Sanjeev Kumar

Bio: Sanjeev Kumar is an academic researcher from Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research. The author has contributed to research in topics: RAPD & Pointed gourd. The author has an hindex of 14, co-authored 50 publications receiving 676 citations.

The Reason for an Increase in Decomposition of Rifampicin in the Presence of Isoniazid under Acid Conditions

Abstract: The poor bioavailability of rifampicin from fixed-dose combinations containing isoniazid has been attributed to isoniazid-catalysed degradation under acid conditions in the stomach. The mechanism by which isoniazid enhances rifampicin degradation is not known. The aim of this study was to determine the role of isoniazid in rifampicin decomposition. Degradation studies were performed in 0.1 M HCl at 37°, in absence and presence of isoniazid. Both rifampicin and isoniazid were analysed. The degradation of rifampicin was increased approximately threefold in the presence of isoniazid. Isoniazid itself was degraded to a lesser extent amounting to one-fifth of the fall of rifampicin. HPLC studies revealed that decomposition of rifampicin in acidic conditions in the absence of isoniazid stopped at the formation of 3-formylrifamycin, while the reaction in the presence of isoniazid proceeded to form a hydrazone between 3-formylrifamycin and isoniazid. The existence of hydrazone was confirmed by its isolation on a preparative column and comparison with an authentic sample synthesized from reaction of 3-formylrifamycin with isoniazid. We suggest that once 3-formylrifamycin is formed, it interacts with isoniazid to form the hydrazone, through a fast second-order reaction. As hydrazones are unstable in acid conditions, 3-formylrifamycin and isoniazid are regenerated in a reversible manner through a slower first-order reaction. In this complex reaction process, rifampicin is further degraded, while isoniazid is recovered.

Genetic diversity within the genus Solanum (Solanaceae) as revealed by RAPD markers

Abstract: Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was used as a tool for assessing genetic diversity and species relationships among 28 accessions of eggplant representing five species. Twenty-eight samples of eggplants were collected from different parts of the country. A total of 144 polymorphic amplified products were obtained from 14 decamer primers, which discriminated all the accessions. The value of Jaccard's coefficient ranged from 0.05 to 0.82. The similarity result indicates presence of high level of genetic diversity in eggplants and a dendrogram constructed by UPGMA method shows that S. incanum is closest to S. melongena followed by S. nigrum. Only one accession of S. nigrum and S. surattense was taken in the present study that showed grouping with each other. Genetically distinct genotypes identified using RAPD markers could be potential sources of germplasm for eggplant improvement.

Effects of explant age, germination medium, pre-culture parameters, inoculation medium, pH, washing medium, and selection regime on Agrobacterium -mediated transformation of tomato

Abstract: An efficient protocol was developed for Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) cultivars using cotyledon explants. The transformation frequency was assessed in response to several different factors, including seed germination medium, seedling age, pre-culture duration, pre-culture and co-cultivation media, inoculation medium, medium pH, washing medium, and kanamycin concentration in initial selection medium. Cotyledons excised from 6-d-old seedlings germinated on half-strength Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) basal medium containing 8.9 μM benzyladenine (BA) produced the most suitable explant material. Six days of explant pre-culture and 5 min inoculation with Agrobacterium culture in MS medium, containing 8.9 μM BA, 9.3 μM kinetin, and 0.4 mg l−1 thiamine at pH 5.0, significantly improved the transformation frequency. The addition of a tobacco feeder cell layer, however, did not lead to any significant improvement in the transformation rate. Kanamycin at 20 mg l−1 in the selection medium for the initial 10 d resulted in the highest transformation frequency. Combining the best conditions for each parameter resulted in an overall transformation efficiency of 44.3 %. Gene transfer was confirmed through PCR and Southern blot analyses. Mendelian inheritance ratios were found in 71.5 % of the independent transgenic lines from self-fertilized T1 progeny. The optimized transformation procedure showed high transformation frequencies for all three tomato cultivars tested, namely, Kashi Vishesh (H-86), Hisar Anmol (H-24), and Kashi Amrit (DVRT-1), and is also expected to give reproducible results with other tomato cultivars.

Soil enzymes: Kuprevich, V. F. & Shcherbakova, T. A.: Translated from the Russian edition (1966), published by the Indian National Scientific Documentation Centre, New Delhi 1971. 392 pp., offset printing from type script, paper cover. Obtainable from U.S. Department of Commerce, National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Va. 22151

Abstract: B6nassy, C., 1955. R6marques sur deux Aphelinid6s: Aphelinus mytilaspidis Le Baron et Aphytis proclia Walker. Annls l~piphyt. 6: 11-17. Lord, F. T. & MacPhee, A. W., 1953. The influence of spray programs on the fauna of apple orchards in Nova Scotia II. Oyster shell scale. Can. Ent. 79: 196-209. Pickett, A. D., 1946. A progress report on long term spray programs. Rep. Nova Scotia Fruit Grow. Ass. 83 : 27-31. Pickett, A. D., 1967. The influence of spray programs on the fauna of apple orchards in Nova Scotia XIV. Can. Ent. 97: 816-821. Tothill, J. D., 1918. The predacious mite Hemisarcoptes malus Shimer and its relation to the natural control of the oyster shell scale Lepidosaphes ulmi L. Agric. Gaz. Can. 5 : 234-239.

High Salinity Induces Different Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Responses in Maize Seedlings Organs

Abstract: Salinity negatively affects plant growth and causes significant crop yield losses world-wide. Maize is an economically important cereal crop affected by high salinity. In this study, maize seedlings were subjected to 75 mM and 150 mM NaCl, to emulate high soil salinity. Roots, mature leaves (basal leaf-pair 1,2) and young leaves (distal leaf-pair 3,4) were harvested after 3 weeks of sowing. Roots showed the highest reduction in biomass, followed by mature and young leaves in the salt-stressed plants. Concomitant with the pattern of growth reduction, roots accumulated the highest levels of Na(+) followed by mature and young leaves. High salinity induced oxidative stress in the roots and mature leaves, but to a lesser extent in younger leaves. The younger leaves showed increased electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentrations only at 150 mM NaCl. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and polyphenol content increased with the increase in salinity levels in roots and mature leaves, but showed no changes in the young leaves. Under salinity stress, reduced ascorbate (ASC) and glutathione (GSH) content increased in roots, while total tocopherol levels increased specifically in the shoot tissues. Similarly, redox changes estimated by the ratio of redox couples (ASC/total ascorbate and GSH/total glutathione) showed significant decreases in the roots. Activities of enzymatic antioxidants, catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR, EC 1.8.5.1), increased in all organs of salt-treated plants, while superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11), glutathione-s-transferase (GST, EC 2.5.1.18) and glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2) increased specifically in the roots. Overall, these results suggest that Na(+) is retained and detoxified mainly in roots, and less stress impact is observed in mature and younger leaves. This study also indicates a possible role of ROS in the systemic signaling from roots to leaves, allowing leaves to activate their defense mechanisms for better protection against salt stress.

Inhalable microparticles containing drug combinations to target alveolar macrophages for treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Abstract: Purpose: Drug therapy of tuberculosis (TB) requires long-term oral administration of multiple drugs for curing as well as preventing and/or combating multi-drug resistance. Persistent, high blood levels of antitubercular drugs resulting from prolonged oral administration of anti-TB drugs may be neither necessary nor sufficient to kill mycobacteria residing in macrophages (Mφ). Inhalable biodegradable microparticles containing two of the first-line anti-TB drugs, isoniazid (H), and rifampicin (R), were prepared and tested for (i) phagocytosis by mouse Mφ, (ii) administration as a dry powder inhalation to rats, and (iii) targeting alveolar Mφ with high drug doses when administered to rats.

Tuberculosis chemotherapy: current drug delivery approaches

Abstract: Tuberculosis is a leading killer of young adults worldwide and the global scourge of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis is reaching epidemic proportions. It is endemic in most developing countries and resurgent in developed and developing countries with high rates of human immunodeficiency virus infection. This article reviews the current situation in terms of drug delivery approaches for tuberculosis chemotherapy. A number of novel implant-, microparticulate-, and various other carrier-based drug delivery systems incorporating the principal anti-tuberculosis agents have been fabricated that either target the site of tuberculosis infection or reduce the dosing frequency with the aim of improving patient outcomes. These developments in drug delivery represent attractive options with significant merit, however, there is a requisite to manufacture an oral system, which directly addresses issues of unacceptable rifampicin bioavailability in fixed-dose combinations. This is fostered by the need to deliver medications to patients more efficiently and with fewer side effects, especially in developing countries. The fabrication of a polymeric once-daily oral multiparticulate fixed-dose combination of the principal anti-tuberculosis drugs, which attains segregated delivery of rifampicin and isoniazid for improved rifampicin bioavailability, could be a step in the right direction in addressing issues of treatment failure due to patient non-compliance.