041471   KARALE S, YAMUNA P V, KAMATH J V (Pharmacology Dep, Shree Devi Coll of Pharmacy, Mangalore, Karnataka, Email: sanjiv.karale@gmail.com) : Protective effect of capsaicin against doxorubicin induced cardiotoxicity in experimental rats. Indian J Pharm Edu Res 2020, 54(1), 95-100.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the Cardioprotective effect of Capsaicin (CAP) against Doxorubicin (DOX) induced cardiotoxicity in experimental rats. The 24 wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (with equal numbers): Normal- 1 % Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO), DOX (15 mg/kg, i.p), CAP (10 mg/kg, p.o, alone) and CAP 10 mg/kg (in combination with DOX). Cardiotoxicity was induced in wistar rats by administering DOX with a cumulative dose of 15 mg/kg (i.p) for 2 weeks. CAP with a dose of 10 mg/kg was administered in respective groups for 21 days. The influence of the treatment was analysed by quantification of serum biomarkers and antioxidants, electrocardiographic parameters and histopathological observations. In the current study, the activities of Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), Creatine Kinase-NAC (CKNAC), Creatine Kinase-MB (CK-MB), were reduced (P<0.001) in serum and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Reduced Glutathione (GSH) and Catalase activities were increased (P<0.001) in heart tissue homogenate in all treated groups compared to DOX group. Similarly, the electrocardiographic changes were restored close to normal in all treated groups. Results were further supported by histopathological studies. The results reveal that CAP possesses potential benefits against cardiotoxicity induced by DOX by supressing serum markers and oxidative stress in heart tissues of experimental rats.

6 illus, 3 tables, 20 ref

046569   ONYANCHA W, SHARMA G, MOIN S, ALI M I (Suresh Gyan Vihar Univ, Jaipur, Rajasthan, Email: irfanclinical.res@gmail.com) : An overview on bacterial resistance to antibiotics, essential drivers to resistance and their extensive threats. Med Plants 2020, 12(2), 349-55.

Microorganisms are becoming resistant to numerous drugs faster than the development of an alternative or new therapy. Bacteria that were earlier easily denatured or inactivated with available conventional antibiotics currently have become resistant threatening both human and animals’ life. These organisms have become conventional due to their modes of acquisition of drug-resistant and as a consequence of gene mutations and transfer of resistant genes through gene swapping. The existence of antibiotics in the environment has enhanced selective pressure where the drug-resistant strains continue multiplying. Both high and lower antibiotic doses contribute to bacterial resistance. In most cases, resistance to a certain drug from a specific class leads to resistance to all other drugs in the same class. The resistance is further increased by bacteria releasing enzymes that deactivate the drugs, the efflux pump, and modification of the cell wall or alteration of the drug target site. Major factors that drive to drug-resistant microbes are : the misuse of the drugs by the patients, improper drug description, and swapping of the resistant genes between the bacteria. It is, therefore, important to understand the various ways of bacterial resistances as well as the drivers involved to raise their spread. Appropriate prevention and control measures can be implemented to limit the spread of these drug resistance bacteria.

40 ref

046561   SUPIANDI M I, JULUNG H, EGE B, MAHANAL S, ZUBAIDAH S (STKIP Persada Khatulistiwa Sintang, West Kalimantan, Indonesia, Email: msupiandi@gmail.com) : Potential of plant roots as traditional medicines of the dayak desa tribe in Pakak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Med Plants 2020, 12 (2), 275-82.

The use of plant roots as traditional medicine for Dayak Desa tribe is carried out from generation to generation, but has not been documented properly. This study aims to identify the types of plants used, parts of plants used, and the way they are processed by Dayak Desa tribe, from Kayan Hilir District, Sintang Regency, Indonesia. The survey was conducted in March 2018 and information was collected from the community through interview and field observation. Information was recorded through semi-structured interviews with 100 informants. Data analysis was done by compiling and classifying the medicinal plants based on its family, benefits and how to use them and location from where they were obtained. Then data were documented calculated in term of percentage of families and the percentage of the way to use them. The results showed that twenty five medicinal plants were more commonly belongs to families of Araceae, Fabaceae, and Poaceae with a percentage of 8 % each. The most used part of the plant used by Dayak Desa tribe was the roots after with percentage 60 %, and are discussed in this manuscript.

3 illus, 2 tables, 41 ref

046560   DAS M, DUTTA A (Gauhati Univ, Guwahati, Assam, Email: manasdasne@gmail.com) : Expression patterns of different isoforms of aquaporins in isoproterenolinduced myocardial infarction model in rat treated with Terminalia arjuna bark extract. Med Plants 2020, 12 (2), 265-74.

Aquaporins (AQPs) are found to express in myocardium and their involvement in myocardial water balance have been figured out quite well as they are primarily associated with the transportation of water and other solutes like glycerol and urea. In the present study, we investigated the levels of expression of AQP sub-types in normal myocardium and their changes in the process of edema formation and cardiac dysfunction following myocardial infarction by isoproterenol as well as after treatment with Terminalia arjuna methanolic extract. The qPCR analysis demonstrated an up-regulation of certain aquaporin genes like aqp1, aqp4, aqp5 and aqp7 in the myocardial infarcted group of rats induced by isoproterenol. Again, the treatment with methanolic extract of T. arjuna was found to down-regulate these aqp genes, thereby suggesting a possible co-relation between these two. In addition, the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were found to increase in the infarcted group of rats, followed by lowering of these two enzyme levels in the treated group. Histopathological study quite clearly demonstrated that the myocardium from infarcted group displayed muscle separation and infiltration of lymphocytes, whereas treatment of myocardium from infarcted group with T. arjuna extract revealed a decrease in the degree of muscle separation and inflammatory response. Thus, our findings suggest the possible role of certain AQPs in isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction and also the remedial effects of T. arjuna in reverting the condition back to normal by lowering their expression levels. The enhanced expression levels of the aforementioned AQPs are quite indicative of the fact that these can serve as prognostic markers for myocardial infarction.

4 illus, 2 tables, 24 ref

041397   BHANDARI K, ROY P, BHATTACHARYYA A R, MAULIK S R (Silpa-Sadana Dep, Visva-Bharati Univ, Sriniketan - 731 236, Email: s_r_moulik@yahoo.co.in) : Synthesis and characterization of microcrystalline cellulose from jute stick. Indian J Fibre Text Res 2020, 45(4), 464-9.

Synthesis of microcrystalline cellulose from jute sticks has been studied and reported in this work. The successful removal of lignin and hemicellulose has been confirmed through Fourier Transform Infra-red spectroscopic technique, whereas WAXD technique has been used to measure the crystal size and crystallinity index. Scanning electron microscopic images depict the porous structure and agglomerate fibrous shape with hierarchical assembly of the microcrystalline cellulose produced. Higher concentration of sodium chlorite produces minimum particle size and the effective thermal degradation occurs at 340 °C. It shows negative zeta potential value, indicating the possible agglomerating tendency of the particles in water medium.

5 illus, 2 tables, 45 ref

041363   SANTOS E D, LUQUETA G R, ABDALA J M A, RAMU R, ESPOSITO E, REZENDE L B, VIEIRA L, (JR) M B (Paraíba Valley Univ, Sao Jose dos Campos - SP, 12244-000, Brazil, Email: ediniz@id.uff.br) : Antimicrobial silver coating using PVD-PECVD system. Indian J Fibre Text Res 2020, 45(2), 197-206.

Physical vapor deposition - plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PVD-PECVD) system has been used exclusively for deposition and doping of carbonaceous films [silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs)] on cotton fabrics and the findings are compared, in terms of technical efficiency and microbial inhibition, with those of the magnetron sputtering (MS) technique. It is found that the proposed technique presents promising characteristics for the deposition of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) on textiles, which meet the industrial demand.

4 illus, 2 tables, 31 ref

046521   KOCALAR H, KAFADAR F N, OZKAN A, TALAPOV T, DEMIREL O, ANAY A, MART D, CAN C (Biology Dep, Gaziantep Univ, Gaziantep, Turkey, Email: ayselcan1938@gmail.com) : Current distribution and virulence of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Ciceris in Turkey. Legum Res 2020, 43(5), 735-41.

This study was undertaken to define current data on chickpea Fusarium wilt severity, its relation with epidemiological parameters and virulence levels of isolates in Turkey. The disease was detected in 7 regions and 37 provinces of Turkey indicating that Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris is an emerging pathogen of chickpea. Yellowing and wilting types were detected in surveyed areas wherein yellowing was observed in 31 of 37 provinces. Epidemiological parameters were effective on wilting and yellowing syndrome development wherein negative correlations were observed among disease severity, relative humidity (%) (r = -0.25; P < 0.01) and the number of rainy days (r = -0.23; P < 0.01) for yellowing, however there was no statistically significant relationship for wilting phenotype (P > 0.05).

4 illus, 8 tables, 20 ref

041361   NATARAJAN S, GUPTA D (Textile Technology Dep, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi - 110 016, Email: srikrishnatexchem@yahoo.co.in) : Novel method for biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using melanin and its application on wool to impart antimicrobial activity. Indian J Fibre Text Res 2020, 45(2), 183-9.

A novel method for biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using a polyphenolic pigment (melanin) has been proposed to impart antimicrobial properties to wool fabric. A diphenolic catechol has been combined with potato juice to produce melanin, which is used as a simultaneous reducing and dispersing agent for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The process variables used for the synthesis of melanin have been optimized to produce melanin with maximum reduction potential. The synthesized silver nanoparticles are then characterized and quantified. The optimum conditions used for the synthesis of melanin are found to be 0.1 % catechol, 25 % potato juice, 6.5 pH, 95˚C temperature and 45 min treatment time. Spherical shaped silver nanoparticles with average sizes of 35 nm and 50 nm are obtained and then applied on wool fabrics by exhaustion method to observe antimicrobial effect. It is observed that the treated wool has excellent antimicrobial activity against both the Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) bacteria.

6 illus, 3 tables, 17 ref

046506   RAINA S K, YADAV P S, SINGH A K, RASKAR N, RANE J, MINHAS P S (ICAR- National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Baramati- 413 115, Email: susheelkr76@gmail.com) : Exogenous gibberellic acid does not induce early flowering in mungbeans [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek.]. Legum Res 2020, 43(5), 653-7.

Gibberellic acid (GA) is an important phyto-hormone mediating plant growth. In present study, we evaluated the impact of GA treatment on morphological, phenological and molecular aspects of five mungbean genotypes. GA treatment caused a significant increase in plant height and branch angle in most of the genotypes. However, there was no impact of GA treatment on days to first anthesis, days to 50 % flowering and pod length. Genotypes SML-859 and EC-48 revealed no change in their plant height and branch angle respectively upon GA treatment, suggestive of their probable GA insensitivity. Expression of flowering associated gene- VrSOC1 remained unaffected by GA treatment, validating thereby that exogenously supplied GA does not induce early flowering in mungbeans.

5 illus, 1 table, 23 ref

046501   SINGH O V, SHEKHAWAT N, SINGH K (ICAR- National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Jodhpur- 342 003, Email: neelam.shekhawat@icar.gov.in) : Stability analysis for yield and some of yield component traits in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] germplasm in hot arid climate. Legum Res 2020, 43(5), 623-6.

The present study carried out to identify cowpea genotypes suitable for summer season in arid and semi-arid zones of India appeared important for its sustained increase the cultivation. Thirty-eight accessions of cowpea including 3 checks (V-585, FTC-27, GC-3) were evaluated during five consecutive (2012-2016) kharif seasons to estimate stability of performance for nine quantitative traits. The G×E interaction variance was significant for all the observed characters except peduncle length and plant height, suggesting that yield was inconsistent in different years. However, the present study revealed that the genotype C-863 with higher mean performance with compared to check, non-significant deviation from regression line and regression coefficient less than unity was most suitable for favourable environments for the characters like seed yield per plant and number of clusters per plant. The genotypes C-863, C-1085, C-956 for seed yield per plant, C-1013 and C-1126 for number of pods per plant, C-1133 for number of clusters per plant and C-863 and C-1089 for number of peduncles per plant may be effectively used for future cowpea breeding programmes.

3 tables, 6 ref

046500   MANDAL D, BHATTACHARYYA P K, DAS R, BHATTACHARYYA S (Genetics and Plant Breeding Dep, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur- 741 252, Email: bhattacharyya.pk@gmail.com) : Diversity analysis by SSR markers and morphological markers among Stemphylium blight tolerance genotypes with high yielding cultivars of Lentil (Lens Culinaris Medik). Legum Res 2020, 43(5), 617-22.

Twelve Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers along with twelve morphological markers were used to assess the diversity among thirteen screened genotypes both moderate resistant and susceptible against stemphylium blight of indigenous microsperma germplasm (i.e. pilosae) type  of  Lentil  (Lens culinaris Medik.) at BCKV, West Bengal. Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) of SSR primers ranged from 0.77 (SSR 317-2) to 0.15 (PBA LC 0233). The maximum Jaccard’s similarity was recorded between L-4769 and Ranjan (approximately 100%) whereas minimum was between K-75 and VL 126 (0.11). Genotypes K-75 also showed less similarity with DL 14-2 and VL 151 (0.17). Another popular variety WBL 77 showed minimum similarity with moderately resistant genotypes VL 151 and DL 14-2 (0.17). While using morphological characters as the basis of diversity analysis, Euclidean coefficient revealed that high yielding cultivar Subrata was maximum diverse with genotype VL 151(7.12). Asha also showed diversity with VL 151(6.31) whereas VL 151 had dissimilarity coefficient of 6.21 with K-75. Precoz and VL 126 has dissimilarity coefficient of 6.19. On the basis of above findings it could be said that diverse parental pairs VL 151 & K 75 and VL 151 & Subrata / Asha could be used in hybridization programme or biotic stress breeding programme for developing Stemphylium resistant lentil cultivars in future.

2 illus, 6 tables, 17 ref

046494   L’TAIEF B, ABDI N, SMARI S, AYARI-AKKARI A, JERIDI M, ALSENIDI M D, SIFI B (Biology Dep, King Khaled Univ, Abha, Saudi Arabia, Email: lboulaba@yahoo.com) : Effects of rhizobium strain on the growth, nodulation, N₂ fixation and ions accumulation in Vicia faba plant under salt stress. Legum Res 2020, 43(4), 573-9.

Vicia faba L.-rhizobia symbiosis is utilized in different biological ways to improve the productivity of faba beans. This research aims to analyze the effects of the Rhizobium strain on nodulation, N₂ fixation, growth and ion accumulation under salt stress in Vicia faba. The commercial cultivar of faba beans (Vicia faba L. var. minor) was inoculated with the Rhizobium leguminosarumbiovar, by considering viciae strains S10 and S16, after 15 days of growth. This inoculation was carried out in the solution culture consisting of two salt concentrations; 0 mmole l^-1NaCl and 50 mmole l^-1 NaCl. The results revealed that under saline and non-saline conditions, S10 and S16 strains of Rhizobium leguminosarum resulted in the formation of ineffective and effective symbiosis with faba beans. However, the presence of salt stress resulted in increasing the biomass of nodule and nitrogen content. The concentrations of sodium and chloride, in shoot and root, were increased in the presence of salinity. However, potassium concentration was only increased in the shoot. With and without salinity, phosphorus concentration in the shoots was not modified. The results revealed that the salt tolerance of faba beans, inoculated with two strains of Rhizobium were found to possess association with their stable growth. Moreover, the salt tolerance of faba beans inoculated with two salts tolerant rhizobia was also associated with an increment in the capacity of faba beans to increase nodulation and the concentration of shoot N₂ , Na and Cl^- content. In addition, salt tolerance of this variety, inoculated with Rhizobium strains was associated with a decrement in the concentration of K⁺ in shoot under the salt constraints.

3 illus, 34 ref

041281   SEHRAWAT J S, AGGARWAL S (Anthropology Dep, Panjab Univ, Chandigarh - 160 014, Email: jagminder@pu.ac.in) : Pathological signatures of identity in Ajnala skeletal remains: A forensic dentistry investigation. Indian J Dent Sci 2020, 12(4), 216-24.

Teeth can reveal important information about an individual’s lifestyle, sex, occupation, ethnicity, pollutant exposures, dietary status and identity. The analysis of skeletal or dental remains can lay emphasis on the social, health and disease/illnesses status of individuals or the community health. In this study, an attempt was made to estimate the pathological status and possible lifestyle of the individuals whose dental remains were excavated from an abandoned well in Ajnala, India. These individuals were subjected to a mass burial in the year 1857 and thereafter a religious structure was built on top of the disused well. The excavated teeth were segregated into different tooth types on the basis of their identifying anatomical features and they were further examined for the wear (according to the Smith and Knights wear criteria) as well as caries (into pit and fissure and deep caries) rates. The pathological status of 3533 (1853 maxillary and 1680 mandibular teeth) avulsed teeth of all types was analysed and results were presented in the textual, tabular and graphical forms. Out of total 3533 teeth examined in this study, 97 % had undergone wear of some sort; the majority of the teeth were having Grade ‘0’ wear and the Grade III wear were minimal. It was also observed that the prevalence of pit and fissure caries was higher as compared to the deep caries. The low frequency of caries in Ajnala teeth can be attributed to the consumption of a diet low in sugars. As the buried individuals were reportedly army recruits who might had sound health and good oral hygiene prior to being eligible for undergoing a rigorous recruitment process; the negligible percentages of wear and caries in Ajnala teeth may be self-explanatory about their military affiliations.

17 illus, 2 tables, 58 ref

041267   SHOME S, CHATTERJEE R P, KUNDU S, DAS S K (Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Dep, Guru Nanak Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal, Email: sayanishome1991@gmail.com) : Nucleostemin: A new trailblazer in oral squamous cell carcinoma – a brief review. Indian J Dent Sci 2020, 12(2), 113-5.

Nucleostemin (NS) is a guanine nucleotide binding protein like 3 (GNLP 3) found in the nucleolus in neuroepithelial stem cells, embryonic stem cells and in cancer stem cells. It is observed to be an initiator for uncontrolled cellular proliferation that is responsible for cancer progression by interaction with p53, mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) and cell-cycle.

12 ref

041266   MALLAPRAGADA S, SHARMA H, GUPTA S (Periodontology Dep, Sharda Univ, Greater Noida - 201 306, Uttar Pradesh, Email: dr.himanisharma05@gmail.com) : The possible link between periodontitis and orodigestive cancer: An overview. Indian J Dent Sci 2020, 12(2), 109-12.

Increasing evidences are found in the literature lately regarding the association between periodontitis and orodigestive tract cancers. Periodontopathic bacteria resulting in periodontal disease, acts as a risk factor for the initiation and development of carcinoma. They have been shown to act through various mechanisms including inhibition of apoptosis, activation of cellular proliferation, and others. This review is an attempt to find the possible connecting mechanism between the aforesaid.

1 illus, 23 ref

041246   LAVANYA A, KHAN W, SINGH P, AUGUSTINE D, RAO R S, SOWMYA S V, HARAGANNAVAR V C, NAMBIAR K S (Oral Pathology and Microbiology Dep, M S Ramaiah Univ of Applied Sciences, Bangalore - 560 054, Karnataka, Email: drlavsmdsop92@gmail.com) : PECAM 1 overexpression signifies aggressive biologic behavior of oral lichen planus – a pilot study. Indian J Dent Res 2020, 31(2), 277-81.

The etiopathogenesis of oral lichen planus (OLP) is still debatable. According to literature, many studies have illustrated OLP as a T‑cell‑mediated chronic autoimmune disease. Currently, there is increased evidence of chronic inflammation in OLP and its association with vascular adhesion molecules (VAMs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of VAM (PECAM‑1) in OLP. Tissue samples involved 20 archival cases of histopathologically confirmed OLP (n = 15) and normal mucosa (n = 5) as controls. The sections were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis using antibody to PECAM‑1. Brown staining of the endothelial cells of blood vessels was considered positive. The expression of PECAM‑1 in OLP was statistically analyzed using Wilcoxon sign‑rank test. The expression of PECAM‑1 in OLP was statistically significant when compared with normal mucosa (P < 0.05). A statistically significant difference was also observed in PECAM‑1 expression between the reticular type and erosive type of OLP. PECAM‑1 was found to be overexpressed in OLP; difference in PECAM‑1 expression was noted between the reticular and erosive types. The VAMs could be exploited as a possible therapeutic target in OLP to modulate the disease process thereby reducing the dependency on corticosteroids.

4 illus, 4 tables, 15 ref

046462   DINLER B S , GUL V (Biology Dep, Sinop Univ, Sinop- 57000, Email: bseckin@sinop.edu.tr) : Comparative analysis of defence response of soybean by seed soaking in gibberellic acid to salinity. Legum Res 2020, 43(3), 365-9.

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of gibberellic acid (GA₃ ) presoaking of soybean (Glycine max L.) seeds on the biomass yield, regulation of reactive oxygen species and some antioxidant enzyme activities in radicle, hypocotyl and cotyledons under salinity. Within this scope, the seeds were subjected to priming with 150 ppm GA₃ for 6 h at room temperature. Then, 150 mM NaCl was added in a group and the control was not primed with GA₃ . The results clearly revealed that salt stress caused a slight induction of biomass yield of radicle and hypocotyl, photosynthetic pigments in cotyledon, reactive oxygen species content in all organs. Moreover, GA₃ pretreatment alleviated salt-induced oxidative damage by maintaining superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase enzyme activities in soybean plants. This study firstly elucidates the effects of GA₃ priming on the comparative response mechanisms to salinity with different organs of soybean plants.

3 illus, 3 tables, 31 ref

041228   NARAYANAN V S, MUDDAIAH S, SHASHIDARA R, SUDHEENDRA U S, DEEPTHI N C, SAMARANAYAKE L (Oral Medicine and Radiology Dep, Coorg Institute of Dental Sciences, Virajpet - 571 218, Karnataka, Email: veesn@rediffmail.com) : Variable antifungal activity of curcumin against planktonic and biofilm phase of different Candida species. Indian J Dent Res 2020, 31(1), 145-8.

To evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of curcumin against 2 strains of Candida albicans (ATCC 90028 and a clinical isolate – JY strain) and 1 isolate each of 3 nonalbicans – Candida species [Candida parapsilosis (ATCC 22019), C. glabrata (ATCC 90030), and C. dublieniensis (MYA 646)]. Planktonic MIC of the 4 Candida species was determined using micro broth dilution assay according to CLSI M27‑A3 criteria. The biofilm development and sensitivity assay were performed with the 2 C. albicans strains. Curcumin at high concentrations (0.1–2 mg/mL) was effective in inhibiting planktonic organisms of all the 5 tested Candida strains. The planktonic phase and the biofilm phase of C. albicans ATCC 90028 exhibited similar MIC values for curcumin (0.5 mg/mL). Both curcumin and fluconazole were ineffective against the mature biofilms of JY strain. Our results reported here for the first time, in particular for the biofilm state of C. albicans, imply that curcumin a natural product could be used as a therapeutic alternative to conventional antifungals although further investigations are required to evaluate its potential.

23 ref

046458   CHACHADI V B, NAYANEGALI T R, PUJARI B G, UMARJI L V, BUDYHALAMATH V, INAMDAR S R, CHENG P-W (Biochemistry Dep, Karnataka Univ, Dharwad-580 003, Email: vish2879@gmail.com) : Inhibitory activity of salivary glycoproteins on phytohemagglutins (PHA): Possible molecules to enhance nutritional quality of red kidney beans. Legum Res 2020, 43(3), 337-44.

Food allergy caused by red kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is of serious health concern and is mainly due to its phytohemagglutinins (PHA) content. PHA can enter the circulation after oral uptake and cause IgE mediated allergy. However, studies describing enhancement of nutritional quality of red kidney beans by targeting PHA are not reported. This study was carried out to identify, PHA-inhibitory molecules present in saliva secretions. Results describe that PHA can be effectively inhibited by salivary glycoproteins. Fractionation of salivary proteins by ammonium sulphate precipitation revealed that, PHA-inhibitory proteins can be specifically precipitated at 30- 60 % of ammonium sulphate saturation. Gel filtration chromatography and lectin-blot analysis of 30-60 % ammonium sulphate fraction suggest that only high molecular weight glycoproteins can act as potent inhibitors of PHA. In conclusion, human saliva secretions contain inhibitory glycoproteins which can be used to inhibit PHA effectively. If these glycoproteins are purified to homogeneity, can be used as potent food supplements in order to neutralize allergic potential of PHA, thus increasing the nutritional value of red kidney beans.

5 illus, 45 ref

046457   SINGH O V, SHEKHAWAT N, SINGH K, GOWTHAMI R (National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Jodhpur- 342 003, Email: neelam.shekhawat@icar.gov.in) : Assessment of genetic variability and inter-character association in the germplasm of cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata L. Walp) in hot arid climate. Legum Res 2020, 43(3), 332-6.

Studies on genetic variability, correlation and path coefficient analysis were carried out with 38 accessions of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] evaluated in two environments i. e. kharif 2013 (E1 ) and kharif 2014 (E2 ) at Research field of NBPGR, Regional Station Jodhpur, India. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits. Genotypic coefficient of variation was highest for number of clusters per plant followed by number of pods per plant in both the environments. High broad sense heritability along with high genetic advance for seed yield per plant, 100 seed weight, pod length, number of pods per plant, peduncle length, number of clusters per plant, number of branches per plant and plant height indicated the presence of additive gene effects for these traits in cowpea. In both the environments seed yield per plant was positively correlated with 100 seed weight, pod length, number of pods per plant, number of clusters per plant, number of branches per plant and plant height. The highest positive direct effect registered by number of branches per plant followed by number of clusters per plant in E1 environment and by number of branches per plant followed by plant height in E2 environment. The traits like 100 seed weight, plant height, number of pods per plant number of clusters per plant and number of branches per plant were identified as selection criteria for obtaining good parental lines in cowpea breeding programmes.

3 tables, 23 ref

046456   HONG H T K, TRANG P T H, LONG D T, TRANG N T Q (Hue Univ, Vietnam, Email: hkhong@hueuni.edu.vn) : Cloning and optimizing the expression of the DHDPS gene in the Medicago truncatula. Legum Res 2020, 43(3), 326-33.

Medicago truncatula seeds  were  cultured  and  developed  in  Thua Thien  Hue  province,  Vietnam  and  they  were  used  as  materials  for cloning a DHDPS gene with the encoding of the isozyme dihydrodipicolinate synthase (DHDPS) as well as optimizing the culture conditions for having the highest DHDPS gene expression in Escherichia coli BL21 StarTM (DE3)  cells.  The  results  revealed  that  the coding region of the DHDPS gene  from M. truncatula was  100 %  similar  with M. truncatula 4-hydroxy-tetrahydrodipicolinate synthase 2 (DHDPS2) submitted in NCBI (accession number: XM_013589555.2), coding for a long polypeptide of 307 amino acid with the molecular mass of about 33495 Da (Protein ID: XP_013445009.1). The DHDPS gene was  successfully  expressed  in  the Escherichia coli BL21  StarTM  (DE3)  cells  with  a  pET200  /  D-TOPO  vector  and  this  produced the  DHDPS2 protein with molecular masses of approximately 33.87 kDa (»(33.5 kDa of DHDPS2 and 3.7 kDa of fusion fragment of pET 200/D-TOPO vector). The effects of the six different culture mediums of LB, SOB, SOC, YJ, HSG and TB, the induction times of 2h, 4h, 6h, 8h, 10h and 12h and the inducer concentrations of 0.2 mM; 0.5 mM; 0.7 mM; 1.0 mM; 1.2 mM and 1.5 mM IPTG (Isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside) were also investigated for the purpose of optimising the expression of DHDPS2 in E. coli cells,  and  it  was found  that  strong  expression  of recombinant DHDPS2 protein in E. coli. BL21 (DE3) cells occurred on the TB, HSG and YJ culture mediums after 8 hours with 0.2 mM inducible IPTG (BioRad).

7 illus, 23 ref

041224   PANCHAL V, GURUNATHAN D, MURALIDHARAN N P (Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry Dep, Saveetha Univ, Chennai - 600 077, Tamil Nadu, Email: veerale60193@gmail.com) : Comparison of antibacterial efficacy of cinnamon extract, neem extract as irrigant and sodium hypochlorite against Enterococcus fecalis: An in vitro study. Indian J Dent Res 2020, 31(1), 124-8.

The aim of the study is to compare the antibacterial effectiveness between cinnamon extract as irrigant with neem extract irrigant and sodium hypochlorite against E. fecalis. The present study is a randomized controlled in vitro study conducted on 60 extracted permanent single rooted teeth. The teeth were divided into three groups‑ Group 1 was irrigated with cinnamon extract, Group 2 was irrigated with neem extract irrigant and Group 3 with 3 % sodium hypochlorite. The colonies in the reduction of E. feacalis was noted as CFU values per ml. Wilcoxon signed ranked test was used to compare in between the three groups. Mann‑ Whitney’s test was used for inter group comparison between the three groups. Cinnamon extract had the maximum reduction in the CFU colonies followed by sodium hypochlorite. Neem extract irrigant had the least reduction in the colonies of E. feacalis. (P < 0.05). Cinnamon extract irrigant show better reduction in E. fecalis as compared to 3 % sodium hypochlorite and neem extract irrigant.

1 illus, 4 tables, 28 ref

046454   SHARMA P, SINGH I, SIRARI A, SINGH S, KHOSLA G (Plant Breeding and Genetics Dep, Punjab Agricultural Univ, Ludhiana- 141 004, Email: pankaj-pbg@pau.edu) : Genetic divergence studies through microsatellite markers in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp.]. Legum Res 2020, 43(3), 312-9.

The Genetic diversity was assessed among 96 pigeonpea accessions including 15 male sterile, 13 maintainer and 68 germplasm lines using 44 Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) markers distributed over all the 11 chromosomes. Out of 44 SSR markers, 33 were polymorphic which showed 75 % polymorphism among the used markers. For an individual primer, the alleles amplified varied from 2 to 4 with an average of 2.54. The Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) values ranged from 0.26 (CCM 0183) to 0.78 (CCM 0402 and CCM 0721). Based on 112 alleles amplified by SSR markers, the 96 genotypes were alienated into eight clusters. Cluster I and cluster VII were the largest with 22 genotypes each, cluster III and cluster IV were the smallest with two genotypes each, while cluster II, cluster V, cluster VI and cluster VIII consisted of 10, 15, 14 and 9 genotypes, respectively. Genotypes Pusa 991 and ULA 11 were found to be the most distant genotypes with highest dissimilarity coefficient (32 %) where as AL 112A and AL 113A were the least distant genotypes with lowest dissimilarity coefficient (2 %). Thus, highly distant genotypes can be used in pigeonpea improvement programs for getting desirable segregants. The selected panel of polymorphic SSR markers performed well in detection of genetic diversity patterns and can be used for future germplasm characterization studies in pigeonpea.

3 illus, 4 table, 24 ref

041217   SILVA V P D, MEYER G D L, DAROIT N B, MARASCHIN B J, OLIVEIRA M G D, VISIOLI F, RADOS P V (Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul Univ, 2492 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, Email: pantelis@ufrgs.br) : Pericoronal follicles revealing unsuspected odontogenic cysts and inflammatory lesions: A retrospective microscopy study. Indian J Dent Res 2020, 31(1), 80-4.

This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of diseases related to pericoronal follicles, and assess the rate of concordance between clinical and histopathological diagnoses. Histologically, we analyzed 1,298 tissue samples surrounding the crowns of teeth that were diagnosed clinically as pericoronal follicles. In addition, we determined associations among histopathological diagnosis, patients’ age and sex, tissue site, presence of nests of odontogenic epithelium, presence of reduced enamel epithelium, and presence of diffuse inflammation. Odontogenic pathologies were present in 35% of the samples, and rate of concordance between clinical and histopathological diagnoses was 0.54. Probability of developing odontogenic pathologies was high in the mandibular molars (odds ratio: 2.13) and in the tissues with odontogenic epithelial remnants (odds ratio: 1.2), reduced enamel epithelium (odds ratio: 1.3), and diffuse inflammation. (odds ratio: 10.5). The findings of this study highlight the clinical relevance of histopathological examination of the pericoronal tissue in unerupted and partially erupted teeth for early diagnosis of pathologies because this study demonstrated the odontogenic cysts and inflammatory lesions in tissues clinically diagnosed as pericoronal follicles.

3 illus, 1 table, 29 ref

041216   VEENA R L, NAGARATHNA C (Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry Dep, Rajarajeswari Dental Coll and Hospital, Bengaluru - 560 074, Karnataka, Email: shaanrathna@gmail.com) : Correlation of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus colonization with and without caries experience in preschool children. Indian J Dent Res 2020, 31(1), 73-9.

The aciduric mutans streptococci (MS) group, including Streptococcus mutans (SM) and Streptococcus sobrinus (SS), is highly cariogenic. Relationship between increments in dental caries and the presence of these species is not yet clarified. It is of great importance to separately determine the presence of these two species for understanding their role in dental caries, accurate prediction, and effective prevention. Hence, this study was undertaken to detect the presence of SM and SS in plaque samples of caries‑free (CF), early childhood caries (ECC), and severe early childhood caries (S‑ECC) and also to compare the possible relationship between these species with the occurrence of ECC. In all, 120 healthy children between 3 and 6 years of age were randomly allocated into three groups: Group A (n = 40) CF, Group B (n = 40) ECC, and Group C (n = 40) S‑ECC. Plaque samples were collected from all approximal surface and gingivobuccal surfaces of teeth using a sterile universal scaler and dmft/dmfs scores were taken. The presence of SM and SS was evaluated using real‑time polymerase chain reaction. The presence of SM in CF, ECC, and S‑ECC was 10.0 %, 27.5 %, and 42.5 %, respectively, and SS was 5.0 %, 40.0 %, and 47.5 % in CF, ECC, and S‑ECC, respectively. Comparison of mean relative quantification (RQ) values of SM between three study groups showed significant results between CF and S‑ECC at P value 0.003. Comparison of mean RQ values of SS showed significant results between CF to ECC and CF to S‑ECC at P value <0.001. This study showed significant results between the mean dmft/dmfs scores in three study groups and the presence of high levels of SM and SS in ECC and S‑ECC groups. However, the study showed weak positive correlation between dmfs scores and both SM and SS species in ECC and S‑ECC. Higher levels of SS were more closely related to the caries‑active lesions leading to severity of dental disease, that is, both in ECC and S‑ECC. There was significant difference between mean dmft/dmfs scores in three study groups and it also showed positive correlation between dmfs scores and SM and SS colonization in ECC and S‑ECC status.

1 illus, 5 tables, 36 ref

044979   MU G, HUANG Y, WEI C, CHEN Z, WU X, QIN X, ZENG Y (Gastrointestinal Surgery Dep, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical Univ, Nanning- 530 021, China, Email: huangyuan_09 @163.com) : Para‑aortic lymph node tracing and dissection in advanced gastric cancer: Effectiveness of carbon nanoparticles injection through the no. 12b lymph node. J Can Res Ther 2020, 16(2), 238-42.

The relative effectiveness of tracers in guiding para‑aortic lymph node dissection (PAND) in advanced gastric cancer is undefined. In this single‑center, prospective study, we aimed to discuss the effectiveness of such tracers. Between January 2015 and January 2016, 90 consecutive patients with stage T4a gastric cancer were evenly assigned to receive 0.2 mL of carbon nanoparticles (a), methylene blue (b), or no tracer (c) injection through no. 12b lymph nodes before PAND. There was no difference in the baseline characteristics between the three groups. Group A vs. B or C had a higher number of dissected lymph nodes (34.1 ± 9.8, 25.5 ± 5.5, and 22.6 ± 3.7; P < 0.001; B vs. C: P =0.321) and no. 16a2/b1 para‑aortic lymph nodes (PANs; 11.8 ± 4.8, 7.0 ± 1.2, and 5.5 ± 1.2; P < 0.001; B vs. C: P =0.178) and similar rates of lymph node metastasis (20.9 ± 17.5 %, 19.1 ± 15.1 %, and 23.6 ± 19.7 %; P = 0.511), positive dissected PAN (23.3 % [7/30], 16.7 % [5/30], and 16.7 % [5/30]), surgery duration (252.9 + 35.4, 244.4 ± 29.0, and 250.3 + 29.9 min; P = 0.421), and blood loss(266.7 ± 115.5, 270.0 ± 82.6, and 260.0 ± 116.3 mL, P = 0.933). There was no common bile duct damage by tracer injection, and one case of duodenal stump fistula, one abdominal infection, and two anastomotic leakages in Groups A–C, respectively, were treated successfully. In advanced gastric cancer treatment, carbon nanoparticle injection into no. 12b nodes appears to better trace no. 16a2/b1 PAN.

2 illus, 2 tables, 19 ref

041209   PRITHVIRAJ K J, SREEGOWRI, MANJUNATHA R K, HORATTI P, RAO N, GOKUL S (Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics Dep, Yenepoya Univ, Mangalore, Karnataka, Email: bhatsreegowri@yahoo.com) : In vitro comparison of the microbial leakage of obturation systems: Epiphany with resilon, guttaflow, and AH plus with gutta percha. Indian J Dent Res 2020, 31(1), 37-41.

To compare the microbial leakage of three root canal filling materials: AH Plus with Gutta‑percha, Epiphany with Resilon, and Guttaflow using Enterococcus faecalis as the bacterial marker. In total, 30 caries free, human maxillary incisors with straight roots were used. The teeth were de‑coronated with a diamond disc and the length was standardized for all specimens. Access opening was done through the coronal portion and the working length was determined. All the teeth were prepared to a standardized size apically and coronally. The teeth were then randomly divided into three experimental groups each. After obturation of the root canals, the outer surfaces of the teeth were coated with two layers of nail enamel except the apical 2 mm. The teeth were then subjected for bacterial leakage test using E. faecalis as a bacterial marker in dual chamber bacterial leakage model for a period of 30 days. Chi‑square test. Results showed that Resilon/Epiphany (Group‑2) demonstrated less leakage and Gutta‑percha/AH Plus (Group‑1) showed maximum leakage with the statistically significant difference between the two (P < 0.05). Guttaflow (Group‑3) also showed less leakage than Gutta‑percha/AH Plus (Group‑1) with the statistically significant difference between the two (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between Resilon/Epiphany (Group‑2) and Guttaflow (Group‑3). Resilon/Epiphany and Guttaflow groups demonstrated less microbial leakage than Gutta‑percha/AH Plus group.

1 illus, 2 tables, 24 ref

041206   PALATI S, RAMANI P, SHRELIN H J, SUKUMARAN G, RAMASUBRAMANIAN A, DON K R, JAYARAJ G, SANTHANAM A (Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Dep, Saveetha Univ, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Email: drsindujakumar@gmail.com) : Knowledge, attitude and practice survey on the perspective of oral lesions and dental health in geriatric patients residing in old age homes. Indian J Dent Res 2020, 31(1), 22-5.

The aim of the study is to analyse the knowledge about oral lesions, the symptoms of such lesions and their attitude towards the treatment of these problems faced by institutionalised geriatric individuals. This questionnaire‑based survey was conducted among 103 institutionalised elders residing at various institutions. The questionnaire consisted of questions that addressed the medical and dental issues faced by the institutionalised elders and assessed their knowledge and attitude towards dental health. All the received responses were tabulated and the results were represented graphically. The results of the study showed that 44.66 % of the elders underwent medical check‑up once yearly and 72.82 % of them visited the dentist. Of all 103 elders, none of them used dentures in spite of being edentulous and only 29.13 % had any knowledge about oral lesions while the rest had no knowledge of the oral lesion and considered these lesions to be normal changes with increasing age. The findings of the present study demonstrate the need to improve access to oral healthcare and dental health education for the institutionalised elder population. In spite of the limitations of the study, we were able to record the obvious lack of dental hygiene practises, neglect and lack of motivation for proper dental care.

4 illus, 20 ref

046443   MONIKA, PRIYANKA, YADAV R , WATI L (Microbiology Dep, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture Univ, Hisar- 125 004, Email: monikabarkodia90@gmail.com) : Evaluation of combined effect of micronutrients and rhizobial inoculation on mungbean productivity. Legum Res 2020, 43(2), 253-7.

Micronutrients play an important role in increasing yield of pulses and oilseed legumes through their effects on the plant itself and on the nitrogen fixing symbiotic process. Indian soils have become deficient not only in major plant nutrients like (NPK) but also scarce in some micronutrients like zinc, iron, molybdenum and boron. These situations suggest the need of application of micronutrients along with biofertilizers under intensive cultivation of legumes as it is directly involved in biological nitrogen fixation through nitrogenase enzyme activity. In the present research investigation, different micronutrients iron, molybdenum and their combination in the form of ferrous sulphate, ammonium molybdate and ferrous sulphate+ammonium molybdate @2.0, 2.0 and 2.5 kg/h are added into micronutrient deficient soil for plant growth promotion of mungbean under pot house condition. Among various treatments, ammonium molybdate application @2.0kg/h along with rhizobial isolate HSR1 and PSB increases nodulation (28.6 %), plant biomass (18.5 %), seed yield (41 %) as compared to sole application of biofertilizer.

2 tables, 30 ref

041203   AKSHATHA B M, ISLOOR S, SUNDARESHAN S, VEERESH B H, NUTHANALAKSHMI V, SINHA A Y, RATHNAMMA D, VEEREGOWDA B M, UPENDRA H A, HEGDE N R ET AL (National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Gachibowli, Hyderabad - 500 032, Email: hegde@niab.org.in) : Biofilm production, antibiotic resistance and the presence of ica, bap, agr and blaz genes in bovine mastitisassociated Staphylococcus aureus isolates from Karnataka. Indian J Comp Microbiol Immunol Infect Dis 2020, 41(1), 39-49.

Biofilm formation is an important virulence determinant of Staphylococcus aureus which is a major etiological agent of bovine mastitis. Here, 132 bovine mastitis-associated S. aureus were subjected to biofilm production, antimicrobial susceptibility, and the detection of ica, bap, agr and blaZ genes. It was found that 33.3 % of the isolates produced biofilm. The number of isolates resistant to individual antibiotics increased by 1.2- to 7.0-fold when growing in biofilm versus planktonic mode of growth, and the spectrum of antibiotics as well as the number of isolates resistant to various antibiotics increased with the increase in the density of the biofilm. However, there was no correlation between the strength of biofilm and the extent of antibiotic resistance. When evaluated for the presence of genes reported to be associated with biofilm formation, bap gene was detected in a significant number (12.9 %) of the isolates, while the ica locus was equally distributed among strains that produced biofilm or not. A significant correlation was observed between the presence of agrI and ica genes. High blaZ positivity was observed irrespective of penicillin resistance or biofilm phenotype. In summary, biofilm forming S. aureus was more resistant to many antibiotics in biofilm than in planktonic form, and none of the genes studied showed association with phenotypic studies of either biofilm production or antimicrobial susceptibility. The study highlights the need for further investigations on the inter-relationships between biofilm, antibiotic resistance and associated genotypes.

3 illus, 5 tables, 53 ref

041202   DEDAR R K, KUMAR L, BADSIWAL D, KUMAR S, LEGHA R A, MEHTA S C, TRIPATHI B N (National Research Center on Equines, Hisar, Haryana, Email: rameshdedar@gmail.com) : Herbal disinfection against Rhodococcus equi. Indian J Comp Microbiol Immunol Infect Dis 2020, 41(1), 31-8.

Rhodococcus equi is an important bacterial respiratory pathogen of young foals. Prevention of R. equi depends on early detection, environmental management and chemoprophylaxis. Aerosol infection via soil is the most important route of infection to the foals and effective management of land by reducing aerosol exposure can reduce incidence of R. equi. We found that leaves of Tamarindus indica (Tamarind; Imli) and Eucalyptus globulus (Eucalyptus; Safeda) have potential in vitro antibacterial activity against R. equi. Both the plants are widely available, so leaves of these plants were tested for their disinfectant activity against R. equi present in farm soil. Study was carried out to find an herbal disinfectant for farm soil against R. equi and its active principle. Aqueous extracts of leaves of T. indica and E. globulus were fractioned on silica column by using ethanol methanol and water serially. Different fractions were tested against pure colonies of R. equi in vitro to find out active principle. To find out disinfectant property of leaves in the presence of farm soil, pure colonies of R. equi were mixed in soil and efficacy of leaves boiled water was tested against control. Water boiled with plant leaves in the concentration of 10% and above, was found effective against R. equi present in the farm soil. Active principal of T. indica was matching with the previous reports while active principle of E. globulus could not be matched with previous reports, however, it was found that active principle of E. globulus is a very polar compound.

6 illus, 28 ref

041200   PATTNAIK B, YADAV M P (AIPH Univ, Bhubaneswar, Odisha) : COVID-19 pandemic: History, aetiology, epidemiology, vaccinology and societal impact. Indian J Comp Microbiol Immunol Infect Dis 2020, 41(1), 1-18.

The virus causing the current novel coronavirus disease in humans is named as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). The World Health Organization (WHO) named the disease as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). On 29 December 2019, the pneumonic disease was first noticed in the Wuhan city of Hubei Province in China affecting people of all age groups. The COVID-19 pandemic is currently affecting 213 countries and territories around the world; it also involved two international conveyances. The SARS-CoV-2 is a novel Coronavirus that had not been seen before, first isolated from people with acute respiratory illness. All features of the novel SARS-CoV-2 are similar to the other coronaviruses occurring in nature in bats and other animal species. Outside the human body, the virus is inactivated by household soap solution and lipid solvents that dissolve its protective envelope layer and make it non-infectious. Genetically, SARS-CoV-2 is closely related to SARS-CoV of 2003, but distinct from Middle East respiratory syndrome-CoV (MERS-CoV) of 2012. All these three respiratory human CoVs (HCoVs) are of bat origin and zoonotic; transmission from bat to human is facilitated by intermediate animal hosts, that, is civet cat for SARS and dromedary camel for MERS. It is not clear as to which animal is the intermediate host to facilitate the jumping of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to human. Ant-eating Pangolins are prime suspect to act as intermediate host, but yet inconclusive. Genetic analysis revealed that SARS-CoV-2 is a beta-coronavirus (genus) and genetically clusters within the subgenus Sarbecovirus (lineage B), together with some bat virus strains with >96 % genetic identity. Coronaviruses shift host frequently. Scientists found that the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein had evolved to effectively bind to a molecule on different types of human cells known as ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2), a receptor involved in regulating blood pressure, to initiate host cell infection cycle. Organs having higher number of ACE2 bearing cells are severely damaged by the virus. The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is longer than the SARS and MERS-CoVs and is very effective at binding to human cells through ACE2 receptor, and the scientists working on the virus concluded that it was the result of natural selection and not the product of genetic engineering. Furthermore, it has been found that the SARS-CoV-2 backbone differs substantially from those of already known HCoVs. It mostly resembles to related CoVs found in bats and pangolins. Autologous (between viruses affecting same host species) and heterologous (between viruses affecting different host species) genetic recombination help in evolution/emergence of new virus variants/pathogenic species. The COVID-19 affects human of all ages with primarily respiratory sickness of different degree; however, it has been observed to be fatal in elderly people due to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) complicated by cytokine storm, as observed earlier in feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a fatal disease of cats caused by feline CoV (FIPV). Similarly, antibodydependant enhancement (ADE), as described earlier during evaluation of a FIPV vaccine, has been suspected to occur in COVID-19. The present compilation, prepared with the help of data and information available on the Internet and NCBIPubMed, is an effort for the students in virology, immunology, genetics, pharmacology and epidemiology so that they can be motivated to undertake research programmes to fill the gaps in the available knowledge; particularly in the areas of immunology and vaccinology, epidemiology and therapeutics, etc. Further, real-time surveillance of coronavirus strains circulating in domestic pet, wild and captive animals/mammals, and poultry birds will help in monitoring possible inter species jump of the virus, as it will be of immense help once the current Global COVID-19 pandemic subsides. It is also important to identify intermediate host(s) that might cause possible future zoonoses involving CoVs, and to study virus persistence including carrier status in convalescent individuals that may pose threat in post-COVID-19 pandemic period/ scenario in times to come. The pandemic has resulted in travel restrictions, nationwide lockdowns, and home quarantine in several countries in the World to implement social distancing in order to slow the spread/transmission of the virus in human populations. The economic costs and social burdens on individual countries and also global basis, till the pandemic is controlled and slows down, will be enormous and yet to be comprehensively estimated. A number of laboratories around the world are working on the development of dependable diagnostic tests for the detection of virus genome and antibodies in clinical specimens to precisely identify infected individuals and hot spots of the infection, vaccines and antiviral therapeutics, and their success will determine the success of the COVID-19 control programme in hand. Economic and societal impact of the pandemic has also been discussed. It is emphasised to implement ‘One Health’ approach involving human, animal and the environment in controlling the present pandemic and preventing possible future ones for a healthier World. It has been observed by scientists that longitudinal serological studies are required to determine the extent and duration of immunity to SARS-CoV-2.

1 illus, 28 ref

041193   NAMBOOTHRI G N, CHACKO V I, RASHMI A, SATHYANATH S, MANJULA A (Community Medicine Dep, K S Hegde Medical Academy, Mangalore, Karnataka - 575 018, Email: anurash7@gmail.com) : Factors influencing age at menarche – a school based cross sectional study. Indian J Comm Health 2020, 32(2), 444-6.

Hormones, life style, animal proteins etc are factors that influence menarche. Like-wise a declining trend in age at menarche has been noticed over the past few years. This study was taken up with the objectives to study factors that are associated with menarche in our study population. Hence a school-based cross-sectional study was undertaken for the same which showed the mean age of menstruation was 12.5 years. It was significantly influenced by milk intake (p <.05). Mothers’ age at menarche was also found to be significantly associated with their daughters’ age at menarche. This study provides an insight into determining factors affecting age of menarche, focusing on dietary and maternal factors. Milk consumption was found to be an important factor.

2 tables, 10 ref

046438   PRAKASH M, OPHELIA A G, NARAYANAN G S, ANANDAN R, BARADHAN G, SURESHKUMAR S M (Genetics and Plant Breeding Dep, Annamalai Univ, Annamalai Nagar- 608 002, Email: geeth_prakash@yahoo.co.inh) : Effect of organic seed pelleting on seedling quality, gas exchange, growth, yield and resultant seed quality parameters of black gram. Legum Res 2020, 43(2), 221-8.

Seed pelleting with leaf powders of two botanicals viz., pungam (Pongamia glabra) and prosopis (Prosopis juliflora) was done to study the effect of botanical seed pelleting on seedling quality, gas exchange, growth, yield and resultant seed quality parameters of black gram in the laboratory and field. From the results, it was found that, seeds pelleted with pungam leaf powder @ 150 g kg^-1 recorded higher germination percentage (93.00), root length (18.35 cm), shoot length (19.34 cm), dry matter production (0.48 mg seedling ^-10 ) and vigour index (3505.10). The yield parameters such as pod length, number of pods plant^-1, pod yield plant^-1, number of seeds pod^-1 and 100 seed weight were also found higher in pungam leaf powder pelleting treatment @ 150 g kg^-1. The control recorded the least values in all these growth and yield parameters of black gram.

4 tables, 41 ref

044965   NAGAR A, PASRICHA N, STHAPAK E, GURJAR D, LAL H (Anatomy Dep, GSVM Medical Coll, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Email: nivibedi@gmail.com) : A computed tomography angiography study to correlate main renal artery diameter with presence of accessory renal artery in healthy live kidney donors. J Anat Soc India 2020, 69(4), 196-200.

The chosen technique of surgery during nephrectomy can be influenced by the sudden discovery of an aberrant source of blood supply to the kidney. Thus, a prospective study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between the diameter of the main renal artery and the presence of an accessory renal artery by computed tomography (CT)‑angiography. The study was conducted on 115 healthy kidney donors who presented to the department of nephrology and radiology for voluntary kidney donation. All CT examinations were performed on a 64‑slice CT scanner in the arterial phase. The number of the renal arteries supplying each kidney was evaluated and their diameters were measured. Eighty‑six of the right side and 88 of the left side of the 115 kidneys donors had a single renal artery whereas 29 had one or more accessory renal artery (aRA) on the right side and 27 had one or more aRA on the left side. The mean diameter of mRA was 5.4 ± 1.0 mm in kidneys without aRA and 4.6 ± 10 mm in kidneys with aRA on the right side and on the left side the mean diameter of mRA was 5.59 ± 1.12 mm in kidneys without aRA and 4.7 ± 1.2 mm in kidneys with aRA. The presence of additional renal arteries is very probable when the main renal artery has a diameter of < 4.15 mm. Kidneys presenting a main renal artery > 5.5 mm very probably do not present additional renal arteries. Hence, the renal artery diameter is a factor which should be considered for predicting the presence of additional renal arteries.

6 illus, 4 tables, 17 ref

046434   LAVKOR I (Biological Control Research Institute, Adana, Turkey, Email: lavkor@gmail.com) : Quantitative detection of Aflatoxin and species identification of Aspergillus section Flavi isolates from peanuts using molecular approaches. Legum Res 2020, 43(2), 195-9.

Totally, 50 Aspergillus section Flavi were identified isolates having aflatoxin biosynthesis genes on peanut by molecular method and aflatoxin production. Primer pair (IGS-F/R) recognized the aflatoxin biosynthesis gene (aflJ-aflR) targeting the intergenic region (IGS) on DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reactions (PCR). The PCR product were restricted by BglII enzyme within Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) and obtained from 33 (66 %) Aspergillus flavus was cleaved into three band sizes of 362, 210 and 102 bp. However, BglII enzyme generated two band sizes of 363 and 311 bp for 17 (34 %) Aspergillus parasiticus. An investigation examined DNA sequence data to characterize these isolates and describe the species. Phylogenetic analysis showed that A. flavus and A. parasiticus have been identified in different groups. All the A. flavus and A. parasiticus isolates produced aflatoxins. The present study provides a new method on molecular characterization of A. section Flavi in Turkey.

4 illus, 1 table, 29 ref

046429   PANDEY A K, SINGH A K, SINGH P, VYAS R P, SINGH R K, BHANDARI H (Plant Breeding and Genetics Dep, Bihar Agricultural Univ, Buxar- 802 136, Email: prakash201288@gmail.com) : Characterization and identification of pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] genotypes based on quality of seed protein. Legum Res 2020, 43(2), 165-71.

Tris- and water-soluble seed protein profiling was used to characterize, identify and differentiate 13 genotypes of pigeonpea via SDS– PAGE based electrophoresis of seed protein. Electropherograms, RM-value and UPGMA based cluster (dendrograms) analysis was used to analyze tris- and water-soluble protein banding patterns of these genotypes. It revealed that RM-value of protein bands have differed from all the genotypes for both soluble proteins. Tris-soluble protein banding pattern exhibited 17 bands including 12-15 variate of RM-value (0.083 to 0.98) and two common bands with RM-value 0.083 and 0.78. However, water-soluble protein banding pattern revealed the presence of 16 bands including 8-12 variate of RM-value (0.16 to 0.95) with four common bands of RM-value 0.43, 048, 0.23 and 0.65, respectively. UPGMA cluster analysis was used to group the 13 genotypes into six distinct clusters. The banding pattern of tris-soluble protein was found to be more distinct than water-soluble protein. The result demonstrated that the electrophoretic profile of tris-soluble protein through SDS-PAGE was more effective than the water-soluble protein.

4 illus, 5 tables, 29 ref

046424   MANDAL D, BHATTACHARYYA P B, DAS R, BHATTACHARYYA S (Genetics and Plant Breeding Dep, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur- 741 252, Email: bhattacharyya.pk@gmail.com) : Diversity analysis by SSR markers and morphological markers among Stemphylium blight tolerance genotypes with high yielding cultivars of Lentil (Lens Culinaris Medik). Legum Res 2020, 43(1), 617-22.

Twelve Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers along with twelve morphological markers were used to assess the diversity among thirteen screened genotypes both moderate resistant and susceptible against stemphylium blight of indigenous microsperma germplasm (i.e. pilosae) type  of  Lentil  (Lens culinaris Medik.) at BCKV, West Bengal. Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) of SSR primers ranged from 0.77 (SSR 317-2) to 0.15 (PBA LC 0233). The maximum Jaccard’s similarity was recorded between L-4769 and Ranjan (approximately 100 %) whereas minimum was between K-75 and VL 126 (0.11). Genotypes K-75 also showed less similarity with DL 14-2 and VL 151 (0.17). Another popular variety WBL 77 showed minimum similarity with moderately resistant genotypes VL 151 and DL 14-2 (0.17). While using morphological characters as the basis of diversity analysis, Euclidean coefficient revealed that high yielding cultivar Subrata was maximum diverse with genotype VL 151(7.12). Asha also showed diversity with VL 151(6.31) whereas VL 151 had dissimilarity coefficient of 6.21 with K-75. Precoz and VL 126 has dissimilarity coefficient of 6.19. On the basis of above findings it could be said that diverse parental pairs VL 151 & K 75 and VL 151 & Subrata / Asha could be used in hybridization programme or biotic stress breeding programme for developing Stemphylium resistant lentil cultivars in future.

2 illus, 6 tables, 17 ref

046421   SEHRAWAT A, KHANDELWAL A, SINDHU S S (Microbiology Dep, CCS Haryana Agricultural Univ, Hisar- 125 004, Email: anjusehrawat90@gmail.com) : Characterization of Mesorhizobium strains for salt tolerance and wilt control: Their potential for plant growth promotion of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Legum Res 2020, 43(1), 146-50.

Mesorhizobium sp. indirectly promote the growth of plants as a biocontrol agent by inhibiting the growth of pathogens particularly Fusarium wilt of chickpea. Out of 24 Mesorhizobium isolates obtained from chickpea nodules, eight isolates showed antagonistic effect against Fusarium oxysporum. Salinity stress severely affects growth, nodulation and yield of chickpea. Mesorhizobium isolates were tested for their salt tolerance capacity at 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 % NaCl concentrations. Only two Mesorhizobium isolates MCA5 and MCA22 were found salt-tolerant upto 8 % of salt concentration. Maximum increase (45.5 %) in shoot dry weight was observed by inoculation of isolate MCA20 at 40 days of chickpea growth under chillum jar conditions, whereas isolate MCA23 resulted in 166.2 % increase in root dry weight. Likewise, 112.6 % increase in shoot dry weight was observed on inoculation of MCA14 isolate at 80th day of observation. Further extensive research is required to understand the mechanism of potential Mesorhizobium isolates of chickpea in controlling Fusarium wilt disease and salt tolerance. Selection of mesorhizobia with twin functional traits (plant growth promoting and biocontrol agent) can be exploited as future biofertilizer in chickpea

3 illus, 2 tables, 11 ref

046419   MONDAL H K, GERA R (Microbiology Dep, CCS Haryana Agricultural Univ, Hisar- 125 004, Email: hkmsg07@gmail.com) : Molecular diversity of stress-tolerant PGPR rhizobia nodulating clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) grown in hyper-arid zone of Rajasthan. Legum Res 2020, 43(1), 134-9.

A total of 81 rhizobia were retrieved from nodules of clusterbean grown in hyper-arid zone of Rajasthan. Twenty one rhizobial isolates showed combined drought tolerance of 40 % concentration of polyethylene glycol 6000 and temperature tolerance at 45$°$C. All the stress-tolerant rhizobia were authenticated by plant infectivity test and further showed the presence of nitrogen fixation nifH gene. Most of the stress-tolerant rhizobia harbour multiple PGPR traits. The molecular diversity among stress-tolerant rhizobia was accomplished through RFLP of 16S rDNA using restriction enzymes MspI and HaeIII. Dendrogram data showed that all 21 isolates were distributed into two major clusters. Total of 20 genotypes were formed but 13 biotypes were constituted at 80 % level of similarity. Out of these, biotype 10 was found to be the most prevalent biotype of hyper-arid zone. Moreover, isolates from same nodule were not 100 % similar. It indicated that vast diversity was present among stress-tolerant clusterbean rhizobial isolates.

4 illus, 5 tables, 27 ref

046418   GIRIJA D, PANCHAMI P S, JOSE P E, SAEED T, NAIR S S (Agricultural Microbiolgy Dep, Kerala Agricultural Univ, Vellanikkara- 680 656, Email: devakigirija@gmail.com) : Isolation and characterization of native cowpea rhizobia from Wayanad India. Legum Res 2020, 43(1), 126-33.

In the present study, eight rhizobial strains (RH-1 to RH- 8) were isolated from root nodules of cowpea which grows in acidic soils of Wayanad. They were characterized based on morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular characteristics. The results on plant growth promoting traits showed all isolates positive to IAA production, four positive to ammonia production and five positive for in vitro siderophore production. Three isolates exhibited antagonistic activity and none of them showed volatile cyanogen production.The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed all the isolates to show similarity to Rhizobium sp. While rhizobia generally have a pH range of 6.5-7.5 for optimum growth, the isolates RH-1. RH-2, RH-4 and RH-8 grew in a liquid yeast extract - mannitol agar medium at pH-4, suggesting acid tolerance in the strain of Rhizobium. The isolates were authenticated for their nodulation and growth promotion of cowpea in a paper cup experiment and four isolates (RH-2, RH-3, RH-4 and RH-5) were evaluated for their growth promotion in cowpea under field condition. It was observed that inoculation of Rhizobium increased nodulation, growth parameters and yield of cowpea compared to uninoculated control. This study showed that these rhizobial isolates with plant growth promoting traits can be used to promote the growth and yield of cow peain acidic soils of Kerala.

4 illus, 8 tables, 37 ref

046405   KUMAR R, SINGH C M, ARYA M, KUMAR R, MISHRA S B, SINGH U K, PASWAN S (Plant Breeding and Genetics Dep, Rajendra Agricultural Univ, Samastipur- 848 125, Email: rajrau.2007@rediffmail.com) : Investigating stress indices to discriminate the physiologically efficient heat tolerant genotypes of mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]. Legum Res 2020, 43(1), 43-9.

In present global climatic scenario, heat stress is one of the prime problems affecting production of mungbean crop during summer. A major objective of mungbean breeding programs to increase genetic potential of genotypes under heat stress environments. In order to identify heat tolerant promising lines, a total of 35 genotypes were evaluated in normal and heat stress environments during 2012-2013. Eight heat indices were used on the basis of grain yield in normal and heat stress environment. Highest significant positive correlations were observed among mean productivity, Geometric mean productivity, stress tolerant index and yield indices under both normal and heat stress environments. Based on 3-D plot, the genotypes i.e. SML 1186, NDM 12-308, IPM 02-4 and Smrat were found with high stress indices score and could be utilized in mungbean breeding programs to introduce and develop the heat tolerant promising varieties

3 illus, 4 tables, 14 ref

046403   CHINAPOLAIAH A, BINDU K H, KHADKE G N, MANJESH G N, RAO N H, KUMAR S S, SUTHAR M K (ICAR-Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research, Gujarat- 387 310, Email: acpolireddy.hortico@gmail.com) : Genetic diversity analysis in underutilized medicinal climber Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. germplasm revealed by inter simple sequence repeats markers. Legum Res 2020, 43(1), 32-7.

Velvet bean is an important medicinal legume, its seeds are prominent source of L-Dopa. The present investigation on genetic diversity assessment of 58 germplasm of velvet bean by using 11 ISSR markers. Out of 63 amplified products 59 were showed polymorphism and 4 were monomorphic with an average of 5.7 bands amplified per primer. According to band statistics and efficiency parameters showed the primers UBC 827, UBC 834 and UBC 836 were more efficient. The highest genetic similarity values (0.90) were observed between IIHR MP 102 and IIHR MP 74-3. In dendrogram germplasm grouped into two major clusters at 63 per cent similarity. Among the germplasm, IIHR Selection 4, IIHR Selection 10, IIHR MP 9, IC 33243 and IIHR MP 7 were found to be distinctly divergent, can be used in the further breeding programme.

1 illus, 3 tables, 21 ref

046402   NAGESHWAR, KUMAR B, SUMAN H, MADAKEMOHEKAR A H, TAMATAM D (Genetics and Plant Breeding Dep, Lovely Professional Univ, Phagwara-144 411, Email: bijendracsa1986@gmail.com) : Combining ability and heterosis analysis for grain yield and yield associated traits in Pea (Pisum sativum L.). Legum Res 2020, 43(1), 25-31.

This experiment was conducted to determine the general and specific combining abilities and heterosis for grain yield and yield associated traits in pea as a source of protein through line x tester analysis. Grain yield and its inheritance were carried out for investigation through a 12 x 3 line x tester analysis. Experimental materials comprising 15 parents and their 36 hybrids. The materials were planted in a randomized block design with three replications. The general combining ability and Specific combining ability effects were significant indicating the presence of both additive and non-additive types of gene actions. Heterosis was determined as the superiority over mid parent heterosis as well as better parent (HBP). Grain yield showed highly significant heterosis ranging from - 36.29 to 8.77and relative heterosis ranged from -25.85 to 13.19 respectively

4 tables, 24 ref

041176   SHARMA S K, MUDGAL S K, CHATURVEDI J (All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand - 249 203, Email: skaiims17@gmail.com) : Expression and interpretation of relative risk and odds ratio in biomedical research studies. Indian J Comm Health 2020, 32(2), 344-7.

Relative risk and odds ratio are commonly used in the biomedical research studies; however, expression and interpretation must be done very carefully. A risk ratio and an odds ratio are used in cohort studies but only odds ratio is used in case control studies. However, relative risk or risk ratio is found to be frequently used in the interventional biomedical research studies. The relative risk and odds ratio provide important information regarding the effect of a risk factor on the outcome of interest. The relative risk and odds ratio of 1 suggests that there is no difference between two groups. A value >1 suggests increase risk, while a value <1 suggest reduction of risk. If the confidence interval meets or includes value 1.00 (line of no difference) indicates there is no difference between the groups.

4 tables, 6 ref

044900   LEDIN A E, STYRSKY J D, STYRSKY J N (Biology Dep, Lynchburg Univ, VA- 24501, Email: styrsky.j@lynchburg.edu) : Friend or foe? Orb-weaver spiders inhabiting ant–acacias capture both herbivorous insects and acacia ant alates. J Insect Sci 2020, 20(4), 10.1093/jisesa/ieaa076.

The orb-weaver spiders Eustala oblonga (Chickering) and Eustala illicita (O. Picard-Cambridge) (Araneae: Araneidae) inhabit the ant-defended acacias Vachellia melanocerus (Beurling) and Vachellia collinsii (Safford) (Fabales: Fabaceae), respectively, in Panama. These spiders do not capture patrolling Pseudomyrmex ants but exploit their plant-protection services to escape predation. What effect the spiders have on the ant-acacia mutualisms is unknown. They may provide an additional layer of plant defense by capturing flying herbivorous insects in their webs. Alternatively, the spiders may disrupt the ant–acacia mutualisms by capturing alate acacia ants during nuptial flights. We evaluated these two hypotheses by sampling insects flying through acacia foliage and by identifying prey remains in webs. The proportions of insects captured on sticky card traps and in webs varied with taxonomic order and ecological role. Herbivorous insects greatly outnumbered other groups captured on sticky cards and were captured in spiders’ webs in both acacia species but made up a minority of prey remains in webs. Instead, insect predators and parasitoids made up the majority of prey remains and were comprised primarily by alate ant mutualists of the host acacias. These results provide indirect support for both hypotheses and suggest that the spiders potentially both benefit and harm their host ant-acacia mutualisms. The net effect of spider exploitation, however, is unclear and is likely based on both the effectiveness of plant protection from herbivory provided by the spiders relative to that provided by acacia ants, as well as the overall proportion of the ant reproductive caste the spiders actually capture.

2 illus, 2 tables, 35 ref

041144   CHRISTIAN D S, PATEL M, SOLANKI A K (GCS Medical Coll, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Email: mansipatel10@gmail.com) : An Epidemiological study of health behavioral and protective factors among school going adolescents (aged 13-17 years) of Ahmedabad, Gujarat using the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) questionnaire. Indian J Comm Health 2020, 32(1), 25-30.

Adolescence is considered as the next unsurpassed stage of life to childhood targeting for preventive and health promotional activities. Encouraging these activities firstly requires identification of high-risk behaviors and protective factors prevalent among such adolescents during current epidemiological transition period. To estimate the prevalence of various health behavioral and protective factors among school going adolescents of Ahmedabad. A cross sectional study was conducted among 403 school going adolescents of rural field practice areas of a medical institute using GSHS self-administered questionnaire -Indian version. Almost all aspects of the questionnaire such as dietary behaviors, hygiene, mental health, physical activity, protective factors, tobacco use, violence & unintentional injury, alcohol use and drug use were included in this study. Out of a total of 403 students, 25.3 % and 48.9 % of students ate fruits and vegetables three or more times a day in past 30 days, respectively. About 41.2 % of students drank carbonated drinks on two or more times per day. Majority (77.7 %) of the students brushed their teeth two times per day in past 30 days. Some 9.2 % of students felt lonely in past 12 months and 8.4 % of students had no close friends. Around 46.2 % of students missed classes or school without permission in past 30 days. 30 % of students remained physically active for all 7 days in last week. A few of students smoked cigarettes (2.5 %) and used any form of tobacco (7.9 %) on one or more days during past 30 days. The significant differences were found in many areas of risk behaviors as well as protective factors between boys and girls. Various unhealthy behaviors and protective factors were identified among school going adolescents from the present study. The difference was significant.

5 tables, 15 ref

044887   PINCH M, RODRIGUEZ S D, MITRA S, KANDEL Y, MOORE E, HANSEN I A (Biology Dep, New Mexico State Univ, NM- 88003, Email: mpinch@nmsu.edu) : Low levels of pyrethroid resistance in hybrid offspring of a highly resistant and a more susceptible mosquito strain. J Insect Sci 2020, 20(4), 10.1093/jisesa/ieaa060.

The use of insecticides has been a central approach to control disease-transmitting mosquitoes for the last century. The high prevalence of pyrethroid use as public health insecticides has resulted in the evolution of pyrethroid resistance in many populations of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) (Diptera: Culicidae), throughout its global distribution range. Insecticide resistance is often correlated with an associated fitness cost. In this project, we studied the phenotypes of hybrid mosquitoes derived from crossing a pyrethroid-resistant strain of Ae. aegypti (Puerto Rico [PR]) with a more susceptible one (Rockefeller [ROCK]). We first sequenced and compared the para gene of both original strains. We then crossed males from one strain with females of the other, creating two hybrids (Puertofeller, Rockorico). We used a Y-tube choice assay to measure the attraction of these strains towards a human host. We then compared the levels of pyrethroid resistance in the different strains. We found three known resistance mutations in the para gene sequence of the PR strain. In our attraction assays, PR females showed lower attraction to humans, than the ROCK females. Both hybrid strains showed strong attraction to a human host. In the insecticide resistance bottle assays, both hybrid strains showed marginal increases in resistance to permethrin compared to the more susceptible ROCK strain. These results suggest that hybrids of sensitive and permethrin-resistant mosquitoes have an incremental advantage compared to more susceptible mosquitoes when challenged with permethrin. This explains the rapid spread of permethrin resistance that was observed many times in the field.

3 illus, 1 tables, 59 ref

041130   ANILA K R, KAINICKAL C T, THOMAS S, JAYASREE K (Pathology Dep, Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Email: venuanila@yahoo.com) : Grossing and reporting of squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity—An evidence‑based approach. Indian J Cancer 2020, 57(4), 378-87.

The grossing of radical surgery specimens of the head and neck region is extremely challenging due to the complicated anatomy with the inclusion of various tissues such as mucosa, soft-tissue, bone, skin, etc., in the specimen. Also, essential/ core data provided in the histopathology report significantly influence further treatment decisions taken. The eighth edition of the cancer staging manual of the American Joint Committee on Cancer has brought about major changes in reporting of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. Though pathologists in oncology centers who routinely handle such specimens are aware of these updates and the impact of their report on patient management, this may not be true for other peripheral centers that may be handling these specimens. Lack of awareness can lead to a compromised report which will adversely affect patient management. This article attempts to discuss the salient features to be noted in grossing and reporting of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and the rationale behind this.

3 illus, 1 table, 34 ref

042935   JAIN J, GAUR S, CHAUDHARY Y, KAUL R ( Microbiology Dep, Delhi Univ, New Delhi, Email: rkaul@south.du.ac.in) : The molecular biology of intracellular events during Coronavirus infection cycle. Indian J Virol 2020, 31(2), 75–9.

CoV-2 which is the causative agent of COVID19 belongs to genus betacoronaviruses. The sequence analysis of S protein of CoV-2 has shown that it has acquired a ‘polybasic cleavage site’ consisting of 12 aminoacids that has been predicted to enable its cleavage by other cellular proteases possibly increasing its transmissibility. The aminoacids present in receptor binding domain of S protein of SARS CoV which are critical for its binding to cellular receptor are different in CoV-2. The presence of heptanucleotide slippery sequence in ORF1 resulting in ribosomal frameshifting, and presence of transcription regulatory sequences between ORFs resulting in discontinuous transcription, are peculiar features of Coronavirus infection cycle. The exonuclease activity of nsp14 provides possible proofreading ability to RNA polymerase makes coronaviruses different from other RNA viruses allowing coronaviruses to maintain their relatively large genome size. This mini-review summarizes the peculiar features of Coronaviruses genome and the critical events during the infection cycle with focus on CoV-2.

24 ref