ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Intestinal parasitic infections are most common and prevalent among children and accounts for great morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: This research is aimed at studying the prevalence and related risk factors of parasitic infections among private school-going pupils of Dharan Submetropolitan City. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This was a cross-sectional laboratory-based study conducted from 13 November 2018 to 26 February 2019 among 400 private school pupils. The stool samples were collected and microscopically examined for parasites using the formalin ethyl acetate sedimentation technique. Data Analysis. Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS version 16.0. Pearson's Chi-square test was used to establish association between dependent and independent variables. The association was also determined using crude and adjusted odds ratio, and the test considered a P value < 0.05 as statistically significant with 95% confidence interval. RESULT: In this study, 46 (11.5%) children were positive for intestinal parasites. In this study, 3 protozoans (Entamoeba histolytica = 3 (0.75%)) and 43 helminths (Ascaris lumbricoides = 22 (5.5%); Enterobiusvermicularis = 6 (1.5%); Ancylostoma duodenale = 2 (0.5%); and Trichuris trichiura = 13 (3.25%)) were isolated and identified. Statistically, significant difference in the parasitic prevalence with respect to age and gender was not seen (P > 0.05). However, the prevalence of parasitic infection was strongly associated with the ethnicity of the pupils (P = 0.001). The strong associated risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections were nail-biting habit, source of drinking water, biannual deworming, thumb-sucking, hand sanitation before having food and after toilet, knowledge of parents on parasitosis, health and sanitation, keeping cat/dog as pet, and wearing protective shoes during play (P = 0.001). Bowel syndromes like abdominal cramp and constipation also had a strong statistical association (P = 0.001) with the prevalence of parasitic infection. According to binary and multivariate logistic regression analyses, the parents without awareness, pupils with a nail-biting habit, pupils not wearing shoes during play, lack of deworming, drinking direct tap water, and pupils with poor hand sanitation were more likely to be infested with intestinal parasitic infections. CONCLUSION: This study concludes that intestinal parasites are still prevalent among private school-going pupils of Dharan Submetropolitan City. The poor sanitation and sanitary habits like biting nails, consumption of untreated drinking water, and failure to practice proper hand washing were studied as contributors to the acquisition of intestinal parasitic infections. Therefore, integration of control measures such as provision of clean and safe drinking water, improved sanitation and hygiene, with biannual administration of drugs are necessary for effective eradication of parasitic infections.
ABSTRACT
Phosphorylation of proteins on serine/threonine residues represents an important biochemical mechanism to regulate several cellular processes. Polo-like kinases (PLKs) are a family of serine-threonine kinases that play an imminent role in cell cycle regulation in yeast to humans, and thus an important therapeutic target for cancers. The present study provides insights into the enzymatic features of Saccharomyces cerevisiae PLK, Cdc5 using in vitro casein phosphorylation assays. The recombinant yeast PLK, GST-Cdc5 showed maximum casein phosphorylation activity at 30 °C, pH 9 and 45 min of incubation period. GST-Cdc5 exhibited a KM of 1.35 µM for casein, and high affinity for ATP, since addition of non-radioactive ATP chased out casein phosphorylation by radiolabeled ATP. The recombinant enzyme showed maximum kinase activity at 2.7 µM of GST-Cdc5. Casein was found to be the best in vitro substrate of GST-Cdc5 followed by BSA (Bovine Serum Albumin) and MBP (Myelin Basic Protein). Of the metal ions tested, Mg2+ (at 20 mM) was found to enhance GST-Cdc5 kinase activity, while Ca2+ (at 5 mM) and Mn2+ (at 10 mM) inhibited the same. The presence of EDTA, SDS and PMSF inhibited phosphorylation by GST-Cdc5, while DTT had no effect. The recombinant GST-Cdc5 can be used as a tool for deciphering PLKs' structure and functions, which are still at infancy.
ABSTRACT
Polo-like kinases (PLKs) belong to the serine/threonine kinase subfamily, characterized by the presence of the signature motif called Polo-box domain. PLK members studied so far have emerged as the conserved regulator of cell cycle and cell division in eukaryotes. The Polo-box domain adds diversity to PLK functions by targeting the enzyme to an array of substrates found at different sub-cellular structures for exquisite regulation of cell cycle. More than a dozen members of PLK subfamily have been identified in the eukaryotic world except in the higher plants. Despite the similarities in governing cell division, PLKs have diverse and unique functions in different organisms. This review summarizes the plethora of functions of PLK in yeast to humans. Along with its classical functions, this review also emphasizes on the role of PLKs in regulating DNA replication, repair, genome integrity, development, and morphogenesis pathways. Perturbations in PLK functions have disease implications, such as cancer in humans, and thus human PLK1 is targeted for cancer therapeutics. PLKs also play a vital role in regulating several stages of meiotic cell division. Thus, PLKs are emerging as a unique class of proteins with multiple and diverse functions in different organisms.
