roots to gravity, an increase in seminal root length, and increased density of branch roots on the seminal root and suppression of root hair formation. Furthermore, the known characteristic responses of rice to ethylene (namely, coleoptile growth promotion and induction of senescence) were inhibited by the presence of these factor(s). This altered growth pattern of rice seedlings was similar to that brought about by the ethylene-antagonist, silver nitrate. Further, the change in growth pattern in rice was specifically reversed by ethrel. In addition, in wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana these factors suppressed formation of root hair, the development of which is known to be promoted by ethylene. In contrast, in a mutant A. thaliana which shows constitutive ethylene response ( ctr1-1 ), the factors failed to inhibit root hair formation. These observations indicated that germinating pigeonpea seeds secrete factor(s), which have antiethylene-like effects.     

Physical characterization of a glucose-dehydrogenase-bearing plasmid from ketoacid-producingErwinia herbicola

Erwinia herbicola (ATCC 21998), a facultative anaerobe, has two plasmids: pVQ1 and pVQ2. Curing with mitomycin C indicated that pVQ2 was cryptic but pVQ1, a 7.4-kb plasmid, bears a 4.3SacI fragment which strongly hybridized to the C-terminal region of the glucose dehydrogenase gene ofAcinetobacter calcoaceticus. A restriction map of plasmid pVQ1 is presented.The authors are with the Department of Biotechnology, Regional Research Laboratory, Canal Road, Jammu Tawi-180 001, India;     

Azadirachtin: I-interaction with the development of red cotton bugs

Azadirachtin, a material isolated from Azadirachta indica A. Juss, was applied to various stages of red cotton bugs (Dysdercus koenigii F.). The phytochemical evoked various specific and nonspecific effects during the course of development. Prolonged development, wing deformities unplasticisation of wing lobes, development of wingless adults and larval mortality were the characteristic features.

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Azadirachtine d'Azadirachta indica I: Interaction avec de développement de Dysdercus koenigii

Résumé L'azadirachtine, isolat de Azadirachta indica A. Juss a été utilisée (par traitement du substrat ou par dépôt sur l'insecte) sur un hétérométabole, Dysdercus koenigii F. Cette substance phytochimique provoque divers effets, spécifiques ou non, pendant le développement.Les modifications caractéristiques sont: un développement prolongé, de déformations alaires, une absence de plastification des bourgeons alaires, une production d'adultes sans ailes et une mortalité nymphale.De tels résultats suggèrent des études complémentaires pour mettre en évidence une hormone d'éclosion chez D. koenigii avec laquelle interférerait l'azadirachtine.