Characterization of an extracellular lipase and its chaperone from Ralstonia eutropha H16

Lipase enzymes catalyze the reversible hydrolysis of triacylglycerol to fatty acids and glycerol at the lipid–water interface. The metabolically versatile Ralstonia eutropha strain H16 is capable of utilizing various molecules containing long carbon chains such as plant oil, organic acids, or Tween as its sole carbon source for growth. Global gene expression analysis revealed an upregulation of two putative lipase genes during growth on trioleate. Through analysis of growth and activity using strains with gene deletions and complementations, the extracellular lipase (encoded by the lipA gene, locus tag H16_A1322) and lipase-specific chaperone (encoded by the lipB gene, locus tag H16_A1323) produced by R. eutropha H16 was identified. Increase in gene dosage of lipA not only resulted in an increase of the extracellular lipase activity, but also reduced the lag phase during growth on palm oil. LipA is a non-specific lipase that can completely hydrolyze triacylglycerol into its corresponding free fatty acids and glycerol. Although LipA is active over a temperature range from 10 °C to 70 °C, it exhibited optimal activity at 50 °C. While R. eutropha H16 prefers a growth pH of 6.8, its extracellular lipase LipA is most active between pH 7 and 8. Cofactors are not required for lipase activity; however, EDTA and EGTA inhibited LipA activity by 83 %. Metal ions Mg[superscript 2+], Ca[superscript 2+], and Mn[superscript 2+] were found to stimulate LipA activity and relieve chelator inhibition. Certain detergents are found to improve solubility of the lipid substrate or increase lipase-lipid aggregation, as a result SDS and Triton X-100 were able to increase lipase activity by 20 % to 500 %. R. eutropha extracellular LipA activity can be hyper-increased, making the overexpression strain a potential candidate for commercial lipase production or in fermentations using plant oils as the sole carbon source.Malaysia-MIT Biotechnology Partnership Programm

Rubber Clay Nanocomposites

The use of nanofillers allows the development of nanocomposites with improved properties and novel applications. The technological goal is possible due to the new compounding method that allows a particle dispersion in the nanometer scale increasing the specific surface area.Fil: Cova Sánchez, Mariajose. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial - Caucho; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental; ArgentinaFil: Bacigalupe, Alejandro. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial - Caucho; ArgentinaFil: Escobar, Mariano Martin. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial - Caucho; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Mansilla, Marcela Angela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial - Caucho; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Chitin degrading potential of bacteria from extreme and moderate environment

248-254<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";="" mso-ansi-language:en-in;mso-fareast-language:en-in;mso-bidi-language:hi"="" lang="EN-IN">Five hundred chitin-degrading bacteria were isolated from 20 different locations. High percentage of potent chitin degraders was obtained from po lluted regions. Potent chitin- degrading bacteria were selected by primary and seondary screening. Among the selected isolates 78% were represented by the genus Streptomyces. Majority of the isolates had good chitinolysis relative to the growth although isolates with better growth were also seen. Such isolates are important for the production of SCP from chitinous wastes. The potent iso lates belonged to the genera Streptomyces, Kitasatosporia, Saccharopolyspora, Nocardioides, Nocardiopsis, Herbidospora, Micromonospora, Microbispora, ,Actinoplanes, Serratia, Bacillus and Pseudomonas. This study forms a comprehensive base for the study of diversity of chitinolytic systems of  bacteria.</span

Role of Duloxetine in management of cervical or lumbosacral neuralgia of unknown etiology: A preliminary study

Background: Duloxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used for treatment of neuropathic pain associated with diabetic neuropathy and fibromyalgia. Use of duloxetine for idiopathic neuropathic pain is not known. We present our experience for treatment of such painful conditions. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients, either sex, aged 30-65 years presenting for cervical and lumbosacral pain were administered duloxetine 40 mg/day in two divided doses. They were followed for a total period of 20 weeks and pain was assessed periodically using Numerical scale and Facies scale. Results: Fifteen patients showed complete resolution of pain. No major side effects were seen. No patient showed less than 50% resolution of pain. Conclusion: Duloxetine 40 mg/day is effective for control of painful neuropathic condition in our Indian setup

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;letter-spacing:-.1pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US; mso-bidi-language:HI" lang="EN-GB">Comparative studies on ability of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">N</i>-acetylated chitooligosaccharides to scaven<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Mangal; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:HI" lang="EN-GB">ge reactive oxygen species and protect DNA from oxidative damage</span></span>

186-192<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-bidi-font-family:="" mangal;mso-ansi-language:en-gb;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:="" hi"="" lang="EN-GB">Antioxidants have key role in scavenging free radicals and have been considered as dietary part of health conscious population for reducing the risk of many diseases. In the present study, commercially available N-acetylated chitooligosaccharides [(GlcNAc)n; n=2, 3, 5, 6] were studied for their antioxidant ability against superoxide, hydroxyl, DPPH radicals and H2O2 by various radical scavenging assays. The N-acetylated chitooligosaccharides exhibited radical scavenging activities in the range of 49.1-63% for hydroxyl radical and 41-53.3% for superoxide radical. Their antioxidant ability was at par or better than standard antioxidants like butylated hydroxyanisole and mannitol. These <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">N-acetylated chitooligosaccharides were also evaluated for their ability to prevent oxidative DNA damage in peripheral blood mononuclear cells exposed to H2O2. (GlcNAc)2, (GlcNAc)3, (GlcNAc)5 and (GlcNAc)6 decreased the oxidative DNA damage due to H2O2 by 59.5, 55.5, 22.9 and 4.9%, respectively. This antioxidative potential of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">N-acetylated chitooligosaccharides can be extended to beneficial health applications.</span

Genotypic characterization of multi-drug resistant coliform bacteria: Insights into their mechanisms of antibiotic resistance using Whole Genome Sequencing

Anthropogenically polluted water is a potential reservoir for pathogenic microorganisms and micro-contaminants like antibiotics. Due to the selective pressure of antibiotics, resident bacteria tend to acquire resistance mechanisms through mutations, genome rearrangements and horizontal gene transfer. (Darvinism: Survival of the fittest!). This study aimed to isolate and characterize multi-drug resistant coliform bacteria from natural water bodies of Pune city and to analyse whole genome sequences for identification of genomic alterations possibly responsible for multi-drug resistance (MDR). The isolates were identified by next generation sequencing. Sequence type of isolates was determined by Multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Genes responsible for antibiotic resistance were identified using Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database (CARD). The isolates were found resistant to third and fourth generation cephalosporins and carbapenems which is very alarming as these are the antibiotics of last resort. The mechanisms of resistance developed by isolates were efflux pump mediated drug resistance and β- lactamase production. Mutation rate was found higher when set of genes responsible for efflux pump mediated drug resistance (mdt A, mdt B, mdt C, mex J, mex K, opr N) was analysed. Mutation leading to change in single amino acid (Arg-235 to Lys) was detected in Pseudomonas aeruginosa ST- 635 for the gene blaPDC-3 . Escherichia coli ST-410 and ST- 617 were found single amino acid variants for the gene blaCMY- 47 (Pro-121 to Ser). Mutations observed in CMY-47 and PDC-3 are indicative of rapid evolution of AmpC β- lactamases. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics has resulted into emergence and dissemination of MDR leading to antibiotic- driven adaptive bacterial evolution