Molecular characterization of hepatitis B virus reveals circulation of multiple subgenotypes of genotype D with clinically important mutations in central India.

PURPOSE: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality across the globe. The pathogenesis, clinical outcomes, disease progression and response to antiviral treatment of HBV depend on infecting genotypes and mutations across HBV genome. There is a lack of such information from central India. The present study was planned to identify genotype/subgenotype and epidemiologically important mutation in HBV circulating in the area. METHODS: Samples positive for HBsAg by ELISA from 2012 to 2016 were included and analysed in this retrospective study. The amplification of partial S gene (n = 25) and full genome (n = 10) was carried out to determine the genotype/subgenotype and genome wide mutations of HBV. The sequencing data was analysed using bioinformatics tools. RESULTS: All 25 sequences belonged to genotype D; subgenotypes D1, D2, D3 and D5 with dominance of D1 were detected in the study subjects. Mutational profiling revealed the presence of nucleotide substitutions in promoter/regulatory/precore region associated with liver disease progressions. The amino acid (aa) changes associated with vaccine escape, immune escape, antiviral resistance and progression to liver cirrhosis (LC) or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were detected. CONCLUSIONS: This maiden molecular study on HBV from central India indicates that the genotype D with subgenotypes D1, D2, D3 and D5 harbouring mutations of clinical and epidemiological importance are in circulation. This study will serve as a baseline for future. Studies with larger sample size may aid in identifying the circulation of more genotypes.

Molecular xenomonitoring of Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika infections: a year-round study from two Dengue endemic districts of central India.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Infections caused by arboviruses and transmitted by Aedes species mosquitoes are a serious health concern. India is endemic for diseases like Dengue, Chikungunya and recently Zika has been reported from few states. Vector control is the only way to contain these diseases, however, data regarding vectors from central India is lacking; to fulfill the lacuna we conducted this study. METHODS: Entomological surveys were conducted from November 2017 to December 2018 for Aedes species in Dengue endemic areas of central India. The mosquitoes were identified, pooled and tested for the presence of Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika viruses by RT-PCR. The PCR products were sequenced to identify serotypes and genotypes of viruses. RESULTS: A total of 2991 adults of Aedes specimens were collected and tested. Ae. aegypti (94.6%) was found to be the most abundant species. Highest mosquito density was recorded in the monsoon periods. Dengue (n=5) and Chikungunya (n=4) virus were detected from pools of female Ae. aegypti. One pool of male Ae. aegypti was positive for Dengue virus-3 and Chikungunya virus. Zika virus was not detected from any pool. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that Ae. aegypti is the principal vector of Dengue and Chikungunya, which is capable to transmit these viruses vertically. The findings have epidemiological importance and will be helpful to program managers.

Viral hepatitis among acute hepatitis patients attending tertiary care hospital in central India.

Viral hepatitis is a considerable public health burden affecting millions of people throughout the world. The incidence of viral hepatitis varies greatly depending upon geographic locations, age and gender. Exploring the etiological spectrum and clinic-epidemiological profile of acute viral hepatitis (AVH) becomes essential for strategizing the preventive measures to control the diseases. An epidemiological data depicting AVH situation and its etiologies is missing from central India. With the aim of fulfilling this lacuna, the present analysis was done on samples tested over a period of 2 years from July 2015 to June 2017. Of the 1901 hepatitis cases, 597 individuals (31.4%) were positive for AVH infection and HEV was the predominant cause followed by HBV, HAV and HCV. Co-infections of hepatitis viruses were detected in 42 cases. Co-infection of HEV with HBV was the commonest pattern. Male preponderance was observed among AVH positive cases and the age group of 26-45 years was the most susceptible to the viral hepatitis infections, except hepatitis A, which was the most frequent among children. Two hundred patients (33.45%) required hospitalization and 51 deaths were attributed to AVH infections. The analysis for the first time reports intricacies and viral etiologies of AVH in central India. Regular diagnosis of AVH etiology and monitoring of cases will help in patient management and assist disease control programs to take policy decisions.

Characteristics of Raw Starch-Digesting α-Amylase of Streptomyces badius DB-1 with Transglycosylation Activity and Its Applications.

Streptomyces badius DB-1 produces α-amylase extracellularly, and its production was enhanced 5.1-fold (from 9.47 ± 0.51 to 48.23 ± 1.45 U mL-1) due to optimization by one-variable-at-a-time and statistical approaches. Soluble starch emerged as the most influential factor that strongly affected enzyme production. The purified enzyme is a monomer with a molecular mass of ~57 kDa and optimally active at 50 °C and pH 6.0. The enzyme hydrolyzes soluble as well as raw starches into simpler sugars with a high proportion (>40.0 %) of maltotetraose. It is optimally active at moderate temperature and generates maltooligosaccharides from starch, thus, useful as an antistale in bread making. It also plays a role in increasing the formation of maltooligosaccharides due to transglycosylation activity, thus, finds application in functional foods. This is the first report on the production of raw starch-digesting α-amylase by S. badius with transglycosylation activity.

Thermophilic and alkaliphilic Actinobacteria: biology and potential applications.

Microbes belonging to the phylum Actinobacteria are prolific sources of antibiotics, clinically useful bioactive compounds and industrially important enzymes. The focus of the current review is on the diversity and potential applications of thermophilic and alkaliphilic actinobacteria, which are highly diverse in their taxonomy and morphology with a variety of adaptations for surviving and thriving in hostile environments. The specific metabolic pathways in these actinobacteria are activated for elaborating pharmaceutically, agriculturally, and biotechnologically relevant biomolecules/bioactive compounds, which find multifarious applications.