Monitoring a loss: Detection of the semi‐aquatic crocodile lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus) in inaccessible habitats via environmental DNA

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Yersinia ruckeri,the causative agent of enteric redmouth disease in fish

Enteric redmouth disease (ERM) is a serious septicemic bacterial disease of salmonid fish species. It is caused by Yersinia ruckeri, a Gram-negative rod-shaped enterobacterium. It has a wide host range, broad geographical distribution, and causes significant economic losses in the fish aquaculture industry. The disease gets its name from the subcutaneous hemorrhages, it can cause at the corners of the mouth and in gums and tongue. Other clinical signs include exophthalmia, darkening of the skin, splenomegaly and inflammation of the lower intestine with accumulation of thick yellow fluid. The bacterium enters the fish via the secondary gill lamellae and from there it spreads to the blood and internal organs. Y. ruckeri can be detected by conventional biochemical, serological and molecular methods. Its genome is 3.7 Mb with 3406–3530 coding sequences. Several important virulence factors of Y. ruckeri have been discovered, including haemolyin YhlA and metalloprotease Yrp1. Both non-specific and specific immune responses of fish during the course of Y. ruckeri infection have been well characterized. Several methods of vaccination have been developed for controlling both biotype 1 and biotype 2 Y. ruckeri strains in fish. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding enteric redmouth disease and Y. ruckeri: diagnosis, genome, virulence factors, interaction with the host immune responses, and the development of vaccines against this pathogen.     

Supramolecular phospholipids–polyphenolics interactions: The PHYTOSOME® strategy to improve the bioavailability of phytochemicals

The poor and/or erratic oral bioavailability of polyphenolics can be improved using the PHYTOSOME^®1 delivery system, a strategy that enhances the rate and the extent of solubilization into aqueous intestinal fluids and the capacity to cross biomembranes. Phospholipids show affinity for polyphenolics, and form supramolecular adducts having a definite stoichiometry. This article reviews the preparation and characterization of PHYTOSOME^® complexes and their activity in various medicinal (cardiovascular, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anticancer) and cosmetic (skin aging) realms of application.     

Reproducible genomic DNA preparation from diverse crop species for molecular genetic applications

Background

Several high-throughput molecular genetic analyses rely on high-quality genomic DNA. Copurification of other molecules can negatively impact the functionality of plant DNA preparations employed in these procedures. Isolating DNA from agronomically important crops, such as sugarcane, rice, citrus, potato and tomato is a challenge due to the presence of high fiber, polysaccharides, or secondary metabolites. We present a simplified, rapid and reproducible SDS-based method that provides high-quality and -quantity of DNA from small amounts of leaf tissue, as required by the emerging biotechnology and molecular genetic applications.

Results

We developed the TENS-CO method as a simplified SDS-based isolation procedure with sequential steps of purification to remove polysaccharides and polyphenols using 2-mercaptoethanol and potassium acetate, chloroform partitioning, and sodium acetate/ethanol precipitation to yield high-quantity and -quality DNA consistently from small amounts of tissue (0.15 g) for different plant species. The method is simplified and rapid in terms of requiring minimal manipulation, smaller extraction volume, reduced homogenization time (20 s) and DNA precipitation (one precipitation for 1 h). The method has been demonstrated to accelerate screening of large amounts of plant tissues from species that are rich in polysaccharides and secondary metabolites for Southern blot analysis of reporter gene overexpressing lines, pathogen detection by quantitative PCR, and genotyping of disease-resistant plants using marker-assisted selection.

Conclusion

To facilitate molecular genetic studies in major agronomical crops, we have developed the TENS-CO method as a simple, rapid, reproducible and scalable protocol enabling efficient and robust isolation of high-quality and -quantity DNA from small amounts of tissue from sugarcane, rice, citrus, potato, and tomato, thereby reducing significantly the time and resources used for DNA isolation.

     

Functional Antibacterial Finishing of Woolen Fabrics Using Ultrasound Technology

The growing concern for the personal health and hygiene has created the necessity of acquiring wool fabric antibacterial activity. Silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO₂ NPs) have appropriate features to enhance the functional properties of wool fabrics, especially with polymer application. In this study efficient coating using polyethylene glycol (PEG₂₀₀₀) and SiO₂ NPs were used for imparting antibacterial properties to treated fabrics. All the treatments were carried out using both conventional and ultrasound techniques. The physical and chemical properties were evaluated using FTIR, XRD, and SEM. The result indicated that treated wool fabrics by PEG/SiO₂ NPs improved the dyeability and antibacterial of the fabrics and also enhanced its mechanical properties. Furthermore, it is believed that the ultrasound radiation causes homogeneous distribution of cross-links and polymerization throughout the wool surface. This offers considerable advantages compared to conventional treatment.     

Controlling the sugar beet beetle <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cassida vittata</Emphasis> with entomopathogenic nematodes

Sugar beet, Beta vulgaris L. is a strategic crop of sugar industry in Egypt. It is threatened by several insect pests among most important of them is the beet beetle Cassida vittata. This work deals with the biological control of this insect using four Egyptian and imported entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs). The nematodes included Steinernema carpocapsae S2, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora S1, S. feltiae and H. bacteriophora (1-3). Daily mortality of larvae, pupae and adults of C. vittata were recorded after treatment with serial concentrations (from 500 to 4,000 infective juveniles/ml) of each of four studied EPNs. Development of nematodes in insect bodies was followed up. S. carpocapsae S2 was chosen for the application against different stages of the pest in a sugar beet field. In the field, single application of S. carpocapsae S2 killed 65% of the larvae, 92% of the pupae and 57.3% of the adults of C. vittata within a week. This work is the first report on using the EPNs to control sugar beet beetle.     

Effects of compaction on soil hydraulic properties,penetration resistance and water flow patterns at the soil profile scale

The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of compaction on water flow patterns at the soil profile scale. Control and trafficked plots were established in field trials at two sites. The trafficked treatment was created by four passes track‐by‐track with a three‐axle dumper with a maximum wheel load of 5.8 Mg. One year later, dye‐tracing experiments were performed and several soil mechanical, physical and hydraulic properties were measured to help explain the dye patterns. Penetration resistance was measured to 50 cm depth, with saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s), bulk density, and macroporosity and mesoporosity being measured on undisturbed soil cores sampled from three depths (10, 30 and 50 cm). Significant effects of the traffic treatment on the structural pore space were found at 30 cm depth for large mesopores (0.3–0.06 mm diameter), but not small mesopores (0.06–0.03 mm) or macroporosity (pores > 0.3 mm). At one of the sites, ponding was observed during the dye‐tracing experiments, especially in the trafficked plots, because of the presence of a compacted layer at plough depth characterized by a larger bulk density and smaller structural porosity and K_s values. Ponding did not induce any preferential transport of the dye solution into the subsoil at this site. In contrast, despite the presence of a compacted layer at 25–30 cm depth, a better developed structural porosity in the subsoil was noted at the other site which allowed preferential flow to reach to at least 1 m depth in both treatments.     

To what extent can maternal inherited immunity acquired from a crustacean‐enhanced diet improve the performance and vitality of the offspring and enhance profitability of European Sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)?

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of maternal inherited immunity acquired from crustacean‐enhanced diets on the vitality and profitability of sea bass offspring. Newly hatched larvae produced from three groups of broodstock were evaluated. The broodstock were fed (a) a basal diet (BD), (b) a Palaemon‐supplemented diet (PSD), and (c) an Artemia‐supplemented diet (ASD) for 42 days. A total of 400,000 larvae at 3 days posthatch (DPH) produced from each treatment were stocked in larval rearing tanks at 40 larvae/L for 42 days. Survival (%) was improved by 37 and 9.96% in the groups fed ASD and PSD compared with the control group. The growth, swim bladder (%), and condition factor all significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved in the postlarvae produced from broodstock enhanced with crustacean diets. Compared with the BD group, the serum lysozyme activities of the fish groups fed ASD and PSD increased by 45.6 and 11.7%, respectively. Sea bass fry (90DPH) produced from broodstock fed ASD showed the best tolerance to salinity/temperature stress tests. Furthermore, the profitability improved in ASD and PSD compared with the BD group. In conclusion, sea bass broodstock enhanced with Artemia biomass produced offspring of superior quality with less cost and greater profit margins.