Deciphering the interactions of phytochemicals with ovalbumin, the major food allergen from egg white: spectroscopic and computational studies.

Ovalbumin (OVA), the major component of egg white, has been used as a model carrier protein to study the interaction of four bioactive phytochemicals 6-hydroxyflavone, chrysin, naringin, and naringenin. A static quenching mechanism was primarily associated with the complexation of the flavonoids with OVA. Hydrophobic forces play a major part in the stability of the complexes. The structural changes within the protein in response to flavonoid binding revealed a decrease in OVA's α-helical content. The hypothesized binding site for flavonoids in OVA overlaps with one or more immunoglobulin E-binding epitopes that may have some effect in the immunoglobulin E response pathway. The flavonoids remain in the same binding site throughout the simulation time and impart protein stability by forming different noncovalent interactions. This study presents comprehensive information about the interaction of the flavonoids with OVA and the associated structural variations after the binding, which might help researchers better comprehend similar medication pharmacodynamics and provide critical information for future therapeutic development.

Prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infestations among children attending Integrated Child Development Service centers in a tea garden area in Darjeeling.

INTRODUCTION: Helminths infestations are common in children in the tea garden areas of Darjeeling, which present unique social, cultural, and environmental conditions. The present study was conducted to determine the proportion of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infestations and association of STH to sociodemographic variables among children attending Integrated Child Development Services centers of a tea garden area in Darjeeling. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Kiran Chandra Tea Estate, a tea garden in Naxalbari, Darjeeling, between August and September 2016. Stool samples were collected from children attending ICDS centers in the area and examined using the direct and concentration methods. A pretested and predesigned questionnaire was used to collect data on the sociodemographic profile of the children's families. RESULTS: Stool samples could be collected from 52 (45%) of the 115 eligible children. The children were predominantly male (61.5%), from families with an income between Rs. 2000 and 4000 per month, had mothers with no formal education (75.0%) and came from households with no sanitary toilets (33.5). The proportion of children with STHs was 9.6%; with Ascaris found in 7.7% and Trichuris in 1.9%. No statistically significant differences were found in selected variables between the worm-positive and worm-negative children. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of STH infestation is low among children <6 years of age attending ICDS in the study area probably because of the mass de-worming strategy of the government of India. Some differences in infestations among groups might suggest a clustering effect.