An interactomic approach for identification of putative drug targets in Listeria monocytogenes.

A wide variety of human population is infected with Listeria monocytogenes, which causes listeriosis, a deadly disease with mortality rate of about 30%. The major hindrance to cure listeriosis is the unavailability of specific or selectable drug targets. At present, antibiotics used to cure the disease are not specific and insufficient to manage the disease efficiently. Therefore, in order to search specific drugs, here, we used interactome analysis to search specific drug targets which may provide novel templates for drug designing having better efficacy without any potential adverse effects. The complete genome of L. monocytogenes having 2846 proteins has been analysed. We found 11 proteins as putative drug targets. The sequence and interactome analyses revealed that 11 proteins are non-homologous to human, but essential for pathogen and hence may be considered as potential therapeutic targets.

In silico PCR primer designing and validation.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is an enzymatic reaction whose efficiency and sensitivity largely depend on the efficiency of the primers that are used for the amplification of a concerned gene/DNA fragment. Selective amplification of nucleic acid molecules initially present in minute quantities provides a powerful tool for analyzing nucleic acids. In silico method helps in designing primers. There are various programs available for PCR primer design. Here we described designing of primers using web-based tools like "Primer3" and "Web Primer". For designing the primer, DNA template sequence is required that can be taken from any of the available sequence databases, e.g., RefSeq database. The in silico validation can be carried out using BLAST tool and Gene Runner software, which check their efficiency and specificity. Thereafter, the primers designed in silico can be validated in the wet lab. After that, these validated primers can be synthesized for use in the amplification of concerned gene/DNA fragment.

Study on gluco-regulatory potential of glimepiride sulfonamide using in silico, in vitro and in vivo approaches.

Glimepiride sulfonamide (GS) is a drug intermediate to synthesize glimepiride (antidiabetic drug). We hypothesized that GS exerts gluco-regulatory effect because GS is comprised of the structural components of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors sitagliptin and DPP-728and glimepiride (sulfonylurea based antidiabetic drug).We analyzed the drug-likeness and docking efficiency of GS with DPP-IV using in silico tools. Also DPP-IV inhibition assays were conducted in vitro. Gluco-regulatory potential and parameters of drug safety were evaluated on normal euglycemic and streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. We observed strong drug-likeness and DPP-IV binding efficiency of GS. Similarly, profound DPP-IV inhibition was also observed in vitro. Studies on euglycemic and STZ induced diabetic rats revealed antidiabetic potential for GS without significant change in the studied toxicological parameters. Glimepiride sulfonamide has antidiabetic potential mainly through DPP-IV inhibition, but also through insulin stimulation and alpha-amylase inhibition.