Current Issue : January - March Volume : 2012 Issue Number : 1 Articles : 10 Articles
The proteins and enzymes serves wide variety of application in pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries for catalysis of particular chemical reaction; however instability of these proteins restricts their use because of loss of structural integrity and biological functions. Various methods have been reported for stabilization of proteins. The present communication embodies an in-depth discussion on protein stability including thermodynamic and kinetic stability and different aspects of protein stability. It also includes the various approaches for stability enhancement of proteins such as immobilization, cross linking, encapsulation of protein in polymeric material, chemical modification and protein engineering of the proteins are discussed with suitable examples in detail....
Shrimps continue to be the major foreign exchange earner in the marine sector of India due to heavy demand for export purposes. Shrimp farmers are loosing millions of dollars annually due to the large scale mortality of shrimp due to diseases caused by antibiotic resistance pathogens. The present study were undertaken to isolate the shrimp pathogen, Vibrio parahaemolyticus from the diseased shrimp, Penaeus monodon. Seven herbal plants were selected based on their antibacterial characteristics. In Ethyl alcohol and aqueous solvent extraction maximum inhibition zone were in Punica granatum (24.43 ± 0.15 & 22.60 ± 0.10 mm), ethyl acetate solvent extraction had more effective in Azadirachta indica (12.56 ± 0.15 mm), Dichloro methane solvent extraction maximum inhibition zone were in Curcuma zedoaria (14.86 ± 0.05mm) at 500µg/disc concentration. Punica granatum were showing more effective in zone formation compare with other six herbal plant extracts....
Marine bacteria recognized as important and untapped resource for novel bioactive compounds. In the present study we have isolated and biochemically identified marine microbe Pseudomonas sp. The antibacterial effect of Pseudomonas sp crude extract screened against five dreadful clinical pathogens. The result reveals the crude extract of Pseudomonas sp exhibited greater zone of inhibition against Staphylococcus aeureus (25mm), Pseudomonas sp. (24mm), Streptococcus pyogenes (26mm), Klebsiella pneumonia (20mm) and Lactobacillus acidophilus (21mm) at different concentrations. In conclusion further study will be useful to identify bactericidal or bacteriostatic agent marine microbe Pseudomonas sp....
The marine bacteria were isolated from infected shrimp intestinal sample. The five standard antibiotics of Ampicillin, Erythromycin, Streptomycin, Tetracycline and Clindamycin were tested for antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Vibrio cholerae were evaluated. Antibacterial assay was carried out by using standard disc method. The isolated bacteria and antibiotic sensitivity test were analysed using muller hindon agar medium. The maximum anti bacterial activity recorded from Tetracycline against Bacillus subtilis (29 0.8), Ampicillin against B. subtilis (25 0.5), Streptomycin against B. subtilis (20 0.1), Erythromycin against B. subtilis (12 0.4), and the minimum activity was recorded in Clindamycin against P. aeruginosa (6 0.4). Among the study all the bacteria isolates were more sensitive to Ampicillin compared the other antibiotics, at the same time highest inhibition was recorded Tetracycline against B. subtilis observed in the present study....
Biofilms define mono- or multispecies communities embedded in a self-produced protective matrix, which is strongly attached to surfaces. They often are considered a general threat not only in industry but also in medicine. They constitute a permanent source of contamination, and they can disturb the proper usage of the material onto which they develop. This paper relates to some of the most recent approaches that have been elaborated to eradicate Candida biofilms, based on the vast effort put in ever-improving models of biofilm formation in vitro and in vivo, including novel flow systems, high-throughput techniques and mucosal models. Mixed biofilms, sustaining antagonist or beneficial cooperation between species, and their interplay with the host immune system are also prevalent topics. Alternative strategies against biofilms include the lock therapy and immunotherapy approaches, and material coating and improvements. The host-biofilm interactions are also discussed, together with their potential applications in Candida biofilm elimination....
Dermatophytes are prevalent causes of cutaneous mycoses and, unlike many other fungal pathogens, are able to cause disease in immunocompetent individuals. They infect keratinized tissue such as skin, hair, and nails, resulting in tinea infections, including ringworm. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms that underlie the ability of these organisms to establish and maintain infection. The recent availability of genome sequence information and improved genetic manipulation have enabled researchers to begin to identify and study the role of virulence factors of dermatophytes. This paper will summarize our current understanding of dermatophyte virulence factors and discuss future directions for identifying and testing virulence factors....
Endophytic fungi from the Chinese medicinal plant Actinidia macrosperma were isolated and identified for the first time. This was the first study to evaluate their cytotoxic and antitumour activities against brine shrimp and five types of tumour cells, respectively. In total, 17 fungal isolates were obtained. Five different taxa were represented by 11 isolates, and six isolates were grouped into the species of Ascomycete Incertae sedis with limited morphological and molecular data. Cytotoxic activity has been found in most isolates except AM05, AM06, and AM10. The isolates AM07 (4.86?�µg/mL), AM11 (7.71?�µg/mL), and AM17 (14.88?�µg/mL) exhibited significant toxicity against brine shrimp. The results of the MTT assay to assess antitumour activity revealed that 82.4% of isolate fermentation broths displayed growth inhibition (50% inhibitory concentration IC50< 100?�µg/mL). Moreover, AM07, AM11, and AM17 showed strong antitumour activity in all the cell lines examined. These results suggest that endophytic fungi in A. macrosperma are valuable for the isolation and identification of novel cytotoxic and antitumour bioactive agents....
The global market of medicinal plants has been growing at a fast pace of 7% annually, capitalizing on the growing awareness of herbal and aromatic plants worldwide. Herb-exporting countries will receive more revenues following the widening market for herbal products in developed countries. Two of the largest producers of raw materials of herbal medicines are China and India. Despite its inherent strength in ayurveda and other ethnic systems of medicine, India accounts for only a small portion of the world trade in medicinal and aromatic plants, which is dominated by China. For the control of microbial content, herbal medicinal product and using plant materials samples are Kumari legiyam, Aswagandha legiyam collected from Ayurvedic industry in dindigul, tamilnadu tested to determine the number of microorganisms per gram sample (Total Aerobic Count, Yeast and mould) by standard plate count method, Various physicochemical parameters such as pH, fat, contents of the selected medicinal products. Interpretation of the results is in concordance with the monograph recommendations on the microbiological quality of herbal preparation....
The fatigue prevalence in breast cancer survivors is high during the endocrine treatment. However, there are few evidence-based interventions to manage this symptom. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of spore powder of Ganoderma lucidum for cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing endocrine therapy. Spore powder of Ganoderma lucidum is a kind of Basidiomycete which is a widely used traditional medicine in China. 48 breast cancer patients with cancer-related fatigue undergoing endocrine therapy were randomized into the experimental or control group. FACT-F, HADS, and EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaires data were collected at baseline and 4 weeks after treatment. The concentrations of TNF-a, IL-6, and liver-kidney functions were measured before and after intervention. The experimental group showed statistically significant improvements in the domains of physical well-being and fatigue subscale after intervention. These patients also reported less anxiety and depression and better quality of life. Immune markers of CRF were significantly lower and no serious adverse effects occurred during the study. This pilot study suggests that spore powder of Ganoderma lucidum may have beneficial effects on cancer-related fatigue and quality of life in breast cancer patients undergoing endocrine therapy without any significant adverse effect....
The ethanol extract of seed of Achyranthes aspera was investigated for antimicrobial activity at10 mg/ml concentrations by using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method against gram positive and gram negative organisms like Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. After incubation for 24 hrs, the zone of inhibition was compared with standard antibiotic genatmycin (10 μg/ disc). From the dose dependent study it was observed that the ethanol seed extract was more potent than leaf extract. Flavonoids and tannins present in the both ethanol and aqueous extract may be responsible for the antimicrobial activity. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ethanol extract of seeds were determined by broth dilution technique which ranged from 500 μg to >800 μg /ml and 700 μg to >1000 μg /ml respectively, indicating that A.aspera seed extract was highly effective against E.coli with lower MIC value. There were some biochemical alterations induced by A.aspera. These results indicate that A.aspera fruit possesses potential broad spectrum antimicrobial activity....
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