Comparative analysis of the large fragment of the 5′ untranslated region (LF-5′ UTR) of serotype A foot-and-mouth disease virus field isolates from India

India is endemic for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and in recent years a unique group within serotype A, carrying a codon deletion at an antigenically critical site in capsid protein VP3 has emerged (VP3⁵⁹-deletion group). This tempted us to analyze the noncoding region, which is an under represented area, though critically associated with virus biology and pathogenesis. Analysis of the large fragment of 5′ untranslated region (LF-5′ UTR) of type A FMD virus revealed discrepancy in the overall tree topology between LF-5′ UTR and 1D region possibly due to independent evolution of coding and noncoding regions. The VP3⁵⁹-deletion group maintained its phylogenetic distinctness even at the LF-5′ UTR. Eighteen lineage specific signatures detected here support independent evolutionary paths for the lineages. Extensive deletions of 45 and 89 nucleotides corresponding to the pseudoknot region were noticed. Conservation pattern in the ‘A₂₅₃AACA’ motif in the cre/bus stem-loop indicates the importance of first three ‘A’ residues in VPg uridylylation. Of the three polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTB) binding sites mapped on the internal ribosome entry site (IRES), the pyrimidine tract (Py tract) in the loop of domain 2 was found to be maximally conserved and it might be the major PTB binding site. Strikingly, a deletion group lineage specific transversion was noticed in the Py tract at the 3′ end of IRES without significantly affecting its in vitro infectious titer. Hence, we presume that for efficient cap-independent viral translation, either a minimum number of pyrimidine residues rather than a complete Py tract or a Py tract tolerating transversions only at specific locations and a core motif ‘CUUU’ within the Py tract is essential.     

Primary mucormycosis of abdominal wall: A rare fungal infection in a immunocompetent patient

Mucormycosis of the anterior abdominal wall is an uncommon disease and it is very rare to find this disease in immunocompetent, non-diabetic patients which usually affects patients with trauma, with contaminated wounds, patients with underlying malignancies or patients with immunocompromised state, e.g., diabetics. We herein report a case of primary cutaneous mucormycosis in an immunocompetent and non-diabetic patient. Our patient was a 48-year-old female, executive by profession. She was diagnosed to have cutaneous mucormycosis of the anterior abdominal wall, and was managed with multiple debridements of the wound and intravenous amphotericin B therapy. She was administered a total of 1500 mg of liposomal amphotericin B and when fully healed, split skin grafting was done. We would like to emphasize the importance of high index of suspicion and early start of therapy in a condition with high rate of mortality.     

Thyroiditis as a presenting feature of mumps.

Thyroiditis complicating mumps is rare and occurs 1 week after the parotitis. A 9-year-old boy with a history of contact with a case of mumps presented with thyroid swelling. Thyroid scan showed a diffusely reduced uptake. The aspiration cytology showed lymphocytic thyroiditis. Thyroid function tests were normal and antithyroid antibodies were absent. Parotitis occurred 12 days after the onset of thyroiditis.     

Forearm gangrene following distraction injury at elbow in a neonate

Gangrene of limbs in newborn is extremely rare. A number of aetiological factors may account for such type of situation. We describe herewith a case of gangrene of forearm in newborn following distraction injury to the physis of elbow and vessels of forearm by excessive pull on upper limb during difficult delivery.     

Synthesis and QSAR modeling 1-[3-methyl-2-(aryldiazenyl)-2H-aziren-2-yl]ethanones as potential antibacterial agents

The present communication deals with the synthesis of a series of 1-[3-methyl-2-(aryldiazenyl)-2H-aziren-2-yl]ethanones. The compounds were synthesized in excellent yields (70–80 %), and the structures were established on the basis of consistent IR, ¹H NMR, and elemental analysis data. The purity has been ascertained by chromatographic resolution using hexane–ethyl acetate (6:4 v/v) as binary eluent. All the compounds have been tested for their antimicrobial activity against a representative panel of bacteria i.e., Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas diminuta, and Staphylococcus aureus using Chloramphenicol as reference drug. All the synthesized compounds were found to exhibit profound antimicrobial activity.