Not Available

Not AvailableGlobal warming due to increasing temperature and contamination in aquatic environment has been found to be inducing cellular metabolic stress in fish. The present study focused on temperature and contamination in aquatic ecosystems and its alleviation/mitigation. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the role of zinc to improve growth performance, cellular metabolic stress, and digestive enzymes of the Pangasianodon hypophthalmus reared under lead (Pb) and high temperature. Two hundred and seventythree fishes were distributed randomly into seven treatments, each with three replicates. Three isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets with graded levels of zinc at 0 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, and 20 mg/kg were prepared. The Pb in treated water was maintained at the level of 1/21th of LC50 (4 ppm) and maintained at a temperature of 34 °C in exposure groups. The growth performance in terms of weight gain (%), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and specific growth rate (SGR) was found to be inhibited, and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was enhanced in the Pb and high temperature–exposed group, whereas zinc supplementation has improved weight gain (%), FCR, PER, and SGR. The liver, gill, muscle, and kidney tissues of carbohydrate metabolic enzymes (LDH and MDH), protein metabolic enzymes (ALT and AST), and liver, gill, and muscle G6PDH and ATPase as well as intestinal digestives enzymes (proteases, amylase, and lipase) and intestinal ALP were significantly affected (p < 0.01) by Pb and high temperature exposure to P. hypophthalmus. We herein report the role of zinc in mitigating cellular metabolic stress in fish exposed to Pb and high temperature.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableIn India, there has been a rapid expansion of shrimp culture activity in recent years. However, this activity has been concentrated only in certain specific areas, p@icularly in the East CoastborderingAndhraPradesh and Tamilnadu. The concentration of activities in certain specific localities may put a severe strain on the resources available in the area as well as on the environment. Hence, the present studies were undertaken to investigate the changes in soil and water quality due to intensification of seawater and creek water-based shrimp farms in Andhra Pradesh and seawater based farms in Tamil Nadu. Soil and drinking\vater quality were also assessed in coastal areas surrounding shrimp farms. Suggestions have been made for soil and water quality management in shrimp farms.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableThe microbial communities of saline-alkaline soil from basaltic terrain in western Maharashtra, India were investigated using culture independent and culture dependent approaches. The bulk community DNA of saline-alkaline soil was isolated and 16S rRNA gene libraries were created. The sequence analysis of the 18 phylotypes from 109 metagenomic clones resulted in sequences from five major soil phyla namely Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria and Bacteriodetes. In our analysis we could retrieve 16S rRNA gene sequences, displaying 16S rRNA gene sequence homology as low as 83% to any known sequence in the NCBI-GenBank database. The phylogenetic analysis of the metagenomic clones showed the presence of entirely novel microbial lineages in basaltic salinealkaline soil not retrieved so far in any other study. In our culture dependent analysis of 236 cultured isolates, we could isolate microbes belonging to the 13 microbial genera. Our results suggest that the soil of basaltic region in western Maharashtra harbors novel microbial lineages and can have great biotechnological potential.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableEnvironmental impact of shrimp farming has become a major issue in many countries with the development of shrimp culture industries. The present study was taken up to assess the physical and chemical characteristics of water from two shrimp fam along the Kandalem creek area and three seawater based shrimp farms along the coastal area of Nellore District of Andhra Pradesh. The water samples were collected from intake, pond during culture period and outlet point at harvest time from coastal culture systems. An increase in the value of water quality parameters via seen from source to outlet point. The average values of different parameters in intake are 0.07ppmNH,-N, 0.03 ppm NO,-N and 14ppm COD in creehater based farm and 0.001 ppm NH,-N, 0.02 ppm NO2-N and 4.8ppm COD in seawater based fm. The values of above-mentioned parameters at outlet point are 0.266 pprn NH,-N, 0.2 ppm NO2-N and 68 ppm COD in creekwater based fann and 0.086 ppm NH,-N, 0.15 ppm NO,-N and 64 ppm COD in seawater based farm. All the observed water quality parameters are within the permissible range. The redox potential of soil at the outlet point showed more reduced condition during hm7est time in general. Organic carbon content in soil showed a progressive increase in seawater based farms (0.21,0.76 and 0.80% in intake, pond and outlet point, respectively) indicating an increase in organic load at the pond bottom. A similar trend was observed in creekwater based sluimp fm. Suggestions have hen made for proper water and soil management in shrimp farms for stress-free pond environment.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableThis paper evaluates the biosorption of toxic metal ions onto the bioadsorbents derived from mango (Mangifera indica) and guava (Psidium guiag) barks and their metal fixation mechanisms. Maximum metal biosorption capacities of the mango bioadsorbent were found in the following increasing order (mg/g): Hg (16.24) < Cu (22.24) < Cd (25.86) < Pb (60.85). Maximum metal biosorption capacities of guava bioadsorbent follow similar order (mg/g): Hg (21.48) < Cu (30.36) < Cd (32.54) < Pb (70.25), but with slightly higher adsorption capacities. The removal mechanisms of heavy metals using bioadsorbents have been ascertained by studying their surface properties and functional groups using various spectrometric, spectroscopic, and microscopic methods. Whewellite (C2CaO4·H2O) has been identified in bioadsorbents based on the characterization of their surface properties using X-ray techniques (XPS and XRD), facilitating the ion exchange of metal ions with Ca2+ bonded with carboxylate moieties. For both the bioadsorbents, the Pb2+, Cu2+, and Cd2+ are biosorbed completely by ion exchange with Ca2+ (89-94%) and Mg2+ (7-12%), whereas Hg2+ is biosorbed partially (57-66%) by ion exchange with Ca2+ (38-42%) and Mg2+ (19-24%) due to involvement of other cations in the ion exchange processes. Bioadsorbents contain lignin which act as electron donor and reduced Cr(VI) into Cr(III) (29.87 and 37.25 mg/g) in acidic medium. Anionic Cr(VI) was not adsorbed onto bioadsorbents at higher pH due to their electrostatic repulsion with negatively charged carboxylic functional groups.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableThe levels of ammonia and sulphide, when exceeded the critical limit became toxic to aquatic life in brackish water systems. An experiment was conducted in the laboratory to test the efficiency of commercially available materials viz. health stone, BN-10 and zeolite powder in removing ammonia and sulphide from brackish water. Health stone + BN-10 combination was significantly (P<=0.05) superior over other treatments in decreasing ammonia (71.6%), whereas, other treatments including Bioaugmentors were not effective when applied alone. Zeolite was not effective in brackishwater system for ammonia removal. Sulphide removal was 100% by 3rd day with zeolite alone and health stone + BN-10 combinationNot Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableSoil samples collected from various depths, at different sites of Gopalapuram farm area, Andhra Pradesh were analysed for their physico-chemical characteristics for the suitability of brackishwater aquaculture. The soils are poor in organic carbon (0.23 to 0.5 %). Average pH values ranged from 5.2 to 8.4. Low pH values are associated with higher values of iron and lower values of CaCO,. Textural class of soil varies from sandy loan1 to sandy clay loam. Sandsilt ratio values ranged from 4.0 to 10.3. Organic carbon, available nitrogen and phosphorus content of soil decreased with increasing depth of soil sampling. Iron content of soils was positively correlated with increasing depth and negatively correlated with pH and CaCO, content. Some important satistical correlations among soil characteristics were also worked out. The farm area was suitable lor brackishwater aquaculture with suitable management of moderate limitation properties of the soils.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableNitrogenous contaminants such as ammonia and nitrite have been found to appear frequently in the source water used for coastal aquaculture (Krishnani et al., 2002; Krishnani et al., 2003). Presence of excessive nitrogenous compounds in source water may cause eutrophication in the receiving water aquaculture ponds. Ammonia is the major end product of protein catabolism, which remains in the form of unionized ammonia (NH3) and ionized ammonia (NH4 +). The proportion of unionized and ionized ammonia varies with pH and temperature. Unionized ammonia is a critical water quality parameter and toxic to aquatic life, but the ammonium ion is harmless except in extremely high concentrations. The problem of keeping the undissociated ammonia concentration within non-harmful limits is reduced, in practice, to control over the total ammonia concentration. Nitrite is an intermediate product in bacterial nitrification and denitrification processes. Therefore, the reduction of the impact of total ammonia and nitrite on the receiving environment may be essentially obtained upstream by optimizing shrimp/fish farming management practices regarding feeding and water quality (Porrello et al., 2003).Not Availabl

Progression of chronic pulmonary tuberculosis in mice intravenously infected with ethambutol resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Purpose: Ethambutol (EMB) is an important first line drug, however little information on its molecular mechanism of resistance and pathogenicity of resistant isolates is available. Present work was designed to study virulence of the EMB resistant M. tuberculosis strains and the host responses in-vivo on infection of EMB resistant M. tuberculosis using Balb/c mouse model of infection. Methods: Three groups of Balb/c mice (female, age 4-6 wk; 21 mice in each group) were infected intravenously with 106 CFU of M. tuberculosis H37Rv and two EMB resistant clinical isolates. Age and sex matched control animals were mock inoculated with Middlebrook 7H9 broth alone. At 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 days post-infection three animals from each group were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and lung tissue was collected for further analysis. Results: Infection with EMB resistant M. tuberculosis led to progressive and chronic disease with significantly high bacillary load (p=0.02). Massive infiltration and exacerbated lung pathology with increased expression of IFN-γ and TNF-α was observed in lungs of mice infected with EMB resistant strains. The present study suggests that infection with EMB resistant M. tuberculosis leads to chronic infection with subsequent loss of lung function, bacterial persistence with elevated expression of TNF-α resulting in increased lung pathology. Conclusion: These findings highlight that EMB resistant M. tuberculosis regulates host immune response differentially and its pathogenicity is different from drug sensitive strains of M. tuberculosis

Not Available

Not AvailableA 60-day experimental trial was conducted to investigate the effect of different dosages of potassium supple- mentation on Spinacia oleracea L. and Pangasianodon hypophthalmus in an aquaponic system. The system con- sisted of 168 l rectangular fish tanks (0.78 × 0.54 × 0.40 m) with 100 l water volume stocked with P. hypophthalmus at 2.8 kg m-3 and Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) hydroponics with spinach at 28 plants m-2. Four dosages of potassium viz., 90, 120, 150, and 180 mg l-1 were assigned as T1, T2, T3, and T4 and compared with control C (0 mg l-1) to determine the most efficient potassium dosage for the aquaponic system. The physico- chemical parameters and nutrient dynamics were within the permissible range with no marked variation be- tween the control and treatments. The spinach was harvested twice. The first harvest before potassium sup- plementation showed no significant difference. In the second harvest, the potassium supplementation had a significant (P < 0.05) effect on the yield of spinach with the highest yield obtained in T4 (280.07 ± 2.26 g) followed by T3 (277.57 ± 3.02 g), T2 (265.07 ± 4.61 g), T1 (256.80 ± 4.79 g) and C (217.83 ± 4.20 g). The yield showed no significant difference in T4 and T3, and T2 and T1. The mean body weight of fish at harvest was insignificant (P > 0.05) and followed the order: C (33.23 ± 0.52 g)>T1 (33.07 ± 0.45 g)>T2 (32.94 ± 0.40 g)> T3 (32.23 ± 0.37 g)>T4 (32.15 ± 0.35 g). The plant analysis revealed that potassium supplementation triggered the nutrient synergism resulting in higher nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, iron, and sulfur content in T4 fol- lowed by T3, T2, T1, and C. The evaluation of the physiological response of P. hypophthalmus showed higher plasma glucose in T4. Considering the water quality parameters, fish growth, physiological response, spinach yield, and nutrient content, a dose of 150 mg l-1 K+ (T3) could be recommended as an optimum potassium dosage for P. hypophthalmus-Spinacia oleracea L. aquaponic system.Not Availabl