Molecular characterization of Citrus yellow mosaic badnavirus (CMBV) isolates revealed the presence of two distinct strains infecting citrus in India

Citrus yellow mosaic badnavirus (CMBV) is a non-enveloped, bacilliform DNA virus and the etiologic agent of yellow mosaic disease of citrus in India. The disease was initially reported from the southern parts of India and has now spread to other parts of the country. It is a serious disease of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) in southern India, where it causes significant yield losses. During a recent survey of citrus groves in the Nagpur region, central India, characteristic mosaic symptoms were observed in mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata) and sweet orange. Virus transmission studies, electron microscopy, PCR amplification and sequencing of cloned PCR products from samples showing mosaic symptoms confirmed the presence of a badnavirus. The CMBV–Nagpur isolate could be transmitted to the Rangpur lime (C. limonia) and acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia) by graft inoculation. Sequence analysis of a segment of ORF-III region and intergenic region (IR) of the viral genome revealed that CMBV–Nagpur isolate formed a distinct clade along with some previously reported isolates that are known to infect acid lime and Rangpur lime. CMBV isolates that infect citrus species other than the acid lime and Rangpur lime formed a second clade. Based on the transmission studies and phylogenetic analyses, it was concluded that at least two strains of CMBV exist in India currently.     

Socio-demographic profiling and asset indicators of Gracilaria dura farmers from northern west coast of India useful for longitudinal analysis

Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, has recently rolled out its flagship scheme ‘Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)’, aimed at ambitious expansion of the domestic seaweed sector. Consequently, it gave emphasis on diverting the focus from a monoculture of Kappaphycus alvarezii to other candidate species, Gracilaria dura—which yields high quality agar—is an ideal example. Furthermore, currently agar requirement for the country is 400 tonnes year^?1 and 4,000 tonnes dry of feedstock is needed to cater to this demand. With this backdrop, commercial farming of G. dura has been initiated along the northern west coast of India. We interviewed 20 households from two coastal villages, namely, Simar and Rajpara to document their socio-demographic profiling and computing livelihood asset index. The total literacy rate of Simar was found to be 25% and Rajpara was 20%, with population of 7445 and 12,000 respectively. Demographic analysis revealed equal gender participation; a higher proportion of seaweed growers (30%) were under the age group of 21–30 years; 15% exclusively dealt with seaweed farming (while others relied on additional livelihood source); spending from earning had positive implications on various aspects, namely, household food security, improving their purchasing power to meet daily requirements (50%), education to their children (30%); followed by savings (10%) and medical and other expenditure (10%). The ‘human asset index’ was found to be 0.487, while the ‘natural asset index’ was 0.376; the ‘physical asset index’ was 0.69; the ‘financial asset index’ was 0.205; the ‘social asset index’ (SAI) was 0.557, while the ‘total livelihood asset index’ was 2.315. To the best of our knowledge, asset indicators have been first time recorded for seaweed farmers from anywhere in the word for longitudinal analysis. The data will be useful to researchers and policy-makers for household welfare dynamics studies.

     

‘Nano-immuno test’ for the detection of live <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium avium</Emphasis> subspecies <Emphasis Type="Italic">paratuberculosis</Emphasis> bacilli in the milk samples using magnetic nano-particles and chromogen

Early rapid detection of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) bacilli in milk samples is the major challenge since traditional culture method is time consuming and laboratory dependent. We report a simple, sensitive and specific nano-technology based ‘Nano-immuno test’ capable of detecting viable MAP bacilli in the milk samples within 10 h. Viable MAP bacilli were captured by MAP specific antibody-conjugated magnetic nano-particles using resazurin dye as chromogen. Test was optimized using true culture positive (10-bovine and 12-goats) and true culture negative (16-bovine and 25-goats) raw milk samples. Domestic livestock species in India are endemically infected with MAP. After successful optimization, sensitivity and specificity of the ‘nano-immuno test’ in goats with respect to milk culture was 91.7% and 96.0%, respectively. Whereas, it was 90.0% (sensitivity) and 92.6% (specificity) with respect to IS900 PCR. In bovine milk samples, sensitivity and specificity of ‘nano-immuno test’ with respect to milk culture was 90.0% and 93.7%, respectively. However, with respect to IS900 PCR, the sensitivity and specificity was 88.9% and 94.1%, respectively. Test was validated with field raw milk samples (goats-258 and bovine-138) collected from domestic livestock species to detect live/viable MAP bacilli. Of 138 bovine raw milk samples screened by six diagnostic tests, 81 (58.7%) milk samples were positive for MAP infection in one or more than one diagnostic tests. Of 81 (58.7%) positive bovine raw milk samples, only 24 (17.4%) samples were detected positive for the presence of viable MAP bacilli. Of 258 goats raw milk samples screened by six diagnostic tests, 141 (54.6%) were positive for MAP infection in one or more than one test. Of 141 (54.6%) positive raw milk samples from goats, only 48 (34.0%) were detected positive for live MAP bacilli. Simplicity and efficiency of this novel ‘nano-immuno test’ makes it suitable for wide-scale screening of milk samples in the field. Standardization, validation and re-usability of functionalized nano-particles and the test was successfully achieved in field samples. Test was highly specific, simple to perform and easy to read by naked eyes and does not require laboratory support in the performance of test. Test has potential to be used as screening test to estimate bio-load of MAP in milk samples at National level.     

Data Mining Strategy for "Gene Prediction" with Special Reference to Cotton Genome

This paper presents an integrated approach towards solving the problem of "Gene Prediction".The "Gene Prediction" problem solving undergoes well defined stages starting with a DNA sequence as input and lab treatment and computational analysis go hands in hands throughout the process.Many bioinformatics tools are available for analysis at different stages of "Gene Prediction",but a simplified and integrated approach is needed to support and speed up the task of a life scientist.     

Molecular Marker Development in Post-genomic Era:Leveraging Multiple Resources for Marker Development in Cotton and Other Crops

While the importance of molecular marker technology was realized more than two decades ago,high-throughput marker development came into vogue only after the availability of hundreds of thousands of sequences in public databases.Many examples now exist where markers are being used routinely in breeding programs for marker-assisted selection (MAS) of traits of interest or marker assisted recovery of genome of interest.     

An estimation of monthly propagation of dengue vector Aedes aegypti in rainwater filled tires

Abstract

Present study was designed to estimate the average monthly production rate of Ae. aegypti in a rainwater filled bus/truck tire (1.041?m) and car tire (0.737?m) as well as in bus/truck tire lodged with pondwater which are lacking. An average of 3957 Ae. aegypti propagated from single rainwater filled bus/truck tire which was significantly higher than the average number of them produced in a rainwater filled car tire and a pondwater lodged bus/truck tire in a rainy month. Higher water holding capacity might be the cause of difference between the bus/truck tire and the car tire. On other hand, difference in multiple physio-chemical aspects between rainwater and pondwater seemed to be the determining factor to make difference in mosquito breeding potential in a bus/truck tire. It is assumed from the present study that an open dumping ground of discarded tires may account for huge production of Ae. aegypti. Discarded tires are recommended to be kept under shade or covered with polythene-sheet or apertures be made underside each tire for draining out the accumulated rainwater.