Molecular variability analyses of Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus capsid protein.

The complete sequences of the coat protein (CP) gene of 26 isolates of Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV) from India were determined. The isolates were obtained from various pome (apple, pear and quince) and stone (plum, peach, apricot, almond and wild Himalayan cherry) fruit trees. Other previously characterized ACLSV isolates and Trichoviruses were used for comparative analysis. Indian ACLSV isolates among themselves and with isolates from elsewhere in the world shared 91–100% and 70–98% sequence identities at the amino acid and nucleotide levels, respectively. The highest degree of variability was observed in the middle portion with 9 amino acid substitutions in contrast to the N-terminal and C-terminal ends, which were maximally conserved with only 4 amino acid substitutions. In phylogenetic analysis no reasonable correlation between host species and/or geographic origin of the isolates was observed. Alignment with capsid protein genes of other Trichoviruses revealed the TaTao ACLSV peach isolate to be phylogenetically closest to Peach mosaic virus, Apricot pseudo chlorotic leaf spot virus and Cherry mottle leaf virus. Recombination analysis (RDP3 ver.2.6) done for all the available ACLSV complete CP sequences of the world and Indian isolates indicate no signifi cant evidence of recombination. However, one recombination event among Indian ACLSV-CP isolates was detected. To the best of our knowledge, this is the fi rst report of complete CP sequence variability study from India and also the fi rst evidence of homologous recombination in ACLSV.

Mycobacterial infections in human immuno-deficiency virus seropositive patients: role of non-tuberculous mycobacteria.

BACKGROUND: There is high prevalence of tuberculosis in patients with HIV infection; hence the role of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in HIV patients has always been undermined. NTM may be responsible for clinical disease in a substantial number of immuno-compromised HIV sero-positive individuals even in a country endemic for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). The study was designed to look for the contribution of NTM to morbidity in HIV seropositive patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a prospective study of ninety-four HIV seropositive individuals presenting with pulmonary or extra-pulmonary symptoms suggestive of mycobacterial infection, appropriate samples were collected and processed. Detailed clinical history was utilized to differentiate colonization or contamination by NTM from true lung disease. RESULTS: Fourteen samples grew mycobacterial species, 8(57.2%) being NTM. The distribution of NTM was--3 M. avium complex, 2 M. fortuitum, 2 M. vaccae, 1 M. phlei. 6 isolates were M. tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: NTM may be responsible for a significant proportion of mycobacterial infections in HIV seropositive individuals. Despite the high endemicity of tuberculosis in developing countries like India, the presence of NTM should be ruled out; especially in immuno-compromised HIV seropositive individuals before instituting anti-tubercular therapy empirically. In addition, non-response of NTM to ATT may be wrongly attributed to multi-drug resistant tuberculosis.

Kinetics of humoral immune response in pigs vaccinated against foot and mouth disease.

The present investigation was conducted to study the foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV)-specific humoral immune response (HIR) in pigs, following vaccination with oil adjuvanted foot and mouth disease (FMD) vaccine, upto 90 days post vaccination (dpv). For this, 40 Large White Yorkshire (LWY) pigs (20; one-year old female (gilts) and 20; three-month old piglets) were vaccinated @ 2 ml/animal, subcutaneously. Sera samples were collected at fortnight interval from all the animals. The log10 SN50 antibody titres against all the serotypes (Type O, A and Asia-1) were detected in both gilts and piglets from day 7 to 90 dpv indicating the persistence of HIR up to the last day of sampling. The maximum antibody titres were observed on 28 dpv, thereafter, titres started declining, but were present till 90 dpv against all the three FMDV serotypes. HIR was more pronounced in piglets in comparison to gilts, as group mean SN antibody titres against all the three FMDV serotypes were found to be more maintained and significantly higher in piglets.

Efect of ranitidine and tiotidine on spermatogenesis in ablino rats

Effect of ranitidine and tiotidine on spermatogenesis in albino rats was determined under local management and climatic conditions. These H2 blocking drugs were administrated to the albino rats in dose of 2.14 and 1.42 mg/kg body weight, twice daily for a period of five weeks. The results revealed that ranitidine caused a significant decrease [P< 0.05] in the number of spermatocytes while tiotidine had no effect on the germ cells in the seminiferous tubules. It is, therefore, likely that ranitidine and tiotidine have antispermatogenic activity

Comparative study of garlic powder and gemfibrozil in patients of ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus

In this study we observed the effects of garlic [Allium sativum] powder on lipid profile in hyperlipidaemic patients [fasting serum cholesterol 280 mg / 100 ml or more and / or triglyceride 180 mg / 100ml or more] suffering from ischemic heart disease [IHD] and diabetes mellitus [DM] and compared its effects with those of the standard lipid regulating drug gemfibrozil [Lopid]. Nine patients suffering from IHD and DM were put on garlic powder [6 gram / day] for a period of four weeks, six patients were put on gemfibrozil [1200 mg/day] for a period of four weeks. After completion of the treatment the lipid profile was again examined. The parameters studied were serum total lipids, cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein- cholesterol [LDL-C] and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C]. The reduction in the garlic treated group of patients of serum total lipids, cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-C was more marked as compared the gemfibrozil treated patients. Garlic increased the mean serum HDL-C levels very significantly. All these changes produced by garlic powder are beneficial in patients of IHD and DM which are at high risk. Serum total lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-C directly or indirectly enhance the process of atherosclerosis, while HDL-C slows this process by taking away cholesterol from arteries towards the liver for its metabolism and excretion. So garlic is very useful dietary component for slowing the process of atherosclerosis and its associated complications in high risk patients if used regularly for a long time

Effect of cimetidine, ranitidine and tiotidine on histamine stimulated gastric acid secretion in intact rats under local conditions

Antisecretory effects of cimetidine, ranitidine and tiotidine were studied on histamine-stimulated gastric Secretion in pylorus ligated intact rats at the dose levels. The data obtained showed that the efficacy of these drugs in reducing the volume of gastric juice was in the order of ranitidine> tiotidine> cimetidine. However, their acid reducing capacities were observed to be in the order of ranitidine> cimetidine> tiotidine in the checked doses. Thus, the data suggests that ranitidine is the most effective antiulcer drug of all the three tested H2-bloking agents

Effects of cimetidine, ranitidine and tiotidine on spermatogenesis in albino rats

The effects of cimetidine, ranitidine and tiotidine were studied on spermatogenesis in adult male albino rats after administering these drugs at the dose levels of 5.71 mg/ kg, 2.14 mg/kg and 1.42 mg/kg body weight respectively twice daily for a period of five weeks. The results showed that cimetidine and tiotidine caused a significant decrease [P < 0.05] in the number of spermatocytes. However cimetidine and tiotidine produced a marked decrease [P < 0.05] and [P < 0.001] respectively, in the number of total germ cells in the seminiferous tubules. It is conceivable that ranitidine also possess antispermatogenic activity which was not found out in previous research work

Effects cimetidine ranitidine and tiotidine on plasma testosterone and luteinizing hormone level in rats

The investigation was carried out to study the comparative effects of cimetidine, ranitidine and tiotidine on the plasma levels of testosterone and luteinizing hormone under local environmental conditions. The three H2- blocking drugs were injected to the adult male albino rats twice daily at the recommended therapeutic dose levels for six weeks. The data obtained showed that only tiotidine caused a significant [P< 0.05] increase in the level of testosterone. However, all the three drugs caused a significant rise in the levels of luteinizing hormone and maximum with ranitidine