Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) is a private university located in&nbsp;Tamil Nadu, India. Founded in 1984, as Vellore Engineering College, the institution offers 20 undergraduate, 34 postgraduate, four integrated and four research programs. It has campuses in Vellore, Amravati, Bhopal and Chennai.

VIT is one of the top ranked private universities in India according to NIRF, THE and QS Rankings.&nbsp;Govt. of India has recognized&nbsp;VIT, Vellore as an&nbsp;Institution of Eminence. This has allowed VIT to take independent quality initiatives and move up in world ranking.

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VIT University

Department of Bio-Medical Sciences

Pyrethrin is one of the oldest and widely used insecticides in India which contains six esters derived from two acids and three alcohols. They are derived from dried and crushed flowers of Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium. Pyrethroids are synthetic derivatives of pyrethrin. These are classified as ‘likely to be human carcinogen’ by the Environment Protection Act as they were reported to cause thyroid tumor in laboratory tests. The wide use of pyrethroids has led to permanent occurrence in the environment, especially in soils where they can be toxic to target or non target organisms. Due to their estrogenic and antiprogestogenic activities, it is important to eliminate or minimize the concentration of pyrethroids from the environment. Microbial approaches have emerged as a solution to counter the toxicity of pyrethroids. It is one of the safest, least disruptive, reliable and cost effective technique. The natural degradation of pyrethroids leads to the formation of intermediate 3-phenoxy benzoic acid, causing secondary pollution of agricultural products. Many studies have revealed the different strains of microorganisms that are capable of degrading pyrethroids and their degradation pathways. The current chapter deals with the brief discussion about pyrethroid exposure, toxicity, effects and their application in different field. A detailed insight of microbial mediated transformation of pyrethroids has been discussed. © 2020 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

World University root node

School of Bio Sciences and Technology

Vellore Campus

Pyrethroids: Exposure, Applications and Resistance

Microbial mediated transformation of synthetic pyrethroids

This article presents the preparation and antibacterial activity of larnite bioceramics, an active calcium silicate ceramic material having the molecular formula Ca2SiO4. A stepwise sol–gel combustion approach was used to prepare the single phasic larnite. The synthesis of larnite was carried out with calcium nitrate tetrahydrate as a source of calcium which acts as an oxidizing agent and tetraethyl orthosilicate as a source of silicate which acts as a reducing agent (fuel). The powders thus prepared were calcined at temperatures ranging from 400 to 800°C. X-ray diffraction analysis was used to study the phase formation and determine the hydroxyapatite (HAP) formation during the bioactivity studies. The synthesized materials were also characterized by Fourier-transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray techniques. Elemental ionic concentration of the Ca, P and Si in stimulated body fluid (SBF) solution was analysed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. The bone-like apatite formation ability of larnite scaffolds was investigated by immersing it in SBF. It was observed that larnite has the capability to deposit HAP within the early stage of immersion. The antimicrobial activity of the larnite was screened against nine clinical pathogens. The fabricated larnite compound was tested against both Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus sp.) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Shigella sp., Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella sp. and Klebsiella pneumoniae) via the agar diffusion method. The obtained results suggested that the prepared larnite has a high antibacterial property against Gram-negative bacteria because of its thin peptidoglycan layer. From the overall results it is concluded that larnite could be a promising candidate for biomedical applications. © 2020, Indian Academy of Sciences.

Department of Chemistry

School of Advanced Sciences

Bulletin of Materials Science

A study of the in-vitro bioactivity, dissolution and antibacterial activity of larnite prepared by a novel sol–gel combustion method using sucrose as a fuel

Introduction: The association of Vitamin D and children with asthma is known and there are several individual studies on Vitamin D polymorphisms. However, systematic reviews on all vitamin D associated gene polymorphisms have not been done in children with asthma. Objective: To investigate the association of Vitamin D associated gene polymorphisms and asthma in children (0–18 years) by systematic review and meta-analytic approach. Methods: Our search included 20 full text articles of which 15 were case control studies and 5 used family based linkage disequilibrium method. Total of 2491cases and 3682 controls were included in case control studies, with mean age of 9.58 years and 10.16 years respectively. Quantitative and qualitative analysis were done. Results: Quantitative analysis revealed significant association with protective effect of Apa1 polymorphism in allele (OR 0.81 (0.71,0.91) and homozygous major form (OR 0.83 (0.70,0.98) and Taq 1 minor allele in homozygous form (OR 0.73 (0.58,0.92) in children with asthma. However, the minor allele of Apa1(OR 1.21 (1.07,1.37), Bsm 1 in heterozygous (OR 1.35 (1.07,1.71) and homozygous minor form (OR 1.95 (1.59,2.39), major allele of Fok1(OR1.34 (1.17,1.52) and Taq1 (OR 1.22 (1.08,1.38) were found to be increasing the odds of asthma. Ethnic variations were noted in subgroup analysis. Qualitative analysis of the polymorphisms of the Vitamin D associated metabolic genes also showed significant associations. Conclusion: Our review shows significant associations with VDR polymorphisms - Apa1, Bsm1, Fok 1, Taq 1, polymorphisms of Vitamin D metabolic genes – CYP27A1, CYP 2R1, CYP 24A1, GC and genes related to Vitamin D response element (VDRE) in children with asthma. Conducting large studies involving various ethnic regions will strengthen our knowledge on the association and aid in targeted interventions for control of asthma in children. © 2020

Fulltext

Heliyon

Association of vitamin D gene polymorphisms in children with asthma - A systematic review

Myriad of therapeutic drugs used in clinical practice have led to hepatotoxicity reporting more than 1,100 pharmaceutical and chemical products with liver injury. Drug-induced liver damage reports for 7% of adverse reactions, 2% jaundice, 1% acute liver failure, and more acute hepatitis and account for approximately 40,000 deaths per annum in 17 countries. Considering the prominence of drug-induced hepatotoxicity, this review focuses on providing an overview of the plausible mechanisms of action of various intrinsic and idiosyncratic hepatotoxic drugs that involve various molecular and cellular elements in hepatotoxicity and cell death. Also, we discussed their hepatotoxicity control treatments. © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Toxin Reviews

Toxins mechanism in instigating hepatotoxicity

This study investigates the microbial-influenced corrosion of UNS S32750 super-duplex stainless-steel joints fabricated using different welding methods. Herein, the samples were introduced into a medium inoculated with Macrococcus equipercicus isolated from a marine environment. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and atomic force microscopy were used to characterise the topography and formation of pits in the corroded samples, respectively. Potentiodynamic polarisation studies were conducted on both the base alloy and weld seams exposed for 30 and 60 days in the experimental system inoculated with M. equipercicus and un-inoculated system. Results indicate that the thickness of the biofilm formed due to this bacterium increased and became heterogeneous with an increase in the exposure time, thereby resulting in micro-pits. Bacterial colonisation was observed in all the coupons after exposure to the inoculated medium. Although micro-pits were observed in all the coupons, the base metal and flux-cored arc weld seams showed highest sensitivity to bacterial attack. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.

Department of Manufacturing Engineering

School of Mechanical Engineering

Bioelectrochemistry

Investigating the microbial-influenced corrosion of UNS S32750 stainless-steel base alloy and weld seams by biofilm-forming marine bacterium Macrococcus equipercicus

Secondary bacterial infections manifest during or after a viral infection(s) and can lead to negative outcomes and sometimes fatal clinical complications. Research and development of clinical interventions is largely focused on the primary pathogen, with research on any secondary infection(s) being neglected. Here we highlight the impact of secondary bacterial infections and in particular those caused by antibiotic-resistant strains, on disease outcomes. We describe possible non-antibiotic treatment options, when small molecule drugs have no effect on the bacterial pathogen and explore the potential of phage therapy and phage-derived therapeutic proteins and strategies in treating secondary bacterial infections, including their application in combination with chemical antibiotics. © Copyright © 2020 Manohar, Loh, Athira, Nachimuthu, Hua, Welburn and Leptihn.

Frontiers in Microbiology

Secondary Bacterial Infections During Pulmonary Viral Disease: Phage Therapeutics as Alternatives to Antibiotics?

The Acinetobacter sp. VITRSA1 strain was isolated from the Pichavaram (mangrove), Tamil Nadu, India; and confirmed as gram-negative, aerobic, and non-motile bacteria. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed 99% similarity with Acinetobacter calcoaceticus JO1 and the Antibiotic Susceptibility Test (AST) showed; resistant to ampicillin, bacitracin, and trimethoprim; intermediate resistant to methicillin, and sensitive to streptomycin. The Acinetobacter sp. VITRSA1 strain was able to form biofilm at 25 °C and 37 °C, on Congo-Red agar plate with a metallic sheen and also on SLI (solid-liquid interface) and ALI (air-liquid interface) – confirmed using microtitre plate, and coverslip assays, respectively. The biofilm formation on Paratelphusa hydrodromous (freshwater crab) showed strong adhesion of bacteria to the crab shell and produced lesions, eventually causing mortality to crabs - indicating shell disease. On contrary to the pathogenicity, the Acinetobacter sp. VITRSA1 was able to degrade toluene and use it as a sole carbon source, which can be useful in recycling industries. This study demonstrates the biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance property of newly isolated Acinetobacter sp., from the mangrove ecosystem and its ability to cause mortality among crabs along with its bioremediation potentials. © 2020

Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology

Biofilm formation and pathogenicity of marine-derived Acinetobacter sp. VITRSA1 in Paratelphusa hydrodromous and its toluene remediation

Synthesis of hydrazine hydrate assisted manganese doped zinc selenides by hydrothermal technique led to the formation of good quality nanospheres which are controlled by Ostwald ripening process. Structural studies using XRD showed the incorporation of manganese in zinc selenide matrix with their crystallite sizes ranging between 10 and 15 nm, which corroborate with the TEM measurements. Dominant emission (517 nm) corresponds to the near band edge emission as observed from photoluminescence spectra. Presence of impurities and defects were identified from various other emissions as well as from the bandgap variation obtained from reflectance spectra. The third order nonlinearity of manganese doped zinc selenide nanoparticles were calculated by the standard Z-scan technique using 532 nm CW DPSS and nanopulsed Nd:YAG laser. Mn doped ZnSe nanoparticles which exhibits near resonant excited state absorption were found to be an ideal candidate to be exploited as optical limiters in protecting optical components from high intense laser pulses. Further, lower onset optical limiting threshold under pulsed laser excitation of manganese doped zinc selenides (2.92 × 1012 Wm−2) compared to pure zinc selenide (4.98 × 1012 Wm−2) confirms that doping of Mn in ZnSe can yield efficient energy absorbing optical limiters. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.

Physics

Chennai Campus

Optical Materials

Investigations on the structural, morphological, linear and third order nonlinear optical properties of manganese doped zinc selenide nanoparticles for optical limiting application

Current Biotechnology

Effects of Various Stress Conditions to Enhance Polyhydroxyalkanoates Accumulation in Wickerhamomyces anomalus VIT-NN01

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are extracellular macromolecules excreted as tightly bound capsule or loosely attached slime layer in microorganisms. They play most prominent role against desiccation, phagocytosis, cell recognition, phage attack, antibiotics or toxic compounds and osmotic stress. In the last few decades, natural polymers have gained much attention among scientific communities owing to their therapeutic potential. In particular the EPS retrieved from probiotic bacteria with varied carbohydrate compositions possess a plenty of beneficial properties. Different probiotic microbes have unique behavior in expressing their capability to display significant health promoting characteristics in the form of polysaccharides. In this new era of alternative medicines, these polysaccharides are considered as substitutes for synthetic drugs. The EPS finds applications in various fields like textiles, cosmetics, bioremediation, food and therapeutics. The present review is focused on sources, chemical composition, biosynthetic pathways of EPS and their biological potential. More attention has been given to the scientific investigations on antimicrobial, antitumor, anti-biofilm, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities.