Alterations in the activity of certain enzymes in the gills of a carp <Emphasis Type="Italic">Labeo rohita</Emphasis> exposed to an azo dye,Eriochrome black T: a biochemical investigation

In Labeo rohita exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of an azo dye, Eriochrome black T for 4 days, gills show considerable alterations in the activity of certain metabolic enzymes—alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, carboxylesterase, lactate dehydrogenase, and succinate dehydrogenase; and antioxidant enzymes—catalase and peroxidase. The activities of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, carboxylesterase, succinate dehydrogenase, catalase, and peroxidase decline significantly. This has been associated with impaired metabolic function of the gills due to azo dye toxicity. The activity of lactate dehydrogenase, in contrast, shows a gradual increase, reflecting a shift from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism. In the fish kept for recovery for 8 days, after exposing the fish to the dye for 4 days, activity of succinate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase gradually become similar to control. Nevertheless, activity of acid phosphatase, catalase, peroxidase, and carboxylesterase, although recover gradually, remained significantly low as compared to that of control. This study signifies that the dye is highly toxic to Labeo rohita and suggests that the activity of metabolic and antioxidant enzymes can be used as biomarker for fish toxicity.     

Platelet activation profiles on TiO2: effect of Ca2+ binding to the surface

Surface ion equilibrium is hypothesized to play an important role in defining the interactions between foreign materials and biological systems. In this study, we compare two surfaces with respect to their ability to activate adhering platelets. One is a commonly used implant material TiO(2), which binds Ca(2+), and the other one is glass, which does not. We show, that in the presence of Ca(2+), TiO(2) acts as an agonist, activating adhering platelets and causing the expression on their surface of two well-known activation markers, CD62P (P-selectin) and CD63. On the contrary, in the absence of Ca(2+), platelets adhering on TiO(2) express only one of the two markers, CD63. Platelets adhering on glass, as well as platelets challenged with soluble agonists in solution, express both markers independently of whether Ca(2+) is present or not. The expression of CD62P and CD63 is indicative of the exocytosis of the so-called α- and dense granules, respectively. It is a normal response of platelets to activation. Differences in the expression profiles of these two markers point to differential regulation of the exocytosis of the two kinds of granules, confirming the recent notion that platelets can tune their microenvironment in a trigger-specific fashion.     

Immunoadjuvant effect of garlic (Allium sativum)–mineral oil suspension on immunity and resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila infection in rohu,Labeo rohita

The immunomodulatory effect of garlic–mineral oil as a modified adjuvant was investigated in rohu, Labeo rohita along with formalin-killed Aeromonas hydrophila. The garlic extract was not having any proteolytic effect on the tested antigen as marked in SDS-PAGE. The efficacy of graded levels of modified adjuvant formulation was assessed by measuring serum hemolysin and agglutination titers as well as level of protection against A. hydrophila challenge in the immunized fish at days 10 and 30 post-vaccination (dpv). The higher hemolysin and bacterial agglutinin titers along with significantly lower mortality against A. hydrophila challenge in modified adjuvant-based vaccinated fish, particularly at low level of garlic incorporation, indicated the pronounced immunoadjuvant role of this modified adjuvant formulation in rohu.     

Alterations in the epidermis of the carp,Labeo rohita (Cyprinidae: Cypriniformes), infected by the bacteria,Aeromonas hydrophila: A scanning electron microscopic,histopathological and immunohistochemical investigation

This study was carried out to comprehend the pathogenicity of the bacteria in the epidermis of Labeo rohita inoculated with Aeromonas hydrophila. Alterations in the histopathology of the epidermis were examined using scanning electron microscopy, light microscopy and the localization of iNOS and caspase 3 + ve cells by means of immunohistochemical methods. Skin samples obtained from infected fish at different intervals 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 days showed significant changes in the cellular components of the epidermis. Epithelial cells often appeared hypertrophied with fragmented and loosely arranged microridges, and in the process of exfoliation. Mucous goblet cells increased significantly in density. Club cells showed degenerative changes, often with simultaneous confluence of adjacent cells and release of their contents. Increase in density of iNOS and caspase 3 + ve cells indicates inflammatory response and apoptosis. This study could provide valuable information on the pathogenesis of the disease, and disease outbreaks in farmed fish. Further, it could provide useful guidelines for fish farmers to take preventive measures for the control of the disease.     

Evaluation of antibacterial activity and innate immune components in skin mucus of Indian major carp,Cirrhinus mrigala

The present work has been undertaken to analyse the antibacterial activity and innate immune components in the skin mucus of Indian major carp, Cirrhinus mrigala. Skin mucus was extracted separately in triple‐distilled water (TDW), 3% acetic acid (3% AA) or 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (1% TFA). All mucus extracts exhibited different spectrum of the antibacterial activity against different groups of pathogenic bacteria. Protein profiling by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a series of protein bands in the TDW extract, four major protein bands in the AA extract and two protein bands in the TFA extract. Tandem mass spectrometry analysis of distinct protein bands identified potential innate immune factors – histone H2A, histone H3, histone H4, haemoglobin, cofilin and nucleoside diphosphate kinase in the TDW extract, and ubiquitin and histone H2B isoforms in acidic extracts of skin mucus of C. mrigala. The presence of these innate immune molecules suggests that skin mucus play an important role in the protection of the fish against microbial invasion.     

Characterization and genetic linkage mapping of the horticulturally important mutation leafless inflorescence (lli) in periwinkle Catharanthus roseus

Catharanthus roseus is a seasonal to perennial garden plant and the exclusive source of the anticancer drugs vincristine and vinblastine. Its horticultural importance is due to the compound racemose inflorescence architecture of branches in which pairs of prominent flowers are subtended by one of the two leaves per node. Here is reported the construction of a molecular framework genetic linkage map and mapping on it of the LEAF-LESS INFLORESCENCE (LLI) locus. It is quantitatively shown that the adult lli mutant plants produce altered inflorescence of improved horticultural value, wherein axes are excessively branched, two flowers are formed per node that are bare of subtending leaves, and several times more open flowers are displayed each day, as compared to LLI plants.     

Effects of Soil Salinity and Alkalinity on Grain Quality of Tolerant,Semi-Tolerant and Sensitive Rice Genotypes

Soil salinity and alkalinity adversely affects the productivity and grain quality of rice.The grain quality of 19 rice genotypes characterized as salt tolerant (T),semi-tolerant (ST) and sensitive (S) was assessed in lysimeters containing saline and highly alkaline soils.Head rice recovery was reduced by salinity stress whereas it was not affected by alkalinity stress.The ratio of length to width (grain dimensions) was significantly reduced in the T genotype even at low electrical conductivity (EC,4 mS/cm) and alkalinity (pH 9.5),whereas in the ST genotype,it was significantly reduced at high salinity (EC 8 mS/cm).There was no significant effect of any levels of salinity or alkalinity on grain dimensions in the S genotype.Amylose content was significantly reduced in T and ST groups even at low EC (4 mS/cm) and alkalinity (pH 9.5) and the effect in the S genotype was only at high salinity.Starch content showed significant reduction at high salinity and alkalinity (EC 8 mS/cm and pH 9.8) in the T and ST genotypes and no significant effect was observed in the S genotype.The effect of both levels of salinity (EC 4 and 8 mS/cm) and high alkalinity (pH 9.8) on gel consistency was observed only in the S genotype.The tolerant genotypes IR36 under high salinity,and CSR10 and CSR11 under alkali stress showed less reduction in amylose content.The T genotype BR4-10,and ST genotypes CSR30,CSR29 and CSR13 showed better gel consistency under saline and alkali stress.Amylose content was affected even at low salinity stress and thus important to be considered in breeding rice for salt tolerance.Overall,the grain quality of T and ST genotypes was less affected by saline and alkali stress compared to S ones.     

Genetic variation of Alternaria brassicae (Berk.) Sacc., causal agent of dark leaf spot of cauliflower and mustard in India

Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) and mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern] are important cruciferous crops facing serious yield and quality loss in India from dark leaf spot disease caused by Alternaria brassicae (Berk.) Sacc. Genetic variation among 32 pathogenic A. brassicae isolates from both crops was analyzed with random amplified polymorphic DNA and inter-simple sequence repeat primers in which the mean similarity coefficient was found to be 0.73 and 0.84, respectively. Further internal transcribed spacer analysis showed all isolates are 90–100 % similar to each other, indicating genetic similarity among different A. brassicae isolates that vary pathogenically.