Special Issue on Defence Against Biological and Chemical Agents

WELCOME to the inaugural issue of the Defence Life Science Journal. The Defence Life Science Journal (DLSJ) is an international journal and is published by Defence Scientific Information & Documentation Centre (DESIDOC) on behalf of Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). The journal is dedicated to publishing research covering a wide spectrum of applications in the emerging field in the field of defence/military life support system. Broadly it will cover; Molecular biology, biophysics, biochemistry, psychology, physiology, biotechnology, pharmacology and toxicology (animals, plants, microbial and viral cells), and related areas like bio-medicine, bio-engineering, bio-electronics, etc

Toxicology of Gallium Arsenide: An Appraisal

The toxicity of gallium arsenide (GaAs), a compound extensively used in Defence as a superior semiconductor material, in ground-and space-based radar and in electronic warfare is not well known. Results from recent reports on experimental animals indicate that GaAs produces profound effects on the lung, liver, immune and haematopoietic systems. GaAs is found to be soluble in aqueous solution and forms unidentified gallium and arsenic species upon dissolution. Different species of arsenic which are formed following the exposure may lead to various toxic effects. This paper gives a comprehensive account of work carried out in the toxicology of GaAs

Human Pluripotent Stem Cells and Drug Discovery: A New Beginning

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) offer unique opportunities to discover and develop a new generation of drugs. Their ability to differentiate into virtually any cell type renders them a cost-effective, renewable source of tissue-specific cell types capable of predicting human responses towards novel chemical entities. Using these improved in vitro models based on physiologically relevant human cell types could result in identifying highly precise and safe compounds, thereby reducing drug attrition rates. Moreover, ability to develop humanised disease models for patient-stratified drug screening makes hPSCs an impeccable tool in translational medicine. In this mini-review we focus on the positives and negatives of utilising hPSC-derived cell types as drug discovery platforms with special emphasis on cardio-, hepato- and embryotoxicity

Nanocurcumin Prevents Oxidative Stress Induced following Arsenic and Fluoride Co-exposure in Rats

The present study is in continuation of our previous efforts to investigate the preventive efficacy of encapsulated curcumin nanoparticles (nanocurcumin) in mitigating effects of arsenic and/or fluoride. Curcumin was encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles having a size distribution in the range of 50 nm. Sodium arsenite (2 mg/kg, orally) and Fluoride (50 ppm in drinking water) either alone or in combination were administered to male Wistar rats for four weeks to evaluate the efficacy of nanocurcumin (15 mg/kg) in rats. The preventive efficacy of nanocurcumin was evaluated against various altered biochemical variables suggestive of oxidative stress in liver and kidneys, and concentration of As and F in blood. Nanocurcumin co-administration with arsenic and fluoride resulted in lowering of reactive oxygen species and restoration of blood glutathione level which were found to be altered in arsenic and fluoride intoxicated groups. Nanocurcumin were also found to be effective in reversing δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) inhibition caused by arsenic exposure. The most promising result from our study shows that nanocurcumin removes not only arsenic but also fluoride from blood which may be due to the enhanced bioavailability and moderate chelating potential of nanocurcumin

Эффект гормезиса у Dunaliella viridis Teodor. (Chlorophyta) под действием сернокислой меди

Исследовали устойчивость культуры Dunaliella viridis, предварительно адаптированной к росту на среде, содержащей 20 мг/л сернокислой меди, к повышению концентрации ионов меди до 75 мг/л сернокислой меди. Показано, что такая культура устойчива к высоким концентрациям ионов меди, т.е. способна проявлять эффект гормезиса. Обнаружено, что клетки D. viridis, резистентные к ионам меди (75 мг/л), накапливают в 2000 раз больше ионов меди по сравнению с контрольной культурой. При этом содержание карбонилированных белков (продуктов свободнорадикальных процессов) у них увеличивается всего в 2 раза. В процессе культивирования в клетках в несколько раз уменьшалось содержание Cu²⁺. В клетках, проявляющих гормезисный эффект, достоверно возрастала активность супероксиддисмутазы и в 2 раза уменьшалось содержание свободного пролина. Высказано предположение, что гормезисный эффект проявляется в том случае, когда имеет место совместное проявление всех систем защиты клетки. Для такого поведения характерно не простое суммирование всех элементов защиты, а проявление эмерджентных свойств системы.It was researched the stability of culture Dunaliella viridis, which was previously adapted to growth in medium containing 20 mg/L copper sulfate, to high concentrations of copper ions — 75 mg/L copper sulfate. It was shown that such culture is resistant to high concentrations of copper ions, i.e. it is able to develop the effect of hormesis. It was found that resistant to copper ions cells of D. viridis accumulated 2000 times more copper ions compared with the control culture cells. The carbonyl proteins content (products of free radical processes) increased only 2 times, the content of Cu²⁺ decreased in such cells in the process of cultivation. In CuR culture cells SOD activity increased and the content of free proline decreased in 2 times. Hormesis effect is estimated to become apparent when cooperative behavior of all protection systems of cells occurs. Such behavior is characterized by emergent features (feature is impossible to predict proceeding from features of protection systems elements) but not summation of all protection elements

A Toxicochemical Review of Gallium Arsenide (Review Paper)

Gallium arsenide (GaAs) is extensively used in defence as a semiconductor material, in radar and in electronic warfare. However, its toxicity is still not well understood. The chemistry of gallium arsenide in the body plays a key role in defining its toxicity. GaAs is found to be soluble in aqueous solution and forms unidentified gallium and arsenic species upon dissolution. GaAs causes toxicity to various organs including lung, testes, kidney, brain and immune system. The toxicity of GaAs can be attributed to the synergistic toxic effects associated with gallium and arsenic. Till date, there is no well defined treatment regime for GaAs induced toxicity. This review gives a recent account of work carried out in the toxicology of GaAs including chemistry involved in the mechanism of toxicity of GaAs, its toxicological effects on various organs and current therapy available.Defence Science Journal, 2012, 62(2), pp.95-104, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.62.101