Silk Insect Could Yield Anti-fungal and Anti-bacterial Drugs



A research team from West Bengal has discovered that the wild insect called Antheraea mylitta which yields Indian tasar silk harbours a wide variety of proteins and peptides. These molecules possess potent anti-fungal and anti-bacterial activity to combat microbial attack, claims the research team. The researchers have found that the insect secrets a compound called AmFPI-1 that inhibits the activity of a fungal enzyme (secreted by Aspergillus oryzae) protecting against fungal infection. The study results will help design specific inhibitors against fungal enzymes. The findings of the research have been published in the April 2009 issue of Journal of Structural Biology.

Mystery of Nanostripe Patterns of Aluminium Surface

An Indian research team has deciphered the mystery of microscopic origin of nanostripe patterns on electropolished surface of aluminium. Using sophisticated techniques like atomic force microscopy and computer-based simulations, the researchers have discovered that nanostripe patterns due to relaxation and reconstruction of the new surfaces exposed followed by textural changes at the surface. This is caused by dissolution during polishing on aluminium surface.

These insights will be very handy as electropolished samples have a wide range of industrial applications including the preparation of thin metal samples for transmission electron microscopy because electropolishing does not cause mechanical deformation of surface layers usually observed when mechanical polishing is used. The findings of the study have been published in the 4th March 2009 issue of Nanotechnology.