Bala Gopalan Unni

Role of glutathione S transferase polymorphism in COPD with special reference to peoples living in the vicinity of the open cast coal mine of Assam.

Background COPD may develop due to variation in the functioning of antioxidants along with smoking and environmental factors in genetically susceptible individuals. Since there are different views about the antioxidants responsible for detoxifying xenobiotic compound in the human body whose functional variation may lead to obstructive disease, this associative study has been taken up between GST gene polymorphism and COPD in populations exposed to coal dusts. Methods Genotypes of the 70 COPD patients and 85 non COPD patients were determined by PCR based methods followed by multiplex PCR of GSTT1 and GSTM1 genes taking albumin gene as a control. Suspended particulate analyses were determined through the Respirable Dust sampler along with the FTIR analysis of the dust samples from the glass microfiber filters. Results Dust sampling analysis reveals higher level of respirable suspended particulate matter, non respirable particulate matter, SO2 and NO2 present in air of the study site. FTIR analysis also suggests a higher concentration of organic silicone and aliphatic C-F compounds present in air of the study site and when spirometry was done, low lung function was observed among most of the subjects. GSTM1 null type was significantly associated with low lung function in smoker groups and the presence of at least one active allele (either GSTM1/GSTT1) seemed to have a protective role in the development of COPD. Conclusions GSTM1 (null genotype) appeared to be a risk factor for lower lung function in smokers living in the vicinity of coal mines. Apart from polluted environment and genetic susceptibility, mixed coal dust exposure rich in organic silicone and aliphatic C-F compounds also appears to be a factor for the low lung function.

Evaluation of in-vitro antifungal activity of medicinal plants against phytopathogenic fungi

Fourteen medicinal plants belonging to 13 families were collected and extracted with petroleum ether (PE), chloroform, methanol and water to yield 60 crude extracts. Using agar diffusion method, these extracts were evaluated for antifungal activity on the growth of five phytopathogenic fungi. Among all the extracts tested, PE, chloroform and methanol extracts of Piper betle L. and PE and chloroform extracts of Allamanda cathartica exhibited promising antifungal activity. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the above promising extracts were determined using broth dilution technique and observed that chloroform extract of P. betle L. exhibited the least MIC value ranging from 280 to 1130 μg ml−1. In this study, we report chloroform extract of P. betle L. to be thermally stable even when steam sterilised for the first time and that it could be stored at 4°C with almost no change in its activity for a period of 180 days.

Alpha 1 antitrypsin gene: A case-control study in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is an inherited disorder that causes low levels of, or no AAT in the blood. The most common illness in adults with AAT deficiency is lung disease during the third and fourth decades of life. Most commonly, it is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Mutations in the protease inhibitor (PI) gene, located on chromosome 14, are associated with this genetic disorder. The Z protein is due to a single amino acid substitution of 342 glutamine lysine. Although cigarette smoking is the main environmental risk factor, only about 15% of smokers develop clinically significant disease suggesting other influences on disease expression. The study included hospital based age and sex matched 100 cases of COPD and 100 controls without COPD recruited from Christian Medical Centre, Jorhat, Assam. These cases were recruited from February 2009 to December 2009. Subjects were included in the COPD group on the basis of lung function test. DNA extraction was done by DNA extraction kit and amplification for AAT gene was done by site directed mutagenesis polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method as described by Tazellar et al. (1992). We found that smoking was the prior cause of COPD. A1AT deficiency is not prevalent in our population subset but certain other genes could be the attributable factor for COPD.

Identification and characterization of Fusarium sp. using ITS and RAPD causing fusarium wilt of tomato isolated from Assam, North East India

Fusarium oxysporum which causes wilt is a serious pathogen. Fusarium isolates were isolated from Assam located in North East region of India. Morphological identification of Fusarium isolates was done using conidial and hyphal structures. Molecular identification of Fusarium isolates was done by amplifying the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the conserved ribosomal DNA using primers ITS1 and ITS4. All the ITS sequences were compared for gaps and similarity. Further, characterization of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was carried out using 40 primers. 15 primers that gave reproducible results were selected. RAPD was used to observe the relatedness among these isolates. Thus, it was concluded that molecular profiling using ITS is an indispensable method for identification studies.

Circulatory heavy metals (cadmium, lead, mercury, and chromium) inversely correlate with plasma GST activity and GSH level in COPD patients and impair NOX4/Nrf2/GCLC/GST signaling pathway in cultured monocytes

This study aims to examine the hypothesis that circulatory heavy metals may be associated with lung function decline and lower plasma GST activity and GSH level in COPD patients via activating monocytes mediated by impairing the NOX4/Nrf2/GCLC/GST signaling pathway. Results showed that the blood levels of heavy metals (cadmium, lead, mercury, and chromium) were significantly higher in COPD patients of coal mine site compared to the healthy controls. The levels of heavy metals in COPD patients were significantly and negatively correlated with lung function, GST activity, and GSH level. Using flowcytometry, fluorescence spectroscopy, and immunoblotting studies we have further demonstrated that treatment with individual heavy metals dose-dependently increased the NOX4 protein expression, intracellular ROS production, and decreased the Nrf2, GCLC, and GST protein expression, GST activity, and GSH level in THP-1 monocytes. None of the treatment caused any change in cell viability compared to control. In conclusion, this study suggests that circulatory heavy metals in COPD patients of coal mine site weakened the lung function, decreased the plasma GST activity and GSH level via impairing the NOX4/Nrf2/GCLC/GST signaling pathway in monocytes, which may cause monocyte activation and initiate the COPD pathophysiology.

Role of Plant: Microbe Interactions in the Sustainable Development of Muga Sericulture

In recent decades, increased agricultural production leads to intensive use of agrochemicals. This has affected the ecosystem stability. Biological control is one such alternative which supplements the use of chemical fertilizer, prevents the plant diseases, and promotes the health of the plants. In Muga sericulture, a Som plant (Machilus bombycina) is used as primary host plants of Muga silkworm (Antheraea assama, Helfer). A study has been made to improve the quality and quantity production of silk fiber using bacteria as a biocontrol agent and production of antibacterial peptides using Muga silkworm as a model insect for the control of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a causative agent of flacherie disease in Muga silkworm. This study could be exploited in improvement of silk production and biocontrol of flacherie disease.

Effect of Partially Purified Protease of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strain AC-3 on Antheraea assama Westwood Larvae

The protease released by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain AC-3, a causal organism of flacherie disease in Antheraea assama Westwood silkworms, was characterized and its activity against muga silkworm ...