Phycochemical analyses and pharmacological activities of seven macroalgae of Arabian Sea (Northern coast line).

Seaweeds have been used as nutraceuticals because of certain metabolites present in some species including polyphenols. Seven species of seaweeds collected from the Karachi coast were screened for the first time both for phycochemical analysis and pharmacological activities. The phycochemicals quantified included phenols, flavonoids, tannins and saponins.

Phycochemical and pharmacological studies on Ulva fasciata Delile.

Phycochemical and pharmacological studies were carried out on Ulva fasciata Delile. The ash content was found as 20.4812 % dry weight, moisture content 14.

A Novel Colorimetric PCR-Based Biosensor for Detection and Quantification of Hepatitis B Virus.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause viral infection that attacks the liver and it is a major global health problem that puts people at a high risk of death from cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer. HBV has infected one-third of the worldwide population, and 350 million people suffer from chronic HBV infection. For these reasons, development of an accurate, sensitive, and expedient detection method for diagnosing, monitoring, and assessing therapeutic response of HBV is very necessary and urgent for public health and disease control.

Sequence-Specific Biosensing of DNA Target through Relay PCR with Small-Molecule Fluorophore.

Polymerase chain reaction coupled with signal generation offers sensitive recognition of target DNA sequence; however, these procedures require fluorophore-labeled oligonucleotide probes and high-tech equipment to achieve high specificity. Therefore, intensive research has been conducted to develop reliable, convenient, and economical DNA detection methods. The relay PCR described here is the first sequence-specific detection method using a small-molecule fluorophore as a sensor and combines the classic 5'-3' exonuclease activity of Taq polymerase with an RNA mimic of GFP to build a label-free DNA detection platform.

A novel colorimetric PCR-based biosensor for detection and quantification of hepatitis B virus.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause viral infection that attacks the liver and it is a major global health problem that put people at a high risk of death from cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer. HBV has infected one third of the worldwide population, and 350 million people suffer from chronic HBV infection. For these reasons, development of an accurate, sensitive and expedient detection method for diagnosing, monitoring and assessing therapeutic response of HBV is very necessary and urgent for public health and disease control.

Signal amplification of glucosamine-6-phosphate based on ribozyme glmS.

Ribozyme glmS based isothermal amplification assay is developed for the colorimetric detection of glucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN6P). Upon binding to the metabolite target GlcN6P, self-cleavage of glmS ribozyme is initiated to release RNA fragment that can trigger the cascade signal amplification to release large amount of G-quadruplex DNAzymes as reporter for colorimetric detection. Given the importance of GlcN6P for cell wall biosynthesis, the glmS riboswitch has become a new drug target for the development of antibiotics.

In vitro selection of DNA-cleaving deoxyribozyme with site-specific thymidine excision activity.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms, either inherited or due to spontaneous DNA damage, are associated with numerous diseases. Developing tools for site-specific nucleotide modification may one day provide a way to alter disease polymorphisms. Here, we describe the in vitro selection and characterization of a new deoxyribozyme called F-8, which catalyzes nucleotide excision specifically at thymidine.

Template-directed chemical ligation to obtain 3'-3' and 5'-5' phosphodiester DNA linkages.

Up to now, the direct ligation of two DNA fragments with opposite directions to obtain 3'-3' or 5'-5' phosphate ester bonds is still challenging. The only way to obtain DNA oligonucleotides containing a 3'-3' or 5'-5' inversion of polarity sites is based on professional DNA chemical synthesis. Herein, we demonstrate a convenient template-directed chemical ligation that enables 3'-3' and 5'-5' linkages of two DNA oligonucleotides.

DNA based identification of medicinal materials in Chinese patent medicines.

Chinese patent medicines (CPM) are highly processed and easy to use Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The market for CPM in China alone is tens of billions US dollars annually and some of the CPM are also used as dietary supplements for health augmentation in the western countries. But concerns continue to be raised about the legality, safety and efficacy of many popular CPM.

Autosomal recessive congenital cataract in consanguineous Pakistani families is associated with mutations in GALK1.

Purpose: To identify the pathogenic mutations responsible for autosomal recessive congenital cataracts in consanguineous Pakistani families.

Methods: All affected individuals underwent detailed ophthalmologic and medical examination. Blood samples were collected and genomic DNA was extracted.

A new locus for autosomal recessive congenital cataract identified in a Pakistani family.

Purpose: To identify the disease locus for autosomal recessive congenital cataract in a consanguineous Pakistani family.

Methods: All affected individuals underwent detailed ophthalmologic and medical examination. Blood samples were collected and DNA was extracted.

A variant form of Oguchi disease mapped to 13q34 associated with partial deletion of GRK1 gene.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to map the locus for a variant form of Oguchi disease in a Pakistani family and to identify the causative mutation.

Methods: Family 61029 was ascertained in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It includes three 13- to 19-year-old patients with night blindness and 12 unaffected family members.

Mutations in betaB3-crystallin associated with autosomal recessive cataract in two Pakistani families.

Purpose: To identify the disease locus for autosomal recessive congenital cataracts in consanguineous Pakistani families.

Methods: Two Pakistani families were ascertained, patients were examined, blood samples were collected, and DNA was isolated. A genome-wide scan was performed using >382 polymorphic microsatellite markers on genomic DNA from affected and unaffected family members.

A new locus for autosomal recessive nuclear cataract mapped to chromosome 19q13 in a Pakistani family.

Purpose: To identify the disease locus of autosomal recessive congenital nuclear cataracts in a consanguineous Pakistani family.

Methods: A large Pakistani family with multiple individuals affected by autosomal recessive congenital cataracts was ascertained. Patients were examined, blood samples were collected, and DNA was isolated.