Biofilm formation and EPS production enhances the bioremediation potential of Pseudomonas species: a novel study from eutrophic waters of Dal lake, Kashmir, India.

The present study was conducted with the aim of isolation and identification of the biofilm-forming denitrifying Pseudomonas bacterial strains from eutrophic waters of Dal lake, India, followed by the study of inter-relation of biofilm formation and denitrification potential of Pseudomonas strains. The bacterial strains were characterized by morphological observations and identified using 16S rDNA sequencing followed by the quantification of biofilm formation of these st by crystal violet (CV) assay using 96-well microtiter plate and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) extraction. Lastly, the nitrate-reducing potential of all Pseudomonas species was studied. Our evaluation revealed that four different Pseudomonas species were observed to have the biofilm-forming potential and nitrate-reducing properties and the species which showed maximum biofilm-forming potential and maximum EPS production exhibited higher nitrate-removing capacity. Moreover, P. otitis was observed to have the highest denitrification capacity (89%) > P. cedrina (83%) > P. azotoform (79%) and the lowest for P. peli (70%). These results clearly signify a positive correlation of biofilm-forming capacity and nitrate-removing ability of Pseudomonas species. This study has for the first time successfully revealed the bioremediation potential of P. otitis, P. cedrina, P. azotoform, and P. peli species, thus contributing to the growing list of known nitrate-reducing Pseudomonas species. Based upon the results, these strains can be extrapolated to nitrate-polluted water systems for combating water pollution.

Molecular and functional characterization of protease from psychrotrophic Bacillus sp. HM49 in North-western Himalaya.

In this work, a psychrotrophic bacteria producing cold-active protease, was obtained from Dachigam National Park, an ecologically significant habitat in Western Himalayas owing to its varied endemic and endangered flora and fauna. This isolate was identified as Bacillus sp. HM49 via phenotypic, Gram staining, bio-chemical and 16S rRNA gene identification. Isolate HM49 when tested for proteolytic activity revealed prominent hydrolytic zone with the most production at 20 °C and pH, 8.0 post 72 h incubation. This enzyme was purified, enhancing its specific activity to 61.15 U/mg and its characterization studies revealed it to be a cold-alkaline protease being active in a wide pH (6.0-12) and temperature (5-40 °C) range. Amplification of CAASPR gene of HM49 was performed, followed by enzyme-substrate docking studies and MMGBSA providing details about its type, molecular weight validation as well as functional applications. The purified protease of HM49 was tested for laundry applications and the enzyme was found to be compatible with majority of the detergents tested. Its potential as an eco-friendly detergent additive was further validated by wash performance test as it effectively removed recalcitrant blood stains at a low temperature of 20 °C that could be beneficial for fine garments like silk which preferably need cold washing.

Lichens as a repository of bioactive compounds: an open window for green therapy against diverse cancers.

Lichens, algae and fungi-based symbiotic associations, are sources of many important secondary metabolites, such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, and anticancer agents. Wide range of experiments based on in vivo and in vitro studies revealed that lichens are a rich treasure of anti-cancer compounds. Lichen extracts and isolated lichen compounds can interact with all biological entities currently identified to be responsible for tumor development. The critical ways to control the cancer development include induction of cell cycle arrests, blocking communication of growth factors, activation of anti-tumor immunity, inhibition of tumor-friendly inflammation, inhibition of tumor metastasis, and suppressing chromosome dysfunction. Also, lichen-based compounds induce the killing of cells by the process of apoptosis, autophagy, and necrosis, that inturn positively modulates metabolic networks of cells against uncontrolled cell division. Many lichen-based compounds have proven to possess potential anti-cancer activity against a wide range of cancer cells, either alone or in conjunction with other anti-cancer compounds. This review primarily emphasizes on an updated account of the repository of secondary metabolites reported in lichens. Besides, we discuss the anti-cancer potential and possible mechanism of the most frequently reported secondary metabolites derived from lichens.

MYP2 locus genes: Sequence variations, genetic association studies and haplotypic association in patients with High Myopia.

High Myopia (HM) is a common complex-trait eye disorder. There is essential evidence that genetic factors play a significant role in the development of nonsyndromic high myopia. Identification of susceptibility genes of high myopia will shed light on the pathophysiological mechanism underlying their genesis. This was a case control study examining the prospect of association of DLGAP1, EMILIN2 & MYOM1 genes on MYP2 locus in purely ethnic (Kashmiri) population representing a homogeneous cohort. Genomic DNA was extracted using phenol chloroform and salting out method. Extracted DNA was genotyped for polymorphic variations in MYOM1, EMILIN2 and DLGAP1 genes involving Sanger di-deoxy method. Allele frequencies were tested for Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium in 224 cases and compared with 220 emmetropic controls. In DLGAP1, documented single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP); Pro517Pro was observed. A previously reported Asn451Asn SNP was observed in EMILIN2. MYOM1 showed five polymorphic variations; two in coding region (Gly333Gly & Gly341Ala) and three intronic (c.1022+23, G>A; c.3418+44 G>T & c.3418+65; C>G). All of the elucidated SNPs were having statistical significant role in increasing or decreasing the risk of disease. Although not statistically significant, a novel Glu507Lys SNP was observed in DLGAP1 (P>0.05). In silico predictions showed MYOM1 Gly341Ala to be benign & tolerated substitution while as DLGAP1 Glu507Lys to be possibly damaging substitution. The studied SNPs followed Over-Dominant, Recessive and Co-Dominant mode of inheritance with specific haplotypes associated with the disease. Our study reveals the involvement of MYP2 locus candidate gene polymorphism in the pathogenesis of HM.

Multidimensional analysis of global climate change: a review.

Even though climate change involves much more than warming, it is the name given to a set of physical phenomena. It is a long-term change in weather patterns that characterises different regions of the world. The warming effect in the earth's atmosphere has dramatically increased through the influence of some heat-taping gases emitted by various human activities, especially fossil fuel burning. The more the input of such gases, the more will be the warming effect in the coming times. Global climate change is already visible in various parts of the larger ecosystems like forests, fisheries, biodiversity, and agriculture; however, it is now also influencing the supply of freshwater, human health, and well-being. This paper reviews climate change drivers, its global scenario, major global events, and assessing climate change impacts. The most daunting problem of economic and ecological risks, along with the threats to humanity, is also discussed. The paper further reviews the species' vulnerability to climate change and the heat waves and human migration vis-à-vis climate change. Climate change politics and coverage of climate change episodes in mass media is the special focus of this review that concludes with a few mitigation measures.

MALDI-TOF-MS and 16S rRNA characterization of lead tolerant metallophile bacteria isolated from saffron soils of Kashmir for their sequestration potential.

Toxic metal contamination in soils due industrialization is nowadays a concern to the scientists worldwide. The current study deals with the evaluation of response and tolerance by isolated metallophilic bacteria in different lead concentrations (100 ppm to 1000 ppm). By taking optical densities of the isolates, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Pb2+ were determined.16S rRNA and MALDI-TOF MS were used for the identification of the bacteria. Total of 37 isolates were observed, among them 04 (Staphylococcus equorum, Staphylococcus warneri, Bacillus safensis and Bacillus thuringiensis), isolated were detected having efficacy of Pb2+tolerance and sequestration at varying MIC. Furthermore, B. thuringiensis was observed to have highest (900 ppm) tolerance for lead and lowest (500 ppm) for Staphylococcus warneri. Moreover, the highest (65.3%) sequestration potential has been observed for B. thuringiensis and least (52.8%) for S. warneri. The tolerance and sequestration potential properties of these isolated species can be utilised to exterminate heavy metals and reduce their toxicity from the contaminated environment.

A novel G26A variation in 5' half of TGIF1 gene associates with high myopia in ethnic Kashmiri population from India.

This study aims to look at novel variations in TGIF1 gene and explores their potential association with high myopia in an ethnic population from Kashmir (India). Genomic DNA was genotyped for polymorphic variations, and allele frequencies were tested for the Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium in 240 ethnic Kashmiri cases with high myopia with a spherical equivalent of >-6 diopters (D) and compared with emmetropic controls with spherical equivalent within -0.5D in one or both eyes represented by a sample size of 228. In this study, we found a novel sequence variation G26A (GAT to AAT) in 5' half of TGIF1 gene (p. aspartic acid >asparagine) at a frequency of 62% (148/240, P ≤ 0.0001). Variation appears to associate with high myopia significantly (P ≤ 0.001) as it happens to be present only in high myopia affected individuals. Further, it shows statistical significance for its association with gender and the degree of myopia (P ≤ 0.05). In addition, in silico predictions show that variation likely has an impact on the structure and functional properties of the protein. The assessment of the I-TASSER protein structure showed higher energy for a wild-type protein (-5820.186 kJ/mol) as compared to mutant protein (-6595.593 kJ/mol).

Polymorphic Analysis of Leptin Promoter in Obese/diabetic Subjects in Kashmiri Population.

BACKGROUND: The role of common variants in leptin promoter has already been established to play a major role in obesity and diabetes in humans. The study was accordingly focused on leptin promoter variants and their potential association with diabetes and obesity in ethnic population from Kashmir, India. METHODS: Allele frequencies of 620 Kashmiri subjects with diabetes (200), obese subjects (200), and ethnically matched healthy controls (200) were tested for the Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium. Among 200 obese subjects, a total of 50 persons were with diabetes. The genotype and allele frequencies were evaluated using the Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: Sequence analysis revealed two reported variations i.e., rs72563764C>T and rs7799039G>A in promoter region. Both variants show homozygous as well as heterozygous genotypes. These variations indicated significant difference with respect to allelic and genotypic frequencies in all groups i.e., persons with diabetes, obese, and obese persons with diabetes (P < 0.05). We also analyzed the association of these variations with biochemical characteristics and found significant association of rs72563764C>T with triglycerides (TG) in obese patients and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and random blood sugar (RBS) in obese/persons with diabetes. Also rs7799039G>A showed association with postprandial plasma sugar (PPPS) in obese patients and FPG and resting plasma glucose (RPG) in obese persons with diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are suggestive of the association of leptin promoter gene variations i.e., rs72563764C>T and rs7799039G>A with both diabetes and obesity.

Dynamics of bacterial class Bacilli in the deepest valley lake of Kashmir-the Manasbal Lake.

In recognition of the importance of bacteria as ecological indicators of the aquatic systems a comprehensive and systematic analysis was carried out on Manasbal Lake, the deepest spring fed valley lake of Kashmir. The main objective envisaged was to analyze bacterial community composition (BCC) and for this purpose systematic and regular sampling of waters from ten different sampling stations, predetermined in the Lake according to differences in degree of human interference and also as zones of special ecological interests were selected. The isolated species were identified according to Bergey's Manual specification by examining their micro and macro morphological characteristics and biochemical characteristics on different culture media. Further confirmation was done by sequencing the 16s rRNA gene by using universal bacterial primers 27F and 1429R. From all the sampling stations the class Bacilli showed a maximum relative abundance with a contribution of 16 bacterial species. The whole process resulted in the identification of Bacillus aerius, Bacillus altitudinis, Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus ginsengisoli, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus safensis, Bacillus stratosphericus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus tequilensis, Bacillus thermocopriae, Bacillus thuringiensis, Brevibacillus agri strain, Lysinibacillus boronitolerans, Lysinibacillus pakistanensis and Lysinibacillus sphaericus.

Contribution of TGFß1 codon 10 polymorphism to high myopia in an ethnic Kashmiri population from India.

This study looks at novel variants of the TGFß1 gene and their potential association with high myopia in an ethnic population from Kashmir, India. Allele frequencies of 247 Kashmiri subjects (from India) with high myopia and 176 ethnically matched healthy controls were tested for Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium. The genotype and allele frequencies were evaluated using chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. One of the three SNPs in codon 10 showed a significant difference between patients and control subjects (rs1982073: p genotype = 0.003, p allele = 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences between patients and control subjects for the other two SNPs, rs1800471 at codon 25 and a novel variant at codon 52. SNP rs1982073, substituting proline with leucine, appeared to be significantly associated with high myopia (p < 0.05). In silico predictions show that substitutions are likely to have an impact on the structure and functional properties of the protein, making it imperative to understand their functional consequences in relation to high myopia.

Reduced nitrate level in individuals with hypertension and diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) turnover is vital for proper endothelial function to maintain a healthy vascular system. Various risk factors responsible for hypertension and diabetes may disrupt this homeostasis, leading to decreased bioavailability and/or bioactivity of NO, which potentiates endothelial dysfunction. Plasma NO is a useful indicator of NO homeostasis and vascular endothelial function. Since endothelial function plays a key role in the development and progression of diseases like diabetes and hypertension, we sought to investigate the NO profile in patients having diabetes and hypertension and determine the relationship of NO turnover with the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this purpose, three groups were studied for the NO production. The first group consisted of 74 hypertensive patients, the second group consisted of 72 diabetic patients and the third group consisted of 60 healthy controls. Nitrate synthase activity was evaluated by measuring nitrate level using an automated sample injector connected to an automated NO detector - Ion liquid chromatograph. RESULTS: The plasma concentration of NO was found to be significantly lower in both essential hypertensive patients and diabetic patients without complications as compared to the healthy controls (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This data confirms that different factors like hyperglycemia and blood pressure are seen to have immense influence on NO production.