Safe Subunit Green Vaccines Confer Robust Immunity and Protection against Mucosal Brucella Infection in Mice.

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that causes significant negative impacts on the animal industry and affects over half a million people worldwide every year. The limited safety and efficacy of current animal brucellosis vaccines, combined with the lack of a licensed human brucellosis vaccine, have led researchers to search for new vaccine strategies to combat the disease. To this end, the present research aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a green vaccine candidate that combines S19 smooth lipopolysaccharide (sLPS) with Quillaja saponin (QS) or QS-Xyloglucan mix (QS-X) against mucosal brucellosis in BALB/C mice.

Xyloglucan based mucosal nanovaccine for immunological protection against brucellosis developed by supercritical fluid technology.

Vaccines delivered via the mucosal route have logistic benefits over parenteral or intramuscular vaccines as they offer patient compliance. This study presents the first intranasal, controlled release, subunit nanovaccine comprising mucoadhesive tamarind seed polymer (xyloglucan) based nanoparticles produced using an efficient, environmentally compatible, and industrially scalable technique: rapid expansion of supercritical solution. The nanovaccine formulation aimed against brucellosis comprised xyloglucan nanoparticles loaded separately with antigenic acellular lipopolysaccharides from (S19) and the immunoadjuvant quillaja saponin.

In silico modeling of functionalized poly(methylvinyl ether/maleic acid) for controlled drug release in the ocular milieu.

Controlling structurally defined properties of drug-bound macromolecules such as surface adhesion and interaction with endogenous proteins in the surrounding environment using prior data from computer-assisted simulation can be of great use in designing controlled release macromolecular therapeutic systems. In this paper, we describe experimental correlation of real-time properties of a polymer with pendant drug molecules, with predicted values obtained from studying in silico molecular interactions of this polymer with ocular surface proteins (mucin) for formulating an ophthalmic in situ gel. Mucoretention of the drug (norfloxacin) within the eye sac is closely associated with binding interactions occurring on the ocular surface, and covalent association of the drug with the mucoadhesive polymer, poly(methylvinyl ether/maleic acid), can largely reduce dosing frequency eliciting prolonged antibacterial action much required in treating conjunctival infections.

Network topology of LMWG cross-linked xyloglucan hydrogels for embedding hydrophobic nanodroplets: mechanistic insight and molecular dynamics.

Indigenous polymers have functional implications in biomedicine due to the presence of an inherent favorable structural architecture that supports hydrogel formation. In this study, we present the molecular level characterization of xyloglucan hydrogels using experimental and molecular simulation methods. We studied supramolecular self-assembly of tamarind seed-derived xyloglucan induced by low molecular weight gelators to form dense networks and rationalized its capabilities as a multifunctional and multiresponsive matrix for holding hydrophobic nanometric oleic acid globules intact for extended periods, preventing coalescence triggered instability using computational methods and imaging.

Multidimensional Ophthalmic Nanosystems for Molecular Detection and Therapy of Eye Disorders.

Symptomatic distresses associated with common ophthalmic infections and their persistence, have remained a tribulation with repeated occurrences. Although being a directly accessible organ, traditional therapeutic strategies exhibiting seemingly fruitful outcome in treatment and prognosis of eye disorders call for improvement in disease intervention. This is due to frequent challenges presented by the ophthalmic environment.

Pulmonary multifunctional nano-oncological modules for lung cancer treatment and prevention.

Mortality associated with lung cancer and its metastasis has outnumbered those related to other forms of cancer. Despite being a directly accessible organ, conventional oncological strategies exhibiting prolific outcome in treatment and prevention of lung cancer is far from reality. This is attributed to numerous challenges posed by lung environment.

Development of immunochromatographic strip test using fluorescent, micellar silica nanosensors for rapid detection of B. abortus antibodies in milk samples.

Presence of bacteria such as Brucella spp. in dairy products is an immense risk to public health. Point of care immunoassays are rapid in that they can quickly screen various samples in a relatively short amount of time, are sensitive, specific and offer a great advantage in accurate and fast diagnosis of infectious diseases.

Design, synthesis and antimycobacterial evaluation of novel 3-substituted-N-aryl-6,7-dimethoxy-3a,4-dihydro-3H-indeno[1,2-c]pyrazole-2-carboxamide analogues.

In the present investigation, a series of 3-substituted-N-aryl-6,7-dimethoxy-3a,4-dihydro-3H-indeno[1,2-c]pyrazole-2-carboxamide analogues were synthesized and were evaluated for antitubercular activity by two fold serial dilution technique. All the newly synthesized compounds showed moderate to high inhibitory activities against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)Rv and INH resistant M. tuberculosis.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 6, 7-dimethoxy-3-(4-pyridyl)-2,3,3a,4-tetrahydroindeno[1,2-c]pyrazol-2-yl-4-substituted phenylmethanone/ethanone derivatives.

A series of 6,7-dimethoxy-3-(4-pyridyl)-2,3,3a,4-tetrahydroindeno[1,2-c]pyrazol-2-yl-4-substituted phenylmethanone/ethanone derivatives were synthesized and in vitro activity against mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and INHR-MTB were carried out. Among the synthesized compounds, compound (4h) 6,7-dimethoxy-3-(4-pyridyl)-2,3,3a,4-tetrahydroindeno[1,2-c]pyrazol-2-yl-4-pyridyl methanone was found to be the most active agent against MTB and INHR-MTB with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.22 μM.

Leaf concentrate as an alternative to iron and folic acid supplements for anaemic adolescent girls: a randomised controlled trial in India.

Objective: Despite public health campaigns based on Fe and folic acid supplements, Fe-deficiency anaemia remains highly prevalent among women in India. We investigated leaf concentrate as an alternative to Fe and folic acid supplements for treating anaemia in adolescent girls.

Design: Randomised controlled two-arm trial over 3 months: one group received daily Fe and folic acid (IFA; 60 mg Fe, 500 microg folic acid); the other daily leaf concentrate (LC; 5 mg Fe, 13 microg folic acid).