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Th9, a new subgroup of CD4+T cells is characterized by its specific cytokine IL-9, is a critical factor in allergic diseases, cancers and parasitic infections. This study aimed to explore the potential roles of Th9 cells in the immunopathogenesis of ECM. In splenocytes sourced from uninfected, Pb A and Py infected mice, Th9 cells were characterised by flow cytometry, cell sorting and qPCR. Enhancement of CD4+IL-9+ (Th9) cells were observed in both the infections, which corroborated with increased expression of the differentiating transcription factors. Moreover, crucial cytokine receptors (IL-4R, TGF-βR, IL-6R) as well as chemokine receptors (CCR3, CCR6 and CCR7) and activation marker (CD96), demonstrated elevation upon PbA infection in splenic Th9 cells. Furthermore, Neutralization of IL-9 along with IL-6 enhanced host survivability, reduced mean neurological score of ECM. However, anti- IL-9 treatment also down regulated frequency of Th17 cells, and its transcription factors pSTAT3, RORγT along with depleted Il-1β and Il-6 expression. In sum, understanding how IL-9 producing CD4+ T-cells can alter Th17/Treg ratio and by that modulate host's immune response, could pave the way for developing immunomodulatory interventions against cerebral malaria. [Display omitted] • Increased frequency of CD4+IL9+ cells (Th9) in peripheral circulation and spleen upon Pb A and P.yoelii infection. • Elevated expression of CD96 and IL-6R observed on splenic Th9 cells during Pb A infection. • Neutralization of IL-9 increased survivability and decrease disease severity during experimental cerebral malaria (ECM). • Anti-IL-9 treatment modulated Th17/Treg mediated immune balance and dampened aggressive pro-inflammatory immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengue infection has been one of the major public health concerns in India causing simple dengue fever (DF) to severe dengue infection. In the present study, contribution of TLR3, 7 and 8 polymorphisms towards dengue disease susceptibility and severity among Eastern Indian patients was analysed. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood of 201 dengue infected patients and 157 healthy individuals, followed by genotyping of eight polymorphisms of TLR3 (rs3775290), TLR7 (rs5741880, rs3853839, rs179008 and rs179010) and TLR8 (rs3764879, rs3764880 and rs5744080) genes by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Functional analyses of the polymorphisms were predicted. Genotypic association of polymorphisms, alone and in combination, with dengue disease susceptibility and development of WHO-defined warning signs among patients was calculated by using SPSS software. TLR7-rs179008 & TLR8-rs3764880 were implicated to be non-synonymous polymorphisms. Specific genotypes of majority of the analysed TLR polymorphisms exhibited significant positive association with disease susceptibility. CC/C and AA/A of TLR7-rs179008 (p < 0.0001) and TLR8-rs3764880 (p < 0.00001) respectively were significantly associated with development of warning signs among dengue infected patients. Particular genotypic combinations of rs3853839-rs5744080 and rs179008-rs3764880 increased the risk of dengue infectivity, whereas, presence of last combination was more prevalent among dengue patients with warning signs. Thus these polymorphic variants of TLR3, 7 and 8 might act as potential prognostic biomarkers for predicting disease severity among dengue virus infected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene carboxylic acid based polynorbornene nanocomposites were fabricated following simple synthetic protocol with different graphene loading. Polynorbornene ( PNDA ) was functionalized with hexamethylene diamine modified graphene carboxylic acid ( HXNG ) to form new hybrids: PNDHXNG1-3 . Formation of monomer ( NDA ) and PNDA were confirmed by standard analytical techniques. Covalent attachment between PNDA and HXNG was confirmed by IR, Raman and PXRD. Hybrids exhibited excellent solubility in DCM:MeOH (2:1). Increased thermal stability and enhanced value of T g of the hybrids, as compared to PNDA was evidenced from TGA, DTG, DTA and DMTA analysis. 69% increment in storage modulus was achieved in case of PNDHXNG3 . Almost 97%, 73% and 181% increment were observed in yield stress, stress at break and Young's modulus respectively in case of PNDHXNG3 . Improved thermal and mechanical properties were observed with increasing HXNG loading in PNDHXNG1-3 . Morphological studies revealed excellent miscibility between HXNG and PNDA in PNDHXNG s owing to improved thermal and mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular keratinase-producing strain Amycolatopsis sp. MBRL 40 exhibited antifungal activity against four important rice fungal pathogens and plant growth promoting traits such as indole 3-acetic acid (IAA) production and phosphate (P) solubilization. The strain could produce IAA in the degraded feather medium (3 µg/ml) and increased production was observed when the medium was supplemented with 0.2% tryptophan (7 µg/ml). The strain could solubilize significant amounts of tricalcium P (117 µg/ml). Rice seeds treated with MBRL 40 showed higher germination percentages and vigor indices, and enhanced seedling growth over control under gnotobiotic conditions. Under field conditions, rice plants grown in presence of dried hydrolysate pellet (P), hydrolysate filtrate (S) and feather hydrolysate with bioinoculant (B+F) exhibited significantly enhanced growth and higher number of tillers per plant over plants grown in the absence of urea (C-). However, P treated plants did not have enhanced growth in all the parameters in comparison to plants treated with S and B+F. Rice grown in presence of B+F was found to exhibit better growth over plants grown in presence of P and S. Rice grown in presence of urea (C+) and B+F showed similar levels of growth promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In this article, we have developed a new strategy to synthesize an organo-magnetic 3D crosslinked polymer material showing ferromagnetism. • Such material can be used to develop microelectronic devices, solid-state sensors, and a reaction catalyst. • Even such system can be used for the mineralization of industrial toxicants. • Moreover, oxides of cobalt (Co x O y) as the source for P-type semiconductors can play a significant role in the degradation of organic waste contaminants [40–41]. • Such 3D crosslinked polymer model can be molded into magneto rheological materials with scope for application in medical science as well as in seismology [42]. • Their utilization in the field of automobiles can be thought on the prospect of the future. We introduce a new strategy to grow a photo clicked norbornene based well dispersed organo-magnetic three dimensional (3D) crosslinked polymer PNOR-MAG. The magnetic monomer NOR-Co provides the opportunity towards the growth of dispersed Co x O Y magnetic units within PNOR-MAG. The material is investigated thoroughly using standard analytical techniques. The measured magnetic properties of PNOR-MAG reveal a change from diamagnetic to the ferromagnetic property upon annealing. Such water-resistive stable magnetic polymer has scope for its utilization as microelectronic devices related to data storage, act as solid-state sensors as well as a reaction catalyst. As magneto-rheological materials, such polymer can provide new scope for applications related to medical science as well as in seismology as a magnetic damper for resisting shock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of clinical disorders result from mutations in mitochondrial tRNA genes, leading to translational defects. We show here that a protein complex from the kinetoplastid protozoon Leishmania induces specific, ATP-dependent import of human cytoplasmic tRNA1Lys into human mitochondria in vitro. The imported tRNA undergoes efficient aminoacylation within the organelle and supports organellar protein synthesis. Moreover, translation in mitochondria from patients with myclonic epilepsy with ragged red fibers (MERRF) and Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS), containing mutant tRNALys genes, is stimulated to near-wild-type levels and the formation of aberrant polypeptides suppressed by complex-mediated import. These results suggest a novel way to introduce RNAs for the modulation of mitochondrial gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Splenic plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) possess the capability to harbor live replicative Plasmodium parasite. Isolated splenic pDC from infected mice causes malaria when transferred to naïve mice. Incomplete autophagic degradation might cause poor antigen processing and poor immune response. Induction of autophagic flux by rapamycin treatment led to better prognosis by boosting pDC centered immune response against the pathogen. Splenic pDC from rapamycin-treated infected mice, caused less parasitemia in naïve mice. The downregulation of adhesion with unaltered phagocytic potential of the cells post autophagic induction restricted excessive parasite burden within them. Rapamycin-treated pDC played a better role in antigen presentation. They showed higher expression of co-stimulatory molecules CD80, CD86, DEC205, MHCI. Rapamycin-treated pDC induced CD28 expression on CD8+ T cells and suppressed FasL level. This cells also influenced differentiation of effector, memory T cell population. The increase in IL10: TNFα ratio, Treg: Th17 ratio and lowering of myeloid DC: plasmacytoid DC ratio was observed. It shifted the overaggressive inflammation mediated Th1 pathway that is reported to incur host damage, to a better well-balanced cytokine profile exhibiting Th2 pathway. Autophagic flux induction within pDC proved to be beneficial in combating malarial pathogenicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of nanomaterials in agriculture has been extensively explored over the past decade leading to a wide ambit of nanoparticle-based agrochemicals. Metallic nanoparticles consisting of plant macro- and micro-nutrients have been used as nutritional supplements for plants through soil amendments, foliar sprays, or seed treatment. However, most of these studies emphasize monometallic nanoparticles which limit the range of usage and effectivity of such nanoparticles (NPs). Hence, we have employed a bimetallic nanoparticle (BNP) consisting of two different micro-nutrients (Cu & Fe) in rice plants to test its efficacy in terms of growth and photosynthesis. Several experiments were designed to assess growth (root-shoot length, relative water content) and photosynthetic parameters (pigment content, relative expression of rbcS , rbcL & ChlG etc.). To determine whether the treatment induced any oxidative stress or structural anomalies within the plant cells, histochemical staining, anti-oxidant enzyme activities, FTIR, and SEM micrographs were undertaken. Results indicated that foliar application of 5 mg L−1 BNP increased vigor and photosynthetic efficiency whereas 10 mg L−1 concentration induced oxidative stress to some extent. Furthermore, the BNP treatment did not perturb the structural integrity of the exposed plant parts and also did not induce any cytotoxicity. Application of BNPs in agriculture has not been explored extensively to date and this study is one of the first reports that not only documents the effectivity of Cu-Fe BNP but also critically explores the safety of its usage on rice plants making it a useful lead to design new BNPs and explore their efficacy. [Display omitted] • Cu-Fe bimetallic nanoparticle application promotes growth of rice seedlings. • Foliar application of BNP showed better photosynthetic efficiency. • Higher dose of BNP applied through root, induced oxidative stress. • BNP treatment led to a higher accumulation of Cu and Fe in plant tissue. • BNP treatment did not cause cytotoxicity or structural changes in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]