Pigeonpea improvement: An amalgam of breeding and genomic research

In the past five decades, constant research has been directed towards yield improvement in pigeonpea resulting in the deployment of several commercially acceptable cultivars in India. Though, the genesis of hybrid technology, the biggest breakthrough, enigma of stagnant productivity still remains unsolved. To sort this productivity disparity, genomic research along with conventional breeding was successfully initiated at ICRISAT. It endowed ample genomic resource providing insight in the pigeonpea genome combating production constraints in a precise and speedy manner. The availability of the draft genome sequence with a large‐scale marker resource, oriented the research towards trait mapping for flowering time, determinacy, fertility restoration, yield attributing traits and photo‐insensitivity. Defined core and mini‐core collection, still eased the pigeonpea breeding being accessible for existing genetic diversity and developing stress resistance. Modern genomic tools like next‐generation sequencing, genome‐wide selection helping in the appraisal of selection efficiency is leading towards next‐generation breeding, an awaited milestone in pigeonpea genetic enhancement. This paper emphasizes the ongoing genetic improvement in pigeonpea with an amalgam of conventional breeding as well as genomic research.     

An acute case of Pimelea elongata toxicity in cattle in western New South Wales

In May 2019, 96 cattle died from Pimelea toxicity in a period of 19 days after potential exposure, with the first deaths occurring within 5 days. After examining the circumstances, we suspect that several factors contributed to the deaths. These included that recently purchased stock and transported had access to flooded land containing Pimelea elongata. This weed species contains simplexin and 18 other compounds. Roots, flowers and seeds are significantly more toxic than the stem, branches and leaves. We suspect that thirsty and hungry stock consumed seed and roots from flooded pastures and consumed lethal doses of simplexin. Blood tests were not good indicators of the conditions. Management strategies are suggested.     

动物软组织修复资源-沙棘

伤口愈合是一种复杂的现象,是机体控制的系统对细胞进行精微同步调节的结果.然而,一系列可变因素通过多种方法来影响此过程.通常来说,机体内的各种维生素,矿物质,脂肪酸,氨基酸和其他营养物质对该过程起着直接或间接的重要影响.不仅如此,各种疾病与无数的外界因素也以不可预料的形式影响着该过程.因此,任何治疗方法都是努力控制上述因素以使机体处于最佳恢复状态.因此,当这种天然愈合过程被打断,机体的伤口就会转变为慢性,或者出现溃疡.     

Effects of sodium nitroprusside after load reduction and/or atropine pre-treatment prior to dexmedetomidine administration on cardiovascular variables in dogs

The purpose of this study was to determine the cardiovascular effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP)‐induced after load reduction in dogs administered dexmedetomidine (DEX). Using a randomized crossover design and allowing at least 2 weeks between treatments 12 adult hound dogs of either sex weighing 22 ± 1.7 SD kg were anesthetized by face mask administration of 2.9% ET sevoflurane to facilitate instrumentation prior to administration of treatment drugs. Dogs were intubated and instrumented to enable measurement of heart rate (HR), systolic (SAP), mean (MAP) and diastolic (DAP) arterial pressures, mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), central venous pressure (CVP), pulmonary arterial temperature (TEMP), and cardiac output (CO). Systemic (SVR) and pulmonary vascular resistances were calculated. Following completion of instrumentation dogs were allowed to recover for 40 minutes. After collection of baseline data, dogs were administered one of four treatments at T–10 minutes prior to injection of DEX (500? g M^–2 IM): 1) saline (SAL); 2) atropine (ATR, 0.02 [n = 6] or 0.04 [n = 6] mg kg^–1 IM); 3) SAL + SNP (infused at 1–10 ?g kg^–1 minute^–1, IV as needed to maintain MAP between 90–110 mm Hg; or 4) ATR + SNP. Cardiovascular data were collected at T‐20 minutes prior to administration of DEX, T‐5 and at 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 60 minutes following DEX. Data were analyzed using anova for repeated measures with post hoc differences between means identified using Bonferroni's method (p < 0.05). Differences in ATR dose were not found to be significant and thus results for ATR dose groups were pooled. Administration of SAL (dexmedetomidine alone) was associated with decreases in HR and CO and increases in SAP, MAP, DAP, CVP, and SVR. Administration of ATR was associated with an increase in HR and CO compared with SAL. Administration of SNP was associated with an increase in HR and CO and a decrease in SVR, MAP and CVP compared with SAL. Administration of SNP + ATR was associated with effects similar to that of SNP or ATR alone and resulted in an additive increase in CO. We conclude that SNP‐induced afterload reduction with or without atropine is effective in mitigating DEX‐induced impairment of cardiovascular function.     

Development of a monoclonal antibody-based co-agglutination test to detect enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli isolated from diarrheic neonatal calves

Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains were collected from young diarrheic calves in farms and field. Strains that expressed the K99 (F5) antigen were identified by agglutination tests using reference antibodies to K99 antigen and electron microscopy. The K99 antigen from a selected field strain (SAR-14) was heat-extracted and fractionated on a Sepharose CL-4B column. Further purification was carried out by sodium deoxycholate treatment and/or ion-exchange chromatography. Monoclonal antibodies to purified K99 antigen were produced by the hybridoma technique, and a specific clone, NEK99-5.6.12, was selected for propagation in tissue culture. The antibodies, thus obtained, were affinity-purified, characterized and coated onto Giemsa-stained Cowan-I strain of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The antibody-coated S. aureus were used in a co-agglutination test to detect K99+ E. coli isolated from feces of diarrheic calves. The specificity of the test was validated against reference monoclonal antibodies used in co-agglutination tests, as well as in ELISA. Specificity of the monoclonal antibodies was also tested against various Gram negative bacteria. The developed antibodies specifically detected purified K99 antigen in immunoblots, as well as K99+ E. coli in ELISA and co-agglutination tests. The co-agglutination test was specific and convenient for large-scale screening of K99+ E. coli isolates.     

Immunolocalization of Aquaporins 1 and 9 in the Ram Efferent Ducts and Epididymis

Aquaporins (AQPs) are essential membrane protein channels for the transport of water across membranes. Fluid movement in the epididymis is important for modulation of the luminal environment, in which sperm mature and reside. This study was designed to understand the morphology and localization of AQPs in ram efferent ducts (ED) and epididymis. For this purpose, the epididymis of seven animals were removed for histologic and immunohistochemical analyses. AQP1 immunoreactivity was observed in the apex of the ED, and AQP9 was found adjacent to the nuclei of the epithelial cells of the ED. The epithelial lining of ram epididymis is pseudostratified columnar and presents principal, basal, apical and narrow cells. In the initial segment (IS), a moderate reaction for AQP1 was observed in the apical cytoplasm of epithelial cells. An intense reactivity for AQP1 was noted over the microvilli of principal cells and in spermatozoa in the caput. In the corpus and cauda, AQP1 was noted only over the endothelial cells of vascular channels located in intertubular spaces. A weak‐to‐moderate reaction for AQP9 was observed in the nuclei of epithelial cells in the IS, caput and corpus of the epididymis. In the cauda, an intense reaction to AQP9 was observed in the epithelial border. In the IS, caput and corpus, the reactivity for AQP9 differed from those observed in domestic animals. The cauda showed a pattern similar to that previously described. These results indicate that AQPs 1 and 9 have reversed locations and roles in rams, suggesting activity variations related with fluid and solute absorption throughout the epididymis.     

Molecular mapping of a locus controlling resistance to Albugo candida in Indian mustard

Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss is widely grown as an oilseed crop in the Indian subcontinent. White rust disease caused by Albugo candida (Pers.) Kuntze is a serious disease of this crop causing considerable yield loss every year. The present study was undertaken to identify molecular markers for the locus controlling white rust resistance in a mustard accession, BEC‐144, using a set of 94 recombinant inbred lines (RILs). The screening of individual RILs using an isolate highly virulent on the popular Indian cultivar ‘Varuna’ revealed the presence of a major locus for rust resistance in BEC‐144. Based on screening of 186 decamer primers employing bulked segregant analysis (BSA), 11 random amplified polymorphic DNA markers were identified, which distinguished the parental lines and the bulks. Five of these markers showed linkage with the rust resistance locus. Two markers, OPN0_l000 and OPB06₁₀₀₀, were linked in coupling and repulsion phases at 9.9 cM and 5.5 cM, respectively, on either side of the locus. The presence of only two double recombinants in a population of 94 RILs suggested that the simultaneous use of both markers would ensure efficient transfer of the target gene in mustard breeding programmes.     

Role of Excretory–Secretory Metabolites of Fasciola gigantica in Modulating Delayed-type Hypersensitivity in Rats

The role of excretory-secretory metabolites of Fasciola gigantica in modulating the delayed type of hypersensitivity in the host (rats) was investigated. Eighteen rats of either sex, aged 3-4 months, were assigned to three groups of 6 animals each. Rats in group 1 served as non-inoculated controls and each rat in this group was administered only Freund's complete adjuvant on day 7. Animals in groups 2 and 3 were administered inoculation dose(s) of somatic F gigantica antigen (SFgA) and excretory-secretory F gigantica antigens (ESFgA) according to the experimental schedule. The delayed-type hypersensitivity was monitored by assessing alterations in the foot pad thickness, its histopathology and lymphocyte proliferation assay. It was observed that the ESFgA caused diminution in delayed-type hypersensitivity response to a significant level (p <0.01) against SFgA in rats. This finding was further confirmed by lower stimulation indices of peripheral blood mononuclear cell in rats sensitized with ESFgA prior to inoculation of SFgA (group 1) than in nonsensitized rats receiving only SFgA (group 2).