Optimization and Characterization of PHA (SCL-SCL) Copolymer by Indigenous Bacillus thuringiensis A102 Strain for Biomedical Applications.

PHA is one of the leading commercially important bio-polyesteric compounds piled up as an intracellular lipid-based energy storage compound by numerous microorganisms. An indigenous Gram-positive bacterium isolated from fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) has known to potentially accumulate PHA. Various nutritional elements like carbon, nitrogen, phosphate and C/N ratio were optimized.

Enhancement of Purified Human Colon Cancer-Specific Parasporal Toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis-LDC-501.

Parasporal inclusion protein of Bacillus thuringiensis-LDC-501 (Bt-LDC-501) exhibits selective cytocidal action towards human colon cancer cells. The yield of this parasporal protein was minimum in the normal culture. In order to increase the yield of protein from Bt-LDC-501 various agro-based cost-efficient nutrient sources such as corn steep liquor (CSL), sesame oil cake extract (SOC), groundnut oil cake extract (GOC), neem oil cake extract (NOC), rice bran extract (RB), wheat bran extract (WB), red gram hull extract (RGH), green gram hull extract (GGH), black gram hull extract (BGH), Mysore gram hull extract (MGH), and maize flour waste extract (MFW) were screened.

Production and characterization of PHB-HV copolymer by Bacillus thuringiensis isolated from Eisenia foetida.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are one of the most important biopolyesters produced by vast number of microorganisms that exist in the environment. PHAs gained much attention due to its inherent biodegradable and biocompatible ability along with its physicochemical properties, which are similar to those of conventional petroleum-based plastics. In the present study, PHA producing bacterial strains was isolated from earthworm.

Bioprospection of Basidiomycetes and molecular phylogenetic analysis using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 5.8S rRNA gene sequence.

Macrofungi belonging to the phylum Basidiomycota are mostly used as medicinal mushrooms in many countries. In the present study, hundred basidiocarp of macrofungi were collected from Tamilnadu during rainy season. The basidiocarp was found in association with root/trunk of living trees, wood log and decayed matter.

Immunostimulation by phospholipopeptide biosurfactant from Staphylococcus hominis in Oreochromis mossambicus.

The immunostimulatory effect of phospholipopeptide biosurfactant from Staphylococcus hominis (GenBank Accession No: KJ564272) was assessed with Oreochromis mossambicus. The non-specific (serum lysozyme activity, serum antiprotease activity, serum peroxidase activity and serum bactericidal activity), specific (bacterial agglutination assay) immune responses and disease resistance activity against Aeromonas hydrophila were examined. Fish were intraperitonially injected with water soluble secondary metabolite (biosurfactant) of S.

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of B.t.LDC-391 strain that produce cytocidal proteins against human cancer cells.

An indigenous Bacillus thuringiensis strain B.t.LDC-391 producing cytocidal proteins against human colon cancer cell line, HCT-116, was subjected to phenotypic and genotypic characterization to evaluate its relatedness to B.

MEDDB: a medicinal plant database developed with the information gathered from tribal people in and around Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

Tribal peoples are endowed with enriched traditional wisdom to use available nature resources around them. They are well versed in the usage of plant for treating various diseases. They have used powder or extract or paste form of the plant parts such as root, shoot, whole plant, fruits and leaves etc.

Sequence analysis, structure prediction, and functional validation of phaC1/phaC2 genes of Pseudomonas sp. LDC-25 and its importance in polyhydroxyalkanoate accumulation.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are attractive biomaterials in both conventional medical devices and tissue engineering. PHA synthase is responsible for catalyzing the formation of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), but its structural information is limited. Hence, this study focuses to predict 3D model for phaC1 and phaC2 genes of field-soil strain Pseudomonas sp.

Serum zinc and albumin levels in pulmonary tuberculosis patients with and without HIV.

Limited data are available on the relationship between nutritional status and pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Zinc plays a vital role in the immune status of the individual. The present study was carried out to estimate serum zinc and albumin levels in newly detected adult active PTB patients with (n = 20) and without (n = 20) HIV, and to compare them with the levels in controls (healthy family members; n = 20) who satisfied rigid selection criteria.

Molecular characterization of Pseudomonas sp. LDC-5 involved in accumulation of poly 3-hydroxybutyrate and medium-chain-length poly 3-hydroxyalkanoates.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biological polyesters, of which, Short-Chain-Length-Medium-Chain-Length (SCL-MCL) PHA copolymers are important because of their wide range of applications. The present study focused on molecular characterization of Pseudomonas sp. LDC-5 that is identified as SCL-MCL producer.

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infestation in HIV/AIDS patients with diarrhea in Madurai City, South India.

The prevalence and pattern of parasitic infestation among 80 HIV/AIDS patients with diarrhea in Madurai, south India, was studied by microscopy. Eighty HIV-negative patients were used as controls. Intestinal parasites were detected in 31 HIV/AIDS patients (38.