IN VITRO ANTIBIOFILM ACTIVITY OF GYMNEMA SYLVESTRE EXTRACT AGAINST BIOFILM FORMING STREPTOCOCCUS PYOGENES FROM UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT

ABSTRACTObjective: This study was aimed to evaluate the antibiofilm activity of Gymnema sylvestre solvent extracts against the biofilm forming Streptococcuspyogenes strains SP-1 and SP-2 isolated from pharyngitis patients.Methods: The study involved the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and biofilm inhibitory concentration using microtiterplate method, growth curve analysis using spectrophotometry, antibacterial activity using agar well-diffusion method and light microscopic analysisof S. pyogenes biofilms treated with the plant extracts.Results: Biofilm inhibition assay was showed that the G. sylvestre methanol and ethyl acetate extracts inhibited biofilms at sub-MIC which was alsoconfirmed via light microscopy. Minimal inhibition concentration against the tested pathogens was observed at 4 mg/ml for both methanol and ethylacetate extracts. The antibacterial and growth curve analysis showed no significant inhibition at the concentration below MIC.Conclusion: This study is an attempt to highlight G. sylvestre as a novel antibiofilm source, as the plant is well known for its biologically activecomponents. Identification and can develop a scientific base for the use in modern medicine.Keywords: Antibiofilm, Biofilm inhibitory concentration, Gymnema sylvestre, Streptococcus pyogenes

ANTI-BIOFILM EFFICACY OF PLECTRANTHUS AMBOINICUS AGAINST STREPTOCOCCUS PYOGENES ISOLATED FROM PHARYNGITIS PATIENTS

ABSTRACTObjective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the anti-biofilm efficacy of Indian medicinal plant Plectranthus amboinicus extracts against thebiofilm forming Streptococcus pyogenes isolated from pharyngitis patients.Methods: The plant extracts (methanol and ethyl acetate) were screened for their preliminary phytochemical components. The solvent extract withhigher phytochemical yield was subjected to quantitative analysis using the Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. In vitroanalysis of the anti-biofilm study was performed using the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) assay, biofilm inhibitory concentration assay,growth curve analysis, anti-bacterial activity, and light microscopy analysis.Results: The methanol extract showed the highest phytochemical content. GC-MS analysis of the methanol extract showed a total of thirty two phytocompounds among which most of the compounds were medicinally important. MIC assay showed that the inhibition of test pathogens was at anaverage concentration of 2 mg/ml. The agar well diffusion method elucidated that at sub-MIC the methanol and ethyl acetate extracts did not inhibitthe growth of the test pathogen. Growth curve analysis was carried out at the concentration sub-MIC, in which the solvent extracts did not show anysignificant inhibition on the planktonic cells, whereas the biofilms of the test pathogens were significantly reduced and were dose dependent at subMIClevelsas confirmed bythe lightmicroscopicanalysis.Conclusion: These preliminary results indicated that the methanol extract of P. amboinicus leaves consisted of pharmacologically active componentsand could be used as an anti-biofilm agent at minimal concentrations thereby successful preventing the formation of biofilms.Keywords: Plectranthus amboinicus, GC-MS, Anti-biofilm activity, Light microscopy, S. pyogenes

Seafood Watch Assessment of Indian Squid - A Clarification by ICAR-CMFRI

Seafood Watch Assessment of Indian Squid - A Clarification by ICAR-CMFR

Spatial variability and abundance pattern of Indian squid off Maharashtra coast, India

An analysis was carried out on monthly spatial distribution and unusual congregation of Indian squid (Uroteuthis (Photololigo) duvaucelii) off Maharashtra coast. Decadal, annual and monthly squid landing data were taken from National Marine Living Resources Data Centre (NMLRDC) of ICAR-CMFRI. Onboard fisheries information were collected from multi-day trawlers operating from Mumbai and Ratnagiri. Ocean environment parameters coming from Copernicus Marine Service Information with 1/12 degree horizontal resolution and 50 vertical depth level and OSCAR (Ocean Surface Current Analysis Real-time) near-surface ocean current estimates was derived using quasi-linear and steady flow momentum equations on a 1/3 degree grid with a 5 day resolution. In last decade, contribution of squid to total marine fish landing of Maharashtra rose from 2% to 7.3%. The decadal landing shows two peaks in 2012 and 2017. Indian squid landing in 2017 shows two peak, one during August to October confined to 150 N to 170 N latitude in 15 to 60 m depth off south Maharashtra and second in summer, during March-April months widely scattered in north and south Maharashtra. The unusual abundance of Indian squid during mid-October to mid- November 2017 were attributed to rise in coastal surface and subsurface temperature. Catch per hour of trawl and SST shows strong positive correlation (0.79) during the same period

Prawn fauna (Crustacea: Decapoda) of India - An annotated checklist of the Penaeoid, Sergestoid, Stenopodid and Caridean prawns

Twenty four species of Pandalid shrimps reported from the Indian waters, of which six genera (Chlorotocella, Chlorotocus, Chlorocurtis, Dorodotes, Heterocarpoides and Stylopandalus) are represented by single species each. The genera, Plesionika and Heterocarpus are represented by eleven and seven species respectively. Plesionika adensameri (Balss, 1914) a deep-sea shrimp hitherto unreported from Indian waters is recorded from west coast of India. Information on some biological aspects of few Pandalid shrimps from Indian waters is also reported in the present paper

Population dynamics of the geographically defined metapopulations of brown shrimp Metapenaeus monoceros (Fabricius, 1798) from Indian waters

Population dynamics of the brown shrimp Metapenaeus monoceros (Fabricius, 1798) was studied along the Indian coast using catch and effort data of trawlers from 8 States and 2 Union Territories for the period 2007-2015. Classical length-based stock assessment methods and spatial database of the shrimp catch were used to derive fishing ground related conclusions. Inclusion of spatial data revealed the possibility of existence of metapopulations of M. monoceros in the region. Maximum sustainable yield (MSY) cannot be a reasonable reference point for deciding the fishing pressure in M. monoceros. By analysing stock fluctuations noticed during the study period with varying spawning stock biomass combinations, retention of 40% spawning biomass seems to be a safe option for sustaining M. monoceros production from Indian waters. Based on this, the study recommends reduction of fishing pressure along north-west, south-west and northeast coast by 70, 60 and 70% respectively from the base level of effort in 2017. The study illustrates that the spatial data from fishing ground, can serve as an additional tool to derive management options. The study also emphasises the need for further investigations on the possibilities of metapopulations of M. monoceros which is widely distributed in all agro-climatic zones along the Indian coast

Appraisal of trawl fisheries of India with special reference on the changing trends in bycatch utilization

Trawl fisheries sector account more than 50% of the marine fisheries production of India. Annual average fish landing from trawlers was 17, 21, 000 t (2008-2011), which formed around 51 % of the marine fish landing of the coast. In this about 51% of the catch was contributed by the west coast and remaining by the east coast of India. Recent studies of the trawl fishery in India have shown that incidental catches/low value bycatch (LVB) landing and utilization has increased over the period of time. The present study is based on the data collected from major trawl landing centres along the coast of India during the period 2008-2011.The estimated landing of low value bycatch (LVB) in trawl fisheries, increased from 14 % in 2008 to 25 % in 2011, which is reflected as reduction in discard volume by trawlers. On an average the highest quantity of LVB landed was in Veraval (50,000 t) and in Mangalore, LVB landing increased from 3% in (3000 t) in 2008 to 26 % (12,000 t) in 2011.In Mumbai, the percentage of trash fish landed remained around 5% during the study period. In Calicut, the LVB landed in 2011 contributed 26% to the total landings by the trawl. In Kochi, Kerala the total LVB landed in 2011 was 1,992 t forming 7.2 % of the total landing. In Chennai, Tamilnadu, the LVB landing which was 13 % in 2008 increased to 17% in 2011, while in Visakhapatanam, Andhra Pradesh, LVB landing showed a steady increase from 2% in 2008 to 21% in 2011. The landing centre price for LVB showed an increasing trend due to increased demand for trash fish for the production of fish meal and fertilizer. The dominance of finfishes in LVB found to increase the value of LVB and the value realized for 30,000 t of LVB in Available online at: www.mbai.org.in doi: 10.6024/jmbai.2013.55.2.01765-11 Mangalore in 2011 ( Rs.280 million) was more than that realized for 50,000 t of LVB in Veraval (Rs.200 million). A disturbing trend observed from the studies in Mangalore was that, the sardines in trash fetches higher price in some seasons (upto Rs.16/kg) compared to a lower price when landed in fresh form, and the percentage of sardines in LVB is found to be very high (24% in 2010). This trend may cause a severe threat to the protein availability to the rural poor. Looking at the trend of trawl landing during 2008-2012, it is seen that even though the trawl landing showed an increase over the period of time, the edible portion of the trawl landing did not show any significant increase rather showing general declining trend. Study on the bycatch from different centres along the coast of India showed that as many as 237 species / groups of marine fauna with juveniles of commercially important fishes were landed as LVB. Increase in utilization of LVB (which was discarded earlier) from trawl fishery, a trend which is market driven and its implication on the ecosystem and marine fisheries production of the country is discussed in this paper

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Not AvailableAn analysis was carried out on monthly spatial distribution and unusual congregation of Indian squid (Uroteuthis (Photololigo) duvaucelii) off Maharashtra coast. Decadal, annual and monthly squid landing data were taken from National Marine Living Resources Data Centre (NMLRDC) of ICAR-CMFRI. Onboard fisheries information were collected from multi-day trawlers operating from Mumbai and Ratnagiri. Ocean environment parameters coming from Copernicus Marine Service Information with 1/12 degree horizontal resolution and 50 vertical depth level and OSCAR (Ocean Surface Current Analysis Real-time) near-surface ocean current estimates was derived using quasi-linear and steady flow momentum equations on a 1/3 degree grid with a 5 day resolution. In last decade, contribution of squid to total marine fish landing of Maharashtra rose from 2% to 7.3%. The decadal landing shows two peaks in 2012 and 2017. Indian squid landing in 2017 shows two peak, one during August to October confined to 150 N to 170 N latitude in 15 to 60 m depth off south Maharashtra and second in summer, during March-April months widely scattered in north and south Maharashtra. The unusual abundance of Indian squid during mid-October to mid- November 2017 were attributed to rise in coastal surface and subsurface temperature. Catch per hour of trawl and SST shows strong positive correlation (0.79) during the same periodNot Availabl

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Not AvailableFishes of family Muraenidae, popularly known as moray eels, are one of the most diverse groups among true eels. Gymnothorax is the most predominant genus in terms of diversity along Indian coastline (31 species including recent description and distributional records), but they rarely form the fishery of commercial importance. Gymnothorax dorsalis, species of elongated unpatterned moray eels characterized by eight to nine pre-dorsal vertebrae, three infraorbital pores and low dorsal and anal fin united with caudal fins is reported for the first time from the west coast of India. Gymnothorax reticularis, reticulated patterned eel with 18–19 vertical dark bars, five pre-dorsal vertebrae and 10–11 vomerine teeth is also reported for the first time from the northwest coast of India.Not Availabl

Novel miniature pressure and temperature optical fibre sensor based on an extrinsic Fabry-Perot Interferometer (EFPI) and Fibre Bragg Gratings (FBG) for the ocean environment

A novel miniature sensor is proposed for accurate measurement of pressure (depth) and temperature changes in the ocean environment. The sensor is based on an optical fibre extrinsic Fabry Perot interferometer (EFPI) combined with a Fibre Bragg Grating (FBG). The EFPI provides pressure measurements while the Fibre Bragg Grating (FBG) provides temperature measurements. The FGB is post-inscribed into the EFPI using a femtosecond laser. The sensor is mechanically robust, corrosion resistant and suitable for use underwater. The combined pressure and temperature sensor system was mounted on-board a mini remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) in order to monitor the pressure changes at varying depths and compare with the reference pressure-depth sensor. The reflected optical spectrum of the sensor was monitored online and a pressure change caused a corresponding observable shift in the optical spectrum. The sensor exhibited excellent stability when measured over a 2 hour period underwater and its performance is compared with a commercially available reference sensor also mounted on the ROV. The comparison illustrates that the EFPI/FBG sensor is more accurate (∼0.025m) with a resolution of ∼0.005m, when compared to the reference sensor.IEEE Sensors Council (SC