Propyl Gallate Synthesis Using Acidophilic Tannase and Simultaneous Production of Tannase and Gallic Acid by Marine <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus awamori</Emphasis> BTMFW032

Marine Aspergillus awamori BTMFW032, recently reported by us, produce acidophilic tannase as extracellular enzyme. Here, we report the application of this enzyme for synthesis of propyl gallate by direct transesterification of tannic acid and in tea cream solubilisation besides the simultaneous production of gallic acid along with tannase under submerged fermentation by this fungus. This acidophilic tannase enabled synthesis of propyl gallate by direct transesterification of tannic acid using propanol as organic reaction media under low water conditions. The identity of the product was confirmed with thin layer chromatography and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. It was noted that 699 U/ml of enzyme could give 60% solubilisation of tea cream within 1 h. Enzyme production medium was optimized adopting Box–Behnken design for simultaneous synthesis of tannase and gallic acid. Process variables including tannic acid, sodium chloride, ferrous sulphate, dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, incubation period and agitation were recognized as the critical factors that influenced tannase and gallic acid production. The model obtained predicted 4,824.61 U/ml of tannase and 136.206 μg/ml gallic acid after 48 h of incubation, whereas optimized medium supported 5,085 U/ml tannase and 372.6 μg/ml of gallic acid production after 36 and 84 h of incubation, respectively, with a 15-fold increase in both enzyme and gallic acid production. Results indicated scope for utilization of this acidophilic tannase for transesterification of tannic acid into propyl gallate, tea cream solubilisation and simultaneous production of gallic acid along with tannase.     

Exploring the Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Efficacy of Silver Nanoparticles Biosynthesized Using Punica granatum Leaves

The current research work illustrates an economical and rapid approach towards the biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles using aqueous Punica granatum leaves extract (PGL-AgNPs). The optimization of major parameters involved in the biosynthesis process was done using Box-Behnken Design (BBD). The effects of different independent variables (parameters), namely concentration of AgNO₃, temperature and ratio of extract to AgNO_3, on response viz. particle size and polydispersity index were analyzed. As a result of experiment designing, 17 reactions were generated, which were further validated experimentally. The statistical and mathematical approaches were employed on these reactions in order to interpret the relationship between the factors and responses. The biosynthesized nanoparticles were initially characterized by UV-vis spectrophotometry followed by physicochemical analysis for determination of particle size, polydispersity index and zeta potential via dynamic light scattering (DLS), SEM and EDX studies. Moreover, the determination of the functional group present in the leaves extract and PGL-AgNPs was done by FTIR. Antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacies of PGL-AgNPs against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were further determined. The physicochemical studies suggested that PGL-AgNPs were round in shape and of ~37.5 nm in size with uniform distribution. Our studies suggested that PGL-AgNPs exhibit potent antibacterial and antibiofilm properties.     

Intrinsic equations for a generalized relaxed elastic line on an oriented surface in the galilean space

In this article, we derive the intrinsic equations for a generalized relaxed elastic line on an oriented surface in the Galilean 3-dimensional space G₃. These equations will give direct and more geometric approach to questions concerning about generalized relaxed elastic lines on an oriented surface in G₃.     

Lentivirus-mediated transgene delivery to the hippocampus reveals sub-field specific differences in expression

Background  

In the adult hippocampus, the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus is a heterogeneous structure formed by neurons of different ages, morphologies and electrophysiological properties. Retroviral vectors have been extensively used to transduce cells of the granule cell layer and study their inherent properties in an intact brain environment. In addition, lentivirus-based vectors have been used to deliver transgenes to replicative and non-replicative cells as well, such as post mitotic neurons of the CNS. However, only few studies have been dedicated to address the applicability of these widespread used vectors to hippocampal cells in vivo. Therefore, the aim of this study was to extensively characterize the cell types that are effectively transduced in vivo by VSVg-pseudotyped lentivirus-based vectors in the hippocampus dentate gyrus.     

Effect of chemical compounds on amino acid content of some Fusarium species and its significance to fungal chemotaxonomy

The cellular amino acid profiles of nine species of Fusarium; namely, Fusarium anthophilum, Fusarium avenaceum, Fusarium cerealis, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium graminum, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans, Fusarium pseudograminearum, Fusarium roseum, and Fusariumsacchari var. elongatum growing on malt extract medium were determined. The amino acid profiles of the investigated fungi were varied and could be used for identification and characterisation of certain Fusarium species. Addition of certain chemical compounds including aspartic acid, glutamic acid, methionine, selenium, and urea to the growth medium affected the amino acid profiles. However, susceptibility of amino acid content to environmental conditions increased the variation of amino acid profiles among all the investigated Fusarium species. Some amino acids were only produced when certain chemical compounds were added to the growth medium. Valine was produced by F. anthophilum only in the presence of aspartic acid or selenium, while serine was produced in the presence of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, or methionine. Also, cysteine was produced by F. avenaceum in the presence of glutamic acid or urea. F. cerealis produced tryptophan only in the presence of aspartic acid or urea, while F. graminearum produced leucine in glutamic, methionine or urea. Similarly, many different amino acids were produced by each Fusarium species only in the presence of certain chemical compounds. The results revealed that the amino acid profiles will be more useful for characterisation and identification of fungi if they are determined under different conditions.     

An adeno-associated viral vector transduces the rat hypothalamus and amygdala more efficient than a lentiviral vector

Background  

This study compared the transduction efficiencies of an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector, which was pseudotyped with an AAV1 capsid and encoded the green fluorescent protein (GFP), with a lentiviral (LV) vector, which was pseudotyped with a VSV-G envelop and encoded the discosoma red fluorescent protein (dsRed), to investigate which viral vector transduced the lateral hypothalamus or the amygdala more efficiently. The LV-dsRed and AAV1-GFP vector were mixed and injected into the lateral hypothalamus or into the amygdala of adult rats. The titers that were injected were 1 × 10⁸ or 1 × 10⁹ genomic copies of AAV1-GFP and 1 × 10⁵ transducing units of LV-dsRed.