Mohammed Kuddus

Recent Developments in Production and Biotechnological Applications of C-Phycocyanin

An extensive range of pigments including phycobiliproteins are present in algae. C-phycocyanin (C-PC), a phycobiliprotein, is one of the key pigments of Spirulina, a microalgae used in many countries as a dietary supplement. Algal pigments have massive commercial value as natural colorants in nutraceutical, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries, besides their health benefits. At present, increasing awareness of harmful effects of synthetic compounds and inclination of community towards the usage of natural products have led to the exploitation of microalgae as a source of natural pigments/colors. This review describes recent findings about the sources and production of C-PC, with emphasis on specific techniques for extraction and purification, along with potential industrial applications in diagnostics, foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries.

Recent developments in production and biotechnological applications of cold-active microbial proteases.

Microbial proteases that occupy a pivotal position with respect to their commercial applications are most important hydrolytic enzymes and have been studied extensively since the advent of enzymology. Cold-adapted microorganisms are potential source of cold-active proteases and they have been isolated from the cold regions. Although there are many microbial sources available for producing proteases, only few are recognized as commercial producer. Cold-active proteases along with their producing microbes are of commercial value and find multiple applications in various industrial and biotechnological sectors such as additives in detergents, additives in food industries, environmental bioremediations, biotransformation and molecular biology applications. Therefore, cold-active proteases are the enzymes of choice for many biotechnologists, microbiologists, biochemists, environmentalists and biochemical engineers. In the present review, we discuss some novel sources along with recent developments in production and biotechnological applications of cold-active microbial proteases.

Cholinesterase levels and morbidity in pesticide sprayers in North India

BACKGROUND Pesticide sprayers in North India use different application methods for different crops. AIMS To compare cholinesterase activity and symptoms in knapsack and tractor-mounted pesticide sprayers. METHODS Blood cholinesterase activity and symptoms were recorded for 42 knapsack and 66 tractor-mounted sprayers attending a health camp in North India in 2009 and for 30 controls. RESULTS One hundred and eight of 197 (55%) eligible sprayers consented to participate. Mean acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase activity was 33 and 60% lower, respectively, in knapsack sprayers than in controls (P < 0.001) and 56 and 62% lower, respectively, in tractor-mounted sprayers than in controls (P < 0.001). AChE depletion was greater in tractor-mounted sprayers than in knapsack sprayers (P < 0.001). In knapsack sprayers compared to controls, odds ratios (OR) were significantly raised for musculoskeletal symptoms (OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.03-18) but not for other symptoms. In tractor-mounted sprayers compared to controls, ORs were significantly raised for neurological (OR 7, 95% CI 2-23), ocular (OR 8.7, 95% CI 2.7-32), respiratory (OR 5.14, 95% CI 1-29), cardiovascular (OR 7.5, 95% CI 2-42), gastrointestinal (OR 5.43, 95% CI 2-18) and musculoskeletal (OR 6.12, 95% CI 2-26) symptoms but not for dermal symptoms (OR 1.93, 95% CI 0.3-20). CONCLUSIONS The risk of cholinesterase inhibition and symptoms is greater in tractor-mounted than in knapsack pesticide sprayers and in both groups compared to controls. Occupational exposure in pesticide sprayers in North India needs better control, perhaps through redesign of spraying equipment.

Trans-resveratrol restores the damages induced by organophosphate pesticide-monocrotophos in neuronal cells

The restorative potential of trans-resveratrol (RV) was investigated in a rat neuronal cell line (PC12) exposed to organophosphate pesticide-monocrotophos (MCP). RV shows significant protection against MCP-induced alterations in PC12 cells by restoration of oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis and cytotoxicity. RV treatment significantly reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and lipid peroxidation, and also restored glutathione levels and mitochondrial membrane potential, in cells receiving MCP. Restoration of markers such as cytochrome c, Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 also confirms the effectiveness of RV against MCP-induced, mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in PC12 cells. The data identify the protective/restorative potential of RV against MCP-induced neuronal damages by affecting ROS production and the level of antioxidant defence enzymes.

Visual disturbances with cholinesterase depletion due to exposure of agricultural pesticides among farm workers

In this study, risk assessment for visual disturbances among farm workers spraying agricultural pesticides in farms have been assessed. A cross-sectional study for the assessment of visual disturbances was undertaken using questionnaire survey and clinical examination among agricultural workers exposed to pesticides. Two hundred and thirty nine pesticide sprayers participated in the study. The study was compared to 110 controls not occupationally exposed to pesticides with similar socio-economic status. The prevalence of ocular morbidity was found to be 40% among pesticide sprayers which was significantly higher (p < 0.01) as compared to controls. The symptoms among morbid subjects were found to be blurred vision, lacrimation, pain in eyes, red swollen eyes, and irritation of eyes. Exposure wise assessment of ocular symptoms among pesticide sprayers illustrates that exposure time elevates the ocular problems among sprayers. The cholinesterase activity was found to be significantly depleted (p < 0.01) among pesticide sprayers as compared to controls which show the exposure of organophosphate pesticides among them. The visual disturbances observed among pesticide sprayers clearly exhibit that eyes get exposed by pesticides during spraying operations in agriculture and eventually get affected leading to ocular illness.

Hematological and biochemical alterations in sprayers occupationally exposed to mixture of pesticides at a mango plantation in Lucknow, India

The aim of this study was to examine the hematological and cholinesterase (ChE) activity levels of pesticide sprayers employed in mango plantations at Lucknow. Fifty-two sprayers from mango plantations who regularly spray mixtures of pesticides including organochlorines (OC), organophosphates (OP), and carbamates were included as exposed group. Twenty residents living close to mango plantations, but not involved in pesticide spraying were taken as controls. Pesticide residues for OC were analyzed in blood by gas chromatography with electron capture detector. There was a significant decrease in acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activities in pesticide sprayers (n = 52) relative to the control group (n = 20). A significant difference in the frequency distribution of hematological variations in red blood cell, white blood cell, monocytes, neutrophils, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and platelet count was observed. Residues of OC pesticides including α-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and total HCH were found to be significantly higher in the blood of sprayers compared to controls. Hematological variations were quantitatively more frequent among the sprayers with 5 years of pesticide exposure compared to the controls and to subjects with less than 5 years of exposure group. Hematological abnormalities in sprayers were correlated with pesticide exposure as evidenced by lower ChE activity as well as the presence of OC pesticides in blood. The poorly controlled use of pesticides in the plantation appeared to have produced sub-clinical intoxication in the sprayers and indicated the need for training and implementation of proper, safer hygiene practices.

Purification and Properties of Cold-active Metalloprotease from Curtobacterium luteum and Effect of Culture Conditions on Production

Curtobacterium luteum, a gram-positive psychrotrophic bacterium, secreting an extracellular protease was isolated from the soil of Gangotri glacier, Western Himalaya. The maximum enzyme production was achieved when isolate was grown in a pH-neutral medium containing skim milk at 15 degrees C over 120 hour. The metal ions such as Zn2+ and Cr2+ enhanced enzyme production. The specific activity of purified enzyme was 8090 u/mg after 34.1 fold purification. The 115 kD enzyme was a metalloprotease (activity inhibited by EDTA and EGTA) and showed maximum activity at 20 degrres C and pH 7. The enzyme was active over a broad pH range and retained 84% of its original activity between pH 6-8. There was no loss in enzyme activity when exposed for 3 hours at 4 degrees C-20 degrees C. However, lost 65% of activity at 30 degrees C, and was almost inactivated at 50 dgrees C, but was resistant to repeated freezing and thawing. The enzyme activity was stimulated by manganese ions; however, it was inactivated by copper ions.

Structural adaptation and biocatalytic prospective of microbial cold-active α-amylase

Amylases have most widely been reported to occur in microorganisms, although they are also found in plants and animals. Microbial cold-active α-amylases confer high activities at low temperature that favours production of comparatively insubstantial compounds. Cold-active α-amylases have an advantage under extreme low temperature conditions due to their freeze tolerance mechanism, intrinsic greater membrane fluidity and production of cold-acclimation proteins. Due to considerable progress towards energy savings process in industries, the low temperature stability has been regarded as the most important characteristics of cold-active amylases. Cold active enzymes attract more and more attention nowadays. Comparatively little information is available on cold-active microbial α-amylases and its catalytic properties. Now the situation is changing which recently enchanted the scientific community to focus in various fields, such as analytical, medicinal and clinical chemistry, as well as their extensive industrial applications such as starch industry, food processing, additive in detergents, waste-water treatment, biopulping, textile industry, environmental bioremediation in cold climates and other molecular biology applications.