Floods in Mahanadi River, Odisha, India: Its Causes and Management

All the major rivers of Odisha after attaining their old stage in the coastal plain fall into the Bay of Bengal. Most often the rivers including the biggest river Mahanadi brings flood calamity in the region. The coastal districts of Odisha particularly the Mahanadi Delta region has been victimised in the flood in terms of loss of lives of human being and domestic animals, damage of house properties, roads and bridges, crops etc. The article discusses the causes of the floods and management practices for controlling them

High antigen levels induce an exhausted phenotype in a chronic infection without impairing T cell expansion and survival.

Chronic infections induce T cells showing impaired cytokine secretion and up-regulated expression of inhibitory receptors such as PD-1. What determines the acquisition of this chronic phenotype and how it impacts T cell function remain vaguely understood. Using newly generated recombinant antigen variant-expressing chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) strains, we uncovered that T cell differentiation and acquisition of a chronic or exhausted phenotype depend critically on the frequency of T cell receptor (TCR) engagement and less significantly on the strength of TCR stimulation. In fact, we noted that low-level antigen exposure promotes the formation of T cells with an acute phenotype in chronic infections. Unexpectedly, we found that T cell populations with an acute or chronic phenotype are maintained equally well in chronic infections and undergo comparable primary and secondary expansion. Thus, our observations contrast with the view that T cells with a typical chronic infection phenotype are severely functionally impaired and rapidly transition into a terminal stage of differentiation. Instead, our data unravel that T cells primarily undergo a form of phenotypic and functional differentiation in the early phase of a chronic LCMV infection without inheriting a net survival or expansion deficit, and we demonstrate that the acquired chronic phenotype transitions into the memory T cell compartment

Aberrant host immune response induced by highly virulent PRRSV identified by digital gene expression tag profiling

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There was a large scale outbreak of the highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) in China and Vietnam during 2006 and 2007 that resulted in unusually high morbidity and mortality among pigs of all ages. The mechanisms underlying the molecular pathogenesis of the highly virulent PRRS virus (H-PRRSV) remains unknown. Therefore, the relationship between pulmonary gene expression profiles after H-PRRSV infection and infection pathology were analyzed in this study using high-throughput deep sequencing and histopathology.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>H-PRRSV infection resulted in severe lung pathology. The results indicate that aberrant host innate immune responses to H-PRRSV and induction of an anti-apoptotic state could be responsible for the aggressive replication and dissemination of H-PRRSV. Prolific rapid replication of H-PRRSV could have triggered aberrant sustained expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines leading to a markedly robust inflammatory response compounded by significant cell death and increased oxidative damage. The end result was severe tissue damage and high pathogenicity.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The systems analysis utilized in this study provides a comprehensive basis for better understanding the pathogenesis of H-PRRSV. Furthermore, it allows the genetic components involved in H-PRRSV resistance/susceptibility in swine populations to be identified.</p

Understanding PRRSV Infection in Porcine Lung Based on Genome-Wide Transcriptome Response Identified by Deep Sequencing

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) has been one of the most economically important diseases affecting swine industry worldwide and causes great economic losses each year. PRRS virus (PRRSV) replicates mainly in porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) and dendritic cells (DCs) and develops persistent infections, antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE), interstitial pneumonia and immunosuppression. But the molecular mechanisms of PRRSV infection still are poorly understood. Here we report on the first genome-wide host transcriptional responses to classical North American type PRRSV (N-PRRSV) strain CH 1a infection using Solexa/Illumina's digital gene expression (DGE) system, a tag-based high-throughput transcriptome sequencing method, and analyse systematically the relationship between pulmonary gene expression profiles after N-PRRSV infection and infection pathology. Our results suggest that N-PRRSV appeared to utilize multiple strategies for its replication and spread in infected pigs, including subverting host innate immune response, inducing an anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory state as well as developing ADE. Upregulation expression of virus-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules and inflammatory enzymes and inflammatory cells, antibodies, complement activation were likely to result in the development of inflammatory responses during N-PRRSV infection processes. N-PRRSV-induced immunosuppression might be mediated by apoptosis of infected cells, which caused depletion of immune cells and induced an anti-inflammatory cytokine response in which they were unable to eradicate the primary infection. Our systems analysis will benefit for better understanding the molecular pathogenesis of N-PRRSV infection, developing novel antiviral therapies and identifying genetic components for swine resistance/susceptibility to PRRS

MIgGGly (mouse IgG glycosylation analysis) - a high-throughput method for studying Fc-linked IgG N-glycosylation in mice with nanoUPLC-ESI-MS

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) N-glycosylation is crucial for its effector functions. It is a complex trait, and large sample sets are needed to discover multiple genetic factors that underlie it. While in humans such high-throughput studies of IgG N-glycans became usual, only one has been carried out in mice. Here we describe and validate a method for the relative quantification of IgG Fc-linked N-glycans in a subclassspecific manner using nano-reverse phase liquid chromatography coupled with mass-spectrometry (nanoRP-LC-MS) applied to murine IgG. High-throughput data processing is ensured by the LaCyTools software. We have shown that IgG isolation procedure is the main source of technical variation in the current protocol. The major glycoforms were quantified reliably with coefficients of variation below 6% for all the analytes with relative abundances above 5%. We have applied our method to a sample set of 3 inbred strains: BALB/c, C57BL/6 and C3H and observed differences in subclass-specific and strainspecific N-glycosylation of IgG, suggesting a significant genetic component in the regulation of Fclinked IgG N-glycosylation

The genetic architecture of helminth-specific immune responses in a wild population of Soay sheep (Ovis aries)

Much of our knowledge of the drivers of immune variation, and how these responses vary over time, comes from humans, domesticated livestock or laboratory organisms. While the genetic basis of variation in immune responses have been investigated in these systems, there is a poor understanding of how genetic variation influences immunity in natural, untreated populations living in complex environments. Here, we examine the genetic architecture of variation in immune traits in the Soay sheep of St Kilda, an unmanaged population of sheep infected with strongyle gastrointestinal nematodes. We assayed IgA, IgE and IgG antibodies against the prevalent nematode Teladorsagia circumcincta in the blood plasma of > 3,000 sheep collected over 26 years. Antibody levels were significantly heritable (h2 = 0.21 to 0.57) and highly stable over an individual’s lifespan. IgA levels were strongly associated with a region on chromosome 24 explaining 21.1% and 24.5% of heritable variation in lambs and adults, respectively. This region was adjacent to two candidate loci, Class II Major Histocompatibility Complex Transactivator (CIITA) and C-Type Lectin Domain Containing 16A (CLEC16A). Lamb IgA levels were also associated with the immunoglobulin heavy constant loci (IGH) complex, and adult IgE levels and lamb IgA and IgG levels were associated with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). This study provides evidence of high heritability of a complex immunological trait under natural conditions and provides the first evidence from a genome-wide study that large effect genes located outside the MHC region exist for immune traits in the wild

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Not AvailableNot AvailableIndian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delh

Feeding of Broken Rice to White Pekin Ducks

Not AvailableA study was conducted in the tropical coastal region of Odisha in 2019 to find out the effect of replacing wheat with broken rice (BR) on nutrients metabolisability, egg production and quality in White Pekin ducks. White Pekin ducks (45, 165 days) were divided into three groups with three replicates in each group and each replicate has five ducks. Three experimental diets without (BR-0) and with BR, replacing 50 (BR-50) and 100 (BR-100), percent wheat were prepared. The above diets were offered randomly to the above groups till the birds attended 40 weeks followed by conduction of a metabolic trial. The dry matter intake (g/d) was similar among the groups. The metabolisability percentage of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract and crude fibre in BR-0 and BR-50 were similar and higher than BR-100. There was no significant difference in N balance (g/d) among the groups. The total egg production, duck day egg production percentage and feed conversion ratio were similar among the groups. The external and internal egg quality parameters were similar among the groups. It can be concluded that wheat can be replaced with broken at 50% level in the diets of white Pekin ducks during first phase of laying under intensive rearing system with increase in the metabolisability of the nutrients of the feed without affecting the performance.Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delh

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Not AvailableWhite Pekin ducks can be reared under intensive rearing system for meat and egg production. Depending upon the availability, duck farmers use different types of cereals for feeding their ducks. Therefore, a study was conducted to find out the performance of White Pekin ducks during mid phase of layingfed on wheat and/or broken rice based diets under intensive rearing system. White Pekin laying ducks (45; 41 weeks old) were divided into three groups. Three types of diets without (BR-0) and with broken rice (BR), replacing 50 (BR-50) and 100 (BR-100) per cent of wheat were prepared and offered randomly to the above three groups till the ducks attained 52 weeks of age under standard feeding and management practices. The total egg production (dozen) and duck day egg production (DDEP) % were higher in BR-50 group (4.51 and 64.44) than the BR-100 group (3.85 and 55.00); however, both were similar to BR-0 group (4.09 and 58.49). The total feed intake (12.55-13.80, kg) and feed conversion ratio (feed consumed in kg per dozen eggs produced) (2.93-3.31) were similar among the groups. The cost (Rs.) per egg was lower in BR-50 group (7.79) than the BR-0 group (8.32) and BR-100 group (8.71). The egg weight in BR-50 group (76.61 g) was higher than the BR-0 group (75.42 g); however, both were similar with BR-100 group (76.19 g). There was no significant difference in the egg shape index (68.22-69.69), albumen index (0.13-0.14) and yolk index (0.42-0.44) among the groups. The However, the Haugh unit in BR-100 groups (87.32) was lower than BR-0 group (89.90); but both were similar with BR-50 group (89.56). There were no significant differences in the percentage of albumen (55.09-55.71), yolk (31.75-32.38) and shell (12.45-12.63) among the groups. Similarly, the shell thickness with membrane (0.50-0.52, mm) and without membrane (0.43-0.44, mm) were also similar among the groups. It can be concluded that White Pekin ducks can be raised on wheat and/or broken rice-based diets during mid phase of laying under intensive rearing system; however, mixture of wheat and broken rice in equal ratio increased the performance and was economical.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableNot AvailableIndian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delh