Biosciences

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a ubiquitous and opportunistic pathogen, is a member of the Herpesviridae family of viruses. Infection with HCMV is generally asymptomatic, but naïve or immunosuppressed individuals, such as neonates, AIDS patients, and transplant recipients, often manifest serious disease. In the present work, MHC class-I, MHC class-II and B-cell epitopes for the envelope glycoprotein B (gB) of HCMV were predicted using the ProPred1, MHC2Pred and ABCpred servers respectively. The 3D structures of predicted epitopes were modeled using the HHpred server. In order to find the most relevant epitopes among all predicted T-cell epitopes, protein-protein docking was carried out for MHC-I and MHC-II receptors respectively. The energy score for every docked complex was calculated using the Hex 6.0 program. The lower energy score reveals higher binding affinity towards the receptor. It was found that the epitopes ‘YLFKRMIDL’ and ‘KYGDVVGVN’ possess highest binding affinity for MHC-I and MHC-II receptors respectively. For B-cell, the peptide ‘HVTSSEAVSHRANETI’ was highest ranked epitope. These predicted epitopes might be promising candidates for vaccine design against HCMV.

The present investigation was to develop and characterize orally disintegrating tablets (ODT) of cinnarizine using sublimation technique. ODT of cinnarizine were prepared using different subliming agents like camphor, thymol and different concentrations of menthol using direct compression method. Compatibility study between drug and excipients was done by DSC techniques, found compatible. The porous sublimed and non sublimed granular blends were examined for angle of repose, bulk density, tapped density, compressibility index and Hausner’s ratio. The prepared tablets were evaluated for general appearance, content uniformity, hardness, friability, taste evaluation, mouth feel, wetting time, in vitro disintegration time, and in vitro dissolution studies. Tablets with menthol at 10.0% concentration have shown desired disintegrating features, i.e., within 20s. The dissolution study revealed that menthol at a concentration of 10.0 %W/W of the dosage form weight was able to improve the release of cinnarizine. The study concludes that sublimation technique is a useful to enhance the disintegrating and dissolution rate of poorly water-soluble drug like Cinnarizine.

In the present study, an attempt has been made to investigate the antidiabetic effect of aqueous extract of seeds on alloxan induced diabetic rats. After the citrullus colocynthis plant treatment all the change were reversed and reaches the near normal level.

The organic nitrates are widely used in the management of coronary artery disease. They are given not only to patients with stable angina pectoris, but also to those with unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction, and heart failure. Although they are effective for the treatment of these disorders, their therapeutic value is compromised by the rapid development of tolerance during sustained therapy. Long-acting nitrates can provide protection against the development of angina for up to 12 hours each day if an appropriate dosing regimen or formulation is used. Regimens with proved effectiveness include intermittent transdermal nitroglycerin, standard-formulation isosorbide mononitrate given eccentrically, and sustained-release isosorbide mononitrate given once daily, but there is some concern that nitrate-free periods may have adverse effects in some patients. Although the mechanism of nitrate tolerance has remained elusive, studies in animals suggest that nitrate therapy causes specific biochemical responses in the vasculature that limit the vasodilator effects of nitrates.

The biological parameters and zooplankton diversity of a Tampara Lake shows healthy aquatic ecosystem. The plankton constitutes the basic food source of any aquatic ecosystem. Zooplankton diversity is one of the most important ecological parameters in water quality assessment. Zooplankton are strongly affected by environmental condition and quickly respond to any change in water quality. So these are good indicator of ecosystem and occupy an intermediate position between phytoplankton and fish. Hence qualitative and quantitative studies of zooplankton are of great importance. During the study zooplankton diversity in relation to biological parameters was discussed to the investigation find that 22 species of zooplankton belonging to four major groups, i.e. 10 species of Rotifera six species of cladocera and three species of copepoda and three species of protozoan.

Reticulocytosis is an important previously unappreciated surrogate marker of recent Plasmodium falciparum reticulocyte parasitation. Evidence from studies in murine and primate models show increased prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum parasitisation of reticulocytes. The increase in reticulocyte infection has been attributed to compensatory reticulocytosis and increased parasite densities. However, the prevalence of P. falciparum parasitisation of reticulocytes in human populations in holoendemic areas of malaria is unknown. Therefore, the current study examined the prevalence of P. falciparum parasitation of reticulocytes and its association with clinical, parasitological and haematological outcomes in children (n=164) and adults (n=41) with acute P. falciparum malaria and healthy malaria-negative controls (children, n=132 and adults, n=60) from a holoendemic area of malaria of western Kenya. Malaria diagnosis and species identification was performed using Giemsa-stained thick and thin blood smears while reticulocyte parasitation was determined using New Methylene Blue- Giemsa counter-stained thin blood films. Results of this study showed that children with malaria presented with increased numbers of infected reticulocytes compared to adults with malaria (p=0.006; Mann-Whitney U test). In addition, children with malaria presented with higher reticulocyte counts compared to those without malaria (p<0.0001; Mann-Whitney U test).

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and genetic profile of the rotaviruses involved in gastroenteritis among children in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. Two hundred and five stool samples were collected from children (1-5yrs) presenting diarrhea at the paediatrics Departments of five hospitals. The stool samples were screened, using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Sixteen stool samples were found positive, representing 7.8% prevalence. Children within 1-2years had 4.39% while those within 3-5years recorded 3.41%.During dry season, the prevalence was more (4.87%) compared to the rainy season (2.93%). Identification of the rotavirus strains using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed genotypes such as G1, G2, G8, P4, P8, and P6. Hospital and community based studies should be encouraged in order to have a more clear picture about the prevalence and the strains of the virus in circulation in the studied area.

Resources hub NCBI and EBI with databases like KEGG, METACYC etc. were used for computational comparative analysis of metabolic pathways in E.coli and A. thaliana to determine common enzymes and motifs according to same EC number. The extent of conservation in the metabolic pathways like glycolysis, citrate pathway, pyruvate pathway, nucleotide sugar pathway, riboflavin pathway, carboxylate pathway, galactose pathway, methane pathway, urea pathway and pentose phosphate pathway present in both E.coli and A. thaliana was analyzed. Among the ten metabolic pathways shared by both organisms, seven enzymes were identified in pentose phosphate pathway of both organisms according to their EC number. Nine motifs were present in methane pathway and nucleotide sugar pathway of E. coli. In A. thaliana maximum eight motifs in methane pathway and one in each pentose phosphate pathway, riboflavin pathway and urea pathway was identified. Comparison of E. coli and A. thaliana metabolic pathways shows that central set of pathway is largely conserved in terms of pathways, domain architect and motifs present. There was difference in the position of the motifs present in the enzymes that perform the same function so the variation in the stretch of amino acid conferring a specific structure needs to be distinguished.

In present research investigation effect of antibiotics and vitamins on the activity of enzyme cellulase of post-harvest fungi of sapota fruits were studied. It was found that vitamins, amino acids and antibiotics significantly inhibit cellulase action of post-harvest sapota fungi. Vitamins, Folic acid and Riboflavin has been retarded cellulase action. It was observed that Arginine monochloride and Threonine inhibited enzyme action in Rhizoctonia solani (7mm, 8mm) and Geotrichum candidum (8mm, 10mm). It is interesting to note that Ampicillin inhibited cellulase activity in all the tested fungi.

Antioxidants are vital substances which possess the ability to protect the body from damage caused by free radical induced oxidative stress. A great number of aromatic, medicinal, spice and other plants contain chemical compounds exhibiting antioxidant properties. In the present study the antioxidant activity and radical scavenging activity of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Pouzolzia indica, traditionally used by Indian population as folk remedies was evaluated.