Impact of Feeding Abamectin 1.9 % EC Sprayed Mulberry Leaves on Cocoon and Filament Traits in Silkworm (Bombyx mori L.)

Chemical sprays have become an essential component of modern pest management strategies in agriculture. However, silkworms (Bombyx mori L.) are highly sensitive to chemical residues, necessitating extensive research to identify compounds that are both effective against pests and safe for silkworm rearing. In this context, the present study was undertaken to assess the impact of feeding mulberry leaves sprayed with abamectin 1.9% EC on the cocoon and filament traits of B. mori. The results of the study revealed that larvae fed with abamectin 1.9% EC sprayed leaves at 20 days after spray (DAS) recorded highest cocoon weight (1.59 g), shell weight (0.325 g), cocoon shell ratio (19.98%), Average filament length (1038.49 m), non-breakable filament length (1001.57 m), filament weight (0.298 g) and denier (2.52)

Crystal structure of the jacalin-T-antigen complex and a comparative study of lectin-T-antigen complexes

Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen (Galβ1-3GalNAc), generally known as T-antigen, is expressed in more than 85% of human carcinomas. Therefore, proteins which specifically bind T-antigen have potential diagnostic value. Jacalin, a lectin from jack fruit (Artocarpus integrifolia) seeds, is a tetramer of molecular mass 66 kDa. It is one of the very few proteins which are known to bind T-antigen. The crystal structure of the jacalin-T-antigen complex has been determined at 1.62 Å resolution. The interactions of the disaccharide at the binding site are predominantly through the GalNAc moiety, with Gal interacting only through water molecules. They include a hydrogen bond between the anomeric oxygen of GalNAc and the π electrons of an aromatic side-chain. Several intermolecular interactions involving the bound carbohydrate contribute to the stability of the crystal structure. The present structure, along with that of the Me-α-Gal complex, provides a reasonable qualitative explanation for the known affinities of jacalin to different carbohydrate ligands and a plausible model of the binding of the lectin to T-antigen O-linked to seryl or threonyl residues. Including the present one, the structures of five lectin-T-antigen complexes are available. GalNAc occupies the primary binding site in three of them, while Gal occupies the site in two. The choice appears to be related to the ability of the lectin to bind sialylated sugars. In either case, most of the lectin-disaccharide interactions are at the primary binding site. The conformation of T-antigen in the five complexes is nearly the same

First Human Model of In Vitro Candida albicans Persistence within Granuloma for the Reliable Study of Host-Fungi Interactions

BACKGROUND: The balance between human innate immune system and Candida albicans virulence signaling mechanisms ultimately dictates the outcome of fungal invasiveness and its pathology. To better understand the pathophysiology and to identify fungal virulence-associated factors in the context of persistence in humans, complex models are indispensable. Although fungal virulence factors have been extensively studied in vitro and in vivo using different immune cell subsets and cell lines, it is unclear how C. albicans survives inside complex tissue granulomas. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDING: We developed an original model of in vitro human granuloma, reproducing the natural granulomatous response to C. albicans. Persistent granulomas were obtained when the ratio of phagocytes to fungi was high. This in vitro fungal granuloma mimics natural granulomas, with infected macrophages surrounded by helper and cytotoxic T lymphocytes. A small proportion of granulomas exhibited C. albicans hyphae. Histological and time-lapse analysis showed that C. albicans blastoconidia were located within the granulomas before hyphae formation. Using staining techniques, fungal load calculations, as well as confocal and scanning electron microscopy, we describe the kinetics of fungal granuloma formation. We provide the first direct evidence that C. albicans are not eliminated by immunocompetent cells inside in vitro human granulomas. In fact, after an initial candicidal period, the remaining yeast proliferate and persist under very complex immune responses. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Using an original in vitro model of human fungal granuloma, we herein present the evidence that C. albicans persist and grow into immunocompetent granulomatous structures. These results will guide us towards a better understanding of fungal invasiveness and, henceforth, will also help in the development of better strategies for its control in human physiological conditions

Cu(OAc)₂/DABCO-mediated domino reaction of vinyl malononitriles with cyclic sulfamidate imines: access to 6-hydroxyaryl-2-aminonicotinonitriles

An efficient DABCO/Cu(OAc)2 promoted one-pot access to pharmacologically exciting highly substituted 6-hydroxyaryl-2-aminonicotinonitriles in good to high yields is reported.</jats:p

Dual Band Compact Hexagonal Microstrip Antenna with Quadrangular Slot and I Shaped DGS

Here an hexagonal printed antenna is reported. The antenna has measurement volume of 800 mm3. It operates at the frequencies 2.9 GHz, and 6.3 GHz with S11 of -10.17 dB and -14.49dB respectively. It has produced acceptable gain of 2.065dB for 2.9 GHz and 3.45dB for 6.3 GHz. The frequencies obtained are useful for aeronautical radio location and satellite applications. The antenna is designed using HFSS software and tested using ZVH vector network analyzer.</jats:p

Cysticercosis of midbrain presenting with fluctuating ptosis

Fluctuating ptosis is usually caused by Myasthenia gravis. There are a few case reports of central causes of fluctuating ptosis. A 58-year-old man presented with fluctuating ptosis of one year duration. He was diagnosed as having ocular myasthenia and investigated. On evaluation, his electrophysiological tests revealed negative decremental response and results of neostigmine test was negative. During follow-up, patient developed headache. Imaging of the brain revealed midbrain cysticercosis granuloma. The focal encephalitis and edema was responsible for fluctuating ptosis. It is therefore essential to be aware of conditions that cause such pseudomyasthenic features. Patients with ptosis need to be evaluated for other rare central cause especially when neostigmine test is negative