Sulfur accumulation in Vertisols due to continuous gypsum application for six years and its effect on yield and biochemical constituents of soybean (Glycine Max L. Merrill)

Application of S through inorganic sources is recommended to the crops in the cropping system in S deficient soils of India. However, transformations of S in the soil profile following continuous gypsum application are not known. The accumulation of S into different fractions due to application of a total of 180—540 kg S ha^—1 over a six‐year‐period in soybean — wheat cropping system and its effect on the yield and quality of soybean produce were investigated in a vertisol area. About 25—38% of the S added was retained in the 90 cm depth of profile. Significant changes in the total S content in soil layers were recorded wherein a total of 360 kg S ha^—1 or more S was applied. Maximum increase in total S content was recorded in upper layers. Soluble S accumulated more in the 30—75 cm depth; whereas, proportion of sorbed fraction of S increased with depth. Build up of S in the surface layer of the profile was mostly related to the increase in organic fraction. The S accumulation in lower layers of the profile was mostly due to increase in soluble and sorbed fractions of S. Such an increase of the S content in the soil caused an increase in seed yield, uptake of S as well as content of oil and S containing amino acids, cystine, and methionine in seed of soybean crop.     

Milk whey as a serum supplement for the growth of FMD virus in BHK-21 cells

Two batches of experimental media containing 10% milk whey (sweet or sour) and 1% bovine serum supported the growth of BHK-21 cells in serial passages. The cell yield was greater than 2×10⁶/ml at 48 h. The cells were susceptible to inoculation with foot and mouth disease (FMD) virus type A and the virus titres obtained were comparable with those in Eagle's MEM-G with 10% serum. The use of milk whey could reduce the consumption of serum required for the growth of FMD virus in BHK-21 cells by up to 90%.     

Use of RAPD-PCR for genetic analysis of Nicobari fowl of Andamans

1. The present study was conducted to estimate genetic relatedness among Nicobari fowls (Brown, Black and White) and an exotic bird (White Leghorn) using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) polymorphism. 2. A total of 25 decamer primers were screened among all the breeds of which 24 primers amplified the genomic DNA, generating 2000 to 200 bp bands. Ten primers generated reproducible and distinct RAPD profiles and were used for further analysis. 3. A total of 94 bands were amplified and 30 polymorphic bands (32%) were produced. The number of polymorphic loci ranged from 1 to 5 with an average of 3.0. 4. Among the native breeds Brown Nicobari showed higher genetic similarity (0.85) than Black Nicobari (0.80) and White Nicobari fowl (0.82). 5. Brown Nicobari showed high genetic similarity with Black Nicobari (0.87 +/- 0.029); least similarity was between White Nicobari and White Leghorn (0.77 +/- 0.028). 6. The RAPD profile of all Nicobari fowls on amplification with the primers PBG5 and PBA12 showed specific bands of molecular size 1050 and 785 bp, respectively. 7. The native breeds showed the least genetic distance with each other while White Leghorn appeared to be most distant from the native breeds.     

Fatty acid synthase as a potential therapeutic target in feline oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an aggressive and treatment‐resistant malignancy in both feline and human patients. Recent work has demonstrated aberrant expression of fatty acid synthase (FASN) and an increased capacity for lipogenesis in human OSCC and other cancers. In human OSCC, inhibition of FASN decreased cell viability and growth in vitro, and diminished tumour growth and metastasis in murine preclinical models. This study aimed to characterize FASN as a therapeutic target in feline OSCC. Immunohistochemistry revealed high FASN expression in primary feline OSCC tumours, and FASN expression was detected in OSCC cell lines (3 feline and 3 human) by immunoblotting and quantitative real‐time‐polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). Orlistat, a FASN inhibitor, substantially reduced cell viability in both feline and human OSCC lines, although feline cell lines consistently displayed higher sensitivity to the drug. FASN mRNA expression among cell lines mirrored sensitivity to orlistat, with feline cell lines expressing higher levels of FASN. Consistent with this observation, diminished sensitivity to orlistat treatment and decreased FASN mRNA expression were observed in feline OSCC cells following incubation under hypoxic conditions. Treatment with orlistat did not potentiate sensitivity to carboplatin in the cell lines investigated; instead, combinations of the 2 drugs resulted in additive to antagonistic effects. Our results suggest that FASN inhibition is a viable therapeutic target for feline OSCC. Furthermore, cats may serve as a spontaneous large animal model for human oral cancer, although differences in the regulation of lipogenesis between these 2 species require further investigation.     

Tagging: on the use of passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags for the identification of fish

To determine the efficacy of passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags for marking rohu Labeo rohita (Ham.) in the selective breeding programme, a series of experiments has been carried out at the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) under the Indo–Norwegian project of ‘Selective breeding of rohu’. Six groups of rohu fingerlings with weight ranging from 2 g to 20 g were tagged with PIT tags to determine a suitable size range for tagging. Fingerlings weighing 8–15 g were found to be quite suitable for tagging with a PIT tag. Recovery of the PIT tag depends upon the survival of tagged fish under field conditions. Rejection of the PIT tag by rohu was observed to be only 0.05%. Through effective management practice, the survival of tagged fish increased up to 95%, and thus tag loss was minimized.     

Activin receptor type IIB in rohu (Labeo rohita): molecular characterization,tissue distribution and immunohistochemical localization during different stages of gonadal maturation

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry - Activin receptor type IIB (ActRIIB) is a transmembrane serine/threonine kinase receptor which plays a pivotal role in regulating the reproduction in vertebrates...     

Role of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the regulation of reproduction: study based on catfish model

Significance of NPY in the regulation of GnRH–LH axis was evaluated. Considerable NPY immunoreactivity was seen in the components like olfactory system, basal telencephalon, preoptic and tuberal areas, and the pituitary gland that serve as neuroanatomical substrates for processing reproductive information. Close anatomical association as well as colocalizations of NPY and GnRH were seen in the olfactory receptor neurons, olfactory nerve fibers and their terminals in the glomeruli, ganglion cells of nervus terminalis, medial olfactory tracts, fibers in the ventral telencephalon and pituitary. In the pituitary, NPY fibers seem to innervate the GnRH as well as LH cells. Intracranial administration of NPY resulted in significant increase in the GnRH immunoreactivity in all the components of the olfactory system. In the pituitary, NPY augmented the population of GnRH fibers and LH cells. HPLC analysis showed that salmon GnRH content in the olfactory organ, bulb, preoptic area+telencephalon and pituitary was also significantly increased following NPY treatment. NPY may play a role in positive regulation of GnRH throughout the neuraxis and also up-regulate the LH cells in the pituitary.     

The Effect of K-Lactate Salt and Liquid Smoke on Bacterial Growth in a Model System

The effects of a commercial lactate salt formulation—containing potassium lactate (KL) and potassium acetate (KA)—and liquid smoke (LS) on the growth of selected lactic acid bacteria (LAB; Carnobacterium maltaromaticum, Carnobacterium inhibens, Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus curvatus, and Enterococcus faecalis), fish spoilage bacteria (Photobacterium phosphoreum, Pseudomonas putida, and Vibrio vulnificus), and Listeria innocua, were examined in a tryptic soy broth model system at 20ºC based on BioScreen data. The most pronounced inhibition effect on growth of bacteria was seen in the presence of 6% KL + 0.4% KA, used either combined with LS or alone. Only a minor inhibition effect on growth was found in the presence of LS alone. The only exception was Lactobacillus curvatus, which grew quite well in the presence of LS compared to control medium. The growth of Vibrio vulnificus was prevented in 6% KL + 0.4% KA, and significantly inhibited in the presence of 3% KL + 0.2% KA. When V. vulnificus was grown in NaCl, KA, and KL + KA, it was observed that KL + KA had a better inhibition effect than sodium salt within the same concentration range.     

Screening for drought tolerance in wheat genotypes by morphological and SSR markers

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Drought stress has become a significant abiotic stress for wheat in Bangladesh. This study aimed to explore drought tolerance in Bangladeshi wheat based...     

Effect of alternate day feeding strategy of sub-optimal protein level on haemato-biochemical responses in Labeo rohita (Hamilton) juveniles

A feeding trial was conducted for 60 days to delineate the effect of alternate day feeding strategy of sub‐optimal protein level on haematological parameters, serum parameters and phagocyte respiratory burst activity (NBT) in Labeo rohita juveniles. One hundred and thirty‐five fingerlings (1.87 ± 0.01–2.26 ± 0.05 g) were distributed in triplicate groups of each treatment, and fish were fed at 5% body weight daily. Three experimental isocaloric (401.32–410.28 kcal/100 g) diets of 30%, 25%, and 20% crude protein designated as diet A, diet B, and diet C respectively, were prepared, using locally available feed ingredients. Three different feeding schedules of normal protein diet continuously (diet A‐30%), alternate feeding of 1‐day diet A followed by 1‐day diet B (1A/1B) and alternate feeding of 1‐day diet A followed by 1‐day diet C (1A/1C) were tested. The total erythrocyte count and haemoglobin content was significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced in the group T1 fed (1A/1B), and the lowest count was recorded in the group T2 fed (1A/1C). Total leucocyte counts, total serum protein, and serum globulin were higher in the group T1 fed (1A/1B) and lower in the group T2 fed (1A/1C) as compare to control. The respiratory burst activity (NBT) of blood phagocytes and serum A‐to‐G ratio was recorded significantly difference in among the treatment groups. Based on the results of the present study, it is concluded that alternate feeding of 1‐day diet A followed by 1‐day diet B (1A/1B) is equally effective and promote the immunity in Labeo rohita juveniles.