Structural and functional validation of a cloned parasporin from Bacillus thuringiensis isolate KAU 41 native to Western Ghats of India.

Parasporins of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) exhibit specific toxicity to cancer cells. PCR based mining has identified apoptosis inducing parasporin in KAU41 Bt isolate from the Western Ghats of India. The study aimed to clone and overexpress the parasporin of native KAU41 Bt isolate for determining structural and functional characteristics of the protein.

anticancer activity of a pentacyclic triterpenoid via the mitochondrial pathway in bone-invasive oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Context: Oral cancer is the most dreadful cancer worldwide with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 50%. Anticancer therapies such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy result in severe side effects.

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the anticancer activity of Asiatic acid (AA) on bone-invasive oral squamous cell carcinoma (BHY) cell line.

Impact of foliar application of fungicides on tomato leaf fungal community structure revealed by metagenomic analysis.

Fungicides are commonly used to manage plant pathogens. However, little is known about their effects on the non-target fungal communities that inhabit inside and outside the plant. These fungicides may have adverse effects on beneficial microbial communities with possible consequences for plant health and productivity.

strains from Western Ghats of India possess nematocidal property against larvae of goats.

Nematocidal properties of spore crystal mixtures of six (Bt) strains (KAU 49, 50, 52, 61, 99 and 424) collected from Western Ghats, a biodiversity hot spot of India, were analysed against larvae isolated from goats. One dose nematocidal assay dose response to lyophilised spore-crystal mixtures (SCM) of the six Bt strains were determined by adding 200 μg/mL of each SCMs to culture plate wells containing aqueous suspension of larvae. Out of the strains screened, KAU 50 and 424 were found to possess nematocidal properties.

Crystal Protein of a Novel Bacillus thuringiensis Strain Inducing Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptotic Cell Death in Human Leukemic Cells.

Parasporal inclusions of a native non haemolytic Bacillus thuringiensis strain KAU 59 was screened for its cytotoxicity against human lymphocytic leukemic cell line jurkat and normal human lymphocytes. The cytotoxicity of proteinase activated and non activated solubilised parasporal inclusions against both cell lines was assessed by Cell Titer 96 Aqueous Non Radioactive Cell Proliferation Assay Kit using MTS. The 50 per cent effective concentration (EC) values were deduced from log probit analysis at 48 h.

DNA binding, prominent photonuclease activity and antibacterial PDT of cobalt(II) complexes of phenanthroline based photosensitizers.

The chemistry of Co(II) complexes showing efficient light induced DNA cleavage activity, binding propensity to calf thymus DNA and antibacterial PDT is summarized in this article. Complexes of formulation [Co(mqt)(B)]ClO 1-3 where mqt is 4-methylquinoline-2-thiol and B is N,N-donor heterocyclic base, viz. 1,10-phenanthroline (phen 1), dipyrido[3,2-d:2',3'-f]quinoxaline (dpq 2) and dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz 3) have been prepared and characterized.

Cyclosporine-A induces endoplasmic reticulum stress in human gingival fibroblasts - An in vitro study.

Drug induced gingival overgrowth is one of the side effects affecting the gingiva due to administration of certain systemic drugs. Cyclosporine A is one such drug which is commonly used in organ transplant conditions. The resultant overgrowth is fibrotic and extensive in nature which could impair patient esthetics and masticatory function.

Human umbilical cord tissue stem cells and neuronal lineages in an injectable caffeic acid-bioconjugated gelatin hydrogel for transplantation.

Present-day scaffolds are useful in cell therapy to a reasonable extent, but in pursuit of improvising the scaffold to improve the outcome, we tested a new injectable caffeic acid-bioconjugated gelatin hydrogel scaffold (CBGH; with tunable stiffness -10%). Two-dimensional (2D) form of human umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HUCMSCs) culture performed based on our previously reported methods and characterized by using multipotent and pluripotent analysis. In addition, neurogenesis was induced in the presence of retinoic acid or neural growth factor or epidermal growth factor categorized by neuronal markers.

A parasporin from Bacillus thuringiensis native to Peninsular India induces apoptosis in cancer cells through intrinsic pathway.

Parasporins, a class of non-insecticidal crystal proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are being explored as promising anticancer agents due to their specific toxicity to cancer cells. The present study has identified 25 Bt isolates harbouring parasporin genes from Western Ghats region, the hotspot of biodiversity in India. Among these, the isolate, KAU 41 (Kerala Agricultural University isolate 41) contained non-hemolytic homogenous crystals showing specific cytotoxicity towards cancer cells.

Cyclosporine–A augments endoplasmic reticulum stress markers and expression of matrix protein mRNA.

Cyclosporine-A induces gingival overgrowth with disturbance in the homeostasis of cells and connective tissue proteins. Human gingival fibroblasts were cultured with cyclosporine A, and the expression of two vital endoplasmic stress markers and two prime matrix proteins (connective tissue growth factor (CTGF and periostin) were assessed by RT-PCR. We found that expression of Glucose-Regulated Protein 78 (GRP78/BIP) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein, C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) were significantly increased, along with CTGF and periostin, suggesting a role for these factors in gingival overgrowth.

Synthesis, DNA interactions and antibacterial PDT of Cu(II) complexes of phenanthroline based photosensitizers via singlet oxygen generation.

Cu(II) complexes [Cu(mqt)(B)H2O]ClO4(1-3) of 2-thiol 4-methylquinoline and phenanthroline bases (B), viz 1,10-phenanthroline (phen in 1), Dipyrido[3,2-d:2',3'-f]quinoxaline (dpq in 2) and Dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz in 3) have been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis, magnetic moment values, EPR spectra and conductivity measurements. The spectral data reveal that all the complexes exhibit square-pyramidal geometry. The DNA-binding behaviors of the three complexes were investigated by absorption spectra, viscosity measurements and thermal denaturation studies.

Novel complexes of Co(III) and Ni(II) containing peptide ligands: synthesis, DNA binding and photonuclease activity.

The new cobalt(III) and nickel(II) complexes of the type [M(L)2(H2O)2](n)(+) (where M = Co(III) or Ni(II) ion, n = 3 for Co and 2 for Ni, L = peptides Fmoc. Ala-val-OH (F-AVOH), Fmoc-Phe-Leu-Ome (F-PLOMe) and Z-Ala-Phe-CONH2 (Z-APCONH2)) were synthesized and structurally characterized by FTIR, (1)H NMR, elemental analysis and electronic spectral data. An octahedral geometry has been proposed for all the synthesized Co(III) and Ni(II) metal complexes.

Synthesis, DNA-binding, DNA-photonuclease profiling and antimicrobial activity of novel tetra-aza macrocyclic Ni(II), Co(II) and Cu(II) complexes constrained by thiadiazole.

A new tetra-aza macrocyclic ligand, L (C(24)H(16)N(12)O(2)S(4)) and its complexes of type, [MLCl(2)] and [CuL]Cl(2) (where M=Ni(II), Co(II); L=N,N'-(benzene-1,3-diyldi-1,3,4-thiadiazole-5,2-diyl)bis{2-[(5-benzene-1,3-diyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)amino]acetamide}) were synthesized and characterized by the spectral and analytical techniques. An octahedral geometry has been proposed for Ni(II) and Co(II) complexes while Cu(II) complex exhibit a square planar geometry. All the synthesized metal complexes were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activity against selected species of pathogenic bacteria and fungi.

Synthesis, DNA binding, and cleavage studies of Co(III) complexes with fused aromatic NO/NN-containing ligands.

Four new Co(III) complexes, namely [Co(cq)(3)](PF(6))(3), [Co(phen)(2)(cq)](PF(6))(3), [Co(bnp)(3)] (PF(6))(3), and [Co(phen)(2)(bnp)](PF(6))(3) (where cq = chromeno[2,3-b]quinoline, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline and bnp = dibenzo[b,g][1,8]naphthyridine), were synthesized and structurally characterized. Spectroscopic data suggested an octahedral geometry for all the complexes. Binding studies of these complexes with double-stranded (ds)DNA were analyzed by absorption spectra, viscosity, and thermal denaturation studies.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new Tetra-aza macrocyclic scaffold constrained oxadiazole, thiadiazole and triazole rings.

A new series of N,N'-(benzene-1,3-diyldi-1,3,4-oxadiazole-5,2-diyl)bis{2-[(5-benzene-1,3-diyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)amino]acetamide}(macrocycle 1), N,N'-(benzene-1,3-diyldi-1,3,4-thiadiazole-5,2-diyl)bis{2-[(5-benzene-1,3-diyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)amino]acetamide} (macrocycle 2) and S,S'-[benzene-1,3-diylbis(4H-1,2,4-triazole-5,3-diyl)]bis{[(5-benzene-1,3-diyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)sulfanyl]ethanethioate}(macrocycle 3) was synthesized from isophthalic dihydrazide (4) through a multistep reaction sequence. All the synthesized compounds were screened for their inhibitory effect against four different bacterial strains: P. aeruginosa ATCC-20852, K.