Green revolution vaccines, edible vaccines

Edible vaccines are sub-unit vaccines where the selected genes are introduced into the plants and the transgenic plant is then induced to manufacture the encoded protein. Edible vaccines are mucosal-targeted vaccines where stimulation of both systematic and mucosal immune network takes place. Foods under study include potatoes, bananas, lettuce, rice, wheat, soybean, corn and legumes. Edible vaccines for various diseases such as measles, cholera, hepatitis-B, and many more are in the process of development. Food vaccines may also help to suppress autoimmunity disorders such as Type-1 Diabetes. Key words: Edible vaccines, oral vaccines, antigen expression, food vaccines. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 2 (12), pp. 679-683, December 200

Prostate specific antigen: a new means as diagnostic and prognostic factor for breast cancer

ABSTRACT Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a serine protease expressed at high levels in prostate epithelium and elevated PSA in serum is a well established marker, and also helps in management of prostate cancer. In recent times it has become widely accepted that PSA is also present in many non prostatic sources, creating doubts about the specificity of its tissue expression. Numerous studies have suggested that the molecular forms of PSA imply to signify a potential tool for the risk assessment of breast cancer. Studies have suggested new biological role of PSA in breast physiopathology. Additional studies are essential to enrol PSA indisputably as an additional means as diagnostic and prognostic tool for breast cancer. Here is the summary of how PSA has a potential to become a new diagnostic and prognostic tool

α-Synuclein misfolding versus aggregation relevance to Parkinson’s disease: Critical assessment and modeling

α-Synuclein, an abundant and conserved presynaptic brain protein, is implicated as a critical factor in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The aggregation of α-synuclein isbelieved to be a critical event in the isease process. α-Synuclein is characterized by a remarkable conformational plasticity, adopting different onformations depending on the environment. Therefore, it is classified as an “intrinsically disordered protein.” Recently, a debate has challenged theview on the intrinsically disordered behavior of α-synuclein in the cell. It has been proposed that α-synuclein is a stable tetramer with a low propensity for aggregation; however, its destabilization leads to protein misfolding and its aggregation kinetics. In our critical analysis, we discussed about major issues: (i) why α-synuclein conformational behavior does not fit into the normal secondary structural characteristics of proteins, (ii) potential amino acids involved in the complexity of misfolding in α-synuclein that leads to aggregation, and (iii) the role of metals in misfolding and aggregation. To evaluate the above critical issues, we developed ioinformatics models related to secondary and tertiary conformations, Ramachandran plot, free energy change, intrinsic disordered prediction, solvent accessibility, and FoldIndex pattern. To the best of our knowledge, this is a novel critical assessment to understand the misfolding biology of synuclein and its relevance to Parkinson’s disease.α-Synuclein, an abundant and conserved presynaptic brain protein, is implicated as a critical factor in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The aggregation of α-synuclein isbelieved to be a critical event in the isease process. α-Synuclein is characterized by a remarkable conformational plasticity, adopting different onformations depending on the environment. Therefore, it is classified as an “intrinsically disordered protein.” Recently, a debate has challenged theview on the intrinsically disordered behavior of α-synuclein in the cell. It has been proposed that α-synuclein is a stable tetramer with a low propensity for aggregation; however, its destabilization leads to protein misfolding and its aggregation kinetics. In our critical analysis, we discussed about major issues: (i) why α-synuclein conformational behavior does not fit into the normal secondary structural characteristics of proteins, (ii) potential amino acids involved in the complexity of misfolding in α-synuclein that leads to aggregation, and (iii) the role of metals in misfolding and aggregation. To evaluate the above critical issues, we developed ioinformatics models related to secondary and tertiary conformations, Ramachandran plot, free energy change, intrinsic disordered prediction, solvent accessibility, and FoldIndex pattern. To the best of our knowledge, this is a novel critical assessment to understand the misfolding biology of synuclein and its relevance to Parkinson’s disease

Studies on Copper and Aβ1-16-Induced Conformational Changes in CAG/CTG Trinucleotide Repeats Sequence

DNA conformation and stability are critical for the normal cell functions, which control many cellular processes in life, such as replication, transcription, DNA repair, etc. The accumulation of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) and Copper (Cu) are the etiological factors for neurodegenerative diseases and hypothesized that they can cause DNA instability. In the current investigation, we studied copper and Aβ1-16 induced conformation and stability changes in CAG/CTG sequences and found alterations from B-DNA to altered B-conformation. Further, the interaction of the copper and Aβ1-16 with CAG/CTG sequences was studied by molecular docking modeling and results indicated that the interaction of copper and Aβ1-16 was through the hydrogen bond formation between adenine, guanine, and cytocine. This study illustrates the role of the copper and Aβ1-16 in modulating the DNA conformation and stability.DNA conformation and stability are critical for the normal cell functions, which control many cellular processes in life, such as replication, transcription, DNA repair, etc. The accumulation of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) and Copper (Cu) are the etiological factors for neurodegenerative diseases and hypothesized that they can cause DNA instability. In the current investigation, we studied copper and Aβ1-16 induced conformation and stability changes in CAG/CTG sequences and found alterations from B-DNA to altered B-conformation. Further, the interaction of the copper and Aβ1-16 with CAG/CTG sequences was studied by molecular docking modeling and results indicated that the interaction of copper and Aβ1-16 was through the hydrogen bond formation between adenine, guanine, and cytocine. This study illustrates the role of the copper and Aβ1-16 in modulating the DNA conformation and stability

Phytosynthesis of eco-friendly silver nanoparticles and biological applications –A novel concept in nanobiotechnology

Nano-biotechnology is an undoubtedly future generation technology which offers potential applications in multidisciplinary areas of science and technology. In the present day’s production, stabilization and utilization of nanoparticles is the eliminatory division in modern science receiving immense attention of scientists engaged in different fields of research. A number of metal nanoparticles have been engineered so far; however among these, silver nanoparticles gain more attention because of their unique applications in distinctive fields of biology. This review presents an overview on phytosynthesis of silver nanoparticles; role of phytochemical constituents in reduction of silver nanoparticles, factors responsible for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their crucial role in control of size and shape etc. The biological applications of phyto-synthesized silver nanoparticles are given in brief which will direct a path for further biological studies in future to make the study more useful for human welfare and benefits. Key words: Phytosynthesis, silver nanoparticles, phytochemicals, biological activitie

Molecular cloning and host optimization study for enhanced expression of thermostable protease to meet the commercial demand

ABSTRACT The present study was designed to explore potential of thermostable protease in leather processing and further host optimization studies to produce enzymes to fulfill commercial demand. Thermostable protease gene from Geobacillus stearothermophilus was cloned in pET28a vector and expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). The new generation expression host systems were used in the current study to enhance expression fold and we have used E. coli C41 (DE3) and E. coli Rosetta and achieved more than three time expression of conventional host system. An average molecular weight 60 kDa thermostable protease was produced by recombinant DNA technology and the enzyme has shown tremendous scope in leather processing especially dehairing. The expressed thermostable protease was stable and active in different range of temperature (20-90 0 C) and pH (5-13). The protease inhibitors have shown minimal inhibition on protease activity and stability. The expressed thermostable protease was reported significant kinetics parameters Km (0.9mM) and Vamx (0.084 mM/Sec) and maximum enzymatic activity was reported 0.18U/ml (E. coli rosetta) and 0.17 U/ml (E. coli C41) at pH 8 and 65 0 C. The expressed protease was analyzed for proteolytic activity, dehairing activity and shown tremendous scope for leather processing