Shrimp lectin–conjugated copper sulfide nanoparticles enhance immune response and gene expression in Etroplus suratensis infected with Aeromonas hydrophila

Aquaculture International - Lectins are hemagglutinating glycoproteins which act as pathogen recognition receptors that can bind to the pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Shrimp lectin...     

Identification of quantitative trait loci associated with resistance to foliar diseases in sorghum [<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sorghum bicolor</Emphasis> (L.) Moench]

Forage sorghum cultivars grown in India are susceptible to various foliar diseases, of which anthracnose, rust, zonate leaf spot, drechslera leaf blight and target leaf spot cause severe damage. We report here the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) conferring resistance to these foliar diseases. QTL analysis was undertaken using 168 F₇ recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of a cross between a female parental line 296B (resistant) and a germplasm accession IS18551 (susceptible). RILs and parents were evaluated in replicated field trials in two environments. A total of twelve QTLs for five foliar diseases on three sorghum linkage groups (SBI-03, SBI-04 and SBI-06) were detected, accounting for 6.9–44.9% phenotypic variance. The morphological marker Plant color (Plcor) was associated with most of the QTL across years and locations. The QTL information generated in this study will aid in the transfer of foliar disease resistance into elite susceptible sorghum breeding lines through marker-assisted selection.     

Effect of wheat bran supplementation on blood sugar,glycosylated protein and serum lipids in NIDDM subjects

Wheat bran supplementation (11 gm per day) was carried out for a period of two months in 30 maturity onset diebetics. The efficacy of bran supplementation was monitored by measuring the fasting and 2 h post prandial blood sugar levels, glycosylated serum protein levels, glycosylated albumin levels and serum lipid and lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The results indicated a transient reduction in fasting and 2 h post prandial blood sugar levels after one month's bran therapy. No appreciable changes in the serum glycosylated protein levels, glycosylated albumin levels, serum lipids and lipoprotein cholesterol levels were observed during the period of supplementation.Abbreviations TC total cholesterol - HDL-C high density lipoprotein cholesterol - LDL-C low density lipoprotein cholesterol - VLDL-C Very low density lipoprotein cholesterol - TG triglycerides - PL phospholipids - FFA free fatty acids - G-Alb glycosylated albumin - GSP glycosylated serum proteins - NIDDM Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Melitus     

鸽毛滴虫外泌体的分离鉴定及蛋白质谱分析

旨在研究鸽毛滴虫是否分泌外泌体及虫源外泌体的蛋白组成和功能,为探索外泌体在鸽毛滴虫寄生过程中的作用奠定基础。采集鸽毛滴虫感染个体口腔及咽部病灶处样本,进行分离培养及纯化,使用显微镜鉴定虫体形态,提取DNA并比对其序列,确定培养物是否为鸽毛滴虫虫株;通过对培养液上清进行超速离心,透射电子显微镜、Western blot技术和纳米颗粒追踪分析（nanoparticle tracking analysis,NTA）鉴定培养液上清中是否含有虫源外泌体;最后通过Label-free技术分析虫源外泌体的蛋白质谱表达。结果显示,虫体具有明显的毛滴虫形态及特征,与鸽毛滴虫ITS1/5.8S/ITS2基因比对率达98%。从虫体培养液中提取的囊泡经透射电子显微镜观察具有明显的茶托样结构;NTA结果显示,粒径集中于125.1 nm,峰值粒径为132.3 nm,占比99.3%;CD63和TSG101等外泌体标记蛋白的条带明显,表明提取物为外泌体。质谱结果显示,烯醇酶、3-磷酸甘油醛-脱氢酶、磷酸甘油酸变位酶和延伸因子为表达量较高的蛋白质。GO功能注释显示外泌体蛋白富集到细胞内和胞浆等细胞组分,发挥GTP连接和GTP酶活性功能,参与小GTPase介导的信号转导与糖酵解等过程。KEGG通路富集表明,虫源外泌体蛋白主要富集于代谢途径、糖酵解/糖异生、抗生素的生物合成和次级代谢产物的生物合成等通路。本研究发现鸽毛滴虫可以分泌外泌体,并对虫源外泌体进行蛋白质谱分析,提示虫源外泌体中的蛋白质在寄生虫的能量代谢、信号转导及生物合成等过程中发挥重要作用。     

Mechanism of action of the 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a] pyrimidines

The substituted 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines are a new class of highly active herbicides. Protection of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings from triazolopyrimidine-induced injury by the branched-chain amino acids was observed. Acetolactate synthase (EC 4.1.3.18) was isolated and found to be quite sensitive to inhibition. I₅₀ values for inhibition of the enzyme from a number of plant sources show little variation and no correlation to whole-plant response, suggesting uptake, translocation and metabolism play key roles in modulating herbicidal activity. Further studies indicate that these chemicals are slow, tight-binding inhibitors that are readily dissociated by gel filtration. Some correlations between in-vitro activity and in-vivo activity were observed for ortho-substituted analogs on selected broadleaf species.     

Seed variability in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Madhuca longifolia</Emphasis> (Koenig) J. F. Macbride,a source of oil for use as bio-energy

Madhuca longifolia (Koenig) J. F. Macbride is native to India. Seeds contain 20–50% oil (Mahua oil) and the seed cake is used as manure. Mahua oil is used by rural communities for protection against storage pests. Almost all parts of this tree have medicinal properties. Four explorations and collection missions was conducted during July–October 2007 in Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry. This resulted in the collection of 55 accessions. Characterisation and analysis of 7 seed characters were done. The existence of enormous variability in seed length, thickness and 100 seed weight indicates scope for utilization of these accessions for selection of promising material for extraction of oil. Oil content of kernels has been evaluated. Kernel oil ranged from 44.43 to 61.50%. Three accessions IC556617 with 61.50, IC556632 with 60.80 and IC556632 with 60.55% of kernel oil are superior to the rest. Further collections in the site of these oil rich accessions are promising for more productive Madhuca longifolia genetic resources.     

Detection of Human Rotavirus in Faeces from Diarrhoeic Calves in North-east Nigeria

Information on the epidemiology of rotavirus in any particular area is necessary for vaccine development against the disease caused by the virus. This study presents preliminary information on the prevalence of human rotavirus in diarrhoeic calves in North-east Nigeria. Faecal samples from 188 diarrhoeic calves in various farms in North-east Nigeria, obtained between November 1998 and February 1999, were analysed by ELISA for the presence of rotaviruses. A prevalence rate of 3.2% was recorded, with the virus being prevalent among calves aged 29–56 days (p<0.05). The implications of these findings are discussed with respect to the close association between the herdsmen and their animals and the sharing of a common source of drinking water in the predominantly livestock-producing communities of North-east Nigeria.     

Use of resistant ACCase mutants to screen for novel inhibitors against resistant and susceptible forms of ACCase from grass weeds

The aryloxyphenoxypropionic acid (AOPP) and cyclohexanedione (CHD) herbicides inhibit the first committed enzyme in fatty acid biosynthesis, acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACCase). The frequent use of AOPP and CHD herbicides has resulted in the development of resistance to these herbicides in many grass weed species. New herbicides that inhibit both the susceptible and resistant forms of ACCase in grass weeds would have obvious commercial appeal. In the present study, an attempt was made to identify molecules that target both the herbicide-sensitive and -resistant forms of ACCase. Seven experimental compounds, either CHD-like or AOPP-CHD hybrids, were synthesized and assayed against previously characterized susceptible and resistant forms of ACCase. All seven compounds inhibited ACCase from sensitive biotypes of Setaria viridis and Eleusine indica (I50 values from 6.4 to >100 microM) but were not particularly potent compared to some commercialized herbicides (I50 values of 0.08-5.6 microM). In almost all cases, the I50 values for each compound assayed against the resistant ACCases were higher than those against the corresponding sensitive ACCase, indicating reduced binding to the resistant ACCases. One compound, a CHD analogue, was almost equally effective against the resistant and susceptible ACCases, although it was not a very potent ACCase inhibitor per se (I50 of 51 and 76 microM against susceptible ACCase from S. viridis and E. indica, respectively). The AOPP-CHD hybrid molecules also inhibited some of the resistant ACCases, with I50 values ranging from 6.4 to 50 microM. These compounds may be good leads for developing ACCase inhibitors that target a wider range of ACCase isoforms, including those found in AOPP- and CHD-resistant weed biotypes.     

Studies on the effect of dry Sundakai (solanum torvum) powder supplementation on lipid profile,glycated proteins and amino acids in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients

The effect of dry Sundakai powder supplementation (7 g providing 1.23 g of crude fibre) on glycemic control, lipidemic control, total amino acids and uronic acid was studied on 30 non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients. All the patients were on hypoglycemic drugs. The above parameters were monitored at day 1, 15 and 30 days. After one month of fibre supplementation, no significant changes were observed with respect to glucose, lipid profile, glycated proteins, total amino acids and uronic acid levels in these subjects.