Volume 3, Issue 2 (2016)
Editorial
Technological interventions in Biology
Dr. Anju Verma
Abstract: The recent integration of advances in biotechnology, genomic research, genetic engineering and molecular marker applications with conventional practices has laid the foundation for molecular approaches revolutionizing 21st century in various fields of science and industry which can benefit the mankind. This is a constantly evolving area of science and a topic of intense interest in basic scientific research for biologists, technologists and policy planners. The domain of applications of biotechnology appears to be tremendous, challenging and transforming several fields. This is the hallmark of modern time which has unlocked unprecedented opportunities for development for human benefit. Biotechnology is an ever evolving science with multipronged strategies requiring linkages among various fields of developing sciences and is reflective of the level of civilization and economic prospects of nations to fulfil relevant public aspirations of food security, nutritional security, health security, energy security, environmentfriendly technology and economic developments on a global scale.
Research Paper
Prevalence of An. culicifacies sibling species and vector incrimination of Anopheles mosquitoes in Magway and Bago Region of Myanmar
Maung Maung Mya, Phyo Wai Win, Aye Mya Thanda, Thi Ha, Maung Maung Gyi, Myin Zu Min
Abstract: The present study was conducted in Thayetchaung village (Bowbin dam area) of Ghobinkauk Township, Bago Region and Maybinthar village, Myothit Township Magway Region to determine the present of individual vector species and the prevalence of sibling species Anopheles culicifacies from December 2013 to November 2014. Adult Anopheline mosquitoes were collected by different collection methods according to WHO guideline. Christopher stage ovaries were collected from An. culicifacies for ovarian nurse cell chromosome study and head and thorax were dissected for vector incrimination study. During the study periods, a total of 1727 and 507 female Anopheles comprising 11 and 10 species were collected from Thayetchaung and Maybinthar villages respectively. An. vagus(576) was the predominant species followed by An. annularis(430) >An. philippnensis(238) >An.maculatus (164) > and An. culicifacies(150) in Thayetchaung. In Maybinthar, highest density of An. culicifacies(237) were collected, followed by An.annularis(60)>An.maculatus(42). The main vector An.minimuswas observed 31 in Bowbin and 24 in Maybinthar. Man biting rate of An.minimus was found 1.25, 1.25 indoor and 1.5, 1.00 outdoor bite/man/night and for An.culicifacies was found 1.25, 1.25 indoor and 3.00, 5.25 outdoor bite/man/night in Thayetchaung and Maybinthar respectively. An.cilicifacies B was present in both study villages and species A, C, D and E were absent. Species B was predominantly higher in the study village of Myothit Township (61.24%) than Thayetchaung village Ghobinkauk Township (38.76%). Vector incrimination study found that only 1 well of pool samples of An.minimus was found 3.226% (1/31) of Pv247sporozoite positive in Thayetchaung village. An.minimus was a potential vector of malaria. None of the specimens belonging to An. culicifacies B was found with circumsporozoite antigen of any of the Plasmodium species in both areas. Therefore An. culicifacies is not important vector of malaria, An. dirus and An. minimus are the major vectors of malaria in Myanmar.
Research Paper
In Silico Identification and Comparative Analyses of Active Sites of Copper Containing Nitrite Reductase (CuNiR) in Fungal and Bacterial Spp.
Utpal Kumar Adhikari, and M. Mizanur Rahman
Abstract: The NirK gene encoding the copper-containing nitrite reductase (CuNiR) has a key regulatory role in the global denitrification process. In this study, a comparative analysis between fungal and bacterial species have been done to understand the comparison and identification of common amino acid residues of the active sites which may be involved in the denitrification mechanism in both fungal and bacterial species. The sequences were retrieved from NCBI database and further analyzed using different Bioinformatics tools and servers. The amino acid composition, physico-chemical properties and subcellular localization showed a distinctive result for fungal and bacterial species. There was no significant sequence similarity found among these species, but the phylogenetic tree showed that they have come from a common ancestor gene. The active site analyses showed that the amino acid residues namely Valine, Leucine, Threonine, Arginine, Glycine, Tyrosine, Serine, Proline, Asparagine and Glutamine were conserved in both the fungal and bacterial species, but the dissimilarity of amino acid composition (%) exists among these most conserved amino acid residues. It is expected that this information will be helpful for further research on the molecular mechanism of the denitrification process in the wet laboratory.
Research Paper
Differential Selectivity of Rat’s nNOS-Selective Inhibitors in Human
Gaurav Kumar
Abstract: Nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) consist of three closely related isoforms that produce nitric oxide (NO) a free radical. The overproduction of NO by neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is related with a number of neurodegenerative disorders; therefore, selective inhibition of nNOS over eNOS and iNOS is a desirable therapeutic goal. A number of selective inhibitors are reported for nNOS expressed in Rat. We performed a study to test the hypothesis that the inhibitor shows higher selectivity in Rat’s nNOS has differential selectivity for human nNOS. Three highly selective rat nNOS inhibitors re-docked with bovine eNOS, mouse iNOS and rat nNOS for validation and with human NOSs for evaluation of the hypothesis. 7- nitroindazole showed selectivity for human eNOS and N-Omega-Propyl-LArginine as well as 3,5-Bis(2-(6-amino-4-methylpyridin-2-yl) ethyl) benzonitrile exhibited selectivity for human iNOS. Results suggest that these inhibitors lose their selectivity for human nNOS as displayed for the rat.
Research Paper
Larvicidal effect of Artemisia vulgaris leaves, flower and leaves essential oil extracts against Aedes aegypti larvae
Maung Maung Mya, Nwe Nwe Oo, Thi Ha, Aye Win Oo, Than Myat Htay, Chit That New, Sein Thaung, Yan Naung Maung Maung
Abstract: Laboratory reared Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae of the Hlaing Tharyar Township Yangon, Myanmar strain were used for testing larvicidal properties of ethanolic leaf extracts, flower extracts and essential oil from leaves of Artemisia vulgaris. Artemisia vulgaris leaves and flowers were collected from Taunggyi Township in Shan State. 100 gram of dried leaf and flower powder was extracted using 95% ethanol 1:5 wt./v by refluxing in a soxhlet extractor at 70ºC for 6 hours. 100 g of leaf powder was mixed with 1000ml of distilled water and subjected to hydro distillation in Clevenger-type distilling apparatus for 2 hours for essential oil extraction. Different concentrations of ethanolic leaf and flower extracts as well as essential oil of Artemisia vulgaris leaves were prepared freshly in 100 ml each of distilled water in 150 ml plastic cups. Detail testing was done according to the WHO standard method. Each replicate of Aedes larvae (70x4 replicates) were exposed for 24 hrs. in different concentrations in the laboratory. Acute toxicity and allergenicity tests were done according to OECD 2008 Guidelines for the testing of Chemicals 425. Results revealed that the highest dose 1500ppm of leaf and 4000-ppm flower crude extracts produced 98.57% mortality followed by 88.93% and 86.79% mortality of 3rd and 4th instars Aedes larvae. A 96.07% mortality of Aedes larvae in was recorded at very low amount of doses (100ppm) than the crude extracts of leaves and flowers within 24 hrs. exposure period. The effective lethal concentrations for 50% mortality (LC 50) and for 90% mortality (LC 90) against Aedes larvae were found to be 792.40ppm and 1240.07ppm respectively for leaf extract, 735.89ppm and 2152.92ppm for flower extract and 16.30ppm and 70.82ppm for essential oil of leaves of Artemisia vulgaris. We did not find any acute toxicity in mice or allergenicity in guinea pigs in laboratory tests. Repellent activity of Artemisia vulgaris oil provided 100% protection against Aedes aegypti adult females landing to probe human skin at a dose of 0.08g/ml or 0.0002g/cm2, with protection declining to 97.62% after 30 minutes, 92.86% after 60 minutes, and 85.71% after 120 minutes Artemisia vulgaris essential oil leaf extracts did not cause dermal irritation when applied to human skin. The leaf and flower crude extracts as well as essential oil of Artemisia vulgaris exhibited strong larvicidal activity against 3rd and 4th stages of Aedes larvae, while leaf essential oil provided a high level or protection against bites of Aedes mosquitoes.
Research Paper
Surface modification of Ti-6Al-4V by electrochemical oxidation
Chandan Kumar, Amit Biswas
Abstract: Titanium is a metallic biomaterial having multidimensional properties, highly sophisticated function and a wide range of applications in the biomedical field, especially as implants. Titanium is a useful biomaterial for biomedical implants because of its biocompatibility and nontoxicity. Ti-6Al-4V has been used as a substrate in the electrochemical process of anodic oxidation. Two different compositions of electrolyte have been chosen for the present study. The first electrolyte consists of CH3COOH and HF and the second electrolyte consist of H2SO4 and HF. After deposition, the sample was dried at room temperature for 24 hours and the oxide layer was later analyzed by different characterization techniques. The surface morphology and phase analysis of the coated surface were examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). SEM images show the presence of uniformly distributed oxide layer on the Ti-6Al-4V surface. The microhardness test of the electrolytically grown oxide was also carried to determine the hardness of the coating, which confirms that after treatment hardness of Ti-6Al-4V increases with the time duration. Lastly, the wettability test was performed on the surface of the coated Ti-6Al-4V to evaluate the wetting property of the surface.