Creteuchiloglanis arunachalensis,a new species of glyptosternine catfish (Teleostei: Sisoridae) from Arunachal Pradesh,northeastern India

Ichthyological Research - A new glyptosternine catfish, Creteuchiloglanis arunachalensis is described on the basis of a single specimen collected from the upper Brahmaputra River drainage,...     

The Light Skin Allele of SLC24A5 in South Asians and Europeans Shares Identity by Descent

Skin pigmentation is one of the most variable phenotypic traits in humans. A non-synonymous substitution (rs1426654) in the third exon of SLC24A5 accounts for lighter skin in Europeans but not in East Asians. A previous genome-wide association study carried out in a heterogeneous sample of UK immigrants of South Asian descent suggested that this gene also contributes significantly to skin pigmentation variation among South Asians. In the present study, we have quantitatively assessed skin pigmentation for a largely homogeneous cohort of 1228 individuals from the Southern region of the Indian subcontinent. Our data confirm significant association of rs1426654 SNP with skin pigmentation, explaining about 27% of total phenotypic variation in the cohort studied. Our extensive survey of the polymorphism in 1573 individuals from 54 ethnic populations across the Indian subcontinent reveals wide presence of the derived-A allele, although the frequencies vary substantially among populations. We also show that the geospatial pattern of this allele is complex, but most importantly, reflects strong influence of language, geography and demographic history of the populations. Sequencing 11.74 kb of SLC24A5 in 95 individuals worldwide reveals that the rs1426654-A alleles in South Asian and West Eurasian populations are monophyletic and occur on the background of a common haplotype that is characterized by low genetic diversity. We date the coalescence of the light skin associated allele at 22–28 KYA. Both our sequence and genome-wide genotype data confirm that this gene has been a target for positive selection among Europeans. However, the latter also shows additional evidence of selection in populations of the Middle East, Central Asia, Pakistan and North India but not in South India.     

Co‐localized Crassostrea virginica and Crassostrea ariakensis Oysters differ in bioaccumulation,retention and depuration of microbial indicators and human enteropathogens

Aims: To evaluate the bioaccumulation, retention and depuration rates of nine pathogens and surrogates when two oyster species were co‐localized in tanks of seawater. Methods and Results: Crassostrea ariakensis (n = 52) and Crassostrea virginica (n = 52) were exposed to five virus types, two protozoan and two microsporidian species for 24 h. Oysters were then placed in depuration tanks, and subsets were removed and analysed for micro‐organisms at weekly intervals. The odds of C. ariakensis oysters harbouring mouse norovirus‐1 (MNV‐1), human norovirus (NoV) or haepatitis A virus (HAV) were significantly greater than the odds of C. virginica oysters harbouring the same viruses (MNV‐1 OR = 5·05, P = 0·03; NoV OR = 6·97, P = 0·01; HAV OR = 7·40, P < 0·001). Additionally, compared to C. virginica, C. ariakensis retained significantly higher numbers of transmissive stages of all protozoan and microsporidian species (P < 0·01). Crassostrea ariakensis oysters are also capable of retaining multiple human pathogens for at least 1 month. Conclusions: Crassostrea ariakensis oysters were statistically more likely to harbour enteropathogens and microbial indicators, compared to C. virginica. Individual C. ariakensis were also statistically more likely to retain multiple viruses, protozoa and microsporidia than C. virginica, highlighting the role the species may play in the transmission of multiple diseases. Significance and Impact of the Study: Nonnative Crassostrea ariakensis oysters are under review for their introduction into the Chesapeake Bay. The results of this study suggest that nonnative C. ariakensis oysters may present a serious public health threat to people consuming the oysters raw from contaminated sites.     

TB Treatment Delays in Odisha,India: Is It Expected Even after These Many Years of RNTCP Implementation?

Background

In India, the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) envisages initiation of TB treatment within seven days of diagnosis among smear-positive patients. After nearly two decades of RNTCP implementation, treatment delays are usually not expected.

Objectives

To determine the proportion of sputum smear-positive TB patients who were initiated on treatment after seven days and their associated risk factors.

Methods

The study was conducted in Cuttack and Rayagada districts of Odisha. It was a retrospective cohort study that involves review of TB treatment registers and laboratory registers for 2013.

Results

Among 1,800 pulmonary TB (PTB) patients, 1,074 (60%) had been initiated on treatment within seven days of diagnosis, 721 (40%) had been initiated on treatment more than seven days, and 354 (20%) had delays of more than 15 days. The mean duration between TB diagnosis and treatment initiation was 21 days with a range of 8–207 days (median = 14 days). Odds of treatment delay of more than seven days were 4.9 times (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.3-6.6) among those who had been previously treated, 6.2 times (95% CI 1.3-29.7) among those infected with HIV, and 1.8 times (95% CI 1.1-2.9) among those diagnosed outside district DMC.

Conclusion

Delay in initiation of TB treatment occurred in majority of the smear-positive patients. The RNTCP should focus on core areas of providing quality TB services with time-tested strategies. To have real-time monitoring mechanisms for diagnosed smear-positive TB patients is expected to be the way forward.     

Lactic acid bacteria in Hamei and Marcha of North East India

Hamei and Marcha are mixed dough inocula used as starters for preparation of various indigenous alcoholic beverages in Manipur and Sikkim in India, respectively. These starters are traditionally prepared from rice with wild herbs and spices. Samples of Hamei and Marcha, collected from Manipur and Sikkim, respectively, were analysed for lactic acid bacterial composition. The population of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) was 6.9 and 7.1 Log cfu/g in Hamei and Marcha, respectively. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic characters, LAB strains isolated from Hamei and Marcha were identified as Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus brevis. Technological properties of LAB such as antimicrobial properties, effect on acidification, ability to produce biogenic amines and ethanol, degree of hydrophobicity and enzymatic activities were also performed. Pediococcus pentosaceus HS: B1, isolated from Hamei, was found to produce bacteriocin. None of the strains produced biogenic amines. LAB strains showed a strong acidifying ability and they also produced a wide spectrum of enzymes.     

Interaction of Acinetobacter baumannii 19606 and 1656-2 with Acanthamoeba castellanii

Acinetobacter baumannii is virtually avirulent for healthy people but maintains a high virulence among critically ill patients or immuno-compromised individuals. The ability of A. baumannii to adhere to cells and persist on surfaces as biofilms could be central to its pathogenicity. In the present study, we compared the virulence of the A. baumannii 1656-2 clinical strain, which is able to form a thick biofilm, with the virulence of the A. baumannii type strain (ATCC 19606^T). Acanthamoeba castellanii, a single-celled organism, was used as the host model system to study the virulence of A. baumannii. Compared to A. baumannii ATCC 19606^T, A. baumannii 1656-2 exhibited a higher ability to adhere and invade A. castellanii cells and had a higher killing rate of A. castellanii cells. Furthermore, co-incubation of the amoeba cells and the cell-free supernatant of A. baumannii resulted in the cell death of the amoebae. Heat inactivation or proteinase K treatment of the supernatant did not eliminate its cytotoxicity, suggesting heat stable non-protein factors are responsible for its cytotoxicity to A. castellanii cells. In conclusion, this study for the first time has revealed the capacity of the A. baumannii strain and/or its metabolic products to induce cytotoxicity in A. castellanii cells.     

Probiotic properties of yeasts in traditional fermented foods and beverages

The interest in potentiality and functionality of probiotic yeasts from fermented foods has increased drastically over the years. In many fermented foods and beverages, lactic acid bacteria and yeasts exist synergistically by stimulating their growth and survival. Probiotic strains of lactic acid bacteria are more widely studied than potential probiotic yeasts. Saccharomyces cerevisiae variety boulardii is the only commercialized probiotic yeast, which are extensively studied. This review article provides information on the presence of potential probiotic yeasts in some traditional fermented foods and beverages.     

“Ethno-microbiology” of ethnic Indian fermented foods and alcoholic beverages

The concept of “ethno-microbiology” is to understand the indigenous knowledge of the Indian people for production of culturally and organoleptically acceptable fermented foods by natural fermentation. About 1000 types of common, uncommon, rare, exotic and artisan fermented foods and beverages are prepared and consumed in different geographical regions by multi-ethnic communities in India. Indian fermented foods are mostly acidic and some are alkaline, along with various types of alcoholic beverages. A colossal diversity of microorganisms comprising bacteria mostly belongs to phylum Firmicutes, filamentous moulds and enzyme- and alcohol-producing yeasts under phyla Ascomycota and Mucoromycota, and few bacteriophages and archaea have been reported from Indian fermented foods. Some microorganisms associated with fermented foods have functionalities and health promoting benefits. “Ethno-microbiology” of ethnic Indian people has exhibited the proper utilisation of substrates either singly or in combination such as fermented cereal-legume mixture (idli, dosa and dhokla) in South and West India, sticky fermented soybean food (kinema and related foods), fermented perishable leafy vegetable (gundruk and related foods), fermented bamboo shoots (soibum and related foods) and fermented fish (ngari and others) in North East India, and fermented meat and sausage-like products in the Indian Himalayas, fermented coconut beverage (toddy) in coastal regions, and various types of naturally fermented milk products (dahi and related products) in different regions of India. This review has also highlighted the “ethno-microbiology” knowledge of the people involving the consortia of essential microorganisms in traditionally prepared amylolytic starters for production of cereal-based alcoholic beverages. The novelty of this review is the interpretation of ethno-microbiological knowledge innovated by ethnic Indian people on the use of beneficial microorganisms for food fermentation to obtain the desired fermented food products for consumption.     

Comprehensive Analyses of Transport Proteins Encoded Within the Genome of “<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aromatoleum aromaticum</Emphasis>” Strain EbN1

The denitrifying bacterium “Aromatoleum aromaticum” strain EbN1 is specialized for the aerobic utilization of aromatic compounds including crude oil constituents. We here report whole-genome analyses for potential transport proteins in A. aromaticum strain EbN1. This organism encodes very few transporters for simple sugars and most other common carbon sources. However, up to 28% of its putative transporters may act on fairly hydrophobic aromatic and aliphatic compounds. We categorize the putative transporters encoded within the genome, assign them to recognized families, and propose their preferred substrates. The bioinformatic data are correlated with available metabolic information to obtain an integrated view of the metabolic network of A. aromaticum strain EbN1. The results thus indicate that this organism possesses a disproportionately large percentage of transporters for the uptake and efflux of hydrophobic and amphipathic aromatic and aliphatic compounds compared with previously analyzed organisms. We predict that these findings will have important implications for our ecophysiological understanding of bioremediation.     

Recovery, Bioaccumulation, and Inactivation of Human Waterborne Pathogens by the Chesapeake Bay Nonnative Oyster, Crassostrea ariakensis

The introduction of nonnative oysters (i.e., Crassostrea ariakensis) into the Chesapeake Bay has been proposed as necessary for the restoration of the oyster industry; however, nothing is known about the public health risks related to contamination of these oysters with human pathogens. Commercial market-size C. ariakensis triploids were maintained in large marine tanks with water of low (8-ppt), medium (12-ppt), and high (20-ppt) salinities spiked with 1.0 × 10⁵ transmissive stages of the following human pathogens: Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts, Giardia lamblia cysts, and microsporidian spores (i.e., Encephalitozoon intestinalis, Encephalitozoon hellem, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi). Viable oocysts and spores were still detected in oysters on day 33 post-water inoculation (pwi), and cysts were detected on day 14 pwi. The recovery, bioaccumulation, depuration, and inactivation rates of human waterborne pathogens by C. ariakensis triploids were driven by salinity and were optimal in medium- and high-salinity water. The concentration of human pathogens from ambient water by C. ariakensis and the retention of these pathogens without (or with minimal) inactivation and a very low depuration rate provide evidence that these oysters may present a public health threat upon entering the human food chain, if harvested from polluted water. This conclusion is reinforced by the concentration of waterborne pathogens used in the present study, which was representative of levels of infectious agents in surface waters, including the Chesapeake Bay. Aquacultures of nonnative oysters in the Chesapeake Bay will provide excellent ecological services in regard to efficient cleaning of human-infectious agents from the estuarine waters.