Moringa olifera: Nutrient Dense Food Source and World’s Most Useful Plant to Ensure Nutritional Security, Good Health and Eradication of Malnutrition

Moringa (Moringa olifera Lam.), belonging to the family Moringaceae, is a plant native to the Indian sub-continent and has become naturalised in tropical and sub-tropical areas around the world. Traditionally, the leaves, fruits, flowers, and immature pods of this tree are eaten in many countries. It is an economically important, multipurpose tree with immense nutritional value, containing all essential vitamins and minerals. In view of the high nutritional and nutraceutical values the aim of this study was to compile a comprehensive review on the functional nutrients of Moringa with their respective health benefits and its significant potential to address malnutrition. The majority of the research articles reviewed showed that Moringa leaves have very dense nutritional values, with highest number of antioxidants, and is rich in vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K. Apart from vitamins, the plant is also very rich in mineral content and contains Calcium, Iron, Potassium, Magnesium, Manganese and Zinc. Every part of Moringa tree is nutritious. Taking Moringa leaf as a vegetable, juice or in the form of dried powder can help in curing a number of deficiencies and diseases. Regular consumption of its leaf, in various forms, can control blood pressure, blood sugar and anemia, enhance mental alertness and bone strength. Further studies on recommended daily intake and scientific consensus on therapeutic benefits are needed.

Comparative Structural and Functional Analysis of E6 Oncogene of Human Papillomavirus Type 16.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an etiologic agent of the uterine cervix cancer and several other neoplasias in women globally. E6 protein of HPV type 16 is highly conserved and plays the key role in an inducing cancer via suppressing activity of P53. We have used different bioinformatics tools for generation of phylogenetic tree, modeling of RNA secondary structure, gene designing and codon optimization of HPV E6 gene. The size of E6 gene sequences of nine strains HPV type 16 was estimated to be 456 to 477 bp and G+C content was ranged between 37.06 to 37.94%. We used E6 gene sequences for construction of phylogenetic relationship and these divided into five groups. RNA secondary structures of E6 gene were modeled and analyzed that folding free energy of wild genes was -093.96, -106.21,-040.48, -090.76, - 072.68, -092.86, -039.32, -044.78, -047.88 kcal/mol and after codon optimization free energy was -122.70, -107.40, - 104.80, -121.40, -127.40, -110.80, -105.20, -122.30, -110.40 kcal/mol respectively. Moreover, gene designing and codon optimization have used to improve the heterologous expression in living organisms by increasing translational efficiency. All strains of HPV16 were used for codon optimization in E. coli. Codon adaptation index (CAI) and G+C contents of E6 gene in optimized DNA were enhanced by 3.6 (72.7%) and 1.3 (25.2%) fold, respectively. The present study provides useful insights into phylogenetic and evolution in the cervical cancer causing Human papillomavirus type 16. The optimized DNA can be chemically synthesized and over expressed in E. coli as compare to its wild type counterparts. Alternatively, the secondary structure and free energy of E6 were investigated that will be helpful to predict the evolution of primitive and genetically stable HPV type 16 strains. This finding provides new insight in better understanding of cervical cancer.

Identification of T-Cell epitopes in structural proteins of tick borne encephalitis virus for vaccine development.

Tickborne encephalitis (TBE) is a human viral infectious disease caused by tickborne encephalitis virus (TBEV). It is transmitted by the bite of an infected tick and also initiated the swelling of brain (encephalitis) and spinal cord. There is a pressing need to develop potent and sufficient amount of drugs and vaccines for control of TBE. We have selected the structural proteins such as anchored core protein C, core protein C, premembrane, matrix and envelope proteins of TBEV for identification of T-cell epitopes using immunoinformatics tools. These epitopes were showed the highest binding affinity with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II molecules. These finding may be used as an immunodiagnostic agent and also development of peptide based novel vaccines.

Molecular characterization and modeling of secondary structure of 16S rRNA from aeromonas veronii.

Aeromonas veronii is a human pathogen that causes diarrhea, wound infections and hemorrhagic septicemia. A. veronii isolated from Gomti river water and identified on basis of 16S rRNA sequences, which showed the high degree of homology with existing sequences. Moreover, the 16S rRNA sequences were also being used for modeling of RNA secondary structures and resembles with Gibbs free energy of other available strains. The result indicates the accurate molecular identification of A. veronii and its phylogeny shows the high degree of homology with diverse source of other strains.

Codon optimization of the potential antigens encoding genes from mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Current approach for controlling of tuberculosis is going on by recommended doses of vaccines. Codon optimization and simulation techniques are used to improve the protein expression in living organism by increasing their translational efficiency of gene of interest. We have designed; optimized the codon and simulated in nineteen indigenous genes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv in the Escherichia coli. We minimized the G+C content in optimized genes from 64.75% to 59.67% of the studied genes as the richness of G+C content is reflected in a strong bias. CAI and AT of optimized DNA were enhanced by 1.9 (47.8%) and 1.1 (12.5%) fold more with respect to its native type. Our finding indicates the optimized genes can be useful for over expression in host and the study provides a new insight for the emerging research in synthetic biology.