Biswadeep Das

Molecular investigations of dengue virus during outbreaks in Orissa state, Eastern India from 2010 to 2011

Dengue is one of the most important arboviral diseases in India. Orissa state in Eastern India reported the first dengue outbreak in 2010, followed by extensive outbreaks in 2011, affecting large number of people. Detailed entomological, serological and phylogenetic investigations were performed in mosquitoes and patients serum collected from dengue virus (DENV) affected areas of Orissa. The combination of DENV specific IgM capture-ELISA and reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR) detected high DENV positivity in serum samples. DENV was detected in mosquitoes reared from field caught pupae by RT-PCR, which confirmed the vertical transmission of DENV that may have an important role in the recurrence of dengue outbreaks. Phylogenetic analyses revealed the circulation of Indian lineage of DENV-2 (genotype-IV) and DENV-3 (genotype-III) in vectors and patients serum in Orissa from 2010 to 2011, DENV-2 being the prevailing serotype. Selection analyses within the C-prM region showed that the emergence of DENV-2 and DENV-3 in Orissa was constrained by purifying selection which suggested the role of ecological factors like mosquito density and behavior in the recurrent outbreaks. Aedes albopictus was found to be the most abundant vector in the areas surveyed, followed by Aedes aegypti. Indoor breeding spots (earthen pots) were most abundant, with high pupal productivity (38.50) and contributed maximum Aedes species in the affected areas. The DENV infection rate estimated by maximum likelihood estimate (MLE) was high for indoor breeding Aedes (4.87; 95% CI: 1.82, 10.78) in comparison to outdoor breeding Aedes (1.55; 95% CI: 0.09, 7.55). The high MLE in Ae. albopictus (4.72; 95% CI: 1.94, 9.80) in comparison to Ae. aegypti (1.55; 95% CI: 0.09, 7.54) indicated that Ae. albopictus was the main DENV vector responsible for the outbreaks. The results indicated the circulation of two virulent serotypes of DENV in Orissa, mainly by Ae. albopictus with the implication for implementation of intradomecile vector control measures to prevent the spread of dengue.

Molecular investigations of chikungunya virus during outbreaks in Orissa, Eastern India in 2010

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an arthritogenic alphavirus, is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes of genus Aedes, mainly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. The resurgence of CHIKV in different parts of India is a point of major public health concern. In 2010, chikungunya outbreaks with high epidemic magnitude were recorded in coastal areas of Orissa, Eastern India, affecting more than 15,000 people coupled with severe arthralgia and prolonged morbidites. Detailed entomological, serological and molecular investigation of this unprecendented outbreak was carried out by collecting and studying 1359 mosquito samples belonging to A. albopictus, A. aegypti, A. vittatus, A. edwardsii and Culex species and 220 patients serum from the affected areas. In this study, CHIKV specific IgM capture-ELISA and reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR) were done to detect recent infection of CHIKV in serum samples and adult mosquitoes collected from the affected areas. The high maximum likelihood estimate (MLE) (15.2) in A. albopictus mosquitoes indicated that it was the principal vector involved in transmission of CHIKV in Orissa. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the CHIKV strains involved in the outbreak belonged to the Indian Ocean Lineage (IOL) group within the East, Central and South African (ECSA) genotype. Genetic characterization of envelope glycoprotein (E1 and E2) genes revealed that all the CHIKV isolates from Orissa had the E1-A226V mutation that enhances viral dissemination and transmissibility by A. albopictus mosquitoes along with E2-L210Q and E2-I211T mutations, which play an epistatic role with E1-A226V mutation in adaptation of CHIKV to A. albopictus by increasing its midgut infectivity, thereby favoring its vectorial capacity. Our results showed the involvement of A. albopictus vector in the recent outbreaks in Orissa and circulation of IOL strains of ECSA genotype of CHIKV with E1-A226V, E2-L210Q and E2-I211T mutations in vectors and patients serum.

Development and evaluation of a single-step multiplex PCR to differentiate the aquatic stages of morphologically similar Aedes (subgenus: Stegomyia) species

Objective  To develop a single‐step multiplex PCR to differentiate the aquatic stages of Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus and Aedes vittatus collected from different breeding spots in arbovirus endemic/epidemic areas and to detect the most abundant species by the multiplex PCR.

Anopheles culicifacies sibling species in Odisha, eastern India: First appearance of Anopheles culicifacies E and its vectorial role in malaria transmission.

To identify the Anopheles culicifacies sibling species complex and study their vectorial role in malaria endemic regions of Odisha.

Genetic characterization of E2 region of Chikungunya virus circulating in Odisha, Eastern India from 2010 to 2011.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection has caught attention yet again as it rages around the globe affecting millions of people. The virus caused epidemic outbreaks affecting more than 15,000 people in Odisha, Eastern India since 2010. In this study, complete genetic characterization of E2 gene of CHIKV circulating in Odisha from 2010 to 2011 was performed by virus isolation, RT-PCR, molecular phylogenetics and bioinformatics methods. Phylogenetic analyses revealed the circulation of Indian Ocean Lineage (IOL) strains of ECSA genotype of CHIKV in Odisha. Several mutations were detected in the E2 gene, viz. E2-R82G, E2-L210Q, E2-I211T, E2-V229I and E2-S375T which had various adaptive roles during the evolution of CHIKV. The CHIKV E2 peptide ⁵⁷KTDDSHD⁶³ was predicted to be the most probable T-cell epitope and peptide ⁸⁴FVRTSAPCT⁹² predicted to be the common T and B cell epitope having high antigenicity. The amino acid positions 356-379 and 365-385 were predicted to be transmembrane helical domains and indicated E2 protein anchorage in intracellular membranes for effective interaction with the host receptors. Positive selection pressure was observed in five specific sites, 210, 211, 318, 375, and 377 which were observed to be fixed advantageously in most viral isolates. Structural modeling revealed that E2 gene of CHIKV was composed of 3 domains and the major adaptive mutations were detected in domain B, which can modulate binding of CHIKV to host cells, while the transmembrane domain in domain C and the epitopes were located in domain A, which was found to be most conserved. This is the first report from Eastern India demonstrating a predictive approach to the genetic variations, epitopic regions and the transmembrane helices of the E2 region. The results of this study, combined with other published observations, will expand our knowledge about the E2 region of CHIKV which can be exploited to develop control measures against CHIKV.

Genetic Structure and Wolbachia Genotyping in Naturally Occurring Populations of Aedes albopictus across Contiguous Landscapes of Orissa, India

Background Aedes albopictus has recently been implicated as a major vector in the emergence of dengue and chikungunya in several parts of India, like Orissa, which is gradually gaining endemicity for arboviral diseases. Ae. albopictus is further known to be naturally infected with Wolbachia (maternally inherited bacterium), which causes cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) in mosquitoes leading to sperm-egg incompatibility inducing the death of embryo. Knowledge of genetic diversity of Ae. albopictus, along with revealing the type of Wolbachia infection in Ae. albopictus is important to explore the genetic and biological characteristics of Ae. albopictus, prior to exploring the uses of CI-based vector control strategies. In this study, we assessed the population genetic structure and the pattern of Wolbachia infection in Ae. albopictus mosquitoes of Orissa. Methods and Results Ae. albopictus mosquitoes were collected from 15 districts representing the four physiographical regions of Orissa from 2010–2012, analyzed for genetic variability at seven microsatellite loci and genotyped for Wolbachia strain detection using wsp gene primers. Most microsatellite markers were successfully amplified and were polymorphic, showing moderate genetic structure among all geographic populations (FST = 0.088). Genetic diversity was high (FST = 0.168) in Coastal Plains populations when compared with other populations, which was also evident from cluster analyses that showed most Coastal Plains populations consisted of a separate genetic cluster. Genotyping analyses revealed that Wolbachia-infected Ae. albopictus field populations of Orissa were mostly superinfected with wAlbA and wAlbB strains. Wolbachia superinfection was more pronounced in the Coastal Plain populations. Conclusion High genetic structure and Wolbachia superinfection, observed in the Coastal Plain populations of Orissa suggested it to be genetically and biologically more unique than other populations, and hence could influence their vectorial attributes. Such high genetic diversity observed among Coastal Plains populations could be attributed to multiple introductions of Ae. albopictus in this region.

Locomotor response to acute stressors requires hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal axis activation and glucocorticoid receptors in zebrafish

When vertebrates face acute stressors, their bodies rapidly undergo a repertoire of physiological and behavioral adaptations, which is termed the stress response (SR). Rapid physiological changes in heart rate and blood sugar levels occur via the interaction of glucocorticoids and their cognate receptors following hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation. These physiological changes are observed within minutes of encountering a stressor and the rapid time domain rules out genomic responses that require gene expression changes. Although behavioral changes corresponding to physiological changes are commonly observed, it is not clearly understood to what extent HPA axis activation dictates adaptive behavior. We hypothesized that rapid locomotor response to acute stressors in zebrafish requires HPI axis activation. In teleost fish, interrenal cells (I) are functionally homologous to the adrenal gland cortical layer. We derived 8 frameshift mutants in genes involved in HPI axis function: two mutants in exon 2 of mc2r (adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor), two in each of exon 2 and exon 5 of nr3c1 (glucocorticoid receptor), and two in exon 2 of nr3c2 (mineralocorticoid receptor). Exposing larval zebrafish to mild environmental stressors, acute changes in salinity or light illumination, results in a rapid locomotor response. We show here that this locomotor response requires a functioning HPI axis via the action of mc2r (adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor) and the canonical glucocorticoid receptor encoded by nr3c1 gene, but not mineralocorticoid receptor (nr3c2). Our rapid behavioral assay paradigm based on HPI axis biology may prove useful to screen for genetic, pharmacological, or environmental modifiers of the HPA axis. Significance Altered HPA axis activity is acknowledged as a causative and critical prognostic factor in many psychiatric disorders including depression. Nonetheless, genome wide association studies (GWAS) on depression have revealed conflicting findings about susceptibility loci, while identifying several genetic loci that warrant further investigations in the process. Such findings indicate that psychiatric disorders with complex genetic foundations require functional studies as well as genetic analyses. We developed a sensitive behavioral assay paradigm that leverages the genetic amenability and rapid development of zebrafish and demonstrated that our assay system reliably detects changes in HPA axis responsiveness. Our functional genetics and behavioral assay approach provides a useful platform to discover novel genetic, pharmacological, or environmental modifiers of the HPA axis.

Humidity as a non-pharmaceutical intervention for influenza A

Influenza is a global problem infecting 5–10% of adults and 20–30% of children annually. Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are attractive approaches to complement vaccination in the prevention and reduction of influenza. Strong cyclical reduction of absolute humidity has been associated with influenza outbreaks in temperate climates. This study tested the hypothesis that raising absolute humidity above seasonal lows would impact influenza virus survival and transmission in a key source of influenza virus distribution, a community school. Air samples and objects handled by students (e.g. blocks and markers) were collected from preschool classrooms. All samples were processed and PCR used to determine the presence of influenza virus and its amount. Additionally samples were tested for their ability to infect cells in cultures. We observed a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the total number of influenza A virus positive samples (air and fomite) and viral genome copies upon humidification as compared to control rooms. This suggests the future potential of artificial humidification as a possible strategy to control influenza outbreaks in temperate climates. There were 2.3 times as many ILI cases in the control rooms compared to the humidified rooms, and whether there is a causal relationship, and its direction between the number of cases and levels of influenza virus in the rooms is not known. Additional research is required, but this is the first prospective study suggesting that exogenous humidification could serve as a scalable NPI for influenza or other viral outbreaks.

In vivo molecular toxicity profile of dental bioceramics in embryonic Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The investigation of the biocompatibility of potential and commercially available dental material is a major challenge in dental science. This study demonstrates that the zebrafish model is a novel in vivo model for investigating the biocompatibility of dental materials. Two commercially available dental materials, mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and Biodentine, were assessed for their biocompatibility. The biocompatibility analysis was performed in embryonic zebrafish with the help of standard toxicity assays measuring essential parameters such as survivability and hatching. The mechanistic and comparative analysis of toxicity was performed by oxidative stress analysis by measuring ROS induction and apoptosis in zebrafish exposed to dental materials at different concentrations. The molecular investigation at the protein level was done by a computational approach using in silico molecular docking and pathway analysis. The toxicity analysis showed a significant reduction in hatching and survivability rates along with morphological malformations with an increase in the concentration of exposed materials. ROS and apoptosis assay results revealed a greater biocompatibility of Biodentine as compared to that of MTA which was concentration-dependent. In silico analysis showed the significant role of the tricalcium silicate-protein ( Sod1, tp53, RUNX2B) interaction in an exhibition of toxicity. The study provides a new vision and standard in dental material sciences for assessing the biocompatibility of potential novel and commercially available dental materials.

Vectorial capacity and genetic diversity of Anopheles annularis (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes in Odisha, India from 2009 to 2011.

Anopheles annularis is one of the major vectors of malaria in Odisha, India. The present study was undertaken to determine the vectorial capacity and assess the genetic diversity of An. annularis collected from different endemic regions of Odisha. Mosquitoes were collected from thirteen endemic districts using standard entomological collection methods from 2009 to 2011. Sibling species of An. annularis were identified by PCR-RFLP and sequencing of D3 region of 28S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) region. Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) sporozoite rate and human blood fed percentage (HBF) were estimated by multiplex PCR using Pf and human specific primers. Genetic diversity of An. annularis was estimated by ISSR markers. Out of 1647 An. annularis collected, 1353 (82.15%) were collected by mechanical aspirators and 294 (17.85%) by light trap. 49 (2.97%) were positive for human blood and 18 (1.09%) were positive for Pf sporozoite. PCR-RFLP and sequencing analyses detected only An annularis A in the study areas. Overall genetic differentiation among An. annularis populations was moderate (FST=0.048) and showed significant correlation between genetic distance and geographic distance (r=0.882; P<0.05). Angul population proved to be genetically unique and was highly divergent FST>0.110) from other populations, suggesting low gene flow between them. The study indicated that only An. annularis A was found in Odisha with potential vectorial capacity that can play a major role in malaria transmission. ISSR markers proved to be useful molecular tools to evaluate genetic variability in An. annularis populations.