Comparison of microfilaria concentration method for Setaria digitata infection in cattle and for Dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs

Several peripheral blood microfilaria concentration methods that use Acetone (Acetone test), 2% formalin (modified Knott method), 5% Tween 20 solution, distilled water, 1% or 0.1% SDS were compared for their efficacy in detecting Setaria digitata microfilaria in cattle. The Acetone test was found to be more efficacious than the modified Knott method or the 5% Tween 20 solution test for detecting the S. digitata microfilaria in bovine blood. However, besides the Acetone test, the modified Knott method was also found to be suitable for Dirofilaria immitis microfilaria detection in dogs. SDS and distilled water were found not to be effective as hemolytic agent for the disruption of the red blood cell of both the cattle and dogs. Thus, the Acetone test is recommended for the primary screening of microfilaremia of S. digitata in cattle.     

Qualitative risk assessment of transmission pathways of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus at live poultry markets in Dhaka city,Bangladesh

Analysis of environmental samples obtained from the Live Poultry Markets (LPMs) of Dhaka City, Bangladesh, has revealed that the highest degree of prevalence of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAI, H5N1), besides other subtypes of the LPAI virus, poses the plausible risk of transmission of these viruses between human and poultry species. The present study was conducted using the OIE risk analysis framework to assess the risk level of each pathway successively. The estimated risk parameters were integrated towards to obtain the overall risk level for each specific HPAI transmission pathway using the matrix adapted by Cristobel Zepeda accompanying other expert consultations. The relevant data obtained from published and unpublished sources, together with survey data of field observations, were used to formulate and confirm the risk pathways and their associated risks. The results revealed that the risk of the release of the HPAI virus was medium when exposure was high. Additionally, the consequence would be considered very high with a medium degree of uncertainty for all parameters. Ultimately, the overall risk for transmission was estimated as medium with a medium degree of uncertainty. The findings of this study reveal that there is a significant threat that HPAI virus transmission could occur among poultry and humans and effectively sustain within the environment of the LPMs. Our findings are primarily focused on public health considerations, the hygienic slaughter of poultry and the relevant cleaning and sanitation practices conducted in the LPMs to support evidence‐based decision‐making processes. The findings of the study have the potential to be used to formulate effective risk reduction measures and can be further adapted in low‐resource settings without major infrastructural changes required of the LPMs. All of which would reduce the risk of HPAI virus release and further lessen the degree of exposure and transmission in established LPMs.     

Inheritance of seed resistance to bruchids in cultivated mungbean (Vigna radiata, L. Wilczek)

Bruchid beetles or seed weevils are the most devastating stored pests of grain legumes causing considerable loss to mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek). Breeding for bruchid resistance is a major goal in mungbean improvement. Few sources of resistance in cultivated genepool were identified and characterized, however, there has been no study on the genetic control of the resistance. In this study, we investigated the inheritance of seed resistance to Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) and C. maculatus (F.) in two landrace mungbean accessions, V2709BG and V2802BG. The F₁, F₂ and BC generations were developed from crosses between the resistant and susceptible accessions and evaluated for resistance to the insects. It was found that resistance to bruchids in seeds is controlled by maternal plant genotype. All F₁ plants derived from both direct and reciprocal crosses exhibited resistance to the bruchids. Segregation pattern of reaction to the beetles in the F₂ and backcross populations showed that the resistance is controlled by a major gene, with resistance is dominant at varying degrees of expressivity. Although the presence of modifiers was also observed. The gene is likely the same locus in both V2709BG and V2802BG. The resistant gene is considered very useful in breeding for seed resistance to bruchids in mungbean.     

C-protein (MyBP-C) isoforms from carp ordinary and dark muscles and muscle type-specific binding to myosin

ABSTRACT:   C-protein is a myosin-associated protein of vertebrate striated muscle, and its function and properties have been extensively examined. However, there has been no report of C-protein of fish skeletal muscle so far. C-protein was identified in carp skeletal muscle by immunoassay using antibody against chicken C-protein, and the muscle-type specific C-protein was purified from carp ordinary and dark muscles for the first time. Although C-protein could be prepared from crude myosin by the reported procedure, C-protein degraded appreciably during the purification steps. Accordingly, C-protein was selectively extracted from the muscle with 0.15 M K-phosphate buffer (pH 5.8), and purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, followed by AF-blue chromatography. Myosin free from the accessory proteins was obtained by diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) chromatography and used to assay the binding of C-protein with myosin. Ordinary muscle C-protein bound to ordinary muscle myosin in a saturable manner, but its maximum amount of binding was approximately twice that of dark muscle myosin. Similarly, dark muscle C-protein bound to dark muscle myosin much more than to ordinary muscle myosin. These results suggest that C-protein isoforms specifically bound with myosin isoforms originated from the same type of muscle.     

Actin Polymerization: An Event Regulated by Tyrosine Phosphorylation During Buffalo Sperm Capacitation

In the female reproductive tract, the spermatozoa undergo a series of physiological and biochemical changes, prior to gaining the ability to fertilize, that result to capacitation. However, the actin polymerization and protein tyrosine phosphorylation are the two necessary steps for capacitation. In this study, we have demonstrated the actin polymerization and established the correlation between protein tyrosine phosphorylation and actin reorganization during in vitro capacitation in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) spermatozoa. Indirect immunofluorescence and Western blot techniques were used to detect actin polymerization and tyrosine phosphorylation. The time‐dependent fluorimetric studies revealed that the actin polymerization starts from the tail region and progressed towards the head region of spermatozoa during capacitation. The lysophosphatidyl choline (LPC)‐induced acrosome reaction (AR) stimulated quick actin depolymerization. The inhibitor cytochalasin D (CD) blocked the in vitro capacitation by inhibiting the actin polymerization. In addition, we also performed different inhibitor (Genistein, H‐89, PD9809 and GF‐109) and enhancer (dbcAMP, H₂O₂ and vanadate) studies on actin tyrosine phosphorylation and actin polymerization. The inhibitors of tyrosine phosphorylation inhibit actin tyrosine phosphorylation and polymerization, whereas enhancers of tyrosine phosphorylation stimulate F‐actin formation and tyrosine phosphorylation. These observations suggest that the tyrosine phosphorylation regulates the actin polymerization, and both are coupled processes during capacitation of buffalo spermatozoa.     

Fucoxanthin and Its Metabolites in Edible Brown Algae Cultivated in Deep Seawater

Three metabolites of fucoxanthin were isolated from a brown alga, Scytosiphon lomentaria, and the structure of a new compound was determined by NMR. The content of fucoxanthin, a biologically active carotenoid, in four edible brown algae, cultivated in deep seawater, was studied.     

Role of crop diversification and integrated nutrient management in resilience of soil fertility under rice-wheat cropping system

A field study conducted for two crop cycles of five cropping systems supplied with six nutrient combinations at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi indicated that the cropping systems having a legume increased organic C content over initial level by 0.02?–?0.05%, available N by 3.5?–?14.1?kg ha^???1, whereas the rice-wheat cropping system resulted in a reduction in organic C and available N over initial level by 0.05% and 1.5?kg ha^???1, respectively after 2 years of study. Rice-potato-mungbean cropping system resulted in a negative balance of available P and rice-clover cropping system had a negative balance of both available P and available K content in soil and thus call for adequate P and K fertilization. Application of P and K helped in building up their content in soil; NPK?+?FYM showed the highest increase in organic C, available N, available P and available K content in soil. These results suggest the inclusion of a legume in a cropping system for maintaining organic C and available N in soil and adequate P and K fertilization for arresting the depletion of available P and K content in soil. Integrated nutrient management is one of the best methods for resilience of soil fertility under rice-wheat cropping system.