Antifungal Activity of Petrolium and Ethanolic Extracts of Moringa Oleifera Leaves against Penicillium Chrysogenum and Cryptococcus Neoformans

Moringa oleifera is well known medicinal plant. Its different parts are widely used for the treatment of different types of diseases since is have antibacterial and antifungal activity. The leaves are rich in iron, rhamnose and a unique group of compounds called glucosinolates and isothiocyanates. Other medical proprieties include antipyretic, antiepileptic, antiinflamatory, antiulcerative, antihypertensive, cholesterol lowering, antioxidant, anti diabetic. The current investigation was undertaken to evaluate the antifungal activities by petroleum ether and ethanolic extracts of Moringa oleifera leaves against Penicillium crysogenum and Cryptococcus neoformans. From our study, it is found that as concentration of Moringa leaves extract increases the diameter of zone of inhibition found increased. The results were higher and effective for ethanolic extract than petroleum extract. The result were also found more effective against Cryptococcus neoformans than Penicillium crysogenum

Pb(Ni1/3Sb2/3)O3-PbZrTiO3 Ceramic Sensors for Underwater Transducer Application

Cymbal is a class-V flextensional transducer that consists of thickness poled ceramic disc sandwiched between the two metal end caps which acts as a mechanical transformer. Cymbal transducers were fabricated using piezoceramic discs of compositions Pb0.988(Zr0.52Ti0.48) 0.976Nb0.024O3 (PZT type 5A) and Pb0.98La0.02 (NiSb)0.05[(Zr0.52 Ti0.48)0.995]0.95O3 (PNS-PZT). Piezoelectric and hydrostatic constants for PNS-PZT composition were on higher side. End capswere made up of brass sheet having thickness 0.5 mm. Underwater testing of the polyurethane moulded cymbal hydrophones were carried out in acoustic tank and compared. The resonance frequency for both the hydrophones was 10.1 kHz. PNS-PZT hydrophone shows higher sensitivity (-183.2 dB re 1V/μPa) compared to PZT type 5A (-191.2 dB re 1V/μPa) at resonance frequency. Directivity pattern observed for PNS-PZT is omni-directional near resonance frequency.Defence Science Journal, 2012, 62(4), pp.269-273, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.62.171

Correction of a splice-site mutation in the beta-globin gene stimulated by triplex-forming peptide nucleic acids

Splice-site mutations in the beta-globin gene can lead to aberrant transcripts and decreased functional beta-globin, causing beta-thalassemia. Triplex-forming DNA oligonucleotides (TFOs) and peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) have been shown to stimulate recombination in reporter gene loci in mammalian cells via site-specific binding and creation of altered helical structures that provoke DNA repair. We have designed a series of triplex-forming PNAs that can specifically bind to sequences in the human beta-globin gene. We demonstrate here that these PNAs, when cotransfected with recombinatory donor DNA fragments, can promote single base-pair modification at the start of the second intron of the beta-globin gene, the site of a common thalassemia-associated mutation. This single base pair change was detected by the restoration of proper splicing of transcripts produced from a green fluorescent protein-beta-globin fusion gene. The ability of these PNAs to induce recombination was dependent on dose, sequence, cell-cycle stage, and the presence of a homologous donor DNA molecule. Enhanced recombination, with frequencies up to 0.4%, was observed with use of the lysomotropic agent chloroquine. Finally, we demonstrate that these PNAs were effective in stimulating the modification of the endogenous beta-globin locus in human cells, including primary hematopoietic progenitor cells. This work suggests that PNAs can be effective tools to induce heritable, site-specific modification of disease-related genes in human cells

Disinfection of Ocular Cells and Tissues by Atmospheric-Pressure Cold Plasma

Background: Low temperature plasmas have been proposed in medicine as agents for tissue disinfection and have received increasing attention due to the frequency of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. This study explored whether atmospheric-pressure cold plasma (APCP) generated by a new portable device that ionizes a flow of helium gas can inactivate ocular pathogens without causing significant tissue damage. Methodology and Principal Findings: We tested the APCP effects on cultured Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus and Herpes simplex virus-1, ocular cells (conjunctival fibroblasts and keratocytes) and ex-vivo corneas. Exposure to APCP for 0.5 to 5 minutes significantly reduced microbial viability (colony-forming units) but not human cell viability (MTT assay, FACS and Tunel analysis) or the number of HSV-1 plaque-forming units. Increased levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in exposed microorganisms and cells were found using a FACS-activated 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate probe. Immunoassays demonstrated no induction of thymine dimers in cell cultures and corneal tissues. A transient increased expression of 8-OHdG, genes and proteins related to oxidative stress (OGG1, GPX, NFE2L2) was determined in ocular cells and corneas by HPLC, qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Conclusions: A short application of APCP appears to be an efficient and rapid ocular disinfectant for bacteria and fungi without significant damage on ocular cells and tissues, although the treatment of conjunctival fibroblasts and keratocytes caused a time-restricted generation of intracellular ROS and oxidative stress-related responses

DYES AND CHEMICALS USED IN BIOMATERIAL STUDY AS STAINS FOR INVERTEBRATES

Most of the dyes used in histology and cytology are manufactured for use in the textile industry, printing, food, cosmetics and other colorant industries. Chemicals used in the study include dyes and stains; the stains used are eosin, acetocarmine, rose bengal, magnesium chloride, magnesium sulphate, cocaine, menthol, propylene phenoxetol, osmic mercuric chloride, mercuric chloride, acetic acid, glycerin alcohol, phenoxetol, nitric acid, potassium cyanide. The dyes and stains as chemicals are used to preserve whole mount or to anesthetize the large animals like trematodes, nematodes, cestodes, arthropods, and molluscs. The study of fresh water and marine invertebrates is not possible unless the use of above mentioned chemicals.QC 20130320</p