PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B Mondal

Publications and source records attributed to B Mondal.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Molecular characterization and expression of caprine (Capra hircus) interleukin-18 cDNA.

Interleukin 18 (IL-18) has been identified as a potent upstream cytokine required for upregulation of IFN-gamma secretion that plays a crucial role in polarization of Th1 type of immune response. Considering the potential applications of the cytokine in immunomodulation, it has been characterized in many livestock species including cattle, equines, canines, felines and porcines. In this paper we report the isolation, cloning sequencing and expression of caprine precursor IL-18. Full-length caprine IL-18 cDNA was isolated from mitogen-stimulated adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The cDNA contained an open reading frame of 579 bp encoding a putative polypeptide of 192 amino acids. Deduced amino acid sequence of caprine IL-18 showed varying amino acid identity with the published sequences of other domestic ruminant species ranging from 94.3% to 96.9%, while it shared over 78% aa identity with other domestic animals. Pairwise multiple aligned sequences showed a deletion of Glu31in caprine IL-18 unlike in other species. Recombinant caprine IL-18 was produced in Escherichia coli, which cross-reacted with two antiporcine IL-18 monoclonal antibodies.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

An outbreak of sheep pox on a sheep breeding farm in Jammu, India.

An outbreak of sheep pox occurred in December 2001 on a sheep breeding farm in Jammu, India. The farm maintains three exotic breeds of sheep, i.e. American Merino, Rambouillet and Australian cross. The disease agent was confirmed as sheep pox virus by clinical and post-mortem examination as well as laboratory testing. Typical pock lesions were dispersed over the body of the affected animals with nodular lesions observed in the lung tissue of the dead animals. Sheep pox virus antigen and antibody were detected in infected tissue and convalescent sera, respectively, with serological tests. Viral deoxyribonucleic acid was extracted from the infected tissue and amplified using a diagnostic polymerase chain reaction. Sheep of the Rambouillet breed were found to be most susceptible to infection with morbidity and mortality rates of 26.9% and 8.3%, respectively. Morbidity and mortality rates in the entire flock were 18.4% and 6.3%, respectively. The grazing and migration pattern indicates that the disease was probably introduced to the farm by local sheep.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

A Vero cell-attenuated Goatpox virus provides protection against virulent virus challenge.

An Indian isolate of Goatpox virus (GTPV) was adapted and propagated in Vero cells for development of an attenuated virus. The virus was initially passaged in primary lamb testes cells and subsequently in Vero cells. At the 55th passage, the virus showed evidence of attenuation when tested for safety in seronegative goats. At this stage, the virus was found to be completely non-pathogenic. The virus was passaged further and the 60th passage was used for testing its immunogenicity in goats. The latter were inoculated with 10, 100 and 1000 TCID50 of the attenuated virus by intradermal (i.d.) route and challenged after 28 days with virulent GTPV. The attenuated virus produced no adverse reaction even at the highest dose and conferred complete protection even at the lowest dose against challenge with a high dose (2 x 10(6) of 50% skin-reactive dose SRD50) of virulent virus. Increased levels of virus-specific serum antibodies could be demonstrated by both indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and virus neutralization (VN) test in all the immunized goats. No horizontal transmission of the virus from the immunized to in-contact animals took place. Our results suggest that this attenuated virus could be a safe, immunogenic and potent candidate for developing a vaccine against goatpox.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Immunization with a plasmid DNA expressing rinderpest virus hemagglutinin protein protects rabbits from lethal challenge.

Rinderpest virus haemagglutinin (H) protein was expressed in eukaryotic cells and the plasmid encoding H gene was used for immunization of rabbits. The immunized rabbits were completely protected from lethal challenge with virulent lapinized rinderpest virus. Similar results were also observed in rabbits vaccinated with tissue culture rinderpest (TCRP) vaccine. About 80% of control rabbits vaccinated with empty vector (mock-vaccinated) died after challenge. The thermal reactions and clinical symptoms were less intense in H-DNA vaccinated rabbits as compared to the other two groups. Marked lymphopenia was observed in TCRP and mock-vaccinated rabbits after challenge, however, the H-DNA vaccinated rabbits showed lymphocytosis following challenge. The appearance of lymphocytosis in H-DNA vaccinated rabbits is an interesting finding which needs further investigation.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Apoptosis induced by peste des petits ruminants virus in goat peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

The ability of peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) to induce apoptosis in goat peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) culture was investigated. Goat PBMC were infected with PPRV and the infectivity was confirmed by cytopathic effect, demonstration of presence of infectious viral progeny and expression of viral antigens in the lymphocytes, cultured in vitro. Infected PBMC showed morphological features of apoptosis. DNA extracted from PPRV-infected cells displayed laddering pattern in agarose gel electrophoresis. Infected cells also showed significantly higher apoptotic indices measured by bisbenzimide staining than control cells. Electronmicrographs of PPRV-infected PBMC revealed features typical of apoptosis such as peripheral condensation of chromatin, blebbing of plasma membrane, fragmentation of nucleus and cell leading to formation of apoptotic bodies. Our results suggest that PPRV can induce apoptosis, in vitro, in goat lymphocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Risk factors for low birth weight in Nepali infants.

A detailed information on a total of 448 consecutive Nepali births which occurred between January 1, 1985 and December 31, 1994 was collected from the birth registers of the Khasi-Jaintia Presbetyrian Synod Hospital of Shillong, Meghalaya. After the exclusion of still and twin births, and the cases of missing information of birth weight, 418 single live births were considered to find out the distribution of birth weight and the risk factors of low birth weight (LBW) among the Nepali babies of this state. The incidence of LBW was 21.53%. The results of univariate analysis revealed that sex, maternal age, parity, gestation period, economic condition and maternal education were significantly related to the incidence of LBW. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that all the above mentioned factors had independent risk for LBW except the economic condition and father's education. Thus, the present results suggest conducting further studies among other ethnic groups of North-East India to understand the problem of LBW at the population level which may help to formulate an effective maternal and child health care program in this region.

Female↗
PubMed1998

Low birth weight in relation to sex of baby, maternal age and parity: a hospital based study on Tangsa tribe from Arunachal Pradesh.

Records of 151 Tangsa singleton live births over a period of 4 years at the Nampong Primary Health Centre of Nampong Circle of the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh were analysed to examine the effect of sex of baby, mother's age and parity on the incidence of low birth weight. The occurrence of low birth weight was 28.48% and only 4.64% of newborns weighed 2000 g or less. The mean birth weight was found to be 2806.95 +/- 39.32 g. Female babies had a significantly higher incidence of low birth weight than male babies. Parity was found to be significant influence on the incidence of low birth weight. An increase of low birth weight babies was noticed after 4th parity and the best outcome was also observed at this parity. The higher incidence of low birth weight was found in the 5+ parity. Young mothers (< 20 years) had also higher incidence of low birth weight and mother's age had no significant effect on the incidence of low birth weight.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed1993

Detection of structural and trace metal changes in scalp hair of radiographers.

Human scalp hair samples were collected from 24 medical radiographers and from 24 nonradiographers (control group) of matching age groups belonging to both sexes. Changes in zinc, copper, and iron content, as well as structural morphology of hair, were studied by atomic absorption spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Such studies revealed increases in zinc, copper, and iron concentrations along with varied types of cuticular damage in the radiographers' hair compared to that of nonradiographers. Present observations indicate the possibility of radiation hazards for radiation workers.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Potency testing of tissue culture rinderpest vaccine in rabbits.

Rinderpest (RP) vaccine potency testing requires virulent bovine rinderpest virus (RPV). Use of virulent RPV is a biosafety hazard. In this study we had vaccinated rabbits with tissue culture RP vaccine at different doses and thereafter challenged with lapinized virus. No thermal reaction in vaccinated rabbits was observed. Serum neutralizing antibody response to vaccine was dose dependent until the second week post-vaccination but by the fourth week post-vaccination all the rabbits had similar neutralizing antibody titres. Vaccinated rabbits exhibited mild clinical signs as compared to unvaccinated controls after challenge. All the vaccinated rabbits survived challenge while only 40% unvaccinated rabbits survived challenge with virulent lapinized RPV. A strong anamnestic response in all the vaccinated rabbits was observed after challenge with lapinized virus. This study shows that rabbits could be used for potency testing of RP vaccine virus.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Estimating parasite density in patients suffering from falciparum malaria in an endemic area in Kolkata.

Parasite density of one hundred patients suffering from falciparum malaria in an endemic area in Kolkata was determined using three different methods. In the first of these, parasite density per microlitre of blood in a patient was determined using parasite count adjusted by average WBC count (i.e. 8000/microliter) observed in microscopic fields of the thick film. In the remaining two methods, only raw (i.e. unadjusted) parasite counts in microscopic fields of the same slide were used. A statistical analysis was carried out in detail to compare these methods based on raw and adjusted parasite counts and also to find out a suitable method which can be used in practice. Estimating the density of parasites is of primary importance in determining the severity of infection. Furthermore, parasite density can help in identifying short-treatment and long-treatment failure vis-a-vis detection of development of resistance in P. falciparum against the drug used. This article reports some findings that indicate the existence of a potentially dangerous situation in the study area.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Characterisation and identification of broad spectrum antibiotic producing Streptomyces hygroscopicus D 1.5.

A streptomycete strain D1.5 capable of producing broad spectrum antiobiotic was isolated from soil. The morphological, cultural, physiological and biochemical characters were studied, compared to known species and identified as Streptmoyces hygroscopicus. Antibiotic activity of the strain was tested against both Gram positive and negative bacteria as well as fungi. It exhibited complete resistance to beta-lactum antibiotics.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗