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The Haloferacaceae are a family of extremely halophilic archaea with many species producing enzymes and products beneficial for industrial biotechnology. They are, however, relatively under-characterised with regards to genetics and gene products. This study aims to use existing sequence data to highlight genetic diversity, create pangenomes for three genera, and provide secondary metabolite and pathway analysis. This will establish current knowledge and identify key gaps in research. We show that the Haloferacaceae have significant genetic diversity between genera, with numerous gene gain and loss events in key genera. It also found that the model genus, Haloferax, has relatively low identified secondary metabolites compared to other genera within the family. Additionally, this study has identified potential biotechnology targets for heterologous expression in model organisms., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The role of higher education in the foreign policy of states has been increasing significantly in order to generate soft power. Nevertheless, the literature on the educational aspect of soft power has yet to be systematically reviewed. Therefore, this systematic review is conducted to delineate and analyze the major studies in the field of international higher education which indicates education as a soft power resource for a country. To identify the multiple and contrary arguments on the topic, this study reviewed 48 peer-reviewed articles published from 2001 to 2022. The data collected from the reviewed papers are organized into five sub-sections outlined in the results sections. The contradictions in the literature are examined within the sub-sections in order to understand the various perspectives on education as a resource of soft power. Through analyzing the data mentioned in the results section, this study provides a framework of the essential conditions to harness education as a soft power resource. Furthermore, this review also suggests prospects for future research in this area., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has adversely affected humankind and caused millions of deaths globally since January 2020. Robust and quick serological tests such as antibody detection assays for SARS-CoV-2 provide relevant information and aid in the process of vaccine development and diagnostics, as well as in sero-epidemiological monitoring of antibody response to the virus. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of spike and nucleocapsid protein are specific targets for detecting SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Here, we present the development of a stable spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) protein-based ELISA antibody detection test "CoroSuchak," with 99% sensitivity, 98% specificity, cost-effective, and detection in a minimum time for serodiagnosis and mass screening of the population for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Blood samples were analyzed from 374 SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positive, 772 negative and asymptomatic, and 874 random groups of subjects. We found that the antibody titer was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) in infected and vaccinated group compared to the only vaccinated and only infected group. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we detected SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in 118/123 (96%) infected individuals, 570/653 (87%) non-infected but vaccinated individuals, 231/237 (97%) individuals who were both infected and vaccinated, and 499/874 (57%) from randomly selected individuals from the first and second waves of the pandemic. Similarly in the third wave, 14/14 (100%) infected and 16/20 (80%) RT-PCR-negative but symptomatic subjects were detected. Thus, the highly sensitive and specific in-house developed ELISA antibody detection kit "CoroSuchak" is extremely useful to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the coronavirus-exposed population. KEY POINTS: •Indigenous kit using a combination of spike and nucleocapsid proteins and peptide sequences. •High sensitivity and specificity to detect variants. •Highly sensitive for mass screening., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The ferroelectric Rashba semiconductors (FERSCs) are endowed with a unique combination of ferroelectricity and the spin degree of freedom, resulting in a long carrier lifetime and impressive bulk photovoltaic (BPV) efficiency that reached 25% in organometal halide perovskites. The BPV efficiency can be further improved by using low-dimensional ferroelectrics however, it is inhibited by the ferroelectric instability in low-dimensional perovskites and toxicity along with phase instability of the lead-halide perovskites. To address these challenges, the α -GeTe could be of great importance which is the simplest known lead-free FERSC with an intrinsic layered structure. Therefore, in this work, we investigate the BPV properties of three- to two-dimensional van der Waals structures of α -GeTe by calculating the shift current (SHC). We predict that the mono (1.56 Å) and bi-layers (5.44-6.14 Å) α -GeTe with the buckled honeycomb structure are dynamically stable and possess the characteristic features of the bulk up to the nanoscale limit. The SHC of ∼70 μ A V -2 is calculated in bulk α-GeTe which is 20 times larger than that obtained in organometal halides in the visible light. The SHC increases with decreasing the number of layers, reaching a maximum amplitude of ∼300 μ A V -2 at 2.67 eV in the monolayer which is more than double that obtained in monolayer GeS. We find that the SHC in monolayer α-GeTe can be further enhanced and redshifted by applying a compressive strain; which is correlated with the strong absorption of the xx -polarized light, stimulated by the more delocalized p x / y orbital character of the density of states. Furthermore, in the bilayer structures, the magnitude of the SHC is sensitive to the layers' stacking arrangement and a maximum SHC (∼250 μ A V -2 ) can be achieved with an AB-type stacking arrangement. Combining these results with the benefits of being environmental-friendly material makes α -GeTe a good candidate for next-generation solar cells application., (© 2022 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

Despite numerous studies, there are many knowledge gaps in our understanding of uranium (U) contamination in the alluvial aquifers of Punjab, India. In this study, a large hydrogeochemical dataset was compiled to better understand the major factors controlling the mobility and enrichment of uranium (U) in this groundwater system. The results showed that shallow groundwaters (<60 m) are more contaminated with U than from deeper depths (>60 m). This effect was predominant in the Southwest districts of the Malwa, facing significant risk due to chemical toxicity of U. Groundwaters are mostly oxidizing and alkaline (median pH: 7.25 to 7.33) in nature. Spearman correlation analysis showed that U concentrations are more closely related to total dissolved solids (TDS), salinity, Na, K, HCO 3 - , NO 3 - Cl - , and F - in shallow water than deep water, but TDS and salinity remained highly correlated (U-TDS: ρ = 0.5 to 0.6; U-salinity: ρ = 0.5). This correlation suggests that the salt effect due to high competition between ions is the principal cause of U mobilization. This effect is evident when the U level increased with increasing mixed water species (Na-Cl, Mg-Cl, and Na-HCO 3 ). Speciation data showed that the most dominant U species are Ca 2 UO 2 (CO 3 ) 2- and CaUO 2 (CO 3 ) 3- , which are responsible for the U mobility. Based on the field parameters, TDS along with pH and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) were better fitted to U concentration above the WHO guideline value (30 μg.L -1 ), thus this combination could be used as a quick indicator of U contamination. The strong positive correlation of U with F - (ρ = 0.5) in shallow waters indicates that their primary source is geogenic, while anthropogenic factors such as canal irrigation, groundwater table decline, and use of agrochemicals (mainly nitrate fertilizers) as well as climate-related factors i.e., high evaporation under arid/semi-arid climatic conditions, which result in higher redox and TDS/salinity levels, may greatly affect enrichment of U. The geochemical rationale of this study will provide Science-based-policy implications for U health risk assessment in this region and further extrapolate these findings to other arid/semi-arid areas worldwide., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome. All of the sources of funding for the work described in this publication are acknowledged in the manuscript., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Using first-principles calculations, we predict that the two-dimensional (2D) monolayers of NbP with the buckled honeycomb-like and puckered tetragonal structure can be obtained from the (110) and (001) orientations, respectively, of its bulk crystal structure. The electronic properties of these monolayers are spectacularly different as tetragonal lattice is metallic whereas the honeycomb-like lattice (h-NbP) is a semiconductor and exhibits intrinsic ferroelectricity originating from a rare sd 2 - sp 2 hybridization. The shift current bulk photovoltaic effect (BPVE) is systematically investigated in the h-NbP monolayer (1.21 Å thickness) using the Wannier interpolation method. Strong absorption of visible light at ∼2 eV and a large 3D shift current of ∼180 μ A V -2 is obtained which is attributed to the partial delocalization of Bloch states due to sd 2 - sp 2 hybridization. We compare the shift current response of h-NbP monolayer with that of some previously reported bulk ferroelectrics and 2D monolayers, suggesting that h-NbP monolayer can yield a large shift current at an ultimate thickness and is a promising 2D material for the BPVE application under the visible light. Strain effect is also investigated, revealing that the h-NbP monolayer is dynamically stable up to a strain limit of ±3%, and the shift current increases by ∼9% at a compressive strain of -3% as the Bloch states are more delocalized due to the strengthening of sd 2 - sp 2 hybridization. The results presented in this study can pave the paths to fabricate the 2D monolayered structures of NbP, and realize the BPVE based next-generation solar cells of h-NbP monolayer., (© 2021 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

Background: The issue of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection to the foetus has not yet been resolved. Its main reason is lack of a bigger study to analyse this question. The evidence of the affection of the foetus during antenatal or intrapartum period is limited to some anecdotal reports. To look for the possibility of vertical transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - Corona Virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection to the foetus, this prospective pilot study was conducted at a tertiary health care COVID-19 designated centre of Armed Forces., Methods: This study was conducted during 01 June 2020 and 15 October 2020 and included 54 covid-positive pregnant mothers. During delivery, amniotic fluid and cord blood samples were collected in a sterile manner. Amniotic fluid samples were not collected during vaginal deliveries as chances of contamination was very high. These samples were tested for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 gene by Reverse Transcriptasee Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test, and the results were analysed. Newborns were allowed to room in with mother, and they underwent throat and nasal swab RT-PCR testing of covid within 24-48 h of delivery., Results: A total of 1520 pregnant mothers underwent RT-PCR test during the study period. Total positivity rate among our pregnant women was 2.8%. Out of 54 covid-positive women during the study period, amniotic fluid RT-PCR tests were carried out for 43 women, and cord blood was tested for 45 women., Conclusion: RT-PCR test of amniotic fluid, cord blood and nasal and throat swab of all newborns delivered by SARS-CoV-2-positive pregnant women were negative. Based on our study, the possibility of intrauterine vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection appears to be unlikely., Competing Interests: The authors have none to declare, (© 2021 Director General, Armed Forces Medical Services. Published by Elsevier, a division of RELX India Pvt. Ltd.)

A large ferroelectric (FE) polarization and low bandgap are essential to improving the bulk photovoltaic response which is the generation of photocurrent in the polar non-centrosymmetric materials such as FE perovskite oxides. Among various perovskite oxides, Potassium Niobate (KNbO 3 , KNO) is a promising FE material for bulk photovoltaic applications as its bandgap and polarization can be tuned effectively by strain, doping, or by applying an electric field. In this work, using the density functional theory calculations, we present an insight into the strain engineering of polarization, band structure, and optical properties of the cubic (C), tetragonal (T), and orthorhombic (O) structures of KNO. The tensile and compressive strain under the triaxial, biaxial, and uniaxial conditions are applied along the direction parallel and perpendicular to the polar axis of KNO structures. We find that the bandgap decreases along with a substantial increment of polarization on the application of tensile strain along the direction parallel to the polar axis. In T (O) phase at  +2% strain, the polarization increases by 18 µC cm -2 (14 µC cm -2 ) in triaxial, 26 µC cm -2 (16 µC cm -2 ) in biaxial, and 29 µC cm -2 (29 µC cm -2 ) in uniaxial conditions with a considerable decreasing of bandgap with respect to zero strain condition. Therefore, wisely applying the tensile strain along the direction parallel to the polar axis, the photovoltaic efficiency of KNO can be improved.

Plants produce and release a large array of volatile organic compounds that play many ecological functions. These volatile plant metabolites serve as pollinator attractants, herbivore and pathogen repellents and protect plants from abiotic stresses. To date, the geological evolution of these organic compounds remains unknown. The preservation potential of these metabolites in the fossil record is very poor due to their low boiling points. Here we report a series of volatile sesquiterpenoids, including δ-elemene, α-copaene, β-elemene, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, germacrene D, δ-cadiene and spathunenol, from early Miocene (~17 million year) amber from eastern India. The survival of these unaltered bioterpenoids can be attributed to the existence of extraordinary taphonomic conditions conducive to the preservation of volatile biomolecules through deep time. Furthermore, the occurrence of these volatiles in the early Miocene amber suggests that the plants from this period had evolved metabolic pathways to synthesize these organic molecules to play an active role in forest ecology, especially in plant-animal interactions.

Classically, the tendency towards spontaneous synchronization is strongest if the natural frequencies of the self-oscillators are as close as possible. We show that this wisdom fails in the deep quantum regime, where the uncertainty of amplitude narrows down to the level of single quanta. Under these circumstances identical self-oscillators cannot synchronize and detuning their frequencies can actually help synchronization. The effect can be understood in a simple picture: Interaction requires an exchange of energy. In the quantum regime, the possible quanta of energy are discrete. If the extractable energy of one oscillator does not exactly match the amount the second oscillator may absorb, interaction, and thereby synchronization, is blocked. We demonstrate this effect, which we coin quantum synchronization blockade, in the minimal example of two Kerr-type self-oscillators and predict consequences for small oscillator networks, where synchronization between blocked oscillators can be mediated via a detuned oscillator. We also propose concrete implementations with superconducting circuits and trapped ions. This paves the way for investigations of new quantum synchronization phenomena in oscillator networks both theoretically and experimentally.

Repair of uracils in DNA is initiated by uracil DNA glycosylases (UDGs). Family 1 UDGs (Ung) are the most efficient and ubiquitous proteins having an exquisite specificity for uracils in DNA. Ung are characterized by motifs A (GQDPY) and B (HPSPLS) sequences. We report a novel dimeric UDG, Blr0248 (BdiUng) from Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens. Although BdiUng contains the motif A (GQDPA), it has low sequence identity to known UDGs. BdiUng prefers single stranded DNA and excises uracil, 5-hydroxymethyl-uracil or xanthine from it. BdiUng is impervious to inhibition by AP DNA, and Ugi protein that specifically inhibits family 1 UDGs. Crystal structure of BdiUng shows similarity with the family 4 UDGs in its overall fold but with family 1 UDGs in key active site residues. However, instead of a classical motif B, BdiUng has a uniquely extended protrusion explaining the lack of Ugi inhibition. Structural and mutational analyses of BdiUng have revealed the basis for the accommodation of diverse substrates into its substrate binding pocket. Phylogenetically, BdiUng belongs to a new UDG family. Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens presents a unique scenario where the presence of at least four families of UDGs may compensate for the absence of an efficient family 1 homologue., (© The Author(s) 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.)

Quantum phenomena have the potential to speed up the solution of hard optimization problems. For example, quantum annealing, based on the quantum tunneling effect, has recently been shown to scale exponentially better with system size than classical simulated annealing. However, current realizations of quantum annealers with superconducting qubits face two major challenges. First, the connectivity between the qubits is limited, excluding many optimization problems from a direct implementation. Second, decoherence degrades the success probability of the optimization. We address both of these shortcomings and propose an architecture in which the qubits are robustly encoded in continuous variable degrees of freedom. By leveraging the phenomenon of flux quantization, all-to-all connectivity with sufficient tunability to implement many relevant optimization problems is obtained without overhead. Furthermore, we demonstrate the robustness of this architecture by simulating the optimal solution of a small instance of the nondeterministic polynomial-time hard (NP-hard) and fully connected number partitioning problem in the presence of dissipation.

Purpose: A rapid and efficient diagnostic test was developed for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens in serum samples of active tuberculosis (TB) and extrapulmonary TB patients via a liposomal agglutination-based method., Methods: A rapid card test has been developed to facilitate the recognition of high-affinity binding rabbit raised purified culture filtrate protein antibodies coupled on the surface of activated liposomal preparation. In the presence of TB antigens, the polyclonal antibodies bound to the liposomal particles demonstrate a visible agglutination reaction., Results: The developed assay was simple, rapid, reliable, sensitive, and specific as a diagnostic test for the detection of antigens in serum samples of clinically confirmed cases of TB within 4-5 minutes' duration. The test was evaluated at different hospitals, medical colleges, and pathology centers, and involved 1483 participants. This investigation was conducted to detect the presence of these antigens during the period of active growth of the microorganism in serum samples for pulmonary TB and processed tissue biopsy for other extrapulmonary TB. Results obtained using this test were compared with acid-fast bacilli smear and culture results., Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that the newly developed liposome tuberculosis antigen card test detected antigens in our study population with approximately 97.48% sensitivity and 95.79% specificity. This is the first study to report the liposomal encapsulation of culture filtrate proteins from M. tuberculosis for diagnostic application., (Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Survivin expression is often associated with aggressive tumor behavior and therapy resistance. In this study, we investigated the effect of survivin knockdown by survivin-siRNA lentiviral vector (Svv-Lent) on the response of HNSCC to chemo-radiotherapy, tumor growth and metastasis., Methods: Four human HNSCC (OSC19, Cal27, Cal33 and FaDu) and one normal HOK cell lines were included in the study, and survivin knockdown was achieved with Svv-Lent treatment. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were measured by MTT and TUNEL assay, respectively. Transwell assays were performed to measure in vitro cell migration and matrigel invasion. Xenograft tumors were developed in nude mice by injecting Cal27 cells subcutaneously and following tail-vein injection of lung and liver metastasis., Results: Knockdown of survivin significantly suppressed HNSCC cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in vitro. Survivin inhibition could also significantly reduce in vitro cell migration and matrigel invasion that might be due to inactivation of matrix metalloproteinases. In vivo studies showed significant repression of Cal27 xenograft tumor growth and tissue metastasis leading to improvement in mice survival in the Svv-Lent treated group compared to controls. Our data indicated that survivin expression in HNSCC cells contributed to chemo-radioresistance, and its down-regulation increased anti-cancer effects of paclitaxel, cisplatin and radiation., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that sustained survivin expression facilitates HNSCC tumor growth and confers resistance to chemo-radiotherapy. Svv-Lent therapy may be able to enhance the cytotoxic effect of commonly used anticancer drugs such as cisplatin and paclitaxel, and radiotherapy that could provide a promising strategy for the effective control of resistant head and neck cancer., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The present study concerns measurements of radon emissions from soil carried out during March to July 2013 at Chite fault in Aizawl district, Mizoram, India. In this study, continuous radon monitoring in soil was done by using LR-115 type II nuclear track detector (Kodak-Pathe, France make), and the exposed films were replaced weekly. A negative correlation coefficient (-0.47) between radon concentration and barometric pressure was found during the investigation period. The average radon concentration was observed to be 1785.71 Bq m(-3) with a standard deviation of 633.07 Bq m(-3). The maximum and minimum values of radon concentration during this period were found to be 3693.88 and 904.76 Bq m(-3), respectively. An anomalous increase in radon concentration was observed on 112th day (i.e. on 14 June 2013) during the investigation period just 1 d prior to the event of M 3.5, which occurred within 120-km distance from the monitoring site., (© The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Oral cancer is one of the most commonly found cancers in many South-Asian underdeveloped countries, especially among men in comparison to women. When considering the mortality rate among all types of existing cancers, in India oral cancer is the primary reason for death in men. Some of the major reasons contributing to the high mortality rate are late diagnosis, lack of treatment options and high prevalence of tobacco consumption. Oral cancer is often diagnosed at a stage when cancer cells have already become aggressive and become resistant to standard therapeutic options. Progression, apoptosis, angiogenesis, metastasis and invasion behold great capability to treat and detect cancer at the molecular level. Dysregulation of apoptosis is one of the most common molecular events known to be associated with the development of oral cancer. In this review, we discuss key apoptotic markers which can be used as prognostic and/or therapeutic targets in oral cancer.

Radon emanation from the soil gas was studied using a deep red coloured cellulose nitrate LR-115 type II film. The study was carried out from March 2012 to February 2013 at Mat Bridge (23°18΄ N, 92°48΄ E) along Mat Fault in Serchhip district, Mizoram (India). Changes in radon concentrations have been observed. Effects of meteorological parameters on radon emission were also studied. The measured radon data shows a moderate positive correlation with relative humidity but no specific relation with air temperature and rainfall. Data obtained have been correlated to the earthquakes that occurred around the measuring sites., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Rapid and accurate diagnosis is important for preventing transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Currently available tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic methods lack desired sensitivity and specificity, and require sophisticated equipment and skilled workforce including weeks' long duration to yield results. In this study, extracellular proteins or secretory protein antigens of M. tuberculosis H37Rv have been isolated using ion exchange chromatography, immunocharacterized and exploited for the development of efficient enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for diagnosis of active TB with enhanced specificity and sensitivity. Apparent molecular masses for purified proteins were found to be 6, 27, 30, 38 and 64 kDa. Out of five purified proteins, one (64 kDa) was found to be novel. Of the five proteins, four (6, 27, 30 and 38 kDa) were found significant to be used in the development of ELISA for pulmonary and extra-pulmonary TB. The immune responses of serum samples of TB patients and other healthy subjects against the above-mentioned antigens' cocktail were evaluated. Critical parameters of newly developed ELISA were optimized and it was observed that the cocktail antigens have a greater specificity (98.06 %) and sensitivity (98.67 %) as compared to other commercially available diagnostic tests. The present findings suggest that the developed ELISA is an effective tool for routine screening and early-stage diagnosis of TB.

A new ichnospecies of the ichnogenus Funalichnus Pokorný is described from the Middle Bhuban Unit, Bhuban Formation, Surma Group (Lower - Middle Miocene) of Aizawl, Mizoram, India. Funalichnus bhubani isp. Nov. Is a large burrow displaying cylindrical segments that are oriented nearly perpendicular to the bedding plane. The new ichnospecies can be identified on the basis of general form, size, unlined passive filling and twisted rod-like structure. The association of Funalichnus bhubani isp. Nov. With Arenicolites, Diplocraterion, Ophiomorpha Psilonichnus Skolithos and Thalassinoides points to its bathymetric restriction. The deep extension of the burrow in clastic sediments provides a favourable condition for preservation in the shoreface environment and occurrence in fine- to medium-grained clastic sediments may be a preservational preference.

We show that the interplay of cyclotron motion and Andreev reflection experienced by massless-Dirac-like charge carriers in topological-insulator surface states generates a Majorana-particle excitation. On the basis of an envelope-function description of the Dirac-Andreev edge states, we discuss the kinematic properties of the Majorana mode and find them to be tunable by changing the superconductor's chemical potential and/or the magnitude of the perpendicular magnetic field. Our proposal opens up new possibilities for studying Majorana fermions in a controllable setup.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection has now become endemic worldwide and AIDS ranks fourth among the world's top killers of mankind. A rapid and accurate HIV testing assay is a pre-requisite for practical applicability of diagnostic tests. The aim of this present study was to design peptide cocktail as an antigen and to develop ELISA test for HIV-1/2 antibody detection, with enhanced sensitivity and specificity. A novel peptide stretch V3-I, covering immunodominant epitope corresponding to V3 hypervariable loop of gp120 antigens of selected Indian isolates, has been studied and incorporated in an antigenic cocktail of gp36, gp41, and rp24 of HIV-1/2. Peptides from these antigens were chemically synthesized and an additional cysteine residue was added at both amino- and carboxyl-terminal sequences of each peptide in order to form inter and intramolecular disulfide bond for the folding of peptides. This generated conformational epitopes with increased oligomericity and stability of peptide sequences; and attachment of antigen to the solid support of ELISA plates. The use of antigenic cocktail of folded peptides and recombinant p24 enhanced sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA test. Evaluation of the test using 1123 serum samples in comparison with Boston Biomedical Incorporation (BBI) panels showed 100% sensitivity and 99.3% specificity with no cross reactivity tribulation. In conclusion, "HIV screen test" detects HIV 1/2 antibodies with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity and could be a promising tool for seroscreening of blood during transfusion, counseling and diagnosis of HIV-1/2., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the leading cause of death worldwide, with early diagnosis still being difficult. Promising new cardiac biomarkers such as troponins and creatine kinase (CK) isoforms are being studied and integrated into clinical practice for early diagnosis of AMI. The cardiac-specific troponins I and T (cTnI and cTnT) have good sensitivity and specificity as indicators of myocardial necrosis and are superior to CK and its MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) in this regard. Besides being potential biologic markers, cardiac troponins also provide significant prognostic information. The introduction of novel high-sensitivity troponin assays has enabled more sensitive and timely diagnosis or exclusion of acute coronary syndromes. This review summarizes the available information on the potential of troponins and other cardiac markers in early diagnosis and prognosis of AMI, and provides perspectives on future diagnostic approaches to AMI.

Survivin is known to be highly-expressed in various carcinomas; and is associated with their biologically aggressive characteristics and drug resistance. We have previously reported survivin as an important anti-apototic protein involved in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tumorigenesis and providing resistance to conventional cancer therapies. The purpose of present study was to investigate the potential of survivin as a therapeutic target in HNSCC. This study was designed to explore the effect(s) of survivin-siRNA therapy on the apoptosis in HNSCC cells, and its influence on cisplatin-sensitivity. Lentivirus vector was developed to deliver survivin specific siRNA into cancer cells. The data indicates that silencing of survivin-mediated by Lentivirus-siRNA therapy effectively suppressed cancer cell proliferation and induced caspase-dependent apoptosis in HNSCC cells. The study also shows that the response of HNSCC cells to cisplatin drug treatment at clinically relevant level was limited. We observed survivin to be a key factor involved in this cisplatin-resistance mechanism, and down-regulation of survivin significantly increased sensitivity of cancer cells to cisplatin-mediated apoptosis. Thus, this combination therapy acts as a multimodality regimen with significant potential to improve clinical outcomes in head and neck cancers.

A rapid and sensitive gold-nanobioprobe based immunoassay format has been presented for the detection of capsular Vi polysaccharide of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (surface antigen) using anti-Vi antibodies. The Vi antigen was extracted from serovar Typhi cells, under the optimised growth conditions for its over-expression. Anti-Vi antibodies were produced and conjugated with gold nanoparticles (GNPs) of definite size (~30 nm), which served as the nano-bioprobe in the detection system. A sandwich immunoassay was developed using nitrocellulose dot blot comb (8/12 wells) membranes immobilized with anti-Salmonella antibodies at the optimal concentration (43 ng spot(-1)). The Vi antigen in the clinical isolates, spiked samples and also in the standard strain (serovar Typhi Ty2) was detected by measuring the colour intensity of GNPs and correlating it with the concentration of serovar Typhi in samples. Using this developed immunoassay technique Vi positive serovar Typhi strains could be detected with a sensitivity of up to 10(2) cells mL(-1) in the clinical isolates as well as in the spiked samples. The developed immunoassay technique could be useful for the detection of typhoid fever and may be important from an epidemiological point of view.

Background/aims: To study the prevalence of somatic and psychiatric co-morbidities in the patients of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and to assess the quality of life (QOL) of these patients., Methods: One hundred and eighty-four IBS patients and 198 controls were included. Diagnosis of IBS, its sub-classification and assessment of other functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) was made on basis of Rome III criteria. Severity of IBS was assessed using IBS severity scoring system. Psychiatric evaluation was done using Patient Heath Questionnaire. QOL was evaluated using WHO QOL-BREF., Results: One hundred and forty-seven (79.9%) and 158 (85.9%) patients with IBS had at least one other FGID or at least one somatic co-morbidity, respectively. Higher number of patients had at least one psychiatric co-morbidity compared to controls (79.9% vs 34.3%; P < 0.001). Major depressive syndrome (47.3% vs 5.1%; P < 0.001), somatoform disorder (50% vs 14.6%; P < 0.001) and panic syndrome (44% vs 11.6%; P < 0.001) were more common in IBS than controls. Only 14 (7.6%) patients were receiving drug treatment for their psychiatric illness. Severe IBS symptoms were present in significantly higher number of patients with constipation predominant IBS than diarrhea predominant IBS. Those with severe disease had higher prevalence of psychiatric (95.1%) and somatic (96.7%) co-morbidities compared with mild disease. QOL of IBS patients was significantly lower in all four domains compared to controls. Presence of at least one other FGID was significantly associated with presence of one or more psychiatric co-morbidity (P < 0.001)., Conclusions: Majority of IBS patients presenting to a tertiary care center had associated psychiatric, somatic co-morbidities and reduced QOL. Very few of them received specific psychiatric treatment.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) is an inducible enzyme involved in the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin and other eicosanoids. Molecular pathology studies have revealed that Cox-2 is over-expressed in cancer and stroma cells during tumor progression, and anti-cancer chemo-radiotherapies induce expression of Cox-2 in cancer cells. Elevated tumor Cox-2 is associated with increased angiogenesis, tumor invasion and promotion of tumor cell resistance to apoptosis. Several experimental and clinical studies have established potent anti-cancer activity of NSAID (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and other Cox-2 inhibitors such as celecoxib. Much attention is being focused on Cox-2 inhibitors as beneficial target for cancer chemotherapy. The mode of action of Cox-2 and its inhibitors remains unclear. Further clinical application needs to be investigated for comprehending Cox-2 biological functions and establishing it as an effective target in cancer therapy.

The gut microflora is an important constituent in the intestinal mucosal barrier and has been introduced as the concept of probiotic therapy that beneficially affects the host by improving its intestinal microbial balance. Therefore, the main objective of the study was to explore the protective potential of various lactobacilli strains for murine giardiasis. By experimentation, it was found that the probiotic supplementation of either Lactobacillus casei, L. acidophilus, L. plantarum, or L. rhamnosus GG, 7 days prior to inoculation with G. lamblia trophozoites, reduced the rate of cyst excretion compared with Giardia-infected mice. Interestingly, L. GG was found to be the most effective probiotic in reducing the duration of giardia cycle and acts as an effective prophylactic probiotic for murine giardiasis but needs to be clinically correlated due to entirely different human microflora.

The present study deals with the evaluation of the efficacy of oxaliplatin and paclitaxel combination as a potential strategy in controlling HNSCC cell proliferation and the assessment of correlation between occurrence of apoptosis and changes in expression of survivin (IAP). The panel cell lines included two HNSCC cell lines (Cal27 and NT8e) and one normal cell line (293) with differential level of survivin expression in accordance with chemosensitivity. The cytotoxicity and effect of drugs on apoptosis was determined, separately and in combination. Combined treatment of cells with paclitaxel and oxaliplatin resulted in significantly higher cytotoxicity as compared to individual single drug treatment. Cytotoxicity was prominent in paclitaxel to oxaliplatin (pacl-oxal) sequence treatment with an approximate two-fold increase in apoptosis as compared to oxaliplatin to paclitaxel (oxal-pacl) sequence treatment. Paclitaxel treatment also caused increased survivin expression showing reduced apoptosis at low concentration. Oxaliplatin, when combined with paclitaxel, decreased the survivin level with increased cell death. Inhibition of survivin by a small interfering RNA (siRNA) method also increased the sensitivity of the cancer cell lines to paclitaxel whereas over-expression of survivin in the transfected 293-cell line provided resistance. In conclusion, the interaction between drugs was synergistic and schedule-dependent. Survivin played a critical role in paclitaxel resistance through the suppression of apoptosis, and a significant induction of apoptosis was observed when oxaliplatin was combined with paclitaxel at least in part by the down-regulation of survivin.

Background: Oxaliplatin is integrated in treatment strategies against a variety of cancers including radiation protocols. Herein, as a new strategy we tested feasibility and rationale of oxaliplatin in combination with radiation to control proliferation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells and discussed survivin-related signaling and apoptosis induction., Methods: Cytotoxicity and apoptosis induced by radiation and/or oxaliplatin were examined in relation to survivin status using two HNSCC cell lines viz., Cal27 and NT8e, and one normal 293-cell line. Survivin gene knockdown by siRNA was also tested in relevance to oxaliplatin-mediated radiosensitization effects., Results: Survivin plays a critical role in mediating radiation-resistance in part through suppression of apoptosis via a caspase-dependent mechanism. Oxaliplatin treatment significantly decreased expression of survivin in cancer cells within 24-72 h. Apoptotic cells and caspase-3 activity were increased parallely with decrease in cell viability, if irradiated during this sensitive period. The cytotoxicity of oxaliplatin and radiation combination was greater than additive. Survivin gene knockdown experiments have demonstrated the role of survivin in radiosensitization of cancer cells mediated by oxaliplatin., Conclusions: Higher expression of survivin is a critical factor for radioresistance in HNSCC cell lines. Pre-treatment of cancer cells with oxaliplatin significantly increased the radiosensitivity through induction of apoptosis by potently inhibiting survivin., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Extent of involvement and activity of ulcerative colitis (UC) is best evaluated by colonoscopy. Colonoscopy however carries risk during acute exacerbation. We investigated the utility of PET/CT colonography for assessment of extent and activity of UC., Methods: Within a 1-week window, 15 patients with mild to moderately active UC underwent colonoscopy and PET/CT colonography 60 min after injection of 10 mCi of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). PET activity score based on the amount of FDG uptake and endoscopic mucosal activity in seven colonic segments of each patient was recorded. The mean maximum standardized uptake value (SUV(max)) of seven segments was compared with activity in liver. A PET activity grade of 0, 1, 2 or 3 was assigned to each region depending upon their SUV(max) ratio (colon segment to liver)., Results: The extent of disease was left-sided colitis in five and pancolitis in ten. The mean Ulcerative Colitis Disease Activity Index (UCDAI) was 7.6. The number of segments involved as per colonoscopic evaluation and PET/CT colonography was 67 and 66, respectively. There was a good correlation for extent evaluation between the two modalities (kappa 55.3%, p = 0.02). One patient had grade 0 PET activity, nine had grade 2 and five had grade 3 PET activity. In six patients, there was one to one correlation between PET activity grades with that of endoscopic grade. One patient showed activity in the sacroiliac joint suggesting active sacroiliitis., Conclusion: PET/CT colonography is a novel non-invasive technique for the assessment of extent and activity of the disease in patients with UC.

Objectives: The clinical, endoscopic, and histological features of Crohn's disease (CD) and intestinal tuberculosis mimic each other so much that it becomes difficult to differentiate between them. The aim was to find out clinical, endoscopic, and histological predictor features for differentiation between CD and intestinal tuberculosis., Methods: We recruited 106 patients, 53 each with CD and intestinal tuberculosis, in this study. The clinical, histological, and endoscopic features were subjected to univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses. On the basis of regression coefficients of the final multivariate logistic model, a score to discriminate between CD and intestinal tuberculosis was devised. For the validation of the score, the same model was tested on 20 new patients, each with CD and intestinal tuberculosis., Results: On univariate analysis, although longer duration of disease, chronic diarrhea, blood in stool, perianal disease, extra-intestinal manifestations, involvement of left colon, skip lesions, aphthous ulcers, cobblestoning, longitudinal ulcers, focally enhanced colitis, and microgranulomas were significantly more common in CD, partial intestinal obstruction, constipation, presence of nodular lesions, higher number, and larger granulomas were significantly more common in intestinal tuberculosis. On multivariate analysis, blood in stool (odds ratio (OR) 0.1 (confidence interval (CI) 0.04-0.5)), weight loss (OR 9.8 (CI 2.2-43.9)), histologically focally enhanced colitis (OR 0.1 (CI 0.03-0.5)), and involvement of sigmoid colon (OR 0.07(0.01-0.3)) were independent predictors of intestinal tuberculosis. On the basis of regression coefficients of the final multivariate logistic model, a score that varied from 0.3 to 9.3 was devised. Higher score predicted more likelihood of intestinal tuberculosis. Once the cutoff was set at 5.1, then the sensitivity, specificity, and ability to correctly classify the two diseases were 83.0, 79.2, and 81.1%, respectively. Area under the curve for receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) to assess the ability of these features to discriminate between CD and intestinal tuberculosis was 0.9089. The area under ROC in the validation data set was 89.2% (95% CI 0.79-0.99). With a similar cutoff score of 5.1, sensitivity and specificity in the validation model were 90% (95% CI 66.9-98.2) and 60% (95% CI 36.4-80.0), respectively., Conclusions: Blood in stool, weight loss, focally enhanced colitis, and involvement of the sigmoid colon were the most important features in differentiating CD from intestinal tuberculosis.

Various studies indicate the role of manganese (Mn) in the virulence of pathogens. Salmonella is an intracellular pathogen which is able to multiply within the macrophages. The present study was therefore, designed to assess the effect of Mn supplementation on Salmonella-macrophage interactions particularly in reference to Salmonella virulence and macrophage functions. A 50-fold decrease in the lethal dose 50 (LD(50)) of Salmonella typhimurium was observed when mice were infected with Salmonella grown in the presence of Mn as compared to the LD(50) in the absence of Mn indicating an increase in the virulence of the organism. A significant increase was observed in the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) of S. typhimurium grown in presence of manganese. Upon Mn supplementation, macrophage functions were also found to be altered. Decreased phagocytic activity of macrophages interacted with Salmonella was observed in presence of Mn as compared to the activity in the absence of Mn. A significant increase was observed in the extent of lipid peroxidation along with significant decreases in the activities of SOD and catalase as well as nitrite levels of macrophages interacted with S. typhimurium upon supplementation with Mn. These observations indicate that Mn supplementation might have increased the expression of Mn transporters in Salmonella resulting in increased levels of its superoxide dismutase. The altered Salmonella function in turn might have been responsible for inhibiting phagocytosis and impairing the balance between the oxidant and antioxidant profile of macrophages, thus protecting itself by exhibiting exalted virulence.

Biserrula pelecinus L. is a pasture legume that was introduced to Australia from the Mediterranean basin in 1993. Although the native rhizobial population could not nodulate B. pelecinus at the time of its introduction, recent research has shown the emergence of a diversity of strains (novel isolates) that are able to do so. Three novel isolates, WSM2073T, WSM2074 and WSM2076, had nearly identical 16S rRNA gene sequences, and clustered separately with all recognized species of the genus Mesorhizobium. Conversely, the novel isolate WSM2075T had >23 nt mismatches with the above three isolates. All four novel isolates shared 97-99% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the type strains of all recognized Mesorhizobium species. However, strains WSM2073T, WSM2074 and WSM2076 showed <95.2% dnaK gene sequence similarity to the type strains of recognized Mesorhizobium species, and <92.9% to WSM2075T (which also shared <95.5% dnaK gene sequence similarity to the type strains of recognized Mesorhizobium species). Results for GSII gene sequencing were consistent with those for the dnaK gene. The fatty acid profiles of the novel isolates were diagnostic of root-nodule bacteria, but did not match those of recognized bacterial species. Strain WSM2075T had a significantly different fatty acid profile from the other three isolates. The above results indicated that strains WSM2073T, WSM2074 and WSM2076 represent the same species. Strain WSM2073T showed <45% DNA-DNA relatedness and WSM2075T<5% DNA-DNA relatedness with the type strains of recognized Mesorhizobium species; these two novel isolates shared 59% DNA-DNA relatedness. Collectively, these data indicate that strains WSM2073T, WSM2074 and WSM2076, and strain WSM2075T belong to two novel species of the genus Mesorhizobium, for which the names Mesorhizobium australicum sp. nov. and Mesorhizobium opportunistum sp. nov. are proposed, respectively. The type strain of Mesorhizobium australicum sp. nov. is WSM2073T (=LMG 24608T=HAMBI 3006T) and the type strain of Mesorhizobium opportunistum sp. nov. is WSM2075T (=LMG 24607T=HAMBI 3007T).

Background: Survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis, is overexpressed in cancer. It has been implicated in both prevention of apoptosis and cell cycle regulation. We investigated the distribution of antiapoptotic protein survivin in 29 oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and 16 oral premalignant lesions. It has been suggested that wild-type p53 represses survivin expression. Therefore, we investigated the status of p53 in relation to survivin to determine the potential involvement in oral tumorigenesis., Methods: Oral cancer tissues were freshly obtained at the time of surgery and classified as per general rules of head and neck cancer (TNM classification). Immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction were conducted to study the expression of survivin and p53. The Fisher's exact test was employed to determine the association of survivin and p53 with clinicopathologic parameters of the subjects being studied., Results: Positive staining for survivin was found in 72% OSCC and 44% oral premalignant lesions with no immunoreactions in the corresponding normal tissues. For p53, 59% OSCC, 38% premalignant lesions, and 14% normal tissues were positive. Importantly, about half of the p53-positive OSCC and premalignant tissues also showed survivin positivity (28% OSCC and 18% premalignant lesions). Further, it is observed that the number of survivin positive cells was significantly higher in the p53-positive group. Survivin is expressed in a varying proportion of cells, and in majority of patients it was localized in cytoplasm, whereas p53 is strictly restricted to the nucleus. The survivin expression levels in both primary OSCC and premalignant lesions were significantly higher than in normal oral tissues (OSCC, p < .0008; premalignant lesions, p < .04). No significant correlations between survivin and p53 expression with clinicopathologic parameters were found., Conclusions: Frequent overexpression of apoptosis regulators, survivin and p53, in OSCC as well as in oral premalignant lesions were found. Overexpression of these 2 markers in premalignant lesions suggest a role in early stages of oral carcinogenesis., (Copyright 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The South African legumes Lotononis bainesii, L. listii and L. solitudinis are specifically nodulated by highly effective, pink-pigmented bacteria that are most closely related to Methylobacterium nodulans on the basis of 16S rRNA gene homology. Methylobacterium spp. are characterized by their ability to utilize methanol and other C(1) compounds, but 11 Lotononis isolates neither grew on methanol as a sole carbon source nor were able to metabolize it. No product was obtained for PCR amplification of mxaF, the gene encoding the large subunit of methanol dehydrogenase. Searches for methylotrophy genes in the sequenced genome of Methylobacterium sp. 4-46, isolated from L. bainesii, indicate that the inability to utilize methanol may be due to the absence of the mxa operon. While methylotrophy appears to contribute to the effectiveness of the Crotalaria/M. nodulans symbiosis, our results indicate that the ability to utilize methanol is not a factor in the Lotononis/Methylobacterium symbiosis.

Medicago truncatula (barrel medic) A17 is currently being sequenced as a model legume, complementing the sequenced root nodule bacterial strain Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 (Sm1021). In this study, the effectiveness of the Sm1021-M. truncatula symbiosis at fixing N(2) was evaluated. N(2) fixation effectiveness was examined with eight Medicago species and three accessions of M. truncatula with Sm1021 and two other Sinorhizobium strains. Plant shoot dry weights, plant nitrogen content and nodule distribution, morphology and number were analysed. Compared with nitrogen-fed controls, Sm1021 was ineffective or partially effective on all hosts tested (excluding M. sativa), as measured by reduced dry weights and shoot N content. Against an effective strain, Sm1021 on M. truncatula accessions produced more nodules, which were small, pale, more widely distributed on the root system and with fewer infected cells. The Sm1021-M. truncatula symbiosis is poorly matched for N(2) fixation and the strain could possess broader N(2) fixation deficiencies. A possible origin for this reduction in effectiveness is discussed. An alternative sequenced strain, effective at N(2) fixation on M. truncatula A17, is Sinorhizobium medicae WSM419.

Setting: A total of 1360 subjects with clinically confirmed pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and other non-tuberculous conditions., Objectives: To develop a rapid, sensitive and specific diagnostic test for the detection of the glycolipid antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a variety of clinical samples., Study Design: Affinity-purified rabbit anti-glycolipid antibodies (IgG) were coupled to liposome particles (0.2-0.4 microm) in the presence of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride and N-hydroxysuccinamide to prepare the working reagent of the TB/M card test., Results: Antibody-conjugated liposomes, when determined with the glycolipid antigens present in the specimens, formed a dark blue agglutination within 4 min. No clumping was observed in samples from normal healthy subjects or patients with other diseases. The test was shown to be effective in detecting glycolipid antigens of M. tuberculosis in clinical samples from patients with active TB with as low as 1 ng/ml analytical sensitivity, 97.4% clinical sensitivity and 96.9% specificity., Conclusion: The TB/M card test was found to be comparatively economical (4 Indian Rupees or US$ 0.09/test), rapid (4 min) and seems fairly useful for mass testing of a variety of biological specimens (cerebrospinal, pleural and synovial fluids, serum, tissue biopsy extract) from patients with tuberculous meningitis, pulmonary TB and other extra-pulmonary TB in endemic countries.

The multi-billion dollar asset attributed to symbiotic nitrogen fixation is often threatened by the nodulation of legumes by rhizobia that are ineffective or poorly effective in N(2) fixation. This study investigated the development of rhizobial diversity for the pasture legume Biserrula pelecinus L., 6 years after its introduction, and inoculation with Mesorhizobium ciceri bv. biserrulae strain WSM1271, to Western Australia. Molecular fingerprinting of 88 nodule isolates indicated seven were distinctive. Two of these were ineffective while five were poorly effective in N(2) fixation on B. pelecinus. Three novel isolates had wider host ranges for nodulation than WSM1271, and four had distinct carbon utilization patterns. Novel isolates were identified as Mesorhizobium sp. using 16S rRNA, dnaK and GSII phylogenies. In a second study, a large number of nodules were collected from commercially grown B. pelecinus from a broader geographical area. These plants were originally inoculated with M. c bv. biserrulae WSM1497 5-6 years prior to isolation of strains for this study. Nearly 50% of isolates from these nodules had distinct molecular fingerprints. At two sites diverse strains dominated nodule occupancy indicating recently evolved strains are highly competitive. All isolates tested were less effective and six were ineffective in N(2) fixation. Twelve randomly selected diverse isolates clustered together, based on dnaK sequences, within Mesorhizobium and distantly to M. c bv. biserrulae. All 12 had identical sequences for the symbiosis island insertion region with WSM1497. This study shows the rapid evolution of competitive, yet suboptimal strains for N(2) fixation on B. pelecinus following the lateral transfer of a symbiosis island from inoculants to other soil bacteria.

The limitations of the conventional methods for diagnosing tuberculosis have spurred multi-faceted research activities in this field throughout the world. Chromatographic methods appear promising but may not be widely available in the developing countries. Immuno-diagnostic methods using combinations ("cocktails") of antigens have high sensitivity and specificity and can easily be applied in the peripheral laboratories and in the field settings. Though expensive, molecular methods for diagnosis of tuberculosis have advantages of speed, sensitivity, and specificity. Adequate training of the eligible personnels in molecular methods and prevention of laboratory-dependent contamination may help reduce false positive results. Although, there are no clear guidelines, so far on how to make out the best from the gene amplification methods, yet their use may be encouraged with adequate quality controls, because of the inherent ingenuity and promises of these methods. Phage-based molecular methods provide rapid results in susceptibility tests for anti-tubercular drugs. In future, many sophisticated techniques are expected to hit the market for a rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis. In the developing countries, it is necessary to evaluate availability of suitable infrastructure and trained personnels before adopting modern diagnostic methods.

Biserrula pelecinus L. is a pasture legume species that forms a highly specific nitrogen-fixing symbiotic interaction with a group of bacteria that belong to Mesorhizobium. These mesorhizobia have >98.8 % sequence similarity to Mesorhizobium ciceri and Mesorhizobium loti for the 16S rRNA gene (1440 bp) and >99.3 % sequence similarity to M. ciceri for the dnaK gene (300 bp), and strain WSM1271 has 100 % sequence similarity to M. ciceri for GSII (600 bp). Strain WSM1271 had 85 % relatedness to M. ciceri LMG 14989(T) and 50 % relatedness to M. loti LMG 6125(T) when DNA-DNA hybridization was performed. WSM1271 also had a similar cellular fatty acid profile to M. ciceri. These results are strong evidence that the Biserrula mesorhizobia and M. ciceri belong to the same group of bacteria. Significant differences were revealed between the Biserrula mesorhizobia and M. ciceri in growth conditions, antibiotic resistance and carbon source utilization. The G+C content of the DNA of WSM1271 was 62.7 mol%, compared to 63-64 mol% for M. ciceri. The Biserrula mesorhizobia contained a plasmid ( approximately 500 bp), but the symbiotic genes were detected on a mobile symbiosis island and considerable variation was present in the symbiotic genes of Biserrula mesorhizobia and M. ciceri. There was <78.6 % sequence similarity for nodA and <66.9 % for nifH between Biserrula mesorhizobia and M. ciceri. Moreover, the Biserrula mesorhizobia did not nodulate the legume host of M. ciceri, Cicer arietinum, and M. ciceri did not nodulate B. pelecinus. These significant differences observed between Biserrula mesorhizobia and M. ciceri warrant the proposal of a novel biovar for Biserrula mesorhizobia within M. ciceri. The name Mesorhizobium ciceri biovar biserrulae is proposed, with strain WSM1271 (=LMG 23838=HAMBI 2942) as the reference strain.

Diverse rhizobia able to nodulate Biserrula pelecinus evolved following in situ transfer of nodA and nifH from an inoculant to soil bacteria. Transfer of these chromosomal genes and the presence of an identical integrase gene adjacent to a Phe tRNA gene in both the inoculant and recipients indicate that there was lateral transfer of a symbiosis island.

Sinorhizobium medicae WR101 was identified as a mutant of WSM419 that contained a minitransposon-induced transcriptional gusA fusion activated at least 20-fold at pH 5.7. The expression of this fusion in moderately acid conditions was dependent on the calcium concentration; increasing the calcium concentration to enhance cell growth and survival in acid conditions decreased the expression of the fusion. A gene region containing the gusA fusion was sequenced, revealing five S. medicae genes: tcsA, tcrA, fsrR, lpiA and acvB. The gusA reporter in WR101 was fused to lpiA, which encodes a putative transmembrane protein also found in other Alphaproteobacteria such as Sinorhizobium meliloti, Rhizobium tropici and Agrobacterium tumefaciens. As LpiA has partial sequence similarity to the lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol (LPG) synthetase FmtC/MprF from Staphylococcus aureus, membrane lipid compositions of S. medicae strains were analysed. Cells cultured under neutral or acidic growth conditions did not induce any detectable LPG and therefore this lipid cannot be a major constituent of S. medicae membranes. Expression studies in S. medicae localized the acid-activated lpiA promoter within a 372 bp region upstream of the start codon. The acid-activated transcription of lpiA required the fused sensor-regulator product of the fsrR gene, because expression of lpiA was severely reduced in an S. medicae fsrR mutant. S. meliloti strain 1021 does not contain fsrR and acid-activated expression of the lpiA-gusA fusion did not occur in this species. Although acid-activated lpiA transcription was not required for cell growth, its expression was crucial in enhancing the viability of cells subsequently exposed to lethal acid (pH 4.5) conditions.

The optimization of nutrient levels for chitinase production by Enterobacter sp. NRG4 in solid-state fermentation conditions (SSF) was carried out using response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite design (CCD). The design was employed by selecting wheat bran-to-flake chitin ratio, moisture level, inoculum size, and incubation time as model factors. The results of first-order factorial design experiments showed that all four independent variables have significant effects on chitinase production. The optimum concentrations for chitinase production were wheat bran-to-flake chitin ratio, 1; moisture level, 80%; inoculum size, 2.6 mL; and incubation time, 168 h. Using this statistical optimization method, chitinase production was found to increase from 616 U . g(-1) dry weight of solid substrate to 1475 U . g(-1) dry weight of solid substrate.

A simple and cost-effective diagnostic tool (TB Screen Test) for the screening of patients with pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis and for differentiation of those individuals from individuals without tuberculosis, other common infections, and healthy controls has been developed. The serological responses of purified mycobacterial glycolipid antigens were examined by a liposome agglutination assay. The assay was able to detect very low antiglycolipid antibody concentrations in the infected individuals. The sera from the tuberculosis patient group had significantly higher concentrations of antiglycolipid antibody than the sera from uninfected control subjects, with 94% sensitivity and 98.3% specificity. Glycolipids of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv antigens were isolated, purified, and characterized. After interchelation with liposome particles, these purified antigens specifically bound to the antiglycolipid antibodies present in the sera of patients with tuberculosis, resulting in the formation of a blue agglutination. This protocol clearly differentiates healthy controls and M. bovis BCG-vaccinated subjects from those with active tuberculosis. The resultant diagnostic tool, the TB Screen Test, is more economical and rapid (4 min) than other currently available products and can be used for the mass screening of a heavily afflicted population.

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and its surface components were assessed for their inflammatory potential by footpad oedema test using plethysmometer. Inflammation was found to be the highest when outer membrane proteins (OMPs) were used as inflammagen followed by lipid associated protein-lipopolysaccharide complex (LAP-LPS) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Inflammation produced by OMPs was found to be comparable to that by carrageenan (a known positive inflammagen). However, injection of L-histidine (an antioxidant) prior to administration of carrageenan or Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium inhibited the inflammation, which indicated the involvement of oxidants during inflammatory response. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase and nitric oxide (NO) production by peritoneal macrophages from infected mice exhibited a significant increase as compared to those of the immunized mice. In contrast, glutathione production was found to be the maximum in the macrophages taken from OMPs-immunized mice followed by LAP-LPS and LPS alone. The biochemical studies correlated well with histopathological studies of intestinal tissue of animals from various groups. Based upon these parameters, inflammation seems to be modulated by OMPs and LAP-LPS, which may be because of the protein moieties present in the components. Hence, immunization with protein moieties having L-histidine or L-histidine-like structures may suggest an alternative to the potential therapeutic values of anti-inflammatory drugs. Thus the results of this study form the basis for evaluating these antigens (either alone or in combination with polysaccharides) for preventive intervention rather than therapeutic.