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This work is focused on the development of an efficient and green protocol for the one-pot multicomponent synthesis of a series of 4H-pyran derivatives. Herein, a protein–peptide conjugate (SS1–Cyt. c) is synthesized and characterized using Circular Dichroism (CD), UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy, and docking studies. The whole assembly is used as an efficient catalytic system by incorporating a derivatized dipeptide molecule in the hydrophobic cavities of the protein Cytochrome c (Cyt. c) that leads to the activation of Hydrogen Bond Donating (HBD) units of a urea derivative of a dipeptide (SS1). The HBD units tend to show non-covalent interactions with the reactant species responsible for triggering the occurrence of an organic transformation. Also, the stability and binding interactions of SS1–Cyt. c with the multicomponent reactants involved in the organic transformation are studied in detail using MD-simulation studies. It is a metal-free catalyst and provides higher yield in relatively short reaction times. As per green chemistry principles, the catalyst has provided us ideal Eco-scale and E factor scores of 79 and 0.089, respectively.

Biodiesel’s auto-oxidation by metal catalyzed decomposition of hydroxides (ROOH) is a major hurdle restricting the commercial viability of biodiesel. This paper investigates the oxidation stability of argemone biodiesel contaminated with transition metals such as: Fe, Ni, Mn, Cu, and Co. Pure argemone oil biodiesel (ABD) has a rancimat induction period of 2.5 h which does not satisfy the ASTM-D6751 and EN-14214 standard limits of 3 and 8 h respectively. The results show that the presence of a metal in argemone oil results in accelerating the free radical oxidation reaction. To meet the desired standards, present work experimentally investigates the effect of various antioxidants like BHT, BHA, TBHQ, PY, and PG in the range of 100–500 ppm on argemone oil biodiesel. Effectiveness order of antioxidants in pure biodiesel was observed as: PY > PG > BHA > BHT > TBHQ. The 500 ppm of most effective antioxidant pyrogallol (PY) has the potential to enhance the induction period of argemone biodiesel above 8 h which is vital by EN-14214 standard. Based on the results of most effective antioxidant PY and varying concentration of metals (Fe, Ni, Mn, Cu, and Co), several correlations have been developed to calculate the induction period of argemone oil biodiesel, as a function of antioxidant and metal concentration.

An anion-mediated preorganization approach was used to design and synthesize the benzimidazolium-based calix compound R1 ∙2ClO 4 - . X-ray crystallography analysis revealed that the hydrogen bonding interactions between the benzimidazolium cations and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) helped R1 ∙2ClO 4 - encapsulate DMF molecule(s)A nanoreactor, with R1 ∙2ClO 4 - and L -histidine ( L -His) as the components, was fabricated using a neutralization method. The nanoreactor could detoxify paraoxon in 30 min. L -His played a vital role in this process. Paraoxonase is a well-known enzyme used for pesticide degradation. The Ellman's reagent was used to determine the percentage inhibition of the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the presence of the nanoreactor. The results indicated that the nanoreactor inhibited AChE inhibition.

Zaire ebolavirus, more commonly known as Ebola virus (EBOV), is one of six known species within the genus Ebolavirus. Four of the six identified ebolaviruses, including EBOV, cause a severe and often fatal hemorrhagic fever in humans and other mammals, known as Ebola virus disease (EVD). Ebola virus belonging to family Filoviridae is of mainly 5 types and has a high fatality rate in humans and nonhuman primates. Once the more virulent forms enter the human population, transmitted through contact with infected body fluids, can result in major epidemics. It is one of the most virulent pathogens among the viral haemorrhagic fevers, and has been reported up to 90% fatality rate. Mortality is the result of multi-organ failure and severe bleeding complications.

Context: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most devastating human pathogen. The organism has a differential ability to spread and cause outbreak of infections. Characterization of these strains is important to control the spread of infection in the hospitals as well as in the community. Aim: To identify the currently existing phage groups of Staphylococcus aureus, their prevalence and resistance to antibiotics. Materials and Methods: Study was undertaken on 252 Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from clinical samples. Strains were phage typed and their resistance to antibiotics was determined following standard microbiological procedures. Statistical Analysis: Chi square test was used to compare the antibiotic susceptibility between methicillin resistant Staph. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) strains. Results: Prevalence of MRSA and MSSA strains was found to be 29.36% and 70.65% respectively. Of these 17.56% of MRSA and 40.44% of MSSA strains were community acquired. All the MSSA strains belonging to phage type 81 from the community were sensitive to all the antibiotics tested including clindamycin and were resistant to penicillin. Forty five percent strains of phage group III and 39% of non-typable MRSA strains from the hospital were resistant to multiple antibiotics. Conclusion: The study revealed that predominant phage group amongst MRSA strains was phage group III and amongst MSSA from the community was phage group NA (phage type 81). MSSA strains isolated from the community differed significantly from hospital strains in their phage type and antibiotic susceptibility. A good correlation was observed between community acquired strains of phage type 81 and sensitivity to gentamycin and clindamycin.

Limited data on acute phase C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection exist. The relationship of CRP with HIV was assessed in 119 HIV-positive patients and correlated with CD4 counts and mortality at 1 y. CRP was negatively correlated with CD4 counts with levels of CRP being highest in the group with CD4 counts below 200 cells/microL. It was an indicator of mortality and hence may serve as a useful and inexpensive predictor of HIV disease progression.

Background Direct sputum smear microscopy is commonly used for diagnosing tuberculosis (TB). The objectives of the study were first, to determine the recovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in smear-negative sputum samples through liquid culture (using MGIT 960) and solid culture (using LJ slant) and second, to screen multidrug-resistant isolates through line probe assay and further third, to identify XDR isolates through MGIT second-line DST from these positive MDR cultures in Delhi region. Methods In this study, the sample size was 717 (sputum smear AFB negative and culture positive for M. tuberculosis complex by both solid and liquid culture methods) MDRTB suspects who were enrolled from January 2014 to December 2014 at the Intermediate Reference Laboratory in New Delhi Tuberculosis Centre, New Delhi. Rapid line probe assay was performed on all culture-positive samples, which were direct smear-negative specimens, and LPA-confirmed MDR samples were tested on MGIT 960 second-line DST for identification of XDR strains. Results An overall increase in the culture positivity (9.4%) among these smear-negative cases shows a good sign of recovery from M. tuberculosis infection in these samples. 717 (9.4%) positive cultures (MGIT + LJ) were subjected to line probe assay. Out of these 717 cultures, 9 (1.2%) were confirmed as NTM, 50 (7%) were MDR, 4 (0.6%) were mono-rifampicin resistant and 654 (91.2%) cultures were sensitive to both drugs Rif and Inh, respectively. Out of these 54 (50 MDR +4 mono-RIF resistant) cultures as screened by LPA, 1 (1.8%) was XDR, 10 (18.6%) were mono-ofloxacin resistant and 1 (1.8%) was mono-Kanamycin resistant. Sensitivity to both drugs KAN and OFX was seen in 42 (77.8%) cultures. Conclusions Since the bacterial load in direct smear-negative suspected MDR samples is less, it is important to recover mycobacteria by rapid liquid culture method in such samples. Initial screening for MDRTB is to be done in such cases by performing rapid molecular genotypic drug susceptibility test such as LPA. Baseline second-line DST is also done to rule out the XDR cases among them for rapid and better management of XDRTB patients.

Fluoroquinolones are among the most promising antibiotic drugs for Tuberculosis treatment. Although high levels of fluoroquinolone resistance have been detected among many common bacterial pathogens, little is known about the fluoroquinolone resistance of M. tuberculosis especially at the baseline. The present study was thus aimed at determining the profile of resistance against two newer generation fluoroquinolones-Moxifloxacin and Levofloxacin in MDR-TB isolates with baseline resistance to ofloxacin. A total number of 65 isolates (4 XDR and 61 pre-XDR) were subjected to susceptible testing against levofloxacin and two (higher and lower) concentrations of moxifloxacin. 72.3% in addition to being resistant to ofloxacin were also resistant to levofloxacin and lower concentration of moxifloxacin. The increasing use of FQs for the treatment of other bacterial infections has led to increasing resistance to these antimicrobials. Newer generation FQs are promising drugs in the treatment of drugresistant Tuberculosis but care should be taken regarding the rationale use of these drugs for the treatment of other diseases especially when other drugs are available.

Objective: GenoType MTBDR plus line probe assay (LPA) is developed for performing drug susceptibility testing (DST) for Rifampicin (RIF) and isoniazid in sputum specimens from smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients and revised national TB control Programme (RNTCP) has endorsed LPA for the diagnosis of multi drug resistant TB (MDR-TB). This study was conducted to assess the potential utility of LPA for MDR-TB patient management. Methods: MDR-TB suspects under RNTCP PMDT criteria C referred from different districts in Delhi state were included in the study January 2013 to December 2014. Sputum specimens found acid-fast bacilli positive by fluorescent microscopy were processed for LPA. R esults: Out of 3062 specimens, 2055 (67.1%) MDR-TB suspects were read as positive and specimens from 1007 (32.9%) suspects were read as negative in sputum smear microscopy. Out of 2019 specimens valid LPA results, 1427 were found to be pan-sensitive, 280 were MDR-TB, 40 were RIF monoresistant, 183 were Isoniazid (INH) monoresistant, and 89 specimens were found negative for Mycobacterium tuberculosis . C onclusion: Routine use of LPA can substantially reduce the time to diagnosis of RIF and/or INH-resistant TB and can hence potentially enable earlier commencement of appropriate drug therapy and thereby facilitate prevention of further transmission of drug resistant strains. Ke ywords: Multi drug resistant tuberculosis, Line probe assay, Rifampicin, Isoniazid.

The aim of this study was to determine the clinical, immunological and virological status of newly diagnosed AIDS cases and to monitor their clinical and immunological response to HAART after a minimum period of three months. Forty three drug naive AIDS patients were enrolled. The most common presenting complaints were weight loss (74.4%), cough (72.1%) and diarrhoea (67.4%). Mean baseline CD4 cell count was 112 ± 60 cells/μL and mean baseline plasma viral load of 31 patients studied was 192,686 copies/mL. Baseline plasma viral load was higher among patients with lower baseline CD4 cell count. During follow-up, 80.8% patients showed clinical improvement, while a CD4 cell count increased by ≥50 cells/μL in 84.6% cases. Mean CD4 cell count increased from 126 ± 16.6 cells/μL at baseline to 278 ± 196.7 cells/μL.