Amplification and Characterization of DDT Metabolizing Delta Class GST in Sand Fly, Phlebotomus argentipes (Diptera: Psychodidae) From Bihar, India.

Phlebotomus argentipes is an established vector for Visceral leishmaniasis prevalent in the Indian subcontinent. Insect Glutathione S-transferases (GST) enzyme plays a pivotal role in the metabolism of xenobiotics and chemical insecticides. We report herein the identification and characterization of a delta class GST from the sandfly, P.

Detection and functional characterization of sigma class GST in Phlebotomus argentipes and its role in stress tolerance and DDT resistance.

Several Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) enzymes, in insects, have previously been implicated in resistance developed against DDT and other insecticides. The GST enzyme particularly sigma class have important physiological role in detoxification of lipid peroxidation by-products in insects. Phlebotomus argentipes has been intensely exposed to DDT over years due to Indoor Residual Spray (IRS) programme for Kala-azar elimination in Bihar, India.

Maternal and severe anaemia in delivering women is associated with risk of preterm and low birth weight: A cross sectional study from Jharkhand, India.

Background And Objectives: Haemoglobin content is the well accepted indicator for anaemia assessment. The high prevalence of anaemia, maternal health care issues and adverse delivery outcome in Jharkhand, we investigated whether delivering women with anaemia would present a modifiable risk of preterm (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW).

Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study involving pregnant women, with screening for pregnancy endpoints and haemoglobin assay, were conducted.

LdIscU is a [2Fe-2S] scaffold protein which interacts with LdIscS and its expression is modulated by Fe-S proteins in Leishmania donovani.

The pathogenicity of protozoan parasites is frequently attributed to their ability to circumvent the deleterious effects of ROS and Fe-S clusters are among their susceptible targets with paramount importance for parasite survival. The biogenesis of Fe-S clusters is orchestrated by ISC system; the sulfur donor IscS and scaffold protein IscU being its core components. However, among protozoan parasites including Leishmania, no information is available regarding biochemical aspect of IscU, its interaction partners and regulation.

Role of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α cytokines and TNF-α promoter variability in Plasmodium vivax infection during pregnancy in endemic population of Jharkhand, India.

Background: The combinatorial effects of Plasmodium infection, perturbation of inflammatory responses and the dichotomic role of TNF promoter polymorphism has potential clinical and physiological relevance during pregnancy.

Objective And Methods: This coordinated orchestration instigated us to investigate the circulating level of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6) employing ELISA in a stratified group of samples and the plausible genetic association of TNF-α -308 G/A using PCR-RFLP/sequencing during Plasmodium vivax infection in pregnancy.

Results: We observed significantly elevated concentrations of IL-1β were observed, followed by IL-6 and TNF-α in women with malaria (WWM) and in malaria in pregnancy (MIP).

Cytosolic tryparedoxin of Leishmania donovani modulates host immune response in visceral leishmaniasis.

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the unicellular protozoan parasite of genus Leishmania. Tryparedoxin (TXN) is a low molecular mass dithiol protein belonging to oxidoreductases super-family; which function in concert with tryparedoxin peroxidase (TXNPx) as a system in protozoan parasites including Leishmania. Leishmanial hydroperoxides detoxification cascade uses trypanothione as electron donor to reduce hydroperoxide inside the macrophages during infection.

iNOS polymorphism modulates iNOS/NO expression via impaired antioxidant and ROS content in P. vivax and P. falciparum infection.

Nitric oxide (NO) has dicotomic influence on modulating host-parasite interplay, synchronizing physiological orchestrations and diagnostic potential; instigated us to investigate the plausible association and genetic regulation among NO level, components of oxidative stress, iNOS polymorphisms and risk of malaria. Here, we experimentally elucidate that iNOS promoter polymorphisms are associated with risk of malaria; employing mutation specific genotyping, functional interplay using western blot and RT-PCR, quantitative estimation of NO, total antioxidant content (TAC) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Genotyping revealed significantly associated risk of P.

Intracellular zinc flux causes reactive oxygen species mediated mitochondrial dysfunction leading to cell death in Leishmania donovani.

Leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania parasite is a global threat to public health and one of the most neglected tropical diseases. Therefore, the discovery of novel drug targets and effective drug is a major challenge and an important goal. Leishmania is an obligate intracellular parasite that alternates between sand fly and human host.

Deciphering the interplay between cysteine synthase and thiol cascade proteins in modulating Amphotericin B resistance and survival of Leishmania donovani under oxidative stress.

Leishmania donovani is the causative organism of the neglected human disease known as visceral leishmaniasis which is often fatal, if left untreated. The cysteine biosynthesis pathway of Leishmania may serve as a potential drug target because it is different from human host and regulates downstream components of redox metabolism of the parasites; essential for their survival, pathogenicity and drug resistance. However, despite the apparent dependency of redox metabolism of cysteine biosynthesis pathway, the role of L.

Leishmania and its quest for iron: An update and overview.

Parasites of genus Leishmania are the causative agents of complex neglected diseases called leishmaniasis and continue to be a significant health concern globally. Iron is a vital nutritional requirement for virtually all organisms, including pathogenic trypanosomatid parasites, and plays a crucial role in many facets of cellular metabolism as a cofactor of several enzymes. Iron acquisition is essential for the survival of parasites.

Interaction between cysteine synthase and serine O-acetyltransferase proteins and their stage specific expression in Leishmania donovani.

Leishmania possess a unique trypanothione redox metabolism with undebated roles in protection from oxidative damage and drug resistance. The biosynthesis of trypanothione depends on l-cysteine bioavailability which is regulated by cysteine biosynthesis pathway. The de novo cysteine biosynthesis pathway is comprised of serine O-acetyltransferase (SAT) and cysteine synthase (CS) enzymes which sequentially mediate two consecutive steps of cysteine biosynthesis, and is absent in mammalian host.

Prevalence of Malaria Infection and Risk Factors Associated with Anaemia among Pregnant Women in Semiurban Community of Hazaribag, Jharkhand, India.

The escalating burden, pathogenesis, and clinical sequel of malaria during pregnancy have combinatorial adverse impact on both mother and foetus that further perplexed the situation of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. This prompted us to evaluate the status of population at risk of MIP in Hazaribag, Jharkhand, India. Cross-sectional study was conducted over a year at Sadar Hospital, Hazaribag.

Up-regulation of cytosolic tryparedoxin in Amp B resistant isolates of Leishmania donovani and its interaction with cytosolic tryparedoxin peroxidase.

Leishmania is a unicellular protozoan parasite which causes leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease. It possess a unique thiol metabolism comprising of several proteins among which, tryparedoxin (cTXN) and tryparedoxin peroxidase (cTXNPx), function in concert as oxidoreductases, utilizing trypanothione as a source of electrons to reduce the hydroperoxides produced by macrophages during infection. This detoxification pathway is unique and essential for the survival of Leishmania.

Interaction of frataxin, an iron binding protein, with IscU of Fe-S clusters biogenesis pathway and its upregulation in AmpB resistant Leishmania donovani.

Leishmania donovani is a unicellular protozoon parasite that causes visceral leishmaniasis (VL), which is a fatal disease if left untreated. Certain Fe-S proteins of the TCA cycle and respiratory chain have been found in the Leishmania parasite but the precise mechanisms for their biogenesis and the maturation of Fe-S clusters remains unknown. Fe-S clusters are ubiquitous cofactors of proteins that perform critical cellular functions.

Interaction between Nbp35 and Cfd1 proteins of cytosolic Fe-S cluster assembly reveals a stable complex formation in Entamoeba histolytica.

Iron-Sulfur (Fe-S) proteins are involved in many biological functions such as electron transport, photosynthesis, regulation of gene expression and enzymatic activities. Biosynthesis and transfer of Fe-S clusters depend on Fe-S clusters assembly processes such as ISC, SUF, NIF, and CIA systems. Unlike other eukaryotes which possess ISC and CIA systems, amitochondriate Entamoeba histolytica has retained NIF & CIA systems for Fe-S cluster assembly in the cytosol.

Reactive oxygen species regulates expression of iron-sulfur cluster assembly protein IscS of Leishmania donovani.

The cysteine desulfurase, IscS, is a highly conserved and essential component of the mitochondrial iron-sulfur cluster (ISC) system that serves as a sulfur donor for Fe-S clusters biogenesis. Fe-S clusters are versatile and labile cofactors of proteins that orchestrate a wide array of essential metabolic processes, such as energy generation and ribosome biogenesis. However, no information regarding the role of IscS or its regulation is available in Leishmania, an evolving pathogen model with rapidly developing drug resistance.

Stage-dependent expression and up-regulation of trypanothione synthetase in amphotericin B resistant Leishmania donovani.

Kinetoplastids differ from other organisms in their ability to conjugate glutathione and spermidine to form trypanothione which is involved in maintaining redox homeostasis and removal of toxic metabolites. It is also involved in drug resistance, antioxidant mechanism, and defense against cellular oxidants. Trypanothione synthetase (TryS) of thiol metabolic pathway is the sole enzyme responsible for the biosynthesis of trypanothione in Leishmania donovani.