Computational design of virus-like protein assemblies on carbon nanotube surfaces

There is a general need for the engineering of protein-like molecules that organize into geometrically specific superstructures on molecular surfaces, directing further functionalization to create richly textured, multilayered assemblies. Here we describe a computational approach whereby the surface properties and symmetry of a targeted surface define the sequence and superstructure of surface-organizing peptides. Computational design proceeds in a series of steps that encode both surface recognition and favorable intersubunit packing interactions. This procedure is exemplified in the design of peptides that assemble into a tubular structure surrounding single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). The geometrically defined, virus-like coating created by these peptides converts the smooth surfaces of SWNTs into highly textured assemblies with long-scale order, capable of directing the assembly of gold nanoparticles into helical arrays along the SWNT axis.     

Normalization of tumor vasculature: an emerging concept in antiangiogenic therapy

Solid tumors require blood vessels for growth, and many new cancer therapies are directed against the tumor vasculature. The widely held view is that these antiangiogenic therapies should destroy the tumor vasculature, thereby depriving the tumor of oxygen and nutrients. Here, I review emerging evidence supporting an alternative hypothesis-that certain antiangiogenic agents can also transiently "normalize" the abnormal structure and function of tumor vasculature to make it more efficient for oxygen and drug delivery. Drugs that induce vascular normalization can alleviate hypoxia and increase the efficacy of conventional therapies if both are carefully scheduled. A better understanding of the molecular and cellular underpinnings of vascular normalization may ultimately lead to more effective therapies not only for cancer but also for diseases with abnormal vasculature, as well as regenerative medicine, in which the goal is to create and maintain a functionally normal vasculature.     

Antibacterial evaluation of some indigenous medicinal volatile oils

Thein vitro antibacterial property of six essential oils namely:Piper cubeba, Acorus calamus, Litsea chinensis, Colubrina asiatica, Hyptis suaveolens andBlumea laciniata was carried out using the filter paper disk method. The oils and oil combinations (1:1) were screened against fifteen pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteriae. The essential oil ofB. laciniata showed maximum activity againstC. diphtheriae, V. cholerae, B. subtilis andS. aureus andP. cubeba againstS. faecalis, B. pumilus andP. solanacearum. The combinations ofL. chinensis withP. cubeba andC. asiatica displayed the maximum inhibitory response and the rest failed to show any synergistic or potentiating effect.The striking feature in most of the aromatic plants enlisted in the indigenous system of medicine is attributed to their essential oil contents in them which exert their marked therapeutic potency. In general, these essential oils containing terpenes and other unsaturated compounds are solely responsible for inhibiting the growth of a number of pathogenic microbes. Since ages the crude herbal extracts of these aromatic plants are in use as baths and local applicants for curing infectious diseases. The large volume of work accumulated so far, obviously justifies the importance of medicinal activity of the aromatic plants; the antimicrobial activity being credited to their essential oil fraction only.Studies of Lucas (1–3), Gottshall (4–6) and Frisbey (7, 8) are typical surveys of plants for their antimicrobial property. The studies made by above said workers led to the isolation of many active principles (9, 10, 11).The present investigations deal with the antibacterial activity exhibited by the essential oils ofPiper cubeba Linn. (Piperaceae);Acorus calamus Linn.(Azaceae): Litsea chinensis Lam.(Lauraceae); Colubrina asiatica Brongn.(Rhamnaceae); Hyptis suaveolens Poit.(Labiatae); Blumea laciniata D.C.(Compositae) and their combinations in the ratio (1:1).

---

Zusammenfassung Die in vitro antibakterielle Wirkung von sechs ätherischen Ölen wurde mittels der Filtrierpapierscheiben-Methode geprüft:Piper cubeba L.,Acorus calamus L.,Litsea chinensis Lam.,Colubrina asiatica Brongn.,Hyptis suaveolens Poit. undBlumea laciniata DC.. Die ätherischen Öle und Öl-Gemische (1:1) wurden gegen fünfzehn pathogene und nichtpathogene Bakterien getestet.Das ätherische Öl vonBlumea laciniata zeigte maximale Wirksamkeit gegenC. diphtheriae, V. cholerae, B. subtilis undS. aureus; das ätherische Öl vonPiper cubeba ergab maximale Wirksamkeit gegenS. faecalis, B. pumilus undP. solanacearum. Die Gemische der ätherischen Öle vonLitsea chinensis mitPiper cubeba und mitColubrina asiatica übten die stärkste Hemmung aus. Die übrigen Gemische zeigten weder synergistische noch verstärkte Wirkung.

     

Dietary protein level, microbial phytase, citric acid and their interactions on bone mineralization of Labeo rohita (Hamilton) juveniles

A feeding trial was conducted for 60 days to study the effect of dietary protein, microbial phytase and citric acid on intestinal digesta pH, bone ash and bone mineral contents in Labeo rohita juveniles. Eight experimental diets were prepared in 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with crude protein levels (25% and 35%), microbial phytase (0 and 500 U kg^?1), and citric acid (0 and 3%). The 25% crude protein level feed was supplemented with phytase (U kg^?1) and citric acid (%) at the level of 0,0 (C₂₅); 500,0 (T₁); 0,3 (T₂); 500,3 (T₃), and 35% crude protein level feed at 0.0 (C₃₅); 500,0 (T₄); 0,3 (T₅) and 500,3(T₆) respectively. One hundred and twenty juveniles of L. rohita (av. wt. 12.61–13.72 g) were distributed randomly in eight treatments, each of with three replicates. Addition of citric acid in the 25% crude protein feed significantly decreased (P<0.001) feed pH with concurrent decrease in intestinal digesta pH (P<0.001) and increased the bone ash content (P<0.05) by 4.6%. An interaction between citric acid and phytase (P<0.05) was also observed for bone ash content. Increasing the dietary protein content from 25% to 35% significantly decreased (P<0.01) bone Zn content by 14.9%, which was more prominent with the addition of citric acid, resulting in significant interaction between protein and citric acid (P<0.05), but the bone Cu content was significantly increased (P<0.01) with increasing dietary protein content. Dietary supplementation of microbial phytase (500 U kg^?1) significantly increased (P<0.05) bone Na, Ca, K, P and Fe contents by 15%, 12.1%, 17.4%, 9.2% and 40.7%, respectively, whereas bone P and Mn content was significantly increased (P<0.05) by addition of citric acid (3%). Addition of phytase to plant‐based diets increased the bioavailability of minerals, thereby increasing bone mineralization. The effect of phytase was increased because of addition of citric acid (3%).     

Metabolic and digestive enzyme activity of Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (Sauvage, 1878) fingerlings in response to alternate feeding of different protein levels in the diet

A feeding trial was conducted for 90 days to assess the metabolic and digestive enzyme activity in response to alternate or mixed feeding of different protein levels in the diet of Pangasianodon hypophthalmus fingerlings. One hundred and forty four fingerlings with an average weight of 5.0–5.5 g were distributed into four experimental groups each with triplicate. Four iso‐caloric diets with varying level of crude protein viz., 35%, 30%, 25% and 20% were made and designated as diet 35P, 30P, 25P and 20P respectively. Four treatments were maintained based on four different feeding schedules such as continuous feeding of diet 35P (35P/35P), alternate feeding of 1 day diet 35P next day diet 30P (35P/30P), alternate feeding of 1 day diet 35P next day diet 25P (35P/25P) and alternate feeding of 1 day diet 35P next day diet 20P (35P/20P). As a result, specific growth rate (SGR) and weight gain percentage were relatively higher in treatment (35P/25P) followed by (35P/35P) and (35P/30P). The metabolic enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), Glucose‐6‐phosphatase (G6Pase), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were expressed better in (35P/35P) group followed by (35P/25P) and (35P/30P) groups. The digestive enzymes, protease and lipase activities were higher in (35P/35P) and (35P/25P) groups. The present study revealed that the better nutrient utilization and growth of 35P/25P group is because of their balanced digestive and metabolic enzyme activities through alternate level of higher and lower protein diet.