Response of cardiac pulse parameters in humans at various inclinations via 360° rotating platform for simulated microgravity perspective.

On the Earth, the human body is designed and adapted to function under uniform gravitational acceleration. However, exposure to microgravity or weightlessness as experienced by astronauts in space causes significant alterations in the functioning of the human cardiovascular system. Due to limitations in using real microgravity platforms, researchers opted for various ground-based microgravity analogs including head-down tilt (HDT) at fixed inclination.

Reinvestigating the status of malaria parasite (Plasmodium sp.) in Indian non-human primates.

Many human parasites and pathogens have closely related counterparts among non-human primates. For example, non-human primates harbour several species of malaria causing parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Studies suggest that for a better understanding of the origin and evolution of human malaria parasites it is important to know the diversity and evolutionary relationships of these parasites in non-human primates.

Response of extreme haloarchaeon Haloarcula argentinensis RR10 to simulated microgravity in clinorotation.

Gravity is the fundamental force that may have operated during the evolution of life on Earth. It is thus important to understand as to what the effects of gravity are on cellular life. The studies related to effect of microgravity on cells may provide greater insights in understanding of how the physical force of gravity shaped life on Earth.

Multilocus nuclear DNA markers reveal population structure and demography of Anopheles minimus.

Utilization of multiple putatively neutral DNA markers for inferring evolutionary history of species population is considered to be the most robust approach. Molecular population genetic studies have been conducted in many species of Anopheles genus, but studies based on single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data are still very scarce. Anopheles minimus is one of the principal malaria vectors of Southeast (SE) Asia including the Northeastern (NE) India.

Multilocus nuclear DNA markers and genetic parameters in an Indian Anopheles minimus population.

Estimation of population genetic parameters is highly dependent on the choice of genetic markers. Furthermore, inferences based on single genes could lead to erroneous conclusions and population genetic outcomes, thus usage of multiple loci is suggested. Considering malaria is a highly fatal vector-borne infectious disease, inference on population genetic structure and demography could be of help in the long run for malaria vector management and control.

Phylogenetic inference of Indian malaria vectors from multilocus DNA sequences.

Inferences on the taxonomic positions, phylogenetic interrelationships and divergence time among closely related species of medical importance is essential to understand evolutionary patterns among species, and based on which, disease control measures could be devised. To this respect, malaria is one of the important mosquito borne diseases of tropical and sub-tropical parts of the globe. Taxonomic status of malaria vectors has been so far documented based on morphological, cytological and few molecular genetic features.

Evolutionary insights into insecticide resistance gene families of Anopheles gambiae.

Insecticide resistance (IR) is one of the major obstacles in insect pests and insect borne disease control strategies, the mechanism of which is known to be genetically controlled. Three major gene families (CYP, GST and COE) have been identified encoding various proteins to metabolize endogenous as well as exogenous compounds that are responsible for IR mechanisms in insects. Understanding evolutionary patterns of genes of such important functions could lead to important understanding, based on which, further studies to control various insect borne infectious diseases could be initiated.