Adverse Drug Reactions to Anti-TB Drugs: Pharmacogenomics Perspective for Identification of Host Genetic Markers.

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are associated with clinical morbidity and, in severe cases, even mortality. Globally billions of dollars are spent on managing these ADRs for common and uncommon diseases. The developing world suffers from a high burden of tuberculosis, which requires 6-8 months of multi-drug treatment.

Genome-wide gene expression analysis for target genes to differentiate patients with intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn's disease and discriminative value of FOXP3 mRNA expression.

Background And Aims: Crohn's disease (CD) and intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) are both chronic granulomatous conditions with similar phenotypic presentations. Hence, there is need for a biomarker to differentiate between both these two diseases. This study aimed at genome-wide gene expression analysis of colonic biopsies from confirmed cases of ITB and CD in comparison with controls.

GSIT: An integrated web-tool for identification of genomic signatures in highly similar DNA sequences.

Unlabelled: Accurate identification and characterization of infectious agent and its subtype is essential for efficient treatment of infectious diseases on a target population of patients. Comparative biology of microbial populations in vitro and in vivo can identify signatures that may be used to develop and improve diagnostic procedures. Here we report Genomic Signature Identification Tool (GSIT) a web based tool for identification and validation of genomic signatures in a group of similar DNA sequences of microorganisms.

Mutation profiling of the hepatitis B virus strains circulating in North Indian population.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the genomic mutations in the circulating Hepatitis B virus strains causing infection in the Indian population. Further, we wanted to analyze the biological significance of these mutations in HBV mediated disease.

Methods: 222 HBsAg positive patients were enrolled in the study.

Genomic analysis of local isolate of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis.

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) causes Johne's disease (JD or paratuberculosis) in animals and has also been implicated in Crohn's disease of humans. It has been shown that MAP is endemic in animal population of India. Understanding of heterogeneity among MAP strains is important both for diagnosis and design control measures.

Non-chemical method of DNA recovery and characterization of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis using IS 900 PCR.

In the present study, two methods of DNA isolation-routine, traditional and standard DNA isolation protocol for Mycobacteria (Method 1) and a new non-chemicals and non-enzymes (physical) method (Method 2) of DNA recovery have been compared and evaluated in IS900 PCR for the specific detection of pathogen. Using the new Method 2, DNA has been recovered from few (1 - 3 colonies), extremely minute and stunted colonies. DNA, thus, isolated from these colonies (colonies PCR) and cultured for the first time from the cases of Crohn's disease in human beings, dairy cattle, raw milk and pasteurized commercial milk samples has been characterized in the present study.

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis diagnosis and geno-typing: genomic insights.

Effective control of paratuberculosis and investigations of potential link to Crohn's disease have been hampered by the lack of effective assays for easy and accurate diagnosis of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map). Map is extremely fastidious and depends on iron chelator (Mycobactin). Map strains from humans and sheep are very difficult to isolate and may require years to emerge.

Genetic characterization of VP3 gene of group A rotaviruses.

We sequenced VP3 gene of four rotavirus strains and examined the diversity of VP3 and its other genetic characteristics in a total of 22 Group A rotaviruses. The 22 rotavirus strains were derived from six different host species (human, avian, bovine, equine, simian and porcine). Comparison of the partial VP3 peptide sequences (aa 141-294) showed identities ranging from 49 to 99% among different species.

Quantitative evaluation of rotaviral antigenemia in children with acute rotaviral diarrhea.

Background: Rotaviral antigen and RNA have recently been identified in the serum of patients with rotaviral gastroenteritis, but the roles they play in disease remains undetermined.

Methods: Rotaviral antigen and RNA were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay and by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction in stool and serum specimens from children with rotaviral diarrhea (n=102), children with nonrotaviral diarrhea (n=40), and nondiarrheal control children (n=30).

Results: Rotaviral antigenemia was detected in 64%, 3%, and 0% of the children with rotaviral diarrhea, the children with nonrotaviral diarrhea, and the nondiarrheal control children, respectively.

Incidence of severe rotavirus diarrhea in New Delhi, India, and G and P types of the infecting rotavirus strains.

A total of 62,475 children <5 years old from a defined population of approximately 500,000 children and adults from slums in New Delhi, India, were assessed for 1 year by means of passive surveillance, to identify children who were hospitalized for diarrhea. The incidence of severe rotavirus diarrhea was estimated, and the G and P types of the infecting rotavirus strains were determined and were correlated with the clinical severity of diarrhea. Of 584 children who were hospitalized with diarrhea, 137 (23.