CHARACTERIZATION OF 2,4,6-TRINITROTOLUENE (TNT)-METABOLIZING STRAIN PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA SP TUHP1 ISOLATED FROM TNT-POLLUTED SOILS IN THEVELLORE DISTRICT, TAMILNADU,INDIA

Objective: The main objective was to evaluate the degradative properties of Pseudomonas aeruginosa sp TUHP1 isolated from TNT-Polluted soils in the Vellore District, Tamil Nadu, India. Methods: Among the 3 bacterial genera isolated from different soil samples, one potent TNT degrading strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa sp TUHP1 was identified. The morphological, physiological and the biochemical properties of the strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa sp TUHP1 was confirmed by conventional methods and genotypic characterization was carried out using 16S r-DNA partial gene amplification and sequencing. The broken down by products of DNT in the extract was determined by Gas Chromatogram- Mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Supernatant samples from the broth studied at 24 h interval were analyzed by HPLC analysis and the effect on various nutritional and environmental factors were analysed and optimized for the isolate. Results: Out of three isolates one strain TUHP1 were found to have potent efficiency to degrade TNT and revealed the genus Pseudomonas. 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis showed highest homology (99%) with Pseudomonas aeruginosa DS10 and was assigned as Pseudomonas aeruginosa sp TUHP1. Based on the energy of the predicted models, the secondary structure predicted by MFE showed the more stable structure with a minimum energy. Products of TNT Transformation showed colour change in the medium during cultivation. TNT derivates such as 2HADNT and 4HADNT were detected by HPLC chromatogram and 2ADNT, 4ADNT by GC/MS analysis. Conclusion: Hence this study presents the clear evidence for the biodegradation process of TNT by strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa sp TUHP1. Keywords: Bioremediation. Biodegradation. Biotransformation. Sequencing. Â&nbsp

Indolicidin – Antibacterial activity against bacterial pathogens isolated from ocular infections

Indolicidin is a novel/ promising antimicrobial peptide (a 13 amino acid cationic antimicrobial residue present in the form of cytoplasmic granules of bovine neutrophils) and observed with a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against bacteria, fungi, protozoa & even viruses. In the present study, Escherichia coli was transformed with pET 21a+ plasmid carrying indolicidin gene and was expressed. The crude extracts of indolicidin samples induced with varying IPTG concentrations (5mM and 20 mM/ ml of the medium) in Min A medium were checked for antibacterial activities against clinically important ocular bacterial pathogens such as E. coli, Klebsiella sp,, Pseudomonas sp., Acenitobacter sp., Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase negative Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus viridans, S. pneumoniae and S. pyogens and its activity was evaluated.&nbsp

Synthesis of novel 2-substituted benzimidazole derivatives as potential anti microbial agents

In the present study, a novel series of 2-substituted benzimidazole derivatives were synthesized and characterized by means of IR, 1H-NMR, 13C- NMR, mass spectral and elemental analysis. The compounds were screened for antibacterial (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC9144,  Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 155, klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 29665 and Esherichia coli ATCC 25922) and antifungal (Candida albicans ATCC 2091 and Aspergillus niger ATCC 9029) activities. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations was determined by agar streak dilution method. 1-(4-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)phenyl)-3-chloro-4-(4-nitro phenyl)azetidin-2-one (3a) was found to exhibit the most potent in vitro antimicrobial activity with MIC of 15, 17, 19, 9, 11 and 15 μg/mL against E.coli, K.pneumoniae, S.aureus, S.epidermidis, C.albicans and A.niger respectively. All the other compounds exhibited moderate activity against the bacterial and fungal organism tested

Design, synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of Benzothiazole-6-carboxylate derivatives

A parent benzothiazole molecule was synthesized by Jacobson synthesis, then it is subjected to treatment with various aromatic aldehydes to get the corresponding Schiff bases followed by esterification of carboxyl group by using various alcohols. The structures of synthesized compounds were confirmed by various spectroscopic methods such as IR, NMR and mass spectroscopy. The products were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity. Some of the compounds exhibited potent activity when compared with the standards

Parameter identification of a large floating body in random ocean waves by reverse MISO method,

Dynamics of a large moored floating body in ocean wave

The second wave of COVID-19 and beyond: Rural healthcare

There are increasing signs that SARS-CoV-2 has started to spread to rural areas in India. It impacts people’s health, lives, and public health infrastructure that is already strained from a lack of resources. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in rural India is a worrying trend; 50% of reported cases since the beginning of May 2021 are from rural districts. Long-standing systemic, functional, and health inequities have put people in rural communities at increased risk of contracting COVID-19 and suffering from the lack of essential healthcare services. Health disparities between rural and urban areas exist not only in terms of risk factors, such as poor diet and vaccine hesitancy, but also in terms of healthcare infrastructure, manpower, and testing facilities. We suggest some long-term and short-term measures to efficiently develop strategies to contain and control the pandemic in rural areas. Short-term measures include implementing health communication tailored in culturally sensitive ways, increasing vaccination by the usual immunisation pattern, increasing the number of testing facilities, and ensuring food security through the public distribution system (PDS). Long-term suggestions include strengthening the primary healthcare system, increasing funding in the health sector to 2.5% of the gross domestic product (GDP), introducing mid-level care providers, improving skills and training of ASHAs along with adequate financial incentives, and ensuring participation of multiple stakeholders in community health schemes

Premature Centromere Division and Spontaneous Abortion

Premature Centromere Division (PCD) was observed in the chromosomes of metaphase spreads in a patient with the history of recurrent abortions. Short term leukocyte cultures were set up with blood sample from the woman with a history of recurrent abortions for the past four consequent years. 25 % of the metaphase spreads screened displayed premature centromere division of the chromosomes in each of the cells. This abnormal behavior of the centromeres may predispose the individual to cell division errors due to chromosome instability and the consequences of which may be a spontaneous abortion

N-[(2-Hydr­oxy-5-methoxy­phen­yl)(3-nitro­phen­yl)meth­yl]acetamide

In the title compound, C16H16N2O5, the meth­oxy group is disordered with site occupancies of 0.20 (3) and 0.80 (3). The dihedral angle between the two aromatic rings is 73.7 (2)°. The crystal structure is characterized by intermolecular N—H⋯O, O—H⋯O, C—H⋯O and C—H⋯π hydrogen bonds

IN VITRO ACTIVITY OF VARIOUS POTENCIES OF HOMEOPATHIC DRUG THUJA AGAINST MOLDS INVOLVED IN MYCOTIC KERATITIS

Objective: Isolation and characterisation of clinically isolated fungi from mycotic keratitis and exploration of the in vitro efficacy of various potencies of homeopathic preparations of Thuja occidentalis on the ocular fungal isolates. Methods: Clinical samples were collected from fungal keratitis patients attending a tertiary eye care hospital in Coimbatore, Tamilnadu state, India. The scrapings were also subjected to Gram staining and 10% KOH mount to detect the presence of fungal hyphae. The fungal isolates were subjected to lacto phenol cotton blue (LCB) mount employing cello tape flag method. Homeopathic drug Thuja occidentalis with various potencies viz., Q, 30 C, 200 C, 1 M, 10 M and 50 M were investigated for the growth inhibition of various fungal isolates by plate assay method. Further, a follow up analyses with varying dilutions of Q and 10 M homeopathic potencies of Thuja was carried out for the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration of both microdilution and minimum fungicidal concentration for the Biopolaris isolates. Results: Out of 35 samples analysed, Fusarium spp. (n=5), Aspergillus flavus (n=6), Bipolaris spp. (n=3), Exserohilum spp. (n=3) and Curvularia spp (n=3) were identified. All the potencies of Thuja had good inhibitory activity against Bipolaris spp., followed by Curvularia spp., Exserohilum spp. and Aspergillus flavus. Statistical analysis revealed significant inhibition of all the test isolates by Thuja Q and 50 M. Significant growth inhibition was exhibited by Thuja 30, 200 C, I M for Bipolaris, Exserohilum & A. flavus isolate and Thuja 10 M for all the isolates tested except Fusaria. It was revealed that for the Biopolaris isolates BS1, BS2, BS3 Thuja 10 M and Thuja Q had MIC and MFC of 0.125/10[20,00]0& 0.0625/10 and 0.25/10[20][00]0 & 0.125/10, respectively. Conclusion: The present investigation concludes that homeopathic drug Thuja has good inhibitory activity against the fungi causing keratitis, irrespective of the potencies. It is evident that no definite co-relation exists between various potencies of the same homeopathic drug with regard to their antimycotic properties

N-[(2-Hydr­oxy-1-naphth­yl)(2-hydroxy­phen­yl)meth­yl]acetamide

In the asymmetric unit of the title compound, C19H17NO3, there are two crystallographically independent mol­ecules, which are connected to each other by O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming mol­ecular chains as well as cyclic centrosymmetric R 2 2(16) dimers