DNA hydrolysing IgG catalytic antibodies: an emerging link between psychoses and autoimmunity.

It is not uncommon to observe autoimmune comorbidities in a significant subset of patients with psychotic disorders, namely schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BPD). To understand the autoimmune basis, the DNA abyzme activity mediated by serum polyclonal IgG Abs were examined in psychoses patients, quantitatively, by an in-house optimized DNase assay. A similar activity exhibited by IgG Abs from neuropsychiatric-systemic lupus erythematosus (NP-SLE) patients was used as a comparator. Our data revealed that the IgG DNase activity of SCZ was close to that of NP-SLE and it was twofold higher than the healthy controls. Interestingly, the association between DNase activity with PANSS (positive, general and total scores) and MADRS were noted in a subgroup of SCZ and BPD patients, respectively. In our study group, the levels of IL-6 and total IgG in BPD patients were higher than SCZ and healthy controls, indicating a relatively inflammatory nature in BPD, while autoimmune comorbidity was mainly observed in SCZ patients.

Potential role of bromelain in clinical and therapeutic applications.

Pineapple has been used as part of traditional folk medicine since ancient times and it continues to be present in various herbal preparations. Bromelain is a complex mixture of protease extracted from the fruit or stem of the pineapple plant. Although the complete molecular mechanism of action of bromelain has not been completely identified, bromelain gained universal acceptability as a phytotherapeutic agent due to its history of safe use and lack of side effects. Bromelain is widely administered for its well-recognized properties, such as its anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic and fibrinolytic affects, anticancer activity and immunomodulatory effects, in addition to being a wound healing and circulatory improvement agent. The current review describes the promising clinical applications and therapeutic properties of bromelain.

Potentiometric biosensor for determination of urea in milk using immobilized Arthrobacter creatinolyticus urease.

The extracellular urease from Arthrobacter creatinolyticus was partially purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and immobilized on PAN [poly(acrylonitrile-methylmethacrylate-sodium vinylsulfonate)] membrane. The urease immobilized PAN membrane exhibited an activity of 97.92U/cm(2) under the optimum conditions of 1.0% enzyme concentration, 15% glutaraldehyde, 24h immobilization time and temperature of 4°C. The changes in surface morphology of the membrane after immobilization were studied by SEM and ATR-FTIR analysis. Immobilized membrane was associated with potentiometric electrode for calibration of biosensor and the results showed a linear response for wide range of urea concentration from 1 to 100mM. The immobilized urease had good storage stability for a period of 70days at 4°C and could be effectively reused for 13cycles. Urease immobilized membrane was also employed in analysis of urea spiked milk samples.

Screening and production of a potent extracellular Arthrobacter creatinolyticus urease for determination of heavy metal ions.

This paper describes the isolation of a potent extracellular urease producing microorganism, identified by 16S rRNA as Arthrobacter creatinolyticus MTCC 5604 and its medium optimization by classical one-factor-at-a-time method and central composite rotatable design (CCRD), a tool of response surface methodology (RSM). An optimal activity of 9.0 U ml(-1) was obtained by classical method and statistical optimization of the medium resulted in an activity of 17.35 U ml(-1) at 48 h and 30 °C. This activity was 4.91 times greater than the initial activity (3.53 U ml(-1) ) from the basal medium and the enzyme showed maximum activity at pH 8.0 and 60 °C and was stable at pH 7.0-9.0 and temperatures up to 50 °C. Furthermore, the enzyme was assessed for its activity reduction by determining the inhibitory concentration (IC50 ) of heavy metal ions and the inhibition of urease was in the order of Cu(II) > Cd(II) > Zn(II) > Ni(II). Urease was highly sensitive to Cu(II) and its inhibition was 94% and 100% in model solutions containing a mixture of Cu(II) with heavy metal ions Cd(II) and Zn(II), respectively. The results of these studies suggested that the enzyme could be utilized as sensors to determine the levels of Cu(II) ions in industrial effluents, contaminated soil and ground water.