Department of Bioscience & Bioengineering

&ldquo;IIT Jodhpur is committed to impart quality education to facilitate the creation of qualified, competent and responsible human resources to meet the emerging technological challenges of the world. It is working towards creating an equitable learning platform that is positive, accessible and effective in the face of the modern societal and scientific advancements.

Flexibility in curriculum, in all its academic programs, encompassing elements of teaching, research, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship is the most unique feature of IIT Jodhpur. The Department of Science and Technology (DST), under the National Mission on Cyber Physical Systems, has identified IIT Jodhpur as a Technology &amp; Innovation Hub in the area of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. The institute has also been nominated as the coordinator for the Jodhpur City and Knowledge Cluster by the Office of Principal Scientific Adviser, Government of India.

The sprawling 852-acre IIT Jodhpur campus is a majestic tribute to the deep-rooted diverse cultural heritage of the region. The campus is an architectural masterpiece, which is slated to become an international exemplar of sustainability with net-zero energy, and advanced water and waste management strategies.&rdquo;

IIT Jodhpur

Background: India first detected SARS-CoV-2, causal agent of COVID-19 in late January 2020, imported from Wuhan, China. From March 2020 onwards, the importation of cases from countries in the rest of the world followed by seeding of local transmission triggered further outbreaks in India. Methods: We used ARTIC protocol-based tiling amplicon sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 (n=104) from different states of India using a combination of MinION and MinIT sequencing from Oxford Nanopore Technology to understand how introduction and local transmission occurred. Results: The analyses revealed multiple introductions of SARS-CoV-2 genomes, including the A2a cluster from Europe and the USA, A3 cluster from Middle East and A4 cluster (haplotype redefined) from Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia) and Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan). The local transmission and persistence of genomes A4, A2a and A3 was also observed in the studied locations. The most prevalent genomes with patterns of variance (confined in a cluster) remain unclassified, and are here proposed as A4-clade based on its divergence within the A cluster. Conclusions: The viral haplotypes may link their persistence to geo-climatic conditions and host response. Multipronged strategies including molecular surveillance based on real-time viral genomic data is of paramount importance for a timely management of the pandemic. © 2020 Kumar P et al.

World University root node

Fulltext

Wellcome Open Research

Integrated genomic view of SARS-CoV-2 in India

The consumption of cannabis-based products is increasing worldwide day-by-day because of their euphoric effects. Numerous studies have reported the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and even mortality in people consuming cannabis. However, not much attention has been paid to understand the cannabis-induced alteration in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity, which can help in the early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. The current study investigated the alteration in the ANS activity of 200 Indian male volunteers due to the consumption of bhang (a cannabis-based product) using heart rate variability (HRV) analysis. The results suggested a reduction in the variability of the heart rate, increased sympathetic dominance, and a corresponding reduction in the parasympathetic activity in the bhang consuming population, which may lead to various cardiovascular diseases. These inferences can act as evidence for counseling people to stop consuming cannabis. The study further proposes a machine learning model for automated identification of the bhang consuming population. The HRV parameters were subjected to weight-based feature ranking and dimension reduction methods to select suitable inputs for the machine learning models. After comparing the performances of the Naïve Bayes (NB), Generalized Linear Model (GLM), Linear Regression (LR), Fast Large Margin (FLM), Deep Learning (DL), Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF), Gradient Boosted Tree (GBT), and Support Vector Machine (SVM), a GBT model was finally chosen as the best model. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd

Biomedical Signal Processing and Control

Analysis of heart rate variability to understand the effect of cannabis consumption on Indian male paddy-field workers

Biopolymer-Based Formulations: Biomedical and Food Applications presents the latest advances in the synthesis and characterization of advanced biopolymeric formulations and their state-of-the-art applications across biomedicine and food science. Sections cover the fundamentals, applications, future trends, environmental, ethical and medical considerations, and biopolymeric architectures that are organized in nano, micro and macro scales. The final section of the book focuses on novel applications and recent developments. This book is an essential resource for researchers, scientists and advanced students in biopolymer science, polymer science, polymer chemistry, polymer composites, plastics engineering, biomaterials, materials science, biomedical engineering, and more. It will also be of interest to R&D professionals, scientists and engineers across the plastics, food, biomedical and pharmaceutical industries. © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Biopolymer-Based Formulations: Biomedical and Food Applications

A series of heterocyclic C5-curcuminoids (bis(arylmethylidene)acetones) (PJ1-PJ6) having a large Stokes shift (Δλ = 104-173 nm) have been synthesized for the selective detection of cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy) and glutathione (GSH) in living cells. The compounds were synthesized using a new methodology via deacetylation under microwave conditions. The photophysical properties of these compounds have been studied. Prominent colour changes from bright yellow to colourless in the presence of thiols were observed for PJ1. Live cell imaging has been employed with PJ1 for the utilization of the probe to detect homocysteine in A375 cells and apoptosis in AGS cells. © 2020 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Analyst

A bis-indole/carbazole based C5-curcuminoid fluorescent probe with large Stokes shift for selective detection of biothiols and application to live cell imaging

The sudden ravaging outbreak of a novel coronavirus, or SARS-CoV-2, in terms of virulence, severity, and casualties has already overtaken previous versions of coronaviruses, like SARS CoV and MERS CoV. Originating from its epicenter in Wuhan, China, this mutated version of the influenza virus with its associated pandemic effects has engulfed the whole world with awful speed. In the midst of this bewildering situation, medical and scientific communities are on their toes to produce the potential vaccine-mediated eradication of this virus. Though the chances are really high, to date no such panacea has been reported. The time requirements for the onerous procedures of human trials for the successful clinical translation of any vaccine or potential therapeutics are also a major concern. In order to build some resistance against this massive pandemic, the repurposing of some earlier antiviral drugs has been done, along with the refurbishment of some immune-responsive alternative avenues, like monoclonal antibody mediated neutralization, interferon treatment, and plasma therapy. New drugs developed from the RBD domain of the virus spike protein and drugs targeting viral proteases are also undergoing further research and have shown potential from preliminary results. The sole purpose of this review article is to provide a brief collective overview of the recent status of therapeutics advances and approaches, and their current state of implementation for the management of COVID-19. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.

RSC Advances

An overview of key potential therapeutic strategies for combat in the COVID-19 battle

Protein nanocomposites have attracted considerable research interest in recent times owing to the combined advantageous properties of nanotechnology and proteins. Lysozyme holds enormous potential in various biomedical applications as it possesses antibacterial properties, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and analgesic properties. Considering its multifunctional aspects, structural stability and ease of production and modification, special focus has been attributed to this protein. Nanocomposites have either been fabricated completely from lysozyme or have been conjugated to lysozyme considering its versatile biotechnological applications. The current review describes the recent advances of protein nanocomposites using lysozyme as a prime example. Along with the principles, techniques, and applications involved in protein based nanocomposites, this review also provides a comprehensive account of interactions between lysozyme and different nanoparticles. Numerous studies that have integrated the utilization of lysozyme and nanotechnology for a variety of applications have also been discussed at length. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules

Protein nanocomposites: Special inferences to lysozyme based nanomaterials

Nuclear wastes contain high nitrate concentration along with radionuclides like U (VI). Also, several reports suggest the presence of U (VI) and nitrate as co-contaminants in groundwater. The denitrifying bacteria consortia at MFC cathode produced phosphatase enzyme, which catalyzed the controlled release of phosphate from glycerol 3 phosphate. The inorganic phosphate combined with U (VI) resulting in insoluble uranyl phosphate. Ninety percent of initial U (VI) added in the biocathode could be recovered as Uranyl phosphate. XRD analysis confirmed the presence of uranyl phosphate precipitating at the cathode. Nitrate acted as an electron acceptor at the cathode, enabling completion of the MFC circuit and simultaneous nitrate and U (VI) removal. Since the process was performed in the MFC; the remediation was accompanied by power output. The power density of 2.91 Wm−3 and nitrate removal rate of 0.130 kg NO3−-N m−3 d−1 was achieved. The 16S rDNA based community analysis revealed a high abundance of Pseudomonas species in biocathode. This study demonstrates the applicability of MFC for simultaneous nitrate and U (VI) removal while producing electrical energy. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.

Department of Electrical Engineering

Chemical Engineering Journal

Microbial fuel cell for simultaneous removal of uranium (VI) and nitrate

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), insoluble Aβ42 peptide fragments self-aggregate and form oligomers and fibrils in the brain, causing neurotoxicity. Further, the presence of redox-active metal ions such as Cu2+ enhances the aggregation process through chelation with these Aβ42 aggregates as well as generation of Aβ42-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS). Herein, we have adopted a bioinspired strategy to design and develop a multifunctional glycopeptide hybrid molecule (Glupep), which can serve as a potential AD therapeutic. This molecule consists of a natural metal-chelating tetrapeptide motif of human serum albumin (HSA), a β-sheet breaker peptide, and a sugar moiety for better bioavailability. We performed different biophysical and docking experiments, which revealed that Glupep not only associates with Aβ42 but also prevents its self-aggregation to form toxic oligomers and fibrils. Moreover, Glupep was also shown to sequester out Cu2+ from the Aβ-Cu2+ complex, reducing the ROS formation and toxicity. Besides, this study also revealed that Glupep could protect PC12-derived neurons from Aβ-Cu2+-mediated toxicity by reducing intracellular ROS generation and stabilizing the mitochondrial membrane potential. All these exciting features show Glupep to be a potent inhibitor of Aβ42-mediated multifaceted toxicity and a prospective therapeutic lead for AD. Copyright © 2020 American Chemical Society.

Department of Computer Science & Engineering

ACS Omega

Human Serum Albumin-Inspired Glycopeptide-Based Multifunctional Inhibitor of Amyloid-β Toxicity

Due to the rapid growth of drug-resistant bacterial infections, there is an urgent need to develop innovative antimicrobial strategies to conquer the bacterial antibiotic resistance problems. Although a few nanomaterial-based antimicrobial strategies have been developed, the sensitized formation of cytotoxic reactive chlorine species (RCS), including chlorine gas and chlorine free radicals, by photo-activatable plasmonic nanoparticles for evading drug-resistant bacterial infections has not yet been reported. To address this challenge, herein, we report the synthesis of an unprecedented plasmonic core-shell Ag@AgCl nanocrystal through an in situ oxidation route for the photo-induced generation of highly cytotoxic RCS. We present the detailed in vitro and in vivo investigations of visible light activated Ag@AgCl nanostructure-mediated evasion of drug-resistant bacteria. In particular, the in vivo results demonstrate the complete reepithelialization of the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infected wounds on skin upon phototherapeutic treatment mediated Ag@AgCl NCs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first unique example of using Ag@AgCl NCs as an external nanomedicine for photo-induced generation of RCS to mediate effective killing of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative drug resistance bacteria and healing of the subcutaneous abscesses in an in vivo mouse model. © 2020 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Nanoscale

Photosensitized reactive chlorine species-mediated therapeutic destruction of drug-resistant bacteria using plasmonic core-shell Ag@AgCl nanocubes as an external nanomedicine

Abstract: An efficient feasible route for the one-pot synthesis of novel series of urea derivatives (2a–2j) from 2-amino-3-carbomethoxythiophene (1) via in situ isocyanate has been developed, and their corresponding anticancer activities were accomplished. The series of urea derivatives were characterized by using 1H, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopic analysis. The cytotoxic activities were evaluated against human cervical (HeLa) and human lung (NCI-H23) cancer cell lines. These studies revealed satisfactory activity for some of the compounds, which could potentially serve as lead compounds for drug discovery and development. Furthermore, molecular docking studies supported in identifying the potential binding sites between the urea derivatives and eukaryotic ribonucleotidereductase (RR). High ambiguity driven docking (HADDOCK) modelling was specifically employed to determine the model complex of RR and urea derivatives. The proposed model has provided a deep insight into the molecular level interactions of RR-urea model complexes in understanding the exact pharmacophore for designing highly potent RR inhibitors. Overall, the present work has shed light in developing a feasible and robust approach for the synthesis of novel urea derivatives of 2-amino-3-carbomethoxythiophene and identified a part of molecular structure that is responsible for a specific biological interaction leading to potential anticancer activities. Graphic abstract: We report herein, the experimental design, synthesis and characterization of a novel series of urea derivatives of 2-amino-3carbomethoxythiophene with pyrimidine amine and benzyl amine analogues as both derivatives which exhibited potential antitumor activity via one pot synthesis and subsequently studied the structure activity relationships (SAR), and anticancer activities. The docking studies identified a part of molecularstructure that is responsible for a specific biological interaction leading to the destruction of cancer cells.[Figure not available: see fulltext.] © 2020, Indian Academy of Sciences.