NOPR Collection:

Pharmacophore based approach to design inhibitors in Crustaceans: An insight into the molt inhibition response to the receptor guanylyl cyclase

2014-04-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Pharmacophore based approach to design inhibitors in Crustaceans: An insight into the molt inhibition response to the receptor guanylyl cyclase Authors: Shrivastava, Sajal; Princy, S Adline Abstract: The first set of competitive inhibitors of molt inhibiting hormone (MIH) has been developed using the effective approaches such as Hip-Hop, virtual screening and manual alterations. Moreover, the conserved residues at 71 and 72 positions in the molt inhibiting hormone is known to be significant for selective inhibition of ecdysteroidogenesis; thus, the information from mutation and solution structure were used to generate common pharmacophore features. The geometry of the final six-feature pharmacophore was also found to be consistent with the homology-modeled MIH structures from various other decapod crustaceans. The Hypo-1, comprising six features hypothesis was carefully selected as a best pharmacophore model for virtual screening created on the basis of rank score and cluster processes. The hypothesis was validated and the database was virtually screened using this 3D query and the compounds were then manually altered to enhance the fit value. The hits obtained were further filtered for drug-likeness, which is expressed as physicochemical properties that contribute to favorable ADME/Tox profiles to eliminate the molecules exhibit toxicity and poor pharmacokinetics. In conclusion, the higher fit values of CI-1 (4.6), CI-4 (4.9) and CI-7 (4.2) in conjunction with better pharmacokinetic profile made these molecules practically helpful tool to increase production by accelerating molt in crustaceans. The use of feeding sub-therapeutic dosages of these growth enhancers can be very effectively implemented and certainly turn out to be a vital part of emerging nutritional strategies for economically important crustacean livestock. Page(s): 375-382

Efficacy of Spodoptera litura multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus after serial passage through the homologous insect larval host

2014-04-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Efficacy of Spodoptera litura multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus after serial passage through the homologous insect larval host Authors: Gani, Mudasir; Gupta, R K; Bali, K Abstract: An originally isolated baculovirus, Spodoptera litura multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpltMNPV) was serially passed through the S. litura larvae for upto four generations to determine the mean number of occlusion bodies (OBs) harvested per larva and their efficacy in terms of infectivity, feeding cessation and speed of kill of host larvae. The results revealed that the mean number of OBs harvested per larva increased significantly with increase in the dose of SpltMNPV at each passage and the yield was significantly lower in original stock wild-type SpltMNPV (P0) as compared to serially passed SpltMNPV (P1, P2, P3 and P4). Laboratory bioassays indicate that median lethal doses (LD₅₀), median times to feeding cessation (FT₅₀) and median survival times (ST₅₀) of P0, P1, P2, P3 and P4 were significantly different from each other. The OBs of each passage when tested for their cross-infectivity against Spodoptera exigua and Spilarctia obliqua revealed significant reduction in their mortality. These results indicate that serially passed SpltMNPV is more host specific and more effective biocontrol agent than the original stock wild-type virus and can be adopted for mass production as a viral pesticide for control of the S. litura. Page(s): 369-374

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using fresh extracts of Tridax procumbens Linn

2014-04-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using fresh extracts of Tridax procumbens Linn Authors: Bhati–Kushwaha, Himakshi; Malik, CP Abstract: A simple and eco-friendly method for the synthesis of biogenic nanoparticles (NP’s) using an aqueous solution of T. procumbens fresh plant extract (leaf and stem) as a bioreductant is reported. The prepared biogenic nanoparticles were well characterized using U.V. visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The particles were confirmed to be elemental crystal by X-ray diffraction. The potential applications of biosynthesized nanoparticles as antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal) against pathogens Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus were demonstrated. Page(s): 359-368

Regulation of nitrogen metabolism in salt tolerant and salt sensitive Frankia strains

2014-04-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Regulation of nitrogen metabolism in salt tolerant and salt sensitive Frankia strains Authors: Srivastava, Amrita; Mishra, Arun Kumar Abstract: Effect of salinity (0, 50, 100, 250, 500 and 750 mM NaCl) was observed on some important physiological parameters of nitrogen metabolism such as nitrate uptake, intracellular and extracellular ammonium status and activities of nitrogenase, nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase and glutamine synthetase among Frankia strains differing in their salt tolerance capacity. Nitrogenase activity closely followed the growth pattern with regular decline on NaCl supplementation. All the other enzymes showed optimum activity at 100 mM and declined further. Co-regulation of the nitrate uptake system and sequential enzyme activities plays a crucial role in governing the nitrogen status of strains during salt stress. HsIi10 experiencing minimum decline in enzyme activities and best possible nitrogen regulation under NaCl replete condition showed adequate nutritional management. Among all the strains, HsIi10 proved to be salt tolerant on account of above features while the salt sensitive strain HsIi8 lacked the ability to regulate various steps of nitrogen metabolism during salinity, and thus Frankia strain HsIi10 can potentially serve as a potential biofertilizer in the saline soil. Page(s): 352-358