ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: A combination of resistant and susceptible Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolated from clinical specimens is referred to as heteroresistance. Heteroresistance leads to difficulties in drug resistance testing and may adversely affect treatment outcomes. The present study estimated the proportion of heteroresistance among MTB in clinical samples of presumptive drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) patients in Central India. Methods: A retrospective analysis of data generated from line probe assay (LPA) at a tertiary care hospital in Central India between January 2013 and December 2018 was carried out. A heteroresistant MTB in a sample was indicated by the presence of both wild-type and mutant-type patterns on an LPA strip. Results: Data analysis was carried out on interpretable 11,788 LPA results. Heteroresistance in MTB was detected in 637 (5.4%) samples. Of these, heteroresistance in MTB was detected in 413 (64.8%), 163 (25.5%) and 61 (9.5%) samples with respect to rpoB, katG and inhA genes, respectively. Interpretation & conclusions: Heteroresistance is considered a preliminary step in the development of drug resistance. Delayed or suboptimal anti-tubercular therapy in patients with heteroresistance of MTB may elicit full clinical resistance and negatively impact the National TB Elimination Programme. Further studies are, however, needed to determine the impact of heteroresistance on treatment outcomes in individual patients.
ABSTRACT
The strigolactones (SLs) are plants hormones that have multiple functions in architecture and development. The roles of SLs in shoot branching and stem secondary growth of autotrophic plants are established. SL is also involved in the interaction between root parasitic plants and their host plants. SLs are exudates by the root of the host plant in search of a fungal partner for symbiotic association, while parasitic plants utilize this facility to detect the host root. The first formed tubercle of Philapanhche, whose germinations are driven by host-derived SLs, exudates parasitic derived SLs (PSLs) and could encourages germination of the adjacent parasitic seeds, resulting in parasite cluster formation. The existence of aboveground spikes in clusters suggests an intriguing approach for increasing parasite population by amplifying PSLs, which result in massive parasitic seed germination. PSLs probably have a role in the increased branching of Broomrapes opposing the host plant, resulting in the parasites' clustered appearance aboveground. This review highlights the distinct roles of SLs and PSLs, and their potential role in host-parasitic interaction.
ABSTRACT
Curcumin, the most active polyphenolic constituent of turmeric curcuminoids obtained from the rhizome Curcuma longa, holds a high place in ayurvedic medicine but its role in conventional disease management has also been established. However, it has poor bioavailability due to insolubility in water becomes a limiting factor. Increasing its solubility followed by assessment of effect of oral consumption of soluble curcumin on pathological parameters on healthy human volunteers, sixteen healthy subjects comprising of nine females and seven males in the age group of 24- 45 years, was undertaken. Oral administration was done in the form of 500 mg capsule, twice a day, for 15 days. Complete blood profile, levels of blood glucose, lipid profile, renal function tests and liver function tests were performed in subjects before the start and at the end of the study. Soluble curcumin was found to improve the liver functions, kidney functions and ameliorated the lipid profile, blood glucose in healthy volunteers, only in 15 days of oral consumption. Enhanced bioavailability of soluble curcumin in the near future is likely to bring this promising natural product to the forefront of therapeutic agents for treatment of human diseases, especially age related problems.