Antiviral drug discovery with an optimized biochemical dengue protease assay: Improved predictive power for antiviral efficacy.

The viral NS2B-NS3 protease is a promising drug target to combat dengue virus (DENV) and other emerging flaviviruses. The discovery of novel DENV protease inhibitors with antiviral efficacy is hampered by the low predictive power of biochemical assays. We herein present a comparative evaluation of biochemical DENV protease assay conditions and their benchmarking against antiviral efficacy and a protease-specific reporter gene assay.

Correction: Rothen et al. Preclinical Evaluation of Novel Sterically Optimized VLP-Based Vaccines against All Four DENV Serotypes. 2024, , 874.

The authors would like to make the following corrections to this published paper [...

Preclinical Development of a Novel Zika Virus-like Particle Vaccine in Combination with Tetravalent Dengue Virus-like Particle Vaccines.

Declared as a Public Health Emergency in 2016 by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Zika virus (ZIKV) continues to cause outbreaks that are linked to increased neurological complications. Transmitted mainly by Aedes mosquitoes, the virus is spread mostly amongst several tropical regions with the potential of territorial expansion due to environmental and ecological changes. The ZIKV envelope protein's domain III, crucial for vaccine development due to its role in receptor binding and neutralizing antibody targeting, was integrated into sterically optimized AP205 VLPs to create an EDIII-based VLP vaccine.

Preclinical Evaluation of Novel Sterically Optimized VLP-Based Vaccines against All Four DENV Serotypes.

Over the past few decades, dengue fever has emerged as a significant global health threat, affecting tropical and moderate climate regions. Current vaccines have practical limitations, there is a strong need for safer, more effective options. This study introduces novel vaccine candidates covering all four dengue virus (DENV) serotypes using virus-like particles (VLPs), a proven vaccine platform.

Dataset on effect of biostimulants on growth and rooting of kiwifruit () cuttings: from morphological and gene regulation approach.

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Regional variations in antimicrobial susceptibility of community-acquired uropathogenic in India: Findings of a multicentric study highlighting the importance of local antibiograms.

Objectives: Evidence-based prescribing is essential to optimize patient outcomes in cystitis. This requires knowledge of local antibiotic resistance rates. Diagnostic and Antimicrobial Stewardship (DASH) to Protect Antibiotics (https://dashuti.

Evaluation of millets for physio-chemical and root morphological traits suitable for resilient farming and nutritional security in Eastern Himalayas.

Introduction: Millets are nutritionally superior and climate-resilient short-duration crops and hold a prominent place in cropping sequences around the world. They have immense potential to grow in a marginal environment due to diverse adaptive mechanisms.

Methods: An experiment was conducted in an organic production system in the North Eastern Himalayan foothills of India for 3 consecutive years by evaluating high-yielding varieties (HYVs) of different millets, viz.

Improvement of rooting and growth in kiwifruit () cuttings with organic biostimulants.

Seaweed extracts have shown profoundly positive effects on crop growth, quality and reproduction in diverse agricultural and horticultural crops. Seaweed extracts can be used to promote the rooting and growth of cuttings in perennial fruit species like kiwifruit (). In this study, the cuttings were treated with 1, 5, 10 and 50% solutions of G Sap (), K Sap (), AN (), EM (), HA (Humic acid) and control (water) for 6 h as base dipping.

A Perspective on Current Flavivirus Vaccine Development: A Brief Review.

The flavivirus genus contains several clinically important pathogens that account for tremendous global suffering. Primarily transmitted by mosquitos or ticks, these viruses can cause severe and potentially fatal diseases ranging from hemorrhagic fevers to encephalitis. The extensive global burden is predominantly caused by six flaviviruses: dengue, Zika, West Nile, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and tick-borne encephalitis.

In silico and in vitro evaluation of silibinin: a promising anti-Chikungunya agent.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection and subsequent high patient morbidity is a global threat. The present study aimed to identify the potent antiviral agent against Chikungunya virus, with minimum in vitro cytotoxicity. CHIKV nsP4 3D structure was determined using the I-TASSER server followed by its refinement and pocket determination.

The ankyrin repeat gene family in Capsicum spp: Genome-wide survey, characterization and gene expression profile.

The ankyrin (ANK) repeat protein family is largely distributed across plants and has been found to participate in multiple processes such as plant growth and development, hormone response, response to biotic and abiotic stresses. It is considered as one of the major markers of capsaicin content in pepper fruits. In this study, we performed a genome-wide identification and expression analysis of genes encoding ANK proteins in three Capsicum species: Capsicum baccatum, Capsicum annuum and Capsicum chinense.

Transcriptome changes in reciprocal grafts involving watermelon and bottle gourd reveal molecular mechanisms involved in increase of the fruit size, rind toughness and soluble solids.

Transcriptome landscape reveals the molecular mechanisms involved in the improvement of fruit traits by the grafting of watermelon and bottle gourd. Grafting has been used as a sustainable alternative for watermelon breeding to control soil-borne pathogens and to increase tolerance to various abiotic stresses. However, some reports have shown that grafting can negatively affect the quality of fruits.

Biology, Predatory Potential, Life Table, and Field Evaluation of Propylea dissecta (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Against Lipaphis erysimi (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on Broccoli.

Propylea dissecta (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is one of the most promising ladybird beetle against many sucking pests. Predation rates, developmental biology, life table, and field assessment of this ladybird were examined against mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), on broccoli.

Evaluation of various culture techniques for identification of hookworm species from stool samples of children.

Background & Objectives: Different coproculture techniques have been developed for culturing the hookworm (HW) larvae for morphological identification in the resource-limited settings. The objective of this study was to compare the performances of Harada-Mori culture (HMC), agar plate culture (APC) and modified APC (MAPC) of HW positive stool specimens for identification of HW species in East Sikkim.

Methods: This prospective study was done in East Sikkim from May 2015 to May 2016.

Genome-wide identification and gene expression pattern of ABC transporter gene family in Capsicum spp.

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter genes act as transporters for different molecules across biological membranes and are involved in a diverse range of biological processes. In this study, we performed a genome-wide identification and expression analysis of genes encoding ABC transporter proteins in three Capsicum species, i.e.

Chikungunya virus: genomic microevolution in Eastern India and its in-silico epitope prediction.

This is the first study reporting whole genome sequences of two CHIKV strains (KJ679577 and KJ679578) isolated from Eastern Indian patients sera during 2010-2011 outbreak, both of which were of ECSA genotype, but from different subgroups: Indian Ocean outbreak and ECSA subtypes. Furthermore, viral sequences were analyzed using different in-silico approaches to identify potential genetic variations that might have functional implications on various aspects of virus replication, viral protein functionality, immunogenicity and transmission. Epitope prediction analysis revealed 70.

Association of toll-like receptor polymorphisms with susceptibility to chikungunya virus infection.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection leads to activation of innate immune response by triggering Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways resulting in elevated cytokines and type-I interferon levels. Genetic variations of these genes may influence human CHIKV-susceptibility and disease progression. Present study aimed to identify role of TLR polymorphisms in CHIKV-susceptibility and their association with cytokines and clinical symptoms.

Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay for rapid diagnosis of chilli veinal mottle virus.

Chilli veinal mottle virus (ChiVMV) causes significant economic loss to chilli cultivation in northeastern India, as well as in eastern Asia. In this study, we have developed a single-tube one-step reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay for rapid, sensitive and specific diagnosis of ChiVMV. Amplification could be visualized after adding SYBR Green I (1000×) dye within 60 min under isothermal conditions at 63 °C, with a set of four primers designed based on the large nuclear inclusion protein (NIb) domain of ChiVMV (isolate KC-ML1).

Differential clinical symptoms among acute phase Indian patients revealed significant association with dengue viral load and serum IFN-gamma level.

Background: During last three decades, dengue (DF), an arthropod-borne viral disease is increasingly prevalent worldwide including India, resulting in serious public health problems.

Objective: This study was carried out during 2012-2013 to evaluate the association of WHO-classified dengue disease symptoms with viral load (VL) and serum IFN-gamma levels in dengue patients from India.

Study Design: Blood samples were collected from dengue symptomatic febrile patients (n=127).

Identification and characterization of a distinct banana bunchy top virus isolate of Pacific-Indian Oceans group from North-East India.

Banana bunch top virus (BBTV) is considered to be a serious threat to banana production. A new isolate of the virus (BBTV-Umiam) was identified and characterized from local banana mats growing in mid-hills of Meghalaya in North-East India. The complete nucleotide sequence analysis revealed the presence of six full-length ssDNA components (DNA R, DNA U3, DNA S, DNA M, DNA C and DNA N) sharing major common region (CR-M) and a stem-loop common region (CR-SL).

Correlates of Low Birth Weight: A Hospital-Based Study From Gangtok, India.

Background. Low birth weight is the single most important factor that determines the chances of child survival. A recent annual estimation indicated that nearly 8 million infants are born with low birth weight in India.

High Prevalence and Significant Association of ESBL and QNR Genes in Pathogenic Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates of Patients from Kolkata, India.

Pathogenic Klebsiella pneumoniae, resistant to beta-lactam and quinolone drugs, is widely recognized as important bacteria causing array of diseases. The resistance property is obtained by acquisition of plasmid encoded blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX-M, QNRA, QNRB and QNRS genes. The aim of this study was to document the prevalence and association of these resistant genes in K.

Acute stress-related psychological impact in children following devastating natural disaster, the Sikkim earthquake (2011), India.

Background: Psychological stress following natural disaster is common. Despite several earthquakes in India, data on evaluation of acute stress among the child victims in the early postdisaster period is scarce. Immediately following a devastating earthquake (6.

Copy number variation of Chikungunya ECSA virus with disease symptoms among Indian patients.

After a gap of three decades, from 2005 onwards, a series of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) outbreaks occurred worldwide. This study was performed to detect CHIKV infection, its genotype among symptomatic Eastern Indian patients and to analyze any association between the presence of CHIKV genome in patient body with appearance of disease symptoms (n = 199). Plasma-extracted viral RNA was reverse transcribed to cDNA and PCR-amplified followed by agarose gel electrophoresis.