ABSTRACT:The current study was carried out to evaluate the effects of gamma irradiation on the epiphytic microflora and ripening process of the green Dwarf Cavendish bananas harvested at the three-quarter stage of the maturity. The mature green bananas were irradiated using Cobalt-60 as the source of irradiation at different dosages of 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 kGy. The mean life of both the experimental and control group of fruits was analyzed under ambient conditions. For all the treatments the microbial potential, the decay percent and the ripening behavior of the fruits were recorded. Results revealed that the applied radiation doses reduced the decay incidence, delayed ripening process and greatly inhibit the microbial growth (total bacterial and fungal count) thereby enhancing the shelf life of bananas. Irradiation dose of 1.0 kGy was found to be the most effective dose to positively maintain the stored bananas under ambient conditions. The mean life of bananas was extended by 14 days. The identification of the enteric bacteriaeaceae through API 20 E strips revealed the presence of Shigella sonnie on the fruit surface along with Escherichia coli and a nonfermentor spp. The dominant spoilage causing fungi identified were Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Collotrichum musae, Fusarium oxysporum,Mucor spp, Lasiodiplodia theobromea and Rhizopus stolonifer.

Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), a multifunctional cytokine responsible for providing resistance against infections, inflammation, and cancers. TNF-α has emerged as a promising drug target against several autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. Several synthetic antibodies (Infliximab, Etanercept, and Adalimumab) are available, but their potential to cause severe side effects has prompted them to develop alternative small molecules-based therapies for inhibition of TNF-α. In the present study, combined in silico approaches based on pharmacophore modeling, virtual screening, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics studies were employed to understand significant direct interactions between TNF-α protein and small molecule inhibitors.Initially, four different small molecule libraries (~17.5 million molecules) were virtually screened against the selected pharmacophore model. The identified hits were further subjected to molecular docking studies. The three potent lead compounds (ZINC05848961, ZINC09402309, ZINC04502991) were further subjected to 100 ns molecular dynamic studies to examine their stability. Our docking and molecular dynamic analysis revealed that the selected lead compounds target the TNF receptor (TNFR) and efficiently block the production of TNF. Moreover, in silico ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity) analysis revealed that all the predicted compounds have good pharmacokinetic properties with high gastrointestinal absorption and a decent bioavailability score. Furthermore, toxicity profiles further evidenced that these compounds have no risk of being mutagenic, tumorigenic, reproductive and irritant except ZINC11915498. In conclusion, the present study could serve as the starting point to develop new therapeutic regimens to treat various TNF-related diseases.

Strongyle infection among horses is complex and produces an inflammatory enteropathy resulting in impaired intestinal motility and microcirculation. In this study, presence of strongylosis was determined by fecal examination for nematode eggs in thoroughbred horses of Punjab Province, Pakistan. A cross sectional study was conducted from January to December 2017 in four districts of Punjab province namely Sahiwal, Lahore, Sargodha and Mandi Baha-ud-Din. A total of 2,400 fecal samples were collected from horses and examined by direct smear and floatation method. Presence was calculated according to region, month, season, age and gender. In addition, the effect of meteorological factors such as temperature, humidity and rainfall were also analyzed. The findings revealed that out of 2,400 samples, 973 (40.54%) were found positive for strongylosis. There was a statistically significant difference between seasons and months with disease occurrence. The parasite and host form an association to form an epidemiological danger. The existence and localization of this association must be recognized well in time to control the problem.