MicroRNA–mRNA interaction network using TSK-type recurrent neural fuzzy network

MicroRNAs are short non-coding RNAs that can regulate gene expression during various crucial cell processes such as differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis. Changes in expression profiles of miRNA play an important role in the development of many cancers, including CRC. Therefore, the identification of cancer related miRNAs and their target genes are important for cancer biology research. In this paper, we applied TSK-type recurrent neural fuzzy network (TRNFN) to infer miRNA–mRNA association network from paired miRNA, mRNA expression profiles of CRC patients. We demonstrated that the method we proposed achieved good performance in recovering known experimentally verified miRNA–mRNA associations. Moreover, our approach proved successful in identifying 17 validated cancer miRNAs which are directly involved in the CRC related pathways. Targeting such miRNAs may help not only to prevent the recurrence of disease but also to control the growth of advanced metastatic tumors. Our regulatory modules provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis of cancer

Molecular Characterization and Gene Expression Profiling of Antimicrobial Peptides in Penaeid Shrimps

The constitutive production of AMPs in shrimps ensures that animals are able to protect themselves from low-level assaults by pathogens present in the environment. As these molecules play important roles in the shrimp immune defense system, the expression level of these AMPs are possible indicators of the immune state of shrimps. The present study also indicates the antiviral property of AMPs, especially ALF, stressing the importance of their up-regulation through the application of immunostimulants/probiotics as a prophylactic strategy in aquaculture. The present study shows that shrimp defense system is equipped enough to evade WSSV infection to a certain extent, when the animals were maintained on marine yeast and probiotic diet, whereas the control diet fed group succumbed to WSSV infection. This study reveals that marine yeast and probiotic supplemented diet can delay the process of WSSV infection and confer greater protection to the animals. Particularly, the protection conferred by marine yeast, C. haemulonii S27 and Bacillus MCCB101 were highly promising imparting greater hope to the aquaculture community to overcome the prevailing disease problems in aquaculture. It may be inferred from the present study that up-regulation of AMP genes could be effected by the application of immunostimulants and probiotics. Also, AMP expression profile could be used as an effective tool for screening immunostimulants and probiotics for application in shrimp culture. Ultimately, it is likely that no single compound or strategy will provide a solution to the problem of disease within aquaculture and that, in reality, a suite of techniques will be required including the manipulation of the rearing environment, addition of probionts as a matter of routine during culture, and the use of immunostimulants and other supplements during vulnerable growth phases. Finally, the development of good management practices, the control of environmental variables, genetic improvement in the penaeid species, understanding of host-virus interaction, modulation of the shrimp immune system, supported by functional genomics and proteomics of this crustacean, as a whole suggests that the control of WSSV is not far.

Mangrove plant Ceriops tagal as a potential source of anti White Spot Syndrome Virus preparations for Penaeus monodon

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is the deadliest virus among crustaceans ever discovered having several unique and novel features. Recent developments in genomics and proteomics could elucidate the molecular process involved in the WSSV infection and the host pathogen interaction to some extent. Until now no fool proof treatment or prophylactic measure has been made available to control WSSV out breaks in culture system. Even though there are technologies like application of immunostimulants, vaccines, RNAi and several antiviral natural products none of them has been taken to the level of clinical trials. However, there are several management options such as application of bioremediation technologies to maintain the required environmental quality, maintenance of zero water exchange systems coupled with application of probiotics and vaccines which on adoption shall pave way for successful crops amidst the rapid spread of the virus. In this context the present work was undertaken to develop a drug from mangrove plants for protecting shrimp from WSSV.Mangroves belong to those ecosystems that are presently under the threat of destruction, diversion and blatant attack in the name of so called ‘developmental activities’. Mangrove plants have unique ecological features as it serves as an ecotone between marine and terrestrial ecosystem and hence possess diversity of metabolites with diverse activities. This prompted them being used as remedial measures for several ailments for ages. Among the mangrove plants Ceriops tagal, belonging to the family Rhizophororaceae was in attention for many years for isolating new metabolites such as triterpenes, phenolic compounds, etc. Even though there were attempts to study various plant extracts to develop anti-viral preparations their activity against WSSV was not investigated as yet.

Polymer-Solvent Interaction Parameter for NR/SBR and NR/BR Blends

Polymer-solvent interaction parameters for the blends of natural rubber (NR) with styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and polybutadiene rubber ( BR) are calculated using the Flory-Rehner equation by equating the network density of the vulcanizates in two solvents.