A unique approach to screen for blood donors lacking high-prevalence antigen Inb of the Indian blood group system.

The Inb antigen of the Indian blood group system is a high-prevalence antigen. The presence of alloanti-Inb in a recipient may pose a problem in finding compatible blood for transfusion. The aim of this study was to screen blood donors for Inb and to include individuals found to be In(b-) in our rare donor registry. To save resources, a unique study design was constructed. Blood group O donors were tested for Inb because their red blood cell (RBC) units could serve recipients across all ABO groups. EDTA blood samples were used for serologic and genomic testing. These samples were first tested serologically for Ina, and samples typed as In(a+) were then tested both serologically and molecularly for Ina and Inb to find homozygous IN*01/01 [i.e., the predicted In(b-) phenotype]. A cost-conservative approach in using recycling of antibody was adopted to economize available resources. Of 6300 donors, 196 donor samples typed as In(a+) and were also found to be In(b+) when tested by serologic and genomic methods. Although none of the donors typed as In(b-), the statistical analysis suggests the expected prevalence for this rare phenotype to be 0.02 percent among the total number of donors tested. In conclusion, this report presents a unique cost-conservative approach using limited reagents to screen a large number of donors for the rare In(b-) phenotype.The Inb antigen of the Indian blood group system is a high-prevalence antigen. The presence of alloanti-Inb in a recipient may pose a problem in finding compatible blood for transfusion. The aim of this study was to screen blood donors for Inb and to include individuals found to be In(b­) in our rare donor registry. To save resources, a unique study design was constructed. Blood group O donors were tested for Inb because their red blood cell (RBC) units could serve recipients across all ABO groups. EDTA blood samples were used for serologic and genomic testing. These samples were first tested serologically for Ina, and samples typed as In(a+) were then tested both serologically and molecularly for Ina and Inb to find homozygous IN*01/01 [i.e., the predicted In(b­) phenotype]. A cost-conservative approach in using recycling of antibody was adopted to economize available resources. Of 6300 donors, 196 donor samples typed as In(a+) and were also found to be In(b+) when tested by serologic and genomic methods. Although none of the donors typed as In(b­), the statistical analysis suggests the expected prevalence for this rare phenotype to be 0.02 percent among the total number of donors tested. In conclusion, this report presents a unique cost-conservative approach using limited reagents to screen a large number of donors for the rare In(b­) phenotype.

Multiplexed bio-imaging using cadmium telluride quantum dots synthesized by mathematically derived process parameters in a continuous flow active microreactor.

Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductor nanocrystals with unique size-tunable emissions. To obtain a precise emission spectrum, monodispersity in size is imperative, which is achieved by controlling the reaction kinetics in a continuous flow of active microreactors. Further, a multivariate approach (dimensional analysis) is employed to impose stringent control on the reaction process resulting in monodispersed preparation of cadmium telluride (CdTe) quantum dots. Dimensional analysis knits multiple variables into a dimensionless mathematical form which not only predicts parameters precisely to obtain narrow size tunability but also guarantees reproducibility in synthesis. Analytical, structural, and optical characterization of the microreactor synthesized polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coated CdTe QDs reveal quantum efficient (61.5%), photostable (44%), and biocompatible nanocrystals of 5-15 nm. Further, PDMS-coated QDs (P-QDs) are conjugated with organelle-specific antibodies/biomarkers for in-vitro imaging in NIH 3T3 cells. Likewise, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and anti-myosin (MF20), cardiomyocytes antibodies are conjugated with P-QDs (red and green, respectively) to image the zebrafish's cardiac tissue. Antibodies tagged with quantum dots are imaged simultaneously using confocal microscopy. Thus, multiplexed bio-imaging of in-vitro and zebrafish tissue is demonstrated successfully. The results indicate the suitability of continuous flow active microreactor in conjunction with the mathematical prediction of process parameters to synthesize reproducibly monodispersed and quantum efficient QDs.

Hyperthermophilic Clostridium sp. N-4 produced a glycoprotein biosurfactant that enhanced recovery of residual oil at 96 °C in lab studies.

Biosurfactant producing hypethermophilic microorganisms are essentially required for Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR) from high temperature oil reservoirs (above 90 °C). In the present study, biosurfactant producing Clostridium sp. N-4, optimally growing at 96 °C was isolated from a high temperature oil reservoir. Effect of pH, temperature and salinity on production and activity of N-4 biosurfactant was investigated. Biosurfactant produced by N-4 was partially purified by acid precipitation, characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy; and evaluated for its ability to enhance oil recovery in sand pack studies. The strain N-4 produced biosurfactant over a wide range of pH (5.0-9.0) and salinity (0-13%) at high temperature (80-100 °C) and optimally at pH 7, 96 °C and 4% salinity. N-4 biosurfactant was active at 37-101 °C; pH, 5-10 and salinity of 0-12 % (w/v). N-4 biosurfactant, characterized as glycoprotein reduced the surface tension of water by 32 ± 0.4 mN/m at critical micelle concentration of 100 µg/ml. N-4 biosurfactant mobilized 17.15% of residual oil saturation in sand pack studies. Similarly, the strain N-4 also recovered 36.92% of the residual oil in sand pack studies under the conditions mimicking the environment of depleted high temperature oil reservoir. Thus, the biosurfactant producing Clostridium sp. N-4 was identified as a suitable agent for enhanced oil recovery from high temperature oil reservoirs.

Statistical optimization of medium components for production of extracellular chitinase by Basidiobolus ranarum: a novel biocontrol agent against plant pathogenic fungi.

The influence of concentration of medium components such as colloidal chitin, lactose, malt extract, yeast extract, and peptone on the chitinase production from Basidiobolous ranarum at the flask level were studied by using statistical tool Central Composite Design (CCD) and analysed by Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The results revealed that colloidal chitin, malt extract and peptone had significant effect (P < 0.01) on the chitinase production at their individual levels. The polynomial equation of the model developed incorporates 3 linear, 3 quadratic and 5 interactive terms. Maximum chitinase production of 3.47 U ml(-1) was achieved with 1.5% colloidal chitin, 0.125% lactose, 0.025% malt extract and 0.075% peptone. After optimization, chitinase activity was increased by 7.71 fold. A second order polynomial equation was found to be useful for the development of efficient bioprocess for chitinase production. To screen the biotechnological potential of this enzyme, degradation of fungal mycelia by ammonium sulphate precipitate of the same was studied for several pathogenic fungi-in vitro which showed promising results particularly against Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium solani. This study provides the first evidence showing the effectiveness of RSM for the development of a robust statistical model for the chitinase production by Basidiobolus and for its application in the biocontrol of phytopathogenic fungi.

Development of low cost all glass recirculation systems for environmental applications.

Some simple glassware has been developed for recirculation of liquid medium. These glassware have wider applications and have been tested in experiments involving leaching, biodegradation, and desulfurization. The fabrication cost is minimum and can be developed in a small glassware workshop. Such a development has certain advantages as no separate mechanical devices are needed, the flow can be easily monitored due to transparency of the apparatus, acidic or alkaline medium can also be circulated. The paper discusses the development, design and fabrication of some specialized glass recirculation systems and its environmental applications.