Nutritional composition of small indigenous species of fishes of Northeast India: A systematic review

Northeast India has various water bodies including the tributaries of the Brahmaputra and Barak river systems, wetlands, lakesand beels. These water bodies support the diversity of many fish species. Seasonal changes in the number of fish species inthe SIS category were also observed and they are most abundant during the winter and least abundant during the monsoonseason. Many researchers collected fish data from Assam's rivers and wetlands, particularly small indigenous species (SIS).Small Indigenous Species (SIS) of fish are a vital and conveniently accessible source of rare protein, vitamins, and minerals intraditional diets. The present study aimed to review Assam's small indigenous fish species and their nutritional worth. Thesources of the review article were Google Scholar, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and PubMed for SIS nutrition composition,fish nutritional profile, and fish proximate composition. Northeast India’s rural inhabitants get their sustenance from fish SIS. TheSIS of Northeast India fish species contain proteins, lipids, vitamins, minerals, and vital macro- and micronutrients. The proteincontent of SIS range from 12.49% to 18.30% (12.49–18.30g/100 g), lipid content from 0.7% to 19.63% (0.7–19.63g/100 g),moisture content from 65.88% to 82.8% (65.88–82.8g/100 g), and ash level from 2% to 6.8% (2–6.8g/100 g). This review suggests SIS has adequate nutritional benefits because it is an excellent source of proteins, lipids, vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids necessary for optimal health. Northeast India’s impoverished region might achieve their nutritional demands by eating more SIS of fish

Host Antimicrobial Peptides: the promise of new treatment strategies against Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a devastating infectious disease and remerges as a global health emergency due to an alarming rise of antimicrobial resistance to its treatment. Despite of the serious effort that has been applied to develop effective antitubercular chemotherapies, the potential of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) remains underexploited. A large amount of literature is now accessible on the AMP mechanisms of action against a diversity of pathogens; nevertheless, research on their activity on mycobacteria is still scarce. In particular, there is an urgent need to integrate all available interdisciplinary strategies to eradicate extensively drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. In this context, we should not underestimate our endogenous antimicrobial proteins and peptides as ancient players of the human host defense system. We are confident that novel antibiotics based on human AMPs displaying a rapid and multifaceted mechanism, with reduced toxicity, should significantly contribute to reverse the tide of antimycobacterial drug resistance. In this review, we have provided an up to date perspective of the current research on AMPs to be applied in the fight against TB. A better understanding on the mechanisms of action of human endogenous peptides should ensure the basis for the best guided design of novel antitubercular chemotherapeutics

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

The Silk Industry Of Assam Its Origin, Growth And Importance In The Economy Of Assam

<p>Silk has been recogniged as a textile fibre. Sericulture, on which the silk industry survives, is an agroindustry,<br>the end product of which is silk. It provides jobs and generates income in the rural areas. Assam is the only<br>place where muga silk is produced and is well known for silk textiles both mulberry,muga and endi textiles. The silk<br>weavers possess the very highest skill in their craft and it is probable that under competent and energetic direction<br>with the assistance of capital, the industry could be revived and extended.</p> <p> </p

Post-COVID pulmonary fungal infections: An unanticipated predicament or a ticking time bomb? Clinico-microbiological profile of cases encountered during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic at a teaching hospital in the Himalayas with a brief literature review

Introduction: This study attempts to generate preliminary data regarding post-COVID pulmonary fungal infections, namely, COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA), COVID-19-associated pulmonary mucormycosis (CAPM), and mixed infections from the Himalayas and compares the micro-radio-clinical profile and outcomes of the affected patients. Materials and Methods: A retrospective data analysis was conducted, where clinical profiles, microbiological and radiological reports, and outcomes of n = 16 patients of post-COVID pulmonary infections were compared. Results: Of n = 16 patients, n = 7 had CAPA (n = 5 Aspergillus fumigatus, n = 1 Aspergillus flavus, and n = 1 Aspergillus niger), n = 5 CAPM (Rhizopus arrhizus), and n = 4 with mixed infections (n = 3 infected with Aspergillus fumigatus and Rhizopus spp. and n = 1 with Aspergillus flavus and Rhizopus arrhizus). Thick-walled cavitary lesions, air–fluid levels, and multiple centrilobular nodules were some of the common radiological findings reported among these patients. Conclusion: The immuno-compromised state following COVID-19 infection and treatment might be responsible for the progression of regular exposure to the dense Himalayan vegetation into an invasive pulmonary fungal infection. Suspecting post-COVID pulmonary fungal infection is necessary for primary care physicians to ensure timely referral to higher centers. Mixed pulmonary fungal infections (coinfection with Aspergillus spp. and Rhizopus spp.) are also emerging as important sequelae of COVID-19