Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against FMD virus type Asia-1 and determination of antigenic variations in the field strains

Twelve mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were developed against an Indian vaccine strain of foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) type Asia-1 WBN 117/85. The MAbs were tested for their ability to bind to whole virus particle, trypsin-treated 146S (TT-146S) virus particle, sub-viral (12S and disrupted virus) antigens by ELISA and to neutralize virus infectivity in cell culture. Extensive characterization of MAbs revealed the existence of three different groups based on the binding of non-overlapping epitopes. Eight type Asia-1 specific MAbs (RF7, RF8, RD10, RE11, RC11, RC10/O, RB11 and RC10/M), which formed group 1 (G1), were found to bind a neutralizing, trypsin-sensitive (TS) and conformational epitope. Two MAbs (WB8 and WC3) in group 2 (G2) were found to bind a non-neutralizing, trypsin-resistant, conformational and 12S-specific epitope, which was intertypically conserved in all the four serotypes of FMDV (O, A, C and Asia-1) prevalent in India. Two MAbs (KG10 and KF10), which formed group 3 (G3), were found to be against a non-neutralizing, TS and conformational epitope, common to types Asia-1 and A. Members of G1 were IgG2a isotype, while those of G2 and G3 were IgG1 and IgG2b isotypes, respectively. Antigenic analysis of 31 FMDV type Asia-1 field isolates and two vaccine strains, using a panel of type Asia-1-specific MAbs, revealed antigenic similarity of the virus isolates tested and non-existence of neutralization escape mutants. The developed MAbs have practical utility, especially in the manufacture of FMD vaccine, diagnosis and FMDV characterization.     

Broadening the genetic base of lentil cultivars through inter‐sub‐specific and interspecific crosses of Lens taxa

Wild Lens taxa are invaluable sources of useful traits for broadening genetic base of cultivated lentil. Nine inter‐sub‐specific and interspecific crosses were made successfully between cultivated (Lens culinaris ssp. culinaris) and wild lentils (L. culinaris ssp. orientalis, odemensis, lamottei and ervoides). The effect of species groups, day length and temperature on crossability in lentils was evident under normal winter sowing in New Delhi and in summer Himalayan nursery at Sangla in Himachal Pradesh, India, although pollen fertility assessed in all the cross‐combinations showed no significant variation. True hybridity of nine inter‐sub‐specific and interspecific crosses was confirmed through morphological and molecular (ISSR) markers, in which three of 120 primers could confirm the hybridity of all the crosses. All cross‐combinations were also studied for important quantitative traits related to yield. The range, mean and coefficient of variation were estimated in parental lines, F₁ and F₂ generations to determine the extent of variability generated in cultivated lentils through the introgression of genes from wild L. taxa. A high level of heterosis was observed in F₁ crosses for important traits studied. Substantially higher variations for seed yield and its attributing traits were exhibited in F₂ generations indicating transgressive segregation. The results of the present investigation revealed that wild L. taxa can be successfully exploited for lentil improvement programmes, and the variations generated could be easily utilized for broadening the genetic base of cultivated lentil gene pool for improving the yield as well as wider adaptation.     

Effects of freeze and cold stress on certain physiological and biochemical traits in sensitive and tolerant barley (Hordeum vulgare) genotypes

An experiment was performed as a split-plot design based on a randomized complete block (RCB) with three replicates. The aim was to explore physiological traits, catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activity associated with cold and freeze stress in four barley genotypes (two stress-tolerant genotypes and two sensitive genotypes). The genotypes were regarded as sub-plots and five temperature levels (namely 20, 4, 0, ?4, ?8°C) as main plots. The results revealed that the hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased through freeze and cold stress from 20 to 4°C. This increase was more in the sensitive genotypes than in the tolerant ones. Subsequent to the increase in lipid peroxidation, the membrane stability index (MSI) decreased, thereby increasing the electrolyte leakage. The sensitive genotypes demonstrated greater reduction in the studied parameters. Upon the increase in the H₂O₂ content, the antioxidant enzymes CAT and POD also increased in order to collect and prevent H₂O₂ from damaging the cell and the plant. Compared with the sensitive ones, the tolerant genotypes indicated more increase in the enzymes. The H₂O₂ and MDA content decreased from ?4 to ?8°C, which could be due to intracellular freezing in the sensitive genotypes, but due to the detoxifying of the antioxidant enzymes in the tolerant genotypes. Compared with the POD content, the increase in the CAT content through cold stress was more, which could mean that it was possibly CAT which acted as the main inhibitor of H₂O₂ in cold stress in the barley plant.     

AFLP fingerprinting of tartary buckwheat accessions (Fagopyrum tataricum) displaying rutin content variation

In light of the economic importance of buckwheat as well as existence of enormous accessions of Fagopyrum species in the Himalayan regions of India, the characterization of tartary buckwheat for rutin content variation vis-à-vis DNA fingerprinting was undertaken so as to identify fingerprint profiles unique to high rutin content accessions. Rutin content analysis in mature seeds of 195 accessions of Fagopyrum tataricum showed a wide range of variation (6 μg/mg to 30 μg/mg D.W.) with most of the accessions (81%) containing 10-16 μg/mg of rutin followed by 14% accessions with significantly higher rutin content (17 μg/mg to 30 μg/mg) and 5% accessions with low rutin content (≤10 μg/mg). AFLP fingerprinting of 18 accessions having high (≥17 μg/mg) and low rutin content (≤10 μg/mg) with 19 EcoRI/MseI primer combinations yielded 136 polymorphic fragments out of total 907. The hierarchical and model-based cluster analyses of AFLP data strongly suggested that the 18 populations of F. tataricum were clustered into two separate groups. The high and low rutin content accessions were clustered into two separate groups based on AFLP fingerprinting. The AFLP fingerprints associated with high rutin content accessions of F. tataricum are expected to be useful for evaluation, conservation and genetic improvement of buckwheat.     

Comparison of the fecal microbiota of two monogastric herbivorous and five omnivorous mammals

Fecal microbiota in seven different monogastric animal species, elephant, horse, human, marmoset, mouse, pig and, rat were compared using the same analytical protocol of 16S rRNA metagenome. Fecal microbiota in herbivores showed higher alpha diversity than omnivores except for pigs. Additionally, principal coordinate analysis based on weighted UniFrac distance demonstrated that herbivores and pigs clustered together, whereas other animal species were separately aggregated. In view of butyrate‐ and lactate‐producing bacteria, predominant genera were different depending on animal species. For example, the abundance of Faecalibacterium, a known butyrate producer, was 8.02% ± 3.22% in human while it was less than 1% in other animal species. Additionally, Bifidobacterium was a predominant lactate producer in human and marmoset, while it was rarely detected in other omnivores. The abundance of lactate‐producing bacteria in herbivores was notably lower than omnivores. On the other hand, herbivores as well as pig possess Fibrobacter, a cellulolytic bacterium. This study demonstrated that fecal microbiota in herbivorous animals is similar, sharing some common features such as higher alpha diversity and higher abundance of cellulolytic bacterium. On the other hand, omnivorous animals seem to possess unique fecal microbiota. It is of interest that pigs, although omnivore, have fecal microbiota showing some common features with herbivores.     

Evaluation of the fertilizer values of stored and fresh human urine in experimental mixed culture of fish and prawn

With a view to closing the nutrient loop between sanitation and fish culture, advanced fry of different species of fish (rohu, bata, mrigal, common carp, tilapia, punti) and larvae of freshwater prawn were reared in twelve experimental tanks in a mixed culture system for 120 days using three treatments (fresh urine, stored urine and mix of fresh and stored human urine) and control in triplicate. The total weight for all the species of fish and prawn in the stored urine (420.0 g) was 18 and 27% higher compared to fresh (356.0 g) and mixed urine (332.0 g) treatments, respectively. Likewise, primary productivity of phytoplankton and heterotrophic bacterial load related to phosphate level of water were also highest and lowest in the stored urine (GPP—508 ± 39.87 mg C m^–2 h^–1; heterotrophic bacteria—38.38 cfu × 10³ mL^–1) and control system (GPP—214 ± 38.09 mg C m^–2 h^–1; heterotrophic bacteria—13.53 cfu × 103 mL^–1), respectively. The mean count of E. coli, on the other hand, did not differ between urine fed treatment and control. As a possible mechanism, it is suggested that stored urine upon transfer to aquaculture pond underwent degradation and mineralization that induced the autotrophic and heterotrophic food webs conducive to fish growth.     

Attitudes of farm consultants in the South Island of New Zealand towards the role of veterinarians in farm businesses

AIMS: To assess the attitude of dairy farm consultants to the role of veterinarians on dairy farms and whether they viewed veterinary advice as impartial, free from commercial bias and central to farm productivity and profitability.

METHODS: A telephone survey was commissioned in September 2014 of 36 full-time farm consultants in the Canterbury and Otago region of New Zealand using a pre-prepared questionnaire to explore their attitudes towards the veterinary profession. Of those approached, 25 completed the survey.

RESULTS: The consultants surveyed agreed or strongly agreed (21/23) that they were the custodians of animal health expenditure on farms, which was seen as an expense to be controlled (19/25 agreed or strongly agreed). This view was held more strongly (9/9 agreed or strongly agreed) by consultants with >5 years’ professional experience, compared to 10/16 consultants with ≤5 years’ experience. Most consultants (24/25) disagreed that they did not respect veterinary advice, but agreed (24/25) that veterinarians almost always had a vested interest in the advice that they gave. The role of veterinarians was seen by respondents to be mainly treatment of sick animals (22/25) and provision of animal health products (24/25), but not in maximising farm profitability (selected by 8/25 respondents). Consultants viewed their own roles as providing advice on the influence of animal health on farm profitability (21/25), nutrition (22/25) and reproduction (20/25). Most respondents (21/25) stated that reducing disease and animal health issues was important, but they (21/25) also identified a reduction in farm animal health expenditure as a measure of success. Only 7/25 consultants felt that they should work in partnership with veterinarians.

CONCLUSIONS: This was a small scale study from one region of New Zealand but it indicates that consultants are ambivalent about the role and value of working more closely with veterinarians, and about the benefit that veterinary intervention may bring to a farm’s profitability.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: More successful veterinary involvement on dairy farms will follow from a better understanding of how other rural professionals are involved in the farm’s management and in meeting the individual farmer’s goals and motivations.     

Molecular and Biological Functions of Quercetin as a Natural Solution for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Treatment

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a worldwide health problem with growing up rates of mortality and morbidity. Many risk factors, including high blood pressure,...