Absract Archive June 2009 Research article Molecular cloning and characterization of resistance genes from Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) Abstract Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is one of the most important vegetable crop grown throughout the world for consumption as well as for processing. Plants are continually exposed to a vast number of potential pathogens and as a result they have evolved various defense mechanisms to protect themselves by inducing a set of responses. Often the plant disease resistance described is cultivar or accession specific and is referred to as host resistance. Host resistance is often governed by single resistance R genes, the products of which encode receptors that specifically recognize avirulance (Avr) proteins from pathogens resulting in ligand receptor binding activities. Four different R genes has been isolated from the wild species L. peruvianum and L. pimpinellifolium. The genes from L. Pimpinellifolium confer resistance to Fusarium and from L. peruvianum confer resistance against tospovirus, Fusarium and root knot nematode. The sequence analysis showed homology with already available resistance genes. The amino acid sequence of different R genes isolated from L. pimpinellifolium and L. peruvianum, when analyzed using GeneRunner software, showed the presence of various domains viz., Protein Kinase 'C' Phosphorylation sites, Casein Kinase II Phosphorylation site and Tyrosine Kinase Phosphorylation site. Key words: Resistance, Tospovirus, Fusarium, Root knot nematode, R genes Authors: E. Hemaprabha, R. Balasaraswathi For Correspondence: hemabioteck@gmail.com Research article Promotion of seed germination of Green gram and Chick pea by Penicillium verruculosum RS7PF, a root endophytic fungus of Potentilla fulgens L. Abstract The culture broth of a fungal endophyte associated with the roots of Potentilla fulgens L. showed ability to promote seed germination in Vigna radiata (Green gram) and Cicer arietinum (Chick pea) under assays in in-vitro conditions. The culture broth of the endophytic fungus Penicillium verruculosum RS7PF (Genbank accession number: EU579531) was further tested for the presence of Indole Acetic Acid (I.A.A.) using spectrophotometric analysis. The growth characteristics of the fungi in potato dextrose agar medium was compared with its simultaneous release of plant growth promoter and results showed that the concentration of IAA in the culture broth peaked during the 10th day of growth phase. Our results indicate that the endophytic fungi is capable of producing I.A.A by its own metabolic machinery which may be a crucial step in its establishment inside the plant host and its subsequent promotion of seed germination. Keywords: Potentilla fulgens, fungal endophyte, Penicillium verruculosum, indole acetic acid, seed germination, green gram, chick pea. Running Title: Seed germination promotion by an endophyte Authors: R. K. Bhagobaty and S. R. Joshi For Correspondence: microbialtech@gmail.com Review article Prevalence of coinfection of HBV and HCV in HIV infected individuals from various District of Tamilnadu Abstract Classical Opportunistic Complications of severe Immunodeficiency have declined dramatically as a result of widespread use of potent antiretroviral therapy. However, co -infections such as viral hepatitis continue to present challenges in overall management of HIV infected patients by causing hepatotoxicity based End stage liver disease and death. Hence, this review article focuses on screening of HBV and HCV in HIV infected patients from various districts of Tamilnadu. The aim of this review is to create social awareness on HIV, HBV and HCV coinfection. 100 consecutive HIV infected patients were screened for HBV (HBsAg, HBeAg) and HCV (anti HIV) using commercially available HEPA card and ELISA kits respectively. The control subjects of nearly 100 non HIV patients were also taken in to consideration for comparative study. Demographic questionnaires were got from patients with informed consent. The results obtained from the questionnaire and the experiments are interpreted statistically using SPSS software with relevant tables and graphs. As a result, the coinfection of HBV and HCV is found to be higher in HIV infected individuals than healthy subjects. Hence, it is advisable and mandatory that all HIV patients should be screened for HBV and HCV to avoid hepatotoxicity related deaths. Key words: HIV, HBV, HCV, ELISA, ART, HBsAg, ESLD. Author :Indumathi. S For Correspondence: indu.loyola@gmail.com Tuturial Review Green Fluorescent Proteins: Invisible to Visible Introduction The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2008 jointly to Osamu Shimomura, of Marine Biological Laboratory, and Boston University Medical School along with Martin Chalfie, Columbia University, New York and Roger Y. Tsien, University of California, San Diego “for the discovery and development of the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)”. Nobel medal Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2008 honors the discovery of GFP (by Osamu Shimomura in 1962) and developments (by Martin Chalfie and Roger Y. Tsien) that have led GFP’s use as a tagging tool in bioscience to research and study the various invisible biological processes visibly.   Nobel Laureates in Chemistry for 2008 Nobel diploma of Osamu Shimomura Osamu Shimomura first isolated GFP from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria, which drifts with the currents off the west coast of North America. He discovered that this protein glowed bright green under ultraviolet light. Osamu Shimomura (Japan) was born in 1928 in Kyoto, Japan. He obtained his Ph.D. in organic chemistry in 1960 from Nagoya University, Japan. He is now professor emeritus at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA, and at Boston University Medical School. Author : K. Sivakumar For Correspondence: chemshiva@gmail.com Short communication Evaluation of Hepatoprotective activity of Picrorhiza kurroa Abstract According to the survey of Hapatotoxicity Clinical Research Network, U.S has recorded as 100,000 deaths per year and are mainly due to abundance usage of drugs. Further, Hapatotoxicity is ranking as the most frequent with acute liver failure. Those clinical data have triggered off extensive research on alternative cum protection for Hapatotoxicity. With this main perspective the present study was undertaken to evaluate the Hepatoprotective activity in medicinal plants. The Hepatoprotective effect of Ethyl acetate, ethanol and aqueous extracts of Picrorhiza kurroa at various concentrations was assessed in galactosamine and LPS induced mice model systems. The magnitude of toxic and protective effect was assessed via SGOT, SGPT, Total Bilirubin, Cholesterol and Triglycerides. Pretreatment of Ethyl acetate (100mg/Kg b.wt) and aqueous extracts (30mg/Kg b.wt and 100mg/Kg b.wt) significantly prevented the toxin induced alteration and maintained the animals at normal status. Key words: Picrorhiza kurroa, Hepatoprotective activity, Galactosamine and LPS Evaluation of hepatoprotective activity of Picrorhiza kurroa Authors : S. Karthikumar, K. Ramya Durga and K. Jegatheesan For Correspondence: skarthikumar@gmail.com Short communication In vivo Anti- inflammatory bustle of reef associated mollusc, Trochus tentorium Abstract The 100% acetone fraction of the gastropod, Trochus tentorium tested for its anti-inflammatory assets on isolated albino rats shown promising results. The acute toxicity was noted, the LD50  was found to be 425mg/kg in 48 hrs of observation. Oral administration of doses up to 1.25g/kg did not show any toxic symptom in mice. The extract of T. tentorium at the concentration of 100 and 200mg/kg, p.o shown significant (p<0.01) decrease in the paw thickness, 41.15 and 73.6% respectively at the 5th hour of the experiment. This fact suggests that the compound responsible for the anti-inflammatory action of the T.tentorium was the strongest with safety than standrd drug, Diclofenac sodium. Key words: Anti-inflammatory drug, marine gastropod, reef Authors : C.Chellaram and J. K. P. Edward For Correspondence: dr.chellaram@gmail.com Tools and Techniques In silico critical disease pathway mapping using public domain data and tools for the development of personalized medicine Abstract Twenty first century is stepping forward towards personalized medicine. Availability of huge genomic data and several analysis tools made it faceable to identify of critical disease pathways which is essential for better drug targeting and subsequent development of genotype specific drugs. But due to unstructured data and limited access of analysis toots in public domain, the drug discovery process is taking backset. This article reviews a method that has used mostly public domain data and analysis tools to identify critical disease pathway, drug targets, and mapping of genotype specific disease map. The method can be applicable irrespective to any disease and will help in better understanding and development of individualized medicine. A reference of drug metabolizing enzyme profile along with the map will help in precise selection of drug and its doses. Development of a public domain single-platform database and tool that can perform all steps of this analysis is required. Keywords: personalized medicine, critical disease pathway, drug targets, in silico pathway mapping Author : Debmalya Barh For Correspondence: dr.barh@gmail.com