Circadian basis of photoperiodically induced testicular growth in redheaded bunting, Emberiza bruniceps

Short day (8L : 16D), pretreated adult male redheaded buntings were held on various light—dark cycles of 20 to 30 h duration, in which a fixed ultra-short photophase of 3 h was combined with scotophases of varying duration. A photoperiodic testicular response was obtained only in 28- and 30-h cycles (3L : 25D and 3L : 27D). The same photo-period (3 h) in 20- to 26-h cycles (3L : 17D, 3L : 19D, 3L : 21D and 3L : 23D) failed to stimulate testicular growth. The results can be interpreted on the assumption that the positive testicular response in this species, under ultra-short-day light cycles, is the result of an advance in the photosensitive phase of the photoperiodic response system so that it coincides at least partly with the external photophase. The results thus appear to conform with the Bünning hypothesis or external coincidence model.     

Lactoferrin acts as an alarmin to promote the recruitment and activation of APCs and antigen-specific immune responses

Lactoferrin is an 80-kDa iron-binding protein present at high concentrations in milk and in the granules of neutrophils. It possesses multiple activities, including antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and even antitumor effects. Most of its antimicrobial effects are due to direct interaction with pathogens, but a few reports show that it has direct interactions with cells of the immune system. In this study, we show the ability of recombinant human lactoferrin (talactoferrin alfa (TLF)) to chemoattract monocytes. What is more, addition of TLF to human peripheral blood or monocyte-derived dendritic cell cultures resulted in cell maturation, as evidenced by up-regulated expression of CD80, CD83, and CD86, production of proinflammatory cytokines, and increased capacity to stimulate the proliferation of allogeneic lymphocytes. When injected into the mouse peritoneal cavity, lactoferrin also caused a marked recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages. Immunization of mice with OVA in the presence of TLF promoted Th1-polarized Ag-specific immune responses. These results suggest that lactoferrin contributes to the activation of both the innate and adaptive immune responses by promoting the recruitment of leukocytes and activation of dendritic cells.     

Involvement of threshold photoperiod in control of reproductive rhythmicity in migratory blackheaded bunting, Emberiza melanocephala

To explore the need for minimum threshold photoperiodicity in regulation of metabolic and reproductive activities of a migratory finch, various programmed light-dark (LD) schedules, such as P1 (3L/21D), P2 (6L/18D), P3 (9L/15D), P4 (12L/12D), P5 (15L/9D), P6 (18L/6D), P7 (21L/3D), and P8 (24L/0D), have been used on photosensitive female blackheaded buntings for 42 days. Results indicate that the photoperiodic thresholds of 3 h, 6 h, and 9 h completely failed to have any response on buntings, while threshold photoperiodicities of 12 h, 15 h, 18 h, 21 h, and 24 h had significant effect (P < .001) on body weight, ovarian weight, and circulating plasma estradiol concentration, suggesting the role of the photoperiod as a primary environmental source to regulate various metabolic and reproductive functions. Further, it has been suggested that the threshold photoperiod in this species appears to be of 12 h duration.     

Hawan—An effective method to reduce fungal load at small work places

As according to ancient Vedic rites, Indians perform ‘Hawan’ every day to purify the atmosphere. Laboratory tests were conducted by exposing petriplates containing czapek dox agar medium, in a closed room, before and after fumigating ‘Hawan samagree’ and plant parts (dried leaves, bark, sawdust) ofMangifera indica, Azadirachta indica andSantanum album. Results showed considerable decrease in concentration of fungal load. This method can be successfully implemented at actual work places like small flour mills, ginneries, cobbler shops etc., to curtail the concentration of lethal fungi likeAspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, Curvularia, Cladosporium etc.     

In vitro response of promising mulberry (Morus sp.) genotypes for tolerance to salt and osmotic stresses

An in vitro technique for screening mulberry genotypes tolerant to salt and osmotic stress has been standardized.Five mulberry genotypes, namely G2, G3, G4 along with control varieties i.e., S34 and S13, were tested on salt and osmotic stress media. Out of 14 media combinations tested, the optimum responses were observed on Kn 1 mg/l, in the case of G3 genotype, on Kn 2 mg/l with G2 genotype, on BAP 1 mg/l with G4 genotype and on BAP 2 mg/l with S34 and S13 genotypes.With regard to their performance on salt-stress media fortified with NaCl (0.1--2.0%), Na₂CO₃ + NaHCO₃ (pH 8.5--10.0), the data revealed that the genotype G4 ranked the highest in terms of sprouting percentage and shoot length, in comparison to the control variety (S34) at each concentration of NaCl up to 1.0% and pH up to 9.5. However, in the case of osmotic stress condition (media supplemented with 1.0--10.0% PEG),the control variety i.e. S13 itself exhibited the highest sprouting percentage and shoot growth compared to the other test genotypes. The genotype G4 has been screened as a salt tolerant genotype which can be tested under respective in vivo condition.     

Structure of hibiscus latent singapore virus by fiber diffraction: a nonconserved his122 contributes to coat protein stability

Hibiscus latent Singapore virus (HLSV) is a rigid rod-shaped plant virus and a new member of the Tobamovirus family. Unlike all other Tobamoviruses, the HLSV genome contains a unique poly(A) tract in its 3′ untranslated region. The virion is composed of a monomeric coat protein (CP) unit of 18 kDa, arranged as a right-handed helix around the virus axis. We have determined the structure of HLSV at 3.5 Å by X-ray fiber diffraction and refined it to an R-factor of 0.096. While the overall structure of the HLSV CP resembles that of other Tobamoviruses, there are a few unique differences. There is a kink in the LR helix due to the presence of His122. Also, the adjacent Lys123 may further destabilize the helix by positive charge repulsion, making the kink more pronounced. The His122-Asp88 salt bridge provides significant stability to the loop adjacent to the RR helix. Carboxyl-carboxylate interactions that drive viral disassembly are also different in HLSV. The nucleotide recognition mechanisms for virus assembly between HLSV and ribgrass mosaic virus are similar, but different between tobacco mosaic virus and cucumber green mottle mosaic virus.     

Response to experimental photoperiods by a migratory bunting, Emberiza melanocephala

Little is known about the effects of photoperiod on avian migrants that visit southeast Asia. In this paper, we report experiments performed on an emberizid finch, the Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala , to investigate its photoperiodic responses under artificial photoperiods, and continuous light and darkness.
Two series of experiments were performed with the photosensitive male birds. In the first series, different groups were exposed to seven different artificial photoperiods: 3L/21D, 6L/18D, 8L./16D, 11L/13D, 12L/12D, 15L/9D and 20L/4D, for 30 days. They were weighed and laparotomized at the beginning and end of the experiments. The birds responded to 12L/12D, 15L/9D and 20L/4D, but not to 3L/21D, 6L/18D, 8L/16D and 11L/13D. In the second series, photosensitive birds were placed under continuous light (LL) and dark (DD) conditions for 130 and 90 days. Periodic observations indicated that testicular growth and fattening followed by involution and fat-depletion had resulted in birds under LL, indicating the onset of photorefractoriness, while DD had no effect either on gonads or fattening in the buntings.
Our results demonstrate that light stimulation is a prerequisite to reproductive and metabolic activities (pre-migratory and migratory changes, fattening and weight gain) in the Black-headed Bunting, which has a photoperiodic threshold to these events at between 11 and 12 h daily photoperiods.     

Circadian periodicity and the initiation of gonadal growth in male blackheaded buntings (Emberiza melanocephala)

Summary Photosensitive male blackheaded buntings were held under six different light cycles consisting of a 6-hour main photophase coupled with scotophases of various durations (6L/6 (2 n+1) D). Testicular growth was stimulated in buntings by cycle lengths of 12-(6L6D), 36-(6L30D) and 60-hours (6L54D), but not by cycles of 24-(6L18D), 48-(6L42D) and 72-hours (6L66D). These results are consistent with the Bünning hypothesis and indicate that an endogenous rhythm with a period of approximately 24 hours plays a role in the initiation of testicular growth in this bird.Abbreviations CTW combined testicular weight - D dark phase (scotophase) - L light phase - n number of multiples of 6 D     

Allergic potential of someAspergilli on saw mill workers in Lucknow,India

Fifty fungal types were isolated from the indoor atmosphere of saw mills by exposing Petri plates containing Czapek-dox Agar, Potato-dextrose Agar and Sabouraud Agar media for 5 min. The fungal flora of the outdoor surroundings was also studied for comparison. Species ofAspergilli dominated in the saw mills, being represented by 16 species including one ascosporic form. Other fungi were species ofCladosporium, Alternaria, Curvularia, Penicillium, Fusarium, etc. Variations in the fungal population in different months were also observed. Fungal spores recovered using the Rotorod Sampler wereAlternaria, Curvalaria lunata, Curvularia tetramera, Cladosporium, Dreschslera sp.,Epicoccum sp.,Pithomyes sp.,Nigrospora, Stemphylium sp. andTorula sp. Mycelial fragments and unidentifiable spores were also seen in abundance. Varying allergic responses of patients were also recorded by testing intradermally, the antigens of nineAspergilli, vizAspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, A. japonicus, A. melleus, A. nidulans, A. niger, A. niveus, A. tammarii and A. terreus.     

Structure of the NS1 Protein N-Terminal Origin Recognition/Nickase Domain from the Emerging Human Bocavirus

Human bocavirus is a newly identified, globally prevalent, parvovirus that is associated with respiratory infection in infants and young children. Parvoviruses encode a large nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) that is essential for replication of the viral single-stranded DNA genome and DNA packaging and may play versatile roles in virus-host interactions. Here, we report the structure of the human bocavirus NS1 N-terminal domain, the first for any autonomous parvovirus. The structure shows an overall fold that is canonical to the histidine-hydrophobic-histidine superfamily of nucleases, which integrates two distinct DNA-binding sites: (i) a positively charged region mediated by a surface hairpin (residues 190 to 198) that is responsible for recognition of the viral origin of replication of the double-stranded DNA nature and (ii) the nickase active site that binds to the single-stranded DNA substrate for site-specific cleavage. The structure reveals an acidic-residue-rich subdomain that is present in bocavirus NS1 proteins but not in the NS1 orthologs in erythrovirus or dependovirus, which may mediate bocavirus-specific interaction with DNA or potential host factors. These results provide insights into recognition of the origin of replication and nicking of DNA during bocavirus genome replication. Mapping of variable amino acid residues of NS1s from four human bocavirus species onto the structure shows a scattered pattern, but the origin recognition site and the nuclease active site are invariable, suggesting potential targets for antivirals against this clade of highly diverse human viruses.