Kuvempu University

About: Kuvempu University is a education organization based out in Shimoga, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Cyclic voltammetry & Carbon paste electrode. The organization has 1575 authors who have published 2210 publications receiving 39755 citations. The organization is also known as: KU.

Gene expression profiling of tuberculous meningitis co-infected with HIV

Abstract: Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is a fatal form of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection of the central nervous system (CNS). The similarities in the clinical and radiological findings in TBM cases with or without HIV make the diagnosis very challenging. Identification of genes, which are differentially expressed in brain tissues of HIV positive and HIV negative TBM patients, would enable better understanding of the molecular aspects of the infection and would also serve as an initial platform to evaluate potential biomarkers. Here, we report the identification of 796 differentially regulated genes in brain tissues of TBM patients co-infected with HIV using oligonucleotide DNA microarrays. We also performed immunohistochemical validation and confirmed the abundance of four gene products-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), serpin peptidase inhibitor, clade A member 3 (SERPINA3), thymidine phosphorylase (TYMP/ECGF1) and heat shock 70 kDa protein 8 (HSPA8). Our study paves the way for understanding the mechanism of TBM in HIV positive patients and for further validation of potential disease biomarkers.

Antimony(III) Sulfate Catalyzed Condensation Reaction of Indoles with Carbonyl Compounds

Abstract: Antimony sulfate was found to be on effective catalyst for the condensation reaction of indoles with carbonyl compounds at room temperature. This catalyst is inexpensive, easily available and it was also found that this catalyst could be recovered quantitatively and reused without much loss of catalytic activity.

Natural rubber degradation by laccase and manganese peroxidase enzymes of Penicillium chrysogenum

Abstract: Natural rubber (NR), or cis-1,4 poly-isoprene, is one of the most important biopolymers. For almost a 100 years, million tons of NR-derived products have been produced by humankind as it is very elastic in nature. These products are mainly made up of NR, which is obtained from the latex of tree Hevea brasiliensis commonly called rubber tree. After usage of these NR products, the disposal of these products is the worldwide solid waste problem. To reduce this problem, microbial degradation of the product should be developed. Microbial degradation is mainly carried out by various microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. Rubber-degrading organisms were isolated by soil burial method. In the isolated organism, Penicillium chrysogenum effectively degraded the NR sample, and enzyme responsible for degradation was also studied. The present study has showed that it is possible to use this strain to degrade the NR.