Removal of phosphate and nitrate from aqueous solution using seagrass Cymodocea rotundata beads

The aim of the present study was the removal of phosphate and nitrate by sodium alginate seagrass (Cymodocea rotundata) beads from aqueous solutions. The adsorption characteristics of phosphate and nitrate on the seagrass beads were optimized under different operational parameters like adsorbent dosage, initial concentration of phosphate and nitrate, retention time and pH. The results showed that 71% of phosphate and 62% of nitrate removal was obtained using this seagrass beads. It is concluded that seagrass beads is a relatively efficient, low cost and easily available adsorbent for the treatment of nutrients rich wastewater.Keywords: Biosorption, seagrass, Cymodocea rotundata, nutrients, beads.

Modeling of Molecular Interaction between Apoptin, BCR-Abl and CrkL - An Alternative Approach to Conventional Rational Drug Design

In this study we have calculated a 3D structure of apoptin and through modeling and docking approaches, we show its interaction with Bcr-Abl oncoprotein and its downstream signaling components, following which we confirm some of the newly-found interactions by biochemical methods. Bcr-Abl oncoprotein is aberrantly expressed in chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML). It has several distinct functional domains in addition to the Abl kinase domain. The SH3 and SH2 domains cooperatively play important roles in autoinhibiting its kinase activity. Adapter molecules such as Grb2 and CrkL interact with proline-rich region and activate multiple Bcr-Abl downstream signaling pathways that contribute to growth and survival. Therefore, the oncogenic effect of Bcr-Abl could be inhibited by the interaction of small molecules with these domains. Apoptin is a viral protein with well-documented cancer-selective cytotoxicity. Apoptin attributes such as SH2-like sequence similarity with CrkL SH2 domain, unique SH3 domain binding sequence, presence of proline-rich segments, and its nuclear affinity render the molecule capable of interaction with Bcr-Abl. Despite almost two decades of research, the mode of apoptin’s action remains elusive because 3D structure of apoptin is unavailable. We performed in silico threedimensional modeling of apoptin, molecular docking experiments between apoptin model and the known structure of Bcr- Abl, and the 3D structures of SH2 domains of CrkL and Bcr-Abl. We also biochemically validated some of the interactions that were first predicted in silico. This structure-property relationship of apoptin may help in unlocking its cancer-selective toxic properties. Moreover, such models will guide us in developing of a new class of potent apoptin-like molecules with greater selectivity and potency

Growth kinetics and immune response of chimeric foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype `O' produced through replication competent mini genome of serotype Asia 1, 63/72, in BHK cell lines

Regular vaccinations with potent vaccine, in endemic countries and vaccination to live in non-endemic countries are the methods available to control foot-and-mouth disease. Selection of candidate vaccine strain is not only cumbersome but the candidate should grow well for high potency vaccine preparation. Alternative strategy is to generate an infectious cDNA of a cell culture-adapted virus and use the replicon for development of tailor-made vaccines. We produced a chimeric `O' virus in the backbone of Asia 1 and studied its characteristics. The chimeric virus showed high infectivity titre (>10(10)) in BHK 21 cell lines, revealed small plague morphology and there was no cross reactivity with antiserum against Asia I. The virus multiplies rapidly and reaches peak at 12 h post infection. The vaccine prepared with this virus elicited high antibody titres

Measuring Relationships between Doctor Densities and Patient Visits: A Dog’s Breakfast of Small Area Health Geographies

A number of small area geographies are used in Australia to investigate primary care relevant outcomes/behaviours and to manage the supply of Primary Care Providers (PCP) that influence these outcomes. However, very little research exists on the choice of a small area geography suitable for these purposes. We evaluated a large basket of Australian small area geographies to determine which geography is optimal for investigating relationships between PCP supply and the use of PCP services. We used linked data to evaluate the relationship between PCP supply and the likelihood of a patient visiting a PCP, after adjusting for individual level covariates. PCP supply was measured at different geographies including Local Government Areas (LGAs), Primary Health Networks (PHNs), Statistical Areas-1/2/3 and Remoteness Areas. Overall, the strongest relationships between PCP density and PCP use were found when LGAs were used to measure PCP density. Large geographies such as PHNs also detected strong relationships while custom built geographies such as Primary Care Service Areas were not significantly better than the rest. Existing geographies such as LGAs may be suitable for investigating the effect of PCP supply at state or national scales