Analysis of protease activity of enzyme isolated from compost soil

Bacteria are very good source of enzymes as compared to animal or plant source and even synthetic enzymes. In the present investigation the protease activity has been analyzed. The source of enzyme i.e. protease producers were isolated from compost soil sample viz. collected from the Wanker farm field, Solapur. The protease producers were isolated, screened and grown on a suitable growth medium to obtain maximum production of enzyme. After production the crude enzyme is purified. The purified enzyme is analysed for its keratinolytic activity by using feathers

Extraction, purification and analysis of thermal stability of xylose isomerase

Thermostable enzymes are the enzymes which active even at high temperatures, such enzymes are industrially as well as biochemically very important. Xylose isomerase (EC 5.3.1.5) is one such enzyme with suitable commercial applications. It is heat stable and does not require expensive cofactors such as NAD or ATP for activity. The microorganisms producing this enzyme were isolated from hot water spring near ‘Surat’. The organisms were isolated and purified by using different screening methods. The isolated organisms were then subjected to optimum growth conditions for enzyme production. This enzyme was then assayed for its thermal stability at elevated temperatures by using DNSA

Rare occurrence of cusk eel, Brotula multibarbata

A single specimen of cusk eel, Brotula multibarbata (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846) commonly known as Goatsbeard brotula, was landed by a multiday trawler on 8th May 2019 in New Ferry Wharf. The trawl was operated at a depth of 50 m off Mumbai. The specimenmeasured 284 mm in total length and weighed 176 g

Cytokine-associated neutrophil extracellular traps and antinuclear antibodies in Plasmodium falciparum infected children under six years of age

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it>-infected children, the relationships between blood cell histopathology, blood plasma components, development of immunocompetence and disease severity remain poorly understood. Blood from Nigerian children with uncomplicated malaria was analysed to gain insight into these relationships. This investigation presents evidence for circulating neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and antinuclear IgG antibodies (ANA). The presence of NETs and ANA to double-stranded DNA along with the cytokine profiles found suggests autoimmune mechanisms that could produce pathogenesis in children, but immunoprotection in adults.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Peripheral blood smear slides and blood samples obtained from 21 Nigerian children under six years of age, presenting with uncomplicated malaria before and seven days after initiation of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) treatment were analysed. The slides were stained with Giemsa and with DAPI. Levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF, CRP, and IL-6, select anti-inflammatory cytokines TGF-β and IL-10, and ANA were determined by immunoassay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The children exhibited circulating NETs with adherent parasites and erythrocytes, elevated ANA levels, a Th2 dominated cytokine profile, and left-shifted leukocyte differential counts. Nonspecific ANA levels were significant in 86% of the children pretreatment and in 100% of the children seven days after SP treatment, but in only 33% of age-matched control samples collected during the season of low parasite transmission. Levels of ANA specific for dsDNA were significant in 81% of the children both pre-treatment and post treatment.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results of this investigation suggest that NET formation and ANA to dsDNA may induce pathology in falciparum-infected children, but activate a protective mechanism against falciparum malaria in adults. The significance of in vivo circulating chromatin in NETs and dsDNA ANA as a causative factor in the hyporesponsiveness of CpG oligonucleotide-based malaria vaccines is discussed.</p

Association of respiratory symptoms and lung function with occupation in the multinational Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study

Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has been associated with exposures in the workplace. We aimed to assess the association of respiratory symptoms and lung function with occupation in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study. Methods We analysed cross-sectional data from 28 823 adults (≥40 years) in 34 countries. We considered 11 occupations and grouped them by likelihood of exposure to organic dusts, inorganic dusts and fumes. The association of chronic cough, chronic phlegm, wheeze, dyspnoea, forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/FVC with occupation was assessed, per study site, using multivariable regression. These estimates were then meta-analysed. Sensitivity analyses explored differences between sexes and gross national income. Results Overall, working in settings with potentially high exposure to dusts or fumes was associated with respiratory symptoms but not lung function differences. The most common occupation was farming. Compared to people not working in any of the 11 considered occupations, those who were farmers for ≥20 years were more likely to have chronic cough (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.19–1.94), wheeze (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.16–1.63) and dyspnoea (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.53–2.20), but not lower FVC (β=0.02 L, 95% CI −0.02–0.06 L) or lower FEV1/FVC (β=0.04%, 95% CI −0.49–0.58%). Some findings differed by sex and gross national income. Conclusion At a population level, the occupational exposures considered in this study do not appear to be major determinants of differences in lung function, although they are associated with more respiratory symptoms. Because not all work settings were included in this study, respiratory surveillance should still be encouraged among high-risk dusty and fume job workers, especially in low- and middle-income countries.publishedVersio

Cohort Profile: Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study

The Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study was established to assess the prevalence of chronic airflow obstruction, a key characteristic of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and its risk factors in adults (≥40 years) from general populations across the world. The baseline study was conducted between 2003 and 2016, in 41 sites across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, the Caribbean and Oceania, and collected high-quality pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry from 28 828 participants. The follow-up study was conducted between 2019 and 2021, in 18 sites across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean. At baseline, there were in these sites 12 502 participants with high-quality spirometry. A total of 6452 were followed up, with 5936 completing the study core questionnaire. Of these, 4044 also provided high-quality pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry. On both occasions, the core questionnaire covered information on respiratory symptoms, doctor diagnoses, health care use, medication use and ealth status, as well as potential risk factors. Information on occupation, environmental exposures and diet was also collected

Some aspects of the mechanical finishing of cotton textiles

Some aspects of mechanical finishing processes for cotton textiles, mainly calendering, have been examined, and the influences of heat, pressure, moisture content, and starch content on the resultant finish investigated. An increase in moisture content of the fabric during calendering produces the following effects on the finished samplesndashincrease in stiffness and lustre, decrease in thickness, loss in textile qualities, and increase in resistance to abrasion. On storage, both the stiffness and the lustre of the calendered fabric show a gradual fall, With softening agents, the stage at which they are added to the starch paste determines the viscosity of the paste and the stiffness of the fabric. Studies on soluble starches show that for pastes of the same viscosity the stiffness of the fabric depends on the amount of the starch taken up and on the concentration of the starch