Tuberculosis vaccine: pipeline approaches and future prospective

Tuberculosis (TB), despite anti-mycobacterial therapies and vaccine, is a deadly infectious disease with about 12 million incident cases worldwide. Existing Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is unquestionably inexpensive, safe and effective against severe forms of childhood TB but appears to be limited in effectiveness against adult pulmonary disease in endemic areas. Genetic variation in the population is the major obstruction inhibiting validation of biomarkers for protective human immunity against TB. Since current TB cases are presenting new challenges with threats of HIV co-infection therefore various attempts at a global platform are being made to develop a new modified vaccine against it. Consequently, Modified Vaccinia Ankara virus (MVA) vectored MPT64 & Ag85A delivery and polyvalent DNA vaccine, expressing an ESAT6–Ag85B fusion protein etc. are preclinically tested for boosted immune effects. However, better vaccine approaches still need to be developed against M. tuberculosis which can be unbeaten in most infected areas

Role of visual acuity in sexual function

Background: Good perception of the external world with the senses is critical for sexual arousal and sexual activity. The present study was conducted to investigate role of visual acuity in sexual function. Materials & Methods: This study was conducted on 60 patients of bilateral cataract or monocular patients with cataract of both genders. Patients were divided into three groups. Group I patients were with bilateral visual acuity values of between 0.2 -0.9 logMAR, group II patients were with bilateral visual acuity values of between 1.0 -1.3 logMAR and group III patients with bilateral visual acuity values of 1.4 - 1.7 logMAR. All patients completed the Turkish version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) before and at 1 month after surgery. Results: The mean age in group I was 62.4 years, in group II was 63.5 years and in group III was 64.5 years. There were 16 smokers in group I, 17 in group II and 12 in group III. 13 patients in group I, 14 in group II and 17 in group III were on anti- hypertensive, 7 in group I, 9 in group II and 8 in group III were on anti- cholesterol. The difference was non- significant (P> 0.05).Sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction, overall satisfaction, and total IIEF score were significantly improved after cataract surgery in both the group II and group III. The difference was significant (P< 0.05) whereas orgasmic function and erectile function was non- significant (P> 0.05).Conclusion: Authors found an association of low visual acuity and decreased sexual desire in patients undergoing cataract surgery

RC4 Encryption-A Literature Survey

AbstractA chronological survey demonstrating the cryptanalysis of RC4 stream cipher is presented in this paper. We have summarized the various weaknesses of RC4 algorithm followed by the recently proposed enhancements available in the literature. It is established that innovative research efforts are required to develop secure RC4 algorithm, which can remove the weaknesses of RC4, such as biased bytes, key collisions, and key recovery attacks on WPA. These flaws in RC4 are still offering an open challenge for developers. Hence our chronological survey corroborates the fact that even though researchers are working on RC4 stream cipher since last two decades, it still offers a plethora of research issues. The attraction of community towards RC4 is still alive

(R2020) Dynamical Study and Optimal Harvesting of a Two-species Amensalism Model Incorporating Nonlinear Harvesting

This study proposes a two-species amensalism model with a cover to protect the first species from the second species, with the assumption that the growth of the second species is governed by nonlinear harvesting. Analytical and numerical analyses have both been done on this suggested ecological model. Boundedness and positivity of the solutions of the model are examined. The existence of feasible equilibrium points and their local stability have been discussed. In addition, the parametric conditions under which the proposed system is globally stable have been determined. It has also been shown, using the Sotomayor theorem, that under certain parametric conditions, the suggested model exhibits a saddle-node bifurcation. The parametric conditions for the existence of the bionomic equilibrium point have been obtained. The optimal harvesting strategy has been investigated utilizing the Pontryagins Maximum Principle. The potential phase portrait diagrams have been provided to corroborate the acquired findings

Synthesis, spectral analysis and study of antimicrobial activity of 2,5-diformyl-1H-pyrrole bis(methan-1-yl-1-ylidene)dimalonohydrazone

AbstractWe have synthesized 2,5-diformyl-1H-pyrrole bis(methan-1-yl-1-ylidene)dimalonohydrazone (DPBMD) and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV–Vis, Mass, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Theoretical calculations were performed by ab initio RHF and density functional theory (DFT)/B3LYP method, 6-31G(d,p) and 6-311++G(d,p) basis sets. The calculated scaled vibrational frequency values have been compared with experimental FT-IR spectrum. The calculated result shows excellent agreement between experimental and calculated frequencies at B3LYP method and 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. The thermodynamics properties, NBO, nonlinear optical properties and mulliken charges of DPBMD have also been analyzed. Involvement of nitrogen [N8/N18] and [N14/N24] lone pairs of electron with [π∗(C9–O10), π∗(C6–N7)/π∗(C16–N17), π∗(C19–O20)] and [(π∗(C12–O13)/π∗(C22–O23)] leads to an enormous stabilization of 84.6/84.6 and 64.1/64.1kcal/mol of the molecule. A combined experimental and theoretical stretching wavenumber symmetric (3003, 3332cm−1) and asymmetric (3276, 3398cm−1) analysis confirms free NH2 groups in DPBMD. The calculated first hyperpolarizability (β0=5.80×10−30esu) at B3LYP method and 6-311++G(d,p) basis sets indicates that DPBMD can be used as an attractive material for non-linear optical. The electronic descriptor analysis indicates that DPBMD is a good precursor for heterocyclic synthesis and as ligand for metal complex formation. The preliminary bioassay suggested that the DPBMD compound exhibits relatively good antibacterial and fungicidal activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger

LEAF RUST RESPONSIVE EXPRESSION PROFILING OF GRAS TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR FAMILY IN WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L)

Objective: Rusts are among the most important fungal diseases of wheat all over the world responsible for losses in yield ranging from 25% to 90%. Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the major staple food crops all over the world but is greatly affected by leaf rust. GRAS is a plant-specific stress responsive transcription factor gene family. The objective of the present study is to carry out expression profiling of GRAS TFs during leaf rust pathogenesis.Methods: SOLiD SAGE library preparation. GRAS TFs were mapped to the four libraries using the CLC genomics workbench to study their expression profiles. A Co-expression network of these TFs has been constructed using WGCNA (weighted gene co-expression network analysis).Results: The four libraries have been prepared: S-M, S-PI, R-M R-PI. GRAS TFs were mapped to these libraries, giving different expression profiles of the 63 GRAS TFs. Pearson correlation coefficients were 0.56, 0.34 and 0.24 for R-M vs. R-PI, S-M vs. S-PI and S-PI vs. R-PI respectively. Highest difference in expression of TaGRAS genes was between two libraries S-PI vs. R-PI. TaGRAS genes have been clustered into seven (blue, turquoise, red, green, black, maroon and yellow) different modules in signed correlation.Conclusion: TaGRAS genes which are upregulated during leaf rust might be plays important roles to provide resistance to the plants. The difference in Pearson correlation coefficient indicates that susceptible and resistant-NILs utilize a different set of TaGRAS genes to counter leaf rust pathogenesis. The genes which are clustered together in coexpression network might be expressed together during leaf rust pathogenesis to provide resistance to the plant.Keywords: Leaf rust, Wheat. GRAS, Transcription Factors, SAGE, WGCN

Erythema nodosum and reactive arthritis accompanying tuberculosis: A case report

Erythema nodosum (EN) is the most common panniculitis, appearing as crops of erythematous nodules located symmetrically on the anterior aspect of lower extremities. It is precipitated by several infectious and non-infectious causes with primary tuberculosis (TB) being its most common cause in developing countries. Reactive arthritis associated with TB is known a

Tribulus terrestris improves metronidazole-induced impaired fertility in the male mice

Introduction: Fruit extract of Tribulus terrestris (TT) bears aphrodisiac and antioxidative properties. Antimicrobial drug, metronidazole (MTZ) impairs the spermatogenic activity and fertility in males. Objective: Validation of the use of fruit extract of TT as a supplement against MTZ-induced fertility impairment in males.Methods: Adult Swiss strain male mice were administered with 500mg/kgBW/day of MTZ for 28 days. Low (100mg/kgBW/day) and high (200mg/kgBW/day) doses of TT were administered simultaneously with MTZ (500mg/kgBW/day) for same duration. All males were cohabited with virgin proestrus females. Vaginal plug formation was observed to calculate the libido index. Cohabited females were sacrificed on fifteenth day of gestation to dissect out the ovaries and uteri. Fertility index, quantal pregnancy, pre-implantation and post-implantation losses were calculated. Results: MTZ-treated males showed unaltered mating ability, however, the females impregnated by such males exhibited marked alterations in the fertility index, quantal pregnancy and pre- and post-implantation losses. Supplementation with low dose of TT failed to restore such reproductive toxicities exhibited by administration of MTZ. However, the altered reproductive toxicities were reinstated to control values following supplementation with high dose of TT. Conclusion: The fruit extract of TT may emerge as an effective herbal remedy, correcting the drug-induced fertility impairments in males.Keywords: Female mice, fertility, male mice, metronidazole, Tribulus terrestris.