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Climate Environment and Science, Health, India, News, Politics 18 April 2020

CSIR-CFTRI’s protein-enriched biscuits reach COVID-19 patients

Mysuru, April 18 (Kollegala Sharma ):  The Mysuru-based CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CRTRI) has reached high-protein biscuits to the COVID-19 patients undergoing treatment in the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), New Delhi. CFTRI supplied 500 kg of high-protein biscuits and 500 kg of high-protein rusks to the Dietetics department of AIIMS to supply to the patients. The biscuits were supplied on request from the officials of the Institute. The biscuits contain 14% of protein while usual biscuits contain around 8-9% protein.  “The enriched biscuits will provide protein needed for recuperating patients”, says Dr. KSMS Raghavarao, Director, CSIR-CFTRI. “It is also pertinent to mention here that the recipe formulation of the protein-enriched products is being done by the dedicated scientists of CSIR-CFTRI Mysuru and manufactured as per FSSAI regulations.,” says Dr. Parmeet Kaur, Chief Dietician, AIIMS, about the biscuits. COVID patients undergoing treatment in the hospital along with others will be receiving the biscuits as part of their routine diet. The following ingredients go into the making of the biscuits: whole wheat flour (Atta), wheat flour (Maida), sugar, hydrogenated fat, soya flour, whey protein, soy protein, milk solids, glucose, INS 500II and INS 503II agents, salt and flavours. A 100-g packet of biscuits clearly pack a punch with its energy quotient of 400 kcal and its nutritional value: carbohydrate (63.2 g), protein (14 g), fat (17.1 g) and minerals (1.2 g). The biscuits are being manufactured in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, by Seven Seas Private Limited based on the formulation developed by CSIR-CFTRI. The logistic support to supply to the needy is being provided by the Indian Society of Agricultural Professionals, New Delhi. (India Science Wire)

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Health, India, international, News 2 August 2019

Study deciphers the play of proteins that check obesity

Bengaluru, 02 August 2019: Little is known on how fat cells work and the complex mechanisms that lead to obesity. A recent study has thrown light on these aspects. An international team of scientists found that two proteins, Ppar-γ2 and Arid5a, triggered by cytokines from the immune system work in tandem to keep fat cells under check. Experiments on mice indicate that while the first generates fat cells, the second, after a certain time, gets activated to arrest further growth. Cytokines are proteins secreted by immunity cells. Although it is known that cytokines like IL-6 and TGF –beta are produced during exercising or stress to bring about an energy balance called homeostasis, the exact mechanism was unknown.The present study focused on understanding this homeostasis and found that cytokines trigger Arid5a, which in turn arrests the fat cell formation. For their experiment, the scientists reared two groups of mice. Group 1 was a regular, wild variety labelled Wt, while group 2, labelled Arid5a knockout, had Arid5a eliminated from the system. Both groups were first fed a normal diet, and their corresponding growth patterns were monitored. In the first eight weeks, they grew similarly without much difference. However, after 12-15 weeks, the knockout group began to gain weight rapidly. At 30-35 weeks of age, the differences in their weights were as high as 30%. In two years, the knockout mice had become obese and weighed twice as much as the regular wild mice. Histochemical analysis revealed that the knockout mice had an enormous amount of fat deposited under their skin and had developed fatty liver too. Besides, they had developed insulin resistance and needed more time to metabolise glucose. They then fed the mice with a moderate to high-fat diet. This time, it was noticed that the knockout group grew obese at an earlier age itself. After this, another group of mice were introduced, which had an excess of Arid5a protein in them. This group was also fed with a moderate to high-fat diet and growth patterns recorded. These mice resisted the formation of fat cells in the body, gaining only 10-15%…

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Health, India, international, News 15 May 2019

Indian Scientists identify new route to tackle TB

New Delhi, May 15 (India Science Wire): A group of Indian scientists has identified three sites in the genome of tuberculosis-causing bacterium that could be used as targets to kill it. By Sunderarajan Padmanabhan DNA, which is the basic building block of the genome of any organism, is made of nucleotides, which are strung together in a row. Each nucleotide has one molecule each of sugar and phosphate as well as nitrogenous base carrying genetic information in nucleobases – adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine (A, C, G, and T). The genome of an organism comprises of permutation and combination of these nucleobases with unique features that can be explored for drug development. Recent studies have shown that in regions of the genome rich in guanine, nucleobases bond together in groups of four forming what are called tetrad structures. These tetrads stack upon each other to form stable secondary structures known as G-quadruplexes and play a role in regulating biological processes like replication. In the new study, researchers from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Indore, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad, All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, and University of Bordeaux, France, analysed the genome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and identified three G-quadruplex motifs that could be used as drug targets. Researchers explored the role of G-quadruplexes in three genes – called espK, espB and cyp51 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Products of the three genes are involved in pathways responsible for determining virulence of the bacteria and in ensuring its survival inside human cells. The team conducted bioinformatics, biophysical and cell-based studies that showed that targeting the three G-quadruplexes could help decrease the virulence of the bacteria and its survival. The case of Kashmir: A Gandhian Resolution Saad Hafiz’ pipe dream World Tuberculosis Day 2023: What are lessons from COVID-19 and TB vaccine rollout? Snake venom can effectively treat neurodegenerative disorders The study provides new insights into drug-resistant Tuberculosis “We are presently screening several small molecules that could be used to target these genes. We are hopeful to find a lead candidate in near future,” said Dr. Amit Kumar…