Biology subjects

Parab, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Parab, A..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Elucidating the functional profiles of cultivable bacterial communities in the water and sediments during the southwest monsoon season, along the west coast of India.

Understanding the functional profiles of cultivable bacterial communities is crucial for comprehending their ecological significance in marine environments. This study investigates the functional profiles of cultivable bacterial communities in the water and sediments during the productive, southwest monsoon season, along the west coast of India. The southwest monsoon plays a vital role in shaping the hydrological and biogeochemical characteristics of this region, making it an ideal period to study bacterial communities and their functions. Our study utilizes a cultivation techniques to study taxonomy as well as functional assays to elucidate the diverse organic substrates utilization capabilities of bacterial communities. Cultivable bacteria were isolated from discrete water depths and sediment samples from the coastal and off-shore region. Subsequently the carbohydrase, lipase and protease assays were performed to assess its functional potential. The results of this study reveal a rich diversity of cultivable bacterial communities including, representative from Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacterial phylum with diverse functional profiles. The functional analyses provide insights into the metabolic capabilities of the bacteria, including organic substrates degradation, processes. The bacterial taxonomic diversity and enzymes activities were significantly different (p < 0.001) among the water and sediment bacterial morphotypes. In conclusion, this research sheds light on the functional profiles of cultivable bacterial communities in the water and sediments along the west coast of India during the productive southwest monsoon season. The comprehensive analysis of their functional capabilities provides insights into their ecological roles and potential significance in organic matter recycling. These findings contribute to our understanding of microbial diversity and ecosystem functioning in coastal environments and lay the groundwork for further research on harnessing the significance of these bacteria in biogeochemical cycling.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2023

Influence of seasonal variations in primary productivity on the bacterial community structure at Chlorophyll Maximum (C-Max) depths along the west coast of India.

An increase in primary productivity is recorded annually during the southwest monsoon season along the west coast of India, an important upwelling zone. The influence of the seasonal variations in the in situ primary productivity on the bacterial dynamics and community structure was explored during the non-monsoon and productive monsoon seasons. In the monsoon season, shallower mixed layer depth, increased nutrient concentration and a significant, positive correlation of bacterial carbon (p < 0.01) with primary productivity was observed. Bacterial diversity was assessed in the chlorophyll maxima depths during both seasons based on next-generation, metagenomic analysis. In the non-monsoon season, genera such as Idiomarina, Salinimonas, Marinobacter of Proteobacteria and Bacillus and Lactobacillus of Firmicutes were dominant. These major bacterial genera are shown through canonical correspondence analysis to play an important ecological role. They could be responsible for the increased heterotrophic activity recorded through predicted functional gene profiles in this season. In the monsoon season, increased abundance in the autotrophic Cyanobacteria community and its photosynthetic activity was recorded in the gene profiles. Higher diversity of heterotrophic phyla such as Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria and a few Candidatus phyla and changes in the diversity of Proteobacteria with a representation of Alteromonas, SAR86 clade and OM60 (NOR5) was observed. These results highlight the bacterial dynamics associated with seasonal variations in primary productivity along the west coast of India.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Metabolite profiling of experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions demonstrates significant perturbations in tissue phospholipids

Each year 700,000 to 1.2 million new cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) are reported and yet CL remains one of thirteen diseases classified as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Leishmania major is one of several different species of that same genus that can cause CL. Current CL treatments are limited by adverse effects and rising resistance. Studying disease metabolism at the site of infection can lead to new drug targets. In this study, samples were collected from mice infected in the ear and footpad with L. major and analyzed by untargeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Significant differences in overall metabolite profiles were noted in the ear at the site of the lesion. Interestingly, lesion-adjacent, macroscopically healthy sites also showed alterations in specific metabolites, including select phosphocholines (PCs). Host-derived PCs in the lower m/z range (m/z 200-799) showed an increase with infection in the ear at the lesion site, while those in the higher m/z range (m/z 800-899) were decreased with infection at the lesion site. Overall, our results expanded our understanding of the mechanisms of CL pathogenesis through the host metabolism and may lead to new curative measures against infection with Leishmania. Author summaryCutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of thirteen neglected tropical diseases in the world today. It is an infectious disease with a wide distribution spanning five continents, with increasing distribution expected due to climate change. CL manifests as skin lesions and ulcers that are disabling and stigmatized. With the current treatment options being limited, studying host-pathogen metabolism can uncover mechanisms of disease pathogenesis that may lead to new curative measures against infection. In this paper we used untargeted metabolomics to address molecular-level changes occurring in vivo in experimental skin lesions of Leishmania major. Distinct global metabolic profiles were observed. Total phosphocholines (PCs) and those in the lower m/z ranges were significantly higher at the site of the skin lesion in the ear. In addition, specific PCs as well as PCs of varied m/z ranges were also affected at healthy-appearing lesion-adjacent sites, indicating that infection-induced metabolic perturbations are not restricted to the lesion site. Ultimately, these results provide essential clues to the metabolic pathways affected by CL.

biochemistry↗