Growth performance of the seabass Lates calcarifer (Blotch) in sea cage at Vizhinjam Bay along the south-west coast of India

The growth potential of the Asian seabass, Lates calcarifer in floating sea cage was assessed by rearing them in a large HDPE floating cage moored at Vizhinjam Bay, south-west coast of India. Seabass seed (mean weight and mean total length, 2.5 g and 53 mm respectively) were nursery reared in hapas in December 2008, fed on pellet feed and grown to an average size of 28 g and 135 mm in 60 days, with a survival rate of 60%. Subsequently, the juveniles were stocked into the cages at a stocking rate of 60 nos. m-3 in February 2009, fed on trash fish and reared for a period of 112 days during which they grew to an average size of 540 g and 328 mm. Weight gain per day increased from 0.2 g in December 2008 to 7.71 g in May 2009, while SGR decreased from 5.88 to 2.47. The hydrological parameters viz., temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen and microbial load recorded were at optimal levels for the normal growth of seabass. The results obtained indicated that cage culture of seabass in the sea can provide significant advantages in terms of faster growth and effective utilisation of water volume

Isolation and In Silico Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Papain-Like Protease Potentialities of Two Rare 2-Phenoxychromone Derivatives from Artemisia spp.

Two rare 2-phenoxychromone derivatives, 6-demethoxy-4`-O-capillarsine (1) and tenuflorin C (2), were isolated from the areal parts of Artemisia commutata and A. glauca, respectively, for the first time. Being rare in nature, the inhibition potentialities of 1 and 2 against SARS-CoV-2 was investigated using multistage in silico techniques. At first, molecular similarity and fingerprint studies were conducted for 1 and 2 against co-crystallized ligands of eight different COVID-19 enzymes. The carried-out studies indicated the similarity of 1 and 2 with TTT, the co-crystallized ligand of COVID-19 Papain-Like Protease (PLP), (PDB ID: 3E9S). Therefore, molecular docking studies of 1 and 2 against the PLP were carried out and revealed correct binding inside the active site exhibiting binding energies of −18.86 and −18.37 Kcal/mol, respectively. Further, in silico ADMET in addition to toxicity evaluation of 1 and 2 against seven models indicated the general safety and the likeness of 1 and 2 to be drugs. Lastly, to authenticate the binding and to investigate the thermodynamic characters, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies were conducted on 1 and PLP.Peer Reviewe

Jusanin, a New Flavonoid from Artemisia commutata with an In Silico Inhibitory Potential against the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease

A new flavonoid, Jusanin, (1) has been isolated from the aerial parts of Artemisia commutata. The chemical structure of Jusanin has been elucidated using 1D, 2D NMR, and HR-Ms spectroscopic methods to be 5,2′,4′-trihydroxy-6,7,5′-trimethoxyflavone. Being new in nature, the inhibition potential of 1 has been estimated against SARS-CoV-2 using different in silico techniques. Firstly, molecular similarity and fingerprint studies have been conducted for Jusanin against co-crystallized ligands of eight different SARS-CoV-2 essential proteins. The studies indicated the similarity between 1 and X77, the co-crystallized ligand SARS-CoV-2 main protease (PDB ID: 6W63). To confirm the obtained results, a DFT study was carried out and indicated the similarity of (total energy, HOMO, LUMO, gap energy, and dipole moment) between 1 and X77. Accordingly, molecular docking studies of 1 against the target enzyme have been achieved and showed that 1 bonded correctly in the protein’s active site with a binding energy of −19.54 Kcal/mol. Additionally, in silico ADMET in addition to the toxicity evaluation of Jusanin against seven models have been preceded and indicated the general safety and the likeness of Jusanin to be a drug. Finally, molecular dynamics simulation studies were applied to investigate the dynamic behavior of the Mpro-Jusanin complex and confirmed the correct binding at 100 ns. In addition to 1, three other metabolites have been isolated and identified to be сapillartemisin A (2), methyl-3-[S-hydroxyprenyl]-cumarate (3), and β-sitosterol (4).Peer Reviewe

Unusual landings of shrimps, trichiurids, ballistids and ornamental fishes along Vizhinjam coast

Heavy landings of shrimps and fin fishes were recorded from Vizhinjam, Trivandrum during 22nd to 24th June with peak landings on 24th June 2007. A mud bank like phenomenon was observed in the area. Water was very turbid and wave action was considerably reduced in the near shore waters

Phenoloxidase activity acts as a mosquito innate immune response against infection with semliki forest virus

Several components of the mosquito immune system including the RNA interference (RNAi), JAK/STAT, Toll and IMD pathways have previously been implicated in controlling arbovirus infections. In contrast, the role of the phenoloxidase (PO) cascade in mosquito antiviral immunity is unknown. Here we show that conditioned medium from the Aedes albopictus-derived U4.4 cell line contains a functional PO cascade, which is activated by the bacterium Escherichia coli and the arbovirus Semliki Forest virus (SFV) (Togaviridae; Alphavirus). Production of recombinant SFV expressing the PO cascade inhibitor Egf1.0 blocked PO activity in U4.4 cell- conditioned medium, which resulted in enhanced spread of SFV. Infection of adult female Aedes aegypti by feeding mosquitoes a bloodmeal containing Egf1.0-expressing SFV increased virus replication and mosquito mortality. Collectively, these results suggest the PO cascade of mosquitoes plays an important role in immune defence against arboviruses

Biodegradation of the pyrethroid pesticide cyfluthrin by the halophilic bacterium Photobacterium ganghwense isolated from coral reef ecosystem

A halophilic bacterial strain T14 isolated from the mucus of coral Acropora formosa was found to be highly effective in degrading the pyrethroid pesticide, cyfluthrin. T14 was identified as Photobacterium ganghwense (GenBank Accession No. MT360254) based on phenotypic and biochemical characteristics as well as by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The pyrethroid degrading efficiency of P. ganghwense T14 strain was examined under different culture conditions. It was observed that P. ganghwense T14 was able to utilise cyfluthrin as a sole carbon source and was found to grow on mineral medium with pesticide concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 mg l-1

Assessing the symptoms of Internet Gaming Disorder among college/university students: An international validation study of a self-report

The present study evaluated the psychometric properties of a self-report scale for assessing Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) symptoms according to the DSM-5 and ICD-11 among 3270 college/university students (2095 [64.1%] females; age mean 21.6 [3.1] years) from different countries worldwide. Croatian, English, Polish, Portuguese, Serbian, Turkish, and Vietnamese versions of the scale were tested. The study showed that symptoms of IGD could be measured as a single underlying factor among college/university students. A nine item-symptom scale following DSM-5, and a short four-item scale representing the main ICD-11 symptoms, had sound internal consistency and construct validity. Three symptom-items were found non-invariant across the language samples (i.e., preoccupation with on-line gaming, loss of interests in previous hobbies and entertainment, and the use of gaming to relieve negative moods). This study provides initial evidence for assessing IGD symptoms among college/university students and will hopefully foster further research into gaming addiction in this population worldwide especially with taking into account language/cultural differences

Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Is a Therapeutic Target for Murine Ovarian Endometrioid Adenocarcinomas with Dysregulated Wnt/β-Catenin and PTEN

Despite the fact that epithelial ovarian cancers are the leading cause of death from gynecological cancer, very little is known about the pathophysiology of the disease. Mutations in the WNT and PI3K pathways are frequently observed in the human ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinomas (OEAs). However, the role of WNT/β-catenin and PTEN/AKT signaling in the etiology and/or progression of this disease is currently unclear. In this report we show that mice with a gain-of-function mutation in β-catenin that leads to dysregulated nuclear accumulation of β-catenin expression in the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) cells develop indolent, undifferentiated tumors with both mesenchymal and epithelial characteristics. Combining dysregulated β-catenin with homozygous deletion of PTEN in the OSE resulted in development of significantly more aggressive tumors, which was correlated with inhibition of p53 expression and cellular senescence. Induced expression of both mTOR kinase, a master regulator of proliferation, and phosphorylation of its downstream target, S6Kinase was also observed in both the indolent and aggressive mouse tumors, as well as in human OEA with nuclear β-catenin accumulation. Ectopic allotransplants of the mouse ovarian tumor cells with a gain-of-function mutation in β-catenin and PTEN deletion developed into tumors with OEA histology, the growth of which were significantly inhibited by oral rapamycin treatment. These studies demonstrate that rapamycin might be an effective therapeutic for human ovarian endometrioid patients with dysregulated Wnt/β-catenin and Pten/PI3K signaling

A communal catalogue reveals Earth's multiscale microbial diversity

Our growing awareness of the microbial world's importance and diversity contrasts starkly with our limited understanding of its fundamental structure. Despite recent advances in DNA sequencing, a lack of standardized protocols and common analytical frameworks impedes comparisons among studies, hindering the development of global inferences about microbial life on Earth. Here we present a meta-analysis of microbial community samples collected by hundreds of researchers for the Earth Microbiome Project. Coordinated protocols and new analytical methods, particularly the use of exact sequences instead of clustered operational taxonomic units, enable bacterial and archaeal ribosomal RNA gene sequences to be followed across multiple studies and allow us to explore patterns of diversity at an unprecedented scale. The result is both a reference database giving global context to DNA sequence data and a framework for incorporating data from future studies, fostering increasingly complete characterization of Earth's microbial diversity.Peer reviewe