The Gut Microbial Diversity of Newly Diagnosed Diabetics but Not of Prediabetics Is Significantly Different from That of Healthy Nondiabetics.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex metabolic syndrome characterized by insulin dysfunction and abnormalities in glucose and lipid metabolism. The gut microbiome has been recently identified as an important factor for development of T2D. In this study, a total of 102 subjects were recruited, and we have looked at the gut microbiota of prediabetics (PreDMs) ( = 17), newly diagnosed diabetics (NewDMs) ( = 11), and diabetics on antidiabetic treatment (KnownDMs) ( = 39) and compared them with healthy nondiabetics (ND) ( = 35).

Gut, oral and skin microbiome of Indian patrilineal families reveal perceptible association with age.

The human microbiome plays a key role in maintaining host homeostasis and is influenced by age, geography, diet, and other factors. Traditionally, India has an established convention of extended family arrangements wherein three or more generations, bound by genetic relatedness, stay in the same household. In the present study, we have utilized this unique family arrangement to understand the association of age with the microbiome.

L-theanine promotes nitric oxide production in endothelial cells through eNOS phosphorylation.

Consumption of tea (Camellia sinensis) improves vascular function and is linked to lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease. Endothelial nitric oxide is the key regulator of vascular functions in endothelium. In this study, we establish that l-theanine, a non-protein amino-acid found in tea, promotes nitric oxide (NO) production in endothelial cells.

Melanocyte-keratinocyte interaction induces calcium signalling and melanin transfer to keratinocytes.

Physical contact between melanocytes and keratinocytes is a prerequisite for melanosome transfer to occur, but cellular signals induced during or after contact are not fully understood. Herein, it is shown that interactions between melanocyte and keratinocyte plasma membranes induced a transient intracellular calcium signal in keratinocytes that was required for pigment transfer. This intracellular calcium signal occurred due to release of calcium from intracellular stores.

Glucoamylase Production by a Newly Isolated Strain of Aspergillus niger.

A newly isolated indigenous fungus, Aspergillus niger #57 was found to be a prolific producer of glucoamylase. Stationary cultivation led to significantly higher yields than those obtained using submerged culture. The crude enzyme exhibited temperature and pH optima of 60°C and 4.