Generation of novel family of reductases from PCR based library for the synthesis of chiral alcohols and amines.

Biocatalysis has shown tremendous potential in the synthesis of drugs and drug intermediates in the last decade. Screening of novel biocatalysts from the natural genome space is the growing trend to replenish the harsh chemical synthetic routes, commonly used in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry. Here, we report a novel ketoreductase (KERD) and a nitrile reductase isolated from the PCR based library generated from the genome of Rhodococcus ruber and Bacillus subtilis, respectively.

P2X7 receptor polymorphisms and susceptibility to tuberculosis in a North Indian Punjabi population.

Background: Genetic elements are known to influence susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB). P2X7R is a candidate gene with multiple single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that has the potential to influence an individual's ability to kill the intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Objective: To explore the role of five functional polymorphisms of P2X7R in susceptibility or resistance to TB in a North Indian Punjabi population.

Perturbed microRNA Expression by Promotes Macrophage Polarization Leading to Pro-survival Foam Cell.

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the prevalent causes of death worldwide, with 95% of these deaths occurring in developing countries, like India. The causative agent, (MTb) has the tenacious ability to circumvent the host's immune system for its own advantage. Macrophages are one of the phagocytic cells that are central to immunity against MTb.

M235T polymorphism in the AGT gene and A/G(I8-83) substitution in the REN gene correlate with end-stage renal disease.

Background/aims: This study aimed at investigating if M235T polymorphism in the AGT gene and A/G(I8-83) polymorphism in the REN gene correlate with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Methods: We analyzed 173 ESRD patients and 329 individuals with normal kidney function for differences in the genotype distribution of AGT-M235T and REN-A/G(I8-83) polymorphisms between the two groups. The data for cases and controls were compared using the χ(2) test.

Correlation of renin angiotensin system (RAS) candidate gene polymorphisms with response to Ramipril in patients with essential hypertension.

Background: The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is an important facet of blood pressure regulation physiology. Treatment of essential hypertension targets the RAS using Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACEIs). However, ACEIs are not uniformly effective and show inter-individual pharmacodynamic variations.

Predominance of modern Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates in North India.

Although India accounts for the highest tuberculosis (TB) burden in the world, the diversity in prevalent Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains is very poorly documented. Tuberculosis specific deletion 1 (TbD1) is a marker that has been used to differentiate ancient from modern strains. We report for the first time TbD1-based diversity in clinical M.

An improved method for the isolation of hepatitis B virus DNA from human serum.

Studies show that hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA isolation methods vary in their efficiency to extract DNA from serum samples. The purpose of the present study was to develop an improved method for isolation of HBV DNA and compare it with commonly used HBV DNA isolation protocols. In order to develop HBV DNA isolation protocol, serum samples were collected from patients and screened for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B e antigen and HBV DNA.

Depleted TGF-β₁ levels in end stage renal disease patients from North India.

End stage renal disease is a clinical state that extends from chronic renal failure and is marked by an irreversible loss of renal function. TGF-β1 mediated renal fibrosis is a common pathology implicated in this form of kidney disease. In this study circulating protein and mRNA levels of TGF-β1 cytokine were investigated among ESRD patients and respective controls from North India.

Replication of type 2 diabetes candidate genes variations in three geographically unrelated Indian population groups.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a syndrome of multiple metabolic disorders and is genetically heterogeneous. India comprises one of the largest global populations with highest number of reported type 2 diabetes cases. However, limited information about T2D associated loci is available for Indian populations.

Association of P2X7 receptor +1513 (A-->C) polymorphism with tuberculosis in a Punjabi population.

Background: Development of tuberculosis (TB) disease is an outcome of complex host-pathogen interactions. The purinergic P2X(7) receptors are adenosine triphosphate gated molecules shown to induce killing of intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis, followed by apoptosis of the infected macrophage. A single nucleotide polymorphism in exon 13 of the P2X(7) receptors gene at +1513 position has been shown to abolish the function of this receptor and to be associated with increased susceptibility to TB in some ethnic groups.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism in hypertensive rural population of Haryana, India.

Background: Essential hypertension is a complex genetic disorder influenced by diverse environmental factors. Of the various physiological pathways affecting the homeostasis of blood pressure, the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is known to play a critical role. Angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) is a significant component of RAS and an insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in its gene has been implicated in predisposition to hypertension.

Spirulina protects against rosiglitazone induced osteoporosis in insulin resistance rats.

Aim: The study was undertaken to assess the protective effect of Spirulina fusiformis extract against Rosiglitazone induced osteoporosis and pharmacodynamic effects of Rosiglitazone with Spirulina in treating hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia of insulin resistance rat.

Method: For this aim, 30 Wistar albino rats were equally divided into five groups as control (C), diabetes mellitus (DM), diabetes mellitus+Rosiglitazone (DM+R), diabetes mellitus+Spirulina (DM+S), and diabetes mellitus+Rosiglitazone+Spirulina (DM+R+S). Serum glucose, triglyceride, HDL, LDL and insulin concentrations were estimated by routine standard methods in blood samples collected on 21th day.

Peripheral blood based C-PCR assay for diagnosing extra-pulmonary tuberculosis.

Extra pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) constitutes around 20% of all tuberculosis cases in India. Conventional methods are of limited use in diagnosing this form of the disease. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has emerged as a sensitive and specific tool for documenting the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in clinical samples but lacks quantitative ability.

Differential association of tumour necrosis factor-alpha single nucleotide polymorphism (-308) with tuberculosis and bronchial asthma.

Background: Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha is a pleiotropic, pro-inflammatory cytokine of 17 kDa, whose gene is localized on the short arm of chromosome 6. It has a G-308A polymorphism in the promoter region, which is known to be associated with its differential production; the A allele being the high producer. The circulating level of TNF-alpha is under genetic control and implicated in the pathophysiology of asthma and tuberculosis.

Genetic diversity in clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Punjab.

Setting: Two hospitals, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research and the TB and Chest Hospital, Amritsar, Punjab.

Objective: To explore genetic diversity among the clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates prevalent in Punjab.

Design: Fifty-six random clinical isolates of M.

Tumor necrosis factor--alpha and transforming growth factor--beta1 polymorphisms in bronchial asthma.

Background: Bronchial asthma is a complex genetic disorder regulated by the release of cytokines and inflammatory mediators. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta1) cytokines play pivotal roles in the inflammatory response of the airways. Differential production of these two cytokines is associated with allelic variations in the transcriptional regulatory region of these genes.

Diagnosing different stages of hepatitis B infection using a competitive polymerase chain reaction assay.

Purpose: Different stages of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can be defined by serum HBV DNA levels. This study attempts to (1) investigate serum HBV DNA levels in inactive carriers and patients with chronic HBV (CHB) infection and (2) define cut-off value between inactive carriers and HBeAg (precore antigen of HBV) negative CHB patients in Indian population.

Methods: One hundred and forty samples encompassing 42 inactive HBsAg carriers and 98 CHB patients (53 HBeAg-positive and 45 HBeAg-negative) were analysed.

Development of a competitor DNA template of the 38 kDa gene for molecular quantification of M. tuberculosis.

The molecular quantification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) from clinical samples can improve the management of TB. Competitive polymerase chain reaction (C-PCR) is an accepted technique often used for this purpose, and IS6110 is the most popular target in such studies. As the number of these elements varies from 0 to 16 in clinical isolates, it is prone to give inconsistent results.

Association of G-308A TNF-alpha polymorphism with bronchial asthma in a North Indian population.

Bronchial asthma is an inflammatory disorder in which genetic and environmental factors play an important role. Several susceptible genes have been identified using whole genome scan and candidate gene approaches. Tumor necrosis factor alpha, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, is one such gene that figures prominently in such investigations.

Quantitative detection of serum HBV DNA levels employing a new S gene based cPCR assay.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health problem and a leading cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Worldwide, there are about 350 million carriers of this pathogen and India bears the second highest carrier pool in the world. Early diagnosis and measurement of viral load in hepatitis B patients is very helpful for the better management of this disease.

Nitric oxide activates Rap1 and Ral in a Ras-independent manner.

Rap1 and Ral, the small GTPases belonging to the Ras superfamily, have recently attracted much attention; Ral because of Ral-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factors which are regulated by direct binding to Ras and Rap1 because of its proposed role as an antagonist of Ras signaling. We have previously demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) activates Ras and proposed the structural basis of interaction between NO and Ras. In the present study we have shown that NO activates Rap1 and Ral in a time- and concentration-dependent manner.

Targeting cysteine residues of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 protease by reactive free radical species.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a naturally occurring free radical with many functions. The oxidized form of NO, the nitrosonium ion, reacts with the thiol group of cysteine residues resulting in their modification to S-nitrosothiols. The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease (HIV-PR) has two cysteine residues that are conserved amongst different viral isolates found in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Reversible S-nitrosation and inhibition of HIV-1 protease.

Nitric oxide (*NO) is a short-lived free radical with many functions including vasoregulation, synaptic plasticity, and immune modulation and has recently been associated with AIDS pathology. Various pathophysiological conditions, such as viral infection, trigger inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) to synthesize NO in the cell. NO-derived species can react with thiols of proteins and form nitrosothiol adducts.