Studies on the fitness characteristics of Mel- and AlbB-introgressed (Pud) lines in comparison with Mel- and AlbB-transinfected (Aus) and wild-type (Pud) lines.

, an intracellular maternally transmitted endosymbiont, has been shown to interfere with the replication of dengue virus in mosquitoes. The -transinfected has been currently released in many countries to test its effectiveness in preventing the transmission of dengue virus. ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre in collaboration with World Mosquito Program Monash University, Australia, has generated two new -introgressed Puducherry (Pud) lines backcrossing females of Australian (Aus) strains, infected with Mel and AlbB with wild-type Puducherry (Pud) males.

Sensitivity of wMel and wAlbB Wolbachia infections in Aedes aegypti Puducherry (Indian) strains to heat stress during larval development.

Background: ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry, India, developed two colonies of Aedes aegypti infected with wMel and wAlbB Wolbacia strains called Ae. aegypti (Pud) lines for dengue control. The sensitivity of wMel and wAlbB strains in Ae.

Eosinophils Restrict Diesel Exhaust Particles-induced Cell Proliferation of Lung Epithelial A549 Cells via Interleukin-13 Mediated Mechanisms: Implications for Tissue Remodeling and Fibrosis.

Background: Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) affect lung physiology and cause serious damage to the lungs. A number of studies demonstrated that eosinophils play a very important role in the development of tissue remodeling and fibrosis of the lungs. However, the exact mechanism of pathogenesis of tissue remodeling and fibrosis is not known.

Nation-wide vector surveillance on Zika and Dengue did not indicate transmission of the American lineage-pandemic Zika virus in India.

Objectives: Following the Public Health Emergency of International Concern declared on Zika by the World Health Organization during 2016, the Indian Council of Medical Research carried out nationwide vector surveillance for Zika and Dengue viruses (ZIKV and DENV) in India as a preparedness measure in 2016-19.

Methods: High-risk zones distributed to 49 Districts in 14 states/union territories were included in the study. Seven ICMR institutions participated, following a standard operating protocol.

Seasonal abundance of Leptotrombidium deliense, the vector of scrub typhus, in areas reporting acute encephalitis syndrome in Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh, India.

The rickettsial pathogen Orientia tsutsugamushi, causing scrub typhus, has been implicated as a major cause of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) in many places in India including Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh. Seasonal abundance of the principal vector mite of the pathogen, Leptotrombidium deliense, its animal hosts, and prevalence of infection on them are important attributes in the assessment of outbreaks of the disease. Hence, these aspects were investigated, seasonally, in rural villages of Gorakhpur district, where peak incidence of AES cases were reported.

Synthesis of Iron Oxide@Pt Core-Shell Nanoparticles for Reductive Conversion of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) and Antibacterial Studies.

Herein, we report the facile synthesis of Iron oxide@Pt core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) by facile two step synthesis process. The first step follows the growth of iron oxide nanoparticle by thermal decomposition process while the second step deals with the formation of iron oxide@Pt core-shell nanoparticles by the chemical reduction method. The synthesized core-shell nanoparticles were characterized by several techniques and used for the catalytic reductive translation of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) in the presence of formic acid by a UV-vis spectrophotometer.

Surfactant Assisted Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles: Drug Loading and Leaching Kinetics and Antimicrobial Properties.

In the present investigation, extremely fine Hydroxyapatite (HAP) powder was prepared through chemical precipitation technique under the influence of a nonionic surfactant (Brij 35-Polyoxyethylene lauryl ether). The samples were sintered at 800 °C to obtain highly pure HAP phase. The functional group present in the HAP powder was confirmed by using Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy.

Q222R polymorphism in DNAse I gene is a risk factor for nephritis in South Indian SLE patients.

Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem disorder in which defective apoptotic clearance is considered to be an important factor in pathogenesis. DNAse I is associated with disposal of apoptotic nuclear debris. The defective enzyme production due to +2373 A to G (Q222R) in exon 8 is reported to be a genetic risk factor for SLE.

Isolation and Typing of Canine Parvovirus in CRFK Cell Line in Puducherry, South India.

A total of 128 faecal samples/rectal swabs were collected from dogs showing signs of diarrhea/enteritis in and around Puducherry, South India. Eighteen clinical samples, showing high HA titre of 1:512 and above and positivity by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with CPV-2ab primers, were subjected to virus isolation in CRFK cell line. Of the 18 samples processed, 3 samples (16.