Potential Chemoprevention of 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene Induced Renal Carcinogenesis by Moringa oleifera Pods and Its Isolated Saponin

Present investigation shows that hydroethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera (MOHE) and its isolated saponin (SM) attenuates DMBA induced renal carcinogenesis in mice. Isolation of SM was achieved by TLC and HPLC and characterization was done using IR and ¹H NMR. Animals were pre-treated with MOHE (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight; p.o), BHA as a standard (0.5 and 1 %) and SM (50 mg/kg body weight) for 21 days prior to the administration of single dose of DMBA (15 mg/kg body weight). Administration of DMBA significantly (p < 0.001) enhanced level of xenobiotic enzymes. It enhanced renal malondialdehyde, with reduction in renal glutathione content, antioxidant enzymes and glutathione-S-transferase. The status of renal aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and total protein content were also found to be decreased along with increase in total cholesterol in DMBA administered mice. Pretreatment with MOHE and SM significantly reversed the DMBA induced alterations in the tissue and effectively suppressed renal oxidative stress and toxicity.     

Biochemical characterization of an immunodominant allergen/antigen ofAspergillus fumigatus

An 18kDa protein was identified as a major immunodominant allergen/antigen secreted by a wild type isolate and various clinical isolates ofA. fumigatus. The protein was purified to homogeneity and the N-terminal amino acid was found to be alanine. The N-terminal 20 amino acid sequence of 18kDa was found to be similar to restrictocin, a cytotoxin secreted byAspergillus restrictus. Mass spectroscopic analysis of the purified allergen revealed a molecular size of 17.01 kDa. Immunoreactivity of the purified allergen with monoclonal antibodies and specific IgG and IgE antibodies of the patients of aspergillosis confirmed that this protein is Asp fl.     

COVID-19 and Gut Microbiota: A Potential Connection

Currently, world is facing a global outbreak causing a pandemic threat known as COVID-19. This infectious disease is triggered by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Gut microbiota harbours multi species community with a strong impact on host immune homeostasis. However, our knowledge about this gut microbiota and its symbiotic relationship with immune activation in association with SARS-CoV-2 is limited. Unbalanced bacterial flora with too many opportunistic infections can shift immune system towards a cascade of inflammatory responses leading to multi organ damage. This review will highlight immune-regulation via various mechanisms in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Diet has an unbelievable influence on gut microbiome that allows a new state of homeostasis to be reached through timing, frequency and duration of intake. This review article focuses on gut, lung microbiota and immunomodulation with specific attention on immune activation by gut microbiota.     

Deconstructing Arsovski’s proof of Snevily’s conjecture

The combinatorial problem discussed in this article is very simple to state but needs the algebraic machinery of characters of abelian groups.     

Detection ofAspergillus Fumigatus based on Asp fl gene in clinical specimens

Oligonucleotide primers were synthesised based on the gene sequence of an 18 kDa allergen/antigen ofA. fumigatus isolated from a pathogenic strain. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out using the forward and reverse primers and genomic DNA ofA. fumigatus, A. flavus andA. niger as template. This resulted in a PCR product of 480 bp with onlyA. fumigatus. The absence of PCR product inA. flavus andA. niger with the primers of Asp fl facilitated use of these primers for detection ofA. fumigatus in clinical specimens of patients. The results were compared with microscopy, culture and serology. Application of PCR test to clinical samples of aspergillosis patients is discussed.