Blood stage malaria antigens induce different activation-induced cell death programs in splenic CD4<SUP>+</SUP> T cells

CD4+ T cells respond to antigen immunization through a process of activation, clonal expansion to generate activated effector T cells followed by activation-induced clonal deletion of the responding T cells. While loss of responding T cells in post-activation death by apoptosis is a major factor regulating immune homeostasis, the precise pathways involved in downsizing of Plasmodium falciparum antigen-induced T cell expansions are not well characterized. We report in this study that splenic CD4+ T cells from mice immunized with nonreplicating immunogens like OVA or recombinant blood stage P. falciparum antigens, PfMSP-3 and PfMSP-119 or crude parasite antigen (PfAg) undergo sequential T cell activation, proliferation followed by activation-induced cell death (AICD) in a dose- and time-dependent manner after Ag restimulation. While PfMSP-3 and OVA-induced AICD was mediated through a death receptor-dependent apoptotic program, PfMSP-119 and PfAg-induced AICD was via a mechanism dependent on the activation of mitochondria apoptosis signalling pathway through Bax activation. These results provide insights into the mechanism through which two blood stage merozoite antigens trigger different apoptotic programs of AICD in splenic CD4+ T cells

Screening for Tolerance to Salinity and Waterlogging: Case Studies with Pigeonpea and Chickpea

Genotypic differences exist in both pigeonpea and chickpea for tolerance to soil salinity, and in pigeonpea for tolerance to short-term waterlogging. Some progress has been made at ICRISAT in developing field and laboratory screening methods to detect these differences. Many advanced breeding lines and cultivars with tolerance to soil salinity and short-term waterlogging have been identified. To identify even better sources of tolerance to salinity and waterlogging, there is a need to screen a much wider ranger of genetic material for both crops

Single grain (LRE)-Ba-Cu-O superconductors fabricated by top seeded melt growth in air

We have recently reported a practical processing method for the fabrication in air of large, single grain (LRE)-Ba-Cu-O [where LRE Nd, Sm, Eu and Gd] bulk superconductors that exhibit high Tc and high Jc. The process is based initially on the development of a new type of generic seed crystal that can promote effectively the epitaxial nucleation of any (RE)-Ba-Cu-O system and, secondly, by suppressing the formation of (LRE)/Ba solid solution in a controlled manner within large LRE-Ba-Cu-O grains processed in air. In this paper we investigate the degree of homogeneity of large grain Sm-Ba-Cu-O superconductors fabricated by this novel process. The technique offers a significant degree of freedom in terms of processing parameters and reproducibility in the growth of oriented single grains in air and yields bulk samples with significantly improved superconducting and field-trapping properties compared to those processed by conventional top seeded melt growth (TSMG)

Can pigeonpea hybrids negotiate stresses better than inbred cultivars?

Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] is an important rainfed pulse crop of tropics and sub-tropics, and during its long growth cycle of 6–9 months it encounters a number of biotic and abiotic stresses. The recently developed CMS-based pigeonpea hybrids have demonstrated large gains in yield and stability over the traditional inbred cultivars. In this review, the authors argue that the heterosis expressed in traits like seed germination, radicle growth, root biomass production and moisture retention during water stress confers advantages to hybrid plants in negotiating a few abiotic and biotic stresses in much better way than pure line cultivars

Solarization to Protect Pigeonpea Seeds from Bruchid Damage during Storage

Temperature and survival of Callosobruchus maculatus was studied in polythene bags containing pigeon pea seeds. The bags were exposed to the sun for a week (maximum outside temperature 42°C) or kept in the laboratory at 30-35°C. The maximum temperature in bags exposed to sunlight was 65°C and C. maculatus in these bags died without laying eggs. In bags kept in the laboratory, C. maculatus laid a considerable number of eggs and survived for up to 5 weeks. Pigeon pea germination was not adversely affected by solarization

Synthesis of ethyl oleate employing synthetic hydrogel-immobilized lipase of Bacillus coagulans MTCC-6375

Ten polymeric hydrogels were chemically synthesized by varying the concentrations of copolymer (DMA) and cross-linker (MBAm) molecules. An alkaline lipase of Bacillus coagulans MTCC-6375 was immobilized onto a poly (MAc-co-DMA-cl-MBAm)-hydrogel support at pH 8.5 and temperature 55&ordm;C in 16 h. The bound lipase possessed 7.6 U.g⁻&sup1; (matrix) lipase activity with a specific activity of 18 U.mg⁻&sup1; protein. Hydrogel bound-lipase catalyzed esterification of oleic acid and ethanol to synthesize ethyl oleate in n-nonane. Various kinetic parameters were optimized to produce ethyl oleate using immobilized lipase. The optimal parameters were bound enzyme/substrate (E/S) ratio 0.62 mg/mM, ethanol/oleic acid 100 mM:75 mM or 100 mM:100 mM, incubation time 18 h and reaction temperature 55&ordm;C that resulted in approximately 53% conversion of reactants into ethyl oleate in n-nonane. However, addition of a molecular sieve to the reaction mixture promoted the conversion to 58% in 18 h in n-nonane, which was equivalent to 55 mM of ethyl oleate produced.<br /