Evaluation of Protective Efficacy of Viral Vector Based Swine Influenza Vaccine and a Method for B Cell Culture for Monoclonal Antibody Generation

Influenza A virus of the swine (IAV-S) is an economically important swine pathogen that has the potential to spread to humans, thus posing an ongoing public health concern due to its zoonotic potential. Hemagglutinin (HA), the most abundant viral envelope protein, is known to be the key protective antigen. Anti-HA antibodies alone, have been shown to prevent IAV infection. In this study we evaluated the feasibility of a recombinant tri segmented Pichinde virus (PICV) as a viral vector to deliver IAV-S hemagglutinin antigen in pigs. Four groups of weaned pigs (T01-04) were immunized twice with PBS, rPICV-GFP as a vector control, rPICV-H3 and H3-protein, respectively, at day 0 and 21 followed by an intra-tracheal challenge with a wild-type H3N2 IAV-S strain on day 42. T03 and T04 groups seroconverted and exhibited high titers of plasma neutralizing antibodies after vaccination. Post challenge infection, undetectable or minimal levels of influenza virus shedding, and lung lesions were observed in T03 and T04 groups whereas high levels of shedding and lung lesions were observed in T01 and T02 groups. Overall, both rPICV-H3 and H3-protein were able to confer solid protection in pigs and no significant difference in terms of protection was observed between these two vaccine types. These results provide the basis for the continuous development of the rPICV to use as a potential viral vector vaccine in pigs. Advisor: Hiep L.X. V

Vaginal Rhabdomyosarcoma in a patient with advanced cervical cancer; a case report and review of literature

Rhabdomyosarcoma is very rare in adults accounting for less than 5% of all soft tissue tumours and less than 1% of all malignancies. Vagina is one of the least common sites for occurrence of Rhabdomyosarcoma in the genital tract. We present a case of a 53-year-old woman who is a follow up case of cervical cancer stage IIIB, managed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. She was doing well till 5 years of her treatment for cervical cancer when she presented with complaints of pain lower abdomen and discharge per vaginum for 10 days. On examination she was found to have an abdominal mass of 18 weeks size and on local examination there was 4X4 cm fixed mass on lower third of vagina arising from left side. MRI abdomen and pelvis was done. Biopsy from the vaginal mass showed features of Rhabdomyosarcoma. Further follow up of the patient was not possible due to lockdown in view of the pandemic. She was last contacted telephonically on 25th March 2020; she said she was waiting for the lockdown to be lifted so that her further management can take place. This is just one patient; there are many more with other medical conditions all over the world who are losing their lives because of not being able to access medical care due to the present pandemic. New growth in the region of local recurrence in a known malignancy cannot necessarily be the recurrence of the primary tumour. It is important to keep our mind open to other differentials apart from the recurrence of primary malignancy, sometimes it can turn out to be a very rare tumour as we encountered in our case

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

Immunogenicity and Protective Efficacy of a Recombinant Pichinde Viral-Vectored Vaccine Expressing Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin Antigen in Pigs

Influenza A virus of swine (IAV-S) is an economically important swine pathogen. The IAV-S hemagglutinin (HA) surface protein is the main target for vaccine development. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of using the recombinant tri-segmented Pichinde virus (rPICV) as a viral vector to deliver HA antigen to protect pigs against IAV-S challenge. Four groups of weaned pigs (T01–T04) were included in the study. T01 was injected with PBS to serve as a non-vaccinated control. T02 was inoculated with rPICV expressing green fluorescence protein (rPICV-GFP). T03 was vaccinated with rPICV expressing the HA antigen of the IAV-S H3N2 strain (rPICV-H3). T04 was vaccinated with the recombinant HA protein antigen of the same H3N2 strain. Pigs were vaccinated twice at day 0 and day 21 and challenged at day 43 by intra-tracheal inoculation with the homologous H3N2 IAV-S strain. After vaccination, all pigs in T03 and T04 groups were seroconverted and exhibited high titers of plasma neutralizing antibodies. After challenge, high levels of IAV-S RNA were detected in the nasal swabs and bronchioalveolar lavage fluid of pigs in T01 and T02 but not in the T03 and T04 groups. Similarly, lung lesions were observed in T01 and T02, but not in the T03 and T04 groups. No significant difference in terms of protection was observed between the T03 and T04 group. Collectively, our results demonstrate that the rPICV-H3 vectored vaccine elicited protective immunity against IAV-S challenge. This study shows that rPICV is a promising viral vector for the development of vaccines against IAV-S

THE MANAGEMENT OF PRIMARY DYSMENORRHOEA (KASHTARTAVA) - A PROSPECTIVE MULTICENTRIC OPEN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Objective: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of Rajahpravartini vati in the management of primary dysmenorrhoea (Kashtartava) and changes in the quality of life of the subjects. Study design: A multi-centric prospective single arm observational study. Setting and participants: 359 subjects aged between 16 - 35 years suffering from painful menstruation at least for three consecutive regular menstrual cycles were included in the study. Intervention: Rajahpravartini Vati a classical Ayurvedic formulation was administered 250 mg b.d. with lukewarm water for 90 days followed by subsequent 90 days without intervention. Outcome measures: The management of menstrual pain assessing by 10 points Visual Analogue Scale and improvement in the quality of life using SF-36 (RAND) questionnaire. Results: The mean VAS score of pain at baseline was 6.94±1.98, decreasing to 1.7±2.22 at 90th day which further decreased and maintained to 1.24±1.9 up to 180th day. Associated symptoms like nausea, vomiting, constipation, giddiness, breast tenderness, diarrhea, headache and fainting were completely relieved. The improvements of quality of life in 8 domains viz. pain, general health, physical functioning, social functioning, emotional wellbeing, energy/fatigue, limitation due to physical health and emotional problems at the end of 90th day of intervention was also significant (p<0.001) in comparison to baseline. No adverse event occurred during the treatment period. Conclusion: Rajahpravartini Vati has shown a positive role for the treatment of dysmenorrhoea and to improve the quality of life of the subjects

Synthesis of Pd/ Al2 O3 catalysts using different techniques and its catalytic activity for acetylene hydrogenation recation

The ĐatalLJtiĐ perforŵaŶĐe of Pd ŶaŶopartiĐles supported oŶ ϒ-Al2O3 aŶd α-Al2O3 have ďeeŶ iŶǀestigated iŶ the seleĐtiǀe hLJdrogeŶatioŶ of aĐetLJleŶe. ϒ-Al2O3 aŶd α-Al2O3 were synthesized by solution combustion using Al(NO3)3.9H2O precursor as well as sol gel using Al(OC4H9)3 and AlCl3.6H2O precursors. Pd dispersion on the Al2O3 support (1wt% Pd/ Al2O3) was accomplished via chemical reduction method using formaldehyde as reducing agent at 80°C. Low temperature synthesis of Pd/ Al2O3 catalyst prevented the doping of the compound and ensured the presence of Pd inmetallic state. Effect of temperature and flow rate on the catalytic activity of the synthesized Pd/ Al2O3 catalysts have been explored in the present work. It was observed that ethylene selectivity increases as surface area decreases in the Pd/ Al2O3 catalysts synthesized by solution combustion and sol gel (using Al(OC4H9)3 precursor) technique. Lower is the surface area, lower is the Pd dispersion on the support and lower are the active sites available for direct ethane formation. However, this is not universally true as can be noticed in the case of Pd/ Al2O3 catalysts synthesized by sol gel technique using AlCl3.6H2O precursor. In this case, irrespective of the surface area ethylene yield remained zero. Preparation method of support modified the surface nature of the catalyst which played another crucial role in ethylene selectivity. CO2 temperature programmed desorption (TPD) studies suggested that lower basicity of the Al2O3 surface resulted in better ethylene selectivity for both solution combustion and sol gel method. Moreover, the crystallite size of α-Al2O3 particles is not an important parameter affecting ethylene selectivity. Pd/ α-Al2O3 catalyst synthesized by solution combustion method using Al(NO3)3.9H2O precursor at 1200°C shows the best ethylene selectivity during the entire temperature range from RT to 125°C. 100% conversion as well as good selectivity is simultaneously obtained at 125°C which is a superior performance as compared to most of the existing catalysts in literature. Pd/ ϒ-Al2O3 catalyst synthesized by solution combustion method using Al(NO3)3.9H2O precursor at 700°C is a moderately good catalyst in terms of ethylene selectivity. It shows a decrease in conversion with the increase in total flow rate of reactant gases. However, flow rate seems to have a negligible impact on ethylene selectivity as well as yield. We may extend this result to other catalysts as well.by Sushmita KumariM.Tech

Algal rhodopsins encoding diverse signal sequence holds potential for expansion of organelle optogenetics

Rhodopsins have been extensively employed for optogenetic regulation of bioelectrical activity of excitable cells and other cellular processes across biological systems. Various strategies have been adopted to attune the cellular processes at the desired subcellular compartment (plasma membrane, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi, mitochondria, lysosome) within the cell. These strategies include-adding signal sequences, tethering peptides, specific interaction sites, or mRNA elements at different sites in the optogenetic proteins for plasma membrane integration and subcellular targeting. However, a single approach for organelle optogenetics was not suitable for the relevant optogenetic proteins and often led to the poor expression, mislocalization, or altered physical and functional properties. Therefore, the current study is focused on the native subcellular targeting machinery of algal rhodopsins. The N- and C-terminus signal prediction led to the identification of rhodopsins with diverse organelle targeting signal sequences for the nucleus, mitochondria, lysosome, endosome, vacuole, and cilia. Several identified channelrhodopsins and ion-pumping rhodopsins possess effector domains associated with DNA metabolism (repair, replication, and recombination) and gene regulation. The identified algal rhodopsins with diverse effector domains and encoded native subcellular targeting sequences hold immense potential to establish expanded organelle optogenetic regulation and associated cellular signaling

Novel Modular Rhodopsins from Green Algae Hold Great Potential for Cellular Optogenetic Modulation Across the Biological Model Systems

Light-gated ion channel and ion pump rhodopsins are widely used as optogenetic tools and these can control the electrically excitable cells as (1) they are a single-component system i.e., their light sensing and ion-conducting functions are encoded by the 7-transmembrane domains and, (2) they show fast kinetics with small dark-thermal recovery time. In cellular signaling, a signal receptor, modulator, and the effector components are involved in attaining synchronous regulation of signaling. Optical modulation of the multicomponent network requires either receptor to effector encoded in a single ORF or direct modulation of the effector domain through bypassing all upstream players. Recently discovered modular rhodopsins like rhodopsin guanylate cyclase (RhoGC) and rhodopsin phosphodiesterase (RhoPDE) paves the way to establish a proof of concept for utilization of complex rhodopsin (modular rhodopsin) for optogenetic applications. Light sensor coupled modular system could be expressed in any cell type and hence holds great potential in the advancement of optogenetics 2.0 which would enable manipulating the entire relevant cell signaling system. Here, we had identified 50 novel modular rhodopsins with variant domains and their diverse cognate signaling cascades encoded in a single ORF, which are associated with specialized functions in the cells. These novel modular algal rhodopsins have been characterized based on their sequence and structural homology with previously reported rhodopsins. The presented novel modular rhodopsins with various effector domains leverage the potential to expand the optogenetic tool kit to regulate various cellular signaling pathways across the diverse biological model systems

Novel Modular Rhodopsins from Green Algae Hold Great Potential for Cellular Optogenetic Modulation Across the Biological Model Systems

Light-gated ion channel and ion pump rhodopsins are widely used as optogenetic tools and these can control the electrically excitable cells as (1) they are a single-component system i.e., their light sensing and ion-conducting functions are encoded by the 7-transmembrane domains and, (2) they show fast kinetics with small dark-thermal recovery time. In cellular signaling, a signal receptor, modulator, and the effector components are involved in attaining synchronous regulation of signaling. Optical modulation of the multicomponent network requires either receptor to effector encoded in a single ORF or direct modulation of the effector domain through bypassing all upstream players. Recently discovered modular rhodopsins like rhodopsin guanylate cyclase (RhoGC) and rhodopsin phosphodiesterase (RhoPDE) paves the way to establish a proof of concept for utilization of complex rhodopsin (modular rhodopsin) for optogenetic applications. Light sensor coupled modular system could be expressed in any cell type and hence holds great potential in the advancement of optogenetics 2.0 which would enable manipulating the entire relevant cell signaling system. Here, we had identified 50 novel modular rhodopsins with variant domains and their diverse cognate signaling cascades encoded in a single ORF, which are associated with specialized functions in the cells. These novel modular algal rhodopsins have been characterized based on their sequence and structural homology with previously reported rhodopsins. The presented novel modular rhodopsins with various effector domains leverage the potential to expand the optogenetic tool kit to regulate various cellular signaling pathways across the diverse biological model systems.https://doi.org/10.3390/life1011025

Ultrathin structures derived from interfacially modified polymeric nanocomposites to curb electromagnetic pollution

The use of electronic devices and wireless networks is increasing rapidly, and electromagnetic (EM) pollution remediation remains a challenge. We employed a unique approach to fabricate two ultrathin (approx. 53 μm) multilayered assemblies to address this. By sequentially stacking thin films of polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) and polycarbonate (PC) nanocomposites and interfacially locking them with a mutually miscible polymer (PMMA, polymethyl methacrylate), materials with enhanced structural properties and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance can be designed. Utilizing reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) as a template, ferrite was grown on the surface to design two different nanohybrid structures (rGO–Fe3O4 and MoS2–Fe3O4). PVDF was composited with either rGO–Fe3O4 or MoS2–Fe3O4, and multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were dispersed in the PC component. As PC and PVDF are immiscible, their poor interface would result in inferior structural properties, which can be challenging in designing EMI shielding materials due to cyclic thermal fatigue. Hence, PMMA is sandwiched to interfacially stitch the components (PC and PVDF) and improve interfacial adhesion. This was confirmed using SEM/EDS and Raman mapping/imaging. The mechanical stability of the multilayered assemblies was characterized using a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA), and the storage modulus was found to be as high as 2767 MPa at 40 °C (@constant frequency and strain amplitude), for the multilayered film with rGO–Fe3O4 in PVDF, PMMA as a sandwich layer and CNTs in PC. A typical assembly of 9 multilayers (∼480 μm) with rGO–Fe3O4 in PVDF, and CNTs in PC, and interfacially stitched with PMMA gave rise to a high EMI shield effectiveness (SET) of −26.3 dB @ 26.5 GHz. This unique arrangement of a multilayered assembly suppressed EMI primarily by absorption