Diversity of fungal endophytes and their bioactive metabolites from endemic plants of Tirumala hills-Seshachalam biosphere reserve

This study investigates the endophytic fungal diversity of three endemic plants of Tirumala hills also their capabilities for the production of hydrolysing enzymes and secondary metabolites. Our study provides the first evidence on the diversity, enzyme and metabolite charecterisation of fungal endophytes from the untapped endemic plants of Tirumala Hills of Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve, Easternghats, Andhra Pradesh, India. A total of 13 endophytic fungi isolates were obtained and grouped into seven genera based on the morphological traits, indicating endophytic fungi in Shorea thumbuggaia, Boswellia ovalifoliolata, Pterocarpus santalinus were diverse and abundant. Fusarium, Penicillium, Aspergillus and Colletotrichum were the dominant genera, whereas the remaining genera were less frequent. The 13 representative species of the distinct genera were capable of producing hydrolysing enzymes. Phytochemical analysis showed the production of various secondary metabolites that included saponins, carbohydrates, phenolics, glycosides and flavonoids. This investigation also reveals that the metabolites produced by a variety of endophytic fungi can be a potential source of novel natural therapeutic agents.Keywords: Endemic plants, fungal endophytes, hydrolyzing enzymes, secondary metabolites, Tirumala Hills.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(27), pp. 4317-432

Increased Monocyte Turnover from Bone Marrow Correlates with Severity of SIV Encephalitis and CD163 Levels in Plasma

Cells of the myeloid lineage are significant targets for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in humans and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) in monkeys. Monocytes play critical roles in innate and adaptive immunity during inflammation. We hypothesize that specific subsets of monocytes expand with AIDS and drive central nervous system (CNS) disease. Additionally, there may be expansion of cells from the bone marrow through blood with subsequent macrophage accumulation in tissues driving pathogenesis. To identify monocytes that recently emigrated from bone marrow, we used 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling in a longitudinal study of SIV-infected CD8+ T lymphocyte depleted macaques. Monocyte expansion and kinetics in blood was assessed and newly migrated monocyte/macrophages were identified within the CNS. Five animals developed rapid AIDS with differing severity of SIVE. The percentages of BrdU+ monocytes in these animals increased dramatically, early after infection, peaking at necropsy where the percentage of BrdU+ monocytes correlated with the severity of SIVE. Early analysis revealed changes in the percentages of BrdU+ monocytes between slow and rapid progressors as early as 8 days and consistently by 27 days post infection. Soluble CD163 (sCD163) in plasma correlated with the percentage of BrdU+ monocytes in blood, demonstrating a relationship between monocyte activation and expansion with disease. BrdU+ monocytes/macrophages were found within perivascular spaces and SIVE lesions. The majority (80–90%) of the BrdU+ cells were Mac387+ that were not productively infected. There was a minor population of CD68+BrdU+ cells (<10%), very few of which were infected (<1% of total BrdU+ cells). Our results suggest that an increased rate of monocyte recruitment from bone marrow into the blood correlates with rapid progression to AIDS, and the magnitude of BrdU+ monocytes correlates with the severity of SIVE

Low-temperature oxobis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionato)vanadium(IV)

The coordination geometry around the V atom in the title complex, $[VO(C_{11}H_{19}O_2)_2]$ is square pyramidal with the basal plane defined by four O atoms from two chelating \beta- diketonate ligands and the axial position occupied by an oxo group