Novel Insights into the Bioactive Metabolites of Macrocybe gigantea (Agaricomycetes), Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Combined with Chemoinformatic Approaches.

Macrocybe gigantea is an edible mushroom and has multiple pharmacological properties, including antibacterial, antioxidant, and antitumor activities. However, only a few reports are currently available on the bioactive compounds and bioactivity of this mushroom. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the unique chemical diversity of the fruiting body of M. gigantea. Species identification was done accurately with morphological and molecular methods, followed by mycochemical extraction in different solvent systems. The ethanolic extract of the fruiting body gave maximum yield, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was performed along with an assessment of antibacterial activity and cell viability by the MTT assay. The GC-MS analysis revealed 50 metabolites, and further cheminformatics analysis of these metabolites revealed their possible biological activities. In addition, the physicochemical and mineral element analysis of M. gigantea revealed the quality and authenticity of the species. Altogether, the current investigation gives a comprehensive overview of the bioactive metabolites of M. gigantea.

Degradation of polyethylene by Trichoderma harzianum--SEM, FTIR, and NMR analyses.

Trichoderma harzianum was isolated from local dumpsites of Shivamogga District for use in the biodegradation of polyethylene. Soil sample of that dumpsite was used for isolation of T. harzianum. Degradation was carried out using autoclaved, UV-treated, and surface-sterilized polyethylene. Degradation was monitored by observing weight loss and changes in physical structure by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. T. harzianum was able to degrade treated polyethylene (40%) more efficiently than autoclaved (23%) and surface-sterilized polyethylene (13%). Enzymes responsible for polyethylene degradation were screened from T. harzianum and were identified as laccase and manganese peroxidase. These enzymes were produced in large amount, and their activity was calculated using spectrophotometric method and crude extraction of enzymes was carried out. Molecular weight of laccase was determined as 88 kDa and that of manganese peroxidase was 55 kDa. The capacity of crude enzymes to degrade polyethylene was also determined. By observing these results, we can conclude that this organism may act as solution for the problem caused by polyethylene in nature.

Bioaccumulation potential of Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus for removal of heavy metals from paper mill effluent.

In the present study Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus isolated from paper mill effluent showed tolerance and accumulation of toxic metals Ni, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr and Cu from synthetic medium and paper mill effluent. Physico-chemical and heavy metals characterization of industrially treated paper mill effluent showed insignificant reduction in BOD, hardness, TDS and heavy metals as compared to permissible limits of BIS and WHO. A. niger and A. flavus were treated with synthetic medium containing 100-1000 mg l(-1) of six heavy metals. A. niger was able to tolerate and grow in 1000 mg l(-1) Pb, 500 mg l(-1) Cu, 250 mg l(-1) Zn and 100 mg l(-1) Cr, Ni respectively. No growth of A. niger was observed in 100 mg l-(-1) of Cd. A. flavus was capable to tolerate and grow in 1000 mg l(-1) Pb, Zn and Ni, 100mg l(-1) Cu. A. flavus growth was completely inhibited in 100 mg l(-1) of Cd and Cr. The Cd, Zn, Cu and Pb reduction were found significant (p < 0.05) in the paper effluent inoculated with A. niger and A. flavus biomass compared to industrial treated effluent. A. niger and A. flavus accumulated maximum of Pb (75.82%) followed by Zn (49.40%) > Cu (45.34%) > Ni (25.20%), while only 41% Cr was accumulated by A. nigerfrom 100 mg l(-1) of Cr solution.

Diphyllobothriasis in a nine-year-old child in India: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: The Diphyllobothrium genus belongs to the Diphyllobothridea order of tapeworms. Diphyllobothrium spp., which is commonly known as fish tapeworm, is generally transmitted in humans, but also in other species, such as bears, dogs, cats, foxes, and other terrestrial carnivores. Although worldwide in distribution, the original heartland of Diphyllobothrium spp. spreads across Scandinavia, northern Russia, and western Serbia. We report a rare case that occurred in India. CASE PRESENTATION: A nine-year-old south Indian girl was brought to the casualty at the Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences with complaints of vomiting and loose stools that had started three days earlier. The vomit did not have a foul smell and contained no blood or mucus, but it did contain undigested food particles. The patient described a history of recurrent abdominal pain. She was a non-vegetarian and said she had a history of eating fish. CONCLUSION: The incidence of Diphyllobothrium spp. infection is infrequent in India. Since this is only the fourth reported case in India, and since the previously reported cases also involved observed pediatric patients, we emphasize the need for clinical microbiologists and pediatricians to suspect fish tapeworm infection and recommend epidemiological study of Diphyllobothrium spp. infection.

Endoxifen, a new cornerstone of breast cancer therapy: demonstration of safety, tolerability, and systemic bioavailability in healthy human subjects.

Endoxifen is an active metabolite of tamoxifen, a drug used in the treatment of breast cancer. In order to be clinically effective, tamoxifen must be converted to endoxifen by cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6). A study involving single escalating oral doses was conducted in humans to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of endoxifen. This is the first study demonstrating that single oral doses of endoxifen are safe and well tolerated and have sufficient bioavailability to reach systemically effective levels in human subjects. Furthermore, it was found that endoxifen is rapidly absorbed and systemically available and that it displays dose proportionality in peak drug concentrations in plasma (C(max)) and area under the concentration-time curve extrapolated from 0 to ∞ (AUC(0-∞)) over the dose range 0.5-4.0 mg.

B5r gene based sequence analysis of Indian buffalopox virus isolates in relation to other orthopoxviruses.

We determined complete nucleotide sequence of B5R gene homologue of Vaccinia virus (VACV) in five Buffalopox virus (BPXV) isolates of Indian origin. The obtained sequences were compared with themselves and with corresponding sequences of the other orthopoxviruses. Sequence analysis revealed 99.799.8% and 99.499.7% identities among the BPXV isolates for B5R gene at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively. Sequence identities of B5R gene between BPXV and VACV isolates (98.199.7%) or other orthopoxviruses (95.699.2%) showed highly conserved nature of this protein and a closer relationship of BPXV isolates to VACV than to other orthopoxviruses.

An approach to obtain specific polyclonal antisera to Xanthomonas campestris pv. cyamopsidis and its potential application in indexing of infected seeds of guar.

Clusterbean seed health testing is warranted since the pathogen (Xanthomonas campestris pv. cyamopsidis (Xccy)) is seed-borne and seed-transmitted. A polyclonal antibody was developed in rabbit via subcutaneous and intramuscular injections and characterized for sensitivity, specificity and its applicability to ELISA which: (i) was sensitive in detecting as few as 102 cells ml - 1 at a titre of 1: 4000; (ii) was specific, since it reacted only with Xccy and not with other xanthomonads; (iii) reacted both with Xccy cells and culture filtrate, indicating that the antigenic determinant is a secretory component; (iv) was applicable and reliable in seed health testing since it reacted only with infected seeds and plant materials and not with healthy seeds and (v) a purified fraction of antibody was virulent-specific since heat-denatured and avirulent isolates were not detected. The ELISA thus developed is highly reproducible and therefore suitable for the evaluation of the potential disease status of seeds and plant health, which is appropriate for routine seed health testing.