Jawaharlal Nehru University

About: Jawaharlal Nehru University is a education organization based out in New Delhi, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Politics. The organization has 6082 authors who have published 13455 publications receiving 245407 citations. The organization is also known as: JNU.

Glyoxalases and stress tolerance in plants.

Abstract: The glyoxalase pathway is required for detoxification of cytotoxic metabolite MG (methylglyoxal) that would otherwise increase to lethal concentrations under adverse environmental conditions. Since its discovery 100 years ago, several roles have been assigned to glyoxalases, but, in plants, their involvement in stress response and tolerance is the most widely accepted role. The plant glyoxalases have emerged as multigene family and this expansion is considered to be important from the perspective of maintaining a robust defence machinery in these sessile species. Glyoxalases are known to be differentially regulated under stress conditions and their overexpression in plants confers tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses. In the present article, we review the importance of glyoxalases in plants, discussing possible roles with emphasis on involvement of the glyoxalase pathway in plant stress tolerance.

Surface-directed spinodal decomposition: modelling and numerical simulations

Abstract: We critically review the modelling and simulations of surface-directed spinodal decomposition, namely, the dynamics of phase separation of a critical or near-critical binary mixture in the presence of a surface with a preferential attraction for one of the components of the mixture.

Vanadium complexes having [VIVO]2+ and [VVO2]+ cores with binucleating dibasic tetradentate ligands: Synthesis, characterization, catalytic and antiamoebic activities

Abstract: Binucleating hydrazones CH2(H2sal-bhz)2 (I) and CH2(H2sal-fah)2 (II), derived from 5,5′-methylbis(salicylaldehyde) and benzoylhydrazide or 2-furoylhydrazide, react with [VIVO(acac)2] to give dinuclear VIVO-complexes [CH2{VIVO(sal-bhz)(H2O)}2] 1 and [CH2{VIVO(sal-fah)(H2O)}2] 4, respectively. In the presence of KOH or CsOH·H2O, oxidation of 1 and 2 results in the formation of dioxidovanadium(V) complexes, K2[CH2{VVO2(sal-bhz)}2]·2H2O 2, K2[CH2{VVO2(sal-fah)}2]·2H2O 5, Cs2[CH2{VVO2(sal-bhz)}2]·2H2O 3 and Cs2[CH2{VVO2(sal-fah)}2]·2H2O 6. These complexes have also been prepared by aerial oxidation of in situ prepared oxidovanadium(IV) complexes 1 and 4. The compounds were characterized by IR, electronic, EPR, 1H, 13C and 51V NMR spectroscopy, elemental analyses and thermogravimetric patterns. Single crystal X-ray analysis of 3 confirms the coordination of the ligand in the dianionic (ONO2−) enolate tautomeric form. The VVO2-complexes were used to catalyze the oxidative bromination of salicylaldehyde, therefore acting as functional models of vanadium dependent haloperoxidases, in aqueous H2O2/KBr in the presence of HClO4 at room temperature. It is shown that the VIVO-complexes [CH2{VIVO(sal-bhz)(H2O)}2] 1 and [CH2{VIVO(sal-fah)(H2O)}2] 4 are catalyst precursors for the catalytic oxidation of organic sulfides using aqueous H2O2. Plausible intermediates involved in these catalytic processes are established by UV-Vis, EPR and 51V NMR studies. The vanadium complexes along with ligands I and II are also screened against HM1:1MSS strains of Entamoeba histolytica, the results showing that the IC50 values of compounds 3 and 6 are lower than that of metronidazole. The toxicity studies against human cervical (HeLa) cancer cell line also showed that although compounds 3 and 6 are more toxic than metronidazole towards this cell line, the corresponding IC50 values are relatively high, the cell viability therefore not being much affected.

A Single-Dose PLGA Encapsulated Protective Antigen Domain 4 Nanoformulation Protects Mice against Bacillus anthracis Spore Challenge

Abstract: Bacillus anthracis, the etiological agent of anthrax, is a major bioterror agent. Vaccination is the most effective prophylactic measure available against anthrax. Currently available anthrax vaccines have issues of the multiple booster dose requirement, adjuvant-associated side effects and stability. Use of biocompatible and biodegradable nanoparticles to deliver the antigens to immune cells could solve the issues associated with anthrax vaccines. We hypothesized that the delivery of a stable immunogenic domain 4 of protective antigen (PAD4) of Bacillus anthracis encapsulated in a poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) - an FDA approved biocompatible and biodegradable material, may alleviate the problems of booster dose, adjuvant toxicity and stability associated with anthrax vaccines. We made a PLGA based protective antigen domain 4 nanoparticle (PAD4-NP) formulation using water/oil/water solvent evaporation method. Nanoparticles were characterized for antigen content, morphology, size, polydispersity and zeta potential. The immune correlates and protective efficacy of the nanoparticle formulation was evaluated in Swiss Webster outbred mice. Mice were immunized with single dose of PAD4-NP or recombinant PAD4. The PAD4-NP elicited a robust IgG response with mixed IgG1 and IgG2a subtypes, whereas the control PAD4 immunized mice elicited low IgG response with predominant IgG1 subtype. The PAD4-NP generated mixed Th1/Th2 response, whereas PAD4 elicited predominantly Th2 response. When we compared the efficacy of this single-dose vaccine nanoformulation PAD4-NP with that of the recombinant PAD4 in providing protective immunity against a lethal challenge with Bacillus anthracis spores, the median survival of PAD4-NP immunized mice was 6 days as compared to 1 day for PAD4 immunized mice (p<0.001). Thus, we demonstrate, for the first time, the possibility of the development of a single-dose and adjuvant-free protective antigen based anthrax vaccine in the form of PAD4-NP. Further work in this direction may produce a better and safer candidate anthrax vaccine.