Key message
The association of natural genetic variations of salt-responsive candidate genes belonging to different gene families with salt-tolerance phenotype and their haplotype variation in ...different geographic regions.
Soil salinity covers a large part of the arable land of the world and is a major factor for yield losses in salt-sensitive crops, such as rice. Different gene families that respond to salinity have been identified in rice, but limited success has been achieved in developing salt-tolerant cultivars. Therefore, 21 salt stress-responsive candidate genes belonging to different gene families were re-sequenced to analyse their genetic variation and association with salt tolerance. The average single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) density was 16 SNPs per kbp amongst these genes. The identified nucleotide and haplotype diversity showed comparatively higher genetic variation in the transporter family genes. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis showed significant associations of SNPs in
BADH2, HsfC1B, MIPS1, MIPS2, MYB2, NHX1, NHX2, NHX3, P5CS1, P5CS2, PIP1, SIK1, SOS1
, and
SOS2
genes with the salt-tolerant phenotype. A combined analysis of SNPs in the 21 candidate genes and eight other HKT transporter genes produced two separate clusters of tolerant genotypes, carrying unique SNPs in the ion transporter and osmoticum-related genes. Haplotype network analysis showed all the major and few minor alleles distributed over distant geographic regions. Minor haplotypes may be recently evolved alleles which migrated to distant geographic regions and may represent recent expansion of Indian wild rice. The analysis of genetic variation in different gene families identified the relationship between adaptive variations and functional significance of the genes. Introgression of the identified alleles from wild relatives may enhance the salt tolerance and consequently rice production in the salinity-affected areas.
•Multi-centric hospital-based study was conducted across 11 cities in India.•Both Covishield and Covaxin confer high protection against severe COVID-19.•Both vaccines provide high protection against ...severe disease by the Delta strain.•Expansion of the two-dose vaccination coverage is key to reducing hospitalizations.
India introduced BBV152/Covaxin and AZD1222/Covishield vaccines in January 2021. We estimated the effectiveness of these vaccines against severe COVID-19 among individuals aged ≥45 years.
We did a multi-centric, hospital-based, case-control study between May and July 2021. Cases were severe COVID-19 patients, and controls were COVID-19 negative individuals from 11 hospitals. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) was estimated for complete (2 doses ≥ 14 days) and partial (1 dose ≥ 21 days) vaccination; interval between two vaccine doses and vaccination against the Delta variant. We used the random effects logistic regression model to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) after adjusting for relevant known confounders.
We enrolled 1143 cases and 2541 control patients. The VE of complete vaccination was 85% (95% CI: 79-89%) with AZD1222/Covishield and 71% (95% CI: 57-81%) with BBV152/Covaxin. The VE was highest for 6-8 weeks between two doses of AZD1222/Covishield (94%, 95% CI: 86-97%) and BBV152/Covaxin (93%, 95% CI: 34-99%). The VE estimates were similar against the Delta strain and sub-lineages.
BBV152/Covaxin and AZD1222/Covishield were effective against severe COVID-19 among the Indian population during the period of dominance of the highly transmissible Delta variant in the second wave of the pandemic. An escalation of two-dose coverage with COVID-19 vaccines is critical to reduce severe COVID-19 and further mitigate the pandemic in the country.
•More than eighty percent adults immune to at least one dengue serotype.•More than half of them are immune to all four dengue serotypes.•Substantial interindividual variation observed in MBC, ...neutralizing/binding antibodies levels.•Presence of the neutralizing antibodies correlate with presence of binding antibodies, but not vice versa.•Levels of neutralizing and binding antibodies are not in perfect correlation.
The Indian population is facing highest dengue burden worldwide supporting an urgent need for vaccines. For vaccine introduction, evaluation and interpretation it is important to gain a critical understanding of immune memory induced by natural exposure. However, immune memory to dengue remains poorly characterized in this region.
We enumerated levels of dengue specific memory B cells (MBC), neutralizing (NT) and binding antibodies in healthy adults (n=70) from New Delhi.
NT-antibodies, binding antibodies and MBC were detectable in 86%, 86.56% and 81.63% of the subjects respectively. Among the neutralizing positive subjects, 58%, 27%, 5% and 10% neutralized all four, any three, any two and any one dengue serotypes respectively. The presence of the neutralizing antibodies was associated with the presence of the MBC and binding antibodies. However, a massive interindividual variation was observed in the levels of the neutralizing antibodies (range, <1:50–1:30,264), binding antibodies (range, 1:3,000–1:134,000,) as well as the MBC (range=0.006%–5.05%).
These results indicate that a vast majority of the adults are immune to multiple dengue serotypes and show massive interindividual variation in neutralizing/binding antibodies and MBCs – emphasizing the importance of monitoring multiple parameters of immune memory in order to properly plan, evaluate and interpret dengue vaccines.
Obesity and ageing increases bone marrow fat which in turn is associated with lower bone mass. Marrow adipocytes by secreting cytokines, adipokines and free fatty acids change the bone marrow milieu ...and thus the number of osteoblasts. Palmitate is the common saturated fatty acid, an unavoidable ingredient we consume with food, which kindles cell apoptosis. Compound 4e is osteogenic in nature. We examine the effect of compound 4e in palmitate induced lipotoxicity in rat osteoblasts. Design of benzofuran Pyran hybrid compound (4e) was found to be effective in inhibiting palmitate induced cell apoptosis. In this study an in vitro model of palmitate was contrived. Anti-apoptotic effect of compound 4e was assessed by Annexin/PI and LDH (Lactate dehydrogenase) assay. Compound 4e also increased osteoblast differentiation and mineralization. It also increased expression of osteogenic markers (RUNX2 and BMP2), assessed by Real time PCR and immunofluorescence, which was impeded by palmitate. Acetyl Co-Carboxylase (ACC) and Fatty acid synthase (FAS), two prominent mediators of lipid biosynthesis were increased by palmitate exposure. Compound 4e modulated lipid biosynthesis by inhibiting ACC and FAS as reflected visually and after quantification of less lipid droplet formation suggesting that 4e is osteogenic and simultaneously anti-lipotoxic.
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•Sodium palmitate, a saturated fatty acid, induces cell apoptosis in osteoblast.•Compound 4e (Benzofuran pyran compound) ameliorates lipotoxic effect of sodium palmitate and rescue osteoblast.•Compound 4e increased expression of osteogenic genes which was downregulated by Palmitate.
Rotational bands built on positive parity
s
1
/
2
,
d
3
/
2
, and
g
7
/
2
valence neutron orbitals in
127
Xe
have been investigated via in-beam
γ
ray spectroscopy. Excited states belonging to these ...one-quasineutron bands were populated via
122
Sn
(
9
Be
,
4n
γ
) fusion-evaporation reaction at a beam energy of 48 MeV. The level scheme has been updated by extending the low-lying rotational bands up to higher spin states, as well as, by assigning the spin/parity of the constituting energy levels. Signature splitting of low-
j
ν
s
1
/
2
,
ν
d
3
/
2
and high-
j
ν
g
7
/
2
bands have been discussed in comparison to the neighbouring nuclei. Theoretical Modified Particle Rotor Model (MPRM) calculations have been carried out in order to study the microscopic structure of these bands.
A family of four odd parity bands in 127Xe has been investigated via in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy and conclusive evidence for the first and second phonon longitudinal wobbling excitations has been ...found. Spectroscopic measurements confirm the predominant E2 character of the ΔI=1 transitions between the wobbling bands. This provides the first experimental evidence of longitudinal wobbling mode associated with a neutron configuration.
Dengue is a global epidemic causing over 100 million cases annually. The clinical symptoms range from mild fever to severe hemorrhage and shock, including some fatalities. The current paradigm is ...that these severe dengue cases occur mostly during secondary infections due to antibody-dependent enhancement after infection with a different dengue virus serotype. India has the highest dengue burden worldwide, but little is known about disease severity and its association with primary and secondary dengue infections. To address this issue, we examined 619 children with febrile dengue-confirmed infection from three hospitals in different regions of India. We classified primary and secondary infections based on IgM:IgG ratios using a dengue-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay according to the World Health Organization guidelines. We found that primary dengue infections accounted for more than half of total clinical cases (344 of 619), severe dengue cases (112 of 202) and fatalities (5 of 7). Consistent with the classification based on binding antibody data, dengue neutralizing antibody titers were also significantly lower in primary infections compared to secondary infections (P ≤ 0.0001). Our findings question the currently widely held belief that severe dengue is associated predominantly with secondary infections and emphasizes the importance of developing vaccines or treatments to protect dengue-naive populations.
γ-vibration in 126Xe: A revisit Chakraborty, S.; Sharma, H.P.; Tiwary, S.S. ...
Nuclear physics. A,
April 2020, 2020-04-00, Letnik:
996
Journal Article
Recenzirano
The electromagnetic properties of the γ-transitions, decaying from the γ-vibrational states of 126Xe, have been studied via 122Sn(9Be, 5nγ) fusion-evaporation reaction at a beam energy of 48 MeV. The ...level scheme has been updated by placing the 82+→81+ (ΔI=0) and the 71+→61+ (ΔI=1) γ-transitions. Spin and parity of several excited states have been assigned on the basis of angular correlation and linear polarization results. Systematic of the γ-band in even-even Xe isotopes has been discussed.
Objective: Evaluation of Antimicrobial and Antifungal potential of Phytoconstituents present in leaf extracts of Bergenia ligulata (wall.) plant.
Methods: The antimicrobial effects of leaves of ...Bergenia ligulata (wall.) were evaluated using both ethanol and aqueous extracts against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and Penicillium spp. Agar well diffusion method was employed in determining the antimicrobial activity and the broth dilution method for determining the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration. All the isolates examined were susceptible to both the ethanol, aqueous, and the combined aqueous and ethanol extracts (synergetic effect) of the Bergenia ligulata leaves.
Results: The zone of inhibition ranged from 6.93±0.02b mm to 12.81±0.03a mm, with Escherichia coli being the most susceptible at 12.81±0.03a mm to the ethanol and 11.53±0.02a mm to the aqueous extracts at 250 mg/ml concentration while P. aeruginosa and Penicillin spp. were the slightest susceptible at 10.88±0.02a mm to the ethanol and 09.76±0.02a mm to the aqueous extract at 250 mg/ml concentration. The control/standard antimicrobial agent (Gentamicin and Metronidazole) exhibited higher inhibitory activity than the plant extracts. The least inhibitory value of 6.25 mg/ml was produced against P. aeruginosa by the ethanolic extract and against C. albicans by the combined (aqueous and ethanol) extracts of the plant. The qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening of the leaves of Bergenia ligulata reveals the presence of flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, and steroids. The most abundant percentage composition observed was flavonoids (7.72%), while tannins had the least component (4.29%).
Conclusion: The findings from this study show that the leaves extracts hold considerable antimicrobial activity against commonly encountered microorganisms in the environment. This, therefore, implies that it can be used as a chemotherapeutic agent which will contribute to the development of antibiotic drugs against the test organisms.
The covid-19 pandemic has emerged as the most severe health challenge since the end of the 1918 Spanish flu. With the social distancing norms and travel restrictions in place, the education sector ...has radically changed. The students have continued their studies in virtual mode for the past two years. But after the pandemic, the pupils must return to their old lives. The objective of this paper is to find out how this change affects the students mentally and whether attending classes offline is taking a toll on them. Are they feeling more stressed compared to when they were online, and is the change affecting their academic performance? This paper will analyse the psychological effects of a change in the environment of a student's life and try to answer what will be the best solution to the problems caused therein.
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