Determination of Anions and Metals Content in Effluent Water from Dairy and Meat Processing Industry in Sri Lanka

Industrial effluents are liquid wastes which are produced by the different industrial activities and represents a heavy source of environmental pollution. Compared to other industries, food industry requires great amounts of water. Excess Anions and metal content of wastewater from food processing industries have resulted contamination of soil, ground water and surface water. The main environmental problem of the food industry is that wastewater resulting from their activities is not meeting the limits of the environmental regulations for the discharge to the environment. The main objectives of this study are characterised wastewater from dairy and meat processing industries in Sri Lanka through analysis of physicochemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, metals and anions). Samples of wastewater were collected from five dairy and five meat processing companies at different days and 3 replicate measurements were taken from each samples. For all the analysis, APHA methods were followed. Ranges of pH, electrical conductivity, Metals (Pb, Fe, Zn, K, Ca) and Anions (Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, PO43- and Kjeldahl Nitrogen) of wastewater respectively were 5.3±0.1 to 7.7±0.1, 0.99±0.01 to 1.77±0.01 sm-1, 0.06±0.01 to 165.62±9.71 mg l-1 and 14.33±0.11 to 824.66±13.87 mg l-1 in dairy industry and 6.5±0.1 to 9.6±0.1, 0.43±0.01 to 2.44±0.02 sm-1, 0.09±0.01 to 153.44±7.29 mg l-1 and 0.98±0.01 to 252.00±0.01 mg l-1 in meat industry. Physicochemical properties of wastewater all mean values among dairy and meat processing industry were significantly different (p<0.05). Meat industry had higher amount than dairy industry if considering the pH, Conductivity, metals and anions. Further, the physical and chemical properties which analysed for this study had not any single linear relationship (p<0.05). Physical and chemical parameters of both dairy and meat processing industrial wastewater exceeded maximum tolerance limit that has laid from the Central Environmental authority (p<0.05). Finally can concluded as the presence limit anions and metal content of dairy and meat processing effluent in Sri Lanka can have hazardous effects on the environment. Therefore, before the discharge wastewater to the inland surface water pretreatment process is essential.Keywords: Anions, Dairy and Meat processing company, Metal, Physicochemical properties, Wastewate

Nutrient analysis of local pumpkin varieties (Cucurbita spp.) grown in dry zone of Sri Lanka and development of a value-added product

  Cucurbita spp. generally recognized as pumpkins in Sri Lanka, is a commonly grown vegetable in the dry and intermediate zones in the island. C. maxima and C. moschata are the highly popularized cucurbits and they include number of varieties including open pollinated varieties (OPVs), hybrid and imported varieties. The study was aimed to conduct a nutrient analysis of 7 pumpkin varieties collected from dry zone low country 1b (DL1b) agro-ecological region of Sri Lanka and development of a value-added product considering the nutrient composition of the varieties. The proximate, mineral composition and the antioxidant activity were evaluated using standard analytical methods and compared the varieties through one-way ANOVA. According to the study results in 100 g of pumpkin flesh powder, protein content was ranging from 28.33-28.86 g, carbohydrates from 49.68-51.93 g, fat content from 1.04-6.13 g, crude fibre from 2.19-10.94 g, Fe content from 4.11-7.76 mg, K content from 5055.49-8841.43 mg, Mg content from 96.0-337.02 mg and antioxidant activity from 145.10-147.10 mg AAE (Ascorbic acid equivalent) in the analysed pumpkin varieties in dry weight (DW) basis at 95 % confidence interval. As per results, the three varieties of C. maxima have expressed significantly higher values (p<0.05) during the nutrient analysis compared to the moschata varieties. For the development of the instant powdered drink as the value-added product, ‘Rajah’ which is a C. maxima variety was used considering its nutrient richness over the other tested varieties and due to its significantly higher (p<0.05) dispersibility (8.42 gcm-3), solubility (0.58 g), loose bulk density (0.43 gcm-3) and low wettability (8.27 s). Considering the overall acceptability rated as 3.80 out of 5 from the sensory evaluation, the instant drink made by supplementing cinnamon extract and stevia in 1:1 was finalized as the value-added product. The knowledge on the compositional and physical property variation among different varieties of pumpkin and the value addition information of pumpkin would be useful in future value additions which emphasize products’ nutritional and nutraceutical parameters. Key words: Cucurbita spp., Dry zone low country, Sri Lanka, Nutrient analysis, Value additio

Sensory quality and physicochemical evaluation of two brine pickled cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) varieties

Ajax and Vlasset gherkin (Cucumis sativus L.) varieties used in brine pickling were analyzed for its sensory attributes and physicochemical changes within 6 month of brine fermentation. Sensory characteristics (colour, texture, odour and overall acceptability) of brine fermented fruits were determined using five point hedonic scale. Uronic acid content (UA) and moisture variation were determined within 6 months. Ca and Na ion absorption was done for the fruits within fermentation and after de-brining. The results revealed that sensory perception of texture attribute among cultivars have apparent impact after brining. In view of all sensory parameters of varieties, 1st and 6th month Vlasset were obtained the highest sensory quality while the least preferred were obtained within 1st, 3rd and 6th month of Ajax. A positive correlation (0.829) between Calcium and Sodium ion absorption were noted irrespective to the variety. The data obtained from the de-bring process showed lower retention of both Calcium and Sodium ion in Ajax than Vlasset which may lead to lower sensory quality. Calcium ion level of Ajax and Vlasset varieties have declined from 54% and 16.47% respectively while Sodium level of Ajax and Vlasset have declined from 84.13% and 55.547% respectively compared to before de-brining process. Irrespective to the variety UA was continuously decreased up to 3 months while it increased in both varieties up to 6month. Vlasset was noted to have higher UA content than Ajax before and after the fermentation period. Moreover a positive correlation was observed (0.858) between moisture and UA content

Production and quality evaluation of herbal tea mixtures from Phyllanthus Debilis, Osbeckia octandra, and Artrocarpus heterophyllus leaves

Abstract. Introduction: This study investigated the acceptability and quality of herbal tea mixtures prepared using Phyllanthus debilis, Osbeckia octandra, and Artrocarpus heterophyllus leaves powders in different proportions. Preference for different sensory attributes of tea samples was evaluated using thirty untrained panelists. Proximate composition, tea quality parameters, and microbial counts of tea samples were evaluated as per AOAC and ISO standard methods. The amount of major and trace minerals was evaluated using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results revealed that dark-colored samples were much preferred by the consumers. A significant positive correlation (r=0.920) showed among redness (a*) of teas and color preference. Yet, the overall preference was reduced in more bitter and astringent samples. Overall acceptability scores highest for A. heterophyllus tea (M9), yet the color preference was highest in P. debilis tea (M8) and mix of P. debilis and O. octandra (M4). The tea samples were rich in nutrients, yet crude fiber and moisture contents exceed the required maximum limits. Heavy metal concentrations and microbial counts lay within the standard limits. This study showed mixing herbs can enhance the acceptability and quality of herbal infusions. With such optimizations, these novel tea mixtures can thrive commercially in the tea market.   Keywords: Herbal tea, Quality parameters, Sensory attribute

UtMization of oil palm waste as a low cost feed ingredient for growing pigs to reduce the environmental pollution

Oil palm is the one of the most popular oil crop in many regions of the world and it plays an importantrole as a component of animal feed and as a cooking material in an industrial sector. However, everyton of oil produced generates tons of effluent and this cannot be released to the environment directlyas it causes environmental pollution due to its high biological and chemical oxygen demand. Therefore,an experiment was conducted to investigate the potential use of oil palm decanter cake as an ingredientto prepare a low cost ration for 36 cross bred pigs (Land race* Large white) using complete randomizedstatistical design. Four different ration such as 1: 1 poultry offal and decanter cake (TI), 3: I poultryoffal and decanter cake (T2), commercial ration (T3) and mixed feed (poultry offal, decanter cake,rice bran and beer pulp; T4) were fed to pigs during growing stage. Growth performances; dailyintake (01), daily weight gain CDWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were determined during theexperiment and carcass quality parameters; carcass depth, carcass length, back fat thickness (8FT)and dressing percentage were measured at the end of the experiment.Results demonstrated that the daily intake was highest (4.2 ±0.15 kg/day) in pigs fed with T4 rationcompared to the other rations due to nutrient imbalance with deficient residue composition. Althoughcommercial ration shown that lowest intake and FCR (l.99 kg/day and 3.57 ± 0.27) together withhighest weight gain (562.5 ± 44 g/day) mainly due to proper nutrient balance. Live weight, carcassweight and carcass depth of the pigs fed with TI, T2, and T3 rations were significantly different (P <0.05) than T4 which have the lowest value (81 ± 5.17 kg, 62.33 ± 4.64 kg and 33.33 ± 0.67 ern).However, carcass length of the animals was not significantly different (P < 0.05) between fourtreatmentbecause the length mainly depends on genetic factors. Pigs fed with commercial rationshown that highest back fat thickness of 4.47 ± 0.39 ern. Since, there is no significant difference (P <0.05) of the 8FT among the treatments.The results suggest that, in spite of the DWG and high FCR observed with TI and T2, the carcasscharacteristics are not different as compared with pigs fed with commercial ration. Therefore, theresults of this study conformed that decanter cake could be used as a substitute in pig rations toreduce the cost and also to utilize by product of oil palm effluent to minimize environmental pollution.

Subcompartmentalisation of Proteins in the Rhoptries Correlates with Ordered Events of Erythrocyte Invasion by the Blood Stage Malaria Parasite

Host cell infection by apicomplexan parasites plays an essential role in lifecycle progression for these obligate intracellular pathogens. For most species, including the etiological agents of malaria and toxoplasmosis, infection requires active host-cell invasion dependent on formation of a tight junction - the organising interface between parasite and host cell during entry. Formation of this structure is not, however, shared across all Apicomplexa or indeed all parasite lifecycle stages. Here, using an in silico integrative genomic search and endogenous gene-tagging strategy, we sought to characterise proteins that function specifically during junction-dependent invasion, a class of proteins we term invasins to distinguish them from adhesins that function in species specific host-cell recognition. High-definition imaging of tagged Plasmodium falciparum invasins localised proteins to multiple cellular compartments of the blood stage merozoite. This includes several that localise to distinct subcompartments within the rhoptries. While originating from the same organelle, however, each has very different dynamics during invasion. Apical Sushi Protein and Rhoptry Neck protein 2 release early, following the junction, whilst a novel rhoptry protein PFF0645c releases only after invasion is complete. This supports the idea that organisation of proteins within a secretory organelle determines the order and destination of protein secretion and provides a localisation-based classification strategy for predicting invasin function during apicomplexan parasite invasion. © 2012 Zuccala et al

Super-Resolution Dissection of Coordinated Events during Malaria Parasite Invasion of the Human Erythrocyte

Erythrocyte invasion by the merozoite is an obligatory stage in Plasmodium parasite infection and essential to malaria disease progression. Attempts to study this process have been hindered by the poor invasion synchrony of merozoites from the only in vitro culture-adapted human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Using fluorescence, three-dimensional structured illumination, and immunoelectron microscopy of filtered merozoites, we analyze cellular and molecular events underlying each discrete step of invasion. Monitoring the dynamics of these events revealed that commitment to the process is mediated through merozoite attachment to the erythrocyte, triggering all subsequent invasion events, which then proceed without obvious checkpoints. Instead, coordination of the invasion process involves formation of the merozoite-erythrocyte tight junction, which acts as a nexus for rhoptry secretion, surface-protein shedding, and actomyosin motor activation. The ability to break down each molecular step allows us to propose a comprehensive model for the molecular basis of parasite invasion. © 2011 Elsevier Inc

Pan-active imidazolopiperazine antimalarials target the Plasmodium falciparum intracellular secretory pathway.

A promising new compound class for treating human malaria is the imidazolopiperazines (IZP) class. IZP compounds KAF156 (Ganaplacide) and GNF179 are effective against Plasmodium symptomatic asexual blood-stage infections, and are able to prevent transmission and block infection in animal models. But despite the identification of resistance mechanisms in P. falciparum, the mode of action of IZPs remains unknown. To investigate, we here combine in vitro evolution and genome analysis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae with molecular, metabolomic, and chemogenomic methods in P. falciparum. Our findings reveal that IZP-resistant S. cerevisiae clones carry mutations in genes involved in Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)-based lipid homeostasis and autophagy. In Plasmodium, IZPs inhibit protein trafficking, block the establishment of new permeation pathways, and cause ER expansion. Our data highlight a mechanism for blocking parasite development that is distinct from those of standard compounds used to treat malaria, and demonstrate the potential of IZPs for studying ER-dependent protein processing

Inhibition of Plasmepsin V activity demonstrates its essential role in protein export, PfEMP1 display, and survival of malaria parasites

The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum exports several hundred proteins into the infected erythrocyte that are involved in cellular remodeling and severe virulence. The export mechanism involves the Plasmodium export element (PEXEL), which is a cleavage site for the parasite protease, Plasmepsin V (PMV). The PMV gene is refractory to deletion, suggesting it is essential, but definitive proof is lacking. Here, we generated a PEXEL-mimetic inhibitor that potently blocks the activity of PMV isolated from P. falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. Assessment of PMV activity in P. falciparum revealed PEXEL cleavage occurs cotranslationaly, similar to signal peptidase. Treatment of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes with the inhibitor caused dose-dependent inhibition of PEXEL processing as well as protein export, including impaired display of the major virulence adhesin, PfEMP1, on the erythrocyte surface, and cytoadherence. The inhibitor killed parasites at the trophozoite stage and knockdown of PMV enhanced sensitivity to the inhibitor, while overexpression of PMV increased resistance. This provides the first direct evidence that PMV activity is essential for protein export in Plasmodium spp. and for parasite survival in human erythrocytes and validates PMV as an antimalarial drug target

Spatial Localisation of Actin Filaments across Developmental Stages of the Malaria Parasite

Actin dynamics have been implicated in a variety of developmental processes during the malaria parasite lifecycle. Parasite motility, in particular, is thought to critically depend on an actomyosin motor located in the outer pellicle of the parasite cell. Efforts to understand the diverse roles actin plays have, however, been hampered by an inability to detect microfilaments under native conditions. To visualise the spatial dynamics of actin we generated a parasite-specific actin antibody that shows preferential recognition of filamentous actin and applied this tool to different lifecycle stages (merozoites, sporozoites and ookinetes) of the human and mouse malaria parasite species Plasmodium falciparum and P. berghei along with tachyzoites from the related apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Actin filament distribution was found associated with three core compartments: the nuclear periphery, pellicular membranes of motile or invasive parasite forms and in a ring-like distribution at the tight junction during merozoite invasion of erythrocytes in both human and mouse malaria parasites. Localisation at the nuclear periphery is consistent with an emerging role of actin in facilitating parasite gene regulation. During invasion, we show that the actin ring at the parasite-host cell tight junction is dependent on dynamic filament turnover. Super-resolution imaging places this ring posterior to, and not concentric with, the junction marker rhoptry neck protein 4. This implies motor force relies on the engagement of dynamic microfilaments at zones of traction, though not necessarily directly through receptor-ligand interactions at sites of adhesion during invasion. Combined, these observations extend current understanding of the diverse roles actin plays in malaria parasite development and apicomplexan cell motility, in particular refining understanding on the linkage of the internal parasite gliding motor with the extra-cellular milieu