Antimicrobial activity of the fruit extracts of Coccinia indica

The bioactive compounds of fruits of Coccinia indica were investigated for antibacterial activity against some pathogenic bacteria. The aqueous extracts did not show much significant activity, while the organic extracts (petroleum ether and methanol) showed the highest activity against the test bacteria.The activity was more pronounced on gram-positive organisms with Staphylococcus aureus being more susceptible and Salmonella paratyphi A being more resistant. Phytochemical analysis showed that the extracts contain alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, glycosides and phenols

Modular detergents tailor the purification and structural analysis of membrane proteins including G-protein coupled receptors

Detergents enable the purification of membrane proteins and are indispensable reagents instructural biology. Even though a large variety of detergents have been developed in the lastcentury, the challenge remains to identify guidelines that allowfine-tuning of detergents forindividual applications in membrane protein research. Addressing this challenge, here weintroduce the family of oligoglycerol detergents (OGDs). Native mass spectrometry (MS)reveals that the modular OGD architecture offers the ability to control protein purificationand to preserve interactions with native membrane lipids during purification. In addition to abroad range of bacterial membrane proteins, OGDs also enable the purification and analysisof a functional G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR). Moreover, given the modular design ofthese detergents, we anticipatefine-tuning of their properties for specific applications instructural biology. Seen from a broader perspective, this represents a significant advance forthe investigation of membrane proteins and their interactions with lipids

Antibacterial studies and phytochemical constituents of South Indian Phyllanthus species

Antibacterial activity and phytochemical tests of the methanol extracts of six Phyllanthus species were evaluated. In agar well diffusion assay the diameter of inhibition zones ranged from 3 - 22 mm. Phyllanthus amarus showed maximum activity of 22 mm. The minimum inhibition concentration (MIC)and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) observed for Bacillus stearothermophilus, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus leuteus, Salmonella typhi, Enterobacter aerogens, Proteus mirabilis, and Proteus vulgaris were 30 - 205 ìg/ml and 40 - 230 ìg/ml, respectively.P. amarus, P. hookeri and P. maderaspatensis showed the lowest MIC (30 ìg/ml) as well as MBC (40 ìg/ml) and thus an effective inhibitor of the tested bacteria. Lignans, triterpenoids and phenols were detected in all the 6 tested plants

Factors shaping the composition of the cutaneous microbiota

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The structural basis for CD36 binding by the malaria parasite

CD36 is a scavenger receptor involved in fatty acid metabolism, innate immunity and angiogenesis. It interacts with lipoprotein particles and facilitates uptake of long chain fatty acids. It is also the most common target of the PfEMP1 proteins of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, tethering parasite-infected erythrocytes to endothelial receptors. This prevents their destruction by splenic clearance and allows increased parasitaemia. Here we describe the structure of CD36 in complex with long chain fatty acids and a CD36-binding PfEMP1 protein domain. A conserved hydrophobic pocket allows the hugely diverse PfEMP1 protein family to bind to a conserved phenylalanine residue at the membrane distal tip of CD36. This phenylalanine is also required for CD36 to interact with lipoprotein particles. By targeting a site on CD36 that is required for its physiological function, PfEMP1 proteins maintain the ability to tether to the endothelium and avoid splenic clearance

Modular detergents tailor the purification and structural analysis of membrane proteins including G-protein coupled receptors

Detergents enable the purification of membrane proteins and are indispensable reagents in structural biology. Even though a large variety of detergents have been developed in the last century, the challenge remains to identify guidelines that allow fine-tuning of detergents for individual applications in membrane protein research. Addressing this challenge, here we introduce the family of oligoglycerol detergents (OGDs). Native mass spectrometry (MS) reveals that the modular OGD architecture offers the ability to control protein purification and to preserve interactions with native membrane lipids during purification. In addition to a broad range of bacterial membrane proteins, OGDs also enable the purification and analysis of a functional G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR). Moreover, given the modular design of these detergents, we anticipate fine-tuning of their properties for specific applications in structural biology. Seen from a broader perspective, this represents a significant advance for the investigation of membrane proteins and their interactions with lipids

Cognitive performance profiles by latent classes of drug use

Background and Objectives: The relationship between substance use and cognitive deficits is complex and requires innovative methods to enhance understanding. The present study is the first to use LCA to examine associations of drug use patterns with cognitive performance. Methods: Cocaine/heroin users (N = 552) completed questionnaires, and cognitive measures. LCA identified classes based on past-month drug use and adjusted for probabilities of group membership when examining cognitive performance. Latent indicators were: alcohol (ALC), cigarettes (CIG), marijuana (MJ), crack smoking (CS), nasal heroin (NH), injection cocaine (IC), injection heroin (IH), and injection speedball (IS). Age and education were included as covariates in model creation. Results: Bootstrap likelihood ratio test (BLRT) supported a 5-class model. Prevalent indicators (estimated probability of over 50%) for each class are as follows: “Older Nasal Heroin/Crack Smokers” (ONH/CS, n = 166.9): ALC, CIG, NH, CS; “Older, Less Educated Polysubstance” (OLEP, n = 54.8): ALC, CIG, CS, IH, IC, and IS; “Younger Multi-Injectors” (MI, n = 128.7): ALC, CIG, MJ, IH, IC, and IS; “Less Educated Heroin Injectors” (LEHI, n = 87.4): CIG, IH; and “More Educated Nasal Heroin” users (MENH, n = ALC, CIG, NH. In general, all classes performed worse than established norms and older, less educated classes performed worse, with the exception that MENH demonstrated worse cognitive flexibility than YMI. Discussion and Conclusions: This study demonstrated novel applications of a methodology for examining complicated relationships between polysubstance use and cognitive performance. Scientific Significance: Education and/or nasal heroin use are associated with reduced cognitive flexibility in this sample of inner city drug users