Reproductive biology of the commercially important Uroteuthis (Photololigo) duvaucelii (d’ Orbigny [in 1835) off Mangalore, south-west coast of India

Uroteuthis (Photololigo) duvaucelii is one of the commercially important inshore squid resources off the south-west coast of India. Length-weight relationship for this species indicated no significant difference between the sexes and hence, the relationship for both the sexes was represented with the common equation W = 0.4624 L2.1158. U. (P.) duvaucelii spawned throughout the year with peak spawning in May. Absolute fecundity ranged from 1,545 to 13,585 eggs with an average of 7,554 eggs. Size at first maturity indicated that females matured earlier at 70 mm DML (dorsal mantle length) whereas males matured little later at 90 mm DML. Males were observed to be dominant during most of the study period with overall male to female ratio of 1:0.93. Seasonal and size dependent variations in sex ratio were distinct

An EORTC Phase II study of caspofungin as first-line therapy of invasive aspergillosis in haematological patients

Objectives Caspofungin was evaluated as first-line monotherapy of invasive aspergillosis (IA) in patients with haematological malignancies and undergoing autologous transplants. Methods Adults with proven or probable IA, defined strictly according to EORTC-MSG criteria, were eligible. Those with possible IA were enrolled, but were not evaluable for efficacy unless upgraded to proven/probable disease within 7 days of registration based on investigations performed within 48 h after enrolment. Caspofungin dosage was 70 mg (day 1) followed by 50 mg/day. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with complete or partial response at the end of caspofungin therapy in the modified intention to treat (MITT) group; secondary endpoints were response and survival at day 84 and safety. Results In the MITT group (n = 61), 75% of patients had cancer not in remission (relapsing or refractory), 85% were neutropenic at enrolment and 49% had a Karnofsky score of ≤50. At end of treatment, 1 and 19 patients had complete and partial response, respectively [success rate 33% (20/61)], 9 (15%) achieved stabilization and 31 (51%) had disease progression. One patient was not evaluable. The 6 and 12 week survival rates were 66% (40/61) and 53% (32/60), respectively. Baseline characteristics associated with survival at day 84 were an underlying disease in remission (not relapsing or refractory) and Karnofsky score. Recovery from neutropenia at the end of treatment was also significantly associated with survival. No serious drug-related adverse events or discontinuations due to drug-related adverse events were observed. Conclusions Caspofungin provided an observed response rate compatible with the null hypothesis of a true response rate of ≤35%. Underlying disease-related factors had a major impact on result

ABC Transporter Genes Show Upregulated Expression in Drug Resistant Clinical Isolates of Candida auris : a Genome-Wide Characterization of ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) Transporter Genes

Funding This work was supported by the ICMR (AMR/149/2018-ECD-II) and DBT (BT/PR14117/BRB/10/1420/2015) to RP. AKM appreciates the support by research grant EMR/2016/001927 and DST PURSE II from the Department of Science and Technology (IN). MW was grateful for a Senior Research Fellowship from the University Grant Commission. NG acknowledges the Wellcome Trust support of a Senior Investigator (101873/Z/13/Z), Collaborative (200208/A/15/Z), and Strategic Awards (097377/Z11/Z), and the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology (MR/N006364/1). AJM was supported by the University of Aberdeen studentship. Work in AL’s laboratory was supported by the Wellcome Trust (212524/Z/18/Z) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Aberdeen (MR/P501955/1 and MR/N006364/1). Acknowledgments We thank the Centre for Genome Enabled Biology and Medicine at the University of Aberdeen (E. Collie-Duguid and S. Shaw) for sequencing and support with genome analysis.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The 3′ Untranslated Regions of Influenza Genomic Sequences Are 5′PPP-Independent Ligands for RIG-I

Retinoic acid inducible gene-I (RIG-I) is a key regulator of antiviral immunity. RIG-I is generally thought to be activated by ssRNA species containing a 5′-triphosphate (PPP) group or by unphosphorylated dsRNA up to ∼300 bp in length. However, it is not yet clear how changes in the length, nucleotide sequence, secondary structure, and 5′ end modification affect the abilities of these ligands to bind and activate RIG-I. To further investigate these parameters in the context of naturally occurring ligands, we examined RNA sequences derived from the 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions (UTR) of the influenza virus NS1 gene segment. As expected, RIG-I-dependent interferon-β (IFN-β) induction by sequences from the 5′ UTR of the influenza cRNA or its complement (26 nt in length) required the presence of a 5′PPP group. In contrast, activation of RIG-I by the 3′ UTR cRNA sequence or its complement (172 nt) exhibited only a partial 5′PPP-dependence, as capping the 5′ end or treatment with CIP showed a modest reduction in RIG-I activation. Furthermore, induction of IFN-β by a smaller, U/A-rich region within the 3′ UTR was completely 5′PPP-independent. Our findings demonstrated that RNA sequence, length, and secondary structure all contributed to whether or not the 5′PPP moiety is needed for interferon induction by RIG-I

High Resolution Genotyping of Clinical Aspergillus flavus Isolates from India Using Microsatellites

Contains fulltext : 124312.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Worldwide, Aspergillus flavus is the second leading cause of allergic, invasive and colonizing fungal diseases in humans. However, it is the most common species causing fungal rhinosinusitis and eye infections in tropical countries. Despite the growing challenges due to A. flavus, the molecular epidemiology of this fungus has not been well studied. We evaluated the use of microsatellites for high resolution genotyping of A. flavus from India and a possible connection between clinical presentation and genotype of the involved isolate. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A panel of nine microsatellite markers were selected from the genome of A. flavus NRRL 3357. These markers were used to type 162 clinical isolates of A. flavus. All nine markers proved to be polymorphic displaying up to 33 alleles per marker. Thirteen isolates proved to be a mixture of different genotypes. Among the 149 pure isolates, 124 different genotypes could be recognized. The discriminatory power (D) for the individual markers ranged from 0.657 to 0.954. The D value of the panel of nine markers combined was 0.997. The multiplex multicolor approach was instrumental in rapid typing of a large number of isolates. There was no correlation between genotype and the clinical presentation of the infection. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: There is a large genotypic diversity in clinical A. flavus isolates from India. The presence of more than one genotype in clinical samples illustrates the possibility that persons may be colonized by multiple genotypes and that any isolate from a clinical specimen is not necessarily the one actually causing infection. Microsatellites are excellent typing targets for discriminating between A. flavus isolates from various origins

Prevalent, protective, and convergent IgG recognition of SARS-CoV-2 non-RBD spike epitopes

The molecular composition and binding epitopes of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies that circulate in blood plasma following SARS-CoV-2 infection are unknown. Proteomic deconvolution of the IgG repertoire to the spike glycoprotein in convalescent subjects revealed that the response is directed predominantly (>80%) against epitopes residing outside the receptor-binding domain (RBD). In one subject, just four IgG lineages accounted for 93.5% of the response, including an N-terminal domain (NTD)-directed antibody that was protective against lethal viral challenge. Genetic, structural, and functional characterization of a multi-donor class of “public” antibodies revealed an NTD epitope that is recurrently mutated among emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. These data show that “public” NTD-directed and other non-RBD plasma antibodies are prevalent and have implications for SARS-CoV-2 protection and antibody escape

International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences RESEARCH ARTICLE BIO CHEMISTRY ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF EUGENIAJAMBOLANA SEED; A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL IN TYPE 2DIABETES MELLITUS.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a growing global problem where, increased oxygen free radicals are responsible for the complications. Clinical evidence of Eugenia jambolana seeds for use in DM is lacking. This is an open labeled, randomized trial in DM patients: fifteen in group1 received Eugenia Jambolana seed powder 10 gm orally per day along with diet and exercise, and ten in group 2 on diet and exercise alone. Follow-up visits were: V0=randomization; V1-V6, after one to six months of therapy. Patients were followed up for blood sugar, glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting insulin, antioxidants from V0 to V6 in group 1 and V0 to V3 in group 2. Results revealed in group1: reduced Fasting blood sugar (FBS) fromV3-V6 [140(18), 125(26.5), 124(19.5), 134(24)]; rise in SOD (superoxide dismutase) at V3[3255(2394)] and V6[4650(3517)]; reduced HOMA-IR (homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance) at V3 [5(6.8)] and V6 [5.5(3.3)]; negative correlation between SOD and FBS at V3(ρ =-0.5) and V6(ρ=-0.577) which were significant at (P<0.05). Study shows the antihyperglycemic and antioxidant potential of Eugenia jambolana seed powder and a negative correlation between the antioxidant and antihyperglycemic action. This article can be downloaded from www.ijpbs.ne

Bowel colonization with resistant gram-negative bacilli after antimicrobial therapy of intra-abdominal infections: observations from two randomized comparative clinical trials of ertapenem therapy

Abstract The selection of resistant gram-negative bacilli by broad-spectrum antibiotic use is a major issue in infection control. The aim of this comparative study was to assess the impact of different antimicrobial regimens commonly used to treat intra-abdominal infections on the susceptibility patterns of gram-negative bowel flora after completion of therapy. In two international randomized open-label trials with laboratory blinding, adults with complicated intra-abdominal infection requiring surgery received piperacillin-tazobactam (OASIS I) or ceftriaxone/metronidazole (OASIS II) versus ertapenem for 4-14 days. Rectal swabs were obtained at baseline, end of therapy, and 2 weeks post-therapy. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. were tested for production of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL). Enterobacteriaceae resistant to the agent used were recovered from 19 of 156 (12.2%) piperacillin-tazobactam recipients at the end of therapy compared to 1 (0.6%) patient at baseline (p<0.001) in OASIS I, and from 33 of 193 (17.1%) ceftriaxone/metronidazole recipients at the end of therapy compared to 5 (2.6%) patients at baseline (p<0.001) in OASIS II. Ertapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae were recovered from 1 of 155 and 1 of 196 ertapenem recipients at the end of therapy versus 0 and 1 ertapenem recipients M. J. DiNubile ( ) · I

Not Available

Not AvailableUroteuthis (Photololigo) duvaucelii is one of the commercially important inshore squid resources off the south-west coast of India. Length-weight relationship for this species indicated no significant difference between the sexes and hence, the relationship for both the sexes was represented with the common equation W = 0.4624 L2.1158. U. (P.) duvaucelii spawned throughout the year with peak spawning in May. Absolute fecundity ranged from 1,545 to 13,585 eggs with an average of 7,554 eggs. Size at first maturity indicated that females matured earlier at 70 mm DML (dorsal mantle length) whereas males matured little later at 90 mm DML. Males were observed to be dominant during most of the study period with overall male to female ratio of 1:0.93. Seasonal and size dependent variations in sex ratio were distinct.Not Availabl