Department Of Botany

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Author: search.filters.author.Bast, FelixHas files: Yes

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    Marine macroalga Caulerpa: role of its metabolites in modulating cancer signaling
    (Springer, 2019) Mehra, R; Bhushan, S; Bast, Felix; Singh, S.
    Cancer, the leading causes of death worldwide, causes multiple metabolic and physiological alterations, leading to an unregulated proliferation of cells. The existing anticancer therapies are usually nonspecific with side effects and or are extremely expensive, thus hunt for better therapeutics is still on, specially efforts are made to look for naturally occurring molecules. Sea harbors several organisms which are unexplored for their biological potentials. Green macroalga genus, Caulerpa, is one such invaluable repository of bioactive metabolites like alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, steroids and tannins with reported bioactivities against many diseases including cancer. Anti-cancerous metabolites of Caulerpa like caulerpenyne (Cyn), caulerpin, caulersin, and racemosin C, possess unique structural moieties and are known to exhibit distinct effects on cancer cells. Theses metabolites are reported to affect microtubule dynamics, unfolded protein response, mitochondrial health, cell cycle progression, metabolic and stress pathways by their cross-talk with signalling proteins like AMPK, GRP78, GADD153, Bid, Bax, AIF, Bcl2, P21, cyclin D, cyclin E, caspase 9, and PTP1B. Targeting of multiple cancer hallmarks by Caulerpa metabolites, with concomitant modulations of multiple signalling cascades, displays its multifactorial approach against cancer. Evaluation of anti-cancer properties of this genus is particularly important as Caulerpa species are widely edible and utilized in several delicacies in the coastal countries. This is the first review article providing a consolidated information about the role of Caulerpa in cancer with major contributing metabolites and plausible modulations in cancer signaling and prospects. © 2019, Springer Nature B.V.
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    Monostroma: the Jeweled Seaweed for Future Cultivation methods, Ecophysiology, Phylogeography and Molecular Systematics
    (Lambert Academic Publishing, 2011) Bast, Felix
    This thesis aims at providing a comprehensive picture of the reproductive physiology, growth, phylogeography, and phylogenetics of M. latissimum-nitidum complex in Southern Japan. A review on agronomy and utilization of seaweeds is provided as Chapter 2 to present a comprehensive overview of the seaweed biology and applications. Seasonality in the growth and occurrence of Monostroma sp. at three environmentally distinct habitats along Tosa Bay, Kochi Prefecture, Japan is explored and results of correlation analyses between environmental conditions and thallus size are presented in Chapter 3. Also investigated in the same chapter is the homology of nuclear encoded rDNA Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequences between naturally occurring and commercially cultivated populations. Findings of the culture studies sought to identify the species naturally occurring at the study sites are also summarized in Chapter 2. In the course of research, I observed that thalli of the naturally occurring populations of M. latissimum, changes its color during maturation, as reported elsewhere in the literature. Further to that observation, a thorough cytological investigation on the gametangial ontogeny of naturally occurring M. latissimum is presented in Chapter 4 and possible taxonomic implications of this finding are discussed. Once the thalli of M. latissimum release gametes, which mode of syngamy do they have? Is sex of the progenies environmentally determined? These are some of the questions being investigated in Chapter 5. Reported in the Chapter 6 is a serendipitous discovery of an asexually reproducing ecotype of M. latissimum in the marginal populations at low-saline habitat. Findings of the culture studies to complete its life cycle are presented. Molecular studies to investigate homogeneity of nrDNA ITS sequences between the two ecot ypes (i.e., sexual vs asexual) are also investigated in the same chapter. Results of phylogenetic analyses of the newly generated ITS sequence of M. latissimum with that of the related monostromatic green algal taxa retrieved from GenBank are also presented in Chapter 6 to understand relative taxonomical position of this species in the class Ulvophyceae. Chapter 7 is an investigation on the morphologic and genetic homogeneity of natural and cultivated populations of the two closely related species M. latissimum and M. nitidum along the Southern Japanese coast where the warm-water Kuroshio Current influences throughout the year. Combined phylogeographical analysis of nuclear encoded first internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) sequences and rDNA 18s gene are presented in addition to the comparison of morphological traits, to understand if they belong to the same taxa. In the final experimental chapter, Chapter 8, taxonomic hypothesis for Monostromataceae were tested and the systematic position of this family is explored using multi-local phylogeny. Relationships of this family with over 40 Ulvophycean genera were investigated and phylogeny reconstruction was conducted using five independent genetic markers; viz., nrDNA ITS1, nrDNA ITS2, nrDNA 5.8S, nrDNA 18S and cpDNA rbcL. Chapter 9 summarizes and discusses the results of this thesis, places them in a regional context and discusses avenues of future work.
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    Public acceptence of Evolution in India
    (CSIR-NISCAIR, 2018) Bast, Felix; Tahilramani, Heena
    The public acceptance of evolution has been in debate since the initial publication of Darwin’s theory about origin of species. According to public polls carried out in a range of countries, the public acceptance of evolution is low in many countries with high degree of religiosity. Although religiosity is high in India, public acceptance of evolution has never been objectively evaluated in India yet. The rejection or denial of evolution could possibly offer the risk of shifting science education to common or popular beliefs and ideas, for example, creationism and intelligent design. Aim of the present study was to find out the public acceptance of evolution in India by carrying out a primary survey in 14 Indian states. Based upon the answers by the participants, the study explored the variables related to public acceptance of evolution namely, gender, religion, politics and occupation. The results showed that the 69.4% participants accepted evolution, which is very high compared with other countries of the world. Plausible reasons for high acceptance of evolution in India is being discussed in this paper.
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    Caulerpa taxifolia inhibits cell proliferation and induces oxidative stress in breast cancer cells
    (Springer, 2018) Mehra, Richa; Bhushan, Satej; Yadav, Umesh Prasad; Bast, Felix; Singh, Sandeep
    Caulerpa taxifolia (M. Vahl) C. Agardh or killer alga is known to possess several bioactive secondary metabolites with unique structural modifications. We investigated anti-oxidant and anti-proliferative activity of C. taxifolia extract (CTE) on breast and lung cancer cells, along with possible effects on mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and cell cycle progression. The results revealed up to 6-folds increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), 2-folds increase in glutathione reductase (GR) activity, 1.7-fold increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and 1.8-fold change in catalase activity w.r.t. untreated cells i.e. 10.72 to 21.44 nmol/min/mL, 2.0 to 3.49 U/mL and 37.51 to 69.26 U/min/g FW, respectively, in MDA-MB-cells. Likewise, selective anti-proliferative activity with IC50 0.19 + 0.1, 0.27 + 0.1, and 0.43 + 0.1 μg/μL, was recorded in MDA-MB-231, T-47D, and H1299 cells. In addition, dose-dependent increase in MMP of up to 40% and G1/S phase mitotic arrest was documented by CTE treatment in MDA-MB-231 cells. The results suggest an anti-proliferative and oxidative stress inducing activity of CTE. Changes in MMP and cell cycle arrest further support the anti-cancer effects of CTE. It is believed that C. taxifolia may be considered as a potent source of anti-cancer drugs, subject to further validations.
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    Seaweeds: Ancestors of land plants with rich diversity
    (Springer India, 2014) Bast, Felix
    Seaweeds are taxonomically diverse group of marine plants from which the land plants diverged over fifty crore years ago. Traditionally having been classified based on plant color as green, brown and red, modern molecular systematic evidences suggest that these plants are extraordinarily diverse. A number of seaweeds are edible and have been projected as a future food source. Seaweeds are also important to humanity in a number of ways, including as a source of medicines, food supplements, industrial chemicals, and as a potential candidate for biofuel research and CCS (carbon capture and sequestration). This article introduces the readers to the fascinating world of marine biology in general and seaweeds in particular, with an emphasis on Indian flora. ? 2014 Indian Academy of Sciences.
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    Extraordinary tales: Parasites hijacking the minds of hosts
    (Springer India, 2015) Bast, Felix
    In the context of biology, parasites are organisms that typically associate with other organisms, their hosts, such that the hosts are damaged while the parasites are benefited. This nonmutual association is known as parasitism. Parasites do not form an evolutionarily distinct group; instead they are part of many different lineages. For example, there are parasites that are protozoa, plants, fungi and animals. Parasitology refers to the study of parasites, with an emphasize on protozoan (single-celled organisms that belong to Kingdom Protista) parasites. This article examines some of the parasites that cause behavioural changes in their host which help the perpetuation of the parasites; either their spread or their lifecycle completion. Specifically, the article examines the tactics of Toxoplasma gondii, lancet liver fluke, guinea worm, the influenza virus, and the parasitic wasp, which are by all means ?evolution?s neurobiologists?, and are indeed extraordinary in many aspects. ? 2015, Indian Academy of Sciences.
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    Classroom
    (Springer India, 2015) Bast, Felix
    In this section of Resonance, we invite readers to pose questions likely to be raised in a classroom situation. We may suggest strategies for dealing with them, or invite responses, or both. ?Classroom? is equally a forum for raising broader issues and sharing personal experiences and viewpoints on matters related to teaching and learning science. ? 2015, Indian Academy of Sciences.
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    Cladophora goensis- a bloom forming marine algae from Goa, India.
    (2015) Bast, Felix; John,Aijaz A.; Bhushan, Satej
    A new species of green seaweed, Cladophora goensis sp. nov. (Cladophorales, Ulvophyceae), had been discovered in our last field trip to Vasco-da-Gamma, Goa, India. This species formed algal bloom of moderate intensity in the Bay of Mormugao, on the west coast of India. Our observations suggest combination of a number of morphological characteristics of this alga distinct from previously described members of this genus, including parietal chloroplast surrounding central hollow and bilenticular pyrenoids. Molecular sequence data at Nuclear ribosomal DNA Internal Transcribed Spacer-1 and 2 (ITS1 and ITS2) regions along with intervening 5.8S rRNA indicated Kimura-2-Parameter (K2P) pair-wise distance of 1.77 x 10-1 between this species and the nearest phylogenetic accession of Cladophora glomerata. In our phylogenetic reconstructions using Bayesian Inference and Maximum Likelihood, this species was not part of any monophyletic clades comprising any of the previously described species of this genus at the locus studied, thereby ascertaining conformity with phylogenetic species concept. With this discovery, a new phylogenetically primitive morphological synapomorphy of “pseudodichotomous profuse branching” has been revealed for cladophoralean algae, and we argue that this is the single most important morphological characteristic of this bloom-forming seaweed.
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    Tutorial on Phylogenetic Inference – 1
    (Indian Academy of Science, 2015) Bast, Felix
    Phylogenetic Inference is a statistical technique to trace the evolutionary legacy of a wide range of subjects including biological taxa (species), biomolecules, languages, ancient texts and so on. In Part 1 of the tutorial, we begin with an introduction to this field and discuss phenetics and cladistics — two major techniques used for phylogenetic inference. A number of fundamental concepts for understanding phylogenetic inference are introduced. In Part 2, we will learn models of molecular evolution and methods of phylogenetic inference, concluding with a worked-out example.