Immunogenic and antigenic properties of recombinant soluble glycoprotein of rabies virus

Rabies virus glycoprotein is a type I transmembrane protein exposed on the surface on the mature virus particle that induces virus neutralizing antibodies. In the present study, 60 amino acid C-terminal hydrophobic anchor (transmembrane) and cytoplasmic domains of glycoprotein were deleted from full-length glycoprotein and fused with polyhistidine tag. The N-terminal viral signal peptide was also replaced with CD33 signal peptide for efficient secretion in mammalian cells. Following transfection of Madin Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells with plasmid encoding this soluble form of glycoprotein, polyclonal populations of stably transfected resistant cells were obtained after G418 selection. The protein was expressed as a glycosylated protein and secreted outside the cells utilizing N-terminal CD33 signal peptide. The secreted soluble glycoprotein was purified from cell culture supernatant by Ni--agarose affinity chromatography utilizing C-terminal polyhistidine tag. Like full-length glycoprotein, the expressed recombinant soluble glycoprotein was found to be immunogenic when injected in rabbits. In this study, we have assessed the potential of recombinant soluble glycoprotein as diagnostic antigen in ELISA and found that this recombinant protein can be used as diagnostic antigen in ELISA for detecting anti-glycoprotein antibodies in immunized host.     

Phenylpropanoids of Alpinia galanga as efflux pump inhibitors in Mycobacterium smegmatis mc(2) 155

The first and second line drugs used for the treatment of tuberculosis are now becoming ineffective due to emergence of resistant strains. Efflux pump provokes resistance in mycobacterium and hence could be explored as a new target for the discovery of anti-TB agents. In search of efflux pump inhibitors, MIC and modulation factor of phenylpropanoids isolated from A. galanga rhizome were determined prior to the accumulation and efflux assay. Phenylpropanoid compounds viz. 1'-S-1'-Acetoxychavicol acetate, trans-p-coumaryl diacetate and 1'-S-1'-acetoxyeugenol acetate were found to be potent modulators and decreased the MIC of ethidium bromide by 64 fold at the concentration of 2.5, 6.25 and 5.0mg/L respectively. 1'-S-1'-Acetoxyeugenol acetate enhanced the accumulation and inhibited the efflux of EtBr in Mycobacterium smegmatis mc(2) 155 cells.     

Detection of the occurrence of the fall armyworm,Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) strains on maize in Southern Rajasthan India

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), a polyphagous lepidopteran pest that is native to tropical and sub-tropical America has...     

Seed protein diversity in Solanum melongena L. and its wild and weedy relatives

Seed protein profiles by SDS-PAGE were studied in 72 accessions ofSolanum melongena L. and its related taxa in subgenusLeptostemonum (Dunal) Bitter. Comparisons based onJaccard's similarity and UPGMA clustering revealed interrelationships broadly inconformity with the conventional taxonomic treatments. Thus,S. viarum Dunal (sectionAcanthophora Dunal), S.torvum Swartz (section Torva Nees) andS. sisymbriifolium Lam. (sectionCryptocarpum Dunal) were located on separate branches ofthe dendrogram while all taxa of section Melongena Dunal,except S. macrocarpon Dunal, wereclustered closer together. S.melongena, incanum and insanum,all members of the eggplant complex, were revealed to bear very high similaritywith each other. Most of their accessions had identical band patterns supportingthe contention that these represent an interbreeding complex with limitedgenetic differentiation.     

Verminous meningoencephalomyelitis in a red kangaroo associated with Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection

Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a zoonotic parasitic helminth that normally resides in the pulmonary arteries and the right ventricle of rats (Rattus sp.), the definitive host, where it causes little disease. Humans, dogs, opossums, and various zoo animals are “accidental” hosts. Here we report verminous meningoencephalomyelitis caused by A. cantonensis in a 9-mo-old male red kangaroo (Macropus rufus). The kangaroo was first presented lethargic, recumbent, and hypothermic, with severe muscle wasting. Within 3 wk, he progressed to non-ambulatory paraparesis and died. Gross examination revealed multifocal areas of dark-brown discoloration, malacia, and cavitation in the brain and the spinal cord. Histologically, there were several sections of nematodes surrounded by extensive areas of rarefaction, hemorrhage, spongiosis, neuronal necrosis, and gliosis. Based on size, morphology, and organ location, the nematodes were identified as subadult males and females. Interestingly, an eosinophilic response was largely absent, and the inflammatory response was minimal. A. cantonensis infection had not been reported previously in a red kangaroo in Louisiana or Mississippi, to our knowledge. Our case reaffirms the widespread presence of the helminth in the southeastern United States and indicates that A. cantonensis should be considered as a differential in macropods with neurologic clinical signs in regions where A. cantonensis is now endemic.