Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase (MPK) Interacts With Auxin Influx Carrier (OsAux/LAX1) Involved in Auxin Signaling in Plant.

Background: Mitogen activated protein kinases (MPKs) are serine/threonine protein kinases that contain characteristic T-x-Y motif in the activation loop region. MPKs are important signaling molecules involved in diverse signaling cascades that regulate plant growth, development and stress responses by conducting phosphorylation events in their target proteins. MPKs phosphorylate their target proteins at either S-P/T-P (Serine/Proline/Threonine) amino acid.

An Estimation of Private Household Costs to Receive Free Oral Cholera Vaccine in Odisha, India.

Background: Service provider costs for vaccine delivery have been well documented; however, vaccine recipients' costs have drawn less attention. This research explores the private household out-of-pocket and opportunity costs incurred to receive free oral cholera vaccine during a mass vaccination campaign in rural Odisha, India.

Methods: Following a government-driven oral cholera mass vaccination campaign targeting population over one year of age, a questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey was conducted to estimate private household costs among vaccine recipients.

Maternal Infection Is a Risk Factor for Early Childhood Infection in Filariasis.

Background: Global Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) launched by WHO aims to eliminate the disease by 2020. To achieve the goal annual mass drug administration (MDA) with diethylcarbamazine (DEC) plus albendazole (ABZ) has been introduced in all endemic countries. The current policy however excludes pregnant mothers and children below two years of age from MDA.

Immunogenicity of a novel enhanced consensus DNA vaccine encoding the leptospiral protein LipL45.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease caused by an infection with a spirochete belonging to the genus Leptospira. In animals, leptospirosis displays a wide range of pathologies, including fever, abortion, icterus, and uveitis. Conversely, infection in humans is associated with multi-organ injury, resulting in an increased rate of fatalities.

Effectiveness of an oral cholera vaccine campaign to prevent clinically-significant cholera in Odisha State, India.

Background: A clinical trial conducted in India suggests that the oral cholera vaccine, Shanchol, provides 65% protection over five years against clinically-significant cholera. Although the vaccine is efficacious when tested in an experimental setting, policymakers are more likely to use this vaccine after receiving evidence demonstrating protection when delivered to communities using local health department staff, cold chain equipment, and logistics.

Methods: We used a test-negative, case-control design to evaluate the effectiveness of a vaccination campaign using Shanchol and validated the results using a cohort approach that addressed disparities in healthcare seeking behavior.

Sympatric distribution of Plasmodium ovale curtisi and P. ovale wallikeri in India: implication for the diagnosis of malaria and its control.

Background: We report the first evidence of sympatric distribution of Plasmodium ovale curtisi and P. ovale wallikeri from India.

Methods: Fingerprick blood samples were collected from fever cases in district Bastar, Chhattisgarh State for malaria screening by microscopy and PCR.

Uptake during an oral cholera vaccine pilot demonstration program, Odisha, India.

Approximately 30% of reported global cholera cases occur in India. In 2011, a household survey was conducted 4 months after an oral cholera vaccine pilot demonstration project in Odisha India to assess factors associated with vaccine up-take and exposure to a communication and social mobilization campaign. Nine villages were purposefully selected based on socio-demographics and demonstration participation rates.

Hydrocele fluid: can it be used for immunodiagnosis of lymphatic filariasis?

Background & Objectives: Diagnosis of lymphatic filariasis using serum has been established but the utility of hydrocele fluid for the purpose is not exactly known. Since, hydrocele is a chronic form of the disease manifestation in a variety of situations and often poses difficulty in diagnosing its origin, we have evaluated the usefulness usage of hydrocele fluid for diagnosis of filarial origin of hydrocele in this study.

Methods: Paired samples of serum and hydrocele fluid from 51 individuals with hydrocele, living in an endemic area of Wuchereria bancrofti were assessed.

In utero sensitization modulates IgG isotype, IFN-γ and IL-10 responses of neonates in bancroftian filariasis.

In utero exposure has been considered as a risk factor for filarial infection. To evaluate the influence of maternal infection on filarial-specific IgG subclass response in neonates and their correlation with plasma levels IL-10 and interferon-γ, 145 pairs of mothers and their respective cord bloods were examined. Transplacental transfer of circulating filarial antigen (CFA) was observed in 34·8% cord bloods from CFA positive mothers.

Filarial antigens mediate apoptosis of human monocytes through Toll-like receptor 4.

Background: Apoptosis of several host cells induced by parasites/parasite products has been investigated in human filariasis to understand immune hyporesponsiveness. However, apoptosis of monocytes-one of the major antigen presenting cells in peripheral circulation, which are chronically exposed to filarial antigens in infected subjects-is yet to be understood.

Methods: Apoptosis of human monocytes with Brugia pahangi antigen (BpA) was demonstrated by scoring several apoptotic markers using flow cytometry.

Mass vaccination with a new, less expensive oral cholera vaccine using public health infrastructure in India: the Odisha model.

Introduction: The substantial morbidity and mortality associated with recent cholera outbreaks in Haiti and Zimbabwe, as well as with cholera endemicity in countries throughout Asia and Africa, make a compelling case for supplementary cholera control measures in addition to existing interventions. Clinical trials conducted in Kolkata, India, have led to World Health Organization (WHO)-prequalification of Shanchol, an oral cholera vaccine (OCV) with a demonstrated 65% efficacy at 5 years post-vaccination. However, before this vaccine is widely used in endemic areas or in areas at risk of outbreaks, as recommended by the WHO, policymakers will require empirical evidence on its implementation and delivery costs in public health programs.

Genetic similarity between Taenia solium cysticerci collected from the two distant endemic areas in North and North East India.

Taenia solium taeniasis/cysticercosis is a major public health problem in developing countries. This study reports genotypic analysis of T. solium cysticerci collected from two different endemic areas of North (Chandigarh) and North East India (Dibrugarh) by the sequencing of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene.

CXCL10 gene promoter polymorphism -1447A>G correlates with plasma CXCL10 levels and is associated with male susceptibility to cerebral malaria.

The risk factors for cerebral malaria (CM) and the wide variation in clinical manifestations of malaria are poorly understood. Recent studies indicate that interferon gamma inducible chemokine, CXCL10, is a strong predictor of both human and experimental cerebral malaria. Increased plasma and cerebrospinal fluid levels of CXCL10 were tightly associated with fatal CM in Indian and Ghanaian patients.

Chemical Composition, In Vitro Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of the Essential Oils of Ocimum Gratissimum, O. Sanctum and their Major Constituents.

The essential oils of the flowering aerial parts of two Ocimum species viz., Ocimum gratissimum and O. sanctum were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy.

First report of detection and molecular confirmation of Plasmodium ovale from severe malaria cases in central India.

Objective: We report for the first-time detection of Plasmodium ovale in central India.

Methods: From 2010, all hospitalised suspected malaria cases at the malaria clinic of the Regional Medical Research Centre for Tribals in Bastar district, central India, were screened. Plasmodium species were identified by microscopy and species-specific nested PCR of 18s rRNA.

Molecular investigations of dengue virus during outbreaks in Orissa state, Eastern India from 2010 to 2011.

Dengue is one of the most important arboviral diseases in India. Orissa state in Eastern India reported the first dengue outbreak in 2010, followed by extensive outbreaks in 2011, affecting large number of people. Detailed entomological, serological and phylogenetic investigations were performed in mosquitoes and patients serum collected from dengue virus (DENV) affected areas of Orissa.

Rapid spread of Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor variant in Odisha, Eastern India, in 2008 and 2009.

The emergence and spread of Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor variant strains causing severe diarrhea has been witnessed worldwide in recent years. In the state of Odisha, India, the spread of the V. cholerae O1 El Tor variant strains was studied during outbreaks in 2008 and 2009.

Is bleach-sedimented smear microscopy an alternative to direct microscopy under programme conditions in India?

This cross-sectional multi-centric study compared the yield of and potential benefit for detecting smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) by bleach sedimentation (2% sodium-hypochlorite) versus direct microscopy under programme conditions in India. Among 3168 PTB suspects, 684 (21.6%) were detected by bleach sedimentation vs.

Intervillous macrophage migration inhibitory factor is associated with adverse birth outcomes in a study population in Central India.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pluripotent factor produced by a variety of cells. It plays an important biological role in the regulation of pregnancy and has been shown to influence malaria pathogenesis. In this study, the levels of MIF in the peripheral, cord and placental intervillous blood (IVB) plasma collected from women residing in a malaria endemic region of Central India was determined and its association with malaria in pregnancy and birth outcomes was investigated.

Growth profile of Baiga children--a primitive tribe of District Dindori of Madhya Pradesh, India.

The present study has been carried out on 795 Baiga children (453 males and 342 females) of Baiga-chak area of Dindori district in Madhya Pradesh (MP) varying between 1-18 years of age with an aim to understand their growth profile using cross sectional design. Fourteen body measurements (weight, height, sitting height, lengths, breadths, circumferences and skin folds) were studied. Four indices namely Sitting height/Leg length, Bicristal breadth/Biacro-mial breadth, Head circumference/Chest circumference & Cephalic index were computed to study the proportionate body changes.

Plasma levels of angiopoietin-1 and -2 predict cerebral malaria outcome in Central India.

Background: The mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria (CM) syndrome are not well understood. Previous studies have shown a strong association of inflammatory chemokines, apoptotic markers and angiogenic molecules with CM associated mortality. Recognizing the importance of angiopoietins (ANG) in the pathogenesis of CM, a retrospective investigation was carried out in a hospital cohort of malaria patients with Plasmodium infection in central India to determine if these factors could be suitable markers of CM associated severity.

Sequence analysis of coding DNA fragments of pfcrt and pfmdr-1 genes in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Odisha, India.

The global emergence and spread of malaria parasites resistant to antimalarial drugs is the major problem in malaria control. The genetic basis of the parasite's resistance to the antimalarial drug chloroquine (CQ) is well-documented, allowing for the analysis of field isolates of malaria parasites to address evolutionary questions concerning the origin and spread of CQ-resistance. Here, we present DNA sequence analyses of both the second exon of the Plasmodium falciparum CQ-resistance transporter (pfcrt) gene and the 5' end of the P.

Antimicrobial activity of the extracts of Craniotome furcata (Lamiaceae).

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Craniotome furcata (Link.) O. Kuntze (Lamiaceae) is used in the traditional medicine for the treatment of cuts and wounds indicating antimicrobial activity.

Evaluation of PermaNet 2.0 mosquito bednets against mosquitoes, including Anopheles minimus s.l., in India.

Wash resistance and field bioefficacy of PermaNet 2.0 nets, long lasting insecticidal nets, against mosquitoes were evaluated in Assam, northeastern India. After repeated hand washings at 12-day intervals a decline in the mosquito killing ability of PermaNet nets was noted (trend chi2 38.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Anaphalis nubigena var. monocephala.

The essential oil composition of the aerial parts of Anaphalis nubigena DC. var. monocephala (DC.