Detection of foot-and-mouth disease virus type O in recovered as well as healthy cattle to study carrier status in Assam

200-206Foot and mouth disease (FMD), one of the most contagious diseases of animals, affects different host species including wild animals. Asymptomatic FMD recovered animals may remain as carrier, which may be threat to other healthy animals. Hence, it is necessary to monitor the carrier status of the FMD recovered animals to effectively prevent further spread of the disease. Out of all the seven serotypes of FMD, O serotype is most commonly found in livestock. Therefore, in the present study, we chose to detect serotype ‘O’ in oropharyngeal fluid (OP) and to quantify cytokines, viz. IL-1α, IL-1β and IL-2. A total of 30 OP fluids and 30 blood samples were collected from 10 animals (1 in-contact healthy animal) for 3 months post infection. FMD O serotype could be detected in all the animals (100%). The RQ values were found to be 0.014 to 63.118 and 0.162 to 46.889 for IL-1α and IL-1β genes respectively, while insignificant RQ values were obtained for IL-2. In the second and third months, two animals showed down regulation for IL-1α gene, while IL-1β and IL-2 genes were down regulated in 7 animals and in all 10 animals, respectively for all the three months

Microwave assisted solvent free synthesis of 1,3-diphenylpropenones

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>1,3-Diphenylpropenones (chalcones) are well known for their diverse array of bioactivities. Hydroxyl group substituted chalcones are the main precursor in the synthesis of flavonoids. Till date various methods have been developed for the synthesis of these very interesting molecules. Continuing our efforts for the development of simple, eco-friendly and cost-effective methodologies, we report here a solvent free condensation of aryl ketones and aldehydes using iodine impregnated alumina under microwave activation. This new protocol has been applied to a variety of substituted aryl carbonyls with excellent yield of substituted 1,3-diphenylpropenones.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Differently substituted chalcones were synthesized using iodine impregnated neutral alumina as catalyst in 79-95% yield in less than 2 minutes time under microwave activation without using any solvent. The reaction was studied under different catalytic conditions and it was found that molecular iodine supported over neutral alumina gives the best yield. The otherwise difficult single step condensation of hydroxy substituted aryl carbonyls is an attractive feature of this protocol to obtain polyhydroxychalcones in excellent yields. In order to find out the general applicability of this new endeavor it was successfully applied for the synthesis of 15 different chalcones including highly bioactive prenylated hydroxychalcone xanthohumol.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A new, simple and solvent free method was developed for the synthesis of substituted chalcones in environmentally benign way. The mild reaction conditions, easy work-up, clean reaction profiles render this approach as an interesting alternative to the existing methods.</p

The potential for immunoglobulins and host defense peptides (HDPs) to reduce the use of antibiotics in animal production

Abstract Innate defense mechanisms are aimed at quickly containing and removing infectious microorganisms and involve local stromal and immune cell activation, neutrophil recruitment and activation and the induction of host defense peptides (defensins and cathelicidins), acute phase proteins and complement activation. As an alternative to antibiotics, innate immune mechanisms are highly relevant as they offer rapid general ways to, at least partially, protect against infections and enable the build-up of a sufficient adaptive immune response. This review describes two classes of promising alternatives to antibiotics based on components of the innate host defense. First we describe immunoglobulins applied to mimic the way in which they work in the newborn as locally acting broadly active defense molecules enforcing innate immunity barriers. Secondly, the potential of host defense peptides with different modes of action, used directly, induced in situ or used as vaccine adjuvants is described

Early phase of plasticity-related gene regulation and SRF dependent transcription in the hippocampus

Hippocampal organotypic cultures are a highly reliable in vitro model for studying neuroplasticity: in this paper, we analyze the early phase of the transcriptional response induced by a 20 \ub5M gabazine treatment (GabT), a GABA-Ar antagonist, by using Affymetrix oligonucleotide microarray, RT-PCR based time-course and chromatin-immuno-precipitation. The transcriptome profiling revealed that the pool of genes up-regulated by GabT, besides being strongly related to the regulation of growth and synaptic transmission, is also endowed with neuro-protective and pro-survival properties. By using RT-PCR, we quantified a time-course of the transient expression for 33 of the highest up-regulated genes, with an average sampling rate of 10 minutes and covering the time interval [10 3690] minutes. The cluster analysis of the time-course disclosed the existence of three different dynamical patterns, one of which proved, in a statistical analysis based on results from previous works, to be significantly related with SRF-dependent regulation (p-value<0.05). The chromatin immunoprecipitation (chip) assay confirmed the rich presence of working CArG boxes in the genes belonging to the latter dynamical pattern and therefore validated the statistical analysis. Furthermore, an in silico analysis of the promoters revealed the presence of additional conserved CArG boxes upstream of the genes Nr4a1 and Rgs2. The chip assay confirmed a significant SRF signal in the Nr4a1 CArG box but not in the Rgs2 CArG box

Characterization of cathelicidin gene from buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Wide spread and indiscriminate use of antibiotics is accompanied by the emergence of microorganism that are resistant to these agents. Therefore, new approaches are required to address the problem of antimicrobial resistance. Epithelial linings of living organisms are the source of various antimicrobial peptides. Keeping this in view, the present experiment was designed to characterize one of the important natural antimicrobial peptide gene, that is, cathelicidin gene from the buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) uterine epithelium and explored its potency for use as template for synthesis of novel antimicrobial agents. Total RNA was isolated from epithelial layer of buffalo uterus and reverse transcribed using designed primers. The amplified PCR product was purified and cloned. Positive clone was sequenced and result was analysed using laser gene software (DNA Star, USA). The cDNA of uterus cathelicidin had 516 bases with complete ORF from 6-452 bp. The predicted pre-propeptide comprised of 148 amino acids. Mature active peptide had 18 amino acids and had five each of arginine and tryptophan and four proline residues. From this study, it can be concluded that the buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) uterus expressed a potent antimicrobial peptide and amino acid sequence of mature peptide can be used as template for synthesis of novel antimicrobial agents. Key words: Antimicrobial peptide, buffalo, cationic peptide and cathelicidin

Polymorphism, sequencing and phylogenetic characterization of growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) gene in Assam Hill goat

Assam hill goat (Capra hircus) is a prolific local goat in India. Growth differentiation factor (GDF9) gene was studied as a candidate gene for the prolificacy of goats. The objective of the present study was to detect the incidence of mutation in the exonic region of GDF9 gene of Assam hill goat. Total number of 90 blood samples were collected randomly from different parts of Assam and genomic DNA were extracted using modified phenol-chloroform method. The quantity and quality of extracted DNA was examined using spectrophotometry and gel electrophoresis, respectively. A 294 bp fragment of GDF9 gene was amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The purified product was digested with DdeI, HhaI and AluI restriction enzymes which produced single type of banding pattern 242 and 52 bp, 140 and 154 bp, 134 and 160bp, respectively. The present study revealed wild type alleles and all the samples showed AA genotype. Nucleotide sequencing revealed two new mutations 495 (C ® A) and 387 (G ® A). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the sequences of Assam Hill goat belong to a common cluster which differs from that of the other goat breeds. The analysis of polymorphism for GDF9 in Assam Hill goat indicates that the genetic factor responsible for prolificacy or multiple kidding rate is not related to the reported mutated alleles of GDF9 gene. Therefore, attempts to be made to detect other single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) for GDF9 gene or otherwise effort should be made towards other fecundity gene which might be responsible for the prolificacy of Assam Hill goat.Keywords: Assam Hill goat, GDF9, polymorphism, polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Afr. J. Biotechnol Vol. 12 No. 5

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Not AvailableEffect of zinc supplementation on serum biochemical in grower pig.Not Availabl

Public health research in India in the new millennium: a bibliometric analysis

Background: Public health research has gained increasing importance in India's national health policy as the country seeks to address the high burden of disease and its inequitable distribution, and embarks on an ambitious agenda towards universalising health care. Objective: This study aimed at describing the public health research output in India, its focus and distribution, and the actors involved in the research system. It makes recommendations for systematically promoting and strengthening public health research in the country. Design: The study was a bibliometric analysis of PubMed and IndMed databases for years 2000–2010. The bibliometric data were analysed in terms of biomedical focus based on the Global Burden of Disease, location of research, research institutions, and funding agencies. Results: A total of 7,893 eligible articles were identified over the 11-year search period. The annual research output increased by 42% between 2000 and 2010. In total, 60.8% of the articles were related to communicable diseases, newborn, maternal, and nutritional causes, comparing favourably with the burden of these causes (39.1%). While the burdens from non-communicable diseases and injuries were 50.2 and 10.7%, respectively, only 31.9 and 7.5% of articles reported research for these conditions. The north-eastern states and the Empowered-Action-Group states of India were the most under-represented for location of research. In total, 67.2% of papers involved international collaborations and 49.2% of these collaborations were with institutions in the UK or USA; 35.4% of the publications involved international funding and 71.2% of funders were located in the UK or USA. Conclusions: While public health research output in India has increased significantly, there are marked inequities in relation to the burden of disease and the geographic distribution of research. Systematic priority setting, adequate funding, and institutional capacity building are needed to address these inequities

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Not AvailableCharacteristics and freezability of Assam Hill goat semen.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableAssam Hill goat (AHG) is an important goat germplasm found in Assam and its adjoining areas of India. The study was designed with an objective to study the semen characteristics and freezability of AHG buck semen using Tris -Egg yolkCitrate-Fructose diluent. The mean values of fresh semen characteristics in AHG bucks viz., ejaculate volume (ml), initial sperm motility (%), sperm concentration (x106/ml), live sperm (%), sperm abnormality (%), HOST-reacted sperm (%) andintact acrosome (%) recorded were 0.39 ± 0.01, 77.97 ± 0.73, 3201.00 ± 143.78, 83.02 ± 0.65, 7.66 ± 0.73, 66.95 ± 0.74 and 93.34 ± 0.51, respectively. Mean values for post-thaw semen characteristics i.e., sperm motility (%), live sperm (%),HOST-reacted sperm (%) and intact acrosome (%) were 55.39 ± 0.97, 71.01 ± 0.78, 54.77 ± 0.55 and 82.16 ± 0.43, respectively. It can be concluded that AHG bucks donate acceptable quality of semen which can be frozen successfully in Tris-Egg yolk-Citrate-Fructose diluents for using in Artificial Insemination.Not Availabl