conidial metalloprotease Mep1p cleaves host complement proteins.

Innate immunity in animals including humans encompasses the complement system, which is considered an important host defense mechanism against , one of the most ubiquitous opportunistic human fungal pathogens. Previously, it has been shown that the alkaline protease Alp1p secreted from mycelia degrades the complement components C3, C4, and C5. However, it remains unclear how the fungal spores ( conidia) defend themselves against the activities of the complement system immediately after inhalation into the lung.

Cloning and characterization of trehalase: a conserved glycosidase from oriental midge, .

Insect trehalase is a multiferous enzyme, crucial for normal physiological functions as well as under stress conditions. In this report, we present a fundamental study of the trehalase gene segment (1587 bp) from (CrTre) encoding for 529 amino acids, using appropriate bioinformatics tools. , a tropical midge is an emerging animal model to investigate the consequences of environmental stresses.

The Leishmania donovani IMPACT-like protein possesses non-specific nuclease activity.

IMPACT (Imprinted and Ancient)-like proteins are known to be regulators of GCN2 (General control non-derepressible 2) kinases involved in translation regulation. Here, we report on cloning and characterization of an IMPACT-like protein, LdIMPACT from Leishmania donovani which harbours two domains. 'RWD domain' at the N-terminal end that mediates GCN2 regulation, while a conserved 'ancient domain' lies at the C-terminal end whose function remains elusive.

Ultraviolet-C irradiation for inactivation of viruses in foetal bovine serum.

Foetal Bovine Serum (FBS) and porcine trypsin are one of the essential raw materials used in the manufacturing of cell culture based viral vaccines. Being from animal origin, these raw materials can potentially contaminate the final product by known or unknown adventitious agents. The issue is more serious in case of live attenuated viral vaccines, where there is no inactivation step which can take care of such adventitious agents.

Molecular Modeling, Docking, Dynamics and Simulation of Gefitinib and its Derivatives with EGFR in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: Gefitinib (lressa) is the most prescribed drug, highly effective to treat nonsmall cell lung cancer; primarily it was considered that targeted therapy is a kinase inhibitor. The nonsmall cell lung cancer is caused by mutation in the Epithelial Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) gene. Iressa works by blocking the EGFR protein that helps the cancer cell growth.

Epigenomic Hard Drive Imprinting: A Hidden Code Beyond the Biological Death of Cancer Patients.

Several genetic and epigenetic theories have been suggested to explain the intricacies of life and death. However, several questions remain unsettled regarding cellular death events, particularly of living tissue in the case of cancer patients, such as the fate and adaptation of cancer cells after biological death. It is possible that cancer cells can display the intent to communicate with the external environment after biological death by means of molecular, genetic, and epigenetic pathways.

Hepatitis B virus DNA polymerase gene polymorphism based prediction of genotypes in chronic HBV patients from Western India.

Background: Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection is one of the major causes of liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and deaths due to the acute or chronic consequences worldwide. HBV is distributed into various genotypes based on nucleic acid sequence variation.

Objectives: To develop a method of HBV genotyping and drug resistance interpretation using partial sequencing of polymerase gene.

Phytoremediation of arsenic from the contaminated soil using transgenic tobacco plants expressing ACR2 gene of Arabidopsis thaliana.

We have cloned, characterized and transformed the AtACR2 gene (arsenic reductase 2) of Arabidopsis thaliana into the genome of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum, var Sumsun). Our results revealed that the transgenic tobacco plants are more tolerant to arsenic than the wild type ones. These plants can grow on culture medium containing 200μM arsenate, whereas the wild type can barely survive under this condition.

Biogenic fabrication of CuNPs, Cu bioconjugates and assessment of antimicrobial and antioxidant activity.

In the present study, the authors synthesised copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) by using extract of (ginger) and later the NPs were bioconjugated with nisin, which shows antimicrobial activity against food spoilage microorganisms. CuNPs and its bioconjugate were characterised by ultraviolet-vis spectroscopy, NP tracking analysis, Zetasizer, transmission electron microscopy analysis, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy. Zeta potential of CuNPs and its bioconjugate were found to be very stable.

In vivo and molecular docking studies using whole extract and phytocompounds of Aegle marmelos fruit protective effects against Isoproterenol-induced Myocardial infarction in rats.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading major health problem with increased morbidity and mortality worldwide. The present study investigates isoproterenol (ISO) induced MI and the beneficial role of Aegle marmelos fruit extract (AMFE) in rats. Our results indicated the significant augmentation of plasma nitric oxide (NOx) levels, C-reactive protein (CRP), homocysteine, apolipoprotein B (apo-B), cardiac tissue lipid peroxidation and liver 3-hydroxy-3 methyl glutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase activity in ISO treated rats (85mg/kg b.

Bioinformatic Approaches Including Predictive Metagenomic Profiling Reveal Characteristics of Bacterial Response to Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contamination in Diverse Environments.

Microbial remediation of oil polluted habitats remains one of the foremost methods for restoration of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated environments. The development of effective bioremediation strategies however, require an extensive understanding of the resident microbiome of these habitats. Recent developments such as high-throughput sequencing has greatly facilitated the advancement of microbial ecological studies in oil polluted habitats.

Incidence of Keratinophilic Fungi from the Selected Soils of Kaziranga National Park, Assam (India).

Seventy-eight soil samples were collected from the various locations in the vicinity of Kaziranga National Park (Assam), India, during April to October 2009 and screened for the presence of keratinophilic fungi using the hair baiting techniques for isolation. Thirty-nine isolates were recovered and identified by recognition of their macro- and micromorphological features. Their identification was also confirmed by the BLAST search of sequences of the ITS1-5.

Peptide Based Viral Detection Systems for Effective Diagnosis of Common Viral Infections in India.

Background: Accurate and swift detection of viruses causing diseases in humans represent continuous challenges to diagnostic and epidemiological research. Efficient and rapid diagnosis is crucial for effective implication of disease management strategies. Multitude approaches attempted to identify individual viruses, includes serological assays and molecular methods.

Data in support of the comparative genome analysis of Lysinibacillus B1-CDA, a bacterium that accumulates arsenics.

This study is a part of our long term project on bioremediation of toxic metals and other pollutants for protection of human health and the environment from severe contamination. The information and results presented in this data article are based on both in vitro and in silico experiments. in vitro experiments were used to investigate the presence of arsenic responsive genes in a bacterial strain B1-CDA that is highly resistant to arsenics.

Comparative genome analysis of Lysinibacillus B1-CDA, a bacterium that accumulates arsenics.

Previously, we reported an arsenic resistant bacterium Lysinibacillus sphaericus B1-CDA, isolated from an arsenic contaminated lands. Here, we have investigated its genetic composition and evolutionary history by using massively parallel sequencing and comparative analysis with other known Lysinibacillus genomes. Assembly of the sequencing reads revealed a genome of ~4.

Synthesis, characterization, molecular docking and anti-tubercular activity of Plumbagin-Isoniazid Analog and its β-cyclodextrin conjugate.

A novel Plumbagin-Isoniazid Analog (PLIHZ) and its β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex (PLIHZCD) is prepared, characterized and evaluated for antitubercular activity under low and high iron conditions. PLIHZCD inclusion complex was characterized by Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Powder X-ray Diffraction Studies (PXRD), (1)H NMR Studies and Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) analysis. The orientation and interaction of PLIHZ and CD was studied by molecular docking.

Isothiocyanate analogs targeting CD44 receptor as an effective strategy against colon cancer.

Inflammatory pathway plays an important role in tumor cell progression of colorectal cancers. Although colon cancer is considered as one of the leading causes of death worldwide, very few drugs are available for its effective treatment. Many studies have examined the effects of specific COX-2 and 5-LOX inhibitors on human colorectal cancer, but the role of isothiocyanates (ITSCs) as COX-LOX dual inhibitors engaged in hyaluronan-CD44 interaction has not been studied.

Biosorption of nickel by Lysinibacillus sp. BA2 native to bauxite mine.

The current scenario of environmental pollution urges the need for an effective solution for toxic heavy metal removal from industrial wastewater. Bioremediation is the most cost effective process employed by the use of microbes especially bacteria resistant to toxic metals. In this study, Lysinibacillus sp.

Anticancer phytochemical analogs 37: synthesis, characterization, molecular docking and cytotoxicity of novel plumbagin hydrazones against breast cancer cells.

We have synthesized, structurally characterized and examined cytotoxicity of novel plumbagin hydrazones against estrogen and progesterone receptor positive (ER+/PR+) MCF-7 and triple negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines in order to evaluate the potential of these novel phytochemical analogs. Compounds were docked into the protein cavity of p50-subunit of NF-κB protein revealing better fit and better binding energies than the parent plumbagin compound. This was also reflected in their superior cytotoxicities which were found to be mediated by inhibition of NF-κB expression.

Cationic Bioactive Peptide from the Seeds of Benincasa hispida.

A designated bioactive peptide "Hispidalin" purified from the seeds of Benincasa hispida, which is a medicinal plant, belongs to Cucurbitaceae family. Purification was achieved by using a procedure consisting of extraction from potassium phosphate buffer followed by FPLC and HPLC steps. Based on amino acid residue, this peptide is amphipathic and basic with one net positive charge having isoelectric pH 8.

A rapid and improved technique for scanning electron microscopy of actinomycetes.

A simple and rapid method for the preparation of actinomycete cultures before scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is reported. Streptomyces strains were grown in starch casein broth with sterile glass wool as support. The cultures were dehydrated by lyophilization eliminating the use of chemical fixatives and dehydrating agents.

Biosynthesis of colloidal gold nanoparticles by Streptomyces sp. NK52 and its anti-lipid peroxidation activity.

Gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) were synthesized from chloroauric acid using cell free supernatant of Streptomyces sp. NK52 grown in nutrient broth. These nanoparticles were synthesized by varying pH and temperature of the reaction mixture and chloroauric acid concentration.

Plant growth promoting properties of Halobacillus sp. and Halomonas sp. in presence of salinity and heavy metals.

Salinity and heavy metal stress are challenging problems in agriculture. Here we report the plant growth promoting ability of three moderate halophiles, Halobacillus sp. ADN1, Halomonas sp.

Comparison of feature selection and classification combinations for cancer classification using microarray data.

High throughput gene expression data can be used to identify biomarker profiles for classification. The accuracy of microarray based sample classification depends on the algorithm employed for selecting the features (genes) used for classification, and the classification algorithm. We have evaluated the performance of over 2000 combinations of feature selection and classification algorithms in classifying cancer datasets.