Cytokines induce effector T-helper cells during invasive aspergillosis; what we have learned about T-helper cells?

Invasive aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus species (Aspergillus fumigatus, A. flavus and A. terreus) is life-threatening infections in immunocompromised patients. Understanding the innate and adaptive immune response particularly T-helper cells (TH-cells) against these Aspergillus species and how the different sub-set of TH-cells are regulated by differentiating cytokines at primary target organ site like lung, kidney and brain is of great significance to human health. This review focuses on presentation of Aspergillus through Antigen presenting cells (APCs) to the naive CD4+ T-cells in the host. The production of differentiating/effector cytokines that activate following TH-cells e.g., TH1, TH2, TH9 and TH17 has been reported in association or alone in allergic or invasive aspergillosis. Chemokines (CXCL1, CXCL2, CCL1 and CCL20) and their receptors associated to these TH-cells have also been observed in invasive aspergillosis. Thus, further study of these TH-cells in invasive aspergillosis and other elements of adaptive immune response with Aspergillus species are required in order to have a better understanding of host response for safer and effective therapeutic outcome

IMPORTANCE OF NANOCARRIERS AND PROBIOTICS IN THE TREATMENT OF ULCERATIVE COLITIS

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory chronic disease primarily affecting the colonic mucosa; the extent and severity of colon involvement are variable. Ulcerative colitis is identified by mucus diarrhea, tenesmus, bowel distension, and anemia. 5-aminosalicylic acid drugs, steroids, and immune suppressants are used for the therapy of ulcerative colitis. The mainchallenges in the management of thediseaseare drug-related side-effects and local targeting. To overcome these challengesprobiotics and micro and Nanoparticulate systemauspiciousapproaches to overcome drug-related adverse side effects and local targeting.Upon ingestion, the probiotics can result in beneficial health effects. Probiotics and micro and nanoparticulate approaches for suitable targeting and overcome the drug-associated side effect. Probiotics are mainly used as gut modulators but are also nowadays explored for their use in ulcerative colitis.The current therapeutic goals are to achieve clinical remission along with mucosal healing, avoidance of complications such as side effects of the drug and to improve the quality of life. The use of probiotics to increase the health of the intestine and used to block or manage intestinal disorders. They may prevent the induction of inflammatory reactions. Probiotics must be inspected for efficacy in the prevention and management of a wide spectrum of gastrointestinal diseases, like antibiotic-associated diarrhea.Micro and Nanoparticulate drug delivery system has been achieving huge importance for targeting of the drug to colon locally at a controlled and sustained rate

Formulation and Characterization of Novel Transfersomes Gel for Enhance TDDS of Losartan Potassium

A transferosome is the first generation of an elastic liposome prepared from phospholipids and edge activators. An edge activator is often a single-chain surfactant with a high radius of curvature that destabilizes the lipid bilayers of vesicles and increases the deformability of the bilayers, thereby making the vehicle ultra-deformable. Losartan potassium is an orally active angiotensin-II receptor antagonist used in the treatment of hypertension due to mainly blockade of AT1 receptor. It is freely soluble in water, slightly soluble in acetonitrile, and soluble in isopropyl alcohol. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential of transfersomal gel formulations for transdermal delivery of losartan potassium by reverse phase evaporation method. Characterization of transfersomes gel performed by vesicle size, pH measurements,  drug content, entrapment efficiency, in vitro drug diffusion study, spreadability and stability study. In the formulations pH is found to be around 6.8 to 6.9, pH is found in the range of 6 which is compatible with skin. In the formulations spreadability is found to be around 6.75 to 10.11 g m cm/sec. The prepared gel containing losartan potassium-loaded transfersomal formulation was optimized and can be use for topical preparation. The results were obtained which showed that transfersomal gel was a promising candidate for transdermal delivery with targeted and prolonged release of a drug. It also enhances skin permeation of many drugs. Keywords: Transferosome gel, Losartan potassium, Antihypertensives, Reverse phase evaporation metho

Human Beta Casein Fragment (54–59) Modulates <em>M. bovis</em> BCG Survival and Basic Transcription Factor 3 (BTF3) Expression in THP-1 Cell Line

<div><p>Immunostimulatory peptides potentiate the immune system of the host and are being used as a viable adjunct to established therapeutic modalities in treatment of cancer and microbial infections. Several peptides derived from milk protein have been reported to induce immunostimulatory activity. Human β -casein fragment (54–59), natural sequence peptide (NS) carrying the Val-Glu-Pro-Ile-Pro-Tyr amino acid residues, was reported to activate the macrophages and impart potent immunostimulatory activity. In present study, we found that this peptide increases the clearance of <em>M. bovis</em> BCG from THP-1 cell line in vitro. The key biomolecules, involved in the clearance of BCG from macrophage like, nitric oxide, pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, were not found to be significantly altered after peptide treatment in comparison to the untreated control. Using proteomic approach we found that BTF3a, an isoform of the Basic Transcription Factor, BTF3, was down regulated in THP-1 cell line after peptide treatment. This was reconfirmed by real time RT-PCR and western blotting. We report the BTF3a as a novel target of this hexapeptide. Based on the earlier findings and the results from the present studies, we suggest that the down regulation of BTF3a following the peptide treatment may augment the <em>M. bovis</em> BCG mediated apoptosis resulting in enhanced clearance of <em>M. bovis</em> BCG from THP-1 cell line.</p> </div

Crop Production and Carbon Sequestration Potential of <i>Grewia oppositifolia</i>-Based Traditional Agroforestry Systems in Indian Himalayan Region

Bhimal (Grewia oppositifolia) is the most important agroforestry tree species used for fodder, fuel and fiber in the Himalayan region. In the present study, G. oppositifolia-based traditional agroforestry systems were selected for the estimation of carbon stock and the production potential of barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea) and finger millet (Eleusine coracana), with two elevational ranges, i.e., 1000–1400 and 1400–1800 m amsl, in Garhwal Himalaya, India. The results of the investigation showed a decline in the growth and yield attributes of both the millet crops under the G. oppositifolia-based agroforestry system at both elevations as compared to their respective control sites (sole crops). Among the elevations, the total number of tillers per plant (2.70 and 2.48), the number of active tillers per plant (2.18 and 2.25), panicle length (17.63 cm and 6.95 cm), 1000-seed weight (5.49 g and 4.33 g), grain yield (10.77 q ha−1 and 11.35 q ha−1), straw yield (37.43 q ha−1 and 30.15 q ha−1), biological yield (48.21 q ha−1 and 41.51 q ha−1) and the harvest index (22.53% and 27.78%) were recorded as higher in the lower elevation in both E. frumentacea and E. coracana, respectively, while plant population per m2 (18.64 and 25.26, respectively) was recorded as higher in the upper elevation. Plant height for E. frumentacea (180.40 cm) was also observed to be higher in the upper elevation, while for E. coracana (98.04 cm), it was recorded as higher in the lower elevation. Tree carbon stock was reported negatively with an increase in altitude. The maximum amount of sequestered carbon in the tree biomass for G. oppositifolia was 23.29 Mg ha−1 at the lower elevation and 18.09 Mg ha−1 at the upper elevation. Total carbon stock in the tree biomass was reported to be the highest (15.15 Mg ha−1) in the 10–20 cm diameter class, followed by 20–30 cm (6.99 Mg ha−1), >30 cm (2.75 Mg ha−1) and the lowest (2.32 Mg ha−1) in the E. frumentacea and E. coracana was not reduced so severely under the G. oppositifolia system; however, keeping in mind the other benefits of this multipurpose tree, i.e., carbon sequestration and socioecological relevance, farmers can get benefit from adopting these crops under G. oppositifolia-based agroforestry systems

Living with a large predator: Assessing the root causes of Human–brown bear conflict and their spatial patterns in Lahaul valley, Himachal Pradesh

Abstract Brown bear‐mediated conflicts have caused immense economic loss to the local people living across the distribution range. In India, limited knowledge is available on the Himalayan brown bear (HBB), making human–brown bear conflict (HBC) mitigation more challenging. In this study, we studied HBC in the Lahaul valley using a semi‐structured questionnaire survey by interviewing 398 respondents from 37 villages. About 64.8% of respondents reported conflict in two major groups—crop damage (30.6%) and livestock depredations (6.2%), while 28% reported both. Conflict incidences were relatively high in summer and frequently occurred in areas closer to the forest (<500 m) and between the elevations range of 2700 m to 3000 m above sea level (asl). The dependency of locals on forest resources (70%) for their livelihood makes them vulnerable to HBC. The “upper lower” class respondents were most impacted among the various socioeconomic classes. Two of the four clusters were identified as HBC hot spots in Lahaul valley using SaTscan analysis. We also obtained high HBC in cluster II with a 14.35 km radius. We found that anthropogenic food provisioning for HBB, livestock grazing in bear habitats, and poor knowledge of animal behavior among the communities were the major causes of HBC. We suggest horticulture crop waste management, controlled and supervised grazing, ecotourism, the constitution of community watch groups, and others to mitigate HBC. We also recommend notifying a few HBB abundant sites in the valley as protected areas for the long‐term viability of the HBB in the landscape

BTF3a is down regulated after NS treatment.

<p>Real Time RT-PCR (a) and western blotting (b) was performed to analyse the expression of BTF3. BTF3a expression was down regulated after NS and LPS treatment. Fold change in expression during treated conditions is presented in respect to control. The values and error bars represent average and standard deviations of three independent set of experiments. Student T test was performed to find out significant difference between control and treated conditions and comparisons were considered significantly different at P<0.01 (**). In western, two different isoforms of BTF3 were detected as shown in figure (Lanes: a - control, b - NS-20 µM, c - LPS-1 µg/ml). Lower panel depicts the equal level of actin protein which was taken as loading control.</p