Twenty one genotypes and two check varieties viz. CS-88 and V-240 of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. ] were screened for total proteins. The total protein content ranged from 22.4 (HC-3) to 27.9 % (HC-98-64) in 21 genotypes whereas in check varieties it was 25.6 (V-240) and 26.0 % (CS-88). Seven genotypes viz. HC-6, HC-5, CP-21, LST-II-C-12, CP-16, COVU-702 and HC-98-64 having high protein content (26.7 to 27.9 %) were selected for further characterization of their seed storage proteins. Globulins were the major protein fraction ranging from 55.6 (LST-II-C-12) to 58.8 % (CP-16 and HC-6) of total protein. Glutelins was the second major fraction ranging from 14.4 to 15.6 % followed by albumins (8.2 to 11.9 %) and prolamins (2.3 to 5.0 %). Content of free amino acids also showed variations amongst genotypes with COVU-702 having maximum and LST-II-C-12 having minimum content. Essential amino acid analysis revealed that S-amino acids (cysteine and methionine) were the first limiting amino acids followed by tryptophan. From the results presented here it could be suggested that two genotypes viz. LST-II-C-12 and HC-5 be used in breeding programmes aimed at developing high protein moth bean varieties with good quality.

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Estimation of angles of arrival of plane waves f r o m data observed at an array of sensors is performed with a network of interconnected, instantaneous, s a t u r a t i n g non-linear elements called neurons. T h e networks use the observed data to decide which among a large number of hypothesized angles of arrivals best fits t h e data. A possible stochastic-digital implementation of such a network is also indicated.

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An unusual pneumonia infection, named COVID-19, was reported on December 2019 in China. It was reported to be caused by a novel coronavirus which has infected approximately 8.7 million people worldwide with a death toll of 463000 till date. This study is focused on finding potential vaccine candidates and designing an in-silico subunit multi-epitope vaccine candidates using a unique computational pipeline, integrating reverse vaccinology and molecular docking methods. A protein named SARS-CoV-spike [S] protein of SARS-CoV-2 having GenBank ID- QHD43416.1 was shortlisted, as a potential vaccine candidate and was examined for the presence of B-cell and T-cell epitopes. We also investigated antigenicity and interaction with distinct polymorphic alleles of the epitopes. High ranking epitopes/peptides such as DLCFTNVY (B cell class), KIADYNKL (MHC Class-I) and VKNKCVNFN (MHC class-II) were shortlisted for subsequent analysis. Digestion analysis verified the safety and stability of the shortlisted peptides. Docking study reported a strong binding of proposed peptides with HLA-A*02 and HLA-B7 alleles. We used standard methods to construct vaccine model and this construct was evaluated further for its antigenicity, physicochemical properties, 2D and 3D structure prediction and validation. Finally, the vaccine construct was reverse transcribed and adapted for E. coli strain K 12 prior to the insertion within the pET-28-a (+) vector for determining translational and microbial expression. Also, six multi-epitope subunit vaccines were constructed using different strategies containing immunogenic epitopes, appropriate adjuvants and linker sequences. We propose that our vaccine constructs can be used for downstream investigations using in-vitro and in-vivo studies to design effective and safe vaccine against COVID19.

In asthmatics, there was a significant decrease in cholesterol contents (p < .05), decrease in total phospholipid contents (p < .005), increase in SM (p < .01), decrease in cholesterol: SM ratio (p < .001) and increase in sphingomyelinase activity (p < .001) in erythrocyte membranes. We conclude that in asthma, the increase in SM contents is associated with increased sphingomyelinase activity which shows an imbalance in SM metabolism, directed toward its accumulation. The ratio of cholesterol to SM, critical for maintenance of lipid rafts, was significantly lower in asthmatics. This indicates changes in structure of lipid rafts which may lead to the pathophysiology and development of asthma. Regulation of SM metabolism may help in disease regulation and its control.

In asthma, there are quantitative and qualitative changes in proteins of erythrocyte membranes. The absence of band 4.2 protein may cause impairment of the erythrocyte membrane integrity, and presence of galectin-3 may lead to the activation of various inflammatory cells. The altered protein profile may possibly lead to altered response of the inflammatory cells to the asthmogenic stimuli, which may be responsible for pathophysiology and manifestation of the symptoms of bronchial asthma.