All three classes of CpG ODNs up-regulate IP-10 gene in pigs

The analysis of CpG ODN induced innate immune responses in different animal species has shown substantial similarities and differences in levels and types of induced cytokines profile. The objectives of these studies were to identify innate immune biomarkers activated by three classes of CpG ODNs in pigs. For this purpose, we investigated the kinetics of innate immune responses in immune cells from pigs following in vitro and in vivo stimulation with CpG ODNs. The mRNA expression of cytokine and chemokine genes were assayed by SYBR^@ green based quantitative real time PCR. A-class CpG ODN induced significant but transient levels of IFN-γ, IL-12 (P40), IL-6, IL-4 and TNF-α mRNA, C-class CpG ODN induced significant level of IFN-γ, IFN-α and IL-12 mRNA and the lowest level of IL-4 (Th-2 type) mRNA. A very low level of some cytokines stimulation was observed by GC ODNs. It is noteworthy, that IL-12 (P35) mRNA was significantly stimulated by B-class GpC ODN 7909. Interestingly, all classes of CpG ODNs induced significant level of IP-10 at 12 h post stimulation. These in vitro and in vivo observations suggest that interferon-γ inducible protein 10 (IP-10) may be a reliable biomarker for immune activity induced by CpG ODNs in pigs.     

Comparative study on responses of cattle and water buffalo (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bubalus bubalis</Emphasis>) to experimental inoculation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brucella abortus</Emphasis> biovar 1 by the intraconjunctival route—a preliminary report

The preliminary study was conducted to assess the virulence of a strain of Brucella abortus (1969D) and to compare the susceptibility of water buffalo and cattle calves to infection by the intraconjunctival route. Seven of each cattle and water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves aged 3–6 months were inoculated intraconjunctivally with counts ranging from 1.5 × 10⁷ to 1.7 × 10¹⁰ colony forming units of B. abortus. Animals were monitored over an 8-week period for clinical manifestations and serological and hematological evidence of infection. At slaughter, eight lymph nodes from each animal were sampled for bacteriological and histopathological assessments. Lymph nodes from three water buffalo (43%) and five cattle (71%) yielded B. abortus (P = 0.048). Parotid/prescapular lymph nodes were most sensitive in detecting B. abortus. Our data suggest that B. abortus strain 1969D may be used as challenge strain, and water buffalo appeared to have a lower susceptibility to B. abortus infection than cattle.     

Plasma pharmacokinetics and milk levels of ceftriaxone following single intravenous administration in healthy and endometritic cows

Pharmacokinetics and milk levels of ceftriaxone were studied in healthy and endometritic cows following single intravenous administration. The drug was detected up to 8 h of dosing in plasma of healthy and endometritic cows and the drug disposition followed three-compartment open model. The values of Vd_area, AUC, t_1/2β, Cl_B, MRT and P/C ratio were 0.50 ± 0.19 L.kg⁻¹, 62.2 ± 23.3 μg.ml⁻¹.h, 1.02 ± 0.07 h, 0.30 ± 0.09 L.kg⁻¹.h⁻¹, 1.55 ± 0.25 h and 0.52 ± 0.27, respectively, in healthy and 1.55 ± 0.52 L.kg⁻¹, 37.0 ± 17.1 μg.ml⁻¹.h, 1.56 ± 0.25 h, 0.56 ± 0.14 L.kg⁻¹.h⁻¹, 2.14 ± 0.34 h and 1.44 ± 0.60, respectively, in endometritic cows. The drug was detected in milk for 36 h after administration. For MIC₉₀ of 0.5 μg.ml⁻¹ the most appropriate dosage for ceftriaxone, would be 9.0 mg.kg⁻¹ repeated at 6 h intervals for the treatment of endometritis in cows.     

Comparison of effects of ultraviolet and<Superscript>60</Superscript>Co gamma ray irradiation on nylon 6 mono-filaments

The effect of UV and⁶⁰Co gamma radiations on the physical and mechanical properties of nylon 6 mono-filaments with different draw ratios has been studied. Specimens were exposed to either up to 25 Mrad of gamma or up to 168 hrs of intense UV irradiation. The results show that nylon mono-filaments exposed to gamma rays, with much higher quantum energy than UV, undergo a larger extent of molecular chain scission. Higher irradiation dose also results in the production of insoluble, macroscopic three-dimensional cross-linked network structure. The amorphous regions with a lower density of cohesive energy (lower molecular orientation) show a higher extent of cross linking reaction whereas amorphous regions with a higher density of cohesive energy (higher orientation) show higher extent of chain scission reaction, irrespective of UV ray or gamma ray irradiation.     

Molecular detection of important abortion-causing microorganisms in preputial swab of breeding bucks using PCR-based assays

Infectious diseases and aetiological agents related to female reproductive systems were extensively covered compared to its male counterpart. There needs a proper study to bridge this gap, where microflora and infectious agents of both male and female reproductive are mutually intelligible. With this study, we aimed to evaluate the microbial contamination of the preputial cavity and also screened for abortion-causing agents which are zoonotic as well. In goats, such types of abortions are caused by Brucella melitensis, Chlamydophila, Campylobacter and Coxiella etc. One of the major sources of contamination of semen is the preputial cavity, which is exposed to the external environment leading to spread of infection into the female via semen straws or by natural service. In the current study, good quality bucks (n = 32, Barbari = 12, Jamunapari = 10, Jakhrana = 10) which were routinely used for semen collection were screened for their preputial swabs, for the presence of the above pathogens. For detection of Brucella melitensis, OMP31 based TaqMan® probe real-time PCR assay was used, and for Chlamydia, 16srRNA gene based SYBR® green real-time PCR assay was employed for detection of Chlamydophila abortus. While for Campylobacter spp. and Coxiella burnetii, 16srRNA gene based conventional PCR and Trans-PCR were used, respectively. In the current study, of the screened preputial swabs, none of them showed positive for Brucella and Coxiella, but of the screened 32 samples 17 showed positive for Chlamydia (53.13%) and two (6.25%) showed positive for Campylobacter spp. The current study emphasizes on the farms and laboratories which were regularly involved in screening of brucellosis also often overlook the other potential non-brucella pathogens, causing abortions eventually incurring severe economic losses to the goat keepers.     

Yield components,light interception and marker compound accumulation of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) affected by planting material and plant density under western Himalayan conditions

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of planting material and plant density on stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) under western Himalayan conditions during 2011 and 2012. The experiment conducted in a split plot design consisted of two types of planting material (rooted slips and fresh seedlings) in the main plot and five inter- and intra-row spacing in subplots with three replications. Yield attributes and dry leaf biomass yield of stevia were not affected by the type of planting material; however, plant density significantly influenced the yield attributes and leaf and stem dry biomass. Although the wider spacing (60 × 45 cm) gave more leaves, higher leaf area index, higher leaf dry mass per plant as compared to closer spacing, it resulted in lower values of these attributes per unit area. Plants spaced in 30 × 30 cm accumulated 41.2% and 42.8% more total biomass than 60 × 45 cm. Steviol glycoside content did not change due to different planting materials and plant densities; however, closer plant spacing (30 × 30 cm) recorded 114.8% and 70.0% higher steviol glycoside accumulation compared to wider row spacing (60 × 45 cm) in 2011 and 2012, respectively.     

Soil moisture levels affect mycorrhization during early stages of development of agroforestry plants

Plants respond differentially to different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) as well as to the different soil moisture levels. Based on this background, the present study was carried out to investigate the effects of different levels of soil moisture and AMF inoculations on mycorrhization and growth of important agroforestry plants, viz., Phaseolus mungo, Triticum aestivum, Eucalyptus tereticornis, and Albizia procera. The experiments consisted of main treatment, i.e., three levels of soil moisture [field capacity (FC?=?16 %), half-field capacity (FC/2?=?8 %) and double-field capacity (2×FC?=?32 %)] and four subtreatments (mycorrhizal inoculations), viz., Acaulospora scrobiculata, Glomus cerebriforme, Glomus intraradices, and un-inoculated (control). AMF inoculations significantly (P?<?0.05) increased growth and P uptake, in all tested plant species. In P. mungo, maximum AMF efficiency was observed at FC while in other plants, AMF were equally effective at FC/2 and 2×FC. Different inoculants were effective at different moisture levels. Furthermore, mycorrhization was the highest at FC. AMF inoculations were more important than soil moisture (explaining 33–97 % variation in growth) in P. mungo, T. aestivum, and A. procera (forward selection method), whereas soil moisture was more important for growth of E. tereticornis. Thus, it may be stated that depending upon soil moisture, inoculation of plants with suitable AMF consortium can be beneficial.     

The role of Caenorhabditis elegans sex-determination homologs,Mi-sdc-1 and Mi-tra-1 in Meloidogyne incognita

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Sex determination is a key developmental event in all organisms. The pathway that regulates sexual fate has been well characterized at the molecular level in...     

Prospective use of bacteriocinogenic Pediococcus pentosaceus as direct-fed microbial having methane reducing potential

Direct-fed microbials(DFM), generally regarded as safe status, are successfully used in improving rumen ecology, gastro-intestinal health, feed efficiency, milk production and growth rate in ruminants. On the other hand, methanogenesis in rumen, which accounts for a significant loss of ruminant energy and increased greenhouse gas in environment, is of great concern, therefore, use of DFM for improving productivity without compromising the animal health and ecological sustainability is encouraged. The present study was conducted to investigate the methane reducing potential of bacteriocinogenic strain Pediococcus pentosaceus-34. Since, the culture showed no hemolysis on blood agar and DNase activity, hence, it was considered to be avirulent in nature, a prerequisite for any DFM. The culture also showed tolerance to pH 5.0 for 24 h with 0.5% organic acid mixture, whereas when given a shock for 2 h at different p H and organic acids concentrations, it showed growth at pH 3.0 and 4.0 with 0.1 and 1.0% organic acids, respectively, as having good animal probiotics attributes. The total gas production was significantly(P<0.05) higher in live pedicoccal culture(LPC) and dead pedicoccal culture(DPC) both with wheat straw, when compared to the control. In sugarcane bagasse, gas production was significantly lower(P<0.05) with LPC compared to the control and DPC both. Methane was reduced by the inclusion of LPC in sugarcane bagasse(0.07 mL CH4 mg–1 dry matter digestibility) with no effect on other rumen fermentation parameters. However, with wheat straw and LPC total gas, in vitro dry matter digestibility, total volatile fatty acids increased significantly but no reduction in methane production was observed in comparison to the control. Therefore, further research is warranted in this direction, if the bacteriocinogenic strains can be used as DFM for ruminants to improve the ruminant productivity.     

Variability in physicochemical and nutritional quality traits of parents,F2 and F3 generations of lentil crosses

Ten physicochemical and nutritional quality traits (100-seedweight, seed volume, seed density, bulk density, hydrationcapacity, hydration index, swelling capacity, protein, tryptophanand energy value) were examined in the seed samples of parents,F₂ and F₃ generations of three microsperma ×microsperma and two microsperma × macrospermacrosses of lentils. Significant variation for different traits wasobserved among the genotypes in both the groups and also amongboth types of crosses in F₂ and F₃ generations. Ranges,means and coefficients of variation (CV %) for various traitsamong parents, F₂ and F₃ generations of different crosses,along with the deviations between F₂ and F₃ generationmeans for various traits in different crosses are discussed. Alsosuggested is a breeding strategy for evolving lentil varieties withimproved seed yield and nutritional quality parameters.