Enhanced survival of probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus by encapsulation with nanostructured polyelectrolyte layers through layer-by-layer approach

The encapsulation of probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus through layer-by-layer self-assembly of polyelectrolytes (PE) chitosan (CHI) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) has been investigated to enhance its survival in adverse conditions encountered in the GI tract. The survival of encapsulated cells in simulated gastric (SGF) and intestinal fluids (SIF) is significant when compared to nonencapsulated cells. On sequential exposure to SGF and SIF for 120 min, almost complete death of free cells is observed. However, for cells coated with three nanolayers of PEs (CHI/CMC/CHI), about 33 log?% of the cells (6?log?cfu/500?mg) survived under the same conditions. The enhanced survival rate of encapsulated L. acidophilus can be attributed to the impermeability of polyelectrolyte nanolayers to large enzyme molecules like pepsin and pancreatin that cause proteolysis and to the stability of the polyelectrolyte nanolayers in gastric and intestinal pH. The PE coating also serves to reduce viability losses during freezing and freeze-drying. About 73 and 92 log?% of uncoated and coated cells survived after freeze-drying, and the losses occurring between freezing and freeze-drying were found to be lower for the coated cells.     

Physicochemical and structural properties of maize and potato starches as a function of granule size

Chemical composition, molecular structure and organization, and thermal and pasting properties of maize and potato starches fractionated on the basis of granule size were investigated to understand heterogeneity within granule populations. For both starches, lipid, protein, and mineral contents decreased and apparent amylose contents increased with granule size. Fully branched (whole) and debranched molecular size distributions in maize starch fractions were invariant with granule size. Higher amylose contents and amylopectin hydrodynamic sizes were found for larger potato starch granules, although debranched molecular size distributions did not vary. Larger granules had higher degrees of crystallinity and greater amounts of double and single helical structures. Systematic differences in pasting and thermal properties were observed with granule size. Results suggest that branch length distributions in both amylose and amylopectin fractions are under tighter biosynthetic control in potato starch than either molecular size or amylose/amylopectin ratio, whereas all three parameters are controlled during the biosynthesis of maize starch.     

Water management and water uptake efficiency by potatoes: A review

Lack of adequate availability of water can adversely impact the total as well as marketable quality of potato tuber production. Tuber initiation stage is the most critical growth stage for water stress. In this paper, effects of different water regimes on tuber yield and quality under different production systems are discussed. Deficit irrigation in general showed negative impact on the tuber yield as well as quality. Soil water management influences the fate and transport of nitrogen in soils, therefore, best management practice of both water and nitrogen are critical to optimize uptake efficiencies and minimize leaching losses.     

Phytoextractability of lead from soil by some oilseed crops as affected by sewage sludge and farmyard manure

Abstract

Screenhouse experiments were conducted to study the phytoextractability of lead (Pb) by three oilseed crops (Brassica juncea, Brassica napus and Eruca sativa) from Pb enriched (i.e. 0, 200, 400, 600 and 800 mg Pb kg^?1 soil) unamended, sewage sludge-amended (SS-amended) and farmyard manure-amended (FYM-amended) sandy loam soil. Chlorotic symptoms and stunted growth were observed at Pb₆₀₀ and Pb₈₀₀ treatments. Sewage sludge and FYM slightly decreased chlorosis. The biomass production for amendment treatments followed the order: FYM-amended > SS-amended > Unamended soil, and for species: Brassica juncea > Brassica napus > Eruca sativa. The Pb concentration followed the order: leaf > stem > seed, Brassica napus > Brassica juncea > Eruca sativa, and SS-amended > Unamended > FYM-amended soils. The Pb uptake followed the order: Brassica juncea > Brassica napus > Eruca sativa, and SS-amended > Unamended > FYM-amended soils. Exchangeable and Fe-Mn oxide bound fractions decreased and organic matter bound fraction increased with sewage sludge and FYM. The carbonate bound fraction considerably decreased with FYM.     

RHIZOSPHERIC EFFECT OF VESICULAR ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL INOCULATION ON BIOMASS PRODUCTION OF RUTA GRAVEOLENS L.: A POTENTIAL MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC HERB

A bio-inoculation experiment was performed on Ruta graveolens L., known as “Garden Rue” seedlings for the biomass production. Seedlings were inoculated with single and in combined mycorrhizal treatments. All inoculated seedlings showed significant biomass production than control seedlings. The phosphorus (P) content was more in seedlings inoculated with consortium of three native VAM fungi followed by Glomus mosseae, Acaulospora laevis and Gigaspora gigantea alone treatments. The control seedlings had the least P content but root P content was more than shoot P content in all treatments. The biomass of shoot and root was also significantly more in seedlings inoculated with consortium followed by G. mosseae, A. laevis and G. gigantea alone treatment. The control seedlings again had low shoot and root biomass. The Biovolume index (B_i) was also high in all inoculated treatments than non-inoculated control but consortium treatment (7.98) had at par B_i than rest of inoculation treatments. The quality index (Q_i) value was also high in mixed consortium (1.42) and A. laevis treatment (1.42) each respectively than G. mosseae (1.38) and G. gigantea (1.29) treatments. Control seedlings had low value of Q_i (1.27). The present study indicates that G. mosseae, A. laevis, G. gigantea are the best strains of VAM symbionts when mixed together for inoculating the R. graveolens to get higher yield of biomass. A. laevis is also good strain of VAM fungi for the same purpose. The G. gigantea alone proved least effective strain for inoculation purpose in R. graveolens but when mixed together in consortium of native VAM fungi as described above executed good results for enhancing the biomass production.     

Suitability of extractant for soil available silicon and silicon response to upland paddy grown on alkaline soils of central India

Abstract

Several silicon (Si) extractants are being employed in different countries mostly for lowland acidic soils. Present investigation was conducted to evaluate suitable extractants for upland paddy grown on alkaline soils. Available Si was extracted by using ten different extractants. Tris buffer pH 7.0 (1:10) in Inceptisols showed positively highest and significant correlation with grain yield (r?=?0.870), grain Si uptake (r?=?0.887), straw yield (r?=?0.852), and straw Si uptake (r?=?0.919). However, 0.5?M acetic acid (1:2.5) in Vertisols showed positively highest and significant correlation with grain yield (r?=?0.810), grain Si uptake (r?=?0.852), straw yield (r?=?0.850), and straw Si uptake (r?=?0.929). The application of Si @ 200?kg ha^?1 along with chemical fertilizers significantly increased yield and nutrient uptake of upland paddy on Vertisols. Tris buffer pH 7.0 (1:10) and 0.5?M acetic acid (1:2.5) were suitable extractant for Inceptisols and Vertisols, respectively based on its correlation with yield and nutrient uptake.     

Non-Structural protein 1 (NS1) gene of Canine Parvovirus-2 regresses chemically induced skin tumors in Wistar rats

The Non-Structural protein 1 of Canine Parvovirus-2 (CPV2.NS1) plays a major role in viral cytotoxicity and pathogenicity. CPV2.NS1 has been proven to cause apoptosis in HeLa cells in vitro in our laboratory. Here we report that CPV2.NS1 has no toxic side effects on healthy cells but regresses skin tumors in Wistar rats. Histopathological examination of tumor tissue from CPV2.NS1 treated group revealed infiltration of mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cells with increased extra cellular matrix, indicating signs of regression. Tumor regression was also evidenced by significant decrease in mitotic index, AgNOR count and PCNA index, and increase in TUNEL positive apoptotic cells in CPV2.NS1 treated group. Further, CPV2.NS1 induced anti-tumor immune response through significant increase in CD8⁺ and NK cell population in CPV2.NS1 treated group. These findings suggest that CPV2.NS1 can be a possible therapeutic candidate as an alternative to chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer.     

Formation of NET,phagocytic activity,surface architecture,apoptosis and expression of toll like receptors 2 and 4 (TLR2 and TLR4) in neutrophils of mastitic cows

Neutrophils employ both oxidative and non oxidative mechanisms to destroy pathogens. Function of neutrophils coming in milk during mammary invasion is not clearly understood in dairy animals. Therefore, the present study was designed in 36 Sahiwal cows to see the changes occurring in the neutrophil activity of cows suffering from subclinical (SCM) and clinical mastitis (CM). Cows were divided into three groups as healthy (n?=?12), SCM (n?=?12) and CM (n?=?12) groups on the basis of CMT scoring, gross morphological changes in milk, bacteriological examination of milk and by counting milk SCC. Significantly (P?P?P?Toll like receptors 2 and 4 in blood and milk neutrophils were found to be significantly (P?P?TLR4 with the formation of NETs and change in surface architecture. Formation of NET like structures seemed to be an effective mode of defense employed by neutrophils of cows suffering from clinical mastitis.     

Cumulative effects of tree-based intercropping on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

In tree-based intercropping system (agroforestry), the role of perennial trees in maintaining active populations and mycelial networks of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is well documented. Agroforestry positively influences the AMF community, but complete studies regarding mycorrhization in such systems are scarce. The present study was conducted to assess the effect of tree introduction in agriculture fields on mycorrhization. In particular, we investigated the effect of trees on AMF colonization of intercrops and vice versa, the effect of canopy management of trees on their root colonization, and the cross-infectivity of AMF isolated from tree rhizosphere in intercrops and vice versa. The results of the field study suggest that in agroforestry systems, trees acted as AMF inoculum reservoir for intercrops, especially during the rainy season. Intercropping (Phaseolus mungo and Triticum aestivum in the rainy and winter seasons, respectively) increased mycorrhization, i.e., root colonization and spore population in the rhizosphere of Albizia procera and Eucalyptus tereticornis. Canopy management, i.e., shoot pruning, reduces root colonization in A. procera, Anogeissus pendula, Dalbergia sissoo, Hardwickia binata, and Tectona grandis, especially in April 2005 (late spring), but during subsequent periods, differences among the treatments were at par. Results from greenhouse suggest that AMF are nonspecific in their selection of host since species isolated from tree rhizosphere could colonize the roots of crops and vice versa.     

Enhanced mucosal immune response in cattle persistently infected with foot-and-mouth disease virus

The mucosal immune response to foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) type Asia 1 was examined in experimentally infected cattle by assaying antibodies by the virus-neutralizing test (VNT) and IgA ELISA in two secretory fluids, oesophageal pharyngeal fluid (OPF) and oro-nasal fluid (ONF). Out of 17 animals infected by the intradermo-lingual route, 12 became persistently infected (carriers), as defined by positive antigen capture RT-PCR reactions for FMDV RNA in OPF samples collected at 28 days or later after exposure. This proportion of carriers (71%) with FMDV Asia 1 is comparable to other serotypes of the virus. When the two groups were examined, the carriers and non-carriers showed no difference in the serum antibody titre until the end of the experiment at 182 days post-infection (DPI). However, despite an initial similarity significantly higher neutralizing antibody titres and FMDV-specific IgA response were detected among the carriers than the non-carriers in both of the secretory fluids. The response was higher and more stable in ONF compared to OPF. Thus, mucosal antibody assays have the potential to be used as a means of differentiating carrier from non-carrier cattle. Furthermore, the findings are consistent with the higher mucosal antibody response in carriers being an effect of persistent infection rather than the cause.