Biological Sciences and Engineering

Indian Institute of Technology Palakkad&nbsp;(IIT Palakkad or IIT PKD) is a public autonomous&nbsp;engineering&nbsp;and&nbsp;research&nbsp;institute located in&nbsp;Palakkad,&nbsp;Kerala. It was&nbsp;one of the five new&nbsp;IITs&nbsp;proposed in the&nbsp;2014 Union budget of India. The campus was inaugurated on 3 August 2015. The institute has 94 faculty, 978 students, and 63 non-teaching staffs.

IT Palakkad currently offers four-year Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) and two years MS programmes in 8 different engineering disciplines including&nbsp;Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil among others.

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IIT Palakkad

B cells with regulatory properties (Bregs) were identified in human and in mice among different B-cell subsets. Their regulatory properties rely mainly on the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, in particular IL10, IL-35 and TGFβ, and were extensively studied in mouse models of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. However, the exact nature of the stimulatory signals conferring regulatory properties to B cells is still not clear. We serendipitously observed that fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) binds to a significant proportion of naïve mouse B cells. Binding of FITC to the B-cell surface implicated at least in part the B-cell receptor. It triggered IL-10 production and allowed the endocytosis of FITC-coupled antigens followed by their presentation to CD4+ T cells. In particular, B cells incubated with FITC-OVA polarized OTII T cells towards a Tr1/Th2 phenotype in vitro. Further, the adoptive transfer of B cells incubated with FITC-labeled myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide protected mice from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a T-cell-dependent autoimmune model. Together, the data show that FITC-stimulated B cells polarize immune responses towards Tr1/Th2 and acquire immuno-modulatory properties. © 2020

World University root node

Cellular Immunology

Stimulation with FITC-labeled antigens confers B cells with regulatory properties

A new fouling-resistant mixed-matrix nanofiltration membrane based on a covalently cross-linked Ti3C2TX (MXene)/cellulose acetate (MXene@CA) composite was fabricated by phase inversion followed by formaldehyde cross-linking. The physicochemical properties of the prepared MXene@CA composite membranes were studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and water contact angle techniques. The performance of the prepared membranes was evaluated with respect to the water flux, bacterial growth inhibition and rejection properties. The 10%MXene@CA (10:90 wt % of MXene:CA) composite membrane shows high pure water flux of $\sim$256.85 L m−2 h−1 bar−1, 123.28% water uptake and 69.7% porosity. The 10%MXene@CA membrane, exhibited more than 92% and 98% rejection of rhodamine B (RhB) and methyl green (MG), respectively. Furthermore, 10%MXene@CA membrane exhibited more than 98% and 96% growth inhibition for E. coli and B. subtilis, respectively. Also, the optimal membrane showed a significantly improved hydrophilicity (water contact angle = 60.8°), which has favored good antifouling properties. The reported nanofiltration membrane, especially 10%MXene@CA, can be suggested for water purification and biomedical applications.

Fulltext

Journal of Membrane Science

A fouling-resistant mixed-matrix nanofiltration membrane based on covalently cross-linked Ti3C2TX (MXene)/cellulose acetate

Clinical and Translational Immunology

Intravenous immunoglobulin immunotherapy for coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19)

A Nb4C3Tx (MXene)-modified glassy carbon electrode was used for the electrochemical detection of Pb2+ ions in aqueous media. The sensing platform was evaluated by anodic stripping analysis after optimizing the influencing factors such as pH, deposition potential and time. The large interlayer spacing, high c lattice parameter and higher conductivity of Nb4C3Tx compared to other MXenes enhance the electrochemical detection of Pb2+. The developed sensor can reach a detection limit of 12 nM at a potential ∼-0.6 V. Additionally, the developed sensor showed promising selectivity in the presence of Cu2+ and Cd2+ and stability for at least 5 cycles of continuous measurements with good repeatability. This work demonstrates the potential applications of Nb4C3Tx towards the development of effective electrochemical sensors.

RSC Advances

Large interlayer spacing Nb4C3T: X(MXene) promotes the ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of Pb2+on glassy carbon electrodes

Tremendous efforts have been made these last decades to increase our knowledge of intracellular degradative systems, especially in the field of autophagy. The role of autophagy in the maintenance of cell homeostasis is well documented and the existence of defects in the autophagic machinery has been largely described in diseases and aging. Determining the alterations occurring in the many forms of autophagy that coexist in cells and tissues remains complicated, as this cellular process is highly dynamic in nature and can vary from organ to organ in the same individual. Although autophagy is extensively studied, its functioning in different tissues and its links with other biological processes is still poorly understood. Several assays have been developed to monitor autophagy activity in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo, based on different markers, the use of various inhibitors and activators, and distinct techniques. This review emphasizes the methods applied to measure (macro-)autophagy in tissue samples and in vivo via a protein, which centrally intervenes in the autophagy pathway, the microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (MAP1LC3), which is the most widely used marker and the first identified to associate with autophagosomal structures. These approaches are presented and discussed in terms of pros and cons. Some recommendations are provided to improve the reliability of the interpretation of results.

Cells

Progress and Challenges in The Use of MAP1LC3 as a Legitimate Marker for Measuring Dynamic Autophagy In Vivo

Basophils play an important role in orienting Th2 immune response, and in the pathogenesis of allergic and inflammatory disorders. However, the mechanism by which basophils are kept in check remains unclear and hence we explored the role of regulatory T cells (Treg cells) in this process. We demonstrate that human Treg cells do not suppress rather induce activation of basophils, and promote Th2 responses by IL-3 and STAT5-dependent mechanism. © 2020, © 2020 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

OncoImmunology

Regulatory T cells do not suppress rather activate human basophils by IL-3 and STAT5-dependent mechanisms

In this work, we study the electrochemical performance of Nb2CTx and Nb4C3Tx MXenes in the aqueous media and their application as a sensing platform for small biomolecules. Both Nb2CTx and Nb4C3Tx are electrochemically stable up to an anodic potential of 0.5 V. It was found that Nb4C3Tx is more electrochemically active than Nb2CTx. Based on this, Nb4C3Tx was evaluated for the electrochemical detection of aqueous media solutions containing ascorbic acid, uric acid and dopamine. This work opens the door for the wider application of Nb-based MXenes in aqueous electrochemical sensing applications.

Electrochemistry Communications

Nb-based MXenes for efficient electrochemical sensing of small biomolecules in the anodic potential

During the last week of December 2019, Wuhan (China) was confronted with the first case of respiratory tract disease 2019 (coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Due to the rapid outbreak of the transmission (~3.64 million positive cases and high mortality as of 5 May 2020), the world is looking for immediate and better therapeutic options. Still, much information is not known, including origin of the disease, complete genomic characterization, mechanism of transmission dynamics, extent of spread, possible genetic predisposition, clinical and biological diagnosis, complete details of disease-induced pathogenicity, and possible therapeutic options. Although several known drugs are already under clinical evaluation with many in repositioning strategies, much attention has been paid to the aminoquinoline derivates, chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). These molecules are known regulators of endosomes/lysosomes, which are subcellular organelles central to autophagy processes. By elevating the pH of acidic endosomes/lysosomes, CQ/HCQ inhibit the autophagic process. In this short perspective, we discuss the roles of CQ/HCQ in the treatment of COVID-19 patients and propose new ways of possible treatment for SARS-CoV-2 infection based on the molecules that selectivity target autophagy.Abbreviation: ACE2: angiotensin I converting enzyme 2; CoV: coronavirus; CQ: chloroquine; ER: endoplasmic reticulum; HCQ: hydroxychloroquine; MERS-CoV: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus; SARS-CoV: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus; SARS-CoV-2: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Autophagy

Autophagy as an emerging target for COVID-19: lessons from an old friend, chloroquine

In humans, loss-of-function mutation in the Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) gene is frequently associated with susceptibility to bacterial as well as fungal infections including aspergillosis, although its pathogenesis remains largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the immune responses obtained after stimulation with Aspergillus fumigatus in STAT3-deficient patients. A. fumigatus conidial killing efficiencies of both monocytes and neutrophils isolated from whole blood samples of STAT3-deficient patients were not different compared to those of healthy controls. After stimulation with A. fumigatus conidia, lower concentrations of adaptive cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-17 and IL-22) were secreted by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from STAT3-deficient patients compared to those from healthy controls. Moreover, the frequency of IFN-γ and IL-17 producing CD4+ T cells was lower in STAT3-deficient patients vs. healthy controls. Among the STAT3-deficient patients, those with aspergillosis showed further lower secretion of IFN-γ upon stimulation of their PBMCs with A. fumigatus conidia compared to the patients without aspergillosis. Together, our study indicated that STAT3-deficiency leads to a defective adaptive immune response against A. fumigatus infection, particularly with a lower IFN-γ and IL-17 responses in those with aspergillosis, suggesting potential therapeutic benefit of recombinant IFN-γ in STAT3-deficient patients with aspergillosis. © Copyright © 2020 Danion, Aimanianda, Bayry, Duréault, Wong, Bougnoux, Tcherakian, Alyanakian, Guegan, Puel, Picard, Lortholary, Lanternier and Latgé.