Molecular surveillance of Dengue Virus (DENV) and its co-infection with Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV) among febrile patients: A comparative study from South Delhi, India

Dengue and Chikungunya are two major arboviral infections transmitted worldwide by the mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus. India suffers enormously with both Dengue and Chikungunya as they pose a great public health challenge. The present study aims to evaluate the prevalence of Dengue Virus (DENV), Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV) and DENV/CHIKV co-infection (by Reverse-Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)/Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), their clinical features, DENV serotypes and CHIKV specific Immunoglobulin G (IgG) within a 7 years gap in the Delhi population. The study sample included clinically suspected febrile patients (?7 days) sera collected during 2017-2018 (n=87) and during 2008-2010 (n=623) from Delhi. Captured ELISA was performed for CHIKV IgG screening and nested PCR was done for DENV serotyping. The percentage prevalence for DENV was significantly higher than CHIKV with 41.38% (n=87) and 16.1% (n=87), respectively; interestingly, DENV/CHIKV co-infection was detected in 10.34% (n=9/87) cases during 2017-2018. Similarly, a high DENV prevalence was observed during 2008-2010 with the prevalence rate of 38.3% (69/180),  34.65% (35/101) and 47.07% (161/342), respectively. DENV 1 and DENV 3 were dominant serotype during 2008-2010 and 2017-2018 respectively. We have noticed a high prevalence (36.67%, 22/60) of the CHIKV IgG antibody in the 2017-2018 samples. Joint pain was more preferential to CHIKV mono-infection and DENV/CHIKV co-infection compared to DENV mono-infection. The present study highlights the need for active surveillance simultaneously for both DENV and CHIKV and to evaluate the role of CHIKV/DENV co-infections in disease severity in the endemic regions.

Tandem duplication of a genomic region encoding glutathione S-transferase epsilon-2 and -4 genes in DDT-resistant Anopheles stephensi strain from India

The glutathione S-transferases (GST) genes are a multigene family of enzymes involved in the metabolism of endogenous and xenobiotic compounds by catalysing the conjugation of the reduced form of glutathione to the substrate. The epsilon class of GST (GSTe), unique to arthropods, is known to be involved in the detoxification process of several classes of insecticides, and GSTe2 in particular is known to have DDT dehydrochlorinase activity. This communication reports a tandem duplication of a genomic region encoding GSTe2 and GSTe4 genes in a laboratory-colonized DDT-resistant Anopheles stephensi. We identified duplication breakpoints and the organization of gene duplication through Sanger sequencing performed on long-PCR products. Manual annotation of sequences revealed a tandemly-arrayed duplication of a 3.62 kb segment of GST epsilon gene clusters comprised of five genes: a partial GSTe1, GSTe2, GSTe2-pseudogene, GSTe4 and partial GSTe5, interconnected by a conserved 2.42 kb DNA insert segment major part of which is homologous to a genomic region located on a different chromosome. The tandemly duplicated array contained a total of two GSTe2 and three GSTe4 functional paralog genes. Read-depth coverage and split-read analysis of Illumina-based whole-genome sequence reads confirmed the presence of duplication in the corresponding region of the genome. The increased gene dose in mosquitoes as a result of the GSTe gene-duplication may be an adaptive process to increase levels of detoxifying enzymes to counter insecticide pressure

Assessment of neuro-optometric rehabilitation using the Developmental Eye Movement (DEM) test in adults with acquired brain injury

Purpose: This pilot study sought to determine the efficacy of using the Developmental Eye Movement (DEM) test in the adult, acquired brain injury (ABI) population to quantify clinically the effects of controlled, laboratory-performed, oculomotor-based vision therapy/vision rehabilitation. Methods: Nine adult subjects with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and five with stroke were assessed before and after an eight-week, computer-based, versional oculomotor (fixation, saccades, pursuit, and simulated reading) training program (9.6 h total). The protocol incorporated a cross-over, interventional design with and without the addition of auditory feedback regarding two-dimensional eye position. The clinical outcome measure was the Developmental Eye Movement (DEM) test score (ratio, errors) taken before, midway, and immediately following training. Results: For the DEM ratio parameter, improvements were found in 80–89% of the subjects. For the DEM error parameter, improvements were found in 100% of the subjects. Incorporation of the auditory feedback component revealed a trend toward enhanced performance. The findings were similar for both DEM parameters, as well as for incorporation of the auditory feedback, in both diagnostic groups. Discussion: The results of the present study demonstrated considerable improvements in the DEM test scores following the oculomotor-based training, thus reflecting more time-optimal and accurate saccadic tracking after the training. The DEM test should be considered as another clinical test of global saccadic tracking performance in the ABI population. Resumen: Objetivo: Este estudio piloto trató de determinar la eficacia del uso de la prueba DEM (Developmental Eye Movement) en la población adulta con daño cerebral adquirido (DCA) para cuantificar clínicamente los efectos de la rehabilitación/terapia visual controlada, realizada en laboratorio, y de carácter oculomotor. Métodos: Se valoraron nueve sujetos adultos con daño cerebral traumático leve (mTBI) y cinco con ictus, con anterioridad y posterioridad a un programa de entrenamiento de ocho semanas, informático oculomotor y versional (movimientos de fijación, sacádicos, de persecución y lectura simulada, de 9,6 horas en total). El protocolo incorporó un diseño cruzado e intervencional, con y sin adición de retroalimentación auditiva en relación a la posición bi-dimensional de los ojos. La medida del resultado clínico se llevó a cabo mediante la puntuación de la prueba DEM (Developmental Eye Movement) (ratio, errores) realizada con anterioridad, en el punto medio, e inmediatamente tras el entrenamiento. Resultados: Para el parámetro de ratio DEM, se encontraron mejoras en el 80-89% de los sujetos. Para el parámetro de error DEM, se encontraron mejoras en el 100% de los sujetos. La incorporación del componente de retroalimentación auditiva reveló una tendencia hacia la mejora del rendimiento. Los hallazgos fueron similares para ambos parámetros DEM, así como para la incorporación de la retroalimentación auditiva, en ambos grupos diagnósticos. Discusión: Los resultados del presente estudio demostraron mejoras considerables de las puntuaciones de la prueba DEM tras la terapia oculomotora, lo que refleja una mayor optimización y precisión del seguimiento sacádico en el tiempo tras la terapia. Deberá considerarse la prueba DEM como una prueba clínica para valorar el rendimiento del seguimiento sacádico global en la población de DCA. Keywords: Traumatic brain injury (TBI), Cerebral vascular accident (CVA)/stroke, Developmental Eye Movement (DEM) test, Eye movements, Neuro-optometric rehabilitation, Palabras clave: Daño cerebral traumático (DCT), Accidente cerebro-vascular (ACV)/ictus, Prueba DEM (Developmental Eye Movement), Movimientos oculares, Rehabilitación neuro-optométric

Larvicidal activity of Ricinus communis extract against mosquitoes

Background & objectives: Vector control strategies play significant role in reducing the transmission of malaria, dengue and other vector-borne diseases. The control of vector population using synthetic insecticides has resulted in development of insecticide resistance and negative effects on humans and environment. The present investigation evaluated the larvicidal potential of methanol, dichloromethane and hexane extracts of leaves and seeds of Ricinus communis (castor) plant against the early IV instar larvae of the dengue vector, Aedes aegypti, and malaria vector, Anopheles culicifacies. Methods: Plant extracts were screened for their efficacy against Ae. aegypti and An. culicifacies using WHO standard larval susceptibility test method. Dose response bioassay was performed to get lethal concentrations. Further, gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis was carried out to identify the bioactive chemical constituents of the extracts of R. communis. Toxicity of the extracts towards non-target organism, Poecilia reticulata was also evaluated. Results: The leaf and seed extracts of R. communis showed significant mortality against the larvae of Ae. aegypti and An. culicifacies at concentrations of 31.25, 62.5, 125, 250, 500 ppm; and 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 ppm, respectively. At 24 h of the exposure period, the larvicidal activities were highest for the methanol extract of seeds with LC50 15.52 and 9.37 ppm and LC90 45.24 and 31.1 ppm for Ae. aegypti and An. culicifacies, respectively. The methanol extract of seeds and leaves was found to be safe towards non-target organism, P. reticulata. The GC-MS profile showed that seed extracts were having higher concentration of stigmasterol (7.5%), β-sitosterol (11.48%), methyl linoleate (2.5%), vitamin E (11.93%), and ricinoleic acid (34%) than the leaf extracts. Interpretation & conclusion: The seed extract of R. communis has better larvicidal activity than the leaf extract and can be used as an effective larvicide against mosquitoes. The non-toxicity of the extracts towards P. reticulata further suggests that these plant extracts could be used along with predatory fishes in integrated vector control approaches

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Not AvailableGenus Musa is of great importance worldwide due to the commercial and nutritional value of cultivated varieties belonging to the family Musaceae of order Zingiberales that includes bananas and plantains which are monocotyledonous, herbaceous flowering plants. Banana has valuable nutritional content of vitamin C, B6, minerals and dietary fibre and is considered to be rich energy source. We have designed a comprehensive web-based database, Musa Information Resources to provide comprehensive information available world-wide at a single platform. The database provides access to the morpho-taxonomic data, geographical location, economic status and usage of the various Musa varieties, passport data for 3630 accessions of banana available worldwide. Varieties can be classified based on the morphological features. The database also provides disease and pest management information, in order to protect the crop from harmful infections. The sophisticated web-based graphical user interface allows efficient and desired retrieval of data, making it a comprehensive and intricate tool. Musa Information Resources can be accessed at http://webtom.cabgrid.res.in/Musa_resources/Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe genus Musa is one of three genera in the family Musaceae, which includes bananas and plantains, which are monocotyledonous plants. Bananas have valuable nutritional content of vitamin C, B6, minerals, and dietary fiber and are a rich food energy source, given that carbohydrates account for 22%–32% of fruit weight. Molecular markers are valuable for crop improvement and population genetics studies. The availability of whole-genome sequence and in silico approaches has revolutionized bulk marker discovery. We describe an online web genomic resource, BanSatDB (http://webtom.cabgrid.res.in/bansatdb/) having the highest number (>341,000) of putative STR markers from Musa genera so far, represented by three species: M. acuminata (110,000), M. balbisiana (107,000), and M. itinerans (124,000) from 11 chromosomes of each species. BanSatDB has also been populated with 580 validated STR markers from the published literature. It is based on a three-tier architecture using MySQL, PHP and Apache. The markers can be retrieved by use of multiple search parameters including chromosome number(s), microsatellite types (simple or compound), repeat nucleotides (1–6), copy number, microsatellite length, pattern of repeat motif, and chromosome location. These markers can be used for Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) tests of variety identification and for marker assisted selection (MAS) in variety improvement and management. These STRs have also proved to be helpful in classification of Musa germplasm to distinguish individual accessions and in the development of a standardized procedure for genotyping. These markers can also be used in gene discovery and QTL mapping. The database represents a source of markers for developing and implementing new approaches for molecular breeding, which are required to enhance banana productivity.Not Availabl

BanSatDB, a whole-genome-based database of putative and experimentally validated microsatellite markers of three Musa species

The genus Musa is one of three genera in the family Musaceae, which includes bananas and plantains, which are monocotyledonous plants. Bananas have valuable nutritional content of vitamin C, B6, minerals, and dietary fiber and are a rich food energy source, given that carbohydrates account for 22%–32% of fruit weight. Molecular markers are valuable for crop improvement and population genetics studies. The availability of whole-genome sequence and in silico approaches has revolutionized bulk marker discovery. We describe an online web genomic resource, BanSatDB (http://webtom.cabgrid.res.in/bansatdb/) having the highest number (>341,000) of putative STR markers from Musa genera so far, represented by three species: M. acuminata (110,000), M. balbisiana (107,000), and M. itinerans (124,000) from 11 chromosomes of each species. BanSatDB has also been populated with 580 validated STR markers from the published literature. It is based on a three-tier architecture using MySQL, PHP and Apache. The markers can be retrieved by use of multiple search parameters including chromosome number(s), microsatellite types (simple or compound), repeat nucleotides (1–6), copy number, microsatellite length, pattern of repeat motif, and chromosome location. These markers can be used for Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) tests of variety identification and for marker assisted selection (MAS) in variety improvement and management. These STRs have also proved to be helpful in classification of Musa germplasm to distinguish individual accessions and in the development of a standardized procedure for genotyping. These markers can also be used in gene discovery and QTL mapping. The database represents a source of markers for developing and implementing new approaches for molecular breeding, which are required to enhance banana productivity. Keywords: Musaceae, Musa, Banana, Microsatellite, Short tandem repeat (STR), Primer