Cytochrome oxidase gene sequencing reveals channel catfish ovary cell line is contaminated with brown bullhead cells

The channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus, Rafinesque) ovary (CCO) cell line is the standard cell line used for channel catfish diagnostics. Next‐gen sequencing studies of a virus cultured in the CCO cells revealed mitochondrial sequences matching those of brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus, Lesueur). Therefore, we systematically performed partial cytochrome oxidase 1 gene sequencing of several sources of the CCO cell line and all matched the brown bullhead and not the channel catfish.     

Dynamics of Clay Particles in Non-vegetated Stormwater Biofilters

Stormwater biofilters manage quantity and quality of urban stormwater runoff. Particulate solids from natural and anthropogenic sources accumulate on paved surfaces and eventually reach receiving waters. Retention of suspended solids in stormwater management systems ensures the quality of stormwater runoff to water resources. Stormwater biofilters are similar in most of design parameters to sand filters employed in water treatment systems. The understanding and design of stormwater biofilters are often based on generic models of sand filters. Unlike water treatment sand filters, which are continuously fed, stormwater biofilters operate intermittently with spontaneously alternating wetting and drying cycles. This results in dynamic pollutant removal pattern that employs different mechanisms during and across rainfall events. As such, pilot scale biofilter columns fabricated with a layer of organic material were operated. Removal of suspended solids was very dynamic, where impact of age of filter, antecedent dry days, and inflow quality varied during and across events. Flush of retained solids and filter material occurred during the stabilisation period during each event while very high removal percentages (more than 90%) were observed after stabilisation, during an event. Clogging was not observed due to re-entrainment, re-distribution, and flush of retained solids during intermittent wetting and drying cycles.     

Evaluation of bermuda and paspalum grass types for urban landscapes under saline water irrigation

In the arid regions, turfgrass cover is an integral part of landscape to protect the soil from erosion, enhance the aesthetic value, and improve the microclimate. The salinity and the scarcity of fresh water of the arid region are the major challenging factors in turfgrass production. Therefore, the need for salt tolerant turfgrass with functional quality is necessary to improve the turf performance. The detrimental effects of salinity include growth suppression, and lowered osmotic potential ultimately leading to firing of the leaf blades. In this context, the study was undertaken to determine the relative salt tolerance and growth response of turfgrass genotypes in order to recommend turfgrass cultivars that can tolerate high salinity irrigation and maintain excellent visual and functional qualities under United Arab Emirates (UAE) condition. The paspalum cultivars maintained the highest succulence percentage compared to the bermudagrass cultivars under enhanced salinity levels. The shoots count, fresh weight (FW), and dry weight (DW) were found highest in paspalum types. The chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and the total chlorophyll content was found higher in bermuda grass types under high salinity levels. The bermudagrass cultivars showed significantly higher carotenoids, anthocyanins and proline compared to the paspalum types under salt stress condition. In the case of princess 77 and Yukon, an inherently high amount of proline was recorded which confirmed an increase up to 10,000 ppm and drastically declined beyond this concentration. Sea Dwarf paspalum and Sea Isle 2000 maintained uniformity in the proline level at all levels of salinity without significant variation. These findings point to the fact that both paspalum and bermuda types exhibited varied responses to different physiological and biochemical parameters under the saline conditions. Paspalum types have an edge over the bermudagrass in terms of shoot density, which is a potential factor in determining the high-quality turfs. Bermudagrass types can be applied in lower salinity conditions based on the responses as evidenced from the present results.     

Evidence of subclinical foot-and-mouth disease virus infection in young calves born from clinically recovered cow under natural condition

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious and economically important, transboundary viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals. It is known that an...     

Nitrification Inhibitors from the root tissues of Brachiaria humidicola, a tropical grass

Nitrification inhibitory activity was found in root tissue extracts of Brachiaria humidicola, a tropical pasture grass. Two active inhibitory compounds were isolated by activity-guided fractionation, using recombinant Nitrosomonas europaea containing luxAB genes derived from the bioluminescent marine gram-negative bacterium Vibrio harveyi. The compounds were identified as methyl-p-coumarate and methyl ferulate, respectively. Their nitrification inhibitory properties were confirmed in chemically synthesized preparations of each. The IC50 values of chemically synthesized preparations were 19.5 and 4.4 microM, respectively. The ethyl, propyl, and butyl esters of p-coumaric and ferulic acids inhibited nitrification, whereas the free acid forms did not show inhibitory activity.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of cDNA encoding CD11b of cattle

CD18, the common β subunit of β₂-integrins, associates with four distinct chains to give rise to four different β₂-integrins: CD11a/CD18 (LFA-1), CD11b/CD18 (Mac-1), CD11c/CD18 (CR4), and CD11d/CD18. Previously, we and others showed that CD18 of LFA-1 serves as a receptor for Mannheimia haemolytica leukotoxin (Lkt). Level of expression of Mac-1 is higher than that of LFA-1 and other β₂-integrins on polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), which constitute the leukocyte subset most susceptible to Lkt. Hence, it is likely that CD18 of Mac-1 also mediates Lkt-induced cytolysis. Co-expression of CD11b and CD18 of cattle on Lkt-resistant cells is necessary to irrefutably demonstrate the role of Mac-1 in Lkt-induced cytolysis. This approach is hindered by lack of availability of complete sequence of cattle CD11b. Therefore, in this study, we cloned and sequenced the full length cDNA encoding cattle CD11b. The 3459 bp cDNA of cattle CD11b encodes a polypeptide of 1152 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of CD11b of cattle exhibits 75% identity to that of humans and chimpanzees, 74% identity to that of dogs, and 70% identity to that of mice and rats. Availability of cattle CD11b cDNA should facilitate the elucidation of Lkt-receptor interactions in cattle and other species.     

Emergence of antigenic variants with in serotype A foot and mouth disease virus in India and evaluation of a new vaccine candidate panel

Emergence of genetically and antigenically divergent lineages/genotypes and poor intergenotypic antigenic coverage is a major concern in serotype A foot-and-mouth-disease virus (FMDV) in India. In 2009, to cover antigenic diversity emerged in serotype A virus field isolates, IND40/2000 was selected as the new vaccine strain for incorporation in the trivalent FMD vaccine formulation used in India. Although current vaccine strain (IND40/2000) covers most isolates antigenically, a few VP3(59)-deletion group isolates showed low r-value in routine vaccine matching exercise. The VP3(59)-deletion group within genotype 18 emerged first in late part of 2002 and in 2007 causing outbreaks along with non-deletion isolates of the same genotype. In case of emergence or re-emergence of more antigenically divergent isolates in future, a need for a new vaccine candidate to cover maximum isolates of both deletion and non-deletion group may arise. Four alternate candidate vaccine strains (IND281/2003, IND195/2007, IND360/2007 and IND123/2008) were selected based on set criteria and antigenic relationships with field isolates sampled between 2002 and 2009 were analyzed using a micro-neutralization test. Phylogenetic analysis based on capsid region of serotype A isolates revealed existence of two broad distinct clusters (VP3(59)-deletion and non-deletion group) within genotype 18. The VP3(59)-deletion group has diversified genetically with time giving rise to three different sub-lineages (clade18a, 18b and 18c). The present study indicates that the virus candidates IND281/2003 (VP3(59)-deletion group) and IND195/2007 (non-deletion group) can be used as an adjunct or alternative strain to currently used vaccine strain IND40/2000 in case of emergence of more antigenically divergent isolates in future.     

A rare case of globosus amorphus in a goat

We present a case of globosus amorphus delivered from a goat and subjected to radiography and histological examination. Radiography revealed a lack of development of any organ system; histological sections showed evidence of lymphoid aggregations, mononuclear infiltrations, blood capillaries, and dense fibroblasts.     

Enhancement of processability, stability and photoluminescence performance of poly(p-phenylene vinylene) containing diazine heterocycle unit

Two n-type conjugated polymers of pyrazine and quinoxaline containing poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (P-1) (P-2) have been synthesized through Wittig route. Formation of the polymers were confirmed by spectral (UV-Vis, PL, FT-IR and NMR), elemental and GPC analysis. These polymers were soluble in common organic solvents such as THF, CH₂Cl₂, CHCl₃ and CH₃CN. The resulting polymers have good thermal stability upto 308 and 361 °C with the 5 % weight loss. The absorption spectrum of the polymers displayed the maximum at 398 and 414 nm, corresponding to the ??-??* electronic transition of the conjugated polymer backbones. The optical band gap of these polymers found to have in the range of 2.5?C2.53 eV. The photoluminescence spectrum of the polymers was observed at 487 and 505 nm in CHCl₃ solution. AFM images depicted that the micrometer sized globular and triangular shaped particles can be seen from the polymer surfaces.     

Assessment of suitability of two serotype A candidate vaccine strains for inclusion in FMD vaccine in India

The recent type A foot and mouth disease virus field isolates recovered in India are shown to be antigenically quite divergent from the in-use vaccine strain (IND 17/82), warranting the selection of a suitable vaccine strain which can cover this diversity in antigenic spectrum. In earlier studies employing neutralization test with anti-146S rabbit sera raised against eight candidate vaccine strains, IND 81/00 and IND 40/00 belonging to genotype VII were found to offer the best antigenic coverage. In order to assess the credibility of IND 81/00 and IND 40/00 as vaccine strains, 17 recent isolates received during 2005-2006 and representative isolates from older genotypes were subjected to two-dimensional micro-neutralization assay using bovine convalescent serum (against IND 81/00 and IND 40/00) and bovine vaccinate serum (against IND 40/00). From the results it is evident that both the isolates IND 81/00 (antigenic relationship 'r-value' >0.40 with 86% of isolates) and IND 40/00 ('r-value' >0.40 with 78% of isolates) show nearly equal antigenic relatedness with the recent field viruses and hence both of these are effective vaccine candidates in present context. Though very limited in its extent, these useful data obtained with antisera raised in homologous host system are logical extension of the on going quest for the appropriate vaccine strain and circumvents species disparities in the immune recognition of epitopes.