Antimicrobial and toxicological studies of some metal complexes of 4-methylpiperazine-1-carbodithioate and phenanthroline mixed ligands

A few mixed ligand transition metal carbodithioate complexes of the general formula [M(4-MPipzcdt)x(phen)y]Y (M = Mn(II), Co(II), Zn(II); 4-MPipzcdt = 4-methylpiperazine-1-carbodithioate; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline; x = 1 and y = 2 when Y = Cl; x = 2 and y = 1 when Y = nil) were synthesized and screened for their antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcusfaecalis by disk diffusion method. All the complexes exhibited prominent antimicrobial activity against tested pathogenic strains with the MIC values in the range &lt;8-512 &mu;gmL-1. The complexes [Mn(4-MPipzcdt)2(phen)] and [Co(4-MPipzcdt)(phen)2]Cl inhibited the growth of Candida albicans at a concentration as low as 8 &micro;gmL-1.The complexes were also evaluated for their toxicity towards human transformed rhabdomyosarcoma cells (RD cells). Moderate cell viability of the RD cells was exhibited against the metal complexes.<br /

Leptospira interrogans outer membrane protein-based nanohybrid sensor for the diagnosis of leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is an underestimated tropical disease caused by the pathogenic Leptospira species and responsible for several serious health problems. Here, we aimed to develop an ultrasen-sitive DNA biosensor for the rapid and on-site detection of the Loa22 gene of Leptospira interrogans using a gold nanoparticle–carbon nanofiber composite (AuN/CNF)-based screen-printed electrode. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance were performed for electrochemical analysis. The sensitivity of the sensor was 5431.74 µA/cm2 /ng with a LOD (detection limit) of 0.0077 ng/µL using cyclic voltammetry. The developed DNA biosensor was found highly specific to the Loa22 gene of L. interrogans, with a storage stability at 4¿ C for 180 days and a 6% loss of the initial response. This DNA-based sensor only takes 30 min for rapid detection of the pathogen, with a higher specificity and sensitivity. The promising results obtained suggest the application of the developed sensor as a point of care device for the diagnosis of leptospirosis.This research was funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), grant Leptos/27/2013-ECD-1. N.C.-M. acknowledges the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the Horizon 2020 Program (PTDC/PSI-GER/28076/2017), Supported by Excellence project FIM UHK (K.K.)

Development of Novel Interspecific Fertile Cytotype (4X) Of \u3cem\u3ePennisetum glaucum\u3c/em\u3e X \u3cem\u3ePennisetum purpureum\u3c/em\u3e Utilizing Modified Ploidy Coupled With Embryo Rescue Technique

Interspecific hybrids of genus Pennisetum (P. glaucum x P. purpureum) is the one of the most popular manmade hybrid. It combines the unique features of both P. glaucum (Pearl millet; Bajra) and P. purpureum (Napier; Elephant grass) species, which makes it more resilient to harsh environments with superior fodder quality. Due to ploidy level variation among the parents, these hybrids are sterile and propagated vegetatively only. To overcome this, attempts were made in the present study by exploring the feasibility of novel tetraploid pearl millet (2n=4x=28; Tetra 1; INGR 09047) developed at IGFRI, as a female parent in crossing program involving different Napier genotypes as male parent. Due to limited crossability and hybrid necrosis issues among countless crosses (\u3e 1000), only 1% seed set was initially recorded that too in shriveled state and the developing embryos were aborted after 10-14 days of pollination and fertilization. To save these, embryo rescue technique was standardized and the developing embryos were dissected out aseptically and rescued after 8-10 days of pollination. Continuous crossing programme along with screening of large tissue culture raised nurseries resulted in development of a novel tetraploid seed producing BN hybrid (TBN-20-15) along with 14 novel sterile tetraploid BN hybrids. Presence of univalent chromosomes leads to sterility while proper pairing between parents of TBN-20-15 hybrid have significant effect on fertility. The fertile hybrid is able to produce \u3e15,000-20,000 seeds throughout the year with 80-90% seed germination ability. Their hybridity was confirmed by morphology, molecular and cytogenetic studies. This fertile tetraploid BN hybrid (TBN-20-15) reported for the first time globally will be very helpful in easy and cost-effective dissemination of this highly potential forage crop to the farmer’s field. It has the potential to be the game changer in biofuel production, grassland rejuvenation programs besides bridging the fodder demand supply deficit

Multiple Analytical Approaches Reveal Distinct Gene-Environment Interactions in Smokers and Non Smokers in Lung Cancer

Complex disease such as cancer results from interactions of multiple genetic and environmental factors. Studying these factors singularly cannot explain the underlying pathogenetic mechanism of the disease. Multi-analytical approach, including logistic regression (LR), classification and regression tree (CART) and multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR), was applied in 188 lung cancer cases and 290 controls to explore high order interactions among xenobiotic metabolizing genes and environmental risk factors. Smoking was identified as the predominant risk factor by all three analytical approaches. Individually, CYP1A1*2A polymorphism was significantly associated with increased lung cancer risk (OR = 1.69;95%CI = 1.11–2.59,p = 0.01), whereas EPHX1 Tyr113His and SULT1A1 Arg213His conferred reduced risk (OR = 0.40;95%CI = 0.25–0.65,p<0.001 and OR = 0.51;95%CI = 0.33–0.78,p = 0.002 respectively). In smokers, EPHX1 Tyr113His and SULT1A1 Arg213His polymorphisms reduced the risk of lung cancer, whereas CYP1A1*2A, CYP1A1*2C and GSTP1 Ile105Val imparted increased risk in non-smokers only. While exploring non-linear interactions through CART analysis, smokers carrying the combination of EPHX1 113TC (Tyr/His), SULT1A1 213GG (Arg/Arg) or AA (His/His) and GSTM1 null genotypes showed the highest risk for lung cancer (OR = 3.73;95%CI = 1.33–10.55,p = 0.006), whereas combined effect of CYP1A1*2A 6235CC or TC, SULT1A1 213GG (Arg/Arg) and betel quid chewing showed maximum risk in non-smokers (OR = 2.93;95%CI = 1.15–7.51,p = 0.01). MDR analysis identified two distinct predictor models for the risk of lung cancer in smokers (tobacco chewing, EPHX1 Tyr113His, and SULT1A1 Arg213His) and non-smokers (CYP1A1*2A, GSTP1 Ile105Val and SULT1A1 Arg213His) with testing balance accuracy (TBA) of 0.6436 and 0.6677 respectively. Interaction entropy interpretations of MDR results showed non-additive interactions of tobacco chewing with SULT1A1 Arg213His and EPHX1 Tyr113His in smokers and SULT1A1 Arg213His with GSTP1 Ile105Val and CYP1A1*2C in nonsmokers. These results identified distinct gene-gene and gene environment interactions in smokers and non-smokers, which confirms the importance of multifactorial interaction in risk assessment of lung cancer

A Systematic Analysis of Cell Cycle Regulators in Yeast Reveals That Most Factors Act Independently of Cell Size to Control Initiation of Division

Upstream events that trigger initiation of cell division, at a point called START in yeast, determine the overall rates of cell proliferation. The identity and complete sequence of those events remain unknown. Previous studies relied mainly on cell size changes to identify systematically genes required for the timely completion of START. Here, we evaluated panels of non-essential single gene deletion strains for altered DNA content by flow cytometry. This analysis revealed that most gene deletions that altered cell cycle progression did not change cell size. Our results highlight a strong requirement for ribosomal biogenesis and protein synthesis for initiation of cell division. We also identified numerous factors that have not been previously implicated in cell cycle control mechanisms. We found that CBS, which catalyzes the synthesis of cystathionine from serine and homocysteine, advances START in two ways: by promoting cell growth, which requires CBS's catalytic activity, and by a separate function, which does not require CBS's catalytic activity. CBS defects cause disease in humans, and in animals CBS has vital, non-catalytic, unknown roles. Hence, our results may be relevant for human biology. Taken together, these findings significantly expand the range of factors required for the timely initiation of cell division. The systematic identification of non-essential regulators of cell division we describe will be a valuable resource for analysis of cell cycle progression in yeast and other organisms

Not Available

Not AvailableGrewia optiva Drummond is one of important agroforestry tree species grown by the farmers in the lower and mid - hills of western Himalaya. Different models viz., monomolicular, logistic, gompetz, allometric, rechards, chapman and linear were fitted to the relationship between total biomass and diameter at breast height (DBH) as independent variable. The adjusted R2 values were more than 0.924 for all the seven models implying that all models are apparently equally efficient. Out of the six non - linear models, allometric model (Y = a 9 DBHb) fulfils the validation criterion to the best possible extent and is thus considered as best performing. Biomass in different tree components was fitted to allometric models using DBH as explanatory variable, the adjusted R2 for fitted functions varied from 0.872 to 0.965 for different biomass components. The t values for all the components were found non - significant (p 0.05), thereby indicating that model is valid. Using the developed model, the estimated total biomass varied from 6.62 Mg ha - 1 in 4 year to 46.64 Mg ha - 1 in 23 year old plantation. MAI in biomass varied from 1.66 - 2.05 Mg ha - 1 yr - 1. The total biomass carbon stocks varied from 1.99 Mg ha - 1 in 4 year to 15.27 Mg ha - 1 in 23 year old plantation. Rate of carbon sequestration varied from 0.63–0.81 Mg ha - 1 yr - 1. Carbon storage in the soil up to 30 cm soil depth varied from 25.4 to 33.6 Mg ha - 1.Not Availabl