Novel peptide inhibitor of human tumor necrosis factor-α has antiarthritic activity.

The inhibition of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α trimer formation renders it inactive for binding to its receptors, thus mitigating the vicious cycle of inflammation. We designed a peptide (PIYLGGVFQ) that simulates a sequence strand of human TNFα monomer using a series of in silico methods, such as active site finding (Acsite), protein-protein interaction (PPI), docking studies (GOLD and Flex-X) followed by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies. The MD studies confirmed the intermolecular interaction of the peptide with the TNFα.

Stearic acid mediated growth of edge-on oriented bilayer poly(3-hexylthiophene) Langmuir films.

The growth and structural evolution of stearic acid (SA) blended poly(3-hexylthiophene) [P3HT] Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films were studied using complimentary surface and interface sensitive techniques to understand the possibility of ordering and layering of promising charge carrier mobility polymers, at the air-water interface and on the transferred solid substrate. SA-induced and subsequent compression-induced transitions in P3HT structure, from aggregated-3D to soft-2D and from in-plane mixed to unmixed layer, are evident at low and high pressures, respectively. The blending of SA molecules enhances the amphiphilic character of P3HT, which reduces the extent of the out-of-plane aggregation to form edge-on oriented (EO) bottom side-chain folded-bilayer (f-BL) islands (of size ~60 nm) within SA monolayer (ML), of commensurate thickness (~2.

MiR-155 induction in microglial cells suppresses Japanese encephalitis virus replication and negatively modulates innate immune responses.

Background: Microglial cells, which are resident macrophages of the central nervous system, play important roles in immune responses and pathogenesis. Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a neurotropic virus that infects microglial cells in brain. Several microRNAs including miR-155 and miR-146a play an important role in defining the microglia inflammatory profile.

Novel xylanases from Simplicillium obclavatum MTCC 9604: comparative analysis of production, purification and characterization of enzyme from submerged and solid state fermentation.

The production of extracellular xylanase by a newly isolated fungus Simplicillium obclavatum MTCC 9604 was studied in solid-state and submerged fermentation. Multiple xylanases and endoglucanases were produced by the strain during growth on wheat bran in solid state fermentation (SSF). A single xylanase isoform was found to be produced by the same fungus under submerged fermentation (SF) using wheat bran as sole carbon source.

Enhanced expression and fucosylation of ficolin3 in plasma of RA patients.

Objectives: The aim of this work was to detect low abundant proteins, which may be potential biomarkers of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at the early stage. We compared plasma protein profiles of RA patients with healthy individuals in two dimensional gel electrophoresis after removal of abundant proteins (albumin and IgG) using depletion kit and Aleuria aurantia lectin (AAL) affinity chromatography.

Design And Methods: Forty plasma samples each from healthy control individuals and RA patients were used in this study.

Suramin ameliorates collagen induced arthritis.

Suramin, a polysulfonated polyaromatic symmetrical urea is known for multiple therapeutic effects including antineoplastic activity. It is known as an antagonist of ATP at P2X purinergic receptors. Suramin is also found to inhibit protein synthesis affecting both initiation and elongation of the polypeptide chain.