Fungi can be found throughout the world. They may live as saprophytes, parasites or symbionts of animals and plants in indoor as well as outdoor environment. For decades, fungi belonging to the ascomy

/pdf/the-spectrum-of-fungal-allergy-472kev8ujx.pdf

The spectrum of fungal allergy.

Neurobiological basis of chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment: a review of rodent research.

Mutations in the MSH2 gene predispose to a number of tumourigenic conditions, including hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC). MSH2 encodes a protein in the mismatch repair (MMR) pathway which is involved in the removal of mispairs originating during replication or from damaged DNA. To identify new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of cancer arising from MMR deficiency, we screened a small molecule library encompassing previously utilized drugs and drug-like molecules to identify agents selectively lethal to cells lacking functional MSH2. This approach identified the drug methotrexate as being highly selective for cells with MSH2 deficiency. Methotrexate treatment caused the accumulation of potentially lethal 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) oxidative DNA lesions in both MSH2 deficient and proficient cells. In MSH2 proficient cells, these lesions were rapidly cleared, while in MSH2 deficient cells 8-OHdG lesions persisted, potentially explaining the selectivity of methotrexate. Short interfering (si)RNA mediated silencing of the target of methotrexate, dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), was also selective for MSH2 deficiency and also caused an accumulation of 8-OHdG. This suggested that the ability of methotrexate to modulate folate synthesis via inhibition of DHFR, may explain MSH2 selectivity. Consistent with this hypothesis, addition of folic acid to culture media substantially rescued the lethal phenotype caused by methotrexate. While methotrexate has been used for many years as a cancer therapy, our observations suggest that this drug may have particular utility for the treatment of a subset of patients with tumours characterized by MSH2 mutations.

https://www.embopress.org/doi/pdf/10.1002/emmm.200900040

Methotrexate induces oxidative DNA damage and is selectively lethal to tumour cells with defects in the DNA mismatch repair gene MSH2

Allergic reactions to fungi were described 300 years ago, but the importance of allergy to fungi has been underestimated for a long time. Allergens from fungi mainly cause respiratory and skin symptoms in sensitized patients. In this review, we will focus on fungi and fungal allergens involved in respiratory forms of allergy, such as allergic rhinitis and asthma. Fungi can act as indoor and outdoor respiratory allergen sources, and depending on climate conditions, the rates of sensitization in individuals attending allergy clinics range from 5% to 20%. Due to the poor quality of natural fungal allergen extracts, diagnosis of fungal allergy is hampered, and allergen-specific immunotherapy is rarely given. Several factors are responsible for the poor quality of natural fungal extracts, among which the influence of culture conditions on allergen contents. However, molecular cloning techniques have allowed us to isolate DNAs coding for fungal allergens and to produce a continuously growing panel of recombinant allergens for the diagnosis of fungal allergy. Moreover, technologies are now available for the preparation of recombinant and synthetic fungal allergen derivatives which can be used to develop safe vaccines for the treatment of fungal allergy.

/pdf/mold-allergens-in-respiratory-allergy-from-structure-to-m4d63iqqo5.pdf

Mold Allergens in Respiratory Allergy: From Structure to Therapy

Red Blood Cells as Smart Delivery Systems

Oxidative stress induced by methotrexate alone and in the presence of methanol in discrete regions of the rodent brain, retina and optic nerve

Stress is a term that generally has a negative connotation, which results in immune dysfunction. In this study, immunomodulatory effect of Triphala (equal proportion of Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellerica and Emblica officinalis) during noise-stress in male albino rats was evaluated by analyzing the antibody titer, cytokines IL-2-Interleukin (2), IL-4 and IFN-Interferon (gamma) and Pan T, CD4+/CD8+ lymphocyte phenotype in spleen. Four groups of rat were employed namely control, Triphala (1 g/kg body weight), noise-stress (100 dB/4 hr/15 days), Triphala + noise-stress and rats were immunized with sheep red blood cells (5 × 109 cells/ml). Results indicate that noise-stress induced elevation in the serum antibody titer and IL-4 levels associated with decreased IL-2, IFN-gamma, and reduction in Pan T, CD4+/CD8+ lymphocyte phenotype in spleen were significantly prevented in Triphala treated noise-stress exposed group. This study showed the immunomodulatory effect of Triphala during noise-stress and suggests its therapeutic usefulness.

/pdf/immunomodulatory-effect-of-triphala-during-experimentally-1ca0cic2vm.pdf

Immunomodulatory Effect of Triphala during Experimentally Induced Noise Stress in Albino Rats

Detoxification of formate by formate dehydrogenase-loaded erythrocytes and carbicarb in folate-deficient methanol-intoxicated rats

Modification of allergenicity and immunogenicity of formate dehydrogenase by conjugation with linear mono methoxy poly ethylene glycol: improvement in detoxification of formate in methanol poisoning.

Arumugham Muthuvel

Papers

Oxidative stress induced by methotrexate alone and in the presence of methanol in discrete regions of the rodent brain, retina and optic nerve

Immunomodulatory Effect of Triphala during Experimentally Induced Noise Stress in Albino Rats

Detoxification of formate by formate dehydrogenase-loaded erythrocytes and carbicarb in folate-deficient methanol-intoxicated rats

Modification of allergenicity and immunogenicity of formate dehydrogenase by conjugation with linear mono methoxy poly ethylene glycol: improvement in detoxification of formate in methanol poisoning.

Therapeutic response to single intravenous bolus administration of formate dehydrogenase in methanol-intoxicated rats