Manipal University

About: Manipal University is a education organization based out in Manipal, Karnataka, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 9525 authors who have published 11207 publications receiving 110687 citations.

Elevated homocysteine levels in type 2 diabetes induce constitutive neutrophil extracellular traps

Abstract: Constitutively active neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and elevated plasma homocysteine are independent risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) associated vascular diseases. Here, we show robust NETosis due to elevated plasma homocysteine levels in T2D subjects and increased components of NETs such as neutrophil elastase and cell free DNA. Cooperative NETs formation was observed in neutrophils exposed to homocysteine, IL-6 and high glucose suggesting acute temporal changes tightly regulate constitutive NETosis. Homocysteine induced NETs by NADPH oxidase dependent and independent mechanisms. Constitutively higher levels of calcium and mitochondrial superoxides under hyperglycemic conditions were further elevated in response to homocysteine leading to accelerated NETosis. Homocysteine showed robust interaction between neutrophils and platelets by inducing platelet aggregation and NETosis in an interdependent manner. Our data demonstrates that homocysteine can alter innate immune function by promoting NETs formation and disturbs homeostasis between platelets and neutrophils which may lead to T2D associated vascular diseases.

Remote sensing of invasive plants: incorporating functional traits into the picture

Abstract: Invasive plant species spread presents a challenge, requiring better mapping and monitoring for control. Remote sensing RS provides an efficient tool to map invasive plants in diverse ecosystems. Yet applications of RS for invasive plant mapping largely rely on spatial and spectral patterns. The use of invasive plant functional traits can improve RS mapping, using ecological insights on processes and functions associated with invasion. We summarize research utilizing plant functional traits in RS mapping of invasive species from the years 2000 to 2014. Based on this review, we summarize plant traits that can be related to spatial and spectral properties, and used to discriminate invasive alien plants from native vegetation. Phenological and structural plant traits have been relatively well exploited via RS for invasion studies. In comparison, there has been limited utilization of physiological traits with the exception of properties such as nitrogen content. This is an area that merits further research attention, via the linkage of ecophysiological field research with RS.