Molecular taxonomy of marine mammals stranded along Kerala coast

Authors and Affiliation: George S., Meenakshi K and Bijukumar A, Chemical Biology Group, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram 695 014, India

Journal: Current Science, 100, (1), 117-120, 2011

ABSTRACT: Application of molecular tools for the identification of threatened marine mammals has gained importance in recent years. Though live and dead strandings of cetaceans are common along the Indian coasts, the specimensare often not properly identified due to the lack of local taxonomic expertise and poor quality of the specimens. Two marine mammals washed ashore in a putrefied condition at Edayar (08°25′N lat., 76°57′E long.), Thiruvananthapuram District, southwest coast of India, were identified by sequencing of 16S rRNA and COI genes. Sequence and phylogenetic similarity search done with all entries in the DNA sequence database, GenBank using BLAST identified the stranded mammals as Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni) and finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides). The present report is the second record of B. edeni from the southwest coast of India.

LRRK2 G2019S mutation does not contribute to Parkinson's disease in South India.

Authors and Affiliation: Vijayan B, Gopala S, Kishore A, Department of Neurology, Comprehensive Care Centre for Movement Disorders, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Kerala, India.

Journal: Neurol India. 2011 Mar-Apr;59(2):157-60.

BACKGROUND: The frequency of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) G2019S mutation, the most common genetic cause of Parkinson's disease (PD), shows significant variation based on ethnicity. Earlier reports suggest a very low frequency or absence of this mutation in Asians.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the frequency of LRRK2 G2019S mutation in sporadic and familial cases of PD and normal controls of common ethnicity from South India. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We used direct sequencing technique of all DNA samples in a clinic-based study of sporadic (n = 100) and familial PD patients (n = 86 index cases) and normal controls (n = 100) of common ethnicity from South India. RESULTS: None among the patients or controls had the G2019S mutation. CONCLUSION: The founding events that influenced a number of other populations/ethnicities had no impact on the genetic makeup of PD patients from South India. Our findings support the current view that G2019S-associated PD may be population-specific. This has implications in genetic testing for PD and selection of subjects for potential future gene-based therapeutic trials for G2019S carriers in such populations.