ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF PHYTOPATHOGENIC FUNGI FROM INFECTED PLANT PARTS

Objective: The present study deals with the isolation and identification of phytopathogenic fungi. The fungal isolates were Alternaria spp (Tomato early blight), Fusarium oxysporum (Fusarium wilt), Fusarium solani (daming off and root rot), Aspergillus flavus (Ear rot) and Collectotricumspp (Anthracnose).Methods: They were isolated from infected plant parts and were identified on the basis of colony morphology andlacto phenol cotton blue (LPCB) stains were used to identifymicroscopic examination of spore structures. Pure cultures of the isolates were sub cultured and transferred onto differential media; potato dextrose agar, malt extract agar, czapek yeast extract agar and czapek dox agar for species identification using macro morphological characteristicsThe morphological characteristics of these fungal elements showed various kinds of spores have been identified up to genus/species level.Results: This study proves rapid and less expensive techniques to validate a primary alarm of contamination.Conclusion: The fivefungus which were isolated from different plant parts were very effective in distruction of the plant and found that the producionwere reduced due to the infection. This rapid and less expensive techniques to validate a primary alarm of contamination

Identification and Analysis of Novel Amino-Acid Sequence Repeats in Bacillus anthracis str. Ames Proteome Using Computational Tools

We have identified four repeats and ten domains that are novel in proteins encoded by the Bacillus anthracis str. Ames proteome using automated in silico methods. A “repeat” corresponds to a region comprising less than 55-amino-acid residues that occur more than once in the protein sequence and sometimes present in tandem. A “domain” corresponds to a conserved region with greater than 55-amino-acid residues and may be present as single or multiple copies in the protein sequence. These correspond to (1) 57-amino-acid-residue PxV domain, (2) 122-amino-acid-residue FxF domain, (3) 111-amino-acid-residue YEFF domain, (4) 109-amino-acid-residue IMxxH domain, (5) 103-amino-acid-residue VxxT domain, (6) 84-amino-acid-residue ExW domain, (7) 104-amino-acid-residue NTGFIG domain, (8) 36-amino-acid-residue NxGK repeat, (9) 95-amino-acid-residue VYV domain, (10) 75-amino-acid-residue KEWE domain, (11) 59-amino-acid-residue AFL domain, (12) 53-amino-acid-residue RIDVK repeat, (13) (a) 41-amino-acid-residue AGQF repeat and (b) 42-amino-acid-residue GSAL repeat. A repeat or domain type is characterized by specific conserved sequence motifs. We discuss the presence of these repeats and domains in proteins from other genomes and their probable secondary structure

Case report on laurence moon biedyl syndrome

Laurence moon Biedyl syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive condition with a wide spectrum of clinical features. The accepted major criteria for diagnosis include retinal dystrophy, obesity, Polydactyly, male hypogonadism, mental retardation and renal dysfunction. We have presented a 36 year old male patient exhibiting characteristic features of Laurence moon Biedyl syndrome and then the literature is reviewed

Monitoring of Noctiluca Bloom in Mandapam and Keelakarai Coastal Waters; Southeast Coast of India

Monitoring the Harmful Algal Blooms was carried out during July to December 2008 in Mandapam and Keelakarai coastal waters of Tamil Nadu, Southeast coast of India. In the month of October several fishes and shellfishes were died due to Noctiluca blooms along these two areas. The present investigation the following species of phyto and zooplankton were found to be common; phytoplankton such as Coscinodiscus sp., Skeletonema costatum, Bacillaria paradoxa, Thallassiothrix frauenfeldii, T. longisima, Leptocylindrus sp., and  zooplankton such as Paracalanus parvus, Acrocalanus gracilis, Pseudodiaptomus serricautatus, Rhincalanus cornutus, R. nasutus, Euterpina acutifrons, Nannocalanus minor, Eucalanus attenuates, E. crassus, Fish larvae, Fish eggs, Barnacle nauplii, Bivalve larvae, Gastropod larvae, Copepod nauplii  and Mysis larvae. The hydrobiological parameters also analysed during bloom and after blooms; the dissolved oxygen (2.6 – 4.9µM L-1) nutrients varied between nitrate (0.66 – 1.01µM L-1) nitrite (0.11 – 0.21µM L-1) phosphate (0.51 – 0.86µM L-1) and silicate (0.81 – 4.2µM L-1)

QSAR Analysis of 5-Substituted 2-Benzoylaminobenzoic Acids as PPAR Modulator

Abstract: A quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) study on a series of analogs of 5-aryl thiazolidine-2, 4-diones with activity on PPAR-α and PPAR-γ was made using combination of various thermodynamic, electronic and spatial descriptors. Several statistical regression expressions were obtained using multiple linear regression analysis. The best QSAR model was further validated by leave one out cross validation method. The studied revealed that for dual PPAR-α/γ activity dipole-dipole energy and PMI-Z play significant role and contributed positively for PPAR-γ and PPAR-α activity respectively. Thus, QSAR brings important structural insight to aid the design of dual PPAR-α/γ receptor agonist

Investigation of Sesamol on Myeloperoxidase and Colon Morphology in Acetic Acid-Induced Inflammatory Bowel Disorder in Albino Rats

Background. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of gastrointestinal tract of immune, genetic, and environmental origin. In the present study, we examined the effects of sesamol (SES), which is the active constituent of sesame oil in the acetic acid (AA) induced model for IBD in rats. Methods. The groups were divided into normal control, AA control, SES, and sulfasalazine (SS). On day 7, the rats were killed, colon was removed, and the macroscopic, biochemical, and histopathological evaluations were performed. Results. The levels of MPO, TBARS, and tissue nitrite increased significantly (P<0.05) in the AA group whereas they reduced significantly in the SES and SS treated groups. Serum nitrite levels were found to be insignificant between the different groups. Conclusions. The mucosal protective effects of sesamol in IBD are due to its potential to reduce the myeloperoxidase and nitrite content

GRFS and CRFS in alternative donor hematopoietic cell transplantation for pediatric patients with acute leukemia.

We report graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)-free relapse-free survival (GRFS) (a composite end point of survival without grade III-IV acute GVHD [aGVHD], systemic therapy-requiring chronic GVHD [cGVHD], or relapse) and cGVHD-free relapse-free survival (CRFS) among pediatric patients with acute leukemia (n = 1613) who underwent transplantation with 1 antigen-mismatched (7/8) bone marrow (BM; n = 172) or umbilical cord blood (UCB; n = 1441). Multivariate analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazards models. To account for multiple testing, P \u3c .01 for the donor/graft variable was considered statistically significant. Clinical characteristics were similar between UCB and 7/8 BM recipients, because most had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (62%), 64% received total body irradiation-based conditioning, and 60% received anti-thymocyte globulin or alemtuzumab. Methotrexate-based GVHD prophylaxis was more common with 7/8 BM (79%) than with UCB (15%), in which mycophenolate mofetil was commonly used. The univariate estimates of GRFS and CRFS were 22% (95% confidence interval [CI], 16-29) and 27% (95% CI, 20-34), respectively, with 7/8 BM and 33% (95% CI, 31-36) and 38% (95% CI, 35-40), respectively, with UCB (P \u3c .001). In multivariate analysis, 7/8 BM vs UCB had similar GRFS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.12; 95% CI, 0.87-1.45; P = .39), CRFS (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.82-1.38; P = .66), overall survival (HR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.80-1.44; P = .66), and relapse (HR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.03-2.02; P = .03). However, the 7/8 BM group had a significantly higher risk for grade III-IV aGVHD (HR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.16-2.48; P = .006) compared with the UCB group. UCB and 7/8 BM groups had similar outcomes, as measured by GRFS and CRFS. However, given the higher risk for grade III-IV aGVHD, UCB might be preferred for patients lacking matched donors. © 2019 American Society of Hematology. All rights reserved

Managing soil fertility constraints in market-led shift to high value agriculture for benefiting smallholders in the semi-arid tropics

Low productivity and cultivation of low value crops in the Indian semi-arid tropics (SAT) is the main cause for poor farm-based livelihoods. Poverty leading to low risktaking ability of farmers and production related constraints like widespread multi-nutrient deficiencies are major stumbling blocks for shifting to high value agriculture. Realizing the need to support povertyentrapped smallholders to connect to markets, the government of Karnataka state in India supported market-led shift to high value agriculture through a consortium of technical institutions and convergence of agricultural schemes. New widespread deficiencies of secondary and micronutrients like sulfur (52% farms), zinc (55%) and boron (62%) along with earlier known deficiencies of nitrogen (52%) and phosphorus (41%) were identified as main constraints for realizing productivity potential and a threat for sustainability. Policy supported initiative during 2011/12 showed more economic returns with diversified high value crops and strengthened 0.23 million smallholders. On-farm evaluations of soil test-based nutrient balancing to tomato, okra, brinjal, chilies, onion, cabbage and beans increased productivity by 5 to 58% over the farmers’ practice of adding macronutrients only. Small additional cost (` 770 to 1520 per ha) of balanced nutrition significantly increased additional benefits (` 5300 to 74,000 per ha) with fairly high cost-benefit ratio (1:4 to 1:82). Substantial returns enhanced risk-taking ability of smallholders to manage productivity constraints in future by themselves. Results showed that initial little investments in science and market-led social assistance programs should be a way forward for mainstreaming poverty-entrapped smallholders in other parts of SAT

MOLECULAR PREVALENCE OF PORCINE CIRCOVIRUS 2 INFECTION: FOREMOST REPORT IN SOUTHERN STATES OF INDIA

Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) is the emerging viral pathogen in the swine associated with multi-systemic clinical and subclinical outcomes. This study aimed to detect the molecular and serological prevalence of PCV2 infection in the southern states of India. A total of 434 random samples comprising serum (n=273), pooled postmortem tissues (n=109) and rectal, vaginal, and nasal swabs (n=52) and were collected from PCV2 suspected and healthy swine populations of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Puducherry states in India from 2019 to 2021 were screened for PCV2 by specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Of 434 samples screened, 12.2% (n=53) showed positivity to PCV2 genome. Statistical analysis of the molecular prevalence of PCV2 within breed, age, sex, and vaccination status revealed no significant (p>0.05) difference but there was a significant (p<0.05) difference in the prevalence of PCV2 among healthy and suspected swine populations. Suspected pigs had a significantly higher prevalence of PCV2 in comparison to healthy. ELISA-based PCV2 antibody screening in 176 non-vaccinated serum samples revealed a seropositivity of 44.8% (n=79). The molecular and seroprevalence of PCV2 is alarming in southern states of India, which necessitates the need for genotypic characterization and phylogenetic analysis and development of candidate vaccine for implementation of suitable prevention and control measures