An electrochemical nitrite biosensor based on co-immobilization of copper-containing nitrite reductase (Cu-NiR, from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides forma sp. denitrificans) and viologen-modified chitosan (CHIT-V) on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) is presented. Electron transfer (ET) between a conventional GCE and immobilized Cu-NiR was mediated by the co-immobilized CHIT-V. Redox-active viologen...

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by airway inflammation, mucus hypersecretion and airway hyperresponsiveness. Mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of asthma are not fully understood. In recent years, there are mounting evidences demonstrating that mammalian chitinases may play a key role in mediating the T-helper 2 cell-driven inflammatory response that is commonly assoc...

A potentiometrically tuned-glucose biosensor was fabricated using core-shell nanocomposite based on zinc oxide encapsulated chitosan-graft-poly(vinyl alcohol) (ZnO/CHIT-g-PVAL). In a typical experiment, ZnO/CHIT-g-PVAL core-shell nanocomposite containing <20 nm ZnO nanoparticles was synthesized using wet-chemical method. The glucose responsive bio-electrode, i.e., glucose oxidase/ZnO/chitosan-g...

Background: Chitinases (EC.3.2.1.14) hydrolyze the β-1,4-linkages in chitin, an abundant Nacetyl-β-D-glucosamine polysaccharide that is a structural component of protective biological matrices such as insect exoskeletons and fungal cell walls. The glycoside hydrolase 18 (GH18) family of chitinases is an ancient gene family widely expressed in archea, prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Mammals are not ...

Quercetin is a bioflavonoid, used to treat several diseases. The aim of the present work was to estimate the effect of quercetin loaded chitosan nanoparticles (QUER-CHIT) against monocrotophos induced toxicity in rat erythrocytes in vitro. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) characterization and biocom...

BACKGROUND The Gastrointestinal (GI) tract is critical to AIDS pathogenesis as it is the primary site for viral transmission and a major site of viral replication and CD4(+) T cell destruction. Consequently GI disease, a major complication of HIV/SIV infection can facilitate translocation of lumenal bacterial products causing localized/systemic immune activation leading to AIDS progression. M...

Chitin-containing food is an interesting but underestimated source of locally available, in most cases sustainable, food although chitin digestion by humans has generally been questioned or denied. Only in recent times chitinases have been found in several human tissues and their role has been associated with defence against parasite infections as well as with some allergic conditions. We refle...

In Gaucher disease type I (GD, OMIM #230800), deficient activity of the enzyme glucocerebrosidase results in hepatosplenomegaly, cytopenia and skeletal disease. Skeletal disease leads to chronic bone pain and/or severe complications such as pathological fractures, avascular necrosis and bone crises. Enzyme Replacement Therapy symptoms of the disease with doses ranging between 15 and 120 U/kg/4w...

Gaucher's Disease (GD) is the most common lysosomal storage disease. It results from a genetic deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme ?glucocerebrosidase causing an abnormal accumulation of glucocerebrosides in macrophages. Type ? GD is the commonest, defined by the absence of neurologic involvement. Characteristic features include hepatosplenomegaly, skeletal involvement, elevated levels of serum ...