Eis protein is reported to enhance the intracellular survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in human macrophages. Eis protein is not only known to skew away the immunity by disturbing the protective TH1 response, but aminoglycoside acetyltransferase activity of Eis is reported to regulate autophagy, inflammation and cell death. Here we have gained insight into the structure-function properties of Eis. Eis protein is a hexameric αβ protein. Although urea and guanidinium hydrochloride (GdmCl) was found to induce one-step unfolding of Eis but size exclusion chromatography showed that GdmCl treated Eis maintained its hexameric form. SDS-PAGE assay confirmed that hexameric form of Eis is partially stable to SDS and converts into trimers and monomers. Out of these three forms, aminoglycoside acetyltransferase activity is found to be associated only with hexamers. The Tm of Eis was found to be ∼75°C. Aminoglycoside acetyltransferase Eis demonstrated remarkable heat stability retaining >80% of their activity at 70°C which falls down to ∼50% at 75°C and is completely inactive at 80°C. Further, intracellular survival assay with heated samples of M. smegmatis harboring eis gene of M. tuberculosis H37Rv demonstrated a possible role for the thermostability associated with Eis protein in the enhanced intracellular survival within macrophages. In sum, these data reveal that only hexameric form of Eis has a thermostable aminoglycoside acetyltransferase activity. This is the first report showing the thermostability associated with aminoglycoside acetyltransferase activity of Eis protein being one of the essential features for the execution of its biological role.

Tuberculosis(TB) is a chronic granulomatous disease caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is a major public health problem, especially in developing countries where poverty, malnutrition, overcrowding and the presence of drug resistance are the most common risk factors associated with tuberculosis. 1,2 Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has the ability to provide excellent contrast resolution in all planes, making the diagnosis and its intra spinal involvement, marrow infiltration, intradural disease and to find skip lesions easily. Study aimed to demonstrate, analyze and evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging as a preferred diagnostic tool for spinal tuberculosis and to promote early detection of spinal tuberculosis Material and methods: A hospital based retrospective cross sectional study was done on 97 patients during the period from July 2017 to December 2018. MRI imaging of the spine was performed using a 1.5 Tesla Siemens MRI scan machine using a Phased Array surface coil. Results: Lumbar vertebra (47%) was the most commonly involved part of spine followed by dorsal, sacral and cervical segments. Endplate involvement (75%) was most common type of presentation, followed by vertebral body and posterior elements involvement. Pre and para vertebral abscess is seen in 50% of the cases and psoas abscess in 19% patients. Epidural involvement was seen in 70% patients. Conclusion: The higher contrast resolution of MR imaging is the best investigation showing spine involvement spread of infection into the adjacent structures, epidural collections and early diagnosis of subclinical infections.

Introduction:Filariasis is an endemic infection seen in tropical and subtropical regions that presents with lymphatic disorder in form lymphangiectasia.

Encephalitis is critical life threatening acute infection of brain parenchyma. There has been a significant decrease in morbidity and mortality in patients with intracranial infection with the advent of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) which helps in treatment plan and follow up for complications. The purpose of this study was to describe the role of MRI in the evaluation of parenchymal changes in patients clinically suspected for brain infection. Material and methods: All the patients clinically suspected with brain infection were referred for MRI study of brain with or without contrast to the department of Radio diagnosis, LG hospital during the period of March 2016-June 2018 were evaluated to detect changes of encephalitis. The data was analyzed and Epi info version 7 was used for statistical calculations. Result: Total 29 patients were taken in our study. Patients from all age group were included in the study, in which 10 were females and 19 were male. Rasmussen encephalitis in three and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) was diagnosed in four patients. Chickungunya, dengue and epstein Barr virus (EBV) was diagnosed in one patient each. Four patients had Japanese encephalitis and two patients had meningo encephalitis. Six patients had hemorrhagic areas with in the lesions. The findings of MRI were compared with the clinical presentation and follow up was obtained in some patients after treatment. Conclusion: MRI was found to be superior in visualization of the brain parenchymal involvement and its associated findings. MRI is helpful to reach the diagnosis of etiological factor, but laboratory investigation is helpful for confirmatory diagnosis.