Whole Genomes of Chandipura Virus Isolates and Comparative Analysis with Other Rhabdoviruses

The Chandipura virus (CHPV) belonging to the Vesiculovirus genus and Rhabdoviridae family, has recently been associated with a number of encephalitis epidemics, with high mortality in children, in different parts of India. No full length genome sequences of CHPV isolates were available in GenBank and little is known about the molecular markers for pathogenesis. In the present study, we provide the complete genomic sequences of four isolates from epidemics during 2003–2007. These sequences along with the deduced sequence of the prototype isolate of 1965 were analysed using phylogeny, motif search, homology modeling and epitope prediction methods. Comparison with other rhaboviruses was also done for functional extrapolations. All CHPV isolates clustered with the Isfahan virus and maintained several functional motifs of other rhabdoviruses. A notable difference with the prototype vesiculovirus, Vesicular Stomatitis Virus was in the L-domain flanking sequences of the M protein that are known to be crucial for interaction with host proteins. With respect to the prototype isolate, significant additional mutations were acquired in the 2003–2007 isolates. Several mutations in G mapped onto probable antigenic sites. A mutation in N mapped onto regions crucial for N-N interaction and a putative T-cell epitope. A mutation in the Casein kinase II phosphorylation site in P may attribute to increased rates of phosphorylation. Gene junction comparison revealed changes in the M-G junction of all the epidemic isolates that may have implications on read-through and gene transcription levels. The study can form the basis for further experimental verification and provide additional insights into the virulence determinants of the CHPV

Effect of prolactin and spermine on the zinc content of human spermatozoa

In an experimental study, the influence of physiological doses of o-prolactin (0-10 ng) and spermine (0-2 mg) were examined on the intracellular zinc content of human spermatozoa. The result was a negative correlation of zinc content of prolactin and spermine concentrations

Effect of spermine on divalent cations of human spermatozoa

The present report deals with the effect of spermine (0.4-2.0 mg) on the intracellular levels of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium in human spermatozoa. Spermine decreased the calcium and magnesium levels in a dose-related manner; however, changes in the sodium and potassium levels could not be correlated with spermine concentration

Effect of adding surfactant for transforming lignocellulose into fermentable sugars during biocatalysing

Fuel ethanol is one of the most important alternative fuels used as a substitute for fossil fuel. Lignocellulose is the most abundant biomass resource for the production of fuel ethanol. However, the hydrolysis of lignocellulose requires high enzyme loading. In order to strengthen the process of enzyme hydrolysis of lignocellulose, surfactant-polyethylene glycol (PEG) was applied to the catalysis of lignocellulose into fermentable sugars. The effect of PEG on both the enzymatic hydrolysis and adsorption of cellulose were investigated. The addition of surfactant obviously facilitated enzymatic hydrolysis. In particular, upon addition of PEG4000, the enzyme catalytic efficiency increased by 51.06%. Meanwhile, the adsorption quantity of cellulase decreased by 11.25%. In addition, the mechanism of the effect of PEG on enzymatic hydrolysis and cellulase adsorption is discussed