Department of Biotechnology

About: Department of Biotechnology is a government organization based out in New Delhi, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Silver nanoparticle. The organization has 4800 authors who have published 5033 publications receiving 82022 citations.

Synthesis of Pomegranate Peel Extract Mediated Silver Nanoparticles and its Antibacterial Activity

Abstract: In this report a simple and eco-friendly biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using Pomegranate peel extract as the reducing agent from 1 mM AgNO 3 had been investigated. The formation of silver nanoparticles was characterized by UV-Vis spectrum, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) analysis. The UV-Vis spectra results show a strong resonance centered on the surface of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) at 371 nm. The Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy spectral study demonstrates pomegranate peel extract acted as the reducing agent. The scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis shows nanoparticles with the average particles size ranges about 5-50 nm. Further the antibacterial activity of AgNPs was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus , Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli pathogens. This route is rapid, simple, without any hazardous chemicals as reducing or stabilizing agents and economical to synthesize AgNPs.

Expression, regulation and targeting of receptor tyrosine kinases in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract: Esophageal cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, which is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Based on histological behavior, it is mainly of two types (i) Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and (ii) esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAD or EAC). In astronomically immense majority of malignancies, receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) have been kenned to play a consequential role in cellular proliferation, migration, and metastasis of the cells. The post-translational modifications (PTMs) including phosphorylation of tyrosine (pY) residue of the tyrosine kinase (TK) domain have been exploited for treatment in different malignancies. Lung cancer where pY residues of EGFR have been exploited for treatment purpose in lung adenocarcinoma patients, but we do not have such kind of felicitously studied and catalogued data in ESCC patients. Thus, the goal of this review is to summarize the studies carried out on ESCC to explore the role of RTKs, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and their pertinence and consequentiality for the treatment of ESCC patients.

A rapid and sensitive fluorometric assay method for the determination of nitrilase activity

Abstract: A rapid, simple and sensitive fluorometric assay method for the determination of nitrilase activity is described. 3-Cyanopyridine was hydrolysed to nicotinic acid by Rhodococcus rhodochrous and the liberated NH(3) was allowed to react with buffered o -phthaldialdehyde-2-mercaptoethanol solution (pH 7.4) to form a fluorochrome. The fluorescence intensity was found to be stable after 20 min incubation at room temperature, and the optimum pH for the reaction was found to be 7.4. The fluorescence intensity was linearly related to enzyme activity with the substrate concentration ranging from 100 to 1000 mM. The activity determined by the proposed method correlates ( r =0.9625) well with the established Berthelot method. The proposed method is more sensitive than the existing methods for the determination of nitrilase activity.

Lactobacillus plantarum MTCC 9510 supplementation protects from chronic unpredictable and sleep deprivation-induced behaviour, biochemical and selected gut microbial aberrations in mice.

Abstract: AIM: Here, we evaluated any beneficial effects of a potential probiotic bacterial strain (Lactobacillus plantarum MTCC 9510) in two different stress paradigms in mice. METHODS AND RESULTS: Lactobacillus plantarum MTCC 9510 (2 × 10¹⁰ CFU per mice) was supplemented to male Swiss albino mice either subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress or sleep deprivation (SD) stress. Various behavioural and biochemical tests along with selected gut bacterial abundances were determined. Lactobacillus plantarum MTCC 9510 supplementation prevented stress‐induced behavioural despair (depression, anxiety, learning and memory, stereotypic behaviour), oxidative stress markers and inflammatory cytokines in brain and serum. Its supplementation also improved gut and blood brain barrier integrity. It also affected caecal short‐chain fatty acids along with the promotion of Lactobacillus sp. and reduction in Enterobacteriaceae abundances. We also observed that two different stresses variably affected various behavioural and biochemical changes but L. plantarum MTCC 9510 supplementation most effectively prevented all these changes. CONCLUSION: We provide evidence that positive modulation of the selected beneficial gut microbial population could serve as a viable strategy to neutralize day‐to‐day and SD stress‐induced pathological alterations. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Therapeutic potential of this/other probiotic strains in tackling the deleterious neurobiological effects on exposure to various stress‐related conditions can be explored.