ABSTRACT
Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.) has its immense importance to the floriculture industry worldwide. The gerbera flower production has been hampered by various viruses, among them cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) has shown considerable damage.As natural resistance to CMV is absent in gerbera, here, we have made an attempt to develop transgenic gerbera plants expressing coat protein (CP) gene of CMV via Agrobacterium mediated transformation of base petiole explants for genetic resistance to CMV infection. Among the 44 putative transgenic gerbera plant acclimatized, 39 were found positive for integration of CP gene by polymerase chain reaction and southern hybridization assay using their specific primer and probe respectively. Northern hybridization assay using CP gene specific probe confirmed the transcription of transgene in all 39 transgenic plants. These plants showed translation of CP during DAS-ELISA when tested with antiserum specific to CP of CMV. These 39 plants when challenged by mechanical inoculations with CMV gerbera isolate showed virus resistance in 53% (21 out of 39) plants, virus tolerance (delayed mild symptom) in 33% (13/39) plants, while rest 12.8% (5/39) plants showed severe disease symptoms. The CP mediated resistance of CMV in transgenic gerbera is being reported for the first time from India.
ABSTRACT
Aims: The study aims to understand the wound healing potentials of a 50% aqueous ethanolic extract of Premna latifolia stem using excision wound model. Study Design: The wound healing potentials were simultaneously supported by observing the bacterial functional diversity of wound swabs using Biolog Eco plates. The antioxidant activity was performed using In vitro DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Place and Duration of Study: CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow, between May 2013 and November 2013. Methodology: Wound healing activity of the plant was studied using excision wound model. Animals were divided into three groups of six male rats each as control group (GI) dressed with compound free simple ointment. Test group (GII) treated with 50% aqueous ethanolic extract of P. latifolia stem (10% w/w) in ointment vehicle and standard group (GIII) group treated Nitrofurazone ointment, Himedia (0.2%w/w). The wound healing potential was further supported by the DPPH free radical scavenging and antibacterial activity of the plant. The phytochemical estimations were done using standard methods. Results: Sugar and starch content in the plant was 3.55% and 5.54% respectively. Total tannins, phenol and flavonoid content were estimated to be 0.18%, 0.54% and 2.73%. The 50% ethanolic extract of the plant showed moderate DPPH free radical scavenging activity with an IC50 of 188.02μg/ml. A 69.15% of wound closure was observed on 10th day post wounding of the rats treated with 200 mg/kg of extract. The results also indicated significant antibacterial activity of the extract. Conclusion: The 50% aqueous ethanolic extract of P. latifolia shows significant wound healing activity.
ABSTRACT
Recently, Y-linked markers have been found extremely useful tools in population genetics and evolutionary biology. We have studied a tetranucleotide marker, DYS19 and a bialleleic marker DYS287, an Alu polymorphic marker (YAP) in five ethnic groups of India. Blood samples were collected from 215 random healthy males and DNA was extracted by using a simple salt precipitation method. DNA samples, after amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), were electrophoresed. The detection of alleles was done by silver staining and reconfirmed by using a fragment analyser programme in an ALF express sequencer (Pharamacia). A total of four alleles were observed at DYS19 locus in all the five ethnic groups. Allele 194bp was found to be the predominant one in all the groups. The absence of YAP was found in all the groups.
ABSTRACT
The D17S5 is a highly informative minisatellite locus and shows extensive interpopulation allelic variability. However in many cases, it shows preferential amplification of shorter alleles, which has hampered the full potential of this minisatellite from being realized. This study explores the use of the Expand Long Template PCR system to circumvent this problem.
ABSTRACT
The minisatellite locus D1S80 was studied in five ethnic populations, namely, Konkanastha Brahmins and Marathas of Maharashtra; Nairs, Ezhavas and Muslims from Kerala, to compare the allele and genotype frequencies. DNA isoleted from blood samples collected from 364 unrelated healthy donors was amplified by PCR and subjected to polyaerylamide gel electrophones. A total of 20 alleles and 71 genotypes were observed from the above population groups. A bimodal pattern was observed in the allele frequency distribution representing 18 and 24 as predominant ones. The observed heterozygosity was in the range of 65% to 82%. All the five population groups conformed to Hardy- Weinberg equilibrium expectations.
ABSTRACT
The ApoB VNTR locus was analyzed in two distinct ethnic groups of Maharashtra to determine, the distribution of allele and genotype frequencies. Blood samples were collected from 183 random, unrelated, healthy donors. DNA was extracted by using a simple salt precipitation method, amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the products were electrophoresed in 4% PAGE followed by silver staining. A total of 14 alleles and 38 genotypes were observed. Allele 37 and 39 were found to be the predominant alleles showing a bimodal distribution. Both the population groups conformed to Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium expectations.
ABSTRACT
A total of 26,237 deliveries were monitored for twinning and malformations at the 4 government hospitals catering to the population of Kollam and Alapuzha-districts of South Kerala. Among these 7.8 per thousand were twin births showing an increase in the incidence with maternal age. The twin births were high among children of consanguineous marriages (11.7 per thousand) as compared to non-consanguineous marriages (7.7 per thousand). Still births and malformations were also higher in twin deliveries as against singleton deliveries. A large data base is being built to establish a twin registry.
ABSTRACT
An attempt has been made to investigate the adaptive response to ionizing radiation in the human lymphocytes in vitro using cytochalasin-B blocked micronucleated binucleate cells (mn-BNCs) as a cytogenetic end point. Whole blood samples drawn from healthy donors, of either sex were irradiated in vitro at a dose of 1 cGy (adaptive or conditioning dose) Cobalt-60 gamma radiation (dose rate 1.12 cGy/min) at about 26 hr after mitogenic stimulation. After 31 hr of their initiation, groups of cultures were subsequently exposed to a challenging dose of 100 cGy gamma radiation (dose rate 82 cGy/min.). Eight males in the age group ranging from 25 to 55 years and eight females (age group 25 to 29 years), have been analysed during this study. Analysis of data revealed 40.6% reduction in the frequency of mn-BNCs among the males with a range from 25.7% to 54.7%. In case of females, also the per cent reduction varied from 26.3% to 49.0%, with a mean value of 33.7%. Pooling the data from males and females gave an overall reduction of 37.1% in the frequency of radiation induced mn-BNCs due to pre-exposure to 1 cGy radiation.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Lymphocytes/physiology , Male , Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective , Middle Aged , Radiation ToleranceABSTRACT
Mice belonging to F8, F12, F14 and F20 generation of a multigeneration study reared on 20% (v/v) ethanol in water as the sole drinking source were investigated for their immune competence using various parameters. The results indicated lack of any significant effect on delayed type hypersensitivity to dinitro fluorobenzene (DNFB) or sheep red blood cells (SRBC) in mice consuming ethanol. Further, alloskin graft and tumor graft response was similar in both ethanol and water fed mice. Humoral response to SRBC was also intact. However, NK cell activity was reduced significantly in ethanol fed mice. Phagocytic index as assessed by the carbon clearance test was also reduced considerably in mice consuming ethanol. The results clearly indicate that ethanol per se has a significant effect on the nonspecific limb of the immune system, in chronically fed mice.