Role of Exosomes in Tuberculosis: Looking Towards a Future Road Map

Exosomes are generated by the multivesicular degradation of plasma membrane fusion, lysosomal, and extracellular release of intracellular vesicles. The exosome ranges from 30 to 150 nm in size. Exosomes are “bioactive vesicles” that promote intercellular communication. Exosomes contain a variety of biologically active substances packaged with proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. After any microbe infection into the exosomes, the content of the exosomes changes and is released into the bloodstream. Such type of exosome content could be useful for basic research on exosome biology. Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). During the Mtb infection, the exosomes played an important role in the body’s infection and immune response by releasing several exosome components providing new ideas for diagnosis, prevention, and therapeutic treatment of Mtb infection. The detection of the low abundance of the Mtb numbers or secreted peptides in the serum of TB patients is not possible. The best way of findings for diagnosis and treatment of TB could be possible by the exploration of exosome content analysis through various useful technologies. The study and analysis of exosome content would produce a road map for the future early diagnosis, prognosis estimation, efficacy monitoring, research, and application for TB

Root attributes governing drought stress adaptation and the associated molecular markers in chromosome segment substitution lines in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The wild relatives of cultivated rice offer crucial resistance genes for combating stresses like drought. Developing rice varieties with drought tolerance is possible through chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs), which blend the genetic background of a high-yielding parent with specific chromosome segments from a donor parent. This study aimed to study the effect of drought stress on various root traits of chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) and their relationship with specific molecular markers. Ninety-six genotypes, including 80 chromosome segment substitution lines (Curinga x O. rufipogon and Curinga x O. meridionalis), 9 New Rice for Africa (NERICAs) and 7 controls were grown in Basket and PVC pipe methods for phenotyping different root traits. Under drought stress (DS), MER16, MER20, RUF10, RUF16, RUF44, NERICA1, and NERICA3 showed superior performance for most of the root traits. These evaluations were supplemented with association analysis of 17 root trait-linked simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers with root phenotypic traits. The marker RM201 is strongly associated with multiple root traits, found to be independent of three growth conditions (well-watered “WW” under Basket, WW condition and DS conditions under PVC pipe). The marker RM316 is associated with root volume, and the marker RM7424 and RM1054 show maximum root length. In conclusion, these markers can be used in marker-assisted breeding programs, and the lines carrying them can be used as parental lines in variety-development programs for drought tolerance

Exosomes and HIV-1 Association in AIDS-Defining Patients

Exosomes are membranous nanovesicles of endocytic origin that help to facilitate cell-to-cell communication by transporting cellular cargo locally or systemically to a recipient cell. These are subsequently fused and internalised by recipient cells. Exosomes are secreted from all cell types in HIV-1 infected patients. Recent studies reveal that exosomes from various sources modulate the pathophysiology of HIV-1, and conversely, exosomes are also targeted by HIV-1 factors. Semen or plasma exosomes could suppress/inhibit HIV-1 replication in humans and rodent models. Exosomal cargo components could be used as a biomarker in HIV-1patients and AIDS-defining patients. Exosome in semen and plasma is a useful tool for the diagnosis of HIV-1 and an alternative therapeutic tool for antiretroviral therapy

Assessment of thermal and antimicrobial properties of PAN/Zn-Al layered double hydroxide nanocomposites

<p>Polyacrylonitrile-based Zn–Al layered double hydroxide composites (PAN/LDH) have been synthesised with different LDH content by <i>in situ</i> polymerisation technique. The nanocomposites were systematically studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and antibacterial activity measurement. The successful formation of exfoliated nanocomposite was inferred from the XRD patterns and HRTEM images. The thermal decomposition of PAN was enhanced upon nanocomposite (PAN/LDH) formation. The antimicrobial activity of PAN/LDH nanocomposites is evaluated for antibacterial activity against some clinically important bacterial pathogens and the bacterial growth is monitored at different percentage of LDH. The PAN/LDH composites displayed considerable antibacterial activity, on the contrary the virgin PAN did not possess any antibacterial activity. The likely electrostatic interaction among LDH layers with charged surface of bacterial cell is assumed to be responsible for antimicrobial activity. The prepared nanocomposite has appreciable thermal stability in combination with antibacterial activities by which the material is suitable for packaging and fabrication in textile application.</p

Data_Sheet_1_Toll-like receptor 2 (−196 to −174) del and TLR1 743 A > G gene polymorphism—a possible association with drug-resistant tuberculosis in the north Indian population.PDF

ObjectivesThe objective of this study is to analyze the association between TLR2 deletion (−196 to −174) and TLR1 743 A > G gene polymorphism with drug resistant tuberculosis (PTB, MDR-TB, and XDR-TB) in a population from Agra, Uttar Pradesh.MethodsThe present case–control study included 101 pulmonary TB patients, 104 multidrug-resistant TB patients, 48 extremely drug-resistant TB patients, and 130 healthy and unrelated controls residing in the same locality. The genotyping method for TLR2 deletion (−196 to −174) was carried out by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and TLR1 743 A > G gene polymorphism was performed by hybridization probe chemistry in Roche Real-Time PCR. Genotype and allele frequencies were analyzed by the chi-square test. Cytokine levels were measured by ELISA and compared using Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests.ResultsThe frequency of heterozygous (Ins/del) genotypes for TLR2 (−196 to −174) polymorphism was predominant in XDR-TB patients (0.57), whereas heterozygous A/G genotype for TLR1 743 A > G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was predominant in healthy controls (0.57) for TLR1 743 A > G gene polymorphism. The heterozygous genotype of TLR2 deletion polymorphism was found to be significantly higher in XDR-TB (p = 0.0001). TLR1 743 A > G SNP, AG genotypes were found to be significantly associated with healthy controls than PTB (p = 0.047). The level of serum cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ) was also found to be significantly different among TB patients and healthy controls.ConclusionThe findings suggested that in the present population, the heterozygous (Ins/Del) genotype and deletion allele of TLR2 deletion (−196 to −174) polymorphism are associated with the risk for the development of drug-resistant TB. Furthermore, for TLR1 743 A > G gene polymorphism, A/G genotype, and G allele are found associated with healthy controls, suggesting the protective role against TB.</p

Data_Sheet_1_Toll-like receptor 2 (−196 to −174) del and TLR1 743 A > G gene polymorphism—a possible association with drug-resistant tuberculosis in the north Indian population.docx

ObjectivesThe objective of this study is to analyze the association between TLR2 deletion (−196 to −174) and TLR1 743 A > G gene polymorphism with drug resistant tuberculosis (PTB, MDR-TB, and XDR-TB) in a population from Agra, Uttar Pradesh.MethodsThe present case–control study included 101 pulmonary TB patients, 104 multidrug-resistant TB patients, 48 extremely drug-resistant TB patients, and 130 healthy and unrelated controls residing in the same locality. The genotyping method for TLR2 deletion (−196 to −174) was carried out by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and TLR1 743 A > G gene polymorphism was performed by hybridization probe chemistry in Roche Real-Time PCR. Genotype and allele frequencies were analyzed by the chi-square test. Cytokine levels were measured by ELISA and compared using Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests.ResultsThe frequency of heterozygous (Ins/del) genotypes for TLR2 (−196 to −174) polymorphism was predominant in XDR-TB patients (0.57), whereas heterozygous A/G genotype for TLR1 743 A > G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was predominant in healthy controls (0.57) for TLR1 743 A > G gene polymorphism. The heterozygous genotype of TLR2 deletion polymorphism was found to be significantly higher in XDR-TB (p = 0.0001). TLR1 743 A > G SNP, AG genotypes were found to be significantly associated with healthy controls than PTB (p = 0.047). The level of serum cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ) was also found to be significantly different among TB patients and healthy controls.ConclusionThe findings suggested that in the present population, the heterozygous (Ins/Del) genotype and deletion allele of TLR2 deletion (−196 to −174) polymorphism are associated with the risk for the development of drug-resistant TB. Furthermore, for TLR1 743 A > G gene polymorphism, A/G genotype, and G allele are found associated with healthy controls, suggesting the protective role against TB.</p

Molecular Breeding for Incorporation of Submergence Tolerance and Durable Bacterial Blight Resistance into the Popular Rice Variety &lsquo;Ranidhan&rsquo;

Ranidhan is a popular late-maturing rice variety of Odisha state, India. The farmers of the state suffer heavy loss in years with flash floods as the variety is sensitive to submergence. Bacterial blight (BB) disease is a major yield-limiting factor, and the variety is susceptible to the disease. BB resistance genes Xa21, xa13, and xa5, along with the Sub1 QTL, for submergence stress tolerance were transferred into the variety using marker-assisted backcross breeding approach. Foreground selection using direct and closely linked markers detected the progenies carrying all four target genes in the BC1F1, BC2F1, and BC3F1 generations, and the positive progenies carrying these genes with maximum similarity to the recipient parent, Ranidhan, were backcrossed into each segregating generation. Foreground selection in the BC1F1 generation progenies detected all target genes in 11 progenies. The progeny carrying all target genes and similar to the recipient parent in terms of phenotype was backcrossed, and a total of 321 BC2F1 seeds were produced. Ten progenies carried all target genes/QTL in the BC2F1 generation. Screening of the BC3F1 progenies using markers detected 12 plants carrying the target genes. A total of 1270 BC3F2 seeds were obtained from the best BC3F1 progeny. Foreground selection in the BC3F2 progenies detected four plants carrying the target genes in the homozygous condition. The bioassay of the pyramided lines conferred very high levels of resistance to the predominant isolates of bacterial blight pathogen. These BB pyramided lines were submergence-tolerant and similar to Ranidhan in 13 agro-morphologic and grain quality traits; hence, they are likely to be adopted by farmers

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Not AvailableRanidhan is a popular late-maturing rice variety of Odisha state, India. The farmers of the state suffer heavy loss in years with flash floods as the variety is sensitive to submergence. Bacterial blight (BB) disease is a major yield-limiting factor, and the variety is susceptible to the disease. BB resistance genesXa21, xa13, and xa5, along with the Sub1 QTL, for submergence stress tolerance were transferred into the variety using marker-assisted backcross breeding approach. Foreground selection using direct and closely linked markers detected the progenies carrying all four target genes in the BC1F1, BC2F1, and BC3F1 generations, and the positive progenies carrying these genes with maximum similarity to the recipient parent, Ranidhan, were backcrossed into each segregating generation. Foreground selection in the BC1F1 generation progenies detected all target genes in 11 progenies. The progeny carrying all target genes and similar to the recipient parent in terms of phenotype was backcrossed, and a total of 321 BC2F1 seeds were produced. Ten progenies carried all target genes/QTL in the BC2F1 generation. Screening of the BC3F1 progenies using markers detected 12 plants carrying the target genes. A total of 1270 BC3F2 seeds were obtained from the best BC3F1 progeny. Foreground selection in the BC3F2 progenies detected four plants carrying the target genes in the homozygous condition. The bioassay of the pyramided lines conferred very high levels of resistance to the predominant isolates of bacterial blight pathogen. These BB pyramided lines were submergence-tolerant and similar to Ranidhan in 13 agro-morphologic and grain quality traits; hence, they are likely to be adopted by farmers.Not Availabl