Amit Singh from IISc explains how a protein (WhiB4) that condenses the DNA of TB-causing bacteria in response to oxidative stress was identified. The team found that artificially elevating the levels of WhiB4 protein led to prolonged compaction of DNA leading to bacterial death. Drugs or inhibitors that can either keep the WhiB4 protein level … Continue reading Podcast: New approaches to kill TB bacteria
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IACS researchers use a novel compound to kill cancer cells
IACS researchers have synthesised a novel porphyrin compound that shows potent anticancer activity. The porphyrin compound selectively targets and binds to cellular topoisomerase 1 enzyme, which is essential for maintenance of DNA architecture in the cells, found in cancer cells and causes cell death. Researchers at Kolkata’s Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) … Continue reading IACS researchers use a novel compound to kill cancer cells
More light on how Zika virus infects the placenta
Some pregnant women who are infected with Zika virus transmit the infection to the foetus (vertical transmission). Researchers now know how the virus is able to cross the placental barrier and infect the foetus. The Zika virus infects and replicates in immune cells of the placenta (Hofbauer cells). The infected cells, which are not killed, … Continue reading More light on how Zika virus infects the placenta
Mothers’ low weight linked to shorter height of Indian children
The “Asian enigma” of why Indian children end up being shorter and smaller than African children appears to have been resolved — Indian mothers are underweight prior to conception (BMI less than 18.5) and gain less weight during pregnancy. Hence, there is a deficit in maternal nutrition during pregnancy, and this deficit tends to affect … Continue reading Mothers’ low weight linked to shorter height of Indian children
Now, blood tests can reveal suicide risk
Across the world, one million people commit suicide every year. Now, a simple blood test that looks for enhanced expression of a few genes can quite accurately identify people who are at great risk of committing suicide. Since people planning to commit suicide do not always share their intentions with others, a reliable tool that … Continue reading Now, blood tests can reveal suicide risk
Population admixture happened in India for 2,300 years
Genetic evidence provides sufficient proof that modern day Indian population that was derived from two major ancestral populations — ancestral north Indians (ANI) and ancestral south Indians (ASI) — does not have major genetic differences. Till 4,200 years ago, the two populations grew independently and produced many more groups but there was no admixture between … Continue reading Population admixture happened in India for 2,300 years
Indian’s UAV to survey Arctic ice algae
Making unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) was a passion for Vinoth Gurusamy even while he was a student. The 26-year-old, who hails from Tiruchi, Tamil Nadu, has now turned his passion into an enterprise at the University of Sheffield, UK. The passion first found expression in 2008 during his under-graduation in aeronautical engineering at the Chennai-based … Continue reading Indian’s UAV to survey Arctic ice algae
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