Analysis of the unexplored features of rrs (16S rDNA) of the Genus Clostridium.

Background: Bacterial taxonomy and phylogeny based on rrs (16S rDNA) sequencing is being vigorously pursued. In fact, it has been stated that novel biological findings are driven by comparison and integration of massive data sets. In spite of a large reservoir of rrs sequencing data of 1,237,963 entries, this analysis invariably needs supplementation with other genes.

A Mesorhizobium lipopolysaccharide (LPS) specific lectin (CRL) from the roots of nodulating host plant, Cicer arietinum.

A 30 kDa rabbit erythrocyte agglutinating glycoprotein isolated and characterized from the roots of Cicer arietinum and designated as cicer root lectin (CRL). Hemagglutination activity of CRL is strongly inhibited by cell surface LPS of nodulating cicer specific Rhizobium. CRL agglutinates mesorhizobial cells and not Escherichia coli or yeast cells.

Transcriptome bioinformatic analysis identifies potential therapeutic mechanism of pentylenetetrazole in down syndrome.

Background: Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) has recently been found to ameliorate cognitive impairment in rodent models of Down syndrome (DS). The mechanism underlying PTZ's therapeutic effect in DS is however not clear. Microarray profiling has previously reported differential expression, both up- and down-regulation, of genes in DS.

Medicinal plants useful for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): current status and future perspectives.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global health problem. The current therapies are inadequate and have numerous adverse effects. There is an acute need of potential alternative therapies.

Susceptibility of mice genetically deficient in SP-A or SP-D gene to invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.

Pulmonary surfactant proteins, SP-A and SP-D, are carbohydrate pattern recognition molecules of innate immunity, which significantly enhance phagocytosis and killing of Aspergillus fumigatus, a pathogenic fungus, by neutrophils and macrophages. The present study examined the susceptibility of immunosuppressed SP-A gene deficient (SP-A(-/-)) or SP-D gene deficient (SP-D(-/-)) mice to A. fumigatus conidia challenge compared to wild-type (WT) mice.

Efficient tumor targeting by polysaccharide decked polyethylenimine based nanocomposites.

Hyaluronic acid (HA)-polyethylenimine (PEI, 25 kDa) (HP) nanocomposites were fabricated for efficient targeting to solid tumors. Branched PEI was ionically blended with a natural mucopolysaccharide, HA, to partially block the positive charge and to impart site specificity to HP nanocomposites. A series of nanocomposites were prepared by varying the content of HA.

Gender differences in a Drosophila transcriptomic model of chronic pentylenetetrazole induced behavioral deficit.

A male Drosophila model of locomotor deficit induced by chronic pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), a proconvulsant used to model epileptogenesis in rodents, has recently been described. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) ameliorate development of this behavioral abnormality. Time-series of microarray profiling of heads of male flies treated with PTZ has shown epileptogenesis-like transcriptomic perturbation in the fly model.

PEI-alginate nanocomposites: efficient non-viral vectors for nucleic acids.

Branched polyethylenimine (PEI, 25 kDa) was ionically interacted with varying amount of alginic acid to block different proportion (2.6-5.7%) of amines in PEI to form a series of nanocomposites, PEI-Al.

Purification and mass spectrometric characterization of Sesbania aculeata (Dhaincha) stem lectin.

A glucose specific lectin (STA) was isolated from Sesbania aculeata stem by using Sephadex G-50 affinity column chromatography. The lectin is a glycoprotein having 29 kDa subunit molecular weight. Two dimensional gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that the lectin existed in two isomeric forms with varied carbohydrate content as analyzed by high performance anion exchange chromatography-pulsed amperometric detector (HPAEC-PAD).

Chemical strategies for immobilization of oligonucleotides.

The development of oligonucleotide-based microarrays (biochips) is a major thrust area in the rapidly growing biotechnology industry, which encompasses a diverse range of research areas including genomics, proteomics, computational biology, and pharmaceuticals, among other activities. Microarray experiments have proved to be unique in offering cost-effective and efficient analysis at the genomic level. In the last few years, biochips have gained increasing acceptance in the study of genetic and cellular processes.

Recent trends in non-viral vector-mediated gene delivery.

Nucleic acids-based next generation biopharmaceuticals (i.e., pDNA, oligonucleotides, short interfering RNA) are potential pioneering materials to cope with various incurable diseases.

iNOS-targeted 10-23 DNAzyme reduces LPS-induced systemic inflammation and mortality in mice.

Sepsis and/or systemic inflammatory response syndrome are leading causes of death in intensive care unit patients. NO is a critical player in the pathogenesis of bacterial sepsis. Several studies demonstrate elevation of iNOS in LPS-induced acute inflammatory responses and mortality; however, the effectiveness of its therapeutic suppression in systemic inflammation is largely controversial.

Evaluation of inhibitory activities of plant extracts on production of LPS-stimulated pro-inflammatory mediators in J774 murine macrophages.

Whole plant methanolic extracts of 14 traditionally used medicinal herbs were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity. Extracts of Grindelia robusta, Salix nigra, Arnica montana, and Quassia amara showed up to 4.5-fold inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production in the J774 murine macrophage cells challenged with LPS without cytotoxicity.

Strategies for preparation of oligonucleotide biochips and their applications.

In the last few years, DNA-microarray technology has emerged as a powerful tool for gene discovery, detection of mutations, and mapping. Here, we have developed a simple and efficient single-step method for immobilization of phosphoryl-, mercaptoalkyl-, thiophosphoryl- and aminooxyalkylated oligonucleotides onto an epoxylated glass surface. It resulted in higher immobilization and hybridization efficiency in comparison to those obtained with the standard method.

Polyethylenimine derived nanoparticles for efficient gene delivery.

Introduction of therapeutic genes into the cells of an organism in a safe and efficient way has become a challenging task in non-viral mediated gene therapy. Here, branched polyethylenimine (bPEI, 25 kDa) was converted into nanoparticles through electrostatic interactions with anionic polysaccharides (e.g.

Cross-linked polyethylenimine-hexametaphosphate nanoparticles to deliver nucleic acids therapeutics.

Unlabelled: Branched polyethylenimine (PEI; 25 kDa) as a nonviral vector exhibits high transfection efficiency and is a potential candidate for efficient gene delivery. However, the cytotoxicity of PEI limits its application in vivo. PEI was ionically interacted with hexametaphosphate, a compact molecule with high anionic charge density, to obtain nanoparticles (PEI-HMP).

Construction of oligonucleotide microarrays (biochips) via thioether linkage for the detection of bacterial meningitis.

Oligonucleotide-based arrays are increasingly becoming useful tools for the analysis of gene expression and single-nucleotide polymorphism. Here, we report a method that allows the direct immobilization of thiolated oligonucleotides onto an epoxy-activated glass surface via a stable thioether linkage under microwaves. The described chemistry efficiently immobilizes the probes via terminal thiol groups with uniform spot morphology.

Bacillus subtilis as potential producer for polyhydroxyalkanoates.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable polymers produced by microbes to overcome environmental stress. Commercial production of PHAs is limited by the high cost of production compared to conventional plastics. Another hindrance is the brittle nature and low strength of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), the most widely studied PHA.

Polymer supported synthesis of aminooxyalkylated oligonucleotides, and some applications in the fabrication of microarrays.

A new protocol has been described for solid phase preparation of 3'- and 5'-aminooxylalkylated oligonucleotides using commercially available reagents. This involves attachment of linker 4 either with an LCAA-CPG support via succinoylation followed by synthesis (3'-aminooxyalkylated oligomers) or formation of its phosphoramidite 6 followed by coupling with desired oligomer (for generating 5'-aminooxyalkylated oligomers). Both the routes produced modified oligonucleotides in sufficiently high yields and purity (on HPLC) via conventional oligonucleotide synthesis on an automated synthesizer and deprotection step using aqueous ammonia (16 h, 60 degrees C).

Gene expression, biodistribution, and pharmacoscintigraphic evaluation of chondroitin sulfate-PEI nanoconstructs mediated tumor gene therapy.

Tumor-specific gene delivery constitutes a primary challenge in nonviral mediated gene therapy. In this investigation, branched polyethylenimine (bPEI, 25 kDa) was modified by forming nanoconstructs with a natural polysaccharide, chondroitin sulfate (CS), to impart site-specific property. A library of CS-PEI (CP) nanoconstructs was fabricated by altering the content of CS and evaluated in terms of size, surface charge, morphology, pDNA loading efficiency, pDNA release assay, pDNA protection study, cytotoxicity, and transfection efficiency.

Effect of homobifunctional crosslinkers on nucleic acids delivery ability of PEI nanoparticles.

Polyethylenimine (PEI), a widely used cationic polymeric vector with high transfection efficiency, was converted into nanoparticles by introducing ionic and covalent crosslinkers with varying proportion of 1,6-hexanebisphosphate (HP), adipic acid (AA) and 1,4-butane dialdehyde (BA) to obtain a small library of HP-PEI (HPP), AA-PEI (AAP) and BA-PEI (BAP) nanoparticles, respectively. Particles were characterized by spectroscopic technique as well as physicochemical parameters such as size, morphology, surface charge, effect of crosslinking on buffering capacity and DNA binding ability. The entire series of nanoparticles were compared for their cytoxicity and ability to deliver genes in various cell lines.

Safety assessment of leaf curl virus resistant tomato developed using viral derived sequences.

Genetic engineering of food crops has significantly influenced the agricultural productivity over the past two decades. It has proved a valuable tool, offering crops with higher yields, improved nutritional quality, resistance against pesticides, herbicides and tolerance against abiotic stresses. However, the safety assessment of genetically engineered (GE) crops is prerequisite before introduction into human food chain.

A lectin from Sesbania aculeata (Dhaincha) roots and its possible function.

A lectin was isolated from the roots of Sesbania aculeata. This is a glucose specific lectin having 39 kDa subunit molecular weight. The expression of this lectin was found to be developmentally regulated and observed to be the highest in the second week.

Association between reduced levels of total serum IgE and FcepsilonRI expression in non-releaser basophils.

Background: FcepsilonRI-mediated signal pathway in basophils and mast cells leads to release of histamine and other mediators. Interestingly, basophils from 10% to 20% of the population do not release histamine and other mediators on activation of the IgE signal transduction pathway and this has been attributed to the absence of tyrosine kinases Lyn and Syk.

Objective: To investigate the association between histamine releasibility, total serum IgE and expression of IgE receptor in releaser and non-releaser phenotypes in Indian population.