Methane emissions from river buffaloes fed on green fodders in relation to the nutriet intake and digestibility

Fifteen male Murrah buffalo calves (15–18 months, 227.98?±?4.44 kg body weight) were distributed randomly in to three equal groups and fed solely on either berseem (G₁), oats (G₂), or chicory fodder (G₃). A digestibility trial followed by methane measurement using SF₆ tracer technique was conducted. No significant difference was observed in nutrient intake; however, crude protein (CP) intake was lower in G₂ (0.35 kg) than G₁ (0.7) and in G₃ (0.71) and non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC), and neutral detergent insoluble CP (NDICP) intake was significantly (p?<?0.05) higher in G₃ (1.54 and 0.31 kg) followed by G₂ (1.27 and 0.2 kg) and G₁ (1.06 and 0.18 kg). The digestible dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, and ether extract intake was similar in all the groups, whereas the digestible CP and NFC intake was lower in G₂ compared to G₁ and G₃. Chicory- and berseem-fed groups emitted 12.2 and 5.2 % less methane than oats-fed group. However, no significant difference was observed in the absolute methane loss and methane loss as percentage of energy intake (p?>?0.05) among the groups. There was positive correlation between nutrient intake and total methane production. However, an inverse relationship was observed between total digestible carbohydrate intake and methane production (g/kg dry matter intake). The following regression equations were developed to estimate methane production: methane (g/kg BW) = 128.8553 + (167.7456 × dNDFI) + (216.32 × dCPI) ? (40.3313 × dNFCI) and methane (g/d) = ?1.7494 + (41.42 × NDFI) + (39.8686 × CPI) + (0.5197 × NFCI).     

Development of a specific molecular tool for detecting Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum

A specific and rapid diagnostic tool has been developed to detect Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum, the causal agent of bacterial wilt of banana. PCR primers were developed from intergenic regions of X. campestris pv. musacearum following its partial sequence. A total of 48 primers were tested for specificity to X. campestris pv. musacearum strains collected from various regions in Uganda. These were also tested for specificity against related Xanthomonas species from the vasicola group, Xanthomonas species pathogenic to other crops, and against those existing saprophytically on banana plants. Seven primer sets (Xcm12, Xcm35, Xcm36, Xcm38, Xcm44, Xcm47 and Xcm48) were found to be very specific to X. campestris pv. musacearum. These primer sets directed the amplification of the expected product for all 52 strains of X. campestris pv. musacearum collected from different locations in Uganda. No amplification products were obtained with unrelated phytopathogenic bacteria or endophytic/epiphytic bacteria from banana. A detection limit of 10³ CFU mL^?1 corresponding to about four cells per PCR reaction was observed when X. campestris pv. musacearum cells were used for all the seven primer sets. The DNA samples from symptomless plant tissues also tested positive with primer set Xcm38. The specific PCR method described here is a valuable diagnostic tool which can be used to detect the pathogen at early stages of infection and monitor disease.     

mRNA expression of canine ATP10C, a P4-type ATPase, is positively associated with body condition score

Mouse and human Atp10c genes are strong candidates for changes in bodyweight and glucose homeostasis. Using comparative genomic analysis, a novel canine P4-type ATPase, ATP10C, was identified. Expression of ATP10C was compared between sex-matched lean (body condition score, BCS<8; n=7) and obese (BCS?8, n=8) client-owned dogs of comparable ages. Canine ATP10C is highly expressed in visceral and subcutaneous fat at approximately 3-fold levels compared to the omental adipose depot. There was a 5-fold significant increase (P<0.0001) in mRNA expression of ATP10C in dogs with a BCS?8.     

Influence of nitric oxide on in vitro growth, survival, steroidogenesis, and apoptosis of follicle stimulating hormone stimulated buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) preantral follicles

Effect of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide (NO) donor, on in vitro survival, growth, steroidogenesis, and apoptosis of buffalo preantral follicles (PFs) was investigated. PFs (200~250 µm) were isolated by micro-dissection and cultured in 0 (control), 10^-3, 10^-5, 10^-7, and 10^-9 M SNP. To examine the reversible effect of SNP, PFs were cultured with 10^-5 M SNP + 1 mM N^ω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or 1.0 µg hemoglobin (Hb). The results showed that greater concentrations of SNP (10^-3, 10^-5, 10^-7 M) inhibited (p < 0.05) FSH-induced survival, growth, antrum formation, estradiol production, and oocyte apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. However, a lower dose of SNP (10^-9 M) significantly stimulated (p < 0.05) the survival, growth, antrum formation, follicular oocyte maturation, and stimulated progesterone secretion compared to the control. A combination of SNP + L-NAME promoted the inhibitor effect of SNP while a SNP + Hb combination reversed this effect. Nitrate and nitrite concentrations in the culture medium increased (p < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner according to SNP concentration in the culture medium. At higher concentrations, SNP had a cytotoxic effect leading to follicular oocyte apoptosis whereas lower concentrations have stimulatory effects. In conclusion, NO exerts a dual effect on its development of buffalo PFs depending on the concentration in the culture medium.     

Molecular characterization and xenogenic application of wharton’s jelly derived caprine mesenchymal stem cells

Aim of the present study was in vitro expansion and characterization of caprine wharton’s jelly derived mesenchymal stem cells (cWJ-MSCs) to investigate their tissue healing potential in xenogenic animal model. Plastic adherent fibroblastoid cell populations with distinctive homogeneous morphology were isolated from caprine wharton’s jelly explants. These wharton’s jelly derived cells were found positive for the surface markers CD-73, STRO-1 and CD-105, whereas they were negative for hematopoetic stem cell marker CD-34. In vitro cultured cWJ-MSCs also showed differentiation properties into osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic lineages as demonstrated by von Kossa, Oil Red- O and Alcian blue staining respectively, which was further confirmed and quantified by flow cytometric analysis. Furthermore, these well characterized cWJ-MSCs were evaluated for the wound-healing potential in full-thickness skin wounds in rabbit model for 28 days. Caprine WJ- MSCs treated skin wounds showed significantly (P?<?0.05) higher percentage of wound contraction especially at the 21^st day post transplantation when compared to PBS treated control group animals. Further, we observed better healing potential of cWJ-MSCs in terms of histo-morphological evaluation, epithelialisation and collagenization with matured vascularization stage by day 28 as compared to control. In conclusion, cWJ- MSCs provide an alternative inexhaustible source of mesenchymal stem cells and also unravel new perspectives pertaining to the therapeutic use of these cells in different species.     

Alkaloids as potential anti-tubercular agents

An increasing incidence of deaths due to tuberculosis and the known drawbacks of the current existing drugs including the emergence of multi drug-resistant strains have led to a renewed interest in the discovery of new anti-tubercular agents with novel modes of actions. The recent researches focused on natural products have shown a useful way to obtain a potentially rich source of drug candidates, where alkaloids have been found more effective. The present review focuses on current epidemiology of tuberculosis, synergy of the disease with HIV, current therapy, available molecular targets and, highlights why natural products especially alkaloids are so important. The review summarizes alkaloids found active against mycobacteria from the mid-1980s to late 2008 with special attention on the study of structure–activity relationship (SAR).     

Freeze-dried powder of cow urine reduces the viability of the snail Lymnaea acuminata

Molluscicidal activity of cow urine alone and with different additives was studied against Lymnaea acuminata. The toxicity of cow urine kept for 15 days in sunlight (8 h/day) or ambient laboratory conditions against the snail was time- and concentration-dependent. The pH of fresh cow urine is 7.4 which changes to 10.9 when kept for 15 days in laboratory; exposure to sunlight for the same period alter the pH to 10.85. Binary combinations (1:1) of freeze-dried cow urine kept for 15 days separately with each of Allium sativum (Liliaceae) bulb powder, Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae) oil, Annona squamosa (Annonaceae) seed powder, Ferula asafoetida (Apiaceae) root latex and tea leaves, and Camellia sinensis (Theaceae) were more toxic to the snail than treatment with urine alone. Additives to cow urine in sunlight were more effective than those under laboratory conditions.