The Global Scenario of A1, A2 β-Casein Variant in Cattle and its Impact on Human Health

Beta casein (β-casein) has gained considerable interest among scientists and farmers as it provides promising factors to milk that enhance its quality and concentration. It is believed that the A1 β-casein variant shares an association with numerous human diseases. Since there are numerous hypotheses concerning the link between variants of β-casein and human diseases, many researchers across the globe have genotyped the cattle in terms of A1, A2 β-casein variants. This paper catalogs the A1 and A2 β-casein genotypes shared by different cattle breeds across the globe. Various literature encompassing the adverse effects of β-casein variants were assessed adequately. This paper suggests that the effects of undertaking the A1 β-casein variant on human health are ambiguous. Adequate research providing stronger evidence is needed for understanding the effects imparted by the consumption of both A1 and A2 β-casein variants on human health.</jats:p

The myocardium utilizes Pdgfra-PI3K signaling to steer towards the midline during heart tube formation

AbstractCoordinated cell movement is a fundamental process in organ formation. During heart development, bilateral myocardial precursors collectively move towards the midline (cardiac fusion) to form the primitive heart tube. Along with extrinsic influences such as the adjacent anterior endoderm which are known to be required for cardiac fusion, we previously showed that the platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (Pdgfra) is also required. However, an intrinsic mechanism that regulates myocardial movement remains to be elucidated. Here, we uncover an essential intrinsic role in the myocardium for the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) intracellular signaling pathway in directing myocardial movement towards the midline.In vivoimaging reveals that in PI3K-inhibited zebrafish embryos myocardial movements are misdirected and slower, while midline-oriented dynamic myocardial membrane protrusions become unpolarized. Moreover, PI3K activity is dependent on and genetically interacts with Pdgfra to regulate myocardial movement. Together our findings reveal an intrinsic myocardial steering mechanism that responds to extrinsic cues during the initiation of cardiac development.</jats:p

Structure and Function of Major SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV Proteins

SARS-CoV-2 virus, the causative agent of COVID-19 pandemic, has a genomic organization consisting of 16 nonstructural proteins (nsps), 4 structural proteins, and 9 accessory proteins. Relative of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, has genomic organization, which is very similar. In this article, the function and structure of the proteins of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV are described in great detail. The nsps are expressed as a single or two polyproteins, which are then cleaved into individual proteins using two proteases of the virus, a chymotrypsin-like protease and a papain-like protease. The released proteins serve as centers of virus replication and transcription. Some of these nsps modulate the host’s translation and immune systems, while others help the virus evade the host immune system. Some of the nsps help form replication-transcription complex at double-membrane vesicles. Others, including one RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and one exonuclease, help in the polymerization of newly synthesized RNA of the virus and help minimize the mutation rate by proofreading. After synthesis of the viral RNA, it gets capped. The capping consists of adding GMP and a methylation mark, called cap 0 and additionally adding a methyl group to the terminal ribose called cap1. Capping is accomplished with the help of a helicase, which also helps remove a phosphate, two methyltransferases, and a scaffolding factor. Among the structural proteins, S protein forms the receptor of the virus, which latches on the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor of the host and N protein binds and protects the genomic RNA of the virus. The accessory proteins found in these viruses are small proteins with immune modulatory roles. Besides functions of these proteins, solved X-ray and cryogenic electron microscopy structures related to the function of the proteins along with comparisons to other coronavirus homologs have been described in the article. Finally, the rate of mutation of SARS-CoV-2 residues of the proteome during the 2020 pandemic has been described. Some proteins are mutated more often than other proteins, but the significance of these mutation rates is not fully understood

Structure and Function of Major SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV Proteins

SARS-CoV-2 virus, the causative agent of COVID-19 pandemic, has a genomic organization consisting of 16 nonstructural proteins (nsps), 4 structural proteins, and 9 accessory proteins. Relative of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, has genomic organization, which is very similar. In this article, the function and structure of the proteins of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV are described in great detail. The nsps are expressed as a single or two polyproteins, which are then cleaved into individual proteins using two proteases of the virus, a chymotrypsin-like protease and a papain-like protease. The released proteins serve as centers of virus replication and transcription. Some of these nsps modulate the host’s translation and immune systems, while others help the virus evade the host immune system. Some of the nsps help form replication-transcription complex at double-membrane vesicles. Others, including one RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and one exonuclease, help in the polymerization of newly synthesized RNA of the virus and help minimize the mutation rate by proofreading. After synthesis of the viral RNA, it gets capped. The capping consists of adding GMP and a methylation mark, called cap 0 and additionally adding a methyl group to the terminal ribose called cap1. Capping is accomplished with the help of a helicase, which also helps remove a phosphate, two methyltransferases, and a scaffolding factor. Among the structural proteins, S protein forms the receptor of the virus, which latches on the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor of the host and N protein binds and protects the genomic RNA of the virus. The accessory proteins found in these viruses are small proteins with immune modulatory roles. Besides functions of these proteins, solved X-ray and cryogenic electron microscopy structures related to the function of the proteins along with comparisons to other coronavirus homologs have been described in the article. Finally, the rate of mutation of SARS-CoV-2 residues of the proteome during the 2020 pandemic has been described. Some proteins are mutated more often than other proteins, but the significance of these mutation rates is not fully understood. </jats:p

Screening and Identification of Thermotolerant and Osmotolerant Bacillus amyloliquefaciens BKHE Isolated from Kinema of Eastern Nepal for Alkaline Protease Production

Alkaline protease is one of the most important industrial enzymes which are excessively used in the detergent industry, food industry, feed industry, pharmaceutical industry, leather industry, etc. 60% of the produced alkaline protease is consumed by the detergent industry alone. In the present study, bacterial isolates that can produce alkaline protease for purpose of bio-detergent were screened among the isolates isolated from kinema (an alkaline fermented food of eastern Nepal). Selected bacterial isolates were further screened for hemolysis activity and the production of other hydrolytic enzymes. Four bacterial isolates selected were tested for their capacity to produce alkaline protease in five different fermentation mediums. Isolate BKHE produces a high amount of alkaline protease (0.4705 ± 0.035 U/mL/min) in fermentation medium M2 (sucrose, 11 g/L; yeast extract, 5 g/L; and KNO3, 5.2 g/l, pH 9). The selected isolate was identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens BKHE based on 16S rRNA sequencing and phenotypic features. This bacterial strain was also found to be thermotolerant (confluent growth at 50°C) and salt tolerant up to 10% NaCl concentration. With its versatile ability, bacterial isolate or purified enzymes have potential applications in the food and detergent industry

Genetic Diversity of Nepalese Indigenous Cattle Breeds Based on D-Loop Mitochondrial DNA

Nepalese cattle are known for their genetic potentiality concerning inhabitant in extreme climatic conditions, surviving in the scarce food supply, and resistant to several diseases. We aimed to assess Nepal’s ancestral origin and genetic diversity of indigenous cattle breeds based on hyper-variable D loop mtDNA sequences. Three cattle breeds (Siri, Achammi, &amp; Lulu) comprising the total sample population (n= 75) were employed in the study where the mt DNA information of two breeds (Achammi &amp; Lulu) were retrieved from the published source. Hyper-variable D loop (910bp) of Siri cattle was PCR amplified and sequenced. This study claims that the possible ancestral origin of Bos taurus and Bos indicus mtDNA lineage in the Nepalese cattle population is majorly influenced by China and India, respectively. This study suggests that Nepalese cattle can be divided into two major groups: Bos taurus and Bos indicus, where most of the cattle population was of Bos indicus origin. The sampled population can be classified into three significant haplogroups: T3 (25%), I1 (48%), and I2 (27%) revealing a higher genetic diversity among the Nepalese cattle population. Only T3 taurine haplogroup was found in the sampled population. It was consistent with the fact that the absence of T1 haplogroup in North-East Asian cattle. In terms of Bos indicus, the I1 haplogroup was dominant over I2. Higher genetic diversity can be appropriate reasoning for Nepalese cattle’s survival in a harsh environment and low food conditions.</jats:p

CARCASS AND MEAT QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF WILD BOAR CROSSBREDS

Due to the growing interest in the production and consumption of wild boar meat, the quality attributes of meat products should be well established. To characterize the quality of wild boar cross meat, two males and two females reared in the same environment were slaughtered at an average of one year of age, and meat samples were was collected and analyzed for different parameters such as for moisture, pH value, protein, fat, iron, phosphorous, calcium, water holding capacity through the measure of cooking loss. Data obtained for live body weight, carcass biochemical characteristics, and meat quality traits were submitted to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using a general linear model (uni-variate) in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer program and the level of significance was determined observing the probability value (p) obtained through ANOVA of respective traits. To study the association among nutritive values and body parts, Pearson’s correlation coefficients were determined using in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer program. The pH values were found to be in the range of 5.78 to 5.90. Moisture, total ash, fat, and protein contents were observed to be in the range of 71.38 to 73.57 %, 0.89 to 1.10 %, 4.34 to 5.54 %, and 16.73 to 18.84 % respectively. Iron, phosphorous, and calcium content were found to be in the range of 1.94 to 2.94 mg/100g, 20.17 to 37.57 mg/100g, and 170.68 to 190.88 mg/100g respectively whereas cooking loss was in the range of 31.59 to 26.88 %. Sensory evaluation of meat samples was examined by a group of panelists according to the hedonic rating test. The consumer preference was similar to both types of meat samples (male and female). The overall acceptance; however, were higher in female samples than in male samples due to boar taint evident during the cooking or eating of pork derived from non-castrated male pigs once they reach puberty. The comparison of wild crosses among available commercial pigs and indigenous pigs is warranted for further studies with an appropriate and defined production system to obtain lean meat as per the consumer preferences which could be extensively used in commercial pig production to provide high-quality pork.</jats:p