Publications by authors named "Kausiki Chakrabarti"

Background: Enhanced inflammatory responses promote tumor progression by activating toll-like receptors (TLRs), which in turn are inhibited by C-type lectin like receptors (CTLRs), like CLEC12A. Although the presence of CLEC12A in acute myeloid leukemia is well established, its role in non-hematopoietic tumors is still obscure. In hematopoietic tumors, CLEC12A mostly inhibits TLRs and modulates inflammatory responses via NF-κB signaling.

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Article Synopsis
  • Researchers expressed porcine ZP3 and ZP4 in E. coli to provide a source of purified native zona pellucida glycoproteins for use in immunocontraception.
  • The proteins were characterized through SDS-PAGE and Western blot, and their effectiveness in inducing immune responses and reducing fertility was tested in female mice.
  • Results showed that immunization with these recombinant proteins led to strong antibody production, inhibited fertilization, and significantly decreased fertility, indicating their potential for a contraceptive vaccine development.
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The zona pellucida (ZP), a glycoproteinaceous matrix surrounding the mammalian oocyte plays an important role in species-specific sperm-egg binding, induction of acrosome reaction in the ZP-bound spermatozoa, avoidance of polyspermy and protection of the embryo prior to implantation. In contrast to mouse, human ZP matrix is composed of 4 glycoproteins designated as ZP1, ZP2, ZP3 and ZP4 (Zp4 pseudogene in mouse). Recent studies employing recombinant and immunoaffinity purified human zona proteins revealed that in addition to ZP3, capacitated acrosome-intact spermatozoa also bind ZP4.

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For safer and effective immunocontraception, zona (ZP3) and spermatozoa specific (YLP(12)) peptides have been presented on virus-like particles (VLPs) derived from Johnson grass mosaic virus coat protein. Immunization of FvB/cJ female mice with VLPs presenting YLP(12)-ZP3 fusion peptide and a physical mixture of VLPs presenting either YLP(12) or ZP3 epitope led to generation of specific antibody responses and a significant reduction in litters born per mice (p<0.005).

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Zona pellucida glycoprotein 3 (ZP3) has been ascribed as a putative primary sperm receptor during fertilization in humans. Herein, attempts have been made to delineate the functional domain of human ZP3. ZP3 has been cloned and expressed in a baculovirus expression system as N-terminal fragments (amino acid [aa] residues 1-175 [pAc-ZP3(1-175 aa)] and 23-175 [pBg-ZP3(23-175 aa)]) and as C-terminal fragments (aa residues 214-305 [pBg-ZP3(214-305 aa)] and 214-348 [pBg-ZP3(214-348 aa)]).

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Immunization with zona pellucida (ZP) glycoproteins leads to curtailment of fertility often associated with ovarian dysfunction. To avoid ovarian dysfunction, synthetic peptides corresponding to ZP glycoproteins have been proposed as candidate immunogens. In the present study, plasmid DNA encoding a human ZP glycoprotein-3 (ZP3) epitope corresponding to amino acid (aa) residues 334-343 and a human ZP glycoprotein-4 (ZP4) epitope corresponding to aa residues 251-273 separated by a triglycine spacer was constructed using the mammalian expression vector, VR1020.

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Aim: To identify possible spermicidal agents through screening a number of edible medicinal plants with antimicrobial activity.

Methods: Initial screening was made on the basis of ram cauda epididymal sperm immobilization immediately after addition of extracts. The most potent extract was selected and was evaluated on both ram and human spermatozoa.

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