Development and Evaluation of Recombinant Nucleocapsid Protein Based Diagnostic ELISA for Detection of Nipah Virus Infection in Pigs

The recombinant viral protein-based indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a cost-effective, safe, specific, and rapid tool to diagnose the viral infection. Nipah virus nucleocapsid (NiV-N) protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by histidine tag-based affinity chromatography. The N protein was selected based on its immuno dominance and conservation among different NiV strains. An indirect immunoglobulin G (IgG) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for swine sera was optimized using the recombinant NiV-N protein as an antigen along with negative and positive controls. The background reading was blocked using skim milk powder and chicken serum. A total number of 1709 swine serum samples from various states of India were tested with indirect ELISA and Western blot. The test was considered positive only when its total reactivity reading was higher than 0.2 cut-off value and the ratio of the total reactivity to the background reading was more than 2.0. Since specificity is high for Western blotting it was used as standard test for comparison of results of indirect ELISA. Sensitivity and specificity of indirect ELISA was 100% and 98.7%, respectively, in comparison with Western blotting. Recombinant N protein-based ELISA can be used in screening large number of serum samples for epidemiological investigations in developing countries where high containment laboratories are not available to handle this zoonotic virus.     

Design,synthesis and evaluation of novel thiazolidinedione derivatives as anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic agents

A novel series of thiazolidine-2,4-diones was designed, synthesized and investigated for anti-diabetic activity. The (2,4-dioxo-1,3-thiazolidin-5-yl)methylphenylbenzamide derivatives contain an amide linkage between the central aryl ring and the hydrophobic tail. Structures of the compounds were confirmed by spectroscopic techniques fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance and elemental (C, H, N) analysis. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in-vivo pharmacological activity (blood glucose and triglyceride lowering activity), where compounds thiazolidinediones-C and thiazolidinediones-E showed significant effects, comparable to the standard pioglitazone. Computational studies positively substantiated the nature and interaction of the designed compounds with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma.     

Sequence variations in TENM3 gene causing eye anomalies with intellectual disability: Expanding the phenotypic spectrum

Microphthalmia, anophthalmia are the malformations of the eye, referring to a congenital absence, and a reduced size of the eyeball. Coloboma of iris is associated with many of the cases. Here, we report a propositus with eye anomalies and intellectual disability associated with TENM3 pathogenic variations identified by exome sequencing and confirms intellectual disability as a phenotype associated with TENM3 variations. This child was compound heterozygote [NM_001080477.3(TENM3):c.4046C?>?G; p.(Ala1349Gly) and NM_001080477.3(TENM3): c.7687C?>?T; p.(Arg2563Trp)] for the missense likely pathogenic sequence variations in TENM3 gene. To our knowledge only three patients till now have been reported to have TENM3 pathogenic variations in association with microphthalmia, two siblings without developmental delay and third with developmental delay. This report supports the association of TENM3 variations with colobomatous microphthalmia and expands the phenotypic spectrum associated with pathogenic variations in this gene.     

Pediatric Laser Therapy in Pigmented Conditions

Advances in laser therapy have led to novel therapeutic approaches to common pediatric skin conditions. As a non-invasive alternative to surgical options, laser therapy is efficacious in treating a broad range of conditions, from vascular and pigmented lesions to tattoo and hair removal. This paper reviews the basic mechanics of laser therapy, its role in common pigmented pediatric dermatoses, and special considerations for this unique age group.