Absract Archive . October 2010 Full length Article Alkaline Proteases from Streptomyces viridifaceins and its Application with Detergents Abstract Proteases are enzymes widely used in many industries. The actinomycetes member Streptomyces viridifaceins NCIM 2506 procured from National Collection of Industrially Important Microbes, Pune, India, showed prominent alkaline protease activity. In the present study several factors affecting the activity of these proteases were investigated. Maximum enzyme activity was obtained after seven days of incubation. Defatted soy flour was found to be the best substrate for protease production. Optimum pH for enzyme activity was 10 while optimum temperature was 37°C, 5mM EDTA acts as activator for enzyme while urea, Mg2+, Hg2+, and Co2+were strong inhibitors of the enzyme. Crude enzyme was recovered from culture broth using 40% ammonium sulphate. Crude enzyme preparation found to be compatible with several commercially available detergents. One way ANOVA revealed significant difference in the compatibility of enzyme with these commercial detergents. Combination of enzyme with commercial detergent was found to be more effective in removing stains from the clothes particularly of tea and turmeric as compared to detergent alone. Hence, proteases from Streptomyces viridifaceins are indicating potential for application in detergent industry. Keywords: Streptomyces viridifaceins; Alkaline Proteases; Detergents; Enzyme activity. Authors : *Aarti Singh Rana, Inder Singh Rana and Lakhan Yadav *Corresponding Author: kanojiya_aarti@rediffmail.com Full length Article Modeling of Biochemical Pathways in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) using Microarray Data Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary malignancy of the liver. It is developed when there is a mutation to the cellular machinery that causes the cell to replicate at a higher rate and results in the cell apoptosis. A biochemical pathway is the set of interactions occurring between groups of genes who depend on each other's individual functions in order to make the aggregate function of the network available to the cell. The biochemical pathway in a metabolism can be deduced from microarray technology. Therefore the present study aimed to combine microarray results pertaining to HCC pathology and biological pathway information to study the process of this disease. PERL program was used to retrieve information from the online resources. The metabolic pathways were analyzed and modified using softwares - CellDesigner 4.0.1 and Cytoscape 2.6.2. The pathway model was simulated using simulation tool for generating better results. Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); Microarray data; Biochemical pathway modeling Authors : J. Jannet Vennila and S. Jaya Deepika *Corresponding Author: jannet_r@rediffmail. com Full length Article Wheat Flour, a Potential Source of Amylase Production by Bacillus megaterium MTCC 2444 Abstract Selection of economically available natural starchy substrates for production of amylase by Bacillus megaterium MTCC 2444 in submerged fermentation was carried out. Different natural starchy substrates such as flours of ragi, sweet potato, wheat, yam, rice and potato were tested for the production of enzyme. Among the natural starchy substrates evaluated wheat flour produced maximum amylase at a concentration of 1%. The culture conditions were further optimized by using wheat flour as substrate. The most important physical parameters such as, inoculums size (1%), temperature (55°C), incubation time (48 hrs) and pH (8) played a vital role for the maximum production of amylase by thermophilic strain MTCC 2444. The enzyme production was improved with the supplementation at (0.1%) of inducers, nitrogen sources, trace elements and surfactants and the optimum enzyme production was achieved with fructose, yeast extract, NaCl and Tween 20, respectively. Under the optimum conditions the strain produced 3593 units of amylase per litre of culture broth. Keywords: Optimization; Amylase; Wheat flour, Bacillus megaterium Authors : *S. Mrudula and S.Vinoth Kumar *Corresponding Author: somamrudula@hotmail.com Short Communication Isolation and Identification of Vibrio Alginolyticus from Sea Food Samples Abstract The genus Vibrios are the most extensively characterized and medically important groups. Several species of Vibrios are clinically important human pathogens. It can be carried by numerous Sea living animals such as crabs, fishes and prawns. V.alginolyticus mainly cause wound infection, ear infection, gastroenteritis etc., 20 different sea food samples such as finfishes and crustaceans were collected from different sites of fish market. 25g of each sea food samples were taken and inoculated in to 225ml of alkaline peptone water and incubated. After incubation a loopful of culture was taken and streaked on TCBS agar medium. The isolated strain was further identified by microscopic and biochemical characterization. The antibiotic susceptibility and haemolytic activity test also carried out. Among two categories of samples V.alginolyticus occur crustaceans in high number (80%) and finfishes (73%).Further studies of this sea food samples are going on. Key words: V.alginolyticus, seafood samples, antibiotic resistant, haemolytic activity. Authors : D. Arul selvi, D.Thirumurugan and *S. Asha *Corresponding Author: asha_micro@yahoo.com Short Communication Micropropagation of Pseudarthria viscida (L.) from Nodal Explants – A Medicinal Plant Abstract A protocol was developed for in vitro propagation by multiple shoot induction of Psudarthria viscida (L.) Wight and Arn. a medicinal woody climber having high medicinal value, belonging to family Paplionoideae. High frequencies of multiple shoot regeneration were achieved from nodal explants on MS fortified with 0.6 mg/l BA. Eleven to thirteen shoots per explants were obtained. The elongated shoots were rooted in half MS medium with 1.5 mg/l IBA, and then they were successfully hardened and transferred to the field. Key words: in Vitro; Pseudarthria viscida; Medicinal, nodal; Micropropagation Authors : *D.Vinothkumar, S.Senthil Kumar and S.Murugavelh *Corresponding Author: vino_paul79@yahoo.com Short Communication Coronary Artery Ligation Animal Model for Myocardial Infarction and Further Angiogenesis – A Pictorial Demo of Pre and Post Operative Stages Abstract Myocardial infarction is the leading cause of death in both developed and developing countries throughout the world. To overcome this, cardiovascular researches are going on worldwide in various aspects and one such is establishing a suitable animal model to study cascade of events that occur during myocardial infarction and angiogenesis to restore back normal blood supply. Coronary artery ligation (CAL) is a surgical intervention procedure to form a mimicking myocardial infarction model especially in rat, for its smaller size and easy availability. Though there are number of reported researches on Coronary artery ligation model studies in animals, for the upcoming researchers a clear cut, stage wise demonstration of the steps involved in the surgical procedure of coronary artery ligation is still warranted. The present attempt is such a one showing the various stages of coronary artery ligation in rat model. Successful induction of myocardial infarction through this model was confirmed with gross morphology of heart, ECG and CK-MB biochemical marker. Keywords: CAL rat model; Stage wise demo; ECG; CK--MB- myocardial infarction Authors : * B. Uma *For Correspondence: umabwc@gmail.com Short Communication Computational Approach to Design a Potential Inhibitor for HIV and Mycobacterium Abstract CCR5 is a member of the beta chemokine receptor family, whose members have seven transmembrane domains, similar to G-protein coupled receptors. It is the most important co-receptors for HIV. The chemokine receptors like CCR5 and CXCR4 in macrophages are activated by their peptide ligands and also by the HIV envelope protein GP120 during HIV infection. In our study, we collected all the information related to the infection of HIV, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and interaction with CCR5. Study reveals that the CCR5 plays major role in the entry of pathogen. Given its importance, we used computational methods to design a drug molecule to block the host pathogen interaction. The antiviral drug molecule, maraviroc was taken as a reference and modified by adding a sulfonamide group. Sulfonamide groups are known for their antibacterial activity and can also act as HIV protease inhibitors. After performing the in silico study, results were promising and the modified drug molecule has showed better binding affinity. As the compound possess antibacterial, antiviral and HIV protease inhibitor, same can be synthesized and further studies can be done to determine the eligibility of this new molecule as a potential drug. Keywords: CCR5; Maraviroc; Sulfonamide; HIV, Chemokine; Autodock Authors : *Prashantha Karunakar, B.S. Ravindranath and W. A. Sadik Ahmed * Corresponding Author : prashantha.karunakar@gmail.com Short Communication Antogonistic Activity of Bacteriocin from Marine Bacteria against Food Borne and Fish Borne Pathogens Abstract Aquaculture of finfish, crustaceous, mollusks and algal plants are the fastest growing food producing sectors, having grown at an annual rate of almost 10% from 1984 to till date). Disease outbreaks are being increasingly recognized as a significant constraint on aquaculture production and trade, affecting the economic development of the sector in many countries. Bacteriocins from probiotics may provide an alternative way to reduce the use of antibiotics in aquaculture and simultaneously avoid the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. It may provide a potential support or alternative to vaccinations and treatment with antibiotics in fish farming. Hence an attempt is made to exploit probiotic bacteria from marine sediments for bacteriocins. Key words: Aquaculture, Bacteriocin, Probiotics, Antibiotic-resistant. Authors : *S.Bharathi, M.S. Subhashini and D.Jeevanand, *Corresponding Author: rathily@yahoo.co.in Short Communication Plant Regeneration from Leaf and Nodal Explants of Physalis minima Linn. Abstract Leaf and nodal explants of Physalis minima Linn. were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with BAP (6-Benzyl amino purine) and IAA (3-Indole Acetic Acid) or 2,4–D (2,4 – Dichloro Phenoxy Acetic Acid ). Other hormonal combination was KIN (6 – Furfurylamino purine) and NAA (1–Naphthyl Acetic Acid) or 2, 4– D (2, 4–Dichloro Phenoxy Acetic Acid). The highest shoot regeneration frequency (92%) and number of shoots (37) were obtained from leaf segment on MS medium fortified with 5 mg/l BAP and 0.25 mg/l IAA. The regenerated shoots rooted best on MS medium containing 2.0 mg/l IBA. Regenerated plantlets with well-developed shoots and roots were hardened, successfully transferred to soil and maintained in green house. An efficient regeneration system for large scale propagation of Physalis minima was developed using leaf and nodes from mature plants. Keywords : Physalis minima; regeneration; MS medium; Tissue Culture, Growth Hormones Authors : *E.Sheeba, S.Parvathy, S.Palanivel and G.S.Nagananda *Corresponding Author : sheeba.elavalli@gmail.com.