Fabrication of electrospun Poly L-lactide and Curcumin loaded Poly L-lactide nanofibers for drug delivery

The present work reports the preparation of Poly L-Lactide (PLLA) and Curcumin loaded Poly L-Lactide (CPLLA) nanofibers by electrospinning. A series of PLLA solution (12 wt %) and C-PLLA (12 wt % PLLA) solution containing Curcumin (0.5 wt % and 1 wt %)) were electrospun into nanofibers. SEM images showed the average diameter of PLLA and C-PLLA in the range of 50?C200 nm. The TEM images showed the dispersion of Curcumin on C-PLLA nanofibers. The XRD pattern indicated decreases of crystallinity with the increase in the amount of Curcumin. The characteristic peak of Curcumin was confirmed by FTIR. The TGA results showed the degradation of PLLA and C-PLLA close to 300 °C. The percentage porosity and the contact angle of PLLA were found to be 90.2 % and 115±3 ° with deionised water, respectively. The water uptake percentage was found to be 17.6 %. The percentage cumulative release of Curcumin at the end of 8th day for 0.5 and 1.0 wt % formulations was 81.4±1.3 and 86.7±1.7 % respectively. The in-vitro biological cytotoxicity studies were performed using C6 glioma cells and NIH 3T3 fibroblast by MTT assay and SEM analysis.     

Limited contribution of water availability in genotype-by-environment interaction in sugarcane yield and yield components

Water deficit is an important abiotic stress factor limiting sugarcane production. Understanding the effect of water deficit on cane yield, yield components and genotype × environment (G × E) interaction can aid in selecting genotypes that are adapted to water deficit conditions. In this study, response of cane yield and yield components of 10 sugarcane genotypes grown under 3 irrigation treatments—fully irrigated, semi-irrigated and rainfed—was examined across 3 locations and 3 crop-years within each location. Cane yield reduced by 32% and 9% in the rainfed and semi-irrigated treatments, respectively, compared to the fully irrigated treatment. Genotypic variation was highly significant for cane yield and yield components in all three irrigation regimes. Cane yield in the rainfed treatment showed significant genetic correlation with stalk diameter (r_g = 0.68), leaf number (r_g = 0.64), node number (r_g = 0.67) and stalk number (r_g = 0.68). Genotype × irrigation variance was negligible compared to genotype, genotype × location and genotype × crop-year variances. Commercial genotypes had higher yield in most environments except in low-yield potential environments, which caused a significant genotype × location × irrigation effect, suggesting opportunities for improving sugarcane productivity in these environments.     

Humanization of yeast to produce complex terminally sialylated glycoproteins

Yeast is a widely used recombinant protein expression system. We expanded its utility by engineering the yeast Pichia pastoris to secrete human glycoproteins with fully complex terminally sialylated N-glycans. After the knockout of four genes to eliminate yeast-specific glycosylation, we introduced 14 heterologous genes, allowing us to replicate the sequential steps of human glycosylation. The reported cell lines produce complex glycoproteins with greater than 90% terminal sialylation. Finally, to demonstrate the utility of these yeast strains, functional recombinant erythropoietin was produced.     

Characterization of storage proteins in wild (Glycine soja) and cultivated (Glycine max) soybean seeds using proteomic analysis

A combined proteomic approach was applied for the separation, identification, and comparison of two major storage proteins, beta-conglycinin and glycinin, in wild (Glycine soja) and cultivated (Glycine max) soybean seeds. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) with three different immobilized pH gradient (IPG) strips was an effective method to separate a large number of abundant and less-abundant storage proteins. Most of the subunits of beta-conglycinin were well-separated in the pH range 3.0-10.0, while acidic and basic glycinin polypeptides were well-separated in pH ranges 4.0-7.0 and 6.0-11.0, respectively. Although the overall distribution pattern of the protein spots was similar in both genotypes using pH 3.0-10.0, variations in number and intensity of protein spots were better resolved using a combination of pH 4.0-7.0 and pH 6.0-11.0. The total number of storage protein spots detected in wild and cultivated genotypes was approximately 44 and 34, respectively. This is the first study reporting the comparison of protein profiles of wild and cultivated genotypes of soybean seeds using proteomic tools.     

Assessment of indigenous Nepalese soybean as a potential germplasm resource for improvement of protein in North American cultivars

Soybeans contain approximately 40% protein and 20% oil and represents an important source of protein in animal rations and human diets. Attempts are being made to increase further the overall protein content of soybeans by utilization of exotic germplasms. In this study, soybean cultivars from Nepal have been characterized and their potential as a germplasm resource for improvement of the protein content and quality of North American cultivars assessed. Soybean cultivars 'Sathia', 'Seti', 'Kavre', and 'Soida Chiny', indigenous to various regions of Nepal, contained 42-45% protein, which is significantly higher in comparison to that of the North American cultivar 'Williams 82' (39%). Fractionation of seed protein by high-resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed differences in the protein profiles of these cultivars. Various isoelectric forms of glycinin and beta-conglycinin were identified by comparing the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass fingerprinting data against the National Center for Biotechnology Information nonredundant database. Nepalese cultivar Sathia was distinct, lacking some isoelectric forms of acidic and basic glycinin subunits while expressing other unique forms. The contribution of these unique protein spots present in either Sathia or Williams 82 to the total protein content was quantified using scanning laser densitometry. Distinct restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) for group 1 glycinin genes were observed among the tested Nepalese genotypes, indicating sequence variation among the cultivars. Conversely, evaluation of RFLP for the genes encoding group 2 glycinins, beta-conglycinin, and Bowman-Birk proteinase inhibitors indicated a high degree of conservation in these genes. Determination of amino acid composition, a reflection of protein quality, indicated that the arginine content of the Nepalese soybeans ranged from 7.7 to 8.1%, which was 5-10% higher than the 7.4% expressed in Williams 82. Additionally, Karve and Seti contained significantly more cysteine than Williams 82. Nepalese high-protein soybeans having a desirable amino acid composition hold potential to increase the protein quality and diversity of North American cultivars.     

The larger mammals and their endangered habitats in the silent valley forests of South India

A study has been made of the population ecology of large mammals of Silent Valley and contiguous forests of South India. The vegetation of Silent Valley and Attapadi forests are mostly west coast tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen types. In the adjoining forests Nilambur and Nilgiris, the vegetation is southern secondary moist mixed deciduous and southern montane wet temperature, respectively. Silent Valley and its contiguous forests harbour 25 species of large and medium-sized mammals, including two endangered endemic species and many others that are endangered and protected. The lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri tahr and tiger were sighted in and around the submergence area of the proposed Silent Valley hydroelectric project. If constructed, the impact of this dam on the populations of larger mammals in the area would be severe.     

Simultaneous presence of infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) and Type A virus-related sequence in Penaeus monodon from India

Detection of infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) in shrimp is complicated by the fact that certain virus-related sequences are integrated into the genome of Penaeus monodon in some parts of the world, which has been reported so far from Africa and Australia. In this study, we evaluated the highly specific and sensitive diagnostic primer sets for detection of infectious IHHNV and integrated virus-related sequence in 177 samples of P. monodon from India. A nested primer set, IHHNV648F/R and IHHNV309F/R was used to specifically detect infectious IHHNV and not the virus-related sequences. IHHNV was detected in 67.4% postlarvae (PL) and 34% adult samples using this primer set. The OIE recommended primers IHHNV392F/R and IHHNV389F/R gave positive reaction for 86.7% PL and 67% adult samples, while the primer pair 77012F and 77353R gave positive reaction with 46.7% PL and 20% adult samples. These primers were found to detect virus-related sequence integrated into the shrimp genome. The analysis of virus-related sequence by MG831F/R primers showed that 33.7% PL and 31.7% adult shrimp possessed Type A virus-related sequence. 22.8% PL and 10.5% adults had both IHHNV and Type A virus-related sequence. Cloning and sequencing 832 bp virus-related sequence from P. monodon from India revealed presence of five shrimp DNA markers between 439 and 825 bp. This study is the first conclusive report on the presence of Type A virus-related sequence in P. monodon from India.     

Control of Aeromonas hydrophila Infection in Spotted Snakehead, Channa punctatus, by Solanum nigrum L., a Medicinal Plant

The present study describes the potential of black nightshade, Solanum nigrum , to control Aeromonas hydrophila infection in spotted snakehead, Channa punctatus . Similar sizes of Ch.   punctatus were grouped into three categories as follows: control (injected with sterilized water), Ae.   hydrophila infected   +   untreated, and Ae.   hydrophila infected   +   treated with S.   nigrum leaf extract. Hematological parameters (white blood cell [WBC], red blood cell [RBC], hemoglobin [Hb], and packed cell volume [PCV]) were analyzed in these fishes once every 5   d from Days 5 to 30 postexposure. Preliminary antibacterial assay reported that leaf extracted with ethyl acetate had the maximum inhibition compared to other parts of the plant (i.e., berries and whole plant) or when extracted with other solvent extracts (chloroform and ethanol). Except for WBC count, all other parameters showed a declining trend from Day 5 onward and reaching to a minimum on Day 30 in Ae.   hydrophila -infected fish, whereas the WBC count increased. The infected fish treated with S.   nigrum leaf extract reported a significant reversion to normal RBC, WBC, Hb, and PCV levels and the skin ulceration recovered within a short period. The antiulcer potential of the medicinal plant as described in humans may be extended to the fish population.     

Variability for quantitative traits in exotic hybrid germplasm of sugarcane

The foreign hybrid collection of sugarcane germplasm comprising 399 clones representing 10 geographical groups, was evaluated for nine yield and quality characters, in relation to their place of origin. Discriminant function analysis showed that all the nine variables contributed significantly to the discrimination of the groups, the maximum contribution being cane height. The overall percentage of correct classification was only 48%, with a range from 32% to 73% with respect to individual groups. This suggests an underlying genetic similarity among the groups, which stem largely from their common genetic base. The exceptions were the Hawaii and Mauritius groups, which had distinct identities. The Hawaii group was the most productive group, having maximum yield and sucrose potential. The Puerto Rico group was the best source for juice sucrose. Australian varieties bred for high juice quality did not show the expected level of juice sucrose in the present study. The use in breeding programmes of Hawaiian varieties, which have a broader genetic base and high yield and quality potential, might impart better productivity to commercial varieties.