Aerobiological, clinical, and immunobiochemical studies on Alstonia scholaris pollen from eastern India

Alstonia scholaris or Indian devil tree is a common, evergreen, tropical tree of the Apocynaceae family. The objectives of this study were (a) to observe the seasonal variation of A. scholaris pollen in the atmosphere of an industrial and rural area of West Bengal, India by conducting a 2-year aerobiological survey with a Burkard personal volumetric sampler, (b) to study its allergenicity in the local population by in vivo (skin-prick test) and in vitro tests (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and dot blotting), (c) to identify the immunoglobulin E (IgE)-binding proteins present in the pollen extract (sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting), (d) to study its chemical composition. A. scholaris pollen were present in the air from September until November. They contained 14.3 % carbohydrate, 9.2 % lipid, and 4.3 % protein. Among 140 respiratory allergic local patients, 28.57 % showed positive skin reaction to A. scholaris pollen extract. Twelve protein bands in the range of 94.4–13.3 kDa were observed in the pollen extract. Seven IgE-binding proteins were found. Among them, one component of 29.9 kDa was the most important in A. scholaris pollen extract. This component could be purified and would be helpful in the diagnosis and therapy of A. scholaris pollen-susceptible patients.     

Microwave mediated synthesis and characterization of CeO2-GO hybrid composite for removal of chromium ions and its antibacterial efficiency

A facile fabrication and processing of cerium oxide-graphene oxide(CeO_2-GO) hybrid nanocomposites without the use of any surfactant or any organic solvents using chemical method and treatment with microwave irradiation technique are reported. In-situ hexagonal nano cerium oxide particles embedded on the layered surface of GO sheets were investigated for the photodegradation of dyes, removal of chromium Cr(VI) ions and against antibacterial studies. The results imply that hybrid nanocomposites shows enhanced 5-folds of photocatalytic activities in UV(ultraviolet) light irradiation and exhibited rapid efficiency in the elimination of chromium ion better than the pure GO and CeO_2, which are inhibited by competent photosensitive electron inoculation and controlling the electron–hole recombination. The synergetic effect of CeO_2-GO composites played a vital role in showing better results against model bacterium than GO and CeO_2 are due to higher physical interaction endorsed to the stress of membranes acute by piercing edges,large surface area, and higher adsorptive conditions of graphene oxide sheets tailored with ceria particles. The amount of charge transferred at the interface increases with the concentration of O atoms, demonstrating the interaction between CeO_2 and GO is much stronger than CeO_2 and GO are due to the decrease of the average equilibrium distance between the interfaces. The CeO_2-GO interface staggered band alignments existing between the CeO_2 surfaces and GO which shows an excellent synergism. The structure and morphology of composites were tested by X-ray diffraction(XRD), Fourier transform infrared(FTIR), Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), and high-resolution transmission electron microscope(HR-TEM).     

Airborne load of Cassia pollen in West Bengal, eastern India: its atmospheric variation and health impact

A Burkard personal volumetric sampler was used at Sriniketan, a town about 150 km northwest of Calcutta, in the state of West Bengal, in eastern India to record the frequency of three common airborne Cassia pollen types, Cassia tora, Cassia occidentalis, and Cassia fistula for two consecutive years (2004–2006). Correlation was made between the meteorological factors and the pollen concentration in the atmosphere. The study reports Cassia pollinosis by in vivo skin prick test in respiratory allergic patients. The highest positive reactions were exhibited by C. tora (34.7 %), C. fistula (33.3 %), and C. occidentalis (28.5 %). The allergic potential of these was investigated by in vitro enzyme linked immunosorbent assay test. Their protein components were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, in the range of 15.8–81.5 kDa. In C. occidentalis and C. fistula, 11 bands were found, while it was 10 in C. tora. The results show that the Cassia pollen occur significantly in the atmosphere with the potential to elicit an allergic response in susceptible patients.