A Non-Antibiotic-Disrupted Gut Microbiome Is Associated With Clinical Responses to CD19-Car-T Cell Cancer Immunotherapy

Increasing evidence suggests that the gut microbiome may modulate the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. In a B cell lymphoma patient cohort from five centers in Germany and the United States (Germany, n = 66; United States, n = 106; total, n = 172), we demonstrate that wide-spectrum antibiotics treatment (\u27high-risk antibiotics\u27) prior to CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy is associated with adverse outcomes, but this effect is likely to be confounded by an increased pretreatment tumor burden and systemic inflammation in patients pretreated with high-risk antibiotics. To resolve this confounding effect and gain insights into antibiotics-masked microbiome signals impacting CAR-T efficacy, we focused on the high-risk antibiotics non-exposed patient population. Indeed, in these patients, significant correlations were noted between pre-CAR-T infusion Bifidobacterium longum and microbiome-encoded peptidoglycan biosynthesis, and CAR-T treatment-associated 6-month survival or lymphoma progression. Furthermore, predictive pre-CAR-T treatment microbiome-based machine learning algorithms trained on the high-risk antibiotics non-exposed German cohort and validated by the respective US cohort robustly segregated long-term responders from non-responders. Bacteroides, Ruminococcus, Eubacterium and Akkermansia were most important in determining CAR-T responsiveness, with Akkermansia also being associated with pre-infusion peripheral T cell levels in these patients. Collectively, we identify conserved microbiome features across clinical and geographical variations, which may enable cross-cohort microbiome-based predictions of outcomes in CAR-T cell immunotherapy

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA" lang="EN-GB">Traditional fishing crafts and gears used by the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Nicobari </i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style:italic">tribes in Car Nicobar</span></span>

144-148The Nicobari tribes are the predominant tribes in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, whose livelihood options are based on plantation crops and fishing. The study was conducted to review the traditional fishing practices of the Nicobari tribes in Car Nicobar, the capital of Nicobar District and to document their Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) with respect to the fishing crafts and gears. Data were collected through different participatory research tools like key informant survey, group discussion, semi-structured interview schedule, personal observation and also from secondary sources. The investigation showed that Hodi, an outrigger dugout canoe is the traditional fishing craft commonly used by the Nicobarese and the traditional fishing gears used by them include spears, hook and line, trolling line and bow and arrow. It was observed that these tribes also use a few modern fishing gears. The study elucidates the design and operation of the traditional fishing crafts and gears used by Nicobarese and also the traditional practice of stupefying the fishes with an indigenous plant extract. </span

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Not AvailableSpices have played a very important role in shaping the history of human culture and civilization. Spices, condiments and aromatics were the first products to be traded by the ancient people. Spices are important high value commodities traded internationally for many centuries. Spices are low volume, high value, export oriented crops. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands which is known as hot spot of biodiversity, is bestowed with congenial climatic conditions for cultivation of different kinds of spice crops. Most spices are well adapted to grow under shaded conditions and hence integration of spices in the existing coconut and arecanut plantations is one of the viable option for increasing the area and production of spices in the Island. The Andaman and Nicobar islands have emerged as a popular tourist destination and there is a high demand for high quality spices. The consumer preference is more towards organic spices and hence there is a lot of scope for increasing the area under spices and branding the spice products as organic since there is a minimal or no usage of chemical fertilizers and plant protection chemicals in the Island for production of spices. The major constraints faced by the farmers for spices cultivation were the non availability of quality planting material of spice crops and lack of awareness of recent developments in spices production technologies. ICAR-CIARI with the aid of the centrally sponsored scheme funded by Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development Board (DASD) is involved in quality planting material production of spice crops and their distribution to farmers in different parts of the Island. Various training programmes, workshops and seminars are regularly conducted at village, district and state level to increase the awareness among the farmers about the improved technological developments in spices production. ICAR-CIARI is also constantly involved in conducting front line demonstration programmes of black pepper, ginger and turmeric to farmers in different parts of the Island. Many farmers in the Andaman group of Islands are successful in organic cultivation of ginger and turmeric and their success stories have been documented.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableIt is a well established fact that cultivation of high yielding, stress resilient and good quality varieties plays an important role in enhancing and sustaining the crop productivity of a particular area. It is also perceived that varietal technology is simple to adopt, economically viable, eco-friendly and socially acceptable for higher productivity. Andaman & Nicobar Islands are endowed with exuberant and vibrant mosaic of ago-biodiversity thus figuring among 22 agro-biodiversity hotspots in India. Of the 576 Islands, only about 30 are inhabited and of the total geographical area, only about 5-7 % is under agriculture and thus maximum area is under forests cover due to ecological considerations. Therefore area for agri- horticultural cultivation cannot be expanded and thus vertical growth of productivity is the only option. In addition, “Organic agriculture” which relies on zero or minimal application of chemical inputs is perceived as the effective approach towards protecting the sensitive marine and terrestrial biota from the ill- effects of harmful chemicals. Moreover the inherent geographical isolation of the islands also restricts the uniform spread and adoption of new technologies. Climate change is another looming threat which is perceived to strike islands more as compared to mainland. Under such a challenging scenario, the selection, development and adoption of island specific varieties possessing higher yield, resistance/ tolerance to various biotic and abiotic stresses with other preferred traits is vital for reaping higher productivity and economic gains in a sustainable manner. Moreover, the variety method for achieving higher productivity per unit crop area is considered as the most simple, economical, eco-friendly and socially acceptable approach. In this regard, ICAR-CIARI Port Blair, has developed about 30 varieties of various field and horticultural crops. The majority of these varieties are derived from the locally adapted germplasm material through pure line selection. This indicates their higher chances of adaptability and performance under local conditions. Therefore, in this technical bulletin, we have endeavored to compile and document the detailed information about each of these varieties. We are grateful to Dr. N.K. Krishna Kumar, Deputy Director General (Horticulture Science), ICAR for his kind inspiration, support and guidance. The authors are immensely thankful to Director, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair for encouragement and support for this work. We also feel grateful to all the scientists and other staff members who were directly or indirectly associated with the development of these varieties for the service of these Islands and country. It is hoped that this technical bulletin will be of great benefit and interest to the researchers, line departments like Directorate of Agriculture, NGOs and farmers etc. Efforts are also being taken up for the notification of these varieties and spread through seed production and multiplication through line departments. It is aimed at to achieve higher productivity and profitability in a sustainable manner through cultivation of improved varieties of field and horticultural crops from the islands.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableRice is an important cereal crop of A&N Islands. The settlement of human population in these islands originating from different places in mainland states of India over time resulted in the introduction of many rice germplasm and varieties in the islands. Eventually these different types got co-evolved, adapted and found niche in the islands along with other local types. Therefore, diversity of human population got reflected in the genetic diversity of rice crop in the islands. The government organizations like ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI), Port Blair and Department of Agriculture, A&N Administration also introduced high yielding rice varieties for raising productivity in the islands. In addition, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair also evaluated, developed and recommended suitable high yielding varieties to the Island farmers from time to time. These efforts have undoubtedly steered the rice production enhancement in the islands. Therefore, it is important to characterize in detail these important varieties and germplasm lines not only for research purpose but also for safeguarding IPR issues of the farmers and stakeholders. We have endeavored to screen, evaluate and characterize 26 important Islands varieties and germplasm lines for the 62 Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) traits recommended for the rice crop. All these important rice germplasm lines were evaluated in replicated trials for DUS characterization at Bloomsdale Research Farm, Port Blair. The recommended and uniform packages of practices were adopted to raise the crop. Similarly, standard methodology was followed for precise observations and data recording during the entire crop season. This bulletin encompasses the detailed characterization of important rice germplasm of A&N Islands.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableRodents belong to a very diverse group under the class mammalia which includes rats, gerbils, squirrels, porcupines, mice and mole rats.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableAndaman and Nicobar islands constitute a chain of 572 Islands stretching from North to South the in Bay of Bengal, midway between peninsular India and Myanmar. The islands are distanced from the mainland by 1200 km, falling within longitude 93°- 94° East and the latitude of 6°– 17° North. Rice is the staple food crop grown in an area of around 8390 ha from Diglipur in north and Campell Bay in the south. The crop is primarily raised during the kharif season from the month of July to October except C14-8 which is a long duration, local variety and is grown for eight months from June to January. Rice grain production in the islands is about 24000 tonnes which is only about one third of the actual consumer requirement. Insect pests and diseases largely affect the crop yield, however in the recent years rodents have assumed a pest status on par with the aforesaid factors.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe multitude of agronomic merits of a traditionally tall and photosensitive japonica rice landrace C14-8 has enabled its popularity in the tropical Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. However, we noticed distinct variation for grain husk colour in this culture. Field evaluation of four grain husk color selections over 4 years across three major rice growing islands revealed signifcant variation for agro-morphological traits studied. In the overall population, harvest index was identifed as the potent selectable trait for indirect selection. Through AMMI stability analysis, the environmental, G×E interaction and genotype efects were recorded as 24.4%, 12.5% and 12.3%, respectively. The highest positive genotypic index was recorded at C14-8-11-108 (0.39) followed by C14-8-11-113 (0.29) and C14-8-11-91 (0.20) which also out-yielded the original population by about 20% across years thus indicating the consistency and favorability of these selections under marginal ecosystem.The fndings of this paper will be useful for the breeding and conservation perspectives of such unique germplasm having climatically adaptive traits under marginal ecosystems.Not Availabl

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Intra-varietal stability performance of popular rice landrace ‘C14-8’ in the Andaman Islands

The multitude of agronomic merits of a traditionally tall and photosensitive japonica rice landrace C14-8 has enabled its popularity in the tropical Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. However, we noticed distinct variation for grain husk colour in this culture. Field evaluation of four grain husk color selections over 4 years across three major rice growing islands revealed signifcant variation for agro-morphological traits studied. In the overall population, harvest index was identifed as the potent selectable trait for indirect selection. Through AMMI stability analysis, the environmental, G×E interaction and genotype efects were recorded as 24.4%, 12.5% and 12.3%, respectively. The highest positive genotypic index was recorded at C14- 8-11-108 (0.39) followed by C14-8-11-113 (0.29) and C14-8-11-91 (0.20) which also out-yielded the original population by about 20% across years thus indicating the consistency and favorability of these selections under marginal ecosystem. The fndings of this paper will be useful for the breeding and conservation perspectives of such unique germplasm having climatically adaptive traits under marginal ecosystems