Rainfall Variability and Trend Detection in Dindigul District of Amaravathi Basin

The present study attempted to find out the relation between rainfall variability, trend and distribution in Dindigul district of Amaravathi basin for groundwater management. A detailed analysis of monthly, seasonal and spatial variation of rainfall (1971-2014) for the study area had carried out. The normal annual rainfall of the district varies from 700 to 1600 mm. The north east monsoon contributed the maximum rainfall of 439mm (50%), followed by South-west monsoon which contributed 254 mm (29%), summer which contributed 147 mm (16.8%) and winter contributed the minimum rainfall of 26.8 mm (2.8%).A high value of CV had observed in all the stations, which indicate the greater rainfall variability, and more chances of occurrence of drought. Higher variability of coefficient of variation was observed in central part of the district.Theresult of MMK z-test at 1% level indicates that the majority of stations showed non-significant trend in annual, summer and monsoon season of rainfall. Out of the 13 stations studied in the district, annual rainfall of only one station (Kuthiraiyar) showed significant decreasing trend in annual rainfall (-3.05 mm/year) and five stations recorded the significant decreasing trend in rainy days during southwest monsoon. Chatrapatti and Natham stations recorded the significant increasing trend during north east monsoon and Virupatchi station recorded the decreasing trend.

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using leaves of Catharanthus roseus Linn. G. Don and their antiplasmodial activities

OBJECTIVE

To develop a novel approach for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using aqueous leaves extracts of Catharanthus roseus (C. roseus) Linn. G. Don which has been proven active against malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum).

METHODS

Characterizations were determined by using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray and X-ray diffraction.

RESULTS

SEM showed the formation of silver nanoparticles with an average size of 35-55 nm. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the particles were crystalline in nature with face centred cubic structure of the bulk silver with the broad peaks at 32.4, 46.4 and 28.0.

CONCLUSIONS

It can be concluded that the leaves of C. roseus can be good source for synthesis of silver nanoparticle which shows antiplasmodial activity against P. falciparum. The important outcome of the study will be the development of value added products from medicinal plants C. roseus for biomedical and nanotechnology based industries.

SAAG-4 is a novel mosquito salivary protein that programmes host CD4 T cells to express IL-4

Mosquitoes represent the most important vector for transmitting pathogens that cause human disease. Central to pathogen transmission is the ability to divert the host immune system away from Th1 and towards Th2 responsiveness. Identification of the mosquito factor(s) critical for programming Th2 responsiveness should therefore lead to strategies to neutralize their function and thus prevent disease transmission. In the current study, we used a TCR transgenic adoptive transfer system to screen gene products present in the saliva of the mosquito Aedes aegypti for their ability to programme CD4 T cells to express the signature Th2 cytokine IL-4. The clone SAAG-4 encodes a secreted protein with a predicted size of 20 kDa whose function has previously been uncharacterized. Notably, SAAG-4 reduced host CD4 T cell expression of the signature Th1 cytokine IFN-gamma while simultaneously increasing expression of IL-4. SAAG-4 is therefore the first identified mosquito factor that can programme Th2 effector CD4 T cell differentiation.

Spatial and temporal coordination of expression of immune response genes during Pseudomonas infection of horseshoe crab, Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda

Knowledge on how genes are turned on/off during infection and immunity is lacking. Here, we report the co-regulation of diverse clusters of functionally related immune response genes in a horseshoe crab, Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda. Expressed sequence tag (EST) clusters for frontline immune defense, cell signalling, apoptosis and stress response genes were expressed or repressed spatio-temporally during the acute phase of Pseudomonas infection. An infection time course monitored by virtual Northern evaluation indicates upregulation of genes in blood cells (amebocytes) at 3-h postinfection, whereas most of the hepatopancreas genes remained down regulated over 72 h of infection. Thus, the two tissues orchestrate a coordinated and timely response to infection. The hepatopancreas probably immuno-modulates the expression of other genes and serves as a reservoir for later response, if/when chronic infection ensues. On the other hand, being the first to encounter pathogens, we reasoned that amebocytes would respond acutely to infection. Besides acute transactivation of the immune genes, the amebocytes maintained morphological integrity, indicating their ability to synthesise and store/secrete the immune proteins and effectors to sustain the frontline innate immune defense, while simultaneously elicit complement-mediated phagocytosis of the invading pathogen. Our results show that the immune response against Pseudomonas infection is spatially and temporally coordinated.