Studies on the effects of LPS, ß‐glucan and metabolic inhibitors on the respiratory burst and gene expression in Atlantic salmon macrophages

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in macrophage‐like cells is induced as an antimicrobial defence against invading pathogens. In this study, we have explored how different stimuli and metabolic inhibitors affect the level of respiratory burst in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) head kidney macrophage‐like cells. Cells stimulated in vitro by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and ß‐glucan showed increased production of ROS compared to unstimulated cells. Both stimulation and costimulation by curdlan (ß‐glucan) induced a higher production of ROS compared to stimulation and costimulation by LPS. Metabolic inhibitors co‐incubated with the stimulants did not, in most cases, perturb the level of ROS generation in the salmon macrophage‐like cells. The NAD⁺ content as well as the NAD⁺/NADH ratio increased in curdlan and LPS + curdlan‐stimulated cells compared to control cells, which indicated increased metabolic activity in the stimulated cells. Supporting these findings, gene analysis using real‐time quantitative PCR showed that arginase‐1 and IL‐1ß genes were highly expressed in the stimulated cells.     

Growth performance of pengba,Osteobrama belangeri (Valenciennes, 1844) and water quality changes during fingerling rearing with varied stocking density in large outdoor concrete tanks

Fingerling rearing of pengba, Osteobrama belangeri, was conducted at varied densities for 90 days in 12 outdoor concrete tanks (10 m × 5 m × 1 m). The tanks, grouped into four triplicated treatments, were stocked with fry at 20, 30, 40 and 50 fry m^‐3; and designated as control, T‐1, T‐2 and T‐3 respectively. Tanks were filled up to 90 cm depth. Evaporation loss compensated fortnightly. Fish sampling and monitoring of water quality parameters done at fortnight intervals. Survival varied between 71.5% and 84.0% in treatments. Both survival and total length significantly reduced with increasing densities from control to T‐2 (p < .05), while no differences were observed between T‐2 and T‐3 (p > .05). Similarly, significant reductions in final body weight and specific growth rate were observed with increased densities and these values further reduced in T‐3 than T‐2 (p < .05). Such results corroborated the inverse relationship between stocking density and growth. Gross biomass yields in two higher densities (T‐2 and T‐3), despite their lower survivals, were significantly higher than the two lower densities. The numbers of fingerlings harvested were 35, 74 and 112% higher than the control in T‐1, T‐2 and T‐3 respectively. The lowest size obtained even at the highest density (T‐3) was of 7.0 ± 1.0 cm and 3.99 ± 0.17 g, which can be considered as ideal grow‐out stocking size of pengba. Therefore, the study showed feasibility of stocking up to 50 fry m^‐3 for rearing from fry to fingerling stage. However, the other lower densities may be used in case of requirement of larger fingerlings.     

Isolation,Purification, and Biochemical Characterization of Trypsin from Indian Mackerel (Rastralliger kanagurta)

Trypsin from viscera of Indian mackerel (Rastralliger kanagurta) was purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation and chromatographic techniques such as size exclusion, ion exchange, and affinity chromatography, with a 14.4-fold increase in specific activity and 18.7% recovery. The molecular weight of the trypsin was estimated to be approximately 26 kDa using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Purified trypsin showed amidase-specific activity which was determined using benzoyl-dl-arginine-p-nitroanilide (BAPNA). The optimum pH and temperature for isolated trypsin activity were 9.0 and 50°C, respectively. The purified trypsin was strongly inhibited by soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) and N-p-tosyl-1-lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK). Purified trypsin showed almost 40% recovery at high NaCl concentration (30%). The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the first 10 amino acids of purified trypsin was IVGGYESQPH. The Michaelis-Menten constant (K_m) and catalytic constant (K_cat) of purified trypsin were 0.430 mM and 0.77 s^?1, respectively, determined using BAPNA as a substrate. Purified trypsin showed digestion of casein similar to bovine trypsin by the fluorometric method.     

Identification and characterization of SNPs in released,landrace and wild accessions of mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) using whole genome re-sequencing

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek var. radiata] is vital grain legume having nutritional and socio-economic importance, especially in the...     

EFFECT OF PACLOBUTRAZOL AND PUTRESCINE ON ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES ACTIVITY AND NUTRIENTS CONTENT IN SALT TOLERANT CITRUS ROOTSTOCK SOUR ORANGE UNDER SODIUM CHLORIDE STRESS

The effects of paclobutrazol (PBZ) and putrescine (Put) on antioxidant enzymes activity, proline contents and nutrients uptake were studied on salt tolerant citrus rootstock sour orange. Six-month-old nucellar seedlings grown in pots and subjected to three levels of PBZ and two levels each of salinity and Put for 90 days. Seedlings treated with PBZ or Put alone or in combination had higher anti-oxidant enzymes activities, accumulation of proline and nutrients contents like potassium (K⁺) and calcium (Ca²⁺) under both saline and non-saline conditions. Further, application of PBZ or Put alone or in combination also reduced the accumulation of both Na⁺ and Cl^? ions in leaves and roots in NaCl stressed seedlings. A combined application of 250 mg L^?1 PBZ and 50 mg L^?1 Put proved to be more effective in improving proline and Ca²⁺ content and restricting accumulation of Na⁺ ions in leaf tissues.     

Graft copolymerization of acrylamide onto rayon by chemical and radiation methods

The inherent properties of rayon fibre have been changed with additional properties through graft copolymerization of acrylamide, AAm, by chemical method using ceric ammonium nitrate/nitric acid, (CAN/HNO₃), as a redox initiator and γ-radiation induced mutual method. Reaction conditions such as monomer and initiator concentration, liquor ratio, temperature and time of reaction, amount of radiation dose have been optimized with respect to percentage of grafting. Maximum percentage of grafting (Pg), (40 %) using CAN/HNO₃ was obtained at [CAN]=31.92×10^?3 moles/l, [HNO₃]=79.36×10^?2 moles/l, [AAm]=14.07×10² moles/l in 20 ml of H₂O at 45 °C within 120 min while in case of radiation induced method, maximum Pg (30 %) was obtained at higher monomer concentration (28.14×10^?2 moles/l) and time (180 min) in 10 ml of H₂O at room temperature with total dose exposure of 11.178 kGy. The graft copolymers were characterized by FTIR, thermogravimetric and scanning electron micrographic analysis. Swelling behaviour in water, methanol, ethanol, acetone and DMF and dyeing and flame retarding properties of rayon fibre and grafted rayon fibre were investigated. Percent dye uptake (71.8 %) was found to be higher than that observed for the pristine fibre (57.4 %) and the grafted fibre after post phosphorylation reaction showed excellent flame retarding properties.     

Quorum Sensing Inhibition by Asparagopsis taxiformis,a Marine Macro Alga: Separation of the Compound that Interrupts Bacterial Communication

The majority of the marine algal species, though completing their life cycle in seawater, are rarely susceptible to fouling, making them an important source of quorum sensing (QS) inhibitory substances. The separation and characterization of QS inhibitors are crucial for any potential application. Thirty marine macroalgae were tested for QS inhibition activity by using Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 as the reporter strain, and among them, Asparagopsis taxiformis showed antibacterial, as well as antiquorum, sensing activities. Cinnamaldehyde (75 mM) and methanol were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. The antiquorum sensing activity of A. taxiformis was further confirmed using the sensor strain, Serratia liquefaciens MG44, having green fluorescent protein (gfp). Methanolic extract of the alga was fractionated by solid phase extraction (SPE), and each fraction was tested for QS inhibition. Two types of activities were observed—zone of clearance (antibacterial activity) and zone of inhibition with or without finger-like projections (QS inhibition). Out of five SPE cartridges, Bond Elut PH showed clear separation of these two fractions. The Ion Cyclotron Resonance Fourier Transformation Mass Spectrometer (ICR-FT/MS) analysis of the fractions further supported the bioassay results. The presence of strong QS inhibitory compound in A. taxiformis indicates its potential use in antifouling preparations.     

Interaction of source-plant age and shoot ringing on rooting of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) cuttings

Summary

IBA-treated cuttings rooted only when prepared fom bark-ringed shoots. The response to ringing declined with increasing age of the tree. However, on marcotting, the ringed shoots of four year old trees showed more and earlier rooting.     

Bioavailability of iron from wheat aegilops derivatives selected for high grain iron and protein contents

A coupled in vitro digestion/Caco-2 model was employed to assess iron bioavailability from wheat Aegilops derivatives selected for high iron and protein contents. The iron content in wheat genotypes used in this study correlated to a great extent with both protein (r = 0.80) and phytate (r = 0.68) contents. The iron bioavailability was based on Caco-2 cell ferritin formation from cooked digests of these derivatives (relative to WL711 control) and correlated positively with dialyzable iron (r = 0.63) and total iron content (r = 0.38) but not with the phytate content. The apparently decreased phytate/iron molar ratios, however, correlated negatively (r = -0.42) with the iron bioavailability, justifying the utilization of these parameters in biofortification programs. Iron bioavailability in the derivatives increased up to 1.5-fold, corresponding to a 1.5-2.2-fold increase observed in iron content over control. These data suggest that biofortification for iron proportionately leading to higher iron bioavailability will be the most feasible and cost-effective approach to combat micronutrient deficiency.     

Glycoproteins in the Buccal Epithelium of a Carp,Cirrhinus mrigala (Pisces,Cyprinidae): A Histochemical Profile

Glycoproteins (GPs) were visualized histochemically in the secretory cells – the mucous goblet cells (the type A and the type B), the rodlet cells and the epithelial cells in different regions of the buccal cavity of Cirrhinus mrigala. The type A mucous goblet cells, the type B mucous goblet cells, the rodlet cells and the epithelial cells elaborate GPs with oxidizable vicinal diols and GPs with sialic acid residue without O‐acyl substitution. The type A mucous goblet cells, in addition, contain moderate amounts of GPs with O‐sulphate esters. The type B mucous goblet cells, in contrast, contain high concentrations of GPs with O‐sulphate esters. The rodlet cells secrete small amounts of GPs with oxidizable vicinal diols. The analysis of the results elucidates interesting differences in the composition and concentration of GPs in the mucus elaborated by the secretory cells indicating the potential importance of the glycoproteins in the buccal cavity. These GPs could be considered to represent a mechanism for modulation of the composition of the protective mucus layer correlated to specific functions.