Molecular basis of recognition by Gal/GalNAc specific legume lectins: influence of Glu 129 on the specificity of peanut agglutinin (PNA) towards C2-substituents of galactose.

The ability to discriminate between galactose and N- acetylgalactosamine, observed in some lectins, is crucial for their biological activity as well as their usefulness as tools in biology and medicine. However, the molecular basis of differential binding of lectins to these two sugars is poorly understood. Peanut agglutinin (PNA) is one of the few galactose-specific legume lectins which does not bind N- acetylgalactosamine at all and is, therefore, ideal for the study of the basis of specificity towards C-2 substituted derivatives of galactopyranosides.

Changing profile of diabetic ketosis.

Forty-three cases of diabetic ketosis were analysed to determine the mode of presentation, treatment modalities and outcome. Among these cases 62.8% were non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients and 37.

Evaluation of safety and efficacy of azithromycin in lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI).

Azithromycin was given to 55 cases of lower respiratory tract infections in the doses of 500 mg on day 1, followed by 250 mg on days 2-5. It produced bacteriological cure in 70.8% patients and clinical cure or improvement in 69.

The fbpABC locus of Neisseria gonorrhoeae functions in the periplasm-to-cytosol transport of iron.

We have determined that the DNA sequence downstream of the well-characterized gonococcal fbp gene contains two open reading frames: one designated fbpB, which encodes a protein proposed to function as a cytoplasmic permease, and one designated fbpC, which encodes a protein proposed to function as a nucleotide-binding protein. The fpbABC operon composes an iron transport system that is homologous to the sfu and hit operons previously reported for Serratia marcescens and Haemophilus influenzae, respectively, and displays elements characteristic of ATP binding cassette transporters. The fpbABC operon differs from these loci in that it is lethal when overexpressed in Escherichia coli.

The 1993 epidemic of dengue fever in Mangalore, Karnataka state, India.

An epidemic of febrile illness with hemorrhagic manifestations occurred in certain parts of Mangalore city, Karnataka state, India, from the last week of July 1993. The epidemic reached its peak by mid-August and then started declining. Sporadic cases, however, continued to occur till early December.

Biochemical characterization of a Haemophilus influenzae periplasmic iron transport operon.

Bacterial iron transport is critical for growth of pathogens in the host environment, where iron is limited as a form of nonspecific immunity. For Gram-negative bacteria such as Haemophilus influenzae, iron first must be transported across the outer membrane and into the periplasmic space, then from the periplasm to the cytosol. H.

Prevalence of bancroftian filariasis in Burdwan district, West Bengal: II. Vector and microfilariae density in colliery and non-colliery areas.

The paper reports the density of Culex quinquefasciatus, infection and infectivity rates, microfilariae(mf)- density and microfilaraemic persons in the colliery and non-colliery areas of Burdwan district, West Bengal. The numbers C. quinquefasciatus were significantly higher in colliery areas, as compared to non-colliery areas.

Prevalence of Bancroftian filariasis in Burdwan District, west Bengal: a comparative study between colliery and non-colliery areas.

The present study reports results of a survey of bancroftian filariasis in Burdwan district West Bengal. 85,974 persons were examined of which 46,221 were inhabitants of the colliery areas of the district and rest 39,753 were from non-Colliery areas, including urban and rural areas of the district. The clinicopositivity, endemicity, microfilaria(mf)-positivity, mf-clinicopositivity, and mf-density were determined.