In silico modeling of lipase H

LAH 2 is a type of autosomal recessive hypotrichosis that affect hairs, eyebrows, scalp and eyelashes. Mutations in Lipase H gene result in LAH 2. Changes that result from mutation on physiochemical properties, post-translational modifications, functional sites, secondary structure and tertiary structure lipase H gene (LIPH) at molecular level were analyzed in the current study. Results indicate that the 3rd motif of LIPH deletes as a result of mutation. The number of alpha helices and beta sheets become varied in normal and abnormal protein. Tertiary structure of LIPH was predicted through homology modeling. Mutations were then inserted to reveal the difference between normal and abnormal structure. Ligands to target LIPH are also retrieved. ASP178, ASP207 and HIS248 constitute the active site of LIPH. Missense mutations in LIPH also brought drastic changes at molecular level that led to imbalanced function. All these changes can be studied through bioinformatics without going for expensive laborious and time consuming experimental techniques.Keywords: LAH2, LIPH, tertiary structure, secondary structure, physiochemical properties, ligands, active siteAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(16), pp. 2051-205

Research Note: Contribution to Mushroom Flora of Rawalpindi-Islamabad, Pakistan

Seven hymenomycetous fungi (mushrooms) were collected from the twin cities area during July 2008. These were identified as the members of the order Agaricales, class Basidiomycetes. They belong to five genera: *Clitocybe fragrans, *Collybia cookie, *Coprinus radians, *Coprinus sterculinus, *Volvariella bingensis, Volvariella parvula, and Termitomyces microcarpus. Five of them, marked with asterisk were reported for the first time from Pakistan

Phytochemical analysis, Antioxidant and Antiprotoscolices potential of ethanol extracts of selected plants species against Echinococcus granulosus: In-vitro study

Cystic Echinococossis is a serious zoonotic parasitic infection caused by Echinococcus granulosus species complex. The current study was designed to evaluate the in-vitro antiprotoscolices effect of alcoholic extracts of three selected medicinal plants including Buxus Wallichiana, Berberis vulgaris and Euphorbia heliscopia against Echinococcus granulosus. Fertile hydatid cysts were collected from livestock and viability of the protoscolices was confirmed by 0.1% eosin red stain method. Protoscolices were subjected to three different concentrations of alcoholic extracts (10mg/ml, 30mg/ ml and 50mg/ml) for 10, 20 and 30 min. The highest efficacy was shown by B. vulgaris (97.92%) followed by B. wallichiana (65.98%) and E. heliscopia (61.22%) respectively, after exposure of 30 minutes at 50mg/ml concentration, that lead to the significant reduction in the viability of protoscolices. Alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and saponnins were identified qualitatively and weighted quantitatively, that might help in the identification of bioactive compounds involved in selective action on the tegument layer of protoscolices. Alcoholic extracts of all the three selected medicinal plants showed toxic activities against protoscolices of Echinococcus granulosus. These findings suggest that all the selected medicinal plants could be a promising source of potent antiprotoscolices effect. However, the mechanism by which plant extracts killed protoscolices and also their safety for living cells are unclear and need to be investigated further

Skirmishing MDR strain of Candida albicans by effective antifungal CeO2 nanostructures using Aspergillus terreus and Talaromyces purpurogenus

Emerging antibiotics resistance fungal infectionsis a major global health problem and new antifungal formulations are direly needed to fight drug resistant Candida albicans strains. This study is aimed to synthesize effective antifungal nanostructures of cerium oxide (CeO _2 ) using culture filtrates of two common fungal strains Aspergillus terreus and Talaromyces pupureogenus. The fungal strains used in the synthesis were identified by 18S rRNA gene sequencing and deposited to NCBI GenBank with the accession number of MN099077 and MN121629, respectively. The biofabricated CeO _2 NPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Pure CeO _2 nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized using Aspergillus terreus culture filtrate were depicted spherical morphology with average size of 28.5 nm. The CeO _2 NPs synthesized using Talaromyces pupureogenus revealed the presence of nanosponges with average size of 21.4 nm. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry of culture filtrates of respective strains indicated the presence of ethanol, 1-propanol and tri-chloromethane in culture filtrate of Aspergillus terreus and with addition of palmitic acid in Talaromyces pupureogenus culture filtrate which may have a function as bio reducers and capping agents. Dose dependent anticandidal activity of CeO _2 NPs using various different concentrations (100, 200, 300, 600 μ g ml ^−1 ) synthesized by both fungal strains was observed by disc diffusion assay against Candida albicans as evidenced by increase in size of zone of inhibitions with increasing concentration of CeO _2 NPs. Further in-vitro and in-vivo experiments are required to access the potential of CeO _2 NPs for controlling Candida albicans strains