Monthly Archives: January 2019
Infectious Leptospira cross-talk with host catecholamine’s during infection
Leptospira belongs to the family Leptospiraceae and the pathogenic species cause a zoonotic disease called leptospirosis. Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonotic infection of human and veterinary concern, with approximately over one million cases reported annually. This disease
How can you tell that stem cells are good at math? You can watch them multiply and divide!
Blood production is an essential process in all vertebrate animals that needs to occur throughout an organism’s lifespan; red blood cells need to carry oxygen to distant tissues, platelets are required for stopping bleeding after injuries, and
Extracellular enzymes detecting heavy metal pollution in the Ganga River
India with more than 1.25 billion peoples is facing a significant challenge in meeting the growing water supply needs of burgeoning human population. Ganga, the most sacred river of India, that supplies water to over one fourth
Unlocking a cure from within for X-linked diseases
The mammalian X chromosome is home to many genes that are important for brain development and function, as well as genes associated with reproduction. More than 200 disease-causing mutations have been identified on the X-chromosome. Diseases caused
Fruit of the heirloom: ancient non-commercial plant varieties as superior sources of health-beneficial compounds
Lands subtracted to intense urbanization are home of a rich biodiversity, which is well exemplified by the occurrence of many different plant species. Plants thriving in such areas have established a perfect synergy with the local environment,
Excessive vascular fibrosis predicts early failure of hemodialysis fistulas
Patients with end-stage renal disease require a functional vascular access to receive hemodialysis and prolong their lives. The arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the preferred vascular access for hemodialysis. The AVF is surgically created by connecting a superficial
Opium use increases the chance of pancreas cancer in a large population-based study
Pancreas cancer is a common cancer with few treatment options and as a result is associated with considerably reduced chances of survival for the patients. Several factors such as obesity, diabetes, and smoking (including smokeless and other
How can we make nanoparticles more effective against cancer?
Chemotherapy is an integral part of the present cancer treatment paradigm, despite its common and severe side effects. Nanotechnology provides a plethora of promising avenues for overcoming chemotherapy limitations. Drug encapsulation within nanoparticles helps to retain it
Tissue-specific MED1 LxxLL motifs play critical roles in HER2-driven breast cancers
Estrogen Receptor (ER) is a nuclear hormone receptor that plays important roles in normal mammary gland development as well as breast cancer growth and metastases. In a breast cancer setting, when ER is bound by estradiol, there is
Aggregation properties as potential markers for classifying rubber particle proteins
Natural rubber is an important biopolymer that mainly consists of cis-1,4-polyisoprene. The rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis is the only commercially viable source of natural rubber because of its good yield and the product’s high quality. Rubber elongation
A cool new way to cool (or warm)!
The cooling or warming of patients being treated for certain medical conditions can greatly increase their chance of survival. For example, survival after cardiac arrest can be almost doubled if the patient is gently cooled for about
Cannabis sativa: not just Devil’s weed
When hearing about Cannabis sativa, we undeniably think about marijuana and its addiction. However, C. sativa grown for industrial use has a Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, a psychoactive component) content <0.3% and has instead a high number of cellulosic
A vaccine candidate for Zika with potential for reduced risk of antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE)
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that has rapidly extended its geographic range. Its association with abnormal fetal brain development, sexual transmission, and lack of a preventive vaccine have constituted a global health concern. Designing a
Hinokitiol (Beta-thujaplicin) has an ability to inhibit action potential conduction in nerve fibers
Hinokitiol, a natural tropolone derivative contained in a species of cypress tree, has various actions including inhibition of apoptosis, and insecticidal, anti-fungal, anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities. We previously reported that plant-derived chemicals (capsaicin, menthol and
