|
Prospects of a Progenitor Cell:
A Special Focus on Endothelial
Progenitor Cells (EPCs)
- - Abel Arul Nathan and Madhulika Dixit
Current investigations pertaining to the treatment of major vascular complications are based on
progenitor cells. Most of the vascular progenitor cells have the potential to differentiate themselves into their
respective mature cells and contribute to vascular remodeling and repair. Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs), the
recently discovered bone-marrow derived circulating progenitor cells, show high potential for post-natal
vasculogenesis (neo-vascularization) in adults. They constitute a circulating pool of cells able to form a cellular patch at
sites of endothelial injury, thus contributing directly to the homeostasis and repair of the endothelial layer
(re-endothelialization). They also differentiate into mature endothelial cells with high functional ability to
incorporate into neo-vessels. The endothelial cells formed from other origin, such as those from myeloid origin, have
limited proliferative potential and reduced functional activity
in vivo. Both physiological and pathological
conditions alter the levels of EPCs and their function. This review portrays the prowess and prospects, facts and figures
of EPCs as a best therapeutic agent for a range of vascular diseases.
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Recombinant DNA Vaccines:
Present Status and Future Perspective
- - Nishant Rai, Harish Chandra, Jatin
Srivastava,
Sachin Chauhan and A R Nautiyal
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) vaccines are the simplest embodiment of vaccine that rather than consisting of
the antigen itself, provide genes encoding the antigen. For several infectious diseases still prevailing
throughout the world, there are cell culture vaccines currently being used to control them. With the development of
r-DNA technology, there has been a spurt in the development of r-DNA-based vaccines, some of which are
working effectively. These have several characteristics like they can be stored at room temperature and do not need
cold chain storage; are economic to produce and safe to handle; and are highly effective. DNA vaccines have
been developed against hepatitis, rabies, bovine herpes virus, influenza, etc. However, some improvements
like vector modification for molecular adjuvant and use of effective adjuvant are needed so that immune
responses may be enhanced to combat such infectious diseases effectively. DNA-based vaccine technology represents
a powerful and novel entry into the field of immunological control of disease. The present review will provide
a brief account of DNA vaccine against human and animal and their advantage and disadvantage over
traditional vaccine.
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Association Between Antibiotic Resistance and
Metal Tolerance in Bacteria:
A Recent Report
- - M K Chattopadhyay
Resistance of bacteria to antibiotics poses a major threat to the prospect of chemotherapy. While by restricting
the use of antibiotics in farming and aquaculture, it might be possible to restrain the problem to some extent, it
is definitely not possible to get rid of the problem completely. The resistance conferring genes in many cases
co-occur on plasmids with genes conferring tolerance to heavy metals. Hence, even in
the absence of antibiotics in the environment, emergence of
antibiotic resistant strains is possible in the
presence of heavy metals (e.g., mercury) in the environment. Evidences of co-occurrence of antibiotic and
metal tolerance in various natural isolates of
bacteria have been highlighted.
©2009 IUP . All Rights Reserved.
Positive Correlation of Bacterial Genome
GC% with the Number of Different Anticodons Used
by the Genome to Decode All the Codons
- - Badrinath Dubey, Alak Kumar Buragohain
and Suvendra Kumar Ray
A comparative study of tRNA genes in 28 bacterial genomes revealed the presence of tRNA genes
having anticodons with C at the 1st position, which can only pair with G at the
3rd position of codons, though tRNA
genes corresponding to the same codons but with T at the
1st position of anticodons that can wobble pair with G
were also found. This might be due to the less preference for wobble pairing between U at the
1st position of anticodons and G at the
3rd position of codons. Bacterial genomes with less GC% were found to be lacking tRNA genes
for alanine, proline and valine codons having pyrimidine at the
3rd position. A highly significant
correlation between genome GC% and the number of different anticodons used in the genome to decipher all the codons
was observed. This study might have an evolutionary implication related to a wide range of genome GC% in bacteria.
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Phytoestrogens: An Overview
- - Jazir Haneefand S Sreeja
Phytoestrogens are plant derived compounds with binding affinity for the estrogen receptor and consequently
have estrogen like activity. Phytoestrogens are found predominantly in eastern or
soy-based diet compared to normal western diet. These compounds have manifold physiological effects in humans and their potency depends
upon their ability to interact with estrogen receptors,
ER-a and ER-b. In this review, (i) the structural
relationships between phytoestrogens and physiological estrogens, and presence of phytoestrogens in our
diet; (ii) proposed mechanisms of action of
phytoestrogens; (iii) beneficial as well as detrimental effects of
phytoestrogens; and (iv) present status of research to evaluate phytoestrogens in the prevention and treatment of different types of
cancers and other diseases are examined. Exploring our floral diversity would be helpful in
finding plants with potential estrogenic activity,
which in turn could be used in the treatment of various
ailments afflicting women.
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Research Note
Comparative Detection of Citrus Yellow Mosaic Virus
by Nucleic Acid Hybridization Using Radioactive and
Non-Radioactive Probes
- - B V Bhaskara Reddy and
Y S Ahlawat
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Research Note
Antioxidant Potential of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extracts of
Brassica oleracea Var. capitata
- - Wilfred A, Akshatha A, Harish R and Jyothi Bala Chauhan
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
|
