Bopyrid isopods parasitizing on the cultured fresh water prawn, macrobrachium malcolmsonii in South India

The bopyrid isopods are common in wild Macrobrachium spp. but not common in aquaculture condition. This is the first study that reports the parasitizing of bopyrid isopods on the cultured M. malcolmsonii. Bopyrid isopod (Probopyrus buitendijki) was identified in the branchial cavities of the freshwater prawn, M.malcolmsonii fromgrow-out culture pond at Kuriyamangalam, India. Macrobrachium malcolmsonii is a new host for P. buitendijki. A total of 1323 M. malcolmsonii were checked for this study. The overall prevalence of the parasitic infestation was reached 46.2 %. The parasitic infection was higher in female (83 %) than in male (3.4 %). Highest prevalence of infestation was found in the median size group (7–8 cm) (58.7 %). Infected females were not berried unlike uninfected prawns. The parasites cause infertility and does not found any organ deformities due to the infestation. The parasite was inversely attached in the gill chamber with no lesion on the gill but the infected branchial chamber became bulged

Assessment Methods of Cognitive Ability of Human Brains for Inborn Intelligence Potential Using Pattern Recognitions

This research aims to examine the scientific study related to fingerprint patterns and brains lobes. Generally, this method is used to find and develop the inborn potential and personality especially of children. Every person is having inborn potential and personality, which will help us to analyze strength and weakness. The present work is based only on the analysis and used as a reference for scientific research in the field of Galtian and statistical study conducted based on the fingerprint processing. Human brain is divided into two parts, left hemispheres and right hemispheres. Fingers of right hand represent the functions of left brain and fingers of left hand represent the functions of right brain. Human brain is divided into 10 lobes and each lobe is related with each finger. Each lobe represents different intelligences. A detailed analysis of the fingerprint would help the researchers to find the inborn talents. It will provide them the most appropriate learning habits from young age and improve learning ability effectively. The vital factor of an individual’s intelligence is determined by neural network connection of brain cells. Cognitive science is the scientific study that will help you to know about yourself

Identification and validation of genes involved in gastric tumorigenesis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Gastric cancer is one of the common cancers seen in south India. Unfortunately more than 90% are advanced by the time they report to a tertiary centre in the country. There is an urgent need to characterize these cancers and try to identify potential biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets.</p> <p>Materials and methods</p> <p>We used 24 gastric cancers, 20 Paired normal (PN) and 5 apparently normal gastric tissues obtained from patients with non-gastric cancers (Apparently normal - AN) for the microarray study followed by validation of the significant genes (n = 63) by relative quantitation using Taqman Low Density Array Real Time PCR. We then used a custom made Quantibody protein array to validate the expression of 15 proteins in gastric tissues (4 AN, 9 PN and 9 gastric cancers). The same array format was used to study the plasma levels of these proteins in 58 patients with gastric cancers and 18 from patients with normal/non-malignant gastric conditions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Seventeen genes (ASPN, CCL15/MIP-1δ, MMP3, SPON2, PRSS2, CCL3, TMEPAI/PMEPAI, SIX3, MFNG, SOSTDC1, SGNE1, SST, IGHA1, AKR1B10, FCGBP, ATP4B, NCAPH2) were shown to be differentially expressed between the tumours and the paired normal, for the first time. EpCAM (p = 0.0001), IL8 (p = 0.0003), CCL4/MIP-1β (p = 0.0026), CCL20/MIP-3α (p = 0.039) and TIMP1 (p = 0.0017) tissue protein levels were significantly different (Mann Whitney U test) between tumours versus AN & PN. In addition, median plasma levels of IL8, CXCL9/MIG, CCL3/MIP-1α, CCL20/MIP-3α, PDGFR-B and TIMP1 proteins were significantly different between the non-malignant group and the gastric cancer group. The post-surgical levels of EpCAM, IGFBP3, IL8, CXCL10/IP10, CXCL9/MIG, CCL3/MIP-1α, CCL20/MIP-3α, SPP1/OPN and PDGFR-B showed a uniform drop in all the samples studied.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our study has identified several genes differentially expressed in gastric cancers, some for the first time. Some of these have been confirmed at the protein level, as well. Some of these proteins will need to be evaluated further for their potential as diagnostic biomarkers in gastric cancers and some could be useful as follow-up markers in gastric cancer.</p

LRRK2 and RIPK2 variants in the NOD 2-mediated signaling pathway are associated with susceptibility to Mycobacterium leprae in Indian populations

In recent years, genome wide association studies have discovered a large number of gene loci that play a functional role in innate and adaptive immune pathways associated with leprosy susceptibility. The immunological control of intracellular bacteria M. leprae is modulated by NOD2-mediated signaling of Th1 responses. In this study, we investigated 211 clinically classified leprosy patients and 230 ethnically matched controls in Indian population by genotyping four variants in NOD2 (rs9302752A/G), LRRK2 (rs1873613A/G), RIPK2 (rs40457A/G and rs42490G/A). The LRRK2 locus is associated with leprosy outcome. The LRRK2 rs1873613A minor allele and respective rs1873613AA genotypes were significantly associated with an increased risk whereas the LRRK2 rs1873613G major allele and rs1873613GG genotypes confer protection in paucibacillary and leprosy patients. The reconstructed GA haplotypes from RIPK2 rs40457A/G and rs42490G/A variants was observed to contribute towards increased risk whereas haplotypes AA was observed to confer protective role. Our results indicate that a possible shared mechanisms underlying the development of these two clinical forms of the disease as hypothesized. Our findings confirm and validates the role of gene variants involved in NOD2-mediated signalling pathways that play a role in immunological control of intracellular bacteria M. leprae

Dissecting the influence of Neolithic demic diffusion on Indian Y-chromosome pool through J2-M172 haplogroup

The global distribution of J2-M172 sub-haplogroups has been associated with Neolithic demic diffusion. Two branches of J2-M172, J2a-M410 and J2b-M102 make a considerable part of Y chromosome gene pool of the Indian subcontinent. We investigated the Neolithic contribution of demic dispersal from West to Indian paternal lineages, which majorly consists of haplogroups of Late Pleistocene ancestry. To accomplish this, we have analysed 3023 Y-chromosomes from different ethnic populations, of which 355 belonged to J2-M172. Comparison of our data with worldwide data, including Y-STRs of 1157 individuals and haplogroup frequencies of 6966 individuals, suggested a complex scenario that cannot be explained by a single wave of agricultural expansion from Near East to South Asia. Contrary to the widely accepted elite dominance model, we found a substantial presence of J2a-M410 and J2b-M102 haplogroups in both caste and tribal populations of India. Unlike demic spread in Eurasia, our results advocate a unique, complex and ancient arrival of J2a-M410 and J2b-M102 haplogroups into Indian subcontinent

Does selection index application for highly heritable traits need revisiting – A comprehensive study with bodyweight and shank length in Vanaraja male line chicken

Selection index (SI) is one of the best methods for estimating the breeding value of an animal combining all sources of information on the animal and its relatives. In the present study, the SI was constructed utilizing the five generations data of Vanaraja male line (PD-1) for body weight (BW-6) and shank length (SL-6) at 6 weeks of age with variance, covariance estimates and heritability of both the traits. The SI was employed on three generations data on simulation basis and the selection parameters were estimated and compared with the mass selection (MS) actually practiced in the population. The least squares mean of SL-6, the primary trait of selection increased from 76.63±0.002 (G-I) to 82.85 ±0.002 mm (G-II), and subsequently reduced to 80.17±001 mm (G-III). The BW-6 also followed similar trend. Generation had significant effect on both SL-6 and BW-6. The heritability estimates for SL-6 and BW-6 were moderate with 0.21 to 0.28 for SL-6 and 0.22 to 0.27 for BW-6. The two traits exhibited high degree of positive association with 0.87 to 0.92 correlation coefficient. The economic value estimated for weight and shank length was 1:8.95. Thus, the selection index constructed was I= 0.2260*BW6, g + 0.7717*SL6, mm. Selection differential was higher in SI method on pooled basis compared to MS in all three generations for the primary trait, SL-6. The response to selection and selection intensity was also higher in SI method compared to MS. A similar trend was observed for BW-6 with respect to selection differential and response to selection. The study concluded that SI was superior to mass selection based on the results in Vanaraja male line chicken

Strong impact of TGF-&#946;1 gene polymorphisms on breast cancer risk in Indian women: a case-control and population-based study

Introduction: TGF-&#946;1 is a multi-functional cytokine that plays an important role in breast carcinogenesis. Critical role of TGF-&#946;1 signaling in breast cancer progression is well documented. Some TGF-&#946;1 polymorphisms influence its expression; however, their impact on breast cancer risk is not clear. Methods: We analyzed 1222 samples in a candidate gene-based genetic association study on two distantly located and ethnically divergent case-control groups of Indian women, followed by a population-based genetic epidemiology study analyzing these polymorphisms in other Indian populations. The c.29C&#62;T (Pro10Leu, rs1982073 or rs1800470) and c.74G&#62;C (Arg25Pro, rs1800471) polymorphisms in the TGF-&#946;1 gene were analyzed using direct DNA sequencing, and peripheral level of TGF-&#946;1 were measured by ELISA. Results: c.29C&#62;T substitution increased breast cancer risk, irrespective of ethnicity and menopausal status. On the other hand, c.74G&#62;C substitution reduced breast cancer risk significantly in the north Indian group (p  =  0.0005) and only in the pre-menopausal women. The protective effect of c.74G&#62;C polymorphism may be ethnicity-specific, as no association was seen in south Indian group. The polymorphic status of c.29C&#62;T was comparable among Indo-Europeans, Dravidians and Tibeto-Burmans. Interestingly, we found that Tibeto-Burmans lack polymorphism at c.74G&#62;C locus as true for the Chinese populations. However, the Brahmins of Nepal (Indo-Europeans) showed polymorphism in 2.08% of alleles. Mean TGF-&#946;1 was significantly elevated in patients in comparison to controls (p&#60;0.001). Conclusion: c.29C&#62;T and c.74G&#62;C polymorphisms in the TGF-&#946;1 gene significantly affect breast cancer risk, which correlates with elevated TGF-&#946;1 level in the patients. The c.29C&#62;T locus is polymorphic across ethnically different populations, but c.74G&#62;C locus is monomorphic in Tibeto-Burmans and polymorphic in other Indian populations

Specific inhibition of p25/Cdk5 activity by the Cdk5 inhibitory peptide reduces neurodegeneration in vivo

The aberrant hyperactivation of Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5), by the production of its truncated activator p25, results in the formation of hyperphosphorylated tau, neuroinflammation, amyloid deposition, and neuronal death in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, this occurs as a result of a neurotoxic insult that invokes the intracellular elevation of calcium to activate calpain, which cleaves the Cdk5 activator p35 into p25. It has been shown previously that the p25 transgenic mouse as a model to investigate the mechanistic implications of p25 production in the brain, which recapitulates deregulated Cdk5-mediated neuropathological changes, such as hyperphosphorylated tau and neuronal death. To date, strategies to inhibit Cdk5 activity have not been successful in targeting selectively aberrant activity without affecting normal Cdk5 activity. Here we show that the selective inhibition of p25/Cdk5 hyperactivation in vivo, through overexpression of the Cdk5 inhibitory peptide (CIP), rescues against the neurodegenerative pathologies caused by p25/Cdk5 hyperactivation without affecting normal neurodevelopment afforded by normal p35/Cdk5 activity. Tau and amyloid pathologies as well as neuroinflammation are significantly reduced in the CIP-p25 tetra transgenic mice, whereas brain atrophy and subsequent cognitive decline are reversed in these mice. The findings reported here represent an important breakthrough in elucidating approaches to selectively inhibit the p25/Cdk5 hyperactivation as a potential therapeutic target to reduce neurodegeneration