Publications by authors named "Dipesh Kumar Verma"

Efflux pumps of the resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) superfamily, particularly the AcrAB-TolC, and MexAB-OprM, besides mediating intrinsic and acquired resistance, also intervene in bacterial pathogenicity. Inhibitors of such pumps could restore the activities of antibiotics and curb bacterial virulence. Here, we identify pyrrole-based compounds that boost antibiotic activity in Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa by inhibiting their archetype RND transporters.

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A major unsolved question in vertebrate photoreceptor biology is the mechanism of rhodopsin transport to the outer segment. In rhodopsin-like class A G protein-coupled receptors, hydrophobic interactions between C-terminal α-helix 8 (H8), and transmembrane α-helix-1 (TM1) have been shown to be important for transport to the plasma membrane, however whether this interaction is important for rhodopsin transport to ciliary rod outer segments is not known. We examined the crystal structures of vertebrate rhodopsins and class A G protein-coupled receptors and found a conserved network of predicted hydrophobic interactions.

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The Corona Virus Infectious Disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak originated at Wuhan, China, in December 2019. It has already spread rapidly and caused more than 6.5 million deaths worldwide.

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The use of efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs) as potentiators along with the traditional antibiotics assists in the warfare against antibiotic-resistant superbugs. Efflux pumps of the resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) family play crucial roles in multidrug resistance in and . Despite several efforts, clinically useful inhibitors are not available at present.

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Staphylococcus aureus is a versatile human commensal bacteria and pathogen that causes various community and hospital-acquired infections. The S. aureus efflux pump NorA which belongs to the major facilitator superfamily, confers resistance to a range of substrates.

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Introduction: The current gold standard for detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA involves subjecting nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swabs to reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). However, both sample types need to be collected by trained professionals. Using self-collected buccal swabs as an alternative could simplify and accelerate diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

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Staphylococcus aureus has developed resistance to antimicrobials since their first use. The S. aureus major facilitator superfamily (MFS) efflux pump Tet(K) contributes to resistance to tetracyclines.

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Article Synopsis
  • Haloarchaea are microorganisms found in highly saline environments, which may contain valuable biomolecules like carotenoids and proteins, yet their diversity in Indian saline areas is under-researched.
  • A study identified 12 novel haloarchaeal strains from a solar saltern in Kottakuppam, Tamil Nadu, revealing that most produce carotenoids, primarily bacterioruberin and lycopene, and classifying them into yellow and orange based on color differences.
  • Whole-genome sequencing of select strains led to the identification of unique genes related to biological functions, and successful cloning of functional bacteriorhodopsin, which plays a role in ATP production by using light energy.
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Tularemia, a zoonosis generally prevalent in the northern half of the globe, is caused by Francisella tularensis. Among various Francisella tularensis species, subspecies tularensis is the most pathogenic to humans causing the infection through an airborne route, abrasions in the skin, and contact with infected animals. At present no approved vaccine exists for this intracellular pathogen.

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Haloarchaea are salt-loving archaea and potential source of industrially relevant halotolerant enzymes. In the present study, three reddish-pink, extremely halophilic archaeal strains, namely wsp1 (wsp-water sample Pondicherry), wsp3, and wsp4, were isolated from the Indian Solar saltern. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences suggests that both wsp3 and wsp4 strains belong to while wsp1 is closely related to species.

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Efflux pumps are always at the forefront of bacterial multidrug resistance and account for the failure of antibiotics. The present study explored the potential of 2-(2-Aminophenyl) indole (RP2), an efflux pump inhibitor (EPI) isolated from the soil bacterium, to overcome the efflux-mediated resistance in . The RP2/antibiotic combination was tested against efflux pump over-expressed strains.

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Article Synopsis
  • Microbial rhodopsin, specifically bacteriorhodopsin (BR), has great optical properties but is expensive to produce, hindering its commercialization.
  • The study focused on isolating BR variants from three new strains of haloarchaea found in Indian solar salterns, naming them wsp3, wsp5, and K1.
  • The results indicate that specific unannotated N-terminal residues are crucial for BR functionality, and the characteristics of these recombinant BRs are similar to known variants, suggesting a cost-effective method for producing them using E. coli for future applications.
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