ABSTRACT
Two separate studies (study I and study II) were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of ELISA serological test for the detection of IgG antibodies against specific glycolipid antigen (PGLTb1) and ESAT 6 antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, respectively. These results were compared with bacteriological tests [Ziehl Neelson (ZN) staining for acid-fast bacilli and culture on Lowenstein Jensen (LJ) medium] and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting IS6110 sequence. Both studies were carried out on children with pulmonary, central nervous system, lymph node, and gastrointestinal tuberculosis along with matching controls (65 cases and 27 controls for study I and 83 cases and 22 controls for study II). Informed consents of their parents or guardians were taken. They were subjected to clinical examination, relevant laboratory investigations, tuberculin test and chest radiograph. Relevant body fluids were subjected to bacteriological tests and PCR. Sera samples were analyzed for antibodies against PGLTbl and ESAT 6 antigen in study I and study II, respectively. ELISA tests showed a significantly higher sensitivity (49% study I; 53%, study II) as compared with LJ medium culture method (15.4%, study I; 28.9% study II) and ZN staining (27.7%, study I; 20.5%, study II) in all patients (p < 0.05). The results were comparable with PCR (40%, study I; 42.2% study II). Specificity of ELISA test was 100% in all the patients except in those with pulmonary disease (92.8%, study I; 84.8%, study II). In view of the convenience, low cost and comparable sensitivity with PCR, these ELISA tests have a promising future in the diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis.
Subject(s)
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Tuberculosis/diagnosis , Bacteriological Techniques/methods , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Male , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/isolation & purification , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
The carbondioxide compensation point (Γ), dry matter production, and the activities of nitrate reductase (NR), glycolate oxidase (GO), ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPC) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) were measured in wheat, grown on media, containing nitrate or ammonium. Significantly higher Γ and lower dry matter was observed in plants supplied with ammonium-nitrogen (NH4-N), as compared to those supplied with nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N). The activities of NR and PEPC were higher in plants grown on NO3-N than to those grown on NH4-N. There were no significant differences in the activities of GO and RuBPC irrespective of whether NO3-N or NH4-N was supplied. None of the enzymes was found to be associated directly with the Γ.PEPC activity accounted the measured differences in the Γ and biomass production between NH4-N and NO3-N supplied plants. The relationship between PEPC and the Γ is discussed.
ABSTRACT
Photosynthetic(14)CO2 assimilation, ribulose 1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPC), phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) and dry matter (DM) production were examined in wheat under varying levels and forms of nitrogen.(14)CO2 assimilation increased gradually after germination reaching a peak value at anthesis, followed by a sharp decline. A similar pattern was observed for both the carboxylases, RuBPC and PEPC activities. Increase in nitrogen levels, in general, brought about a significant increase over the control (zero-nitrogen) in(14)CO2 assimilation, RuBPC, PEPC activities and DM production. There were no significant differences in RuBPC activity and(14)CO2 assimilation with respect to the forms of nitrogen. Significantly higher PEPC activity and DM was observed in plants supplied with nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N), as compared to those supplied with ammonium-nitrogen (NH4-N). The significance of PEPC activity in C3 photosynthesis is discussed in relation to DM distribution.
ABSTRACT
Increasing number of photoinductive cycles markedly influenced the activity of 5 different aminotransferase systems as compared to non-inductive cycles. The activity was related to the requirement of the corresponding aminoacid synthesised during the process of photoinduction in the leaves.