143 research outputs found

    An MFS Transporter-Like ORF from MDR Acinetobacter baumannii AIIMS 7 Is Associated with Adherence and Biofilm Formation on Biotic/Abiotic Surface

    Get PDF
    A major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporter-like open reading frame (ORF) of 453 bp was identified in a pathogenic strain Acinetobacter baumannii AIIMS 7, and its association with adherence and biofilm formation was investigated. Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) showed differential expression in surface-attached biofilm cells than nonadherent cells. In vitro translation showed synthesis of a ~17 kDa protein, further confirmed by cloning and heterologous expression in E. coli DH5α. Up to 2.1-, 3.1-, and 4.1- fold biofilm augmentation was observed on abiotic (polystyrene) and biotic (S. cerevisiae/HeLa) surface, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and gfp-tagged fluorescence microscopy revealed increased adherence to abiotic (glass) and biotic (S. cerevisiae) surface. Extracellular DNA(eDNA) was found significantly during active growth; due to probable involvement of the protein in DNA export, strong sequence homology with MFS transporter proteins, and presence of transmembrane helices. In summary, our findings show that the putative MFS transporter-like ORF (pmt) is associated with adherence, biofilm formation, and probable eDNA release in A. baumannii AIIMS 7

    Genetic evidence for serum amyloid P component as a drug target in neurodegenerative disorders

    Get PDF
    The mechanisms responsible for neuronal death causing cognitive loss in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and many other dementias are not known. Serum amyloid P component (SAP) is a constitutive plasma protein, which is cytotoxic for cerebral neurones and also promotes formation and persistence of cerebral Aβ amyloid and neurofibrillary tangles. Circulating SAP, which is produced exclusively by the liver, is normally almost completely excluded from the brain. Conditions increasing brain exposure to SAP increase dementia risk, consistent with a causative role in neurodegeneration. Furthermore, neocortex content of SAP is strongly and independently associated with dementia at death. Here, seeking genomic evidence for a causal link of SAP with neurodegeneration, we meta-analysed three genome-wide association studies of 44 288 participants, then conducted cis-Mendelian randomization assessment of associations with neurodegenerative diseases. Higher genetically instrumented plasma SAP concentrations were associated with AD (odds ratio 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02; 1.11, p = 1.8 × 10-3), Lewy body dementia (odds ratio 1.37, 95%CI 1.19; 1.59, p = 1.5 × 10-5) and plasma tau concentration (0.06 log2(ng l-1) 95%CI 0.03; 0.08, p = 4.55 × 10-6). These genetic findings are consistent with neuropathogenicity of SAP. Depletion of SAP from the blood and the brain, by the safe, well tolerated, experimental drug miridesap may thus be neuroprotective

    R-Allyl Nickel(II) Complexes with Chelating N-Heterocyclic Carbenes: Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Catalytic Activity

    Get PDF
    The N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) nickel complexes [(L)Ni(NHC)][BArF4] (ArF = 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)- phenyl; L = allyl (1), methylallyl (2); NHC = 1-(2-picolyl)-3-methylimidazol-2-ylidene (a), 1-(2-picolyl)-3-isopropylimidazol-2-ylidene (b), 1-(2-picolyl)-3-n-butylimidazol-2-ylidene (c), 1-(2-picolyl)-3-phenylimidazol-2-ylidene (d), 1-(2-picolyl)-3- methylbenzoimidazol-2-ylidene (e), 1-(2-picolyl)-4,5-dichloro-3-methylimidazol-2-ylidene (f)) have been obtained in high yields and characterized by NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore, 1d was unambiguously characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Complexes 1a−f/2a−f have shown catalytic activity toward dimerization and hydrosilylation of styrenes. In particular, 1a proved to be the most efficient catalyst in the dimerization of styrene derivatives in the absence of cocatalyst. Also, complexes 1a,d showed high selectivity and moderate to good yields in hydrosilylation reactions

    Role of Drug Repurposing in Cancer Treatment and Liposomal Approach of Drug Targeting

    Get PDF
    Cancer is the leading cause of death, and incidences are increasing significantly and patients suffering from it desperately need a complete cure from it. The science of using an already-invented drug that has been approved by the FDA for a new application is known as “drug repurposing.” Currently, scientists are drawn to drug repositioning science in order to investigate existing drugs for newer therapeutic uses and cancer treatment. Because of their unique ability to target cancer cells, recently repurposed drugs and the liposomal approach are effective in the treatment of cancer. Liposomes are nanovesicles that are drastically flexible, rapidly penetrate deeper layers of cells, and enhance intracellular uptake. More importantly, liposomes are biocompatible, biodegradable; entrap both hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs. This chapter summarizes various approaches to drug repurposing, as well as drug repurposing methods, advantages and limitations of drug repurposing, and a liposomal approach to using repurposed drugs in cancer targeting. This chapter also summarizes liposomal structure, drug loading, and the mechanism of liposomes in targeted cancer treatment. The lipid-based liposomal approach is emerging as a powerful technique for improving drug solubility, bioavailability, reducing side effects, and improving the therapeutic efficacy of repurposed drugs for cancer treatment

    Analysis of discrete wavelet based image compression technique: A review

    No full text
    915-919In this paper, wavelet based coding algorithm, Set Partitioning in Hierarchical Trees (SPIHT), is considered for encoding and decoding image data. SPIHT uses recursive set partitioning procedure to sort subsets of wavelet coefficient by maximum magnitude with respect to threshold. SPIHT is simple, less complex and has very fast encoding and decoding, making it very efficient in multimedia communication. Numerical results obtained using MATLAB shows that output image has high value of peak signal to noise ratio with good compression ratio for low bit rate. &nbsp

    Ic Engine Operated Weeder Machine-a Review

    Full text link
    India is well known as agriculture country. The population of our country largely increasing day by day. Thus the increase in population agriculture space area get divided into small parts. Now a days it becomes difficult to introduce advance technology equipment and machineries in shell part of agricultural land. In India most of the farmers are using the conventional farming method for doing their all the agriculture work.So that time and money both are west. It is observed that Indian farmers are show in adopting the new technology due to the cost because yet which are the new technology are developed are highly costly.In the IC ENGINE OPERATED WEEDER MACHINE which is definitely useful for farmer to apply in small part of agricultural land. Of course it is economical to purchase and maintain it. In this machine we have use IC engine of sufficient capacity which develop the forces as we required. For running this machine which is operated with the help of bullocks. This machine is more efficient and less consuming than the other on

    Mapping of patents on bioemulsifier and biosurfactant: A review

    No full text
    91-115Biosurfactant (BS) and bioemulsifier (BE) molecules have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties that partition preferentially at the interface between fluid phases with different degrees of polarity and hydrogen bonding such as oil/water or air/water interfaces. Such characteristics enable excellent detergency, emulsifying, foaming and dispersing traits. Their low toxicity and environmental friendly nature and range of potential industrial applications in the oil, bioremediation, health care and food processing industries make them a highly sought after group of chemical compounds. Several patents have been issued on BE and BS produced by Acinetobacter spp., Bacillus spp., Pseudomonas spp. and sophorolipid producing yeasts like Candida spp. This review presents the result of a scan and mapping effort for 255 patents granted on these compounds worldwide highlighting the types of microorganisms, molecules produced, production process and their potential industrial applications
    corecore