Biotechnology

The most common characteristics of diverse age-related neurodegenerative diseases are aggregation and accumulation of the misfolded protein in the brain. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of these protein conformational diseases. Extracellular accumulation of amyloid β (Aβ) is one the neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer disease. Various studies have shown that mutation in specific hydrophobic region of Aβ protein inhibit the formation of β sheet, thus aggregation of this protein is stalled. The identification of such mutation in Aβ protein can help us in elucidating the etiology of sporadic Aβ. In our study we have selected three positions: 19ILU, 21ALA and 41ILU in Aβ protein based on their hydrophobic nature and substituted them with PRO (βSheet breaker). The effects of the substitutions were analysed using molecular dynamics simulation studies. The results validated that the mutations in the specified regions change the hydrophobicity of the protein and the βsheet formation was declined to zero per cent. Background: Age-related impairments in cognition and memory have been known since ancient times, but the clinical pathological features of the syndrome, now termed " Alzheimer's disease " (AD), were not documented in the medical literature until the first decade of this century. It is now established that AD is a complex and genetically heterogeneous, neurodegenerative disorder. It is the most common type of dementia. Dementia is derived from the Latin word, [de-=out from + mentia=the mind] means loss or impairment of mental powers due to a disease. There is no cure for AD till today, however promising research and development for early detection and treatment is underway.

Bioluminescence is a phenomena in an organism which produces luminescence on quorum sensing and this phenomenon has been explored in many fields like invivo diagnostics, marker technology, protein engineering etc. and has immense potential as future torchlight too with the aid of technologies. Present study aims at the screening and identification of bioluminescent bacteria from different marine sources like fish, lobsters and crabs from the eastern coastal region of India. Total of about 10 different species of fish and some lobsters were screened for their symbiotic bioluminescent bacteria out of these 2 species of fish showed predominant presence of bioluminescent bacteria associated with them, they were namely rani fish and sukum puri. 16srRNA studies revealed bacteria to be belonging to pshychrobacter species associated with Rani fish which has been reported for the first time for showing bioluminescence..The strain sequence has been submitted in NCBI with Accession number LK931862 was named psychrobacter sp.RDP1.

Sludge is a complex emulsion of various petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs), water, heavy metals, and solid particles. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are components of crude oil sludge, constitute serious environmental concerns, as many of them are cytotoxic, mutagenic and potentially carcinogenic. It also affects the
soil fertility. Treatment of oil sludge includes physical, chemical and biological process but still cost effective method is needed. Composting can serve as remedy to treat the sludge provided factors such as nutrients, pH, moisture, aeration and temperature within the compost pile. For maintaining the humidity different bulking agent can be used.
High microbial diversity and activity during composting, due to the abundance of substrates in feedstocks, promotes degradation of xenobiotic organic compounds, such as pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Microorganisms can also bio transform pollutants into less toxic substances. The exhaustive investigation of oily sludge treatment methods will provide researchers to have a thorough understanding
of recent developments and future research directions.

GPCRs are fundamental membrane proteins and they are called as G-Protein Couple Receptors. They are rooted in the cell surface that conveys signals to cell, also known as seven membrane domain receptors. If these receptors do not role correctly, then this may lead to numerous diseases. Orphan Receptors lack endogenous ligands and their particular purpose is not known. Presently there are few ideal structures in databank for following structural biology studies but no orphan GPCR coordinates exist in protein data bank. The aim for gaining appropriate structures for these proteins is to deorphanize them and to study biological applications. There are numerous GPCRs whose 3D structures are obtainable, using those structures as templates, computer based homology modeling method can be used to presume 3D structures of numerous proteins by means of their amino acid sequence. In this study, we have modeled Q99MX9_MOUSE and G2A_ MOUSE, class an orphan GPCRs whose 3D structures have been assumed using Swiss pdb Viewer; the PDB templates used for these orphan GPCRs are 2RH1 and 3UON correspondingly. Based on the outcome of homology modeling of these proteins, their structure has been acquired and their purpose can be presumed on the basis of structural and sequence similarity to known GPCRs. As the structure has been assumed for these GPCRs probable ligands and similarities can be anticipated.

Adina cordifolia leaf was investigated for its phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity. The plant extracts were screened for presence of flavonoids, carbohydrate, alkaloid, saponin, phenol, tannins, phlobatannins, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides. Total flavonoid content, phenols content was estimated. Antioxidant activity was determined using nitric oxide scavenging assay, DPPH assay, hydrogen peroxide scavenging and ferric reducing methods, also MIC was calculated against a set of bacteria (S. aureus, B. subtilis, E. coli, K. pneumonia).

Terpenoids accounts for the major class of secondary metabolites produced by plants. It shows defense activity against environmental stress and help to heal injuries. Medicinal plants are rich in monoterpenoids, diterpenoids, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, tetraterpenes, and ceramide. A number of therapeutic applications such as antibacterial, antimicrobial, antitumor, anti-inflammatory activity have been identified. Terpenoids are compounds similar to terpenes derived from 5-carbon monomer isoprene units. The review puts and detail insight on different class of compounds isolated from natural source from 2000 to 2016 showing anti-inflammatory potential of pharmacologically interesting agent and their mechanism of action.

A wide number of fungal species have shown incredible abilities to degrade a growing list of persistent and toxic industrial waste products and chemical contaminants to less toxic form or non-toxic form. Mycelium reduces toxins by different enzymatic mechanism to restore the natural flora and fauna. White rot fungi has successfully been utilized in degradation of environmental pollutant like polyaromatic compounds, pesticides etc. The present review gives a insights on degradation aspects of heavy metals, PAH especially using different fungal species. White rot fungi has potential to degrade contaminants using wide range of enzymes. Mycoremediation is promising alternative to replace or supplement present treatment processes.

Plant-based drug discovery has drawn the attention of researchers, especially the one used as traditional medicines. Centella asiatica is traditional Ayurveda medicine widely used in India and across Asia for treating a variety of diseases. The aerial parts and roots are used for medicinal purpose, and its chemical constituents have wide therapeutic applications in areas of antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, neuroprotective, antioxidant, and wound healing activities. Many of its uses have been proven scientifically, and bioactive ingredients have been validated. In this review, we have done a critical evaluation of available literature looking for the pharmacological importance of C. asiatica. Further studies will be helpful to discover more bioactive compounds their exact mode of actions.

Fresh bark pieces of Mimusops elengi Linn. were used for the isolation of fungal endophytes using standard methods. Mimusops elengi is a small to a large evergreen medicinal plant found all over the different parts of India. Seventy one endophytic fungi belonging to ascomycetes (11.27%), coelomycetes (39.44%) and hyphomycetes (49.29%) were isolated from 200 segments of Mimusops elengi collected from
University campus in Sagar District, Madhya Pradesh, India. confirmed by the BLAST search of sequences of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA region against the NCBI/GenBank data and compared with deposited sequences for identification purpose. Sixteen different fungal species belonging to 16 genera viz. Botryosphaeria mamane, Chaetomium globosum, Rhytidhysteron sp., Phoma putaminum, Pestaliopsis sp., Colletotricum gleosporoides, Phomopsis sp., Acremonium sp., Alternaria alternata, Beltraniella portoricensis, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium chlamydosporum, Myrothecium verrucaria, Nigrospora oryzae and Torula herbarum were isolated. The most frequently isolated endophytes were Cladosporium cladosporioides (22.53%), Pestaliopsis sp.,(19.71%), Phomopsis sp.,(9.86%) and Chaetomium globosum (8.45%). This study shows that a great number of endophytic fungi exist in the samples obtained from bark samples of M. elengi.

Metabolites from marine fungi have hogged the limelight in drug discovery because of their promise as therapeutic agents. A number of metabolites related to marine fungi have been discovered from various sources which are known to possess a range of activities as antibacterial, antiviral and anticancer agents. Although, over a thousand marine fungi based metabolites have already been reported, none of them have reached the market yet which could partly be related to non-comprehensive screening approaches and lack of sustained lead optimization. The origin of these marine fungal metabolites is varied as their habitats have been reported from various sources such as sponge, algae, mangrove derived fungi, and fungi from bottom sediments. The importance of these natural compounds is based on their cytotoxicity and related activities that emanate from the diversity in their chemical structures and functional groups present on them. This review covers the majority of anticancer compounds isolated from marine fungi during 2012–2016 against specific cancer cell lines.

The color generating from the biochemical reaction between 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine and Lysine@WS2 QDs was used a signal for the detection of hydrogen peroxide. The QDs were prepared using a combination of techniques, that is, probe sonication and hydrothermal treatment. Analysis via UV–vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy yielded detailed information on the nature and characteristics of these quantum dots. Furthermore, as-synthesized quantum dots were studied for their capability to mimic peroxidase enzyme using 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine as a substrate. Consequently, a colorimetric sensor utilizing Lysine@WS2 QDs could detect hydrogen peroxide in a range of 0.1–60 μM with a response time of 5 min. The same material was used for H2O2 detection using impedance spectroscopy, which yielded a dynamic range of 0.1–350 μM with a response time of 30–40 s.

An original electrochemical sensor based on molecularly imprinted conducting polymer (MICP) is developed, which enables the recognition of a small pesticide target molecule, atrazine. The conjugated MICP, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene-co-thiophene-acetic acid), has been electrochemically synthesized onto a platinum electrode following two steps: (i) polymerization of comonomers in the presence of atrazine, already associated to the acetic acid substituent through hydrogen bonding, and (ii) removal of atrazine from the resulting polymer, which leaves the acetic acid substituents open for association with atrazine. The obtained sensing MICP is highly specific towards newly added atrazine and the recognition can be quantitatively analyzed by the variation of the cyclic voltammogram of MICP. The developed sensor shows remarkable properties: selectivity towards triazinic family, large range of detection (10 −9 mol L −1 to 1.5 × 10 −2 mol L −1 in atrazine) and low detection threshold (10 −7 mol L −1).

Cancer is caused by genetic as well as epigenetic changes. Chemotherapy is considered the mainstay of cancer therapy. But multiple side effects of chemotherapy has created a demand for developing other novel and specific targets for cancer therapy. The ...

In vitro evaluation of anticancer potential of Chili Pepper (Capsicum annum)-an Indian spice Vinay Dwivedi 1, Richa Shrivastava 1, Showket Hussain 1, Chaiti Ganguly 2, Mausumi Bharadwaj1 1. Institute of Cytology & Preventive Oncology (ICPO), Noida 2. IILM-CET, Greater Noida Abstract Indian spices from time immemorial were considered with the philosophic concepts of improving health, since it was understood. Spices play important roles in prevention and treatment of various cancers. The objective of the present study is to compare anticancer activities of aqueous and ethanol extract of chili pepper (Capsicum annum), a commonly used spice and food flavoring agent, against different kinds of cancer cell lines of various anatomical origin. These extracts were screened for anti proliferative activity against HeLa (cervical cancer), MCF-7 (ER + ve) and MDA-MB-231 (ER – ve) breast cancer, DU-145 prostate cancer and TE-13 esophageal cancer cell lines, along with normal human peripheral bloo...

Objective: Species of Erythrina variegata L. is reported to be used in the treatment of cancer in traditional/folklore medicine which could be explored for their anticancer potential. We aimed to evaluate the anticancer activity of crude extracts of the leaves of E. variegata with two solvents; explore the mechanism of cytotoxicity with the effective extract and correlation with the phytochemicals in the extract.Methods: The extracts with Erythrina variegata L methanol (EVM) and chloroform (EVC) as solvents were screened for cytotoxicity by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium assay on MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines. The effective extract was further evaluated on MDA-MB-231 cells by nucleoprotein content estimation, and cell morphology was studied. High resolution liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (HRLCMS) of EVM was done to find the phytochemical composition.Results: Among the two extracts, EVM was effective at an inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 92 μ...

Neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease, present in a major health issue and the financial load for the health care systems and around the world. The impact of these the diseases will be further increase and decrease over the next decades caused by the increasing life expectancies of the health. No cure is currently available for the treatments of the these conditions; only drugs, which are merely alleviate the symptoms. Oxidative stress has been lengthy been associated with a neuro degeneration, whether as a cause or as part of the downstream and upstream results caused by the other factors and other effects. Thus, the use of the antioxidants to the counter cellulars and a oxidative stress and antioxidant within the nervous system has been suggested as a potential treatments option for the neurological disorders. Over the last decade, it has to be significant research has to be the found to be most and focused on the ...

Neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease, present in a major health issue and the financial load for the health care systems and around the world. The impact of these the diseases will be further increase and decrease over the next decades caused by the increasing life expectancies of the health. No cure is currently available for the treatments of the these conditions; only drugs, which are merely alleviate the symptoms. Oxidative stress has been lengthy been associated with a neuro degeneration, whether as a cause or as part of the downstream and upstream results caused by the other factors and other effects. Thus, the use of the antioxidants to the counter cellulars and a oxidative stress and antioxidant within the nervous system has been suggested as a potential treatments option for the neurological disorders. Over the last decade, it has to be significant research has to be the found to be most and focused on the potential use of natural antioxidants to be target oxidative stress. However, clinical trial results have been lacked success for the treatment of the patients with neurological disorders. The knowledge that natural extracts shows other positive molecular activities in addition to the antioxidant activity, however, has led to further research of natural extracts for their potential use as well as prevention or treatment/management of the neurodegenerative diseases. The diversity of the wild mushrooms was a investigated from two protected forest areas in India and 232 mushroom specimens were morphologically identified. Among them, 77 isolates were screened for the antimicrobial potential against seven and bacterial and fungal pathogens. Out of the 77 isolates, 46 isolates which displayed significant antimicrobial activities were identified using ITS rRNA gene amplification and subsequently phylogenetically characterized using a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter-simple sequences repeat (ISSR) markers. Sequencing of the ITS rRNA regions classified the isolates into 16 genera belonging to the 11 families. In total, 11 RAPD and 10 ISSR primers were selected to be the evaluate genetic diversity based on the their banding profile produced. In total 337 RAPD and 312 ISSR bands were to be detected, among which is percentage of the polymorphism ranges from 35.2% to 77.8% and 37.6% to 93.4% by using RAPD and ISSR primers respectively. The report has to be also demonstrated that both RAPD and ISSR could be efficiently differentiate wild mushrooms and it could thus be the considered as the efficient markers for the surveying genetic diversity. Additionally, selected six or more then six wild edible mushroom strains (Schizophyllum commune BPSM01, Panusgiganteus BPSM27, Pleurotussp. BPSM34, Lentinussp. BPSM37, Pleurotusdjamor BPSM41 and Lentinula sp. BPSM45) were a analyzed for the their nutritional (proteins, carbohydrates, fat and ash content), antioxidant potential.