Chemistry and buffering capacity of fog water collected in and around New Delhi, India.

In this study, fog water samples collected from New Delhi and its satellite township Sonipat for 2 years 2015-16 and 2016-17 are characterized by soluble ions and internal buffering capacity. The pH of fog water is close to 5.6 due to the limited contributions of Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions by virtue of low wind speed during winters. NH4+ and Ca2+ were dominant cations in fog at both sites during both sampling years. NH4+ and Ca2+ contributions were similar in New Delhi during 2015-16, but Ca2+ increased during 2016-17 on account of construction activities. Emissions from agriculture fields through fertilizer applications and animal breeding lead to an increase of NH4+ compared to Ca2+ at Sonipat. SO42- was comparable with Cl-, followed by NO3- ions. Plastic burning in this region during wintertime was a possible source of Cl- ions. Acid neutralization decreases as NH4+ > Ca2+ and Mg2+ for all samples in Sonipat and as Ca2+ > NH4+ and Mg2+ in New Delhi. Higher NO3- in New Delhi was due to vehicular emissions. Vehicular emissions in New Delhi and agriculture fields in Sonipat were dominant sources of organic acids. Observed internal buffering capacity was different than theoretical values over a pH range from 4 to 7 in New Delhi, whereas both buffering capacities were close to each other in Sonipat samples. Lead in fog water at both sites was higher than prescribed safe limits for drinking water. Pollution sources were responsible for higher concentrations of metals, organic acids, and soluble ions in fog in New Delhi compared to that in Sonipat.

Insect vectors' saliva and gut microbiota as a blessing in disguise: probability versus possibility.

Drawing of host blood is a natural phenomenon during the bite of blood-probing insect vectors. Along with the blood meal, the vectors introduce salivary components and a trail of microbiota. In the case of infected vectors, the related pathogen accompanies the aforementioned biological components. In addition to Anopheles gambiae or Anopheles stephensi, the bites of other nonmalarial vectors cannot be ignored in malaria-endemic regions. Similarly, the bite incidence of Phlebotomus papatasi cannot be ignored in visceral leishmaniasis-endemic regions. Even the chances of getting bitten by uninfected vectors are higher than the infected vectors. We have discussed the probability or possibility of uninfected, infected, and/or nonvector's saliva and gut microbiota as a therapeutic option leading to the initial deterrent to pathogen establishment.

A mushroom derived 'carbohydrate-fraction' reinstates host-immunity and protects from Leishmania donovani infection.

The anti-leishmanial effect of the 'carbohydrate-fraction', isolated from an edible mushroom Astraeus hygrometricus, was evaluated against Leishmania donovani infection both in vitro and in vivo. Ahf-Car induced the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase 2 (iNOS2) and pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-12, with subsequent downregulation of the anti-inflammatory cytokines as TGF-ß and IL-10, in vitro and in vivo along with a remarkable increase in the expressions of IL-6, IL-1ß, IFN-γ and IRFs, IRF-7 and IRF-8 in vivo. Ahf-Car also reduced the parasite burden in the spleen and liver dose-dependently with a simultaneous proliferation of Ly6C+ cells in the bone marrow of Leishmania-infected experimental animals. It also increased the monocyte population dose-dependently and the expression of the myeloid transcription factor PU.1, in vivo, which presumably signifies the expansion of protective macrophages. Thus, Ahf-Car might be a potent anti-leishmanial lead with unique and effective adjuvant capacity.

Targeting the Trypanothione Reductase of Tissue-Residing Leishmania in Hosts' Reticuloendothelial System: A Flexible Water-Soluble Ferrocenylquinoline-Based Preclinical Drug Candidate.

Since inception, the magic bullets developed against leishmaniasis traveled a certain path and then dropped down due to either toxicity or the emergence of resistance. The route of administration is also an important concern. We developed a series of water-soluble ferrocenylquinoline derivatives, targeting Leishmania donovani, among which CQFC1 showed the highest efficacy even in comparison to other drugs, in use or used, both in oral and intramuscular routes. It did not induce any toxicity to splenocytes and on hematopoiesis, induced protective cytokines, and did not hamper the drug-metabolizing enzymes in hosts. It acts through the reduction and the inhibition of parasites' survival enzyme trypanothione reductase of replicating amastigotes in hosts' reticuloendothelial tissues. Unlike conventional drugs, this molecule did not induce the resistance-conferring genes in laboratory-maintained resistant L. donovani lines. Experimentally, this easily bioavailable preclinical drug candidate overcame all of the limitations causing the discontinuation of the other conventional antileishmanial drugs.