Marine-Derived Penicillium purpurogenum Reduces Tumor Size and Ameliorates Inflammation in an Erlich Mice Model

Background: This study addresses the antitumoral properties of Penicillium purpurogenum isolated from a polluted lagoon in Northeastern Brazil. Methods: Ethyl Acetate Extracellular Extract (EAE) was used. The metabolites were studied using direct infusion mass spectrometry. The solid Ehrlich tumor model was used for antitumor activity. Female Swiss mice were divided into groups (n = 10/group) as follows: The negative control (CTL−), treated with a phosphate buffered solution; the positive control (CTL+), treated with cyclophosphamide (25 mg/kg); extract treatments at doses of 4, 20, and 100 mg/kg; animals without tumors or treatments (Sham); and animals without tumors treated with an intermediate dose (EAE20). All treatments were performed intraperitoneally, daily, for 15 days. Subsequently, the animals were euthanized, and the tumor, lymphoid organs, and serum were used for immunological, histological, and biochemical parameter evaluations. Results: The extract was rich in meroterpenoids. All doses significantly reduced tumor size, and the 20 and 100 mg/kg doses reduced tumor-associated inflammation and tumor necrosis. The extract also reduced the cellular infiltration of lymphoid organs and circulating TNF-α levels. The extract did not induce weight loss or renal and hepatic toxic changes. Conclusions: These results indicate that P. purpurogenum exhibits immunomodulatory and antitumor properties in vivo. Thus, fungal fermentation is a valid biotechnological approach to the production of antitumor agents.     

Differential host passaging alters pathogenicity and induces genomic variation in white spot syndrome virus

To understand the pathological effects of passaging WSSV through different animals, we passaged WSSV through crabs (Portunus sanguinolentus and P. pelagicus), prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) and artemia (Artemia sp.). Among the three geographically distinct WSSV isolates (A166, G9 and G27) that caused over 95% mortalities in experimental infections in P. monodon, only two isolates (A166 and G9) caused mortality (5%) in M. rosenbergii. On subsequent infection of P. monodon with the passage one virus (P1V) from M. rosenbergii, only P1V of A166 caused 5% mortality while P1V of G9 failed to cause any mortality, though the infected shrimp were positive for WSSV by nested PCR. Crabs showed differential susceptibility to WSSV isolates. While passaging WSSV (G9) through P. sanguinolentus retained pathogenicity, passaging through P. pelagicus completely attenuated the two strains (A117 and G27). Passaging through M. rosenbergii changed pathogenicity of isolates (A166 and G9) from 95% to 5% cumulative mortality in experimental infections. WSSV was unable to infect Artemia and could not transmit the disease to P. monodon. WSSV (A117) passaged through P. monodon retained its virulence. An examination of tandem repeats (TR) in ORF 94 of the WSSV genome revealed variations upon passaging through different hosts. One isolate (A117), with 12 TR yielded 8 TR when passaged through P. pelagicus and 18 TR when passaged through P. monodon. Two other isolates (G9 and G27) with 9 TR, retained them when passaged through P. monodon and P. sanguinolentus but yielded 8 and 12 TR when passaged through P. pelagicus and M. rosenbergii, respectively. Thus, differences in TR number appeared to result from host selection rather than geographical isolation.     

The barefoot ecologist goes fishing

Haliotid (abalone) fisheries are comprised of small‐scale (<5 km²) stocks and serve as a model for many such fisheries. Extremely valuable to local fishing communities in aggregate, these micro‐stocks are myriad and complex to study, monitor, assess and manage. Micro‐stocks need assessment and management at local scales to prevent small components from suffering the tragedy of commons. This paper asks how can we ever hope to address the research and management needs of so many small resources? Community‐based and territorial rights‐based systems may help in sustaining these resources, but servicing the technical needs of many small communities of stakeholders raises problems. A new generation of ‘barefoot ecologists’ is envisaged to perform this task.     

The influence of haemocyte number on the resistance of the freshwater crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus Dana, to the parasitic fungus Aphanomyces astaci

Abstract. The number of circulating haemocytes in crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus Dana, was reduced after injection of yeast cell walls (Zymosan) into the animals. Crayfish harbouring the parasitic fungus A. astaci as a 'latent' infection in melanized areas in the cuticle died due to unrestricted growth of unmelanized hyphae when they were injected with Zymosan. The β–1,3–gIucan laminaran, introduced into the haemocoel of P. leniusculus harbouring A. astaci hyphae in the cuticle, also caused a decrease in the total haemocyte counts (THC), but these animals survived the treatment and no unmelanized hyphae of A, astaci were found. The recovery of THC was found to be more rapid after laminaran injection than after Zymosan injection, which could explain why laminaran treated crayfish retained their resistance and could combat the A. astaci hyphae in the cuticle. The importance of the number of haemocytes in defence and well-being of crayfish is discussed.     

Involvement of proline in response of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) to chilling stress at reproductive stage

Chickpea is sensitive to chilling stress, especially at its reproductive stage and experiences abortion of flowers and poor pod set at temperatures below 10 °C. The metabolic controls governing chilling-sensitivity in chickpea, particularly involving proline are not known. Hence, in the present study we explored the role of proline in this regard. A set of chickpea plants (cv. GPF2) growing under warm conditions of the glass house (temperature – 28/14 °C as average maximum and minimum till early flowering stage) was exposed to low temperature conditions of the field (8.3–9.6/2.8–5.3 °C; average maximum and minimum temperature, respectively) during the onset of reproductive phase while another set of plants continued to grow under warm conditions. In case of chilling-stressed plants, one set of the plants was treated with 10 μM proline while the other set not treated with proline served as control under low temperature conditions. In untreated chilling-stressed plants, the endogenous proline increased to 230 μmol g⁻¹ dry weight (DW) on 4th day of stress and decreased thereafter to reach 28 μmol on 7th day. In plants treated with 10 μM proline, its endogenous content reached 310 μmol g⁻¹ DW on 4th day and stayed significantly higher than untreated chilling-stressed plants. The proline-treated plants showed significant improvement in retention of flowers and pods leading to better seed yield compared to the untreated ones. The proline-applied plants also had greater pollen viability, pollen germination, pollen tube growth and ovule viability. The stress injury measured as oxidative stress, electrolyte leakage, loss of chlorophyll and decrease in leaf water content was mitigated significantly in proline-treated plants. Additionally, proline application increased the level of sucrose and trehalose (cryoprotectants) in chilling-stressed plants. The studies revealed that proline application was significantly effective in reducing the impact of chilling injury on reproductive growth in chickpea.     

规模化猪场猪支原体肺炎控制及净化技术研究

在四川蒲江某规模化８养猪场 ,对该场的猪支原体肺炎采用以监测、免疫为主,隔离、治 疗、淘汰、消毒等综合防制技术进行控制与净化,对全场有猪支原体肺炎症状的猪及可疑病猪进行隔治疗,治愈后的猪经与易感猪同居感染不发病,分离猪肺炎支原体为阴性,试验表明治愈后的猪不带菌。对全场种猪和后备健康猪群进行猪支原体肺炎疫苗的免疫接种,经抗体监测和攻毒试验,免疫后２４０天猪支原体肺炎的ＩＨＡ抗体仍可达到１：１０,保护率     

Implication of Tillage and Soil Mineralogy on the Setting and Sieving Efficiency of FTLHV–0200 Filtra Electromagnetic Sieve Shaker

Soil sieving is an essential laboratory procedure in every soil investigation. Soil tillage and mineralogy are critical factors to soil mechanical properties. The implication of tillage and mineralogy on the settings and sieving efficiency of FTLHV–0200 filtra electromagnetic sieve shaker was studied in soils of 13 ecotopes in Eastern Cape Province. The sieve shaker had T = time, I = interval, and P = power settings. The tillage systems were conventional tillage (CT) and no tillage (NT), while the soil mineralogy was mainly quartz and kaolinite. After sieving, 72% of the aggregates were retained on the 2 mm sieve for soils under CT and 69% were retained on the 2 mm sieve for soils under NT. Soils under NT required sieving for at least 5 min to be broken into particle sizes, while soils under CT required at least 35 min. The setting T4I4P4 (time = 35 min, sieving interval = 9 s, and power level = 9) significantly (p ≤ 5%) affected the percentage of aggregates passing through the stack for all the soils irrespective of mineralogy. Quartz-dominated soils required a sieving time of 15 min to disintegrate, while kaolinite-dominated soils required a sieving time of more than 35 min. Sieving efficiency for aggregate analysis was achieved at T4I4P4 setting for soils under CT and at T2I4P3 (time = 5 min, interval = 9 s, power level = 6) setting for soils under NT. While sieving efficiency was achieved at T3I4P3 (time = 15 min, interval = 9 s, power level = 6) setting for quartz-dominated soils and at T4I4P3 (time = 35 min, interval = 9 s, power level = 6) setting for kaolinite-dominated soils.     

Application of QUEFTS Model for Site-Specific Nutrient Management of NPK in Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam)

Sweet potato productivity in India is either stagnated or lowering down over the past many years. The main reasons for low yield are conventional blanket recommendation of fertilizers, lower nutrient-use efficiency and imbalance in the use of fertilizers. Recommendation of major nutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), based on quantitative approaches will augment sweet potato production per unit area by increasing the nutrient-use efficiency. The present study calibrated the Quantitative Evaluation of Fertility of Tropical Soils (QUEFTS) model for the estimation of NPK requirements and fertilizers recommendations for different target yields of sweet potato. The QUEFTS basically works on the principle of NPK nutrient interactions and climate-adjusted yield potential of a region. Published data sets from several field experiments related to NPK carried out till date were collected to reflect the environment variability. The results of the present study showed that to produce one ton tuber, 16:6:18 kg N, P, and K, respectively, would be needed with the internal efficiencies of 61:167:57 kg tubers kg^?1 NPK removed. The maximum accumulation and dilution (kg tuber kg^?1 nutrient removed) of N (40, 80), P (96, 272), and K (30, 85) were also derived as standard parameters in QUEFTS for optimum fertilizer recommendation in tropical and subtropical regions of India. The observed yields of sweet potato with different amounts of nutrients were in agreement with the values predicted by the model. Therefore, it is utmost important to have the results of the study validated in major growing environments of India for fertilizer recommendation in sweet potato.