Neuropeptide F regulates courtship in Drosophila through a male-specific neuronal circuit.

Male courtship is provoked by perception of a potential mate. In addition, the likelihood and intensity of courtship are influenced by recent mating experience, which affects sexual drive. Using Drosophila melanogaster, we found that the homolog of mammalian neuropeptide Y, neuropeptide F (NPF), and a cluster of male-specific NPF (NPFM) neurons, regulate courtship through affecting courtship drive. Disrupting NPF signaling produces sexually hyperactive males, which are resistant to sexual satiation, and whose courtship is triggered by sub-optimal stimuli. We found that NPFM neurons make synaptic connections with P1 neurons, which comprise the courtship decision center. Activation of P1 neurons elevates NPFM neuronal activity, which then act through NPF receptor neurons to suppress male courtship, and maintain the proper level of male courtship drive

Differential regulation of the Drosophila sleep homeostat by circadian and arousal inputs.

One output arm of the sleep homeostat in Drosophila appears to be a group of neurons with projections to the dorsal fan-shaped body (dFB neurons) of the central complex in the brain. However, neurons that regulate the sleep homeostat remain poorly understood. Using neurogenetic approaches combined with Ca2+ imaging, we characterized synaptic connections between dFB neurons and distinct sets of upstream sleep-regulatory neurons. One group of the sleep-promoting upstream neurons is a set of circadian pacemaker neurons that activates dFB neurons via direct glutaminergic excitatory synaptic connections. Opposing this population, a group of arousal-promoting neurons downregulates dFB axonal output with dopamine. Co-activating these two inputs leads to frequent shifts between sleep and wake states. We also show that dFB neurons release the neurotransmitter GABA and inhibit octopaminergic arousal neurons. We propose that dFB neurons integrate synaptic inputs from distinct sets of upstream sleep-promoting circadian clock neurons, and arousal neurons

Degradation of Textile Dye Reactive Navy – Blue Rx (Reactive blue–59) by an Isolated Actinomycete Streptomyces krainskii SUK – 5

The isolated Actinomycete, Streptomyces krainskii, SUK -5 was found to decolorize and degrade textile dye Reactive blue–59.This azo dye was decolorized and degraded completely by Streptomyces krainskii SUK–5 at 24 h in shaking condition in the nutrient medium at pH 8. Induction in the activity of Lignin Peroxidase,and NADH-DCIP Reductase and MR reductase represents their role in degradation .The biodegradation was monitored by TLC, UV vis spectroscopy, FTIR. and GCMS analysis. Microbial and phytotoxicity studies of the product were carried out

DEVELOPMENT OF OLMESARTAN MEDOXOMIL-LOADED CHITOSAN MICROPARTICLES: A POTENTIAL STRATEGY TO IMPROVE PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND MICROMERITIC PROPERTIES

Objective: The objective of the present research was to improve physicochemical and micromeritic properties of Olmesartan Medoxomil (OLM), BCS class II antihypertensive drug by loading in Chitosan (CH) microparticles.Methods: The 32 full factorial design was assigned for microparticles prepared by single emulsion technique method using CH, a natural polymer and Glutaraldehyde (GA) as cross linking agent. Developed microparticles were characterized for Micromeritic properties, morphology by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), drug entrapment efficiency, in vitro drug release, and interaction studies Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) & Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), drug crystallinity study by X-ray diffractometry (XRD) & DSC.Results: Maximum entrapment efficiency was found 61.76% for maximal CH and lower GA concentration. Saturation solubility of microparticles was increased by 13.74 times to that of pure OLM. FTIR showed compatibility between drug and polymer. XRD, DSC and SEM studies confirmed reduction in crystallinity of drug. It led to increase in dissolution profile of the drug and showed 92.61% of drug release in 120 min. These microparticle preparations also helped in improving micromeritic properties like bulk density, tapped density, the angle of repose, Hausner's ratio and Carr's index.Conclusion: The results obtained in the present work demonstrate the potential use of CH to modulate physicochemical and micromeritic properties of OLM especially obtaining significant improvement in dissolution rate. Â

Pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009 outbreak in a residential school at Panchgani, Maharashtra, India

Background & objectives: An outbreak of influenza was investigated between June 24 and July 30, 2009 in a residential school at Panchgani, Maharashtra, India. The objectives were to determine the aetiology, study the clinical features in the affected individuals and, important epidemiological and environmental factors. The nature of public health response and effectiveness of the control measures were also evaluated. Methods: Real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was performed on throat swabs collected from 82 suspected cases to determine the influenza types (A or B) and sub-types [pandemic (H1N1) 2009, as well as seasonal influenza H1N1, H3N2]. Haemagglutination inhibition assay was performed on serum samples collected from entire school population (N = 415) to detect antibodies for pandemic (H1N1) 2009, seasonal H1N1, H3N2 and influenza B/Yamagata and B/Victoria lineages. Antibody titres ≥ 10 for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and ≥ 20 for seasonal influenza A and B were considered as positive for these viruses. Results: Clinical attack rate for influenza-like illness was 71.1 per cent (295/415). The attack rate for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 cases was 42.4 per cent (176/415). Throat swabs were collected from 82 cases, of which pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus was detected in 15 (18.3%), influenza type A in (6) 7.4 per cent and influenza type B only in one case. A serosurvey carried out showed haemagglutination inhibition antibodies to pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in 52 per cent (216) subjects in the school and 9 per cent (22) in the community. Interpretation & conclusion: Our findings confirmed an outbreak of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 due to local transmission among students in a residential school at Panchgani, Maharashtra, India

Medicinal plants used in the treatment of snakebite and scorpion sting by the tribesof Shahapur and Jawhar forest division

Many tribal communities living in the forest area deals with emergency cases of snakebite, scorpion sting by using traditional knowledge of medicinal plants. They possess Traditional and authentic information gained from their elders about the antidote for poisonous bites.  The present study was conducted in the tribal pockets of Shahapur and Jawhar forest division of Thane forest circle, Maharashtra. Data was collected by interviews with folk healers and informers by using specially design open and close-ended proforma. Collected data have been verified from the classical text of Ayurveda, books and available articles. This medico-ethno-botanical survey reveals the detail information on 27 plants belonging to 19 families. Total 17 and 10 claims have been reported for the treatment of snakebite and scorpion sting, respectively. Only 1 plant is claimed for veterinary use.  Tribal has been using flower, fruit, pod, root, stem, stem bark, leaf, etc. as an antidote in the form of fresh juice, powder for internal use and paste for local application. They also are administering medicine via Nasya (nasal administration) and Dhumapan (smoke). The observation generated by this article create scientific curiosity regarding further studies to evaluate the efficacy and develop antidote from medicinal plants based on tribal knowledg

Chandipura virus encephalitis outbreak among children in Nagpur division, Maharashtra, 2007

Background & objectives: An outbreak of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) among children from Nagpur division, Maharashtra was investigated to confirm the aetiology and to describe clinico-epidemiological features. Methods: AES cases among children < 15 yr, from Nagpur division, hospitalized between June-September 2007, were investigated. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were tested for IgM antibodies against Chandipura virus (CHPV) and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and for CHPV RNA by RT-PCR. Partial N gene sequences were used for phylogenetic analysis. Virus isolations were attempted in rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cell line. Sandflies were collected, pooled and tested for CHPV RNA by RT-PCR. Results: A total of 78 AES cases were recorded in children < 15 yr of age. Case fatality ratio was 43.6 per cent. Male to female ratio was 1:1.2. Chandipura (CHP) was confirmed in 39 cases. CHPV RNA was detected in both CSF and serum specimens of 2 cases and in serum of 22 cases. Phylogenetic analysis showed 99.98-100 per cent nucleotide identity in the sequences studied. Anti-CHPV IgM antibodies were detected in CSF of 2 cases and in serum of 8 cases. Seroconversion to anti-CHPV IgM antibodies was observed in 5 cases. Clinical manifestations of CHP cases (n=38) were fever (100%), convulsion (76.3%), altered sensorium (34.2%), headache (23.7%), vomiting (44.7%) and diarrhoea (23.7%). CHPV RNA was detected in one of two pools of sandflies from affected locality. Interpretation & conclusions: Chandipura virus was confirmed as the aetiological agent of this acute encephalitis outbreak with high case-fatality among children

The effects of transfection reagent polyethyleneimine (PEI) and non-targeting control siRNAs on global gene expression in human aortic smooth muscle cells

Background: RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful platform utilized to target transcription of specific genes and downregulate the protein product. To achieve effective silencing, RNAi is usually applied to cells or tissue with a transfection reagent to enhance entry into cells. A commonly used control is the same transfection reagent plus a “noncoding RNAi”. However, this does not control for the genomic response to the transfection reagent alone or in combination with the noncoding RNAi. These control effects while not directly targeting the gene in question may influence expression of other genes that in turn alter expression of the target. The current study was prompted by our work focused on prevention of vascular bypass graft failure and our experience with gene silencing in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HAoSMCs) where we suspected that off target effects through this mechanism might be substantial. We have used Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology and bioinformatics analysis to examine the genomic response of HAoSMCs to the transfection reagent alone (polyethyleneimine (PEI)) or in combination with commercially obtained control small interfering RNA (siRNAs) (Dharmacon and Invitrogen). Results: Compared to untreated cells, global gene expression of HAoSMcs after transfection either with PEI or in combination with control siRNAs displayed significant alterations in gene transcriptome after 24 h. HAoSMCs transfected by PEI alone revealed alterations of 213 genes mainly involved in inflammatory and immune responses. HAoSMCs transfected by PEI complexed with siRNA from either Dharmacon or Invitrogen showed substantial gene variation of 113 and 85 genes respectively. Transfection of cells with only PEI or with PEI and control siRNAs resulted in identification of 20 set of overlapping altered genes. Further, systems biology analysis revealed key master regulators in cells transfected with control siRNAs including the cytokine, Interleukin (IL)-1, transcription factor GATA Binding Protein (GATA)-4 and the methylation enzyme, Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH-2) a cytokine with an apical role in initiating the inflammatory response. Conclusions: Significant off-target effects in HAoSMCs transfected with PEI alone or in combination with control siRNAs may lead to misleading conclusions concerning the effectiveness of a targeted siRNA strategy. The lack of structural information about transfection reagents and “non coding” siRNA is a hindrance in the development of siRNA based therapeutics. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-2267-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Seroepidemiology of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus infections in Pune, India

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In India, Pune was one of the badly affected cities during the influenza A (H1N1) 2009 pandemic. We undertook serosurveys among the risk groups and general population to determine the extent of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus infections.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Pre-pandemic sera from the archives, collected during January 2005 to March 2009, were assayed for the determination of baseline seropositivity. Serosurveys were undertaken among the risk groups such as hospital staff, general practitioners, school children and staff and general population between 15^thAugust and 11^thDecember 2009. In addition, the PCR-confirmed pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 cases and their household contacts were also investigated. Haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) assays were performed using turkey red blood cells employing standard protocols. A titre of ≥1:40 was considered seropositive.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Only 2 (0.9%) of the 222 pre-pandemic sera were positive. The test-retest reliability of HI assay in 101 sera was 98% for pandemic H1N1, 93.1% for seasonal H1N1 and 94% for seasonal H3N2. The sera from 48 (73.8%) of 65 PCR-confirmed pandemic H1N1 cases in 2009 were positive. Seropositivity among general practitioners increased from 4.9% in August to 9.4% in November and 15.1% in December. Among hospital staff, seropositivity increased from 2.8% in August to 12% in November. Seropositivity among the schools increased from 2% in August to 10.7% in September. The seropositivity among students (25%) was higher than the school staff in September. In a general population survey in October 2009, seropositivity was higher in children (9.1%) than adults (4.3%). The 15-19 years age group showed the highest seropositivity of 20.3%. Seropositivity of seasonal H3N2 (55.3%) and H1N1 (26.4%) was higher than pandemic H1N1 (5.7%) (n = 2328). In households of 74 PCR-confirmed pandemic H1N1 cases, 25.6% contacts were seropositive. Almost 90% pandemic H1N1 infections were asymptomatic or mild. Considering a titre cut off of 1:10, seropositivity was 1.5-3 times as compared to 1:40.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus infection was widespread in all sections of community. However, infection was significantly higher in school children and general practitioners. Hospital staff had the lowest infections suggesting the efficacy of infection-control measures.</p