In the present thesis, two positive sense single-stranded RNA viruses have been used as models to understand the structure and function of viral-encoded proteins. One of them, Pepper Vein Banding Virus (PVBV; genus Potyvirus; ...

Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic inflammatory disease resulting in progressive fibrosis of the oral tissues that can cause difficulty in chewing, swallowing, speaking, and mouth opening. Epidemiological studies ...

Tuberculosis continues to be one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Several mycobacterial species such as M. tuberculosis and M. africanum are responsible for causing this disease in humans. Reports ...

This thesis set out to explore the conformational properties of short designed peptide sequences, in which transitions between structural states may be anticipated. The use of conformationally constrained residues like ...

Metabolism of D-amino acids is of considerable interest due to their key importance in cellular functions. The enzymes D-serine dehydratase (DSD) and D-cysteine desulfhydrase (DCyD) are involved in the degradation of D-Ser ...

Studies on stationary phase cultures of microorganisms in the laboratory have helped us understand the genetic and physiological basis of adaptation in their natural habitats. Stasis or decline in bacterial populations due ...

During the past decade the effects of macromolecular crowding on reaction pathways is gaining in prominence. The stress is to move out of the realms of ideal solution studies and make conceptual modifications that consider ...

The global re-emergence of TB and other mycobacterial infections have underscored the need for a thorough investigation of the biology of the causative agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, at the molecular level. The peculiar ...