Haloarchaea inhabit high salinity environments worldwide. They are a potentially rich source of crucial biomolecules like carotenoids and industrially useful proteins. However, diversity in haloarchaea present in Indian high salinity environments is poorly studied. In the present study, we isolated 12 haloarchaeal strains from hypersaline Kottakuppam, Tamil Nadu solar saltern in India. 16S rRNA based taxonomic characterization of these isolates suggested that nine of them are novel strains that belong to genera Haloarcula, Halomicrobium, and Haloferax. Transmission electron microscopy suggests the polymorphic nature of these haloarchaeal isolates. Most of the haloarchaeal species are known to be high producers of carotenoids. We were able to isolate carotenoids from all these 12 isolates. The UV-Vis spectroscopy-based analysis suggests that bacterioruberin and lycopene are the major carotenoids produced by these isolates. Based on the visual inspection of the purified carotenoids, the isolates were classified into two broad categories i.e., yellow and orange, attributed to the differences in the ratio of bacterioruberin and lycopene as confirmed by the UV-Vis spectral analysis. Using a PCR-based screening assay, we were able to detect the presence of the bacteriorhodopsin gene (bop) in 11 isolates. We performed whole-genome sequencing for three bop positive and one bop negative haloarchaeal isolates. Whole-genome sequencing, followed by pan-genome analysis identified multiple unique genes involved in various biological functions. We also successfully cloned, expressed, and purified functional recombinant bacteriorhodopsin (BR) from one of the isolates using Escherichia coli as an expression host. BR has light-driven proton pumping activity resulting in the proton gradient across the membrane, which is utilized by V-Type ATPases to produce ATP. We analyzed the distribution of bop and other accessory genes involved in functional BR expression and ATP synthesis in all the representative haloarchaeal species. Our bioinformatics-based analysis of all the sequenced members of genus Haloarcula suggests that bop, if present, is usually inserted between the genes coding for B and D subunits of the V-type ATPases operon. This study provides new insights into the genomic variations in haloarchaea and reports expression of new BR variant having good expression in functional form in E. coli.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Background: Retention of neonatal resuscitation skill among birth attendants have been a challenge in developing countries. The objective of the study was to document the performance of skill labs and its impact on the skill and knowledge of the birth attendants in India.Methods: In three districts of Uttar Pradesh, impact assessment of twelve skill labs was done adopting mixed quantitative and qualitative methodology.Results: Twelve skill labs supported skill building of 606 birth attendants over one year. Six of the units performed well and four moderately and too units poorly. The health functionaries at all levels were positive about their experience about the skill labs. Majority of them hoped sustenance of these units. There was marked retention of resuscitation skill after one year.Conclusions: The skill labs appear to be useful modality for promoting retention of the resuscitation skills of birth attendants.

Introduction: Vitiligo affects approximately 2% of the worldwide population regardless of race, ethnic background or gender. When the medical methods are not successful, surgical procedures may be considered with the aim of placing a new source of pigment cells to reinitiate melanogenesis within the affected areas. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of combining punch grafting followed by PUVASOL therapy in vitiligo patients. After punch grafting patients are given PUVA/PUVASOL exposure.