Biology subjects

Pramanik, N.

Publications and source records attributed to Pramanik, N..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) of Cat Owners Towards Flea Infestation and Flea-Borne Diseases (FBDs) in Selected Regions of Bangladesh

Background: Flea infestation is an important companion-animal health problem and a prime source of zoonotic exposure. However, information on cat owners awareness and preventive behavior regarding fleas and flea-borne diseases (FBDs) in Bangladesh is limited. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of cat owners regarding flea infestation and flea-borne diseases in selected areas of central Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from November 2025 to July 2026 among 238 cat owners attending veterinary clinics in Savar, Dhamrai and Manikganj Upazila. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire covering respondent characteristics, flea biology and transmission, perceived risks, and flea-prevention and control practices. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the findings, and respondents were classified according to their overall KAP scores. Results: Of the respondents, 47.1% owned cats with outdoor access and 77.7% reported that their pets had previously experienced flea infestation. Although 65.5% used flea-control treatments, awareness of zoonotic and disease-transmission risks was limited. Only 14.7% recognized that fleas can parasitize humans, while 17.6% knew that fleas can transmit infectious agents. Overall, 83.2% of respondents had poor knowledge, whereas 69.7% demonstrated moderate attitudes and 63.9% showed moderate practices. Good knowledge and good practice were uncommon, accounting for only 3.8% and 4.6% of respondents, respectively. Veterinary recommendation was the most frequently reported motivation for using flea-control products. Conclusions: Cat owners attending in the surveyed areas frequently reported flea exposure and treatment use, but substantial gaps remained in their understanding of flea biology, zoonotic potential and comprehensive control. Targeted veterinary education emphasizing routine prevention, treatment of all susceptible household animals and environmental management is needed. These findings provide regional baseline evidence and should not be interpreted as nationally representative. Keywords: Bangladesh; cat owners; ectoparasites; flea-borne diseases; flea control; knowledge, attitudes and practices; One Health.

scientific communication and education↗

bioRxiv2025

Identification of a Novel Spliced Variant of ADAMTS13 in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

ADAMTS13 is a matrix metalloproteinase that cleaves von Willebrand factor (vWF) into small multimers. Several truncated forms of ADAMTS13 can be detected in plasma, generated due to alternative splicing or proteolysis by serine proteases. In this study, for the first time, we report an alternatively spliced variant of ADAMTS13 that is expressed in human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), derived from both the Whartons Jelly (WJ) of umbilical cords and the decidua-basalis layer of the placenta (PL). Our results demonstrated that the variant contained the signal peptide (Sp), propeptide (P), metalloprotease (Mp), disintegrin-like (Dis), thrombospondin type-1 repeat 1 (Tsp1-1) and cysteine-rich (Cys) domains, while the spacer (Spc) and CUB domains were absent. The Tsp1-2-8 domain was partially present. Additionally, this variant possessed partial vWF cleavage activity compared to full-length ADAMTS13. Thus, we identified a novel isoform of ADAMTS13, generated due to exon skipping in human MSCs, which retained partial activity towards vWF cleavage.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Antibacterial efficacy of Jackfruit rag extract against clinically important pathogens and validation of its antimicrobial activity in Shigella dysenteriae infected Drosophila melanogaster infection model

The aim of this study was to determine the antibacterial property of extract derived from a part of the Jackfruit called rag, that is generally considered as fruit waste. Morpho-physical characterization of the Jackfruit rag extract (JFRE) was performed using gas-chromatography, where peaks indicative of furfural; pentanoic acid; and hexadecanoic acid were observed. In vitro biocompatibility of JFRE was performed using the MTT assay, which showed comparable cellular viability between extract-treated and untreated mouse fibroblast cells. Agar well disc diffusion assay exhibited JFRE induced zones of inhibition for a wide variety of laboratory and clinical strains of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Analysis of electron microscope images of bacterial cells suggests that JFRE induces cell death by disintegration of the bacterial cell wall and precipitating intracytoplasmic clumping. The antibacterial activity of the JFREs was further validated in vivo using Shigella dysenteriae infected fly model, where JFRE pre-fed flies infected with S. dysenteriae had significantly reduced mortality compared to controls. JFRE demonstrates broad antibacterial property, both in vitro and in vivo, possibly by its activity on bacterial cell wall. This study highlights the importance of exploring alternative sources of antibacterial compounds, especially from plant-derived waste, that could provide economical and effective solutions to current challenges in antimicrobial therapy.

microbiology↗