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Pulmonary sequestration also called as bronchopulmonary sequestration is a rare congenital anomaly. It is defined as a mass of dysplastic lung tissue which has no connection with the main bronchopulmonary tree and is supplied by a branch of systemic artery and drainage by the separate venous system. It can be classified into intralobar and extralobar variety, with intralobar being more common. Its incidence is around 1 per 8300 to 35000, and it constitutes about 0.15–6.4% of all congenital lung anomalies. It generally involves lower lobes with the left lobe being more common than the right. It is an uncommon entity and rarely reported in literature for lingula. Its distribution is equal in gender distribution except for extralobar variety which has a male preponderance. It generally presents with recurrent pneumonia and hemoptysis. Here, we describe a very rare case of intralobar lingular sequestration in a patient who presented with recurrent chest infections and was managed with segmentectomy.

Several authors of late have contributed significantly towards developing mathematical models for selecting the best possible team from a host of players in different team sports, including cricket. The performance of cricketers on the different skill sets of the game, such as batting, bowling, and fielding, is considered for selecting optimum teams. Most of these mathematical models are divided into two parts. The first part tells about a method that can quantify the performance of cricketers, and the second part tells about a method that can select a squad of players from a more extensive collection of players based on the value of their performance, taking into consideration the different constraints of team selection and expertise of players. The teams formed through different methods cannot be made to play against each other, so there is no direct way to find out which method delivers the best team. Also, no competition between optimum teams obtained through different methods was ever performed in the absence of objective methodology for such comparison. This paper attempts to compare different team selection methods and identify the best mathematical model for team selection in cricket using the fantasy league scoring system.

As a heterogeneous hydrogel, mucus has evolved into a formidable physiological barrier protecting the human body from external pathogens and toxic molecules. With mucin as its primary solid component, the viscoelasticity of mucus remains dynamic and dependent upon a plethora of factors, including pathological state, food intake, and infection. Current nanomedicine research strives toward developing nanoformulations that can permeate through the mucus barrier and release the encapsulated cargo of drug molecules at the vicinity of epithelial lining or be directly absorbed into the bloodstream. However, it is difficult to mimic mucus in vitro while the ex vivo models remain inadequate or incompatible with many established microscopic platforms. The UCD School of Veterinary Medicine has a rich legacy of working with porcine gut mucus as an experimental model, while some interesting and innovative ideas were developed by researchers here to address these challenges. This article presents a snapshot of those ideas and life hacks that the author wishes to share with the nanomedicine research community.

Root nodule symbiosis (RNS) is the pillar behind sustainable agriculture and plays a pivotal role in the environmental nitrogen cycle. Most of the genetic, molecular, and cell-biological knowledge on RNS comes from model legumes that exhibit a root-hair mode of bacterial infection, in contrast to the Dalbergoid legumes exhibiting crack-entry of rhizobia. As a step toward understanding this important group of legumes, we have combined microscopic analysis and temporal transcriptome to obtain a dynamic view of plant gene expression during Arachis hypogaea (peanut) nodule development. We generated comprehensive transcriptome data by mapping the reads to A. hypogaea, and two diploid progenitor genomes. Additionally, we performed BLAST searches to identify nodule-induced yet-to-be annotated peanut genes. Comparison between peanut, Medicago truncatula, Lotus japonicus, and Glycine max showed upregulation of 61 peanut orthologs among 111 tested known RNS-related genes, indicating conservation in mechanisms of nodule development among members of the Papilionoid family. Unlike model legumes, recruitment of class 1 phytoglobin-derived symbiotic hemoglobin (SymH) in peanut indicates diversification of oxygen-scavenging mechanisms in the Papilionoid family. Finally, the absence of cysteine-rich motif-1-containing nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptide (NCR) genes but the recruitment of defensin-like NCRs suggest a diverse molecular mechanism of terminal bacteroid differentiation. In summary, our work describes genetic conservation and diversification in legume–rhizobia symbiosis in the Papilionoid family, as well as among members of the Dalbergoid legumes. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .

Purpose The prsA and vraTSR regulatory systems play a unique role in methicillin resistance by modifying the peptidoglycan cell wall PBP2 and involving cell wall stress response in Staphylococcus aureus. This study was designed to observe the transcriptional response of prsA and vraTSR system under oxacillin stress in S.aureus. Methods In this study, three clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and a laboratory strain were examined. All the isolates were tested for mecA gene by PCR assay and were also tested for prsA, vraT, vraS and vraR gene. The transcriptional responses of the prsA gene along with the vraTSR regulatory system in these isolates was observed under normal conditions and exposed to 2 ​μg/ml and 4 ​μg/ml of oxacillin stress by quantitative real-time PCR assay. Results The result of transcriptional analysis confirmed that under oxacillin stress, the expressions of vraS and vraT are increased with the increase in the concentration of oxacillin. However, prsA has shown no significant expression under oxacillin stress. Conclusion Although prsA did not show any specific expressional pattern, the study highlights the role of vraS and vraT regulatory system in conferring a methicillin-resistant phenotype when exposed to subinhibitory concentrations of oxacillin, which could act as a potential target for the next-generation antimicrobials.

Differentiation of Crohn’s disease (CD) from intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) is a big challenge to gastroenterologists because of their indistinguishable features and insensitive diagnostic tools. A non-invasive biomarker is urgently required to distinguish ITB/CD patients particularly in India, a TB endemic region, where CD frequency is increasing rapidly due to urbanization. Among the three differentially expressed miRNAs obtained from small RNA transcriptomic profiling of ileocaecal/terminal ileal tissue of ITB/CD patients (n = 3), only two down-regulated miRNAs, miR-31-5p, and miR-215-5p showed comparable data in qRT-PCR. Out of which, only miR-215-5p was detectable in the patient’s plasma, but there was no significant difference in expression between ITB/CD. On the other hand, miR-375-3p, the pulmonary TB specific marker was found in higher amount in the plasma of ITB patients than CD while reverse expression was observed in the ileocaecal/terminal ileal tissues of the same patients. Next, using Bioplex pro-human cytokine 48-plex screening panel, only three chemokines, Eotaxin-1/CCL11, SDF-1α/CXCL12, and G-CSF have noted significantly different levels in the serum of ITB/CD patients. ROC analysis has revealed that compared to a single molecule, a combination of miR-375-3p + Eotaxin-1/CCL11 + SDF-1α /CXCL12 + G-CSF showed a better AUC of 0.83, 95% CI (0.69–0.96) with 100% specificity and positive predictive value while sensitivity, negative predictive value, and accuracy were 56%, 69%, and 78% respectively in distinguishing ITB from CD. This study suggests that a combination of plasma markers shows better potential in differentiating ITB from CD than a single marker and this panel of markers may be used for clinical management of ITB/CD patients.

Abstract: Garcinia pedunculata Roxb.(GP) belongs to the family of Clusiaceae and is an evergreen tree that grows in semi-wild conditions and is widely distributed throughout the Northeastern part of India. Traditionally, this plant is believed to be of immense medicinal importance and is used for the treatment of various ailments. In Assam, the acidic fruit of GP is effectively used in folklore medicine to treat gastrointestinal disorders and is an integral part of ethnic Assamese cuisine. The ripe fruit, seldom consumed fresh or raw, is cut into thin slices, sun-dried for preservation as it is believed that the medicinal property of the fruit increases as it ages. With much traditional claims and beliefs regarding the medicinal properties of this plant, many therapeutic potentials of GP have been explored through research till now, including its antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anthelmintic, hypolipidemic, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and nephroprotective properties. Moreover, the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids along with bioactive components like hydroxycitric acid, garcinol, and cambogin have also been reported from this plant, thereby increasing its research avenues. Even with the available knowledge, there is a huge lacking in the understanding of its underlying molecular mechanism responsible for the therapeutic properties, pharmacological mode of action, and its effect in different pathological conditions, along with detailed information about its chemical composition. This review mainly aims to summarise the potentially beneficial properties of GP that have already been reported, along with identifying the new avenues that still need to be addressed, thereby increasing the future prospect for in-depth research on this plant, along with its distribution and conservation status.

Streptococcus uberis is a predominant pathogen in both clinical and subclinical varieties of bovine mastitis. The genetic and evolutionary relationships among S. uberis strains from different countries are poorly understood. In this paper we used S. uberiss multilocus sequence typing (MLST) method of genotyping to decipher the prevalence of sequence types (STs) and ST complexes by country and infection level, to delineate genetic relationships among prominent STs and ST complexes. Dataset collected from PubMLST database for S. uberis were subjected to clonal cluster and phylogenetic analyses using BURST, globally optimized eBURST (goeBURST) and neighborhood joining algorithm tools, respectively. Certain countries showed clear trends of strain prevalence whereas others had a more equally weighted, diverse population. Occurrence of different severities of disease varied among countries and displayed no direct correlation with sequence type (ST). Clonal cluster and phylogenetic analyses predicted the ancestral roles of certain prominent STs and indicated possible strain migration and reticulate and convergent evolution occurring within the S. uberis population at a global scale. Genome comparison of selected strains revealed the absence of SUB0822-SUB0826 response regulator proteins from ST-5 and ST-6 indicating their preference for contagious transmission. In conclusion, the findings of this study uncovered the global evolutionary dynamics of S. uberis and showed that the study of ST and ST complexes can be a useful technique in understanding prevalence patterns and clonal propagation of S. uberis isolates. Information generated from such studies would be crucial for monitoring infection outbreaks and directing further genomic investigations. [ J Adv Biotechnol Exp Ther 2021; 4(3.000): 311-321]

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifactorial endocrinopathy of indistinguishable etiopathogenesis that is liable to entail genetic and environmental machinery synergistically interacting with its phenotypic expression. It has been hypothesized that the environment secondarily interacts with genes to define the quantifiable phenotype in a primary, genetically determined, hyper-androgenic ovarian defect. The severity and prevalence of the disease are escalating due to uncontrolled diet and lifestyle, the influence of multiple environmental factors as well as genetic disorders. Many candidate genes have been identified to be one of the causes of PCOS. Different studies have been carried out to find the genetic correlation of PCOS. The mutational landscape analysis scans the entire genes for SNPs which usually occurs more frequently in patients and not in healthy individuals. In this study, an extensive computational analysis of all reported nsSNPs of the 27 selected PCOS-related genes was performed to infer the most pathogenic forms associated with PCOS. As a result, 28 genetic variants from 11 genes were predicted to be most harmful. Results of the present study can be useful for building an integrative genotype-phenotype database for further studies.

Cerebrovascular dysfunction is a common phenomenon in Alzheimer's patients, where fibrinogen is a major player. With the blood-brain barrier compromised, fibrinogen gains access to the brain, where its interaction with Aβ42 results in plasmin-resistant abnormal blood clots that are deposited in the cerebral blood vessels, a condition commonly encountered in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients called cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). So far, there have been no effective therapeutics available to combat AD-associated CAA. This study reports a 13-amino acid peptide (Pα-NPGRPEPGSAGTW) as a potential inhibitor of the fibrin-Aβ42 interaction along with the property to dissolve pre-existing plasmin-resistant abnormal clots. Strikingly, the identified sequence was found to be partially similar to a fragment of the fibrinogen α-chain reported to bind Aβ42, the plasmin-resistant fibrinogen fragment (PRFF). Mechanistically, Pα interacts with Aβ42 in place of fibrinogen, thus inhibiting the toxic fibrin-Aβ42 interaction. However, it does not interfere with normal fibrin polymerization.

Frequent outbreaks of harmful algal blooms (HABs) have brought adverse impacts on human health, economic viability, and recreational activities in many communities in the United States. Cyanobacteria (or blue-green algae) blooms are the most common type of HABs in surface water. Current bactericides for controlling the blooms are disadvantageous due to the recycling difficulty. In this study, an innovative magnetic nanomaterial-γFe2 O3 /TiO2 nanoparticle-was used to inactivate toxic cyanobacteria species found in a lake in Southern Illinois that frequently experienced HABs. Cyanotoxin genes of mcy, nda, cyr, and sxt were used for targeting microcystin-, nodularin-, cylindrospermopsin-, and saxitoxin-producing cyanobacteria, respectively, by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. It was found that the concentration of chlorophyll a presents a strong correlation (R2 = 0.6024) with the gene copy obtained from 16S rRNA targeted for all cyanobacteria, but not with that from individual toxigenic cyanobacteria. The inactivation efficiencies of the nanomaterials under visible light were as high as 5-log and 1-log for cyanobacteria species containing mcyE/ndaF and sxtA genes, respectively, an improvement over the treatment under darkness. These nanomaterials can be recycled by their magnetic properties for reuse. Communities susceptible to HAB outbreaks are expected to benefit from the developed method for mitigating the blooms. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Lab-made γFe2 O3 /TiO2 nanoparticles can be used to inactivate microcystin/nodularin- and saxitoxin-producing cyanobacteria species. qPCR method can be used for targeting toxic cyanobacteria; Chl a cannot be used as a standalone indicator for HABs. Better inactivation efficiency under visible light indicated possible application of the technology under sunlight for HAB mitigation from surface water.

Background We assessed the humoral immune response of both ChAdOx1-nCOV (CovishieldTM) and BBV-152 (CovaxinTM) vaccines in Indian health care workers (HCW). Methods A Pan-India, Cross-sectional, Coronavirus Vaccine-induced Antibody Titre (COVAT) study was conducted that measured SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike binding antibody quantitatively, 21 days or more after the first and second dose of two vaccines in both severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) naive and recovered HCW. Primary aim was to analyze antibody response (seropositivity rate, Geometric Mean Titre [GMT] and 95% Confidence Interval [CI]) following each dose of both vaccines and its correlation to age, sex, blood group, body mass index (BMI) and comorbidities. Here we report the results of anti-spike antibody response after first and two completed doses. Results Among the 515 HCW (305 Male, 210 Female) who took two doses of both vaccines, 95.0% showed seropositivity to anti-spike antibody. However, both seropositivity rate and GMT (95% CI) of anti-spike antibody was significantly higher in Covishield vs. Covaxin recipients (98.1 vs. 80.0%; 129.3 vs. 48.3 AU/mL; both p 60-years, males, people with any comorbidities, and history of hypertension (HTN) had a significantly less anti-spike antibody GMT compared to age ≤ 60 years, females, no comorbidities and no HTN respectively, after the completion of two doses of either vaccine. Gender, presence of comorbidities, and vaccine type were independent predictors of antibody seropositivity rate and anti-spike antibody titre levels in multiple logistic and log transformed linear regression analysis. Both vaccine recipients had similar solicited mild to moderate adverse events and none had severe or unsolicited side effects. Conclusions Both vaccines elicited good immune response after two doses, although seropositivity rates and GMT of anti-spike antibody titre was significantly higher in Covishield compared to Covaxin recipients.

Dengue is a vector-borne viral disease caused by the flavivirus dengue virus (DENV). Approximately 400 million cases and 22 000 deaths occur due to dengue worldwide each year. It has been reported in more than 100 countries in tropical and subtropical regions. A positive-stranded enveloped RNA virus (DENV) is principally transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. It has four antigenically distinct serotypes, DENV-1 to DENV-4, with different genotypes and three structural proteins and seven non-structural proteins. Clinical symptoms of dengue range from mild fever to severe dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) or dengue shock syndrome (DSS), with thrombocytopenia, leucopenia, and increased vascular permeability. Although primary infection causes activation of immune responses against DENV serotypes, the severity of the disease is enhanced via heterotypic infection by various serotypes as well as antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE). The first licensed DENV vaccine was tetravalent CYD Denvaxia, but it has not been approved in all countries. The lack of a suitable animal model, a proper mechanistic study in pathogenesis, and ADE are the main hindrances in vaccine development. This review summarizes the current knowledge on DENV epidemiology, biology, and disease aetiology in the context of prevention and protection from dengue virus disease.

Meningioangiomatosis (MA) is a rare process at the intersection of cerebral developmental and neoplastic disorders that often results in epilepsy. We evaluated molecular alterations in MA to characterize its biology and pathogenesis. We searched a comprehensive institutional database for patients with MA treated between 2004 and 2019. Demographic, clinical, surgical, and radiographical data were collected. MA and associated meningioma tissues were evaluated using a next-generation sequencing assay interrogating 1425 cancer-related genes. We studied 5 cases: 3 with MA and 2 with MA associated with a meningioma. Of the MAs associated with a meningioma, 1 had deletions in the NF2 gene in both the MA and the meningioma components, whereas the other had an NF2 deletion in only the MA component. Additional mutations were identified in the MA components, suggesting that MA arises from the meningioma rather than the meningioma resulting from a transformation of the MA. The 3 cases of pure MA showed variants of unknown significance with no alterations in known oncogenic drivers. Our findings provide a starting point to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of this rare lesion. Our study indicates that MA-meningiomas have a neoplastic nature that differs from the hamartomatous/developmental nature of pure MA.

Annona reticulate (AR) is indigenous to the tropical areas of India and worldwide. The use of plant as remedy for diarrhea and ulcer is well documented in Ayurvedic system of medicine. However, pharmacological evidence does not exist to substantiate its therapeutic efficacy for the same. The aim was to investigate the antiulcer and anti-diarrheal activity of methanolic (ME) and aqueous extracts (AE) of A. reticulate in animal model. The antiulcer activity of extracts was investigated using ethanol and pylorus ligation-induced ulcer. The anti-diarrheal activity of MEAR and AEAR extracts was evaluated by castor oil induced diarrhea and gastro intestinal motility using parameters such as onset of diarrhea, number of wet stools, total number of stool and weight of total number of stools. The antiulcer activity of the extracts was confirmed by a reduction in ulcer index along with the decrease in gastric volume, total acidity, and an increase in pH of gastric content in both the models. A. reticulate extracts were more efficacious in reducing number of total stools in both the models of diarrhea and showed a dose-dependent antidiarrheal effect. The obtained results have established a pharmacological evidence for the folkloric use of the A. reticulate as antiulcer and antidiarrhoeal agent.

AIMS The research is aimed at developing an economic and sustainable growth medium using abundantly available and highly nutritive agro-industrial waste soybean meal as the substrate for the production of violacein by Chromobacterium violaceum. METHODS AND RESULTS Violacein produced using soybean meal medium was compared with the commercial complex growth media. Upon utilization of 2% w/v soybean meal (SM2 ) medium, 496 mg/L crude violacein was achieved after 48-hr incubation time, which was 1.62-fold higher than the crude violacein produced in Luria-Bertani (LB) broth. Additionally, supplementation of 100 mg/L L-tryptophan to 1% and 2% w/v soybean meal (SMT1 and SMT2 ) medium yielded 1217 mg/L (3.96-fold higher as compared to LB) and 1198 mg/L (3.90-fold higher as compared to LB) crude violacein respectively. Optimization of culture conditions and concentration of L-tryptophan using Box-Behnken design (BBD) model produced as high as 1504.5 mg/L crude violacein. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest crude violacein produced to date using agro-industrial-based waste as a substrate with minimal supplementation in a shake flask. CONCLUSIONS The study signifies the potentiality of soybean meal as a cost-effective growth medium for the production of violacein. Optimization of the fermentation parameters clearly demonstrated a surge in violacein production. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Utilization of soybean meal as an alternative to the expensive commercial media would surely promote the large-scale synthesis of this multifaceted compound.

The interactions between liquid crystal (LC) 4´-pentyl-4-biphenylcarbonitrile and protein bovine serum albumin are investigated to develop an LC-based biosensor. Various techniques, such as polaris...

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by inflammation mediated angiogenesis in synovial tissue, leading to apoptotic retardation and enhanced cell survival in synovial fibroblasts. Methotrexate (MTX) can reduce selective pro-inflammatory cytokines but unable to restore disrupted homeostasis between autophagy and apoptosis in fd-FLS.Objective: To evaluate the effect of black tea compound TF3 along with MTX upon fluid derived (fd)-FLS to induce apoptosis and inhibit autophagy through ER stress-mediated pathways.Methods: FLS sourced from synovial fluid (SF) of patients with RA (n=11) and osteoarthritis (OA) (n=10) were cultured following treatment with MTX/TF3 or in combination and underlying mechanisms were investigated. Extracellular inflammatory markers like CRP and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6), angiogenic markers (VEGF, ANG-1) were quantified by ELISA. Cell viability of cultured fd-FLS was determined by MTT assay. fd-FLS treated with MTX/TF3 or combination of MTX(125nM) and TF3(10µM), followed by apoptosis measurement by flow cytometry. ER stress associated markers were quantified by RT-PCR (IRE1A and spliced-XBP-1) and immunoblotting (Grp78, Hsp70, CHOP, HIF1-α). Apoptotic (Bcl-2, Bax, and Caspases) and autophagic proteins (Beclin1, LC3b and p62) were quantified by immunoblot study. Results: MTX and TF3 both in single doses (IC25) could down-regulate the levels of pro-inflammatory and angiogenic markers. Combination treatment modulated ER stress response and blocked the auto-phagmosomal proteins in fd-FLS and induced apoptosis.Conclusion: Disruption in homeostasis between apoptosis and autophagy might be an underlying phenomenon in the progression of pathophysiology in fd-FLS. The combined administration of MTX and TF3 successfully balanced the homeostasis by inducing apoptosis.

The objective of this review was to analyze the existing data on acute inflammatory myelopathies associated with coronavirus disease 2019 infection, which were reported globally in 2020. PubMed, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and online publication databases were searched. Thirty-three acute inflammatory myelopathy cases (among them, seven cases had associated brain lesions) associated with coronavirus disease 2019 infection were reported. Demyelinating change was seen in cervical and thoracic regions (27.3% each, separately). Simultaneous involvement of both regions, cervical and thoracic, was seen in 45.4% of the patients. Most acute inflammatory myelopathy disorders reported sensory motor and bowel bladder dysfunctions. On cerebrospinal fluid analysis, pleocytosis and increased protein were reported in 56.7% and 76.7% of the patients, respectively. Cerebrospinal fluid severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was positive in five patients. On T2-weighted imaging, longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis and short-segment demyelinating lesions were reported in 76% and 21%, respectively. Among the patients with longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis, 61% reported "moderate to significant" improvement and 26% demonstrated "no improvement" in the motor function of lower limbs. Demyelinating changes in the entire spinal cord were observed in three patients. Most of the patients with acute inflammatory myelopathy (including brain lesions) were treated with methylprednisolone (81.8%) and plasma-exchange therapy (42.4%). An early treatment, especially with intravenous methylprednisolone with or without immunoglobulin and plasma-exchange therapy, helped improve motor recovery in the patients with acute inflammatory myelopathy associated with coronavirus disease 2019.

Chemotactic migration of bacteria-their ability to direct multicellular motion along chemical gradients-is central to processes in agriculture, the environment, and medicine. However, current understanding of migration is based on studies performed in bulk liquid, despite the fact that many bacteria inhabit tight porous media such as soils, sediments, and biological gels. Here, we directly visualize the chemotactic migration of Escherichia coli populations in well-defined 3D porous media in the absence of any other imposed external forcing (e.g., flow). We find that pore-scale confinement is a strong regulator of migration. Strikingly, cells use a different primary mechanism to direct their motion in confinement than in bulk liquid. Furthermore, confinement markedly alters the dynamics and morphology of the migrating population-features that can be described by a continuum model, but only when standard motility parameters are substantially altered from their bulk liquid values to reflect the influence of pore-scale confinement. Our work thus provides a framework to predict and control the migration of bacteria, and active matter in general, in complex environments.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in men. Available therapies yield limited outcome. We explored anti-PCa activity in a polyphenol-rich fraction of Bergenia ligulata (PFBL), a plant used in Indian traditional and folk medicine for its anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic properties. PFBL constituted of about fifteen different compounds as per LCMS analysis induced apoptotic death in both androgen-dependent LNCaP and androgen-refractory PC3 and DU145 cells with little effect on NKE and WI38 cells. Further investigation revealed that PFBL mediates its function through upregulating ROS production by enhanced catalytic activity of Monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A). Notably, the differential inactivation of NRF2-antioxidant response pathway by PFBL resulted in death in PC3 versus NKE cells involving GSK-3β activity facilitated by AKT inhibition. PFBL efficiently reduced the PC3-tumor xenograft in NOD-SCID mice alone and in synergy with Paclitaxel. Tumor tissues in PFBL-treated mice showed upregulation of similar mechanism of cell death as observed in isolated PC3 cells i.e., elevation of MAO-A catalytic activity, ROS production accompanied by activation of β-TrCP-GSK-3β axis of NRF2 degradation. Blood counts, liver, and splenocyte sensitivity analyses justified the PFBL safety in the healthy mice. To our knowledge this is the first report of an activity that crippled NRF2 activation both in vitro and in vivo in response to MAO-A activation. Results of this study suggest the development of a novel treatment protocol utilizing PFBL to improve therapeutic outcome for patients with aggressive PCa which claims hundreds of thousands of lives each year.

In this study, chemical, biological and toxicity profile of hydromethanolic extracts of different parts (leaf, stem and root) of Clerodendrum glandulosum Lindl. were investigated simultaneously for the first time. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were estimated spectrophotometrically. Untargeted metabolomics was performed using GC–MS and HPLC-PDA-MS to identify the individual secondary metabolites. Antioxidant potentials (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, phosphomolybdenum, superoxide ion scavenging assay) were estimated and enzyme inhibition assays (α-glucosidase, α-amylase, pancreatic lipase, xanthine oxidase, angiotensin-converting enzyme) were performed. Cytotoxicity of the extracts in HepG2 and L6 cell lines along with acute oral toxicity was carried out. Leaf extract exhibited the highest phenolic (282.02 ± 5.87 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (276.74 ± 5.08 mg QCE/g) content. Significantly (p

Background Illicium griffithii is an aromatic medicinal tree species that has been listed in the IUCN Red List as an endangered species. Dried seed pods of I. griffithii have a good market potential in the spices and pharmaceutical industries. Fruits are the potential source of shikimic acid and used for the production of oseltamivir (a drug against bird flu). However, in recent years, unscientific harvesting and rampant exploitation of the species has caused a negative and adverse effect on its natural population. Proper knowledge of genetic diversity and population structure is crucial to understand the population dynamics, adaptation, and evolutionary pattern of a particular species for conservation. It was from this view point that the present study was undertaken so as to compare the various types of DNA-based molecular markers namely RAPD, ISSR, DAMD, and SCoT by their efficiency and SPAR approach to evaluate the genetic diversity of I. griffithii as well as to analyze population genetic structure for conservation purpose. Result A total of 250 discernible bands were generated with 246 bands (98.40 %) being polymorphic in nature. All the primers in combination gave a mean polymorphic information content (PIC) of 0.81 and Rp value (resolving power) of 4.32. Nei’s, Gst, and AMOVA analysis showed similar values of genetic differentiation among populations (Gst = 0.396, FST = 0.30, respectively), revealing a low level of genetic differentiation among the eight sampled populations. I. griffithii with an estimated gene flow value of Nm = 0.761 was significantly low among populations. Clustering pattern obtained with Bayesian structure and PCoA diagram revealed that intermixing of genetic material across populations is only possible when the populations lie close to each other. This is further validated with UPGMA clustering method where a positive correlation of genetic variability with geographical distance among closely related populations could be clearly seen. Conclusion The result aids in the identification, collection, and preservation of diverse germplasm of I. griffithii from Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya of Northeast India. This would further help in understanding the population structure and genetic diversity among other Illicium species in order to formulate effective conservation strategies for the improvement of this endangered taxa.

Bacterial wilt (BW) disease caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is a major constraint in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) cultivation, resulting in economic loss in tropics, sub-tropics and temperate r...

Background-Visual impairment due to corneal ulceration has for long been acknowledged as leading cause of blindness both worldwide and in India only next to Cataract. The aetiology for infective corneal ulcer varies considerably with occupation of patients in different regions of India. Thus, continuing with empirical management without lab diagnosis leads to protracted clinical course. So, understanding the microbial profile of corneal ulcers in agriculture dependent population of Southern Assam helps in improved management of this morbidity. Aims- To 1) Find the prevalence of infected corneal ulcers in untreated patients attending Ophthalmology department of a tertiary care hospital of Southern Assam. 2) Study the pattern of microbial aetiology in the infected corneal ulcer cases. 3) Find the association of infected corneal ulcers with various attributing factors. Method-Corneal scrapings from 86 routine untreated cases of corneal ulceration from Ophthalmology Department were studied prospectively from Dec2017 to Jan2019 and subjected to Gram staining and direct examination with 10%KOH. Culture on SDA and Blood Agar were incubated at 25°C and 37°C respectively and followed up for 3 weeks before declaring sterile. Antimicrobial sensitivity was performed for bacterial isolate and yeast-like species. Slide culture and LPCB tease mount were done for identification of moulds. Result- Out of the 86 cases, 58 were positive in direct microscopy, of which 44 were culture positive. Of the 28 samples negative in direct microscopy, 2 were positive by Culture. Bacterial isolates were found in 5 cases and fungal aetiology in 41 cases. Conclusion- The prevalence of infected corneal ulcer as per standard of Culture positivity is 53.5% (46/86). Mycotic involvement was found in 90% cases. Important fungal isolates identified were Aspergillus species, Penicillium species, Curvularia species, Fusarium species, Sarocladium species. Higher prevalence was significantly associated with harvesting season, agricultural practice and history of trauma while diabetes and steroid intake were not significantly associated with mycotic ulcers. Keywords: Corneal ulcer, Assam, Fungal, Fusarium, Sarocladium, Pseudomonas.

Understanding of sulfur metabolism has reached a new dimension with comprehension of its molecular regulation; however, knowledge underlining the evolutionary perspective and dynamics of this metabolism in cyanobacteria is still limited. In this review, we provided a comprehensive overview of sulfur metabolism with special emphasis on cyanobacteria and discussed the biosynthesis of cysteine and its downstream sulfur containing metabolites. Here, we invested efforts to understand the possible regulatory mechanisms of cyanobacterial sulfur assimilation process by comparing with that of other bacteria and plants. The impact of sulfur limitation on the morpho-physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses in cyanobacteria was also elucidated. The present work reflected that the cyanobacterial sulfur assimilatory pathway is identical to that of bacteria and plants since all of them employ similar enzymes in the process; however, the regulatory mechanism may vary in cyanobacteria. This communication comprehends the recent progresses made in the field of cyanobacterial sulfur metabolism research along with a comparative account of sulfur metabolism in some related organisms. Therefore, this review not only gives a broad overview on cyanobacterial sulfur metabolism but also increases our understanding of the importance and evolutionary perspective of this crucial metabolism.

The study profiled the volatiles in Mentha longifolia, M. piperita and M. spicata and examined the effect of plant growth regulators (PGRs) - IAA, NaDK and SA on the modulations of volatile organic...

Salinity is a major abiotic stress that negatively impacts plant health and soil microbiota. ACC (1-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid) deaminase producing microorganisms act as natural stress busters that protect plants from different kinds of stresses. The study focused on the isolation of potent, indigenous, multi-trait ACC deaminase producers. The shortlisted ACC deaminase producers were checked for their ability to promote growth of Cajanus cajan, and mitigate stress under laboratory conditions followed by validation of their potency in naturally saline field conditions. Physiological stress markers were assessed to evaluate the impact of salinity in plants treated with ACC deaminase producer, compared to controls. Further, the contribution of ACC deaminase in stress mitigation was demonstrated by using a chemical inhibitor for ethylene biosynthesis. This study presents a polyphasic approach, transitioning from the rhizospheric soil to the laboratory to validation in the field, and puts forth a promising eco-friendly alternative for sustainable agriculture.

Head and neck cancers are highly prevalent in south-east Asia, primarily due to betel nut chewing. Arecoline, the primary alkaloid is highly carcinogenic; however its role in promoting tumorigenesis by disrupting junctional complexes and increasing risk of metastasis is not well delineated. Subsequently, the effects of low and high concentrations of arecoline on the stability of tight junctions and EMT induction were studied. A microarray analysis confirmed involvement of a MAPK component, JunD, in regulating tight junction-associated genes, specifically ZO-1. Results established that although arecoline-induced phosphorylation of JunD downregulated expression of ZO-1, JunD itself was modulated by the lncRNA-NEAT1 in presence of arecoline. Increased NEAT1 in tissues of HNSCC patients significantly correlated with poor disease prognosis. Here we show that NEAT1-JunD complex interacted with ZO-1 promoter in the nuclear compartment, downregulated expression of ZO-1 and destabilized tight junction assembly. Consequently, silencing NEAT1 in arecoline-exposed cells not only downregulated the expression of JunD and stabilized expression of ZO-1, but also reduced expression of the EMT markers, Slug and Snail, indicating its direct regulatory role in arecoline-mediated TJ disruption and disease progression.

Hepatitis C is a positive stranded enveloped RNA virus belonging to the Flaviviridae family. HCV infection leads to severe liver diseases, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. Although treatments have been available for a while, due to its complexity and genetic diversity, only few are reported to be effective against all HCV genotypes. Here, we review the HCV life cycle and its immunogenic potential and various mechanisms via which the virus interferes in the signalling process. A comprehensive overview of current anti-HCV therapeutics, such as, Direct Acting Antiviral (DAA) as well as Host Targeting Agents (HTA), along with their scope, known mechanism of action and limitations are presented. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13337-021-00697-0.

Introduction: Superficial palpable swellings with helmintic infection as an underlying etiology is usually an accidental finding in the surgically excised specimens. Somatic nematodes and cestodes are the commonly implicated organisms, and the zoonotic nematodes show an emerging trend. The present study aims to reappraise the histopathological findings of helminthic etiology in superficial swellings which were clinically suspected to be of neoplastic/non neoplastic nature. Materials and methods: Thirty six cases of palpable superficial nodules with infective etiology over a period of five years were reviewed. 19/36 were of helminthic etiology were included in the present study. Pertinent demographic and clinical data were retrieved from the medical archives. Results: Amongst the 19 cases, 8 were males and 11 females. Chest wall (4/19), and eyelids (3/19) were the most common sites involved. The size ranged from 0.8-15 cm in greatest dimension. Presence of histiocytes (13/19), granulomas (11/19), eosinophils (10/19), and giant cells (9/19) were the most consistent histological findings. 14 cases had discernible parasite morphology with diagnosis of filarial worms (7/19), Dirofilaria (3/19), cysticercosis (4/19), and hydatid cyst (1/19). Four cases had dead and calcified parasites with no discernible morphology. Conclusion: Granulomatous inflammation and tissue eosinophilia are strong indicators of a parasitic etiology. Subcutaneous and intramuscular filariasis, cysticercosis and hydatid cyst are well documented etoiologies whereas Dirofilariasis is an emerging zoonotic infection with worldwide case reports. Imaging techniques and fine needle aspiration can point towards the diagnosis; however in the absence of characteristic features, histopathology can be relied upon to diagnose a helminthicetiology.

Objectives: The current study was aimed to investigate the adaptability and stability of blaNDM-4 within a broad host range and transcriptional response.Methods: Six isolates of Escherichia coli, harboring blaNDM-4 were confirmed by PCR sequencing of the whole gene. Transformation and conjugation assay were carried out and plasmid incompatibility was determined by PCR assay. The serial passage was done for consecutive 70 days without any antibiotic pressure for both parent strain and transformants. Transcriptional expression of blaNDM-4 within a broad host range against concentration gradient imipenem stress was studied.Results: IncX3 plasmid encoding blaNDM-4 was successfully transferred in six different hosts when imipenem (0.5 µg/ml) screen agar was used for the selection of transformants. It was also found to harbor resistance for aminoglycosides and quinolone. When checked for stability, it was observed that the plasmid was successfully expanded within all six recipients for 55th serial passages. Transcriptional expression with IncX3 was random but at a consistent level for wild type and without concentration gradient stress of imipenem. Transcriptional expression with NDM gene was variable for parent isolates though for new hosts it was showing randomly increased patterns in Proteus, E. coli, and DH5α.Conclusion: The present study could highlight that external carbapenem pressure helps in the maintenance and expression of blaNDM-4 within different host range. This study is of epidemiological significance and will help in tracking the genetic vehicle responsible for their transmission by restricting their spread. J Microbiol Infect Dis 2021; 11(2):74-80.

In the present perspective, emergence of resistant strains of Leishmania donovani and severe side effects resulting from the use of conventional anti-leishmanial therapies present an urgent need for developing novel agents against this parasite. We have explored the effectiveness of secondary plant metabolites as alternative choices in the treatment for visceral leishmaniasis (vl). The plant Parthenium hysterophorus L. (Asteraceae) was collected from the West Bengal State University Campus, Barasat, West Bengal, India. The leaves of this plant were extracted by different solvents, such as ethyl acetate, water, petroleum ether and hexane. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis was also carried out for the identification of compounds in the hexane soluble fraction (PHFd) with substantial anti-leishmanial activities. The antipromastigote activity and cytotoxicity of this fraction were evaluated by the tetrazolium MTT assay. Other biochemical and physiological parameters were studied by microscopic observation and flow cytometric analyses. PHFd showed considerable activity against L. donovani promastigotes (IC50: 20 µg/ml). The PHFd also inhibited in vitro growth of L. major LV39 promastigotes dose dependently with an IC50 of 40 µg/ml. The GC–MS studies of this particular fraction revealed the presence of four major compounds with different retention times (RT) of 26.08, 33.11, 36.41, and 41.20 min. In this study, we also established that PHFd could induce DNA damage and subsequent apoptosis of L. donovani promastigotes with a concomitant increase in generations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a time-dependent manner. This fraction was also found to be effective in nitric oxide-mediated inhibition of intracellular amastigotes (IC50:12.5 µg/ml) without any noticeable cytotoxicity towards murine splenocytes in vitro. This study provides the basis for additional phytochemical and pharmacological studies on the antiprotozoal applications of P. hysterophorus.

Purpose: The aim is to study the condition of aquatic species in the Charia beel. A good management technique is developed for protecting biodiversity and productions of the beel in order to ensure food security. Subjects and Methods: Primary data was developed by a semi-structured questionnaires and primary data was collected by field observation which comprised of selected area of the beel basin, survey of different fishing methods, conducted a series of Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), applying Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) and Key Informant Interview (KII). Secondary data were collected from the Department of Fisheries (DoF), comprehensive literature review and internet sites. The code of IUCN was followed to categorize the status of the beel and to compare the trend among different years Shannon index was followed. Results: A total number of 91 species (83 wild fishes, four prawns, one crab, one snail, and four species of turtles) belonging to 65 genera were identified from the Charia beel. About 10 types of operative fishing gear and craft were found in the river. The increasing rate of using current jal (20.50-30.50%) and Kapuri jal (14.60-18.00%) were identified as detrimental gear used to kill the different species during four years. A common increasing trend of using current jaal, Kapuri jaal (seine net) and FAD (Fish aggregating device) were identified as detrimental gear killing different species between 2016 and 2019. The fish productivity decreased dramatically from 184.52± 55.04 to 141.65± 57.66 mt within four years and the total production percentage (%) also sharply decreased from 8.88% mt to 23.23% over the same period. Conclusion: Commercially important 06 aquatic species namely Sarpunti (Puntius sarana), Napit (Badis badis), Gajar (Channa marulius) and Turtles (Kachuga tecta,Morenia petersi and Lissemys punctata) were regional extinct, 18 commercially important aquatic species were at the edge of extinction (critically endangered, CR), 35 species endangered (EN), 23 species vulnerable status (VU), five species were identified as lower risk (LR) and only four species of the river were not threatened (NT) in position between 2016 and 2019 in the this beel.

Multiple pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) on a pathogen's surface imply their simultaneous recognition by the host cell membrane-located multiple PAMP-specific Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs). The TLRs on endosomes recognize internalized pathogen-derived nucleic acids and trigger anti-pathogen immune responses aimed at eliminating the intracellular pathogen. Whether the TLRs influence each others expression and effector responses- termed TLRs inter-dependency- remains unknown. Herein, we first probed the existence of TLRs inter-dependencies and next determined how targeting TLR inter-dependencies might determine the outcome of Leishmania infection. We observed that TLRs selectively altered expression of their own and of other TLRs revealing novel TLRs inter-dependencies. Leishmania major- an intra-macrophage parasite inflicting the disease cutaneous leishmaniasis in 88 countries- altered this TLR inter-dependency unfolding a unique immune evasion mechanism. We targeted this TLRs inter-dependency by selective silencing of rationally chosen TLRs and by stimulation with selective TLR-ligands working out a novel phase-specific treatment regimen. Targeting the TLRs inter-dependency elicited a host-protective anti-leishmanial immune response and reduced parasite burden. To test whether this observation could be used as a scientific rationale for treating a potentially fatal L. donovani infection, which causes visceral leishmaniasis, we targeted the inter-TLR dependency adopting the same treatment regimen. We observed reduced splenic Leishman-Donovan Units accompanied by host-protective immune response in susceptible BALB/c mice. The TLR inter-dependency optimizes TLR-induced immune response by a novel immunoregulatory framework and scientifically rationalizes targeting TLRs in tandem and in sequence for redirecting immune responses against an intracellular pathogen.

The bacterial leaf blight in rice caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) affects crop losses worldwide. In spite of developing resistant varieties by introgressing different Xa genes, the occurrence of diseases is evident. Here we report identification of several genes that are associated with improved plant immunity against Xoo in a resistant genotype BPT-5204 in comparison with susceptible genotype TN-1. The RNA sequencing information was developed to identify the genes that could provide durable resistance in rice. Xoo-resistant rice genotype BPT-5204 with Xa 5, 13 and 21 genes is compared with sensitive Taichung Native 1 (TN-1) to identify the genetic pathways and gene networks involved in resistance mechanisms. The higher levels of salicylic acid resulted in upregulation of many pathogenesis-related (PR) and redox protein encoding transcripts which resulted in higher hypersensitive response in BPT-5204. Many Serine/threonine protein kinase, leucine-rich repeat (LRR) transmembrane protein kinase, protein kinase family genes, Wall-associated kinase (WAK) were upregulated that resulted in activation of bZIP, WRKY, MYB, DOF and HSFs transcription factors that are associated with improved plant immunity. The study provided roles of many genes and their associated plant immunity pathways that can be used for developing resistant rice cultivars.

Background: Chickpea is a widely grown legume in India, Australia, Canada, and Mediterranean regions. Seeds of chickpea are good source of protein for both human and animals. Wild relatives of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) are the potential gene pool for crop improvement; however, very little information is available on the seed proteome of these wild chickpeas. Objective: We aimed to analyze the seed proteome profiles of three wild relatives of chickpea, Cicer bijugum, Cicer judaicum and Cicer microphyllum along with two cultivated varieties JG11 and DCP 92/3. Method: Total seed proteins were extracted using various extraction buffers for 2-D gel electrophoresis. Protein separated in a 2-D gels were subjected to image analyses, differentially expressed proteins were extracted from the gels and identified by the MALDI TOF/TOF. Seed protease inhibitors were analysed biochemically. Results: We have standardized the 2-D gel electrophoresis method and separated seed proteins using the modified method. We identified a large number (400) of protein proteins which were differentially expressed in cultivated and wild type species of chickpea. A comparative analysis between C. bijugum and JG 11 revealed the presence of 9 over-expressed and 22 under-expressed proteins, while the comparison between C. bijugum with DCP 92/3 showed 8 over-expressed and 18 under-- expressed proteins. Similarly, comparative analysis between C. microphyllum with DCP 92/3 showed 8 over-expressed proteins along with 22 under-expressed proteins, while the comparative study of C. microphyllum with JG11 displayed 9 over-expressed and 24 under-expressed proteins. We also compared C. judaicum with DCP 92/3 which revealed 15 overexpressed and 11 under-expressed proteins. On the other hand, the comparative analysis of C. judaicum with JG11 showed 10 over-expressed proteins, while the numbers of under-expressed proteins were 14. Among the differentially expressed protein proteins, 19 proteins were analyzed by the MS/MS, and peptides were identified using the MASCOT search engine. In the wild relatives the differentially expressed proteins are phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5- kinase, β-1-6 galactosyltransferase, RNA helicase, phenyl alanine ammonia lyase 2, flavone 3’-0-methyl transferase, Argonaute 2, Myb related protein, Tubulin beta-2 chain and others. The most important one was legumin having α- amylase inhibition activity which was up regulated in C. bijugum. We also studied the activity of protease inhibitor (trypsin and α- amylase inhibitors) in these seed lines which showed differential activity of protease inhibitors. The highest trypsin and α- amylase inhibition was observed in C. judaicum and C. bijugum, respectively. Conclusion: The differentially expressed proteins of wild relatives of chickpea appeared to be involved in various metabolic pathways. The study provides us information about the differences in the seed proteome of these wild species and cultivated varieties for the first time.

Molecular characterization of ESBLs in clinical isolates of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp from a tertiary care hospital of South Eastern Assam was done by detection of blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX-M, blaOXA-2, blaOXA-10, blaPER, blaVEB and blaGES by Multiplex PCR. One hundred isolates yielded 44 bands of ESBL genes. CTX-M was most frequently isolated gene (36/44). Two isolates carried a combination of 2 genes CTX-M and OXA-2. Apart from CTX-M, the study isolates were also found to harbour TEM(n ​= ​3), OXA-2 (n ​= ​6) OXA-10 (n ​= ​1),GES(n ​= ​2) genes.

Introduction: Ralstonia Mannitolilytica (RM) is a rare opportunistic pathogen capable of causing a serious infection in immunocompromised patients. It is ubiquitous in nature and a frequent contaminant of water supplies. RM infection in cancer patients may have serious implications as they are already susceptible due to underlying malignancy, treatment related immunosuppression, malnutrition and prolonged presence of indwelling central catheters. In this study, we report a case series of RM infection with focus on clinical characteristics, management and patterns of antibiotic sensitivity. Methods: This case series includes 17 cancer patients admitted at Healthcare Global oncology hospital, Bangalore, presenting with fever and/or chills between 22nd February 2020 to 5th May 2020, who had a positive blood culture and/or a chemoport/PICC/central venous catheter (CVC) tip culture positive for RM species.Results: Among all patients, RM was grown from the blood sample of 12 patients having an indwelling chemo-port, 4 patients with PICC line and 1 patient with a central venous line. All patients had a positive blood culture for RM, and two patients had a positive tip culture in their chemo-port and PICC line respectively. Antibiotic treatment includes cefoperazone-sulbactam for 10 patients, ceftazidime for 4 patients, meropenem for 2 patients and ceftriaxone for 1 patient. All 17 patients recovered from the infection without any complications. After 48 hours of incubation, no growth of Ralstonia was reported from any of the current environmental or pharmaceutical water samples. Conclusion: RM may be capable of causing serious infections in cancer patients as they are already immuno-compromised. Furthermore, RM may serve as an effective quality indicator of water and therapeutic supplies. Healthcare professionals should adhere to infection control policies, monitor outbreaks of unusual pathogens and study the emergence of pattern for antibiotic resistance.

A group of capped langurs, Trachypithecus pileatus comprising eight individuals was observed for feeding behavior in Sri Surya Pahar, an archaeological site of religious importance and degraded habitat, located about 12 km southeast of Goalpara town in Assam. The feeding ecology of the species was studied by recording the time spent feeding on different food plants and food categories during different seasons of the year. Scan sampling method was followed from dawn to dusk to record data on various aspects of feeding. Capped langurs spent 37.87% of their total active time in feeding during winter season, 34.12% in pre-monsoon, 26.60% in retreating monsoon, and 26.08% in monsoon season. Altogether 41 species of plants belonging to 24 families were utilized for feeding throughout the year. Capped langurs spent maximum time feeding on leaves. The time spent on feeding new leaves was highest during pre-monsoon season (63.70%) and lowest in winter (7.82%). While the time spent on feeding mature leaves was highest in winter (67.48%) and lowest in pre-monsoon season (2.31%). The time spent feeding flowers (20.78%) was maximum in winter and that on unripe fruits (20.79%) and petioles (9.24%) was maximum in pre-monsoon season. Flower buds, leaf buds, latex and insects were placed in ‘others’ category and were consumed in low quantity. From this study, a significant change was observed in the diet composition of Capped langurs during different seasons. Habitat degradation due to encroachment is the major threat to this endangered species in Sri Surya Pahar and its neighbouring areas. The study focused on the feeding ecology of capped langur in a degraded habitat. Therefore, the information generated from this study could be useful for evaluation and improving the quality of the habitat and formulating conservation and management action plan for capped langur.

The present study is the first of its kind which is focused on Tsomgo lake, a high-altitude lake, located in the Eastern Himalayas of Sikkim. To get a major insight into the bacterial diversity, the shotgun sequencing was carried out in Illumina platform. Our results showed that both the samples TLSS1 (soil) and TLSW1 (water), had Proteobacteria as the most abundant taxa. Cluster of Orthologous group (COG) functional category of TLSS1 has 1,46,965 predicted functions. Cluster of Orthologous Group (COG) functional category of TLSW1 has 1,34,773 predicted functions. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genomes (KEGG) functional category of TLSS1 has 1,76,825 predicted functions, most of the sequence fall in metabolism followed by Environmental information processing function. (KEGG) functional category of TLSW1 has 1,62,696 predicted functions and it follows the same pattern as TLSS1. Our studies also provide insight into the presence of distribution of different carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) present in Tsomgo lake. We have found that in case of both the samples TLSW1 and TLSS1, GlycosylTransferases were active followed by GlycosylHydrolase. The result found, represents for the first time very important findings related to the microbial diversity and the abundance of CAZymes in Tsomgo lake one of the pristine high-altitude lakes in Sikkim.

Mitotic catastrophe is a common mode of tumor cell death. Cancer cells with a defective cell-cycle checkpoint often enter mitosis with damaged or under replicated chromosomes following genotoxic treatment. Premature condensation of the under-replicated (or damaged) chromosomes results in double-stranded DNA breaks at the centromere (centromere fragmentation). Centromere fragmentation is a morphological marker of mitotic catastrophe and is distinguished by the clustering of centromeres away from the chromosomes. We present an automated 2-step system for segmentation of cells exhibiting centromere fragmentation. The first step segments individual cells from clumps. We added two new terms, weighted local repelling term (WLRt) and weighted gradient term (WGt), in the energy functional of the traditional Chan–Vese based level set method. WLRt was used to generate a repelling force when contours of adjacent cells merged and then penalized the overlap. WGt enhances gradients between overlapping cells. The second step consists of a new algorithm, SBaN (shape-based analysis of each nucleus), which extracts features like circularity, major-axis length, minor-axis length, area, and eccentricity from each chromosome to identify cells with centromere fragmentation. The performance of SBaN algorithm for centromere fragmentation detection was statistically evaluated and the results were robust.

The phytohormone auxin is involved in the regulation of plant growth, nutrient acquisition, and response to environmental stimuli. Auxin response factors (ARFs) are transcription factors containing B3 DNA binding domain. ARFs play central role in auxin response, using Aux/IAA proteins as partners. Arachis is a genus within the Dalbergioid clade of papilionoid legumes, which out-branched from other members of papilionoids. Cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an allotetraploid formed by hybridization of two parental genotypes Arachis duranensis, and Arachis ipaensis merely 10,000 years ago. We have made a genome-wide inventory of all the ARFs present in tetraploid A. hypogaea, as well as in two diploid parental genotypes. Our data show that Arachis contains more ARFs per diploid genome (around 31), compared to other legumes (around 25). We further observed few ARF-like genes which are defective in important domains. Most of the ARFs in tetraploid Arachis are redundant, representing the A and B sub-genomes. Some of the ARFs show expression bias from either A or B sub-genome, while some of the pairs are expressed from both sub-genomes. Many ARFs do not express in any of the conditions for which we have expression data. Finally, few pairs show differential spatio-temporal expression pattern from A and B sub-genomes, indicative of diversification of function. This is the first effort to list all the ARFs from an allotetraploid legume. The list of ARFs in all three species of Arachis will help the scientific community working to understand auxin regulation in crop legumes.

This study was designed to investigate whether the glucose lowering effects of Potentilla fulgens acts by modulating GLUT4, AKT2 and AMPK expression in the skeletal muscle and liver tissues.Alloxan...

The study was conducted to evaluate the changes in aerobic plate count (APC) and proximate composition with the aim to establish the relationship between APC and different components (such as moist...