Aims: The white rot fungus Pycnoporus cinnabarinus MUCL 39533 is able to reduce vanillic acid to vanillin. Reduction of vanillic acid to vanillin catalysed by the key enzyme aryl-aldehyde dehydrogenase has been reported. Here we report the isolation and cloning of aryl-aldehyde dehydrogenase from P. cinnabarinus strain MUCL 39533. Methodology and results: An aryl-aldehyde dehydrogenase gene (PcALDH) was isolated from P. cinnabarinus by producing a partial cDNA sequence fragment of an aryl-aldehyde dehydrogenase gene through PCR. Degenerate PCR primers were designed based on codons corresponding to conserved amino acid regions of aryl-aldehyde dehydrogenases of several fungi and bacteria. The full-length PcALDH cDNA was obtained through ReverseTranscription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and Rapid Amplification cDNA Ends (RACE) PCR. PcALDH cDNA comprises an open reading frame of 1,506 bp that encodes a protein of 501 amino acids. The PcALDH predicted protein showed the highest amino acid sequence identity (84%) to ALDH from Trametes versicolor. In silico analysis of PcALDH indicated that it belongs to the ALDH super-family and Class 3 ALDH. Conclusion, significance and impact study: PcALDH cDNA was successfully isolated and characterized. Important motifs identified from the highly conserved PcALDH protein indicated that it belongs to the aldehyde dehydrogenase superfamily. The cDNA clone will be used in expression studies to confirm the catalytic function of the enzyme.
Vanillic Acid ; Flavoring Agents

Background: Many smokers have undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD), and yet screening for COPD is not recommended. Smokers who know that they haveairflow limitation are more likely to quit smoking. This study aims to identify the prevalence andpredictors of airflow limitation among smokers in primary care.Methods: Current smokers ≥ 40 years old who were asymptomatic clinic attendees in aprimary care setting were recruited consecutively for two months. We used a two-step strategy.Step 1: participants filled in a questionnaire. Step 2: Assessment of airflow limitation using apocket spirometer. Multiple logistic regression was utilised to determine the best risk predictorsfor airflow limitation.Results: Three hundred participants were recruited. Mean age was 58.35 (SD 10.30) yearsold and mean smoking history was 34.56 pack-years (SD 25.23). One in two smokers were found tohave airflow limitation; the predictors were Indian ethnicity, prolonged smoking pack-year historyand Lung Function Questionnaire score ≤ 18. Readiness to quit smoking and the awareness ofCOPD were low.Conclusions: The high prevalence of airflow limitation and low readiness to quit smokingimply urgency with helping smokers to quit smoking. Identifying airflow limitation as an additionalmotivator for smoking cessation intervention may be considered. A two-step case-finding methodis potentially feasible.

Oral route drug delivery system is still considered as the most convenient and patient friendly drug delivery route. Over the decades, many research has been performed to improve the functionality oral dosage form. Orally disintegrating film (ODF) is a newer oral drug delivery system, which is in the form of a thin film that will disintegrate in the oral cavity within a matter of seconds. The aim of this review paper is to recap ODF, its benefits, formulation contents and manufacturing method. With more research and development work has been conducted on ODF, the dosage form is expected to be manufactured and scaled up to be commercializable products to be sold in the market.