An approach to improve the existing ribbon retting of jute fibre using concrete tank and natural catalyst.

The ribbon retting method has been developed as a remedy for the issues associated with the conventional water retting method. But this method has not yet gained popularity among jute growers due to the unavailability of catalyst, inadequate training and lack of interest of farmers. The study deals with the improvement of the existing ribbon retting process by using a concrete tank with or without fermented soybean as a natural catalyst in different proportions. For this purpose, 25 fibre samples were developed using different conditions such as concrete tank without natural catalyst, concrete tank with 2.5%, 5% and 7.5% natural catalyst and a micro pond without natural catalyst for various observational time periods. After that, samples collected under mentioned conditions which were measured to assess the fibre properties. The samples produced in a concrete tank with 7.5% natural catalyst demonstrated better fibre characteristics than the other conditions, including fibre fineness, fibre strength, improved fibre color, open surface structure and smooth surface etc. The best conditions for microbial growth were achieved using a concrete tank with more natural catalysts, which improved bacterial growth, fibre quality and reduced the retting time. The use of more natural catalysts increased microbial activity, which in turn affected total dissolved solids (TDS), Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), Chemical oxygen demand (COD), and pH value of the retted water. In comparison to the existing ribbon retting method, this improved method is significantly faster and produces fibers with better properties. Farmers will gain more from the successful implementation of an improved ribbon retting method because it shortens retting time, conserves water, and uses a concrete tank during retting that can be used for multiple purposes.

Niacinamide leave-on formulation provides long-lasting protection against bacteria in vivo.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) form a part of the skin's innate immune system. Their primary activity is to provide antimicrobial benefits and hence protect from infections. AMPs that are present on human skin include psoriasin (S100A7), RNase 7, lysozyme, LL-37 and defensins. Niacinamide is a well-known cosmetic ingredient that has been used traditionally for multiple skin benefits. Recent data indicate that niacinamide treatment can boost AMPs in human gut epithelial cells and in neutrophils. Treatment with niacinamide in mice also provided protection from skin infections by enhancing AMPs. In this article, we find that treatment with niacinamide formulation provides long-lasting protection against bacteria, potentially through the activation of an AMP response.

Sebum and Hydration Levels in Specific Regions of Human Face Significantly Predict the Nature and Diversity of Facial Skin Microbiome.

The skin microbiome varies across individuals. The causes of these variations are inadequately understood. We tested the hypothesis that inter-individual variation in facial skin microbiome can be significantly explained by variation in sebum and hydration levels in specific facial regions of humans. We measured sebum and hydration from forehead and cheek regions of healthy female volunteers (n = 30). Metagenomic DNA from skin swabs were sequenced for V3-V5 regions of 16S rRNA gene. Altogether, 34 phyla were identified; predominantly Actinobacteria (66.3%), Firmicutes (17.7%), Proteobacteria (13.1%) and Bacteroidetes (1.4%). About 1000 genera were identified; predominantly Propionibacterium (58.6%), Staphylococcus (8.6%), Streptococcus (4.0%), Corynebacterium (3.6%) and Paracoccus (3.3%). A subset (n = 24) of individuals were sampled two months later. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that cheek sebum level was the most significant predictor of microbiome composition and diversity followed by forehead hydration level; forehead sebum and cheek hydration levels were not. With increase in cheek sebum, the prevalence of Actinobacteria (p = 0.001)/Propionibacterium (p = 0.002) increased, whereas microbiome diversity decreased (Shannon Index, p = 0.032); this was opposite for other phyla/genera. These trends were reversed for forehead hydration levels. Therefore, the nature and diversity of facial skin microbiome is jointly determined by site-specific lipid and water levels in the stratum corneum.

Tumor-prone phenotype of the DDB2-deficient mice.

DDB2 is an essential subunit of the damaged-DNA recognition factor DDB, which is involved in global genomic repair in human cells. Moreover, DDB2 is mutated in the repair-deficiency disease xeroderma pigmentosum (Group E). Expression of DDB2 in human cells is induced by P53, BRCA1 and by ionizing radiation. The DDB2 protein associates with transcriptional activator and coactivator proteins. In addition, DDB2 in conjunction with DDB1 associates with cullin 4A and the Cop9/signalosome. We generated a mouse strain deficient for DDB2 (DDB2-/-). Consistent with the human disease (XP-E), the DDB2-/- mice were susceptible to UV-induced skin carcinogenesis. We observed a significant difference in the initial rate of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD)-removal from the skin following UV irradiation. Also, the DDB2-deficient mice exhibited a significantly reduced life span compared to their wild-type littermates. Moreover, unlike other XP-deficient mice, the DDB2-deficient mice developed spontaneous malignant tumors at a high rate between the ages of 20 and 25 months. The observations suggest that, in addition to DNA repair, the other interactions of DDB2 are significant in its tumor suppression function.

Involvement of in vivo induced cheY-4 gene of Vibrio cholerae in motility, early adherence to intestinal epithelial cells and regulation of virulence factors.

Using a global transcription profile approach cheY-4 of Vibrio cholerae was identified as an in vivo induced gene. In the present study, duplication of the gene in the chromosome resulted in increased motility, increased chemotactic response towards isolated intestinal mucus layer and stronger adhesion to human intestinal epithelial cell line at an early phase of infection compared to wild type and a null mutant strain. In contrast to the cheY-4 null mutant, duplication of cheY-4 gene resulted in increased expression of ctxAB and tcpA, the two major virulence genes of V. cholerae.

Involvement of in vivo induced icmF gene of Vibrio cholerae in motility, adherence to epithelial cells, and conjugation frequency.

Previously, using global transcription profile approach icmF gene of Vibrio cholerae was identified as an in vivo induced gene. In the present study, the icmF gene of V. cholerae O395 was cloned, sequenced, and used to construct an icmF insertion mutant. This IcmF is homologous to Legionella pneumophila IcmF, belonging to the icm cassette responsible for macrophage killing and intracellular survival of the organism. The icmF insertion mutant exhibited reduced motility and increased adherence to human intestinal epithelial cells. The presence of ATP-GTP-binding site suggests further a possible role of IcmF as a signaling molecule. Triparental-mating assay, with the mutant as a recipient, showed higher conjugation frequency than wild type. We propose that the increased adherence to epithelial cell line and increased conjugation frequency of the mutant result from some sort of cell surface reorganization.