Absract Archive
December - 06
Toll Like Receptors
Introduction
Host defense against infectious disease is a harrowing task considering not only the vast diversity of pathogens, but also their rapid replication and mutation rates. Front-line, anti-microbial defense is accomplished by the innate immune system. It functions on the basis of special receptors called PRRs (pattern-recognition receptors), which recognize conserved microbial structures called PAMPs (pathogen-associated molecular patterns). These PAMPs are mutation-resistant, class-specific, constitutively expressed molecules on broad classes of pathogens (e.g. viruses, bacteria, and fungi). These microbial molecular markers may be composed of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and/or combinations thereof, and may be located internally or externally.
Authors: A.Koteeswaran, M.Mohan.
Marine Bioinformatics
Introduction
The bioinformatics field is growing astoundingly during last decade due to the advancement of biotechnology combined with the development of computational skills and the network effort developed by different countries in sharing information. It further enhanced by grouping and compiling of huge data by means of revolutionizing internet concepts with various interpretations made out using the power of algorithms. Even in today's technological world no man-made structure is as complex as biological systems. Thus the foremost aim of bioinformatics is solving multifaceted biological problems i.e. from molecular biology to physiological processes by the exchange of information and databases through network. Our views in biology starting from systematic classification of organisms to genomics and proteomics are now changing or progressing due to the availability of various high-tech biochemical methods combined with software tools and databases of bioinformatics. New insights are made often with these tools to explore molecular biology through the logics of computation. In India, presently attempts have been taken for the use of bioinformatics in marine biology related research. This article discusses the scope of bioinformatics applications in marine biology based research i.e. marine bioinformatics (MBi) in the global and Indian context.Author:N.V. Vinithkumar
High Potential Bioactive Compounds in Marine Microorganisms
Marine microorganisms are known to be rich sources of novel compounds. However, only a very small proportion of microbial organisms living in the sea have been isolated and even fewer successfully grown in the laboratory. To facilitate this avenue of research, there is a need for new methods to collect, isolate and identify marine microorganisms. Marine natural products from microorganisms have been found to be an important source of drugs and drug leads. These natural products are secondary metabolites and enhance survival fitness and may serve as chemical weapons used against bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi. Secondary metabolites from marine microorganisms have become the subject of much commercial interest. Compounds with commercial potential as nutritional additives and antimicrobials are being discovered from marine bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi. Hence, it is anticipated that the isolation, characterization and the study on marine microorganisms can be useful in the discovery of antibiotics and novel species of marine microorganisms.
Authors:N.K.Asha Devi, R.Gopal,K.Balakrishnan, S.Padmavathy.
Human Male Infertility
Introduction
Human Genetics is the scientific study of variation in human beings whereas medical genetics is concerned with the application of these principles to the practice of medicine. The application of Molecular Biology techniques and recombinant DNA technology to the study of genetic diseases has provided a wealth of information about their molecular basis at the DNA level. Quite recently scientific study of human chromosome became possible and the role of chromosomal abnormalities as cause of malformation, mental retardation, infertility and reproductive failure become to be explored.
In India, although population growth is a major concern, there are a substantial number of infertile couples. Thus infertility is considered as an important national problem concerning reproductive health. Infertility is defined as the state in which a couple wanting a child is unable to conceive after 12 months of regular intercourse in the absence of contraceptives. It is a problem faced by couples rather than individuals. Global incidence of infertility is about 13-18%. Male infertility is found to have a role in approximately 50% of infertile couples
Authors:J. Poongothai, T. S. Gopenath, S. Manonayaki.
Chromobacterium violaceum a potential candidate for Biotechnological applications
It was in 1880 that Bergonzini made an accidental discovery of the violet 'small wonder'- bacteria producing brilliant violet hue. He named it Cromobacterium violaceum, later rechristened as Chromobacterium violaceum by Zimmerman. The colour of the pigment was of great attraction since 1867 and a number of works have been carried out ever since. The organism and the pigment both are found to be of commendable significance and their wide acceptance proclaims to be the harbinger of scientific results, which the world will astoundingly perceive. This fact is supported by the significant number of patents owned by scientists working with Chromobacterium violaceum.
Authors:Sreeja Narayanan, Tintu Prasad, Jayachandran. K.
Oligonucleotide therapeutics: A new hope for incurables
Summary
The information archive in each organism - the blue print for potential development and activity of any individual is the genetic material, DNA or in some viruses, RNA. Implicit in the structure of the DNA are mechanisms for self-replication and for translation of genes into proteins. The structure of DNA was long thought to have been fully solved in 1953 by James D.Watson and Francis H. Crick, and the task of science in this area was expected to be further refinement of their model.
The DNA molecule has been one of the most important sources not only for the understanding of the fundamental basis of human life but also for the development of a novel group of therapeutics modeled on its endogenous structure. DNA-based therapeutics includes plasmids containing transgenes for gene therapy, oligonucleotides for antisense and antigene applications, ribozymes, DNAzymes, aptamers, and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Although most of the DNA-based drugs are in early stages of clinical trials, this class of compounds has emerged in recent years to yield extremely promising candidates for drug therapy for a wide range of diseases, including cancer, AIDS, neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer'sAuthor:Sarika Saxena.