Rabies is a fatal zoonotic disease of serious public health and economic significance worldwide. The rabies virus glycoprotein (RVG) has been the major target for subunit vaccine development, since it harbors domains responsible for induction of virus-neutralizing antibodies, infectivity, and neurovirulence. The glycoprotein (G) was cloned using the baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS) and expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf-9) cells. In order to obtain a soluble form of G suitable for experimentation in mice, 18 different combinations of buffers and detergents were evaluated for their ability to solubilize the insect cell membraneassociated G. The combination that involved 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS) detergent in lysis buffer 1, formulated with Tris, NaCl, 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and EDTA, gave the highest yield of soluble G, as evidenced by the experimental data. Subsequently, several other parameters, such as the concentration of CHAPS and the duration and temperature of the treatment for the effective solubilization of G, were optimized. The CHAPS detergent, buffered at a concentration of 0.4% to 0.7% (wt/vol) at room temperature (23 to 25°C) for 30 min to 1 h using buffer 1, containing 10% DMSO, resulted in consistently high yields. The G solubilized using CHAPS detergent was found to be immunogenic when tested in mice, as evidenced by high virus-neutralizing antibody titers in sera and 100% protection upon virulent intracerebral challenge with the challenge virus standard (CVS) strain of rabies virus. The results of the mice study indicated that G solubilized with CHAPS detergent retained the immunologically relevant domains in the native conformation, thereby paving the way for producing a cell-free and efficacious subunit vaccine.

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Acne is the chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit, characterized by the formation of comedones, erythematous papules and pustules shortly after starting topical or oral corticosteroid. We report a case of acneiform eruptions on a Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) patient who was treated with prednisolone 30 mg 1-0-0, 2 weeks, three months ago. She developed pustular rashes over the face and back on and off during past 3 months. Presently she got admitted in the gastroenterology department for reoccurence of the symptoms associated with EGE and treated with prednisolone 30 mg 1-0-0. Dermatology opinion was sought for the aggravated pustular rashes over the face and back confirmed to be prednisolone induced acneiform eruptions. Following which, prednisolone was withdrawn within 48 h of admission and treated symptomatically with Clindamycin 1% gel.

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Charybdis (Archias) hongkongensis Shen, 1934 was collected from the Indian coast of the Bay of Bengal and this is the first record from Indian waters. The distinct key characters of this species are: a relatively more produced last antero-lateral tooth, strongly convergent postero-lateral margins, and a smooth, rounded, reduced apex of the male first gonopod. This is the ninth member of Charybdis (Archias) Alcock, 1899 from Indian waters. The species is diagnosed and figured herein.