EXTRACELLULAR ALKALINE PROTEASE PRODUCING HALO-ALKALITOLERANT BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM MARINE COASTS OF ODISHA

Objective: The objective of the present study was on the isolation of alkali-tolerant bacteria from sediment samples of different coasts of Odisha, having potentiality to produce alkaline protease.Methods: About 25 sediment samples were collected and analyzed for pH and moisture contents. Then isolation of alkali-tolerants was done using Horikoshi media at 10.3 pH. Isolates were analyzed for producing alkaline protease by plate assay method both at pH 6 and 10. Effects of temperature on protease production were also determined. Besides a new method of quantification of enzymes were adapted. Along this the isolates were partially characterized and identification was done using PIBWin software.Results: About 80 isolates were initially isolated, and 11 isolates were considered based on maximal zones of clearances at alkaline pH. Maximum solubilisation index (SI) was found to be 30 mm by 3 isolates viz. AP2, AP8 and AP13 while maximum hydrolytic run percentage (HR%) was found to be 65.39% by AP3. About 45.46% isolates had capability for protease production at 37 °C and 18.18% at 57 °C while 81.82% isolates showed production at 17 °C. AP8 was the good producers of alkaline protease having SI 39 mm at pH 10 while incubating at 47 °C. Isolates were characterized partially by cultural, morphological, biochemical and physiological tests, which were belonged to the genera of Bacillus, Virgibacillus and Micrococcus. The isolated bacteria showed growth at pH ranges from 4-12 and can tolerate 12% NaCl concentrations for their growth.Conclusion: Due to the above unique features and capability to produce alkaline proteases by the marine isolates, can be used significantly in various industries.Keywords: Alkali-tolerant, Alkaline protease, Halo-tolerant, Hydrolytic run, Odisha-coas

Integrated management of root knot nematode In ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.)

Pre-planting application ofneem cake (1 t/ha) followed by post-planting application of carbofuran (1 kg ail ha) 45 days after planting gave the best result in terms of suppression of root knot nematode population, disease intensity and increased yield of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) closely followed by application of carbofuran first followed with neem cake. &nbsp

Yield losses in ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) and turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) due to root knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita)

Soil application of carbofuran @3 kg a i /ha 3 weeks after planting resulted in avoidable yield losses to the extent of 33.61 per cent in turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) and 26.30 per cent in ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) due to Meloidogyne incognita. Gall index values were correspondingly high in control plots compared to treated ones in both ginger and turmeric. &nbsp

Rotavirus nonstructural protein NSP4 induces heterotypic antibody responses during natural infection in children

Seroconversion of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) (≥4-fold rise) to rotavirus nonstructural protein 4 (NSP4) was determined, by use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with fusion proteins glutathione S-transferase (GST)-NSP4 from strains SA11 (A), 116E (B), and RRV (C), in 40 children with acute rotavirus gastroenteritis and in 30 with the same disease due to other pathogens. The IgG seroconversion rates in the rotavirus group were 67.5%, 70%, and 60% when recombinant (r) NSP4A, -B, and -C, respectively, were used as antigen in the assay, and, for rotavirus-uninfected children, rates were 10%, 13%, and 7%. IgA seroconversion occurred in 57%, 70%, and 50%, respectively, of children with rotavirus gastroenteritis; in rotavirus-uninfected children, 1 child each seroconverted to the different rNSP4s. Among 9 children infected with strain NSP4A, 7, 6, and 5 children showed IgG seroconversion, and, among 18 infected with NSP4A, -B, and -C, 16, 17, and 15, respectively, showed IgG seroconversion. Between NSP4A-infected and NSP4B-infected children, IgA responses were similar to IgG responses. In conclusion, significant NSP4-specific antibody response occurs in natural rotavirus infection, and the antibody response appears to be broad and heterotypic in nature

Modelling Permafrost Distribution in Western Himalaya Using Remote Sensing and Field Observations

Acknowledgments: M.A.R.K. and P.P. are thankful to the director Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, ISRO, Dehradun for help and support. S.S. and A.B. would like to acknowledge the University of Aberdeen Pump Prime grant to support their research in Ladakh, India. S.N.A. acknowledges the Director, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow for encouragement and support.This study did not receive any external funding.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Chikungunya Infection in India: Results of a Prospective Hospital Based Multi-Centric Study

Chikungunya (CHIKV) has recently seen a re-emergence in India with high morbidity. However, the epidemiology and disease burden remain largely undetermined. A prospective multi-centric study was conducted to evaluate clinical, epidemiological and virological features of chikugunya infection in patients with acute febrile illness from various geographical regions of India.A total of 540 patients with fever of up to 7days duration were enrolled at Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Karnataka (South); Sawai Man Singh Medical College (SMS) Rajasthan (West), and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi (North) from June 2008 to May 2009. Serum specimens were screened for chikungunya infection concurrently through RT-PCR and serology (IgM). Phylogenetic analysis was performed using Bioedit and Mega2 programs. Chikungunya infection was detected in 25.37% patients by RT-PCR and/or IgM-ELISA. Highest cases were detected in south (49.36%) followed by west (16.28%) and north (0.56%) India. A difference in proportion of positives by RT-PCR/ELISA with regard to duration of fever was observed (p<0.05). Rashes, joint pain/swelling, abdominal pain and vomiting was frequently observed among chikungunya confirmed cases (p<0.05). Adults were affected more than children. Anti-CHIK antibodies (IgM) were detected for more than 60days of fever onset. Phylogenetic analysis based on E1 gene from KIMS patients (n = 15) revealed ∼99% homology clustering with Central/East African genotype. An amino acid change from lysine to glutamine at position 132 of E1 gene was frequently observed among strains infecting children.The study documented re-emergence of chikungunya in high frequencies and severe morbidity in south and west India but rare in north. The study emphasizes the need for continuous surveillance for disease burden using multiple diagnostic tests and also warrants the need for an appropriate molecular diagnostic for early detection of chikungunya virus

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.

Development of candidate rotavirus vaccines derived from neonatal strains in India

The need for a rotavirus vaccine in India is based on the enormous burden associated with the &lt;100,000 deaths due to rotavirus diarrhea that occur annually among Indian children. Two rotavirus strains identified during nosocomial outbreaks of rotavirus infection in New Delhi and Bangalore, India, more than a decade ago are being developed as live oral vaccines. Infected newborns had no symptoms, shed virus for up to 2 weeks after infection, mounted a robust immune response, and demonstrated protection against severe rotavirus diarrhea after reinfection. The 2 strains are naturally occurring bovine-human reassortants. The New Delhi strain, 116E, is characterized as having a P[11],G9 genotype, and the Bangalore strain, I321, is characterized as having a P[11],G10 genotype. The strains have been prepared as pilot lots for clinical trials to be conducted in New Delhi. This unique project, which is developing a new rotavirus vaccine in India with the use of Indian strains, an Indian manufacturer, and an Indian clinical development program, aims to expedite introduction of rotavirus vaccines in India

The budding yeast protein Chl1p is required to preserve genome integrity upon DNA damage in S-phase

The budding yeast protein, Chl1p, is required for sister-chromatid cohesion, transcriptional silencing, rDNA recombination and aging. In this work, we show that Chl1p is also required for viability when DNA replication is stressed, either due to mutations or if cells are treated with genotoxic agents like methylmethane sulfonate (MMS) and ultraviolet (UV) rays. The chl1 mutation caused synthetic growth defects with mutations in DNA replication genes. At semi-permissive temperatures, the double mutants grew poorly, were less viable and showed nuclear fragmentation. They were, however, not limited in their bulk DNA synthesis. When chl1 cells were treated with relatively low levels of MMS in S-phase, they lost viability. The S-phase DNA damage checkpoint pathway, however, remained active in these cells. Agarose gel electrophoresis of genomic DNA isolated from wild-type and chl1 cells, after recovery from MMS treatment, suggested that the wild-type was more proficient in the repair of DNA damage than the mutant. Our work suggests that Chl1p is required for genome integrity when cells suffer endogenously or exogenously induced DNA damage