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Morganella morganii is a Gram-negative opportunistic Enterobacteriaceae pathogen inherently resistant to colistin. This species causes various clinical and community-acquired infections. This study investigated the virulence factors, resistance mechanisms, functional pathways, and comparative genomic analysis of M. morganii strain UM869 with 79 publicly available genomes. The multidrug resistance strain UM869 harbored 65 genes associated with 30 virulence factors, including efflux pump, hemolysin, urease, adherence, toxin, and endotoxin. Additionally, this strain contained 11 genes related to target alteration, antibiotic inactivation, and efflux resistance mechanisms. Further, the comparative genomic study revealed a high genetic relatedness (98.37%) among the genomes, possibly due to the dissemination of genes between adjoining countries. The core proteome of 79 genomes contains the 2692 core, including 2447 single-copy orthologues. Among them, six were associated with resistance to major antibiotic classes manifested through antibiotic target alteration (PBP3, gyrB) and antibiotic efflux (kpnH, rsmA, qacG; rsmA; CRP). Similarly, 47 core orthologues were annotated to 27 virulence factors. Moreover, mostly core orthologues were mapped to transporters (n = 576), two-component systems (n = 148), transcription factors (n = 117), ribosomes (n = 114), and quorum sensing (n = 77). The presence of diversity in serotypes (type 2, 3, 6, 8, and 11) and variation in gene content adds to the pathogenicity, making them more difficult to treat. This study highlights the genetic similarity among the genomes of M. morganii and their restricted emergence, mostly in Asian countries, in addition to their growing pathogenicity and resistance. However, steps must be taken to undertake large-scale molecular surveillance and to direct suitable therapeutic interventions.

SummaryThe years 2016-2019 witnessed the expansion of Yellow Fever Virus (YFV) circulation area in Brazil. Deforestation and mutations in the nsp genes were presumed responsible for the reemergence of YFV in brazil. However, our data analysis involving 200 clinical isolates worldwide including vaccine strains showed two amino acids substitutions exclusively in the Brazilian strains at critical positions (V318A and I335M) in the ED III domain of E protein. Our molecular dynamics analysis involving reference and mutant structures suggests that the mutations significantly changed the conformational rearrangement and folding of the YFV-EDIII domain as revealed by RMSF, PCA, Porcupine plots and secondary structure analysis. Briefly, the regions 324-330, 339-346 and 347-359 had a higher fluctuation than the wild, while regions 313-318 and 379-384 had a lower fluctuation. As reported earlier that the residues E325 and E380 are part of vaccine epitopes and any mutations in these residues reduced the binding of vaccine generated mabs to the epitopes. Hence, it may be speculated from our porcupine plot data analysis that that the commercial YFV vaccines may not be fully effective against the Brazilian strains in particular owing to the fluctuations of these residues. However, future investigation is required to validate the observations.

Thermal springs have been the most resourceful ecological niches to understand the intricacies of the microbial community structure building. In the present study, the microbial community structure...

Background: The high prevalence and rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance in high-risk Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) ST147 clones is a global health concern and warrants molecular surveillance. Methods: A pangenome analysis was performed using publicly available ST147 complete genomes. The characteristics and evolutionary relationships among ST147 members were investigated through a Bayesian phylogenetic analysis. Results: The large number of accessory genes in the pangenome indicates genome plasticity and openness. Seventy-two antibiotic resistance genes were found to be linked with antibiotic inactivation, efflux, and target alteration. The exclusive detection of the blaOXA-232 gene within the ColKp3 plasmid of KP_SDL79 suggests its acquisition through horizontal gene transfer. The association of seventy-six virulence genes with the acrAB efflux pump, T6SS system and type I secretion system describes its pathogenicity. The presence of Tn6170, a putative Tn7-like transposon in KP_SDL79 with an insertion at the flanking region of the tnsB gene, establishes its transmission ability. The Bayesian phylogenetic analysis estimates ST147’s initial divergence in 1951 and the most recent common ancestor for the entire KP population in 1621. Conclusions: Present study highlights the genetic diversity and evolutionary dynamics of high-risk clones of K. pneumoniae. Further inter-clonal diversity studies will help us understand its outbreak more precisely and pave the way for therapeutic interventions.

In the present study, we explored four different geothermal spots of the Deulajhari spring cluster at a proximity of 10–20 meters with temperatures of 43 to 65°C to unravel their genesis, bacterial diversity and CAZyme potential. However, minor variations in physicochemical properties; TOC, sodium, chloride, zinc and nitrate were observed, including the pH of the spring openings. Illumina based amplicon sequencing revealed Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Chloroflexi as the major bacterial phylum with higher abundance in the DJ04 sample. The alpha diversity of all the springs was almost same, whereas beta diversity revealed variations in the degree of uniqueness of OTUs at different temperatures. Statistical analysis established a positive correlation between sulfur content with Heliobacterium, Thermodesulfovibrio, Thermodesulfobacterium and Herpetosipho as well as TOC and HCO3 with Thermoanaerobacter, Desulfovibrio, Candidatus solibacter and Dehalogenimona. The major hydrocarbon family genes and Carbohydrate Active Enzyme pathways were predicted to be highest in DJ04 with elevated concentrations of HCO3 and TOC. Higher homogeneity in geo-physicochemical and microbial features direct the possibility of the common origin of these springs through plumbing systems. However, the minor variations in diversity and functionality were due to variations in temperature in spring openings through the mixing of subsurface water contaminated with carbohydrates from leaf biomass litter. Functional characterization of the thermophilic bacteria of this spring provides essential scope for further industrial applications. The biogeochemical reasons hypothesized for the genesis of unique multiple openings in the cluster are also of interest to conservation scientists for taking measures toward necessary laws and regulations to protect and preserve these springs.

Worldwide concern about the energy security and search for alternate energy source as fuel has created attention because of increased demand and fast depleting nonrenewable resources of fuel. In order to meet the increasing energy demand, we need to approach the sustainable, cost-effective alternates which should be able to cater unlimited resource utilization potential. Among the next-generation biofuels, butanol is the one which shows the ability to meet both the current and upcoming future energy crisis over the existing biofuels, for its distinguished merits; high energy density, high air-fuel ratio and lower hygroscopicity which make butanol superior over the other. In this review, we summarized all the methods attempted to screen out a high-stress tolerant strain through the various approach like; variation in sampling methods, media optimization, manipulation in physiochemical parameters etc. and then adapting them to high butanol environment. Secondly, the possible techniques involved in the identification of butanol tolerant gene and its overexpression in heterologous host or butanol tolerant microbes through genetic engineering, manipulating the metabolic pathway through engineering synergistically integrated with other disciplines such as synthetic biology as well as systems biology, has been discussed in detail. Apart from this, the present review also highlights the various bottlenecks, achievements and prospects for the commercialization of the butanol as the next generation of biofuel.

Enzymes of microbial origin are of immense importance for organic material decomposition leading to bioremediation of organic waste, bioenergy generation, large-scale industrial bioprocesses, etc. The market demand for microbial cellulase enzyme is growing more rapidly which ultimately becomes the driving force towards research on this biocatalyst, widely used in various industrial activities. The use of novel cellulase genes obtained from various thermophiles through metagenomics and genetic engineering as well as following metabolic engineering pathways would be able to enhance the production of thermophilic cellulase at industrial scale. The present review is mainly focused on thermophilic cellulolytic bacteria, discoveries on cellulase gene, genetically modified cellulase, metabolic engineering, and their various industrial applications. A lot of lacunae are yet to overcome for thermophiles such as metagenome analysis, metabolic pathway modification study, search of heterologous hosts in gene expression system, and improved recombinant strain for better cellulase yield as well as value-added product formation.

The emergence of colistin-carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CCR-Kp) in bloodstream infection results in high mortality, and virulence factor contributes further to the difficulty of treatment. A total of 158 carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP) isolates causing bloodstream infection were collected from three Indian tertiary care hospitals during the 9-month study period, of which 27 isolates exhibited resistance to both colistin and carbapenem antibiotics. In this study, all the strains were characterized for antimicrobial resistance, virulence factors and capsular serotypes that facilitate the development of colistin and carbapenem-resistant K.pneumoniae (CCR-Kp) in bloodstream infection. Fourteen isolates displayed extremely drug resistance (XDR), susceptible only to tigecycline, and the remaining 13 isolates displayed multidrug resistance (MDR). The gene prevalence analysis for CCR-Kp isolates showed the predominance of bla(KPC) (81.48%) followed by bla(NDM) (62.96%), bla(VIM) (37.03%) and bla(IMP) (18.51%) genes. The distribution of virulence genes was found to be fimH (81.48%), wabG (59.25%), mrkD (55.56%), entB (48.15%), irp1 (33.33%), and rmpA (18.52%). The capsular serotypes K1, K2, K5 and K54 have been identified in 16 isolates. The absence of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance (mcr) genes implies the involvement of other mechanisms. The ERIC and (GTG)(5) molecular typing methods detected 18 and 22 distinct clustering patterns among the CCR-Kp isolates, respectively. A strong correlation between ERIC and (GTG)5 genotyping method was established with antimicrobial resistance patterns and virulence determinants at P

Lipase based formulations has been a rising interest to laundry detergent industry for their ecofriendly property over phosphate-based counterparts and compatibility with chemical detergents ingredients. A thermo-stable Anoxybacillus sp. ARS-1 isolated from Taptapani Hotspring, India was characterized for optimum lipase production employing statistical model central composite design (CCD) under four independent variables (temperature, pH, % moisture and bio-surfactant) by solid substrate fermentation (SSF) using mustard cake. The output was utilized to find the effect of parameters and their interaction employing response surface methodology (RSM). A quadratic regression with R2¼0.955 established the model to be statically best fitting and a predicted highest lipase production of 29.4IU/g at an optimum temperature of 57.5oC, pH 8.31, moisture 50% and 1.2mg of bio-surfactant. Experimental production of 30.3IU/g lipase at above conditions validated the fitness of model. Anoxybacillus sp. ARS-1 produced lipase was found to resist almost all chemical detergents as well as common laundry detergent, proving it to be a prospective additive for incorporation.

The emergence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae has been increasing rapidly across the world. The presence of virulence factors in ESBL producers further adds to the pathogenicity and severity of infection, which often complicate empirical therapy and sometimes result in treatment failures. In the present study, 227 non-repeated clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae obtained from different clinical specimens from a tertiary care hospital in India were analyzed to detect the genes responsible for ESBL production (blaTEM, blaCTX-M, and blaSHV), virulence (fimH-1, mrkD, entB, irp-1), and capsule production (K1-K2). Phenotypically identified 72 ESBL producing K. pneumoniae isolates were further subjected to PCR based genotypic analysis but only 20 were found to have at least one of the ESBL producing genes. blaTEM was the most predominant gene (100%), followed by blaSHV (90%), and blaCTX-M (85%). Similarly, the most common virulence genes were fimH-1 (70%), entB (65%), markD (55%), irp-1 (25%), K1 (25%), and K2 (20%). REP-PCR profile separated them into five major clusters (I-V), indicating the existing heterogeneity among the isolates. The resistance profile data obtained from the present study can serve as the information base to understand the infection pattern prevailing in the hospital and for physicians to recommend suitable antibiotics for the patients.

The emergence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae has been increasing rapidly across the world. The presence of virulence factors in ESBL producers further adds to the pathogenicity and severity of infection, which often complicate empirical therapy and sometimes result in treatment failures. In the present study, 227 non-repeated clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae obtained from different clinical specimens from a tertiary care hospital in India were analyzed to detect the genes responsible for ESBL production (blaTEM, blaCTX-M, and blaSHV), virulence (fimH-1, mrkD, entB, irp-1), and capsule production (K1-K2). Phenotypically identified 72 ESBL producing K. pneumoniae isolates were further subjected to PCR based genotypic analysis but only 20 were found to have at least one of the ESBL producing genes. blaTEM was the most predominant gene (100%), followed by blaSHV (90%), and blaCTX-M (85%). Similarly, the most common virulence genes were fimH-1 (70%), entB (65%), markD (55%), irp-1 (25%), K1 (25%), and K2 (20%). REP-PCR profile separated them into five major clusters (I-V), indicating the existing heterogeneity among the isolates. The resistance profile data obtained from the present study can serve as the information base to understand the infection pattern prevailing in the hospital and for physicians to recommend suitable antibiotics for the patients.

Oral biofilm formation is the defense mechanism exhibited by oral pathogens against antimicrobial agents responsible for causing several oral infections. Lipase mediated catalytic degradation of biofilm formed in-vitro by oral pathogens Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus mutans is attempted in the present approach. Lipase was produced from sesame oil cake biomass using thermophilic Pseudomonas formosensis TB5 isolated from sediment of Tarabalo hot spring, Odisha. The experiment was designed by using Design-Expert (v.6.0.7). The statistical method central composite design and response surface methodology was carried out to study the interaction between various parameters (pH, temperature, moisture and biosurfactant) on lipase production in a solid-state fermentation process. A quadratic regression model with (R2 = 0.8642), was found to be best fitting and predicted maximum lipase production to be 47.2IU/g at an optimum pH (8.34), temperature (51.63 °C), moisture (52.51%) and biosurfactant (1.36 mg) using sesame oil cake. Experimentally, lipase was produced at a concentration of 50.78IU/g at above predicted optimum conditions which validated the fitness of model, the value being very close to the predicted one. Lipase from P. formosensis was found to degrade biofilm of oral pathogens, proving to be scope of its use a prospective biological agent for dental biofilm treatment after undertaking further analysis.

Background & objectives: The prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli isolates producing β-lactamase enzyme is a growing problem across the globe. Strain typing is an epidemiologically important tool not only for detecting the cross transmission of nosocomial pathogens but also for determining the source of infection. The present study was conducted to understand the clonal relationship among various β-lactamase-producing MDR E. coli isolates using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methods: A total of 41 MDR E. coli isolates were randomly collected from various clinical samples and processed. Isolated organisms were tested for antibiotics resistance pattern. Phenotypic detection of metallo β-lactamases (MBL) was carried out by the imipenem-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disc diffusion/double-disc synergy test. AmpC enzyme production was tested by a modified three-dimensional extract test. Results: Almost all isolates were found sensitive to colistin. A high percentage of drug resistance was observed in these isolates against ceftazidime (100%), cefotaxime (100%), cefepime (100%), ofloxacin (97.56%), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (97.56%) and norfloxacin (85.36%). Of the 41 isolates, ESBL producers were found to be predominant, i.e., 22 (53.65%), followed by AmpC (6, 14.63%) and MBL (5, 12.19%). Interpretation & conclusions: At 60 per cent similarity cut-off value, the dendrogram analysis showed that there were a total of 14 unique clusters of ERIC (CL-1 - CL-14) within the 41 E. coli isolates, which revealed the genetic diversity existing between them.

Microbial cellulases, a major group of industrial enzymes, have a wide range of applications as far as biotechnological, environmental issues, industrial products, and processes are concerned. Thermophilic bacteria act as a good source for industrial cellulase because of its compatibility during industrial harsh processes, for example, deinking of paper, softening of fabric material, pulp and paper, biostoning and biopolishing of fabric materials, juice, and animal feed, etc. Genome mediated application of thermophilic bacteria in various fields has become a rising fantasy among biotechnologists in the current scenario. The genetic manipulation of thermophilic bacteria may lead to enhanced cellulase production through recombinant technology, an emerging technology towards cellulase gene isolation of thermophilic bacteria and their expression in suitable hosts for enhanced cellulase production. Cellulase gene isolation from various thermophilic bacteria could be done through various approaches, such as a classical approach, whole genome isolation, whole metagenome isolation, and bioinformatics. In this chapter, various methods toward the isolation of cellulase genes from thermophilic bacteria are described which may lead to novel cellulase gene discovery as well as enhanced cellulase enzyme production.

Cyanobacteria are the most ancient lineages of the domain Bacteria and have been playing a crucial role in shaping our planet through their highly proliferating nature in harsh environmental conditions because of their adaptability to grow along with other photosynthetic and heterotrophic microbial community with varied ranges of salinity, pH, temperature, radiation, and water potential. Rise in temperature is reported to be the deciding factor in bringing down the microbial community diversity of hot springs. In the present study, for the first time, we reported the current status of the variability in community structure and predicted metabolic activity among cyanobacteria population of two sulfur hot springs, Atri at 48 °C and Taptapani at 58 °C, from the state of Odisha, Eastern India, using metagenomic approach. We further tried to establish the relationship between the differential occurrences of cyanobacteria clades with those of coexisting non-cyanobacteria clades chloroflexi from our previously published findings of hot spring microbial diversity analysis.

Algal-bacterial process biotechnology is a recent low-cost method toward toxic pollutant removal from wastewater that has received more attention in the present scenario. The pollutants are mainly categorized into inorganic, organic, radioactive, acid/base, etc. The water pollutants mainly include SO2 from power plants, chemical waste, fertilizers from agricultural use, oil spillage, silt, harmful pesticides, detergents, harmful compounds in cosmetics, pathogenic bacteria from livestock operations and food processing wastes, and chemical compounds found in cosmetics products, effluent outfalls from factories, refineries, waste treatment plants, contaminants from improper disposal of industrial wastes running through rainwater, etc. The proper pretreatment of wastewater needs to be done before disposal to the water bodies unless it would cause serious damage to our entire ecosystem. Algae, mostly behaving as water-purifying agent acting as pollution indicator, can act as a better alternative toward bioremediation through low-cost approach. Due to certain limitations in the algal cell during toxic pollutant accumulation, sometimes it can remediate contaminants up to a certain level. So another emerging concept of algal-bacterial symbiotic system, a less energy consumption technology, was developed which gained much attention toward wastewater treatment in the present scenario. Introduction of cost-effective algal-bacterial consortia treatment technology is reported to treat toxic wastewater effluents from municipal, domestic, industrial, and agricultural activities by using many special unicellular microalgae and pollutant-specific-degrading bacteria. It has been found from recent studies that two important factors such as selection of suitable strain as well as cultivation are responsible for biodegrading toxic chemicals and compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phenolics, and organic solvents. The organic compounds released after algal photosynthesis can ultimately become a food source for a variety of heterotrophic microbes. The growth-promoting substance production by bacteria can promote microalgal growth, whereas few bacteria can promote algal growth by photosynthetic oxygen tension reduction inside the algal cell, e.g., Pseudomonas diminuta and P. vesicularis. The wastewater can be treated in an open system, i.e., by the construction of artificial ponds, or closed system, i.e., using a bioreactor. From the available reports, it was found that the algal-bacterial consortium may include mainly microalgae and bacteria, e.g., Flavobacteriia, Gammaproteobacteria, Bacteroidia, and β-proteobacteria. The harmful dissolved methane in anaerobically treated wastewater can effectively be treated by the methane-oxidizing bacteria and algae. It can be concluded that the conventional algal-bacterial system treatment technology acts as a natural biological treatment method as a viable alternative and is of great importance for achieving good wastewater treatment performance as well as the reduction in energy consumption cost.

Arsenic is a gray-appearing metalloid which occurs naturally and is the 20th most prolific element in the earth’s crust. It is an integral part of more than 200 minerals. These are mostly ores containing sulfides, along with copper, nickel, lead, and other metals. In the environment, arsenic and its compounds are very mobile. Although in its organic form arsenic is nontoxic, it is highly toxic in its inorganic form (arsenite, a free form of arsenic) with arsine gas being the most fatal. The World Health Organization recommends a concentration below 20 mg/l for an individual to be considered free of arsenic poisoning. Accumulation of arsenic in the body beyond this level could adversely affect human health. An individual suffering from chronic arsenic poisoning via contaminated water could suffer from severe skin-related ailments like melanosis (pigmentation of the skin), keratosis (associated with the formation of rough, dry, and popular skin lesions), and leucomelanosis (also known as spotted melanosis) ultimately leading to arsenicosis in the long term. Other than that arsenic poisoning also may lead to other manifestations like neurological disorders, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, obstetric problems, disorders of the respiratory system, and cancer in the lung, skin, and bladder. The Indian subcontinent is very rich in arsenic, and countries like India and Bangladesh are a disaster waiting to happen. West Bengal, India, is a state severely affected by arsenic-contaminated water, and a case study showed an astounding 16 sites from one single village with very high concentrations of arsenic. As such, it is the need of the hour for governments to be ready with an immediate action plan to tackle such large-scale disasters. Existing solutions to this problem include phytoremediation via hyperaccumulation with plants like Pteris vittata and grasses like A. delicatula and use of phosphate-based fertilizers. However, a long-term use of phosphate-based fertilizers may ultimately lead to an algal bloom in water bodies, and phytoremediation is a time-consuming process. Planktons, however, have the potential to be a game changer in tackling arsenic-contaminated water bodies by virtue of accumulation and bioremediation. Spirulina platensis, a typical plankton, produces an enzyme called arsenite S-adenosylmethionine methyltransferase which has the ability to methylate arsenic making it nontoxic. This enzyme confers Spirulina platensis the unique ability to convert the toxic trivalent arsenic to its nontoxic pentavalent form. Spirulina platensis produces this enzyme by the virtue of arsenite S-adenosylmethionine methyltransferase (SpArsM) gene.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) is an important herb of the family Zingiberaceae. It is accepted as a universal cure for a multitude of diseases in Indian systems of medicine and its rhizomes are equally popular as a spice ingredient throughout Asia. SNPs, the definitive genetic markers, representing the finest resolution of a DNA sequence, are abundantly found in populations having a lower rate of mutation and are used for genomic analysis. The public ESTs sequences mostly lack quality files, making high quality SNPs detection more difficult since it is exclusively based on sequence comparisons. In the present study, current dbESTs of NCBI was mined and 38115 ginger ESTs sequences were obtained and assembled into contigs using CAP3 program. In this analysis, recent software tool QualitySNP was used to detect 11523 potential SNPs sites, 8810 high quality SNPs and 1008 indels polymorphisms with a frequency of 1.61 SNPs / 10 kbp. Of ESTs libraries generated from three ginger tissues together, rhizomes had a frequency of 0.32 SNPs and 0.03 indels per 10 kbp whereas the leaves had a frequency of 2.51 SNPs and 0.23 indels per 10 kbp and root is showing relative frequency of 0.76/10 kbp SNPs and 0.02/10 kbp indels. The present analysis provides additional information about the tissue wise presence of haplotypes (222), distribution of high quality exonic (2355) and intronic (6455) SNPs and information about singletons (7538) in addition to contigs transitions and transversions ratio (0.57). Among all tissue detected SNPs, transversions number is higher in comparison to the number of transitions. Quality SNPs detected in this work can be used as markers for further ginger genetic experiments.

Beta 3-adrenergic receptors (β3-AR), belonging to the G-protein coupled receptor family, are known to be involved in important physiological functions as intestinal smooth muscle relaxation, glucose homeostasis etc. Detailed insight into the mechanistic mode of β3-AR is not known. Molecular dynamic simulations (100 ns) were performed on the 3-D molecular model of β3-AR and complexes of β3-AR with potential agonists embedded in 2-dipalmitoyl-sn-phosphocholine (DPPC) bilayer-water system using OPLS (Optimized Potentials for Liquid Simulations) force field to gain structural insight into β3-AR. The detailed structural analysis of the molecular dynamic trajectories reveal that the helical bundle conformations remain well preserved to maintain a conformation similar to the other X-ray solved G-protein coupled receptors, whereas significant flexibility is observed in intracellular and the extracellular loops region. The formation of extensive intra helical and water mediated H-bonds, and aromatic stacking interactions play a key role in stabilizing the transmembrane helical bundles. These interactions might be specific to the functional motifs such as D(E)RY, CWxP, S(N)LAxAD, SxxxS and NPxxY motifs which provide structural constraints on the β3-AR. The compound 3, 4 and 6 are proposed to act as scaffolds for potential agonists for β3-AR based on stereochemical and energetic considerations. In lieu of the lack of the crystal structure available, the findings of the simulation study provides more comprehensive picture of the functional properties of the β3-AR.

Odisha (East India) is home to several hot springs, of which Atri and Taptapani are the two with variation in temperature and located in the Mahanadi geothermal province having altitude 120 and 1800 ft., respectively, above sea level. Average temperature of Atri hot spring is as higher as 58 ± 5°C as compared to 48 ± 5°C of Taptapani. In-depth analysis of the microbial diversity of these hot springs through 16S rRNA deep sequencing analysis, targeting V3 region was performed using Illumina bar-coded sequencing platform. Existence of higher microbial diversity in Atri hot spring (1662 OTUs; 2708 species) as compared to Taptapani (1561 Operational Taxonomic Units [OTUs]; 2045 species) is supported by higher value of diversity indices for Atri (6.24, Shannon; 0.95, Simpson) than Taptapani (4.03, Shannon; 0.79, Simpson), probably due to favorable influence of environmental parameters around it. Irrespective of the four databases (GREENGENE, M5RNA, Ribosomal Database Project [RDP], and Small Subunit [SSU] databases) used for understanding community structure, the dominant phyla in the Atri hot spring were different from the predominant populations in the Taptapani in terms of percentage representation in different databases. From Principal Coordinates Analysis [PCoA] analysis, Atri and Taptapani metagenome, on comparison with other three metagenomes, were found to be matching with the community structure of hot springs of Gujarat, India, but differed from that of saline desert. Furthermore, predicted functional analysis in both the hot springs were found to be affiliated with carbohydrate, amino acids, energy, vitamins and cofactor, nucleotide, membrane transport metabolic pathways, and the genes involved in them, although their intensity of occurrence was varying as analyzed through PICRUSt and Tax4Fun probably due to physicochemical parameters prevailing around each hot spring. The present study for the first time has revealed the differential microbial community structure and predicted functional diversity of Atri and Taptapani hot springs of Odisha in such a great detail.

Infectious diseases caused by ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae are an emerging problem worldwide which increases the empirical treatment failure, hospital cost, rate of morbidity and mortality. This also leads to the Hospital infection outbreak. Present study was undertaken to determine the frequency of blaTEM, blaCTX-M and blaSHV genes among Enterobacteriaceae. A total of 751 non-repeated clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae family were included in this study. Antibiotic susceptibility test was done and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) against four antibiotics was carried out. Five hundred fifteen multi drug resistant isolates were tested for ESBL by CLSI confirmatory method. Isolates showing ESBL positive by phenotypic method were screened for blaTEM, blaCTX-M and blaSHV genes by monoplex PCR. Two blaTEM and two blaCTX-M amplified products were selected randomly for sequencing. Sequencing data was submitted to NCBI data base. Of the 515 MDR isolates, 140 showed ESBL production by phenotypic method. All the ESBL producing isolates showed resistant to ceftazidime (100%). IMP, TGC and CL drugs could be preferred for the treatment of ESBL producers as these drugs showed a lower rate of resistance. blaTEM gene was the predominant (96.42%) followed by blaCTX-M (75%) and blaSHV (17.85%). All the three bla genes were occurred in 22 (17.14%) isolates. All the phenotypically confirmed ESBL producers were found contain any one of the three bla genes. It is concluded from the study that the blaTEM was predominantly found in Enterobacteriaceae and blaCTX-M gene also seemed to emerging.

Deciphering the microbial diversity of the Deulajhari thermal springs is the major goal of our study. In our study the taxonomic description of the bacterial community structure was deduced from the 1.52 Gb metagenomics sequence size from the Deulajhari hot spring located in the Angul district of Odisha. Covered with the dense foliage, it has a high temperature, i.e. 69°C and alkaline pH i.e. 8.09. Various physiochemical parameter analysis of the sediment like; electro conductivity (0.025dSm−1), total organic carbon content (0.356%), nitrogen (125 kg/ha), phosphorus (7.88 kg/ha) and potassium (169.34 kg/ha) were done. Sediment sample of the Deulajhari hot spring was further processed for the 16S rRNA V3-V4 region by the amplicon metagenome sequencing from community DNA. Approximately 88.12% of the total microbial diversity was represented by the Proteobacteria followed by Bacteroidetes 10.76%, Firmicutes 0.35%, Spirochetes 0.18%, Thermi 0.13% and chloroflexi 0.11% at the phylum level. Thus through the metagenomics sequencing of the Deulajhari hot spring using IIllumina platform, we represent the complete microbial community structure present there in respective of their allocation, profusion and diverse coexisting microbiota.

Mahendra Gaur and Sylvia Mishra note that a rising China and growing China–USA rivalry affect India’s desire for a peaceful multipolar Asia and a multipolar world. Cooperative relations with China are important to India, so it does not want to be drawn into a formal alliance against China, but it feels comfortable engaging with the USA and others as a hedge against a Chinese “expansionist mindset.” Though China resists India’s efforts to deepen engagement in East Asia, others welcome India. India will play a larger role in Indo-Pacific maritime security and a stabilizing role in East Asia while remaining strategically autonomous and committed to multilateral and bilateral means of regional management.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.), a well-known member of family Zingiberaceae, is bestowed with number of medicinal properties which is because of the secondary metabolites, essential oil and oleoresin, it contains in its rhizome. The drug yielding potential is known to depend on agro-climatic conditions prevailing at the place cultivation. Present study deals with comparative transcriptome analysis of two sample of elite ginger variety Suprabha collected from two different agro-climatic zones of Odisha. Transcriptome assembly for both the samples was done using next generation sequencing methodology. The raw data of size 10.8 and 11.8GB obtained from analysis of two rhizomes S1Z4 and S2Z5 collected from Bhubaneswar and Koraput and are available in NCBI accession number SAMN03761169 and SAMN03761176 respectively. We identified 60,452 and 54,748 transcripts using trinity tool respectively from ginger rhizome of S1Z4 and S2Z5. The transcript length varied from 300bp to 15,213bp and 8988bp and N50 value of 1415bp and 1334bp respectively for S1Z4 and S2Z5. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comparative transcriptome analysis of elite ginger cultivars Suprabha from two different agro-climatic conditions of Odisha, India which will help to understand the effect of agro-climatic conditions on differential expression of secondary metabolites.

Zingiber officinale Rosc., known as ginger, is an Asian crop, popularly used in every household kitchen and commercially used in bakery, beverage, food and pharmaceutical industries. The present study deals with de novo transcriptome assembly of an elite ginger cultivar Suruchi by next generation sequencing methodology. From the analysis 10.9GB raw data was obtained which can be available in NCBI accession number SAMN03761185. We identified 41,969 transcripts using Trinity RNA-Seq from ginger rhizome of Suruchi variety from Odisha. The transcript length varied from 300bp to 8404bp with a total length of 3,96,40,526bp and N50 of 1251bp. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first transcriptome data of an elite ginger cultivar Suruchi released for Odisha state of India which will help molecular biologists to develop genetic markers for identification of cultivars.

In 2013, Foreign Policy Research Centre (FPRC) launched a country-specific studies project. These countries hold a prominent position in the world and India is particularly sensitive about maintaining good relations with them so as to concentrate on development. Each study seeks to highlight India‘s relationship in bilateral and international perspectives. The initiative began with Iran and has been followed by Studies on Pakistan. The China project,the third in the series, is a timely initiative as China and India make an ―Asian century‖. And in our venture, we have the support of national and international scholars who have agreed to come under the umbrella of FPRC to disseminate knowledge on China. We express our sincere gratitude to them for their cooperation in bringing this project to a successful culmination. They have always been a source of strength to us.