A review on breeding and genetic strategies in Iranian buffaloes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bubalus bubalis</Emphasis>)

The aim of current study was to review breeding progress and update information on genetic strategies in Iranian buffaloes. Iranian buffalo is one of the vital domestic animals throughout north, north-west, south and south-west of Iran with measurable characteristics both in milk and meat production. The species plays an important role in rural economy of the country due to its unique characteristics such as resistance to diseases and parasites, having long productive lifespan and showing higher capability of consuming low-quality forage. In Iran, total production of milk and meat devoted to buffaloes are 293,000 and 24,700 tons, respectively. Selection activities and milk yield recording are carrying out by the central government through the Animal Breeding Centre of Iran. The main breeding activities of Iranian buffaloes included the estimation of genetic parameters and genetic trends for performance traits using different models and methods, estimation of economic values and selection criteria and analysis of population structure. Incorporating different aspects of dairy buffalo management together with improved housing, nutrition, breeding and milking, is known to produce significant improvements in buffalo production. Therefore, identifying genetic potential of Iranian buffaloes, selection of superior breeds, improving nutritional management and reproduction and developing the education and increasing the skills of practical breeders can be useful in order to enhance the performance and profitability of Iranian buffaloes.     

Investigation of Interspecies Interactions within Marine Micromonosporaceae Using an Improved Co-Culture Approach

With respect to bacterial natural products, a significant outcome of the genomic era was that the biosynthetic potential in many microorganisms surpassed the number of compounds isolated under standard laboratory growth conditions, particularly among certain members in the phylum Actinobacteria. Our group, as well as others, investigated interspecies interactions, via co-culture, as a technique to coax bacteria to produce novel natural products. While co-culture provides new opportunities, challenges exist and questions surrounding these methods remain unanswered. In marine bacteria, for example, how prevalent are interspecies interactions and how commonly do interactions result in novel natural products? In an attempt to begin to answer basic questions surrounding co-culture of marine microorganisms, we have tested both antibiotic activity-based and LC/MS-based methods to evaluate Micromonosporaceae secondary metabolite production in co-culture. Overall, our investigation of 65 Micromonosporaceae led to the identification of 12 Micromonosporaceae across three genera that produced unique metabolites in co-culture. Our results suggest that interspecies interactions were prevalent between marine Micromonosporaceae and marine mycolic acid-containing bacteria. Furthermore, our approach highlights a sensitive and rapid method for investigating interspecies interactions in search of novel antibiotics, secondary metabolites, and genes.     

Effects of the prebiotic mannan‐oligosaccharide on feed deprived zebrafish: Growth and reproduction

This study was designed to investigate whether the prebiotic mannan‐oligosaccharides (MOS) can reduce the deleterious impacts of feed deprivation on growth and reproduction in zebrafish. In the growth performance experiment, juvenile fish were distributed in the following four treatments: normal‐control (NC), starved‐control (SC), normal‐prebiotic (NP) and starved‐prebiotic (SP). After 8 weeks, NP and SC fish showed the highest and lowest growth patterns, respectively among treatments. Standard length, specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio did not differ significantly between NC and SP treatments. Autochthonous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were significantly higher in NP and SP than the NC and SP treatments. Feed restriction resulted in significantly lower concentrations of thyroxine. In the reproductive performance experiment, additional juveniles were fed as in the growth experiment. Crossing in the final week of the experiment resulted in successful spawning in only NP fish, which showed mature sperm and oocytes in histological examinations. The number of spermatozoa was significantly lower in the fish that experienced feed restriction; however, the oocytes of SP females were at the same maturation level to that observed in NC females. Sex‐steroids changed after both starvation and MOS supplementation where NC and SP showed no differences in the levels of testosterone and female's 17β‐estradiol. These results indicate that MOS supplemented diet reduced some side effects of feed deprivation (final weight and length, SGR, FCR and levels of LAB and T3), and suggest that supplementation of the diet with MOS may ameliorate some of the negative effects of feed deprivation in zebrafish.     

Polyvinylidene fluoride nanofiber coated polypropylene nonwoven fabric as a membrane for lithium-ion batteries

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF) membranes in spite of having many critical properties necessary for lithium-ion batteries, do not have satisfying thermal and mechanical resistance. The goal of this study was to combine the good mechanical and thermal properties of PP nonwoven fabric with the excellent electrochemical properties of PVdF nanofibers to exploit a high-performance membrane for lithium-ion batteries. This work reports the preparation of PVdF nanofiber membranes using electrospinning on a polypropylene (PP) spunbonded nonwoven fabric and an aluminum foil followed by a hot-pressing treatment. The morphology and size of the membranes were studied by the scanning electron microscopy. The tensile strength of the membrane with the PP support was superior to the PVdF membrane. Thermal stability of the prepared membranes was determined using the TGA method and the dimensional stability was investigated by measuring the shrinkage ratio at 105 °C. The results have shown that the PVdF/PP membrane was thermally more stable than the PVdF and the commercial Celgard 2325 membranes. The batteries using PVdF/PP membrane exhibited higher electrochemical oxidation limit, better cycling performance and less discharge capacity fading during 100 cycles compared to PVdF and Celgard membranes. The results of this study showed that PVdF/PP membrane is a promising advanced membrane in lithium-ion batteries.     

Distribution of Trace Elements in Tissues of Two Shrimp Species from Persian Gulf and Effects of Storage Temperature on Elements Transportation

This study is focussed on evaluation of temperature effectduring frozen storage on movement of trace elements in differenttissues (exoskeleton, carapace and abdominal muscle) of twocommercially important shrimp species (Penaeusmerguiensis and Metapenaues affinis). Moreoverrelationships between total length and sex of specimens with concentration of trace elements in selected tissues were assessed. Concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Znin samples were determined by ICP-AES. Only in the case of Niand Zn sex related differences could be observed. With theexception of Cu, the trace metals distributed significantlydifferent between the tissues. The only significant differencesbetween species were found in bioaccumulation of Mn. Sizedependent relationship was observed only for Ni. Associationsbetween Mn and Fe were positively and highly significant in allthe cases. The levels of all the metals in muscle of the shrimpsfrom the studied region were comparable to other world areas. MeanCu and Zn levels in edible parts of M. affinis stored at–10 °C exceeded some existing guidelines, while the concentrations at –30 °C were somewhat lower than them.     

Performance of Mixed Species and Mono‐specific Algal Diets for Culture of Larval Western School Prawns,Metapenaeus dalli

The effect of three mono‐specific and four combinations of the diatoms Chaetoceros muelleri, Chaetoceros calcitrans, and the chlorophyte Tetraselmis suecica on survival, development, and dry weight of the western school prawn, Metapenaeus dalli, was assessed from protozoea I until mysis I. The development and dry weight of larvae were significantly greater when fed diets comprising C. muelleri and/or T. suecica. A fourth diet, consisting of all three microalgal species also performed just as well. Survival alone was a poor measure of the performance of the various diets. Larvae fed with C. calcitrans, either alone or in a mixed diet with either C. muelleri or T. suecica, had significantly slower development and lower dry weight. Overall performance, assessed using the normalized biomass development index, determined that both mono‐specific and mixed diets containing C. muelleri and T. suecica were among the best for M. dalli larvae. These results for M. dalli are consistent with those found for commercially grown penaeid prawns. This study enhances the limited knowledge on the feeding requirements of metapenaeid prawn larvae. Moreover, the results will help improve hatchery methods for the aquaculture‐based enhancement of M. dalli in the Swan‐Canning Estuary and potentially increase the abundance of this iconic recreational species.     

Effects of prebiotic mannan oligosaccharide on the growth,survival, and anxiety-like behaviors of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

A study was designed to investigate the possible positive prebiotic effects of mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) on growth and reduction of anxiety behaviors in zebrafish (Danio rerio). The experimental diets were supplemented with 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 g MOS kg^?1 and were fed to juvenile fish (0.47 ± 0.017 g) in triplicates for six weeks. Significant differences were found in the final body weight, body weight intake, percent body weight intake, and specific growth rate among treatments. The regression analyses showed that the optimum MOS level was 4–4.1 g MOS kg^?1 diet. Fish fed 4 g MOS kg^?1 feed showed higher survival than the other treatments. Also, using the novel tank test, fish fed with 4 g MOS kg^?1 diet showed lower anxiety by swimming in the upper portion of the tank. The other behavior parameters remained unaffected by the prebiotic. The results indicated the beneficial effect of the prebiotic MOS on growth and partly on welfare of zebrafish juveniles.     

Assessment of the Antibacterial Effect of Chitosan Coated with Heracleum persicum Oil on Rainbow Trout Quality

Today, due to the rapid spoilage of fish, the use of natural preservatives is a priority over those of synthetic varieties. Also, the natural antimicrobial effects of essential oils can help to increase shelf life. There are very few studies concerning the use of essential oils in this regard. In the present study, the antibacterial effect of chitosan coated with Heracleum persicum oil was investigated on the quality of rainbow trout. The control and the coated fish samples were analyzed periodically by generalized estimating equation (GEE) for total viable count (TVC), psychrophilic bacteria, total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), texture, taste, odor, and overall acceptance parameters. The results showed that by increasing the amount of chitosan, TVC, psychrophilic bacteria, and TVB-N decreased while PUFA, texture, taste, odor, and overall acceptance parameters increased.     

Application of the consolidated species concept to identify the causal agent of strawberry anthracnose in Iran and initial molecular dating of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Colletotrichum acutatum</Emphasis> species complex

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum spp. is one of main strawberry diseases worldwide. The disease recently arrived in Iran and become epidemic in the Kurdistan province. A combination of morphological, molecular and pathogen-host interaction approaches (referred to the consolidated species concept) were applied to isolates from symptomatic strawberry tissues collected in Iran. Multi-gene phylogenetic analysis based on ITS-rDNA, beta-tubulin (TUB2) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) identified the species as the S5 clade of Colletotrichum nymphaeae. No significant intraspecies variation was observed in terms of morphology and pathogenicity. No significant genetic variation was observed among the isolates using inter simple sequence repeat analysis (ISSR) and primer pair combination of ERIC1/BOX and ERIC2/BOX fingerprinting markers. Based on the results of this study, it can be postulated that the C. nymphaeae population in Iran established itself from a single origin due to a founder effect. More generally, molecular dating based on relaxed clocks indicates co-radiation of C. nymphaeae S5 and strawberry plants and suggests high reciprocal specificity between the host and pathogen.