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 Biotechnology

The present study was carried to find out the time period of fruit bud differentiation of mango hybrids namely Amatrapali, Mallika and Pusa Arunima and the associated morphological and biochemical changes during last week of September to the last week of December for the 2003-04 and 2004-05 under Delhi condition. The fruit-bud-initiation process was started from 15th October in all the hybrids. The initiation and differentiation of progressively increased from 15th October to 15th November maximum number of fruit buds differentiated. The differentiation continued and the buds reached their advance stage of differentiation by 15th December. Four stages of fruit bud could distinctly be identified in the process of fruit-bud-differentiation. The first stage was represented by the emergence of broad conical protuberances in the axis of scales of fruit bud. In the second stage, the buds became plump by 15th November; histotlogically the main axis of fruit bud protruded conically and came out from the scales. Histologically, the main axis elongated and became multi-lobed due to development of primary branches of flower panicle. In third stage, the main axis further elongated. Whereas, the primary and secondary branches showed lobing. In fourth stage, the scales started loosening, which indicted the 'bud break'. Further elongation of the axis and the loosening of scales made the bud enter into the 'bud break' stage which was the most advance stage of fruit-bud-differentiation. The vegetative bud showed hardly any difference between the different stages of development. While studying the biochemical factors associated with fruit-bud-differentiation it was found that the total sugars, total phenols have been found increasing during the process of fruit-bud-differentiation in all the hybrids during the study period. The total carbohydrates, total nitrogen and the ratio of total carbohydrates to total nitrogen have been found decreasing during fruit-bud-differentiation.

World University root node

School of Bio Sciences and Technology

Vellore Campus

VIT School for Agricultural Innovations and Advanced Learning

Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences

Determination of time period of fruit-bud-differentiation and the associated histological and biochemical changes in mango hybrids

Wound pH strongly influences residence time and activity of various growth factors during wound healing. Hence, a pH-responsive sustained release growth factor delivery system could be beneficial for effective treatment of wound. In this context, an effort was made to evaluate the potential of a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) hydrogel as pH-sensitive sustained release system for wound-pH-dependent therapeutics delivery. The polymer was synthesized via radical copolymerization and influence of pH on lower critical solution temperature (LCST), microarchitechture and swelling of the hydrogel was evaluated. Results showed a pH-dependent variation in the physical properties of the hydrogel within the wound pH range. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) analysis endorsed a pH dependent restricted diffusion of the BSA in the hydrogel. Later, release of bovine serum albumin (BSA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) (each 5%, w/v) from the hydrogel within the range of wound pH (pH 6.7-7.9) were examined. Analysis showed non-Fickian release of therapeutics from the hydrogel with a significant variation in release rate and cumulative release with the increase in pH. Retention of the bioactivity of the released EGF was confirmed by studying murine dermal fibroblast cell proliferation in vitro. Finally, a growth factor (EGF or VEGF)-loaded hydrogel was applied on a murine excisional wound model and showed augmentation of wound healing in comparison to conventional sustained release growth factor therapy. © 2012 VSP.

Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition

Wound pH-responsive sustained release of therapeutics from a poly(NIPAAm-co-AAc) hydrogel

Tomato cultivar PKM 1 were subjected to 25, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM NaCl stress and response of tomato plant to salt stress were determined by assessing the variability of different biochemical parameters. In this present study endogenous content of growth hormones IAA and ABA in leaves, proline and mineral (Na+ and K+) content in leaves and mature fruits were estimated. Leaf area and dry matter content of tomato fruits under salt stress were determined to study the effect of salinity on photosynthetic yield. Results showed that leaf area and dry matter content of tomato fruits decreased with application of elevated salt stress, however endogenous content of IAA, ABA and proline was found to be increasing with increase in salt treatment. Application of NaCl caused increase in Na+ content, while K+ content and K+/Na+ ratio decreased with increase in salt stress. Another striking point is that increase in proline and Na+ content was more in leaves than fruits, which suggests that leaves are more sensitive than fruits.

Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences

The effect of salinity on growth, hormones and mineral elements in leaf and fruit of tomato cultivar PKM1

The objective of the present study was to isolate halotolerant bacteria from the sediment sample collected from Marakanam Solar Salterns, Tamil Nadu, India using NaCl supplemented media and screened for amylase production. Among the 22 isolates recovered, two strains that had immense potential were selected for amylase production and designated as P1 and P2. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that P1 and P2 have highest homology with Pontibacillus chungwhensis (99%) and Bacillus barbaricus (100%). Their amylase activity was optimized to obtain high yield under various temperature, pH and NaCl concentration. P1 and P2 strain showed respective, amylase activity maximum at 35 °C and 40 °C; pH 7.0 and 8.0; 1.5 M and 1.0 M NaCl concentration. Further under optimized conditions, the amylase activity of P1 strain (49.6 U mL-1) was higher than P2 strain. Therefore, the amylase enzyme isolated from P. chungwhensis P1 was immobilized in sodium alginate beads. Compared to the free enzyme form (49.6 U mL-1), the immobilized enzyme showed higher amylase activity as 90.3 U mL-1. The enzyme was further purified partially and the molecular mass was determined as 40 kDa by SDS-PAGE. Thus, high activity of amylase even under increased NaCl concentration would render immense benefits in food processing industries. © 2012 .

VIT Unitversity

Department of Energy and Power Electronics

School of Electrical Engineering

Department of Software Systems

School of Computer Science and Engineering

Fulltext

Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

Optimization and immobilization of amylase obtained from halotolerant bacteria isolated from solar salterns

Protease is any enzyme that conducts proteolysis and accounts for about 60% of the total enzyme market. These enzymes find applications in waste treatment, bioremediation process, in detergents and in leather industry. In the present research work protease producing microorganisms were isolated from soil samples collected from rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere region by spread plate technique. The isolated organisms were screened for their protease producing abilities. The strain that gave positive result in screening was identified as Aspergillus niger by analyzing the colony morphology and using LCB staining test. The important production parameters like pH, inducer concentration and incubation time were optimized. Maximum enzyme activity of 307.5,mol/ml-min was observed at pH 9, 0.05% inducer concentration and after 96 hours of incubation.

Department of Bio-Medical Sciences

International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences

Isolation, screening and identification of protease producing fungi from rhizosphere soil and optimisation of pH, incubation time and inducer concentration for enhanced protease production

An investigation was conducted to evaluate the potential actinomycetes producing bioactive compounds amended in Amirthi forest, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. In this present study 5 soil samples were collected from Amirthi forest range for the isolation of actinomycetes. About 31 strains of actinomycetes were isolated and selected based on their morphological features. The selected isolates were allowed to screen for the antagonistic activity by cross streak method. Out of which one showed potency and the crude extract was subjected for antibiogram at the concentration of 20mg/ml against clinical pathogens. The maximum activity was found against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20mm).Simultaneously the crude extract was also evaluated for antioxidant activity. The maximum inhibition was found at 5.0mg/ml concentration with 90.7%. Considering the outcome of the present investigation with both antibacerial and antioxidant activity. Identification of the species was performed following molecular taxonomy by 16S rRNA sequencing and found to be Streptomyces sp VITNSJ2.This reports that the unique soil actinomycetes serve as the source to explore bioactive secondary metabolites from forest sources.

Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research

Isolation of soil actinomycetes inhabiting amrithi forest for the potential source of bioactive compounds

Antidiabetic activity of Feronia limonia Fruit and Artocarpus heterophyllus Bark extracts used as edible medicine by local tribal population of Vellore districts were analyzed in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Breliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of high contents of flavonoid in methanolic extract of Feronia limonia and ethyl acetate extract of Artocarpus heterophyllus compared to other extracts. Diabetes was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (45 mg kg -1). Diabetic rats were treated with these extracts at a dose of 200 and 400 mg kg -1 for 30 days. Hypoglycemic activities of extract treated diabetic rats were assessed by the percentage reduction in fasting blood glucose level. Feronia limonia extract showed significant (p&lt;0.05) decrease in blood glucose level when compared to the Artocarpus heterophyllus extract. Treatment of these extracts also had significant decrease in serum cholesterol level and regain in body weight of diabetic rats. The results suggest that unique bioactive constituents responsible for improving type 2 diabetic rats are present and further has to be purified, isolated and characterized to contribute better therapy for NIDDM. © 2012 Academic Journals Inc.

American Journal of Food Technology

Antidiabetic Activity of Feronia limonia and Artocarpus heterophyllus in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

Carotenoids, the naturally occurring organic pigments are isoprenoids attributed with many health promoting and aesthetic values. Several epidemiological studies have projected its role in the prevention of onset of chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers due to its anti-oxidant activity. Besides, carotenoids such as beta carotene acts as Vitamin A precursor that aids in the prevention of Vitamin A deficiency. Animals are unable to synthesise carotenoids de novo. Thus they depend on dietary sources to procure these health benefactors. The rapid increase in the population and their ever increasing demand of food resources that holds survival on this planet is a major challenge faced at present as land resources dedicated to agriculture is not at par with the requirements of the society. Biotechnology tools play a central position in this scenario to present transgenic plants with enhanced yield and nutritional quality. In this context, genetic engineering approaches towards the enhancement of carotenoids in crop plants will open new avenues in addressing food security problems.

Research Journal of Biotechnology

Overview of genetic manipulation in plant carotenoid biosynthesis pathway

Arthrospira is a photosynthetic, filamentous, spiral-shaped, multicellular and blue-green micro alga. Cell division occurs by binary fission. As it contains chlorophyll a, like higher plants, botanists classify it as a micro alga belonging to Cyanophyceae class; but according to bacteriologists it is a bacterium due to its prokaryotic structure. Mexicans (Aztecs) started using this microorganism as human food. Its chemical composition includes proteins (55%-70%), carbohydrates (15%-25%), essential fatty acids (18%) vitamins, minerals and pigments like carotenes, chlorophyll a and phycocyanin. Pigments are used in food and cosmetic industries. Spirulina is considered as an excellent food, lacking toxicity and have anticancer, antiviral, immunological properties and it also acts as a potent antioxidant. There has been a significant change in Spirulina functions under stress conditions.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Spirulina - An overview

Cancer (medical term: malignant neoplasm) is a class of disease in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth through division beyond normal limits, invasion that intrudes upon and destroys adjacent tissues, and sometimes metastasis, in which cancer cells spread to other locations in the body via lymph or blood. These three malignant properties of cancers differentiate them from benign tumors, which are self-limited, and do not invade or metastasize. Cell reproduction is an extremely complex process, which is normally tightly regulated by several classes of genes including oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Hereditary or acquired abnormalities in these regulatory genes can lead to uncontrolled cell growth, and the development of cancer. There are different of Cancer like bladder cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, endometrial cancer, kidney cancer (renal cell), leukemia, lung cancer, melanoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, thyroid cancer. To find different types of genes for different types of cancer with other related genetic information is of great importance for clinicians and cancer immunologists to detect. In the present work, a database containing various information about the different type of cancer causing gene, NCBI ID, PDB IB, SWISS PROT ID, KEGG pathway and other information has been developed with Codon bias Concept. The main emphasis in this database is introduction of Codon Usage Bias which refers to differences in the frequency of occurrence of synonymous codons in coding DNA. The advantages of this database are that it is freely available and can be used even by a layman. It is easily up gradable and quite cost effective. The most important advantage is that it would be helpful in carrying out further research in developing countries like India where cancer has a high occurrence even in poorer sections of the society.