Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy is employed to understand the role of biological capacitance and individual component resistance in the bioelectricity generation throughout the lifetime of the microbial fuel cells. Gram stain analysis and optical microscopy supported the predominant growth of rod shaped geobacter culture in sweet lime based microbial fuel cells. The anodic capacitance during initial bacterial growth and biofilm formation (1-9 days) is 6 times higher than the literature data. The anodic capacitance decreased to 0.52mF on day 24 and anodic polarization resistance increased to913.8Ω due to fungal formation. The power density calculated on day24 being 497.1mW/m2 which is approximately 3times higher than the literature data.

The GRAPES-3 experiment located in Ooty consists of a dense array of 400 plastic scintillator detectors spread over an area of 25,000 m2 and a large area (560 m2) tracking muon telescope. Everyday, the array records about 3 million showers in the energy range of 1 TeV - 10 PeV induced by the interaction of primary cosmic rays in the atmosphere. These showers are reconstructed in order to find several shower parameters such as shower core, size, and age. High-energy showers landing far away from the array often trigger the array and are found to have their reconstructed cores within the array even though their true cores lie outside, due to reconstruction of partial information. These showers contaminate and lead to an inaccurate measurement of energy spectrum and composition. Such showers are removed by applying quality cuts on various shower parameters, manually as well as with machine learning approach. This work describes the improvements achieved in removal of such contaminated showers with the help of machine learning.

Detection of E. coli bacteria is imperative when it comes to potable water cleanliness and human health. E. coli when present in drinking water can cause ill health and its presence in urine is an indication of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). This paper reports the development of rapid, easy to use, and low cost electrochemical sensor for detection of E.coli. The sensor is fabricated by drop casting graphene oxide (GO) on the screen printed carbon electrodes. Different bacteria dilutions were mixed with a fixed concentration of H2O2. Graphene oxide sheets allow for the indirect detection of bacteria by reducing the remaining concentration of H2O2 following the bacterial catalytic activity. This work presents GO synthesis, characterization, sample preparation and bacterial testing using H2O2 degradation. The sensor provides a response within a range of 0 to $2.7 \times 10^{3}$ CFU/mL and has a detection limit of 6.3 CFU/mL. The amount of time required for both response and recovery of the sensor is measured in milliseconds.

Background/Aims: Cells require regular maintenance of proteostasis. Synthesis of new polypeptides and elimination of damaged or old proteins is an uninterrupted mechanism essential for a healthy cellular environment. Impairment in the removal of misfolded proteins can disturb proteostasis; such toxic aggregation of misfolded proteins can act as a primary risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases and imperfect ageing. The critical challenge is to design effective protein quality control (PQC) based molecular tactics that could potentially eliminate aggregation-prone protein load from the cell. Still, targeting specific components of the PQC pathway for the suppression of proteotoxic insults retains several challenges. Earlier, we had observed that LRSAM1 promotes the degradation of aberrant proteins. Here, we examined the effect of resveratrol, a stilbenoid phytoalexin compound, treatment on LRSAM1 E3 ubiquitin ligase, involved in the spongiform neurodegeneration. Methods: In this study, we reported induction of mRNA and protein levels of LRSAM1 in response to resveratrol treatment via RT-PCR, immunoblotting, and immunofluorescence analysis. The LRSAM1-mediated proteasomal-based clearance of misfolded proteins was also investigated via proteasome activity assays, immunoblotting and immunofluorescence analysis. The increased stability of LRSAM1 by resveratrol was demonstrated by cycloheximide chase analysis. Results: Here, we show that resveratrol treatment induces LRSAM1 E3 ubiquitin ligase expression levels. Further, our findings suggest that overexpression of LRSAM1 significantly elevates proteasome activities and improves the degradation of bona fide heat-denatured luciferase protein. Exposure of resveratrol not only slows down the turnover of LRSAM1 but also effectively degrades abnormal proteinaceous inclusions, which eventually promotes cell viability. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that resveratrol facilitates LRSAM1 endogenous establishment, which consequently promotes the proteasome machinery for effective removal of intracellular accumulated misfolded or proteasomal-designated substrates. Altogether, our study proposes a promising molecular approach to specifically trigger PQC signaling for efficacious rejuvenation of defective proteostasis via activation of overburdened proteolytic machinery.

Nanocatalysts are extremely crucial for the expedited synthesis of various chemicals, fuels, and pharmaceutical molecules both in academia and industry. To overcome the limitations of nanocatalysts and or microstructure supported catalysts such as agglomeration (due to inter-particle dipolar forces preventing longer shelf-lives), compromised catalytic activity (e.g., nickel-titanium dioxide bimetallic catalyst, showed high selectivity to hydrogenate 3-nitrostyrene into 3-vinylaniline (90.2 %) compared to unmodified nickel (55.3 %), due to metal-plane formation by titanium dioxide), cytotoxicity (with over 90 % cell killing in the presence of the nanocatalysts above ∼ 0.2 mg/mL), catalyst retrieval (demanding energy intensive procedures such as centrifugation (∼10,000 g and above), membrane filtrations (∼0.2 µm), magnetic separations (0.9–1.1 T) and absurd practical implementation there is a tremendous development of 3-dimensional wide-area supported catalysts. This review update the readers on the evolution of highly catalytic nanoparticles for various heterogeneous catalysis. Uniquely, wide-area supported catalysts wherein the nanoparticles are grafted to 3-dimensional nature-inspired or pristine natural materials as sustainable strategies are discussed. The role of wide-area of the support in overcoming the limitations of nanocatalysts and microstructures by enabling bidirectional reactant access, catalyst efficiency, reusability, stability and sustainability are highlighted. Next, we focus on the metal-affinity and redox-potential of the natural support that aid autogenic biosynthesis and self-assembly of nanocatalysts. Followed by discussions on supplementary properties of the support such as type, structural-hierarchy, surface-area, absorption, porosity and rigidity in tuning the stability, biodegradability, compatibility, functionality and performance of the catalyst. Accentuated, with the impact of support in dictating the choice of fixed batch vs continuous flow reactors, co-relative to modulating the catalytic efficiency and turnover frequencies. Finally, the exclusive role of wide-area of the support and its biological nature in allowing the extraction of noble precursor off the support after catalyst poisoning is emphasized. These discussions, for the first time, spotlight the versatility, resilient nature of the emerging ultra-efficient wide-area supported catalysts that are generated using sustainable procedures for diverse large-volume heterogeneous catalysis.

The study describes cultivation of Dunaliella salina at the saline cathode in a Photosynthetic Microbial Fuel Cell (PMFC). The alga was isolated from Salt Lake Sambhar, Rajasthan, India, and identified using 18S rDNA sequencing analysis. The alga growth in PMFC was tested at 0.5 M to 1.5 M sodium chloride. The highest power and current density were obtained at 0.5 M NaCl with the values of 213.38 mW m−2 and 1020.5 mA m−2, respectively. The specific growth rate of algae was 0.4 day−1 with 566 mg/L lipids and 348.9 ± 25.6 μg/mL of glycerol content at 0.5 M PMFC. The PMFC operating at 1.0 M NaCl led to high β-carotene production (24.42 ± 1.8 μg/100 mg). The salinity in natural water resources makes it difficult to apply them in bioprocesses. This study establishes the utility of D. salina in saline water-based PMFC for the generation of power and high-value Dunaliella biomass.

SCLC is refractory to conventional therapies; targeted therapies and immunological checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) molecules have prolonged survival only marginally. In addition, ICIs help only a subgroup of SCLC patients. Different types of kinases play pivotal roles in therapeutics-driven cellular functions. Therefore, there is a significant need to understand the roles of kinases in regulating therapeutic responses, acknowledge the existing knowledge gaps, and discuss future directions for improved therapeutics for recalcitrant SCLC. Here, we extensively review the effect of dysregulated kinases in SCLC. We further discuss the pharmacological inhibitors of kinases used in targeted therapies for recalcitrant SCLC. We also describe the role of kinases in the ICI-mediated activation of antitumor immune responses. Finally, we summarize the clinical trials evaluating the potential of kinase inhibitors and ICIs. This review overviews dysregulated kinases in SCLC and summarizes their potential as targeted therapeutic agents. We also discuss their clinical efficacy in enhancing anticancer responses mediated by ICIs.

Background: Helicobacter pylori is a prominent causative agent of gastric ulceration, gastric adenocarcinoma and gastric lymphoma and have been categorised as a group 1 carcinogen by WHO. The treatment of H. pylori with proton pump inhibitors and antibiotics is effective but also leads to increased antibiotic resistance, patient dissatisfaction, and chances of reinfection. Therefore, an effective vaccine remains the most suitable prophylactic option for mass administration against this infection. Results: We modelled a multi-chimera subunit vaccine candidate against H. pylori by screening its secretory/outer membrane proteins. We identified B-cell, MHC-II and IFN-γ-inducing epitopes within these proteins. The population coverage, antigenicity, physiochemical properties and secondary structure were evaluated using different in-silico tools, which showed it can be a good and effective vaccine candidate. The 3-D construct was predicted, refined, validated and docked with TLRs. Finally, we performed the molecular docking/simulation and immune simulation studies to validate the stability of interaction and in-silico cloned the epitope sequences into a pET28b(+) plasmid vector. Conclusion: The multiepitope-constructed vaccine contains T- cells, B-cells along with IFN-γ inducing epitopes that have the property to generate good cell-mediated immunity and humoral response. This vaccine can protect most of the world’s population. The docking study and immune simulation revealed a good binding with TLRs and cell-mediated and humoral immune responses, respectively. Overall, we attempted to design a multiepitope vaccine and expect this vaccine will show an encouraging result against H. pylori infection in in-vivo use.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) outbreak has emerged as a global public health crisis. Therefore, new and innovative therapeutic options like host-directed therapies (HDTs) through novel modulators are urgently required to overcome the challenges associated with TB. In the present study, we have investigated the anti-mycobacterial effect of 4-(Benzyloxy)phenol. Cell-viability assay asserted that 50 μM of 4-(Benzyloxy)phenol was not cytotoxic to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) differentiated THP-1 (dTHP-1) cells. It was observed that 4-(Benzyloxy)phenol activates p53 expression by hindering its association with KDM1A. Increased ROS, intracellular Ca2+ and phagosome-lysosome fusion, were also observed upon 4-(Benzyloxy)phenol treatment. 4-(Benzyloxy)phenol mediated killing of intracellular mycobacteria was abrogated in the presence of specific inhibitors of ROS, Ca2+ and phagosome-lysosome fusion like NAC, BAPTA-AM, and W7, respectively. We further demonstrate that 4-(Benzyloxy)phenol mediated enhanced ROS production is mediated by acetylation of p53. Blocking of p53 acetylation by Pifithrin-α (PFT- α) enhanced intracellular mycobacterial growth by blocking the mycobactericidal effect of 4-(Benzyloxy)phenol. Altogether, the results showed that 4-(Benzyloxy)phenol executed its anti-mycobacterial effect by modulating p53-mediated ROS production to regulate phagosome-lysosome fusion through Ca2+ production.

Curcumin exhibits a broad spectrum of beneficial health properties that include anti-tumor and anti-cancer activities. The down-regulation of c-myc transcription via stabilizing the G-quadruplex structure formed at the promoter region of the human c-myc gene allows the repression in cancer growth. Small molecules can bind and stabilize this structure to provide an exciting and promising strategy for anti-cancer therapeutics. Herein, we investigated the interaction of Curcumin and its synthetic analogs with G-quadruplex DNA formed at the c-myc promoter by using various biophysical and biochemical assays. Further, its cytotoxic effect and mechanistic insights were explored in various cancer cell lines as well as in multicellular tumor spheroid (MCTS) model. The MCTS possesses almost similar microenvironment as avascular tumors, and micro-metastases can be used as a suitable model for the small molecule-based therapeutics development. Our study provides an expanded overview of the anti-cancer effect of a new Curcumin analog via targeting G-quadruplex structures formed at the promoter region of the human c-myc gene.