Indian J Exp Biol
OCTOBER 2001
CODEN: IJEB (A6) 39(10) 951-1070 (2001)
ISSN: 0019-5189
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology
http : // www.niscom.res.in; http : // www. bioline org.br/
VOLUME 39
NUMBER 10
OCTOBER 2001
CONTENTS
Review Articles
Human genome project: Pharmacogenomics and drug development
N K Ganguly, Rahmat Bano & S D Seth
Leprosy bacillus  possibly the first chemoautotrophic human pathogen
cultivated in vitro and characterised
A N Chakrabarty, Sujata G Dastidar, Aninda Sen, Parthajit Banerjee &
Raktim Roy
955
962
Papers
A dot-immunobinding assay (Dot-Iba) for rapid diagnosis of pulmonary
tuberculosis
M G Sumi, A Mathai, S Reuben , V V Radhakrishnan, S Sasikumar,
V Jayapal & J Felix
984
Mycobacterium phlei as an oral immunomodulator with Newcastle disease
vaccine
E Sreekumar & S K Das
989
Targetted localisation and imaging of a murine lymphoma using 131I-labelled
monoclonal antibody
Krishnan Subbiah, Suresh Kumar Rayala, Meenakshi Ananthanarayanan
& Rajkumar Thangarajan
993
Interaction of flunarizine with sodium valproate or ethosuximide in
gamahydroxybutyrate induced absence seizures in rats
Kumaresan Subramanyam, Joy David & Thangam Joseph
998
Possible mechanism of anticonvulsant effect of ketamine in mice
Anshu Manocha, Krishna Kumar Sharma & Pramod Kumari Mediratta
Modulation by insulin rather than blood glucose of the pain threshold in acute
physiological and flavone induced antinociception in mice
N N Rajendran, P Thirugnanasambandam, S Parvathavarthini, S
Viswanathan & S Ramaswamy
Effects of endosulfan on intestinal functions in protein-malnourished rats
S Labana, R C Bansal & A Mahmood
1002
1009
1017
Hepatoprotective action of abhrak bhasma, an Ayurvedic drug in albino rats
against hepatitis induced by CCl4
Savita Buwa, Subhash Patil, P H Kulkarni & Aruna Kanase
1022
Hypolipidemic and antiperoxidative effect of coconut protein in
hypercholesterolemic rats
G Salil & T Rajamohan
1028
Interconversion of free sugars in relation to activities of enzymes catalyzing
synthesis and cleavage of sucrose in growing stem tissues of sorghum
Surekha Bhatia & Rangil Singh
1035
Cultural requirements for in vitro seed germination, protocorm growth and
seedling development of Geodorum densiflorum (Lam.) Schltr.
Jonojit Roy & Nirmalaya Banerjee
1041
Surface characters and extracelluar toxins involved in the pathogenesis of
Aeromonas hydrophila
B V Aruna, M R Chandran, R Dinakaran Michael & S M Logambal
1048
Effect of phenol on protein and amino acid content of Xanthomonas oryzae
pv. oryzae
N Mohan & A Mahadevan
1055
Notes
Effet of phenol on lipid and fatty acid profile of Xanthomonas oryzae pv.
oryzae
N Mohan & A Mahadevan
Characterization of toxin from cheilanthes fern and its effect on lymphocyte
proliferation and DNA fragmentation
K Aswani Kumar, M Kataria, R Somvanshi, Satish Kumar & Mohini
Saini
Clastogenic effects of dietary supplementSpirulina alga, and some medicinal
plant products from Boswellia serrata and Withania somnifera on mice
1062
1065
1068
Sarbani Ghoshal, Madhumita J Mukhopadhyay & Anita Mukherjee
Review Article
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology
Vol. 39, October 2001, pp. 955-961
Human genome project : Pharmacogenomics and drug development
N K Ganguly, Rahmat Bano & S D Seth*
Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi
Fax:91-11-6857791; E-mail : icmrhqds@sansad.nic.in
Now that all 30,000 or so genes that make up the human genome have been deciphered, pharmaceutical industries are
emerging to capitalize the custom based drug treatment. Understanding human genetic variation promises to have a great
impact on our ability to uncover the cause of individual variation in response to therapeutics. The study of association
between genetics and drug response is called pharmacogenomics. The potential implication of genomics and
pharmacogenomics in clinical research and clinical medicine is that disease could be treated according to the interindividual
differences in drug disposition and effects, thereby enhancing the drug discovery and providing a stronger scientific basis of
each patient’s genetic constitution. Sequence information derived from the genomes of many individuals is leading to the
rapid discovery of single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs. Detection of these human polymorphisms will fuel the
discipline of pharmacogenomics by developing more personalized drug therapies. A greater understanding of the way in
which individuals with a particular genotype respond to a drug allows manufacturers to identify population subgroups that
will benefit most from a particular drug. The increasing emphasis on pharmacogenomics is likely to raise ethical and legal
questions regarding, among other things, the design of research studies, the construction of clinical trials and the pricing of
drugs.
Review Article
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology
Vol. 39, October 2001, pp. 962-983
Leprosy bacillus – possibly the first chemoautotrophic human pathogen
cultivated in vitro and characterised
A N Chakrabarty, Sujata G Dastidar*, Aninda Sen, Parthajit Banerjee 1 & Raktim Roy*
Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Calcutta University College of Medicine, Calcutta 700020, India
Fax: 248-6604/1620; email: madhabi@vsnl.com
*Division of Microbiology, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Calcutta 700032, India
Leprosy bacillus (LB) and leprosy derived in vitro culture forms, the chemoautotrophic nocardioform (CAN) bacteria,
showed an extremely close homology and identity with each other as regards a chemoautotrophic nutritional pattern, a
nocardioform morphology, a weak acid-fastness coupled with Gram and Gomori’s stain positivity, an exclusive mycolate
and lipid profile, a phenolic glycolipid (PGL-I) and a highly sequestrated DNA characteristic, namely, a unique small size, a
low G+C % mole, an exceptionally high  and UV radiation resistance, and a high thermal resistance. LB/CAN bacteria
(CANb) gave positive signals for 36 kDa protein PCR, as well as, for 65 kDa epitope, and hybridisation with two or more
probes and also by RFLP-analysis. Both LB/and CAN bacteria exhibited bacillary multiplication in the mouse footpads
(MFP), nerve infiltration and evidences for local pathogenicity associated with pronounced systemic invasion. A highly
reproducible mutilation model could be established which enabled a successful application of the postulates of Koch. The
proof of their total identity was their anergic reactions in LL cases counterpoised against Mitsuda type strong nodular
responses, mirroring the reactions of leprosy bacilli in TT cases, in accordance with the dictum of XIth International Leprosy
Congress (1978). Thus, the chemoautotrophic nutritional requirements of LB, entirely unsuspected for a medically important
pathogenic bacterium, having dimorphic (both bacillary and mycelial) characters with spores, mycelia and granules and
unique pathogenicity of multilation manifested through the virulence factor, the enzyme collagenase, made LB or M leprae
the highly enigmatic bacterium for so long.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology
Vol. 39, October 2001, pp. 984-988
A dot-immunobinding assay (Dot-Iba) for rapid diagnosis of
pulmonary tuberculosis
M G Sumi, A Mathai, S Reuben & V V Radhakrishnan*
Department of Pathology, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology,
Thiruvananthapuram 695 011, India
and
S Sasikumar, V Jayapal & J Felix
Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases Hospital, Pulayanarkotta; Thiruvananthapuram 695 011, India
Received 10 November 2000; revised 29 May 2001
IgG antibody to Mycobacterium tuberculosis from the sera of patients with ‘definite’ pulmonary tuberculosis (PT) was
isolated and coupled with Cyanogen bromide-Sepharose 4B.Using an immunoabsorbent affinity chromatography, 14 kDa
antigen was recovered from the culture filtrates of M. tuberculosis. With this mycobacterial antigen, a dot immunobinding
assay (Dot-Iba) was developed for the detection of specific antibody to M. tuberculosis in the sera of patients with PT and
controls. The assay gave positive results in all the 12 sputum-smear positive [acid fast bacilli (AFB)] patients with PT and
gave negative results in the 50 sera from control groups. The Dot-Iba as described in this study, is simple, rapid and specific
for laboratory diagnosis of PT.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology
Vol. 39, October 2001, pp. 989-992
Mycobacterium phlei as an oral immunomodulator with
Newcastle disease vaccine
E Sreekumar* & S K Das
Immunology Section, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, 243122, India.
Received 10 November 2000; revised 26 April 2001
Experiments were conducted in chickens to understand the effects of oral immunomodulation. Heat inactivated M
phlei, a commensal Mycobacterium and a non-specific immunomodulator, was administered orally prior to live Newcastle
disease F (ND F) strain vaccination. In experimental birds it lead to an enhanced cell mediated Immune response (CMI)
against the vaccine. There was a reduction in the Haemagglutination inhibiting (HI) antibodies. However, it did not affect
the protection against a virulent challenge, as the protection percentage was more or less same in vaccinated birds
irrespective of the M.phlei administration. M.phlei administration could not enhance the immune response to inactivated ND
F vaccine administered orally. The results indicate that M.phlei favours a CMI response to orally administered live ND F
vaccine. It may be of potential use in enhancing CMI against vaccines and a cheaper alternative to costlier recombinant
cytokines.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology
Vol. 39, October 2001, pp. 993-997
Targetted localisation and imaging of a murine lymphoma using
131
I-labelled monoclonal antibody
Krishnan Subbiah1,2*, Suresh Kumar Rayala3, Meenakshi Ananthanarayanan3 & Rajkumar Thangarajan4
1Clinical
Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109 and 2Department of Medicine,
University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. 3Division of Biochemical Oncology and 4Division of Molecular
Oncology, Cancer Institute (WIA), Adyar, Chennai 600 020, India.
Received 18 April 2001; revised 29 May 2001
In vivo tumor targetting with radiolabelled monoclonal antibodies is a promising approach for the diagnosis and therapy
of tumors. A specific monoclonal antibody (mAb), DLAB was generated to the Dalton’s lymphoma associated antigen
(DLAA) from Haemophilus paragallinarum -induced spontaneous fusion. In order to study the tumor localisation and
biodistribution properties of the monoclonal antibody, scintigraphic studies were performed using the radiolabelled DLAB.
131I-labelled DLAB was administered intravenously into Swiss mice bearing Dalton’s lymphoma and external scintiscanning
was performed at different time intervals. Clear tumor images were obtained which revealed selective and specific uptake of
radiolabel and the results were compared with biodistribution data. The radioiodinated monoclonal antibody showed fast
tumor uptake which increased significantly to 14.6% injected dose (ID)/g at 12 hr post-injection. Enhanced blood clearance
of radioactivity resulted in higher tumor/blood ratio of 5.96 at 48 hr. 131I-labelled DLAB resulted in selective and enhanced
uptake of the radioactivity by the tumor compared to the non-specific antibody and the results suggest the potential use of
spontaneous fusion for producing specific monoclonal antibodies for tumor detection and therapy.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology
Vol. 39, October 2001, pp. 998-1001
Interaction of flunarizine with sodium valproate or ethosuximide in
gamahydroxybutyrate induced
absence seizures in rats
Kumaresan Subramanyam, Joy David & Thangam Joseph*
Department of Pharmacology, St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore 560 034, India
Received 15 February 2000; revised 23 May 2001
Sodium valproate(VPA), ethosuximide(ESM), 200 mg/kg ip and flunarizine (FLU) 5 or 10 mg/kg ip were first
administered independently to rats in order to study their effects on behavioural and EEG aspects of spike and wave
discharges (SWDs) induced by - hydroxybutyrate (GHB,100 mg/kg ip). GHB treated rats show behavioural changes and
concomitant repetitive EEG episodes of 7 to 9 Hz SWDs, mimicking human absence seizures (AS), and can be used as a
pharmacological model. The number and duration of SWDs were calculated for 1 hr from the EEG and were parameters for
drug evaluation. VPA and ESM at 200 mg/kg, significantly reduced SWD number and duration/hr, while FLU showed
significant reduction only at 10 but not at 5 mg/kg. Combination of FLU, 10 mg/kg with either VPA or ESM showed
significant reduction of SWD number and duration, suggesting an additive effect of the anti-absence agents with the calcium
channel blocker, FLU, on experimental absence seizures in rats.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology
Vol. 39, October 2001, pp. 1002-1008
Possible mechanism of anticonvulsant effect of ketamine in mice
Anshu Manocha*, Krishna Kumar Sharma & Pramod Kumari Mediratta
Department of Pharmacology, University College of Medical Sciences & GTB Hospital, Shahdara, Delhi 110095
Received 8 September 2000; revised 25 May 2001
The study was designed to investigate the effect of ketamine on convulsive behaviour using maximal electroshock
(MES) test. An attempt was also made to study the possible receptor mechanisms involved. MES seizures were induced in
mice via transauricular electrodes (60mA, 0.2sec). Seizure severity was assessed by the duration of tonic hindlimb extensor
phase and mortality due to convulsions. Intraperitoneal administration of ketamine produced a dose-dependent (5-50mg/kg)
protection against hindlimb extensor phase. The anticonvulsant effect of ketamine was antagonized neither by naloxone (low
as well as high doses) nor sulpiride, but was attenuated by haloperidol, a dopamine (D 2)/sigma receptor antagonist. Coadministration of -aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic drugs (GABA, muscimol, diazepam and baclofen) and N-methyl-Daspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, dizocilpine (MK801) with ketamine facilitated the anticonvulsant action of the latter
drug. In contrast, flumazenil, a benzodiazepine (BZD)-GABAA receptor antagonist, reversed the facilitatory effect of
diazepam on the anti-MES effect of ketamine. Similarly, -aminovaleric acid (DAVA), antagonized the facilitatory effect of
baclofen on anti-MES action of ketamine. These BZD-GABAergic antagonists, flumazenil or DAVA per se also attenuated
the anti-MES effect of ketamine given alone. The results suggest that besides its known antagonistic effect on NMDA
channel, other neurotransmitter systems i.e. sigma, GABAA-BZD-chloride channel complex and GABAB receptors may also
be involved in the anti-MES action of ketamine.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology
Vol. 39, October 2001, pp. 1009-1016
Modulation by insulin rather than blood glucose of the pain threshold in
acute physiological and
flavone induced antinociception in mice
N N Rajendran, P Thirugnanasambandam, S Parvathavarthini, S Viswanathan* & S Ramaswamy
Institute of Pharmacology, Madras Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai 600 003,India
and
*Department of Pharmacology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research,
Pondicherry 605006, India
Received 10 November 2000; revised 2 May 2001
The present study investigated the cause effect relationship between glycemic and algesic states. The hypo- and
hyperglycemic conditions were induced physiologically through exercise (3 min swim at room temperature 28-30C) and
external dextrose (2 g/kg, ip) administration respectively in mice. Besides, flavone (50 mg/kg, sc) a known antinociceptive
drug was chosen to study such a cause effect relationship. The anti-nociception was assessed by acetic acid assay, blood
glucose measured using glucometer (Ames) and serum insulin by radioimmunoassay. The findings revealed that irrespective
of the glycemic state whether hypo-, hyper, or euglycemic induced by swim stress, dextrose or flavone per se respectively,
significant antinociceptive response was recorded. Pretreatment with flavone (50 mg/kg, sc) always exhibited a tendency to
reverse the hyperglycemia, if any, but enhanced the antinociceptive response either after swim stress or after dextrose. These
data support the contention that changes in the glycemic state in acute condition is not responsible for antinociceptive
response and thereby suggesting dissociation between these two parameters. Extended studies estimating serum insulin level
after the above mentioned maneuvers showed a significant rise whenever antinociceptive response was recorded irrespective
of the glycemic state. It is suggested that serum insulin level, a hormonal parameter rather than the blood glucose level,
which is a metabolic parameter, appears more reliable. It appears that the changes in serum insulin level produced by various
treatments may have a relationship with the antinociceptive response. However, this study has the limitation that the results
can apply only for acute conditions and extrapolation to clinical conditions is debatable.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology
Vol. 39, October 2001, pp. 1017-1021
Effects of endosulfan on intestinal functions in protein-malnourished rats
S Labana, R C Bansal & A Mahmood*
Department of Biochemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
Received 11 August 2000, revised 12 June 2001
In rats fed 18% protein diet, administration of endosulfan (2mg/kg body weight daily for 7 days) significantly decreased
the brush border sialic acid and increased the hexoses contents. The intestinal uptake of glucose was increased while that of
glycine and calcium was reduced. Brush border enzymes and lipids were not affected. However, in protein malnourished rats
(fed 8% protein) exposed to endosulfan, brush border sucrase and peptidase activities were enhanced, while alkaline
phosphatase activity was decreased compared to untreated malnourished animals. Membrane sialic acid content was low
while fucose and cholesterol levels were augmented in endosulfan fed malnourished animals. The uptake of glucose and
glycine was elevated under these conditions. These results suggest that the nutritional status of the animals has an important
bearing on the susceptibility of intestinal tissue to endosulfan toxicity in rats.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology
Vol. 39, October 2001, pp. 1022-1027
Hepatoprotective action of abhrak bhasma, an Ayurvedic drug in
albino rats against hepatitis induced by CCl4
Savita Buwa, Subhash Patil*, P H Kulkarni* & Aruna Kanase**
Cell Biology Section, Department of Zoology, Shivaji University, Kolhapur 410 006, India
*Institute of Indian Medicine, Kothrud, Pune 411 029, India
Received 20 September 2000; revised 6 June 2001
Abhrak bhasma is a commonly used ayurvedic drug against many diseases including hepatitis. It is tested in albino rats
using a model of hepatitis induced by a single dose of CCl4 (3 ml/kg body wt). Different doses of abhrak bhasma (10, 20, 30
and 40 mg/kg body wt) were tested to decide the dose related hepatoprotective efficacy. The centrolobular necrosis induced
by single dose of CCl4 was reduced significantly by abhrak bhasma (10 mg) and liver histology was also protected by 20 mg
dose. Liver acid lipase activity was lowered, while alkaline and lipoprotein lipase activities were elevated due to treatment of
single dose of CCl4. Abhrak bhasma counteracted the action of CCl4 on liver lipolytic enzymes. CCl4 did not alter the kidney
histologically. Activities of three lipases of rat kidney (acid, alkaline and lipoprotein lipases) were reduced by CCl 4
treatment and were reversed by administration of abhrak bhasma. Acid lipase activity of rat adipose tissue was reduced by
CCl4 treatment. On the contrary alkaline, lipoprotein and hormone sensitive lipases were enhanced after 24 hr of
administration of CCl4. Acid lipase activity was raised by administration of different doses of abhrak bhasma concurrent
with CCl4. Abhrak bhasma treatment along with CCl4 enhanced alkaline lipase activity at 10 and 20 mg dose and later it was
reduced at 30 and 40 mg doses and came to normal levels. Lipoprotein and hormone sensitive lipases were reduced by the
counteraction of increasing doses of abhrak bhasma.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology
Vol. 39, October 2001, pp. 1028-1034
Hypolipidemic and antiperoxidative effect of coconut protein in
hypercholesterolemic rats
G Salil & T Rajamohan*
Department of Biochemistry, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram 695 581, India
Fax 91-471 307158. E-mail: dlcampus@vsnl.net.in
Received 20 September 2000; revised 8 May 2001
Effect of coconut protein in rats fed high fat cholesterol containing diet on the metabolism of lipids and lipid peroxides
was studied. In addition, effect of coconut protein were compared with rats fed L- arginine. The results indicate that those
fed coconut protein and those fed L-arginine showed significantly lower levels of total cholesterol, LDL+ VLDL cholesterol,
Triglycerides and Phospholipids in the serum and higher levels of serum HDL cholesterol. The concentration of total
cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids in the tissues were lower in these groups. There was increased hepatic
cholesterogenesis which is evident from the higher rate of incorporation of labeled acetate into free cholesterol. Increased
conversion of cholesterol to bile acids and increased fecal excretion of bile acids were observed. Feeding coconut protein
results in decreased levels of Malondialdehyde in the heart and increased activity of Superoxide dismutase and Catalase.
Supplementation of coconut protein causes increased excretion of urinary nitrate which implies higher rate of conversion of
arginine into nitric oxide. In the present study, the arginine supplemented group and the coconut protein fed group produced
similar effects. These studies clearly demonstrate that coconut protein is able to reduce hyperlipidemia and peroxidative
effect induced by high fat cholesterol containing diet and these effects are mainly mediated by the L-arginine present in it.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology
Vol. 39, October 2001, pp. 1035-1040
Interconversion of free sugars in relation to activities of enzymes catalyzing
synthesis and cleavage of sucrose in growing stem tissues of sorghum
Surekha Bhatia & Rangil Singh*
Department of Biochemistry, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana141004, India
Received 1 February 2001; revised 6 June 2001
Free sugar interconversion and activities of soluble acidic (pH 4.8) and neutral (pH 7.5) invertases, sucrose synthase
(synthesis) and sucrose phosphate synthase were investigated in the growing nodes and internodes of sorghum (Sorghum
vulgare). The results were substantiated with incorporation of 14C from supplied sucrose and hexoses into endogenous
sugars of these stem tissues. With the advancement in plant growth, the content of total free sugars in apical nodes and
internodes increased till 70 DAS (flowering stage) followed by a decline. In the corresponding basal tissues, the sugar buildup continued even beyond this stage of plant growth. Compared with basal stem tissues, the apical ones contained high
activities of soluble invertases and a low proportion amongst free sugars of sucrose. The activities of sucrose-hydrolyzing
enzymes were higher as compared with those of sucrose-synthesizing ones in both nodes and internodes and with the growth
of plant, the activity of neutral invertase increased in these tissues. More 14C from supplied sucrose and hexoses appeared in
extracted sugars from cut discs of apical nodes and internodes in comparison with their basal counterparts. 14C from supplied
sucrose appeared in glucose, fructose and from supplied hexoses appeared in sucrose. The results suggest that in apical
nodes and internodes, where a rapid cell division and cell expansion occur, sucrose is obligatorily inverted to meet the
increased requirement of hexoses and there is a compartmentalized synthesis and cleavage of sucrose in the nodes and
internodes of growing sorghum plant.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology
Vol. 39, October 2001, pp. 1041-1047
Cultural requirements for in vitro seed germination, protocorm growth and
seedling
development of Geodorum densiflorum (Lam.) Schltr.
Jonojit Roy & Nirmalya Banerjee*
Department of Botany, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan 731 235, India
Received 10 December 2000; revised 6 June 2001
Effects of different nutrient solutions, organic supplements and plant growth regulators on in vitro seed germination
and protocorm development of Geodorum densiflorum (Lam.) Schltr. were studied. Seed germination was very high (up to
96%) in all the basal media, with Knudson’s C and half-strength Murashige & Skoog being slightly more productive than
Vacin & Went. Application of organic supplements and NAA had little effect on germination, but BAP proved inhibitory.
After germination, protocorms exhibited a clear preference for peptone and NAA for much faster growth, while BAP
resulted in stunted growth. Beside normal development, disorganisation of protocorms, followed by callusing occurred in
presence of peptone and NAA. The calli were compact with limited growth and frequently regenerated protocorm like
bodies. Development of seedlings was preceded by an intermediary rhizome phase. Growth of rhizomes was slow in the
plant growth regulator free medium and about 15 months of culture was required for seedling formation. However, it was
possible to hasten the process by 8-10 months with the employment of NAA, which also enhanced the number of seedlings
per protocorm through axillary branching. Combined application of high BAP and low NAA was also useful for high rate of
seedling formation.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology
Vol. 39, October 2001, pp. 1048-1054
Surface characters and extracellular toxins involved in the pathogenesis of
Aeromonas hydrophila
B V Aruna
Department of Animal Science, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620 024, India
M R Chandran*
School of Engineering and Technology, Bharathidasan University, Khajamalai Campus, Tiruchirappalli 620 023, India
and
R Dinakaran Michael & S M Logambal
PG and Research Department of Zoology, The American College, Madurai 625 002, India
Received 15 May 2000; revised 12 June 2001
A small number of serotypically distinct strains of A. hydrophila obtained from diseased freshwater fish were examined
for their pathogenic properties comprising of cell surface characteristics and extracellular toxins. Test strains exhibited
homogeneity in their cell surface characteristics despite being serologically heterogeneous. Studies on extracellular
biological activities revealed qualitative and quantitative differences in production of toxins, probably explaining their
antigenic diversity. Three distinct proteases, namely heat stable metallo protease, heat labile serine protease and heat labile
metallo protease were identified from the strains.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology
Vol. 39, October 2001, pp. 1055-1061
Effect of phenol on protein and amino acid content of
Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae
N Mohan & A Mahadevan*
Centre for Advanced Study in Botany, University of Madras, Chennai 600025, India
Received 16 October 2000; revised 26 June 2001
Leaf blight disease of rice (Oryza sativa) is caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. Phenol (1 to 4
mM) induced changes in protein profiles of X. o. pv. oryzae and a stress protein with a molecular mass of 69,000 appeared.
HPLC analysis indicated occurrence of amino acids such as asparagine, alanine, methionine and cystine in phenol treated
cells. Proton NMR analysis also revealed variation on the presence of amino acids in the cells treated with phenol.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology
Vol. 39, October 2001, pp. 1062-1064
Effect of phenol on lipid and fatty acid profile of Xanthomonas oryzae pv.
oryzae
N Mohan & A Mahadevan*
Centre for Advanced Study in Botany, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai 600005, India
Received 8 June 2000; revised 26 June 2001
Effect of phenol on total lipid and fatty acid composition of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, the causal agent of
bacterial blight of rice (Oryzae sativa) was studied. Lipid level was low in phenol treated cells. Number of fatty acids
detected from phenol treated cells was more than those found in untreated cells as revealed by Gas chromatography.
Pentadecanoic acid (C15:0), linolenic acid (C18:3) and behenic acid (C22:0) were present only in the treated cells. Palmitic
acid which is usually found in bacteria was not detected both in control and treated cells.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology
Vol. 39, October 2001, pp. 1065-1067
Characterization of toxin from cheilanthes fern and its effect on lymphocyte
proliferation and DNA fragmentation
K Aswani Kumar1, M Kataria1, R Somvanshi2*, Satish Kumar3 & Mohini Saini1
1
Division of Biochemistry, 2 National Fellow (ICAR) Division of Pathology 3National Biotechnology Centre.
Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar 243 122, India
Received 15 October 1999; revised 23 May 2001
Thin layer chromatography of aqueous extract of whole Cheilanthes farinosa fern indicated the presence of
ptaquiloside or ptaquiloside like compound, coinciding Rf values with that of Pterosin B standard. HPLC analysis revealed
the presence of 26.3 mg/kg ptaquiloside. In vitro studies of the aqueous extract on lymphocyte culture revealed a correlation
between stimulative indices and concentration of aqueous extract. Stimulation in lymphocyte proliferation was in order of
bracken > cheilanthes > ConA> ptaquiloside standard. On incubation of lymphocyte with aqueous extract of ferns, no DNA
damage was observed in isolated DNA.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology
Vol. 39, October 2001, pp. 1068-1070
Clastogenic effects of dietary supplement—Spirulina alga, and some
medicinal plant products
from Boswellia serrata, Withania somnifera on mice
Sarbani Ghoshal, Madhumita J Mukhopadhyay & Anita Mukherjee*
Centre of Advanced Study in Cell and Chromosome Research, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta,
35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata 700 019, India
Fax: 91-033-466-8892
Received 10 May 2000, revised 4 June 2001
Pretreatment of aqueous extracts of Zyrulina (Spirulina), Aswagandha (Withania) and Nopane (Boswellia) on
colchicine induced chromosome damage showed weakness of clastogenic activity in Swiss albino mice. None of the
treatments increased significantly the number of chromosome aberrations.